My intro...

November 21, 2001

-

" Michelle " @<Momto7kidletswrote:

## Dear Michelle,

> Hello everyone - I am hoping that someone here can help me as the

> medical community is failing me. I am struggling with depression and

> am desperately looking for some help.<snip>

> It is not terribly bad, but enough to want to do

> something about it. >>

## Colostrum has been know to help with depression. It's suppose to help

produce the serotonin in the brain. I'd also think about having your

thyroid and hormones checked. Both can really knock one into deep

depression. During pregnancy the progesterone levels are high and will

suddenly drop after delivery which can cause depression. Simply using a

progesterone cream for a while can help.

> My doctor won't help me because he

> feels I should just get rid of my husband and life would be great. I

> don't believe that because raising seven children alone would be

> hard, I love him, he really does love me, but screwed up, etc.

## Get a new doctor. Seriouly, if the doctor is NOT helping you, FIRE him!

I sympathize with your situation. I do not feel like I or anybody else can

tell you to leave or stay with your husband. That has to be your personal

decision. But in mentioning your seven children (and I believe that in

itself is quite an accomplishment!), I would put yourself first in pursuing

your mental health. Where will those kids be without their mother?

However, sometimes depression is so severe one does not have the mental

capability to take the means necessary to get the help they need. Sometimes

it takes somebody on the outside to step in to take care of you. I believe

sometimes drugs are necessary. If the one medication did not help, you

might want to seek another doctor who will TRULY listen and sympathize with

your situation in order to find a drug that agrees with your chemistry. But

I would make sure they would give you a good physical first to determine if

there was something physical causing the depression. When you are stronger,

you can decide if you want to try other means of healing.

## No matter what you decide I wish you the best. It must be extremely

hard for you and your children. And if the truth be known, I wouldn't be

surprised if it's not hard on your husband also. Take care.

Compassionately,

Gail

>

November 21, 2001

Dear Michelle,

You have my sympathy. Depression must be one of the most debilitating illnesses

around.

I've suffered from depression for many years, and am currently taking paroxetine

(same family as Prozac, but different). I've been getting worse lately so saw a

doc yesterday who specialises in mental health.

She told me the best antidepressant around is venlafaxine, an SSNRI (selective

seretonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor). It's called Effexor here in

Australia but may have a different name in the US (if that is where you are!).

The SSNRIs are the newest class of antidepressants, and a recent study in the

British Journal of Psychiatry found that venlafaxine was more effective than an

SSRI. It also comes in extended-release tablets (sorry, I don't really know what

difference this makes - must do some more research).

I too would prefer not to have to rely on drugs for the rest of my life, but

depression is a very clever illness and needs more than natural therapies to

deal with it.

Do try to find a doc who will give you a better drug to help you out of this

mess, Michelle. There are many drugs now and many combinations that can be tried

to find one that's right for you. Your doc doesn't sound quite the right person

to be treating you! Can you shop around?

I really do feel for you, Michelle. You must be a truly strong person, coping

with seven children, and putting up with a less than supportive husband.

I will get back to you about ginseng. I must search some files. I know there's

something on ginseng somewhere! I have access to very up-to-date stuff because

of my job - I'm a book editor/indexer, and am just now indexing the year's

issues of the Australian Journal of Pharmacy, which contain some very

interesting material.

More later. Take care.

Love,

Jo, in Sydney

November 21, 2001

The reason I can't take a prescription drug for my depression is because my

doctor won't give it to me. My regular doctor won't because he says I should

just get rid of my husband and my ob/gyn won't because she said she doesn't want

to interfere with what my regular doctor feels is right. I will be looking for

a new doctor, but with the holidays upon us it is hard to get in to see someone

(I have called a few and they are booked solid). For now I am trying something

on my own in hopes that it will help even just a little until I can get in to

see a doctor.

Michelle

-

Ecmillerreid

Gettingwell

Wednesday, November 21, 2001 1:30 PM

Re: My intro...

Have you tried one of the SSRI antidepressants such as prozac or zoloft?

Although I'm all for treating most health problems with 'alternative',

natural means -- I know from first hand experience how debilitating

depression can be, and although I use lots of 'natural' stuff in conjunction

with prozac, I find that my depression is of such severity that the

'alternatives' do not work alone -- I've tried!!! Fish oil, lots of

vitamins, 5-HTP, amino acids, etc., have allowed me to whittle my daily

intake of prozac in half however - who knows maybe one day I'll find the

right combination to completely go without allopathic stuff -- but in the

mean time -- life is better with prozac, than without.

There is a difference between your case and mine -- my depression was almost

never related to my life situation -- it came on more like a flu -- hit me

between the eyes when I least expected it -- I always had the feeling that I

thought sad thoughts to make sense of the depression I was feeling at a

visceral level. In your case, I think your doctor is right in urging you to

deal with (and prevent more) the emotion pain that is your marriage.

Ultimately you have to deal with the underlying condition -- in your case it

sounds like that scoundrel of a husband is definitely part of the cause!!!

Namaste, Liz

November 22, 2001

Jo,

Thank you for checking into the Ginseng. I really appreciate it!!! I am also

searching for a new doctor but unfortunately right now is hard with all the

holidays coming around. I am hoping to find one next week, but for now I find

comfort in the love of my family (both kids and hubby - yes he does love me and

feels much remorse for what he has done and he too is dealing with my

depression).

Michelle

-

Jo Rudd

Gettingwell

Wednesday, November 21, 2001 4:32 PM

Re: My intro...

Dear Michelle,

You have my sympathy. Depression must be one of the most debilitating

illnesses around.

I've suffered from depression for many years, and am currently taking

paroxetine (same family as Prozac, but different). I've been getting worse

lately so saw a doc yesterday who specialises in mental health.

She told me the best antidepressant around is venlafaxine, an SSNRI (selective

seretonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor). It's called Effexor here in

Australia but may have a different name in the US (if that is where you are!).

The SSNRIs are the newest class of antidepressants, and a recent study in the

British Journal of Psychiatry found that venlafaxine was more effective than an

SSRI. It also comes in extended-release tablets (sorry, I don't really know what

difference this makes - must do some more research).

I too would prefer not to have to rely on drugs for the rest of my life, but

depression is a very clever illness and needs more than natural therapies to

deal with it.

Do try to find a doc who will give you a better drug to help you out of this

mess, Michelle. There are many drugs now and many combinations that can be tried

to find one that's right for you. Your doc doesn't sound quite the right person

to be treating you! Can you shop around?

I really do feel for you, Michelle. You must be a truly strong person, coping

with seven children, and putting up with a less than supportive husband.

I will get back to you about ginseng. I must search some files. I know there's

something on ginseng somewhere! I have access to very up-to-date stuff because

of my job - I'm a book editor/indexer, and am just now indexing the year's

issues of the Australian Journal of Pharmacy, which contain some very

interesting material.

More later. Take care.

Love,

Jo, in Sydney

November 22, 2001

Gail,

Thanks for mentioning having my thyroid and hormones checked. I do have

Hashimoto's hypothyrodism, so I have that checked regularly. I have never had

my hormones checked - how would I get that done? Just ask my doctor?

Also you are very right - this whole thing is hard on my husband. He knows he

screwed up big time and he sees me suffering which makes him sad too. Believe

me there have been many nights that we both just hold each other crying. Me for

the pain I feel and him for the pain he caused me. I guess I am just one of

those people that believes everyone can make mistakes (very big one in this

case) but that doesn't make them a bad person. I believe in giving a person a

second chance, but never a third )

Michelle

-

Gail Naranjo

Gettingwell

Wednesday, November 21, 2001 3:53 PM