20 days post hysterectomy: Anti - depression medication??

My surgery was 20 days ago and went to my post op appt 10 days after. Was feeling good and my Doc agreed I was healing perfect. A few days ago the depression started. I can't function, I'm crying, I can't get out of bed and I feel like I'm going backwards in the recovery process. Worst of all, I broke off my relationship of 5 years and think this time of not feeling "like myself" might be the culprit. Although I've never taken any, I think I need antidepressants or mood stabilizers. I don't know who to ask...my general doc takes weeks to get into and a psychologist at least 2x longer. Is it normal to ask the obgyn to prescribe or refer me to a doc for quicker results? I go back to work tomorrow and don't want this affecting my work as well. Does anyone have ideas for an alternative other than pills?

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Originally Posted by esteele My surgery was 20 days ago and went to my post op appt 10 days after. Was feeling good and my Doc agreed I was healing perfect. A few days ago the depression started. I can't function, I'm crying, I can't get out of bed and I feel like I'm going backwards in the recovery process. Worst of all, I broke off my relationship of 5 years and think this time of not feeling "like myself" might be the culprit. Although I've never taken any, I think I need antidepressants or mood stabilizers. I don't know who to ask...my general doc takes weeks to get into and a psychologist at least 2x longer. Is it normal to ask the obgyn to prescribe or refer me to a doc for quicker results? I go back to work tomorrow and don't want this affecting my work as well. Does anyone have ideas for an alternative other than pills?

I suggest booking appts w/ *both* your GP and the psychologist, asking if you can be put on a cancellation list (i.e. they call you if someone cancels and they suddenly have a free slot). If you get in with one, then call and cancel the other.

In the meantime, try St. John's Wort (which belongs to a class of anti-depressants called MAOIs) but *do not* take more than the bottle says to. Also, don't expect results overnight.

Good luck!

	Quote:
Originally Posted by esteele My surgery was 20 days ago and went to my post op appt 10 days after. Was feeling good and my Doc agreed I was healing perfect. A few days ago the depression started. I can't function, I'm crying, I can't get out of bed and I feel like I'm going backwards in the recovery process. Worst of all, I broke off my relationship of 5 years and think this time of not feeling "like myself" might be the culprit. Although I've never taken any, I think I need antidepressants or mood stabilizers. I don't know who to ask...my general doc takes weeks to get into and a psychologist at least 2x longer. Is it normal to ask the obgyn to prescribe or refer me to a doc for quicker results? I go back to work tomorrow and don't want this affecting my work as well. Does anyone have ideas for an alternative other than pills?

I had similar experiences with lower mood following my hysterectomy last July. Both of my ovaries were removed. My gyn/onc prescribed alprazolam and gabepentin for hot flashes and sleep disturbance. None of these meds helped me so she agreed to Climara patches and I found relief quickly. In your case, not knowing where you live, (U.S. or abroad), I'd suggest asking your gyn/onc for low dose sertraline(brand name Zoloft-SSRI) until you can get in to see your primary physician. I'd think they would be understanding and accommodating to you.
Diana

I have taken Zoloft for about a year and a half, works amazing.

dear Sister,

I am so very sorry for your pain. Surgery is a physical and also an emotional trauma. Remember: there's a reason why most hospital discharge instructions tell you not to take any major actions or sign legal documents. And, after a hysterectomy, hormonal changes add to the stress.

The very positive sign here is that you know that you need some help and are asking for that help. So you are a brave and strong woman.

I suggest that you make phone calls to any medical team member who might be likely to help and be very frank about what you are feeling, including any urgency to the need to talk. There are so many protocols for helping with depression, including, of course, talking it through, crisis counseling, and many drug therapies, some of which have been mentioned on this thread. Not all drugs are suited to all people, as I have often seen in family members who have been prescribed a variety of meds.

Does your Health Care organization offer any kind of talk-line for post-op patients? These can be very helpful. Or any kind of community support available?

As you're seeking to get in, I'll make a really simple suggestion that can often help. Walking. Light exercise, being in the sun. Physical activity can often help, if only because we sleep better. You're not far out enough to be running laps but there can be a real boost that comes with doing something that's good for us.

Please keep in touch and I'm sending many
from Romy

I agree with all that (((RomyDijon))) explained. I also want to let you know that St. John's Wort can be dangerous for some people and not every bottle or brand may work the same. It does have psychotropic effects, but it is not a MAOI, it is more like and SSRI. However, you need a professional to tell you how much you need, and you need to be sure you are getting a proper dose. Further, I would like to add that what you describe, I have been through, but what made it better for me since my ovaries were removed was an estrogen patch. Low estrogen can make you feel anxious, depressed, mean, weepy, and out of control. It affects some of us more than others. If you don't have a condition that precludes using estrogen, it may help you more than you can imagine. Please don't hesitate to ask for help. St. John's Wort is also contraindicated for those who use estrogen.

I take an amino acid supplement called Sam-e with vitamin b cofactors and it has been a miracle for my depression. Having said that, I've been having a hard time emotionally since the surgery regardless. I was very weepy up until about 2 weeks ago. I think that's when my ovaries came back online because I broke out and my boobs hurt. Also, magnesium helps with mood, sleep, etc.

Estelle, you need to take charge of your own health and tell the doc what you need. This is based on my 3 surgeries learning.

1. Call your gen doc office and said you NEED to see him/her for post surgery complication. If they schedule you out a week later, it's a sign it's a bad doc. Good docs usually keep slots for emergencies patient. Find a new doc (later) if you can't get to see your gen doc 2 weeks out.

2. See your obgyn, my obgyn is the one who started prescribing me a low dose of anti-depressant to help post op. So yes, if you can see an obgyn earlier, they can prescribe

3. Whoever doc you can see the earliest, tell him/her you are not ready to go back to work, n to write u a doc bite to get disability insurance extended. You tell the doctor you can't work yet, not the other way around. You know how you feel the best. A good doc will support you especially knowing you had this recent surgery.

Take the time off now, not later, u get one chance to heal properly n not look like an idiot at work. When I had my 2nd surgery w one ovary removed, I went back to work in 2 weeks and a month later, I cried uncontrollably at work! My family doc (new one) told me I didn't give myself the time to deal w that and ordered me 3 months off. This time, with my hysterectomy and removing everything reproductive related, the oncology originally said 2 weeks, and I kept telling him I need more time. I was going to change oncologist if he is not supportive. I just told him, I needed 6 weeks, and I got 6 weeks. I just went to see him again today and we decided to extend 2 more weeks to 8 weeks. I'm going back to work June 16 week when I feel ready.. 2 months post ops.

Good luck. Fight for your own health.