Clinical Depression After Hysterectomy

Dear HysterSisters, I am 8 weeks post op and have developed depression really bad. There are days I can't get out of bed, even though I want to because I want or need to go shopping or whatever. I try and explain it to people but I don't think they understand and I see in their faces "how can you want to do something but can't".

It's like I can feel my brain shutting down, but I can't stop it. I'm not in control of it. Sometimes I feel as if I'm going crazy and I know it's not me, but the NO hormones. My first doctor gave me a HRT patch and I wore it for 2 weeks, then I saw my new doctor (Company insurance change) and the new doctor took me off the hormones because I had endometriosis.

I have healed really well from the surgery and I do have the hot flashes, insomnia. I thought the insomnia would go away with working, but it hasn't. So I go see my new PCP next monday. I have to have something for my insomnia and my depression.

Are any of my sister experiencing this or have? My family is so worried now, they are flying in from NY to be with me here in GA and to go to my next appointment. When they told me they would be here on Wed, I was very excited on the inside, but not on the outside......I just want to be normal again before I really loose my mind.

Hi ya hun.
Its hard and i know what you are saying i feel like that at the minute but believe me this site helps and when i read the messages i have been been sent it makes me feel that there are other sisters out there that understand.Its great that your family are coming to you for support.It takes time hun and remember you need to rest,hey take your time thats what i was told enjoy putting your feet up for a few more weeks because your body needs that time to recover.I had my operation not even a year ago, the scare isn't too bad i suppose but getting back into the swing of things needs to be done at the right time and slowly.
Your mind is willing but the body just isn't ready yet hun.What i found helped was taking up a new hobby like patchwork quilting or any thing that takes your mind off the wanting to get up and do jobs.Rest when you need to and that means loads of sleep- the body heals quickier with more rest and sleep hun.
Loads of hugs sent.If there was a way of getting you on msn or facebook i could chat to on there.hahahahahaha then you would be bored.xx

It can be overwhelming. I am taking Paxil and Wellbutrin. I have been taking anti depressants for years but have been depressed still after hysterectomy. I am on Vivelledot and I had endometriosis. It makes no sense to me that you are not on HRT but I'm not a dr. Still think you should be on something. As far as depression you may need something temporarily to get you through this time. I completely know how you feel and it's hard for anyone without depression to relate. Please know it will pass but it is hard to believe that when you have the blues...I know!!

Maybe if you get HRT that will help with the depression and that is all you need? The insomnia....can't help there. I had surgery 2/1/11 and haven't been to sleep before 2 am. It's tough because it makes me physically and mentally tired.

Good luck to you.

Hi, just wanted to give you a cyber hug and and say how bad I feel for you. About 2-3 months after my tah-bso in March 2010 I also fell into a very deep depression. It took everything I had just to get out of bed and get my son to school ( my hubby travels 2-3 days a week).I had always been prone to the blues but had developed such good coping habits that it came as a shock to me. The worst and scariest part was that all my coping skills no longer worked--exercise, good sleep, etc. I was truly frightened for myself, my marriage, my family.At the time I was on the vivelle dot. I finally went to a specialist in desperation and had hormone pellets inserted ( estrogen and testosterone). This has been a life saver. Pretty quickly I noticed an increase in energy and a lifting of the sadness and despair. This allowed me to exercise again and I also started sleeping better. Both of those factors fed on each other and the good cycle continued. But as I say-- I really am not the same person I was before the surgery. It is interesting to read these forums and to see the different ways women are affected by this surgery. Some do well physically and emotionally and others do not. I healed very quickly and easily physically but was emotionally scarred. I hope so much you are able to get some relief. Please keep us posted.

I understand that with endometriosis estrogen might be forbidden for a while but that's no excuse to leave you depressed. If your PCP won't treat you effectively, see an actual psychiatrist. Their specialty is meds for depression and they are better at it than PCPs who usually only know to use a couple of the same meds they use most. Antidepressants often relieve other menopause symptoms, too. You sound very depressed and you need some real treatment. Let your family help insist on it. Do not accept being blown off and unmedicated, this is too important. I've been there, when people say, just get up and do things----they are not understanding serious depression. But there is help, even if you can't take hormones. I hope you get relief soon.

((hugs)) i feel so bad for you, depression is a momentous drag. i had it 10 years ago and cannot express how awful i felt-

I too felt that switch in my brain go off. i have never heard anyone else say that. i can tell the time when i was aware that something )(my emotions) switched off. it was in response to several difficult events- dh had 2 major surgeries, ds broke his femur-thigh- and when it didn't heal straight they rebroke it- first tried to push the bend out with no medication- he was 12 and was screaming for me- that was when it turned off-

i think it is a protective mechanism to help us deal and go on that sort of goes out of wack?

i also felt that it became more of an absence of feeling - but it does get better, hang in there, post on here regularly to keep connected to others- look on the specific threads for depression as well.

at times i too felt like i was going crazy - but there was always a seed of who i really was underneath it all so i knew intellectually that you have to keep on going through the motions until you start to get better. there will be a lifting of the despair it may just take a while to find what works for you- have you looked into light therapy- for seasonal affective disorder?, try to make yourself walk outside everyday for half an hour- if you can enlist the help of a walking partner so much the better, look into bioidentical hormones- are antidepressants an option?

could it be post traumatic stress disorder( connected with your name- 911)
the problem is when you are depressed you can't find the will sometimes to look for the help. please try to be an advocate for yourself or get dh or someone else to do it for you- ie- make the calls, buy the light , set up a walking schedule...

my depression lasted about a year, once i was on effexor and walking regularly it eased up a great deal. my prayers are with you-keep on keeping on it will get better

nytrauma911,

I am so sorry you are feeling depressed. I suffered with depression for a very long time and know how terrible it is. I know you mentioned not being able to have estrogen because of endo. Have you sought out an endometriosis specialist? Mine has me on a very low dose of estrogen and norethindrone. It's just a delicate balancing act. For me, I chose quality of life. But again, that's my own personal feelings and experience. You have to do what is best for you. Just remember that there is LIFE outside of this dark place you head is in.

:hugs5:

My family arrived and I'm doing much better. My family called my doctor today and I am off all the herbal meds and I'm on the HRT. I was taking too much medicine, over medicated. And they think that may have something to do with my symptoms. My family is a blessing and I thank God for them, friends, Co-workers and my sisters on HysterSisters. Thank you so much for your support. I will keep everyone posted.

NY, I've been thinking about you, I am happy to read your last post!!!

Was it LookingforaSis, above, who suggested the endo specialist? I'd second that!

NY,

Glad things are getting a bit better for you with family there and getting on HRT and working out the med issue. I, too, was concerned for you. I know depression well from many angles and have had to be on anti-depressants for a long time. I also can really relate that despite having been on them and knowing all the things to do to cope, I've hit some really heavy and hopeless places since my hyst, one lasted nearly an entire day--which doesn't sound like a lot with what you've been experiencing, but for me, it was really scary because like you, I could not snap out of it! Also, I've been severely depressed before, able to function, but everything was so hard and my feelings were so down, to the point of despair--so with that in my far distant past, having a whole day where I feel swirled under a tsunami was as I said, pretty disturbing. So I think I get what you're saying and I feel a lot of empathy for you.

Anyway, in the med. world we really have to advocate for ourselves, and that is very hard when we're depressed. I hope your family will read about hysterectomies and will be willing and able to advocate for you when it is hard for you to do so!

God bless and keep you, sis!