[sas123]

Hi there. I haven't been on here for a long time! Been off the antidepressants for about 2 years and been feeling OK for most of that time. Now feeling really down and unable to cope again. My daughter, who is 12, has been ill with fevers, fatigue and severe joint pains for nearly 12 weeks now. We've been going through the stress of getting a diagnosis, which we still don't have.
I know I should be sympathetic and supporting her and my husband, but I really feel useless! She has tried 3 anti-inflammatories, each one either hasn't worked or has given her nausea. I feel so bad tempered all the time, can't sleep and the slightest thing sets me off, either into tears or a tantrum!
I cant believe I can't hold it together when its so important, and I feel guilty for feeling sorry for myself!
Sorry to vent, but I've got no-one I can tell how I'm feeing.
Thanks
Sarah

[Elana05]

Originally Posted by sas123

Hi there. I haven't been on here for a long time! Been off the antidepressants for about 2 years and been feeling OK for most of that time. Now feeling really down and unable to cope again. My daughter, who is 12, has been ill with fevers, fatigue and severe joint pains for nearly 12 weeks now. We've been going through the stress of getting a diagnosis, which we still don't have.
I know I should be sympathetic and supporting her and my husband, but I really feel useless! She has tried 3 anti-inflammatories, each one either hasn't worked or has given her nausea. I feel so bad tempered all the time, can't sleep and the slightest thing sets me off, either into tears or a tantrum!
I cant believe I can't hold it together when its so important, and I feel guilty for feeling sorry for myself!
Sorry to vent, but I've got no-one I can tell how I'm feeing.
Thanks
Sarah

Hi Sarah,

It sounds like a rough time...
Welcome back to PC.
You have an illness as well, please try not to feel guilty. It sounds like maybe you need to take a trip back to the doctor yourself. Often depression will return during tough times. Why not go on a lower dose of something to get you through... it is important to take care of you, then your energy will be increased to be able to be there for your husband and daughter. It is such a difficult thing to have a sick child. It's important to reach out and ask for help: a doctor, a therapist, friends and family... and you always have us here on pc. Do you live in the States or Canada? Was your daughter ever tested for Lyme disease?

Many warm thoughts your way.

E

[sas123]

Hi Elana,

Thanks for your reply, feeling a bit better today.
I live in New Zealand. My daughter's been tested for everything they can think of, so hopefully Lyme Disease was one of them. The only thing that has come back positive is her ANA which indicates an auto-immune thing going on, and her inflammatory markers are up and down. Going for a Bone scan soon, but haven't got a date yet. They are querying juvenile arthritis, but she doesn't quite fit the criteria. Bone scan is more to rule out a focus of infection that they might have missed. At least I know they are still looking for a cause, but if its Juvenile arthritis its not going to be an easy ride, although there are lots of treatment options. It just feels like being given a diagnosis will make it easier to deal with. My hubby was talking about cutting work hours so it will be easier to look after her. I've already cut down a day, and my boss was sympathetic at the time but now getting stressed at fitting it into the days I do work!
My family live in the UK, and my parents are coming over for a long stay at the end of the year, just having them here to help out will hopefully make a huge difference, although by then Heather will hopefully be feeling better.

Sarah