prozac for post viral fatigue, suggested by Dr should I try it?

[LittleB]

Thats it really. I had a bad virus in October, and haven't really recovered. I've had other viruses since, currently got a chest infection. The fatigue is leaving me really achey, painful joints, very tired. I pick up for a few days, then get ill again, and its really getting me down. I've been in tears a few times which is very unlike me, I was in tears at the GPS. Hes said I should pull through, spring is likely to help me pick up, it usually does ( I work outside some of the time and have always been affected by the weather). I said how its hard coping with working part time, being mum to 2yr old. keeping house in order and not feeling I'm doing any of these well at the moment etc, but with this illness too I'm struggling to cope, and each time I get ill again I feel more down. I don't have depression, I'm just low and struggling. Should I just hang on for a few more weeks and hope I pull through, or do I try Prozac, he says think about it.

[grouphug]

Just hang on for a few more weeks littleb, prozac is a serious step to take and it doesnt sound to me like your depressed to that level. You are doing an amazing job I am sure. viruses are the pitts the mistake people make is that when they feel better they go back to trying to do everything and the virus has not really gone I'm the same. Try and take things easy and ask for help if you can and remember the tidy police are not going to come round your house lol. If you dont feel better in a months time go back to your gp.

[LittleB]

thanks grouphug, my gp says i'm not depressed, just having trouble coping and ill and as others have said prozac is for more than just depression, but like you say I've decided to hang on in there for the moment and try and ride it out, but if I go down hill anymore I'll see my gp. He suggested the prozac now rather than waiting until i go too far downhill, but i think i'd rather wait a bit longer.

[Cappuccino]

I'm recovering from post-viral syndrome and my GP told me that ADs just didn't work for people who had it

sorry

I have cognitive behaviour therapy

but also you really have to pace yourself - let the house GO. Can you afford a cleaner for a bit? Can your dh/ family help?

if you try to struggle on as normal with PVS you will be low and struggling - I haven't worked since Sept and my mum comes round every afternoon so I can have a nap

I'm very lucky I know but maybe you do need to rethink a bit about how much you can take on at the moment. If you are getting into a boom/bust cycle of picking up/ getting ill it is a strong indication that you are doing too much

CAT me if you need to talk - I've also found meditation really helpful and have loads of podcasts to share

xxx

[ArcticRoll]

Agree with Cappucinno.

I have M.E which developed from post viral fatigue and it is important to rest and medidate rather that get Prozac.
Some GPs aren't very good in treating it -I had to argue strongly that I wasn't suffering from depression but I felt physically exhausted.
Perhaps you could switch to a more sympathetic GP?

[wiggleit]

Hi there, i'm new to mumsnet, but was just reading your messages. I too have M.E which is very debilitating and frustrating. I do tend to do the boom/bust thing which i'm curently working on with my physiotherapist at the M.E clinic. I do take prozac to help with the frustration and depression of the illness. It definitely helps me but i agree if you can avoid taking it in the first place, then don't take it. But my doctor made a very good point when i said i wanted to come of prozac because of the stigma etc, but he said, well who needs to know you are on it and it's medication to help wih an illness. No-one would think twice if you said you were taking tablets for arthritis or something, it's the same thing, only this illness is in my head. I don't care if i'm on them for many years because they help me cope. tried going without them but i'm just so tearful and can't cope with stuff. I'm not advocating taking them by any means and if you can cope without then do so, but all i'm saying is they have def helped me. M/E is such a frustrating illness. I'm so fed up with it, but keep hoping it will pass in time. I just want a normal life!! xx

[ArcticRoll]

Welcome to Mumsnet wiggleit.

I agree ME is a very frustating illness but pehaps in the initial stages of post viral fatigue it is important to recognise it is a physical illness and get as much rest and help as possible.

I kept pushing through my exhaustion and think this made me more ill in the long run.

[wiggleit]

Yes i agree, this is a physical illness too, when i said it's in my haed i meant the frustration and depressing part. It is very much a physical illness. I have no energy to do anything but in my mind i really want to do stuff. Pushing yourself isn't the answer with this, it just makes you worse. it's a case of listening to your body and if you need to rest then rest. fighting it only makes you worse.xx

[Tiggerish]

just posted on the other thread

[ArcticRoll]

I agree wigleit.
I get very frustrated and upset that I can't get on with my life.
I suppose I get defensive about the 'depressed' bit because initially I could tell that my GP thought I was suffering from depression and I felt I really had to persuade her it was physical rather than mental.

[LittleB]

Thanks for the advice, sorry I haven't been online since. I think I will try and manage without the prozac for now. I was hoping that my GP might sign me off work for a couple of weeks. I don't think I have bad PVS, but over the last 4mths since a bad virus I've had several other bouts of chest infections, colds, ear infections, in between I'm pretty exhausted, and have achey, at times painful, joints and headaches. I do pick up occasionally for a couple of days, but not back to my usual fitness. I've been working most of the time (I work mon-weds, 8hr days - but out of the house for 10+hrs) except for the odd few days off when I've had infections, but I agree this cycle can't go on. My GP would obviously rather give me prozac than sign me off work. I do have a fairly undersatnding manager, I can ask him to let me take it easier on the physical side- I work as a Countryside Ranger, which although a lovely job at times can also be stressful when dealing with some landowners & Public and can be pretty physically exhausting. Do you think I should see another GP who might sign me off? Or just keep returning work and hope it gets better soon?
I can't afford a cleaner, DH is helping a bit, and family are helping with dd (2.8) for the odd couple of hours for me to rest.
I'm interested in the cognitive behaviour therapy, did your GP refer you for that cappucino? I'll try and do some meditation too, I used to do some and yoga before dd came along and I really enjoyed it. My mums also found some really helpful books for me too, she's suffered from depression and I've had a really good talk with her and she's been great which is lovely.

[Cappuccino]

littleB I would try and see another GP and say you need a rest

absolutely

yes my GP referred me for the CBT but it was for another problem; I had been discharged but luckily my PVF started within six months of being discharged so I could still ring my therapist up

I have lots of links to meditation stuff if you want them

[Threadworm]

My feeling is that unless the depression is completely distinct from the post-viral condition (or perhaps a reaction to it rather than straightforwardly a part of it) Prozac wouldn't help.

I'm speaking as a user of ADs, not as a medic. The benefits of ADs can be fairlt marginal anyway. I've never heard that they can help with a viral condidtion and I would imagine that your GP is assuming you have some independent depression. I think you most probably have a clearer idea than him of whether that is the case.

[Cappuccino]

yes agree with Threadworm

I needed CBT to get me through PVF

I don't have depression, I am ill and it is getting me down; big difference