Re: adhedsions eight months after surgury

From: Kate Murphy (katemm@mindspring.com)
Wed Jan 17 09:49:16 2001


On 16 Jan 2001, at 20:11, Mary Wade wrote:

> Antidepressants and chronic pelvic pain---I've learned that doctors will use
> antidepressants in these situations as pain control. I about ripped my doc
> apart when he suggested I needed antidepressants...(oh...maybe he was right
> :)) ..... until he yelled..."time out"...and went on to explain that they
> are used to treat chronic pain as well.

You are right. Antidepressants can help with pain. I take Celexa which helps quite a bit. It doesn't remove it, but it does lessen pain and also the feeling of hopelessness/helplessness that makes the pain so much worse to manage.

I think we immediately think that we are being dismissed as hysterical or depressed when a doctor suggests a psychotropic drug, but this is anything but true.

I have a psychiatrist who specializes in patients with chronic illness. She is my champion, recognizing pain and insisting on finding ways to manage it. I see her a couple of times a year for a "pep talk" to stay focused on what I can do, not what I've had to leave behind.

Kate

--
Kate Murphy
katemm@mindspring.com

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