Essentially, I've been living with chronic back pain due to scoliosis for 7 years. I have also have chronic fatigue for 7 years, but I didn't understand why until recently when my new doc pulled up the labs she ordered and noticed that I was severely anemic with a lack of vitamin D as well.
I've had a couple doctors say that I'm anemic. But they just said "you're anemic, eat foods with iron" and that was that. I had no idea how severely my health had deteriorated due to this untreated anemia. I didn't have the slightest clue that what I was dealing with was significant as it was.
My doctor put me on iron supplements and vitamin D. My chronic fatigue was finally able to be treated. Some of my symptoms actually started disappearing. I had been told I have Fibromyalgia, Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis...I'd been put on SSRIs, heavy opiates, benzos...and what helped the most...
...was vitamins. 2 very simple, very inexpensive vitamins.
In a way, I'm furious. Anemia has showed up on every one of my labs since I was 13. That means that every doctor (until this one) I've had since 2003/2004 has failed to explain that this was actually a serious thing, that anemia has real consequences if left untreated. I've had chronic fatigue for 7 years, but I've had severe, debilitating on-and-off fatigue for 12 years. It feels completely unacceptable.
Evidently, my anemia was the cause of my depression. It added to my anxiety. It created insane symptoms of pain and fatigue that were just awful. And now I have vitamins...and I can function again.
It's truly amazing. I can't imagine what would have happened if I hadn't met my current doctor. If I hadn't met her, I'd still have opiates and benzodiazapines and muscle relaxers shoved down my throat. I'd still be having all these unnecessary tests run, and crazy diagnoses that are really mis-diagnoses.
So, to the people with depression who aren't satisfied with the medical attention they're receiving: PLEASE DO NOT FUCKING STOP SEARCHING. There really are answers. I couldn't even believe it when I got an answer. I never thought I would, but I did. I know other people who have had similar experiences and were totally blown away when they found out that there was something they could do.
And remember that those feelings of loneliness, hopelessness, sadness...those are symptoms. And symptoms can be treated.
When you look at your depression symptoms for what they are - symptoms, and not just negative emotions that you have to feel - you can more easily seek help and see depression for what it is. (A legit medical condition.) And you so are not alone in this endeavor! Talk to me, talk to a stranger, talk to a friend, talk to a counselor...anyone. But especially talk to a doctor.
You aren't alone, and you don't have to give up. It really does get better.
And if necessary, you can always ask for prescription cats.
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