Over the years, my health has deteriorated. Growing up, I never really got sick. I had the chicken pox as a child along with the occasional cold or sinus infection, but for the most part, I was a happy and healthy child/teen. My health problems didn't start until 2005. From then until now, my health has impacted my entire life.
In 2005, I started having gallbladder attacks. My aunt and mother, who both had theirs removed, knew that was the problem. My doctor insisted that it was just an ulcer. I took the ulcer medication he prescribed and it worked. It was a temporary solution to what could of been a fatal problem. My gallbladder was on the brink of exploding. It was so diseased. It also was fused together with my liver. This caused a 5 day hospital stay with a drain tube out my right side. Instead of the easy laparoscopic surgery, I had the old school cut open style. Talk about being out of commission for a month.
After my gallbladder attack, I started having what I would call is the most debilitating disease of them all; depression. If you haven't experienced true depression, I hope that you never will. You are literally a prisoner in your own body. "Snapping" out of it or just "getting" over it isn't an option. Believe me, I totally wish it was, however, it isn't that simple. How does one get depression? Is it genetic? Does other illness cause depression? There are many complex answers to questions behind depression. With that being said, treatment can be just as complicated.
I refused to take prescription medication for depression at the beginning. I thought I could handle everything naturally. I did everything I could find on the internet that was "suppose" to help holistically, but none of it worked. Each and everyone is different. I knew that if I wanted to escape this feeling, medication was my next viable option. Depression meds take weeks maybe even months to build up into your system. After being on one medication for a few months, I couldn't tell a difference. The doctor did what he knew and that was to switch to another type. That one didn't work either. Finally, Paxil is the only medication out of all the others to work properly for my body. As the saying goes, "if it ain't broke don't fix it," so I am sticking with 40 mg a day.
Medication isn't the only solution to depression. A structured, well-balanced lifestyle is just as important. Unfortunately, it can be hard to stick to such. I know that in my case all I want to do is SLEEP. I can sleep ALL day and ALL night. I am not even joking. That is a big red flag. It must be fixed. As of today. I must go to bed before 11. The doctor informed me of a sleep study that was done in the 1970's. He said it is still very relevant today. If you go to sleep after 11 p.m., your body loses 2 hours of sleep for every hour you stay up. Also, it doesn't matter if you sleep in. Your body never makes up for time loss. Only a 20-30 minute nap is allowed on special occasions.
As of right now, I have to FIGHT to stay awake. That is step 1. Step 2 is to continue my Paxil and step 3 is continue to go to counseling. Step 4 is blood work to see what else is going on with my body. My vitamin d deficiency has a direct correlation with my depression. A study found that depression can either cause a vitamin d deficiency or the lack of vitamin d can cause depression. They haven't found which triggers which. However, it is known that the two are linked.
Vitamin d deficiency can cause other health problems as well, which in return can cause other problems. A chain reaction.
My lower back has been in pain for quite sometime. I have had a MRI, various x-rays, and other chiropractic manipulation practices. Nothing came back on my MRI or x-rays and my chiropractor put me back inline. Nothing has solved any of my back pain what so ever. It is frustrating. I went to a new doctor today. He assured me that my lower back pain can be caused by things besides back problems. For example: my vitamin d deficiency could actually be causing it. If any of my blood work comes back with problems those issues could be the culprit as well.
The consensus? When your entire life is off balance, your health is off balance. Each little part contributes to the big picture. Baby steps=success. So here's to baby steps!
Why am I telling this? It is easier to just write a blog about it than telling 50 people individually. Also, someone who has depression might need advice as well. I am someone who only keeps certain things private. For the most part my life is an open book. I am okay with that. So as the doctor prescribed. It is bedtime :)
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