Today I went to see the nurse practitioner at my behavioral health care facility. I told her that my depression was getting worse. I also told her of the physical issues my blood work done by my Primary Care Physician showed; elevated blood sugar and cholesterol, borderline anemia and low iron absorption. She, like I, wondered where the depression ended and the physical problems began, as both can cause tiredness and fatigue. She even went so far as to suggest I was not in a depression but I assured her I was.

Our plan of attack is to taper me off the mood stabilizer Zyprexa, which can cause weight gain and elevated blood sugar. I’m not going to jump on the “diabetes bandwagon” until I have been off the Zyprexa for a while. The drug she is replacing it with is called Latuda. Latuda is an anti-psychotic drug for schizophrenia at higher doses, and a mood stabilizer at a lower dose. I don’t know much more about it, other than it can cause nausea and should be taken with food. I have given up on reading drug side effects, because if I did I wouldn’t be on any of them.

I am going to increase the mood stabilizer Lamictal, which has helped with my depression, and to stay on Effexor.

The N.P. wanted me to see her within seven to ten days but I could only get an appointment with her 12 days out.

I am always looking for any small sign of my depression lifting and there is some evidence that I am improving. I actually went to my appointment with the N.P. today and my therapy appointment yesterday. I had goals of doing household chores like vacuuming, dusting and washing my sheets. I completed all of my goals and even wrote a blog post. I am a bit tired but am not dying to take a nap. Hopefully I am coming out of it. I don’t have time for depression, you know?

I see my Primary Care Physician July 3rd to discuss the results of my blood work.

Photo Courtesy of happyinternist.blogspot.com

The post Health Update #352 first appeared on Mama Sick.