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Originally Posted by Lesmom96
I know many people here have been dealing with MG much longer than I have and I am not sure if how I am feeling is part of normal stages of loss or if I need to seek some professional help.
Right now I am very depressed and sad and sometimes I feel angry about what I can't do.
2 1/2 months ago when I was diagnosed, I was relieved to have answers to my symptoms and thought that with treatment I could go back to my active and busy lifestyle. (Denial?) Each and every time I have tried to exercise I have a setback. Without exercise I have put on weight, and this weight gain has made me feel depressed as well. I have tried dieting but I have not been successful. In the past, exercise is what helped me with weight control, stress relief and even control my eating.
Every day is different. Some days I feel pretty good and some days I can't walk more than 100 feet. How do you plan anything? My daughter wants us to go Christmas shopping and I have been putting her off because I have no idea when I will feel good enough to go.
I know I should just feel thankful that I am still getting out of bed every day and still working full time. I know many people with this disease have much worse symptoms so I should be happy it is not worse. My husband insists that nobody is "normal" and life is always changing so I should be able to deal with this change and move on. He wants to help me, but I have no idea how to have him help. He sees me as being active as him (or more so), therefore I must be ok.
Any insight would be appreciated.
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After more than 30 years since I was diagnosed, here is my advice for you. Tell people. Everyone knows that if I make plans, I may not keep them. When I do make plans, I rest the day before and at least the day after - sometimes I need more than 1 day to recuperate. The depression never goes away. Low carb diets are the best and worked for me until I started taking Imuran. (Low carb for me means lots of greens, lean meats, no bread or starch) Then I developed a problem absoring protein so I was starving while eating just protein. I try liquid protein and that helps but not enough to diet. The weight issue is terrible but what can you do - you can't stop eating. The depression never goes away but it is best to accept that your life is different and set new parameters for everything. Even the fun things like vacations change. My husband, Mr. Couch Potato, doesn't care that I don't do much. My house is always a mess - after all when I have to choose between fixing dinner or cleaning, I cook. Somedays it is all I can do to get out of bed and take a shower. Life is too short to worry about cleaning. Tell people - they really will understand. And don't be brave - tell them how bad it is.