"...While I was in the hospital, and when I first got home, I was too out of it to even have a mood. Slept and slept, and when I wasn't sleeping I was resting. But after a week at home I really thought I should be getting better.

That led to frustration and depression...."

Ok... so, you realized that your "thinking" is what led to the "feeling" of frustration, which then led to the "mood" of depression. 

The "thinking" which led to the "feeling" which then led to the "mood" was triggered by the illness and being in the hospital for a week, and your "feeling" that you "should have" recovered enough to return to "normal" once you got back home into your personal surroundings.

The depression you were in prior to the hospital stay (which you had already fought off a previous round of illness not long prior)... now deepened ONLY after you returned home, off the pain killers, and out of the "distraction" of the hospital stay.

Marcia... With much respect and sincere concern I do note this:

Any major illness that requires a hospital stay involving IVs and pain killers and all that... requires a minimum of 8 weeks to fully recover.  Even then, there will be some weeks thereafter that you will just not feel well.

If you push yourself too soon and beyond your ability, you will worsen your condition and lengthen the overall recovery time.  THIS WILL ALSO WORSEN your mood illness.  The physical body and the mind are wound together, it's made that way.

So... rest.  If friends/family ask what they can do?  Use them.

I KNOW OF WHAT I SPEAK and I LEARNED the hard way...

in 2007, during a horrendous automobile wreck that left me hospitalized for 3 weeks and housebound and bedbound for 2 months thereafter.  Even wheelchair bound for 3 months beyond that... came home with an ileostomy bag attached to my abdomen for 3 months.  Could not walk on my 2 feet for nearly 6 months.  Several surgeries came thereafter.... and a round of blood clots to tie it all off.

NO PSYCH MEDS during the entire period but many many many mood swings, suicidal ideations, squirrely spells, and some sheer terror filled panic attacks... 

If you do not allow yourself to heal at your mind's and your physical body's own pace... you will WORSEN your mood illness and your physical illness/injury's recovery. 

Your mind and your body know when it's time, at each stage, to do more and if you work within their natural rhythm - with SOME HELP from your psychiatric staff and the little toolbox of pills and therapy (cause you are one of the many who can tolerate meds)... it will get better... it will.

Peace 

Marcia Purse, Health Guide

5/31/12 2:43pm

Hi, Tabby--

 

What a horrific experience you had! Are you all recovered now, or were there permanent consequences? Also, why weren't you on any psych meds during recovery?

 

You said: Any major illness that requires a hospital stay involving IVs and pain killers and all that... requires a minimum of 8 weeks to fully recover.  Even then, there will be some weeks thereafter that you will just not feel well.

 

I had no idea this was true. I mean, I've come back from full-anesthesia surgery faster than I'm doing now. So I'm grateful to you for laying it out, especially the fact that it may go beyond the 8 weeks.

 

If friends/family ask what they can do?  Use them.

 

I wish. Only one family has offered to help me. I'm DEEPLY grateful to them.

 

What I tried to convey, though I know it was in a stumbling way, was that there is indeed an intricate connection between body, mind and mood.

 

Thanks so much for your insights.