Did you happen to see 60 Minutes last night?
The second story was about anti-depressant meds and how truly ineffective they are.
It turns out that unless a patient is severely and clinically depressed, most medications don’t work any better than sugar pills.
The how and why isn’t really why I’m writing about this today. Let me jump ahead to my point:
Statistics show exercising five or six days a week–for ten weeks–is just as effective as taking any of the many anti-depressant medications that are available on the market today.
As a matter of fact, the story pointed-out that even among seriously depressed individuals, using prescription anti-depressants only helps around 14% of those patients anyway.
Instead, what seems to aid most depressed patients the most is a physician who listens to them and cares about their problems–and then takes one or more pills prescribed by their physician regularly.
Yes, this includes a placebo or sugar pill.
Most multiple myeloma patients (and I’m guessing a lot of caregivers, too!) experience depression sometime during their life after diagnosis. And since many myeloma patients are too damaged by their cancer and other co-morbidities to exercise much, this can present a problem.
But if you can exercise–even just a little–it sure can’t hurt!
I know our good friend, Danny, is going to examine this in one or more upcoming columns, so I won’t push it too hard now.
Instead, I would like everyone to remember that a vast majority of myeloma patients become depressed at one time or another during their “new normal” lives–and when this happens, a wide variety of things could help improve their state of mind.
Talking with other patients and/or medical professionals who understand may help. Anti-pain and depression meds might help, too. And so can regular exercise and a healthy diet.
Does everyone agree that this topic needs to be explored further? Based on daily emails I receive from survivors who are down and depressed, I believe that there is a need for more coverage of depression related issues on sites like mine.
So watch for more articles, helpful links and an open dialogue about the topic in the future.
Let’s all do our best to try and help our myeloma friends to feel better so they can keep smiling! Pat
February 20th, 2012 at 12:44 pm
Great idea Pat. We all need a little help on those days when our carefully-crafted defenses come crashing down around us.
February 20th, 2012 at 12:52 pm
A very good topic Pat. You wrote months ago about how no matter how weak and bad you felt physically you forced yourself to get out for a walk. That was fantastic advice and I immediately began following it. Without doing that essentially every day I would feel weaker and weaker to the point where I could hardly do anything. I walk approx. 3 miles every morning indoors at the Mall- no matter how bad I feel. Last winter I had given up walking due to getting sick after outdoor walks in bad weather, and it seemed like I always got sick from all the germs at the YMCA. So far no illness from the Mall(it is practically empty before 10AM).
I often start to feel depressed and fearful a few says before Doctor appointments. Also, I am very vulnerable to how I am treated by the front desk or by the infusion nurses. My Velcade shot a few weeks ago from an irritated nurse left me feeling down for days. Similarly, irritated or dismissive tone of voice from front desk when I phone in can set me back in how I feel.
So I agree we need specific strategies to help combat the vulnerability we all have to depression and, I would add, fearfulness.I look forward to hear what others do. Thanks Pat for bringing up the subject. Joe
February 20th, 2012 at 4:21 pm
Thank you for writing about this extremely important issue, Pat. I see a therapist every six weeks at the Psychiatric Oncology Center at MDA and take the anti-depressant Lexapro. Both have made a huge difference in my life – sort of like moving from a foggy day into sunshine.
February 20th, 2012 at 4:30 pm
Interesting, Joe. I feel the same way about how health care personnel act and react as well. I wonder what a “shrink” would say about that… Aren’t they there to help and serve us? Glad that you are exercising! I don’t feel very good today, but I will force myself to get started, knowing I will feel better later.
Beth, so glad Lexapro is helping you! Thanks for sharing…
February 20th, 2012 at 6:32 pm
I would hope that people wouldn’t be discouraged from seeking professional medical help for the emotional and psychological challenges that myeloma can cause. I think often it is a combination of an anti depressant med and “talk” therapy that brings the best results. A pill won’t solve all your problems, but sometimes (not always) you need that chemical adjustment in your brain to even begin taking the positive steps toward feeling better. I want to plug The Cancer Support Community for the many FREE programs and support groups they offer. http://www.cancersupportcommunity.org Maybe there’s a location near you. It was founded by a man who’s wife had been diagnosed with cancer. As parents of a child who had suffered with addiction they were looking for the same kind of support to deal with their cancer diagnosis that they had experienced in Al Anon groups. It was formerly known as the Wellness Community but renamed when they joined with Gilda’s Club. This is certainly a “quality of life” issue just as vital to explore as peripheral neuropathy or fatigue etc….Great topic.
February 20th, 2012 at 7:32 pm
Thanks, Kate! Of course, my intention was never to discourage anyone from taking anti-depressants. And yes, everything I’ve read points to combination therapy. Thanks so much for the link to Cancer Support!
February 21st, 2012 at 6:23 pm
Sixty Minutes has a history fraught with bias. The efficacy of combination therapy is well established, for multiple myeloma, depression or both together. As with chemo-therapy, a customized treatment regimen for each patient’s unique depression and physiology is imperative.
I can testify to the benefits of both. For me, a ‘pill’ provided a safety net to limit the depths of a tumble into darkness. My therapist’s talk therapy skills have helped me, since a 2003 dx, find a way to lug this weight, while choosing to pursue the beauty life offers each of us. The alternative is acquiescence to the power of the beast, a fearful existence filled with self pity and numbing despair.
A choice is required and dragging yourself through the quicksands of depression to make that choice is so hard! But, if you can get there, if you can force that next step, the light on the other side is bright and warm, and you have earned it.
February 22nd, 2012 at 9:41 am
The benefit to stories like this one on 60 Minutes is it gets people talking about a subject that sometimes gets lost in the shadows. I’m glad you sought-out help–and that it worked. I am seeing someone this evening as I begin to “therapy shop” for both me and my wife. I say “whatever works!” Just don’t sit and suffer!
February 22nd, 2012 at 12:50 pm
I agree, Pat.
Praying that you and your wife find meaningful support. You’ve earned it.
February 22nd, 2012 at 1:46 pm
Thank you! I’m looking forward to sharing what I learn. I’m curious about possible therapy options, what insurance will and won’t pay for, etc.
February 23rd, 2012 at 4:01 am
I have often observed in our own lives and those of others I am close to, that fragile areas in a person’s life seem to come front and center with the stress of a traumatic event, like a Myeloma diagnosis. They were always there, but now they are HUGE and it can feel very overwhelming. Dave and I were fortunate to have been working on these fragile areas before his diagnosis and managed to get through this without chronic depression (acute depression was surely evident early on) or need for therapeutic assistance, for which we are grateful.
Psychotropics continue to be quite controversial and most would agree are overprescribed and in isolation (i.e., no adjunct therapy). The problem of course is whether they cause the very things they are trying to address and I rarely meet someone where they continue working over the long haul. Their purpose historically was for only the grossly despondent patient in an effort to get them to “talk”. It was viewed that once they would talk, then help could be obtained. They are used in a vastly different manner now, often with little follow up. So as with all things health related, you need to be your own advocate. Educate yourself, pay attention to the changes you observe and talk to your doctor if you notice adverse emotions being accentuated. And if they are helping, then use that helpful time on them to work on those areas you struggle with so you can deal with them better.
February 23rd, 2012 at 12:34 pm
Thank you for giving this so much thought and then sharing your comments, Lori! Always great to hear from an experienced, well traveled caregiver!
February 23rd, 2012 at 11:20 pm
I had a Myeloma Meet Up today in California Pat, and they were BIG FANS of that Pat Killingsworth!
February 24th, 2012 at 12:16 am
How cool is that! Thanks, Lori… Made my night!
February 28th, 2012 at 12:07 am
Pat, you just keep on truckin for those of us who have multiple myeloma. There is NO ONE ELSE on this planet who is not a doctor or medical specialist who is more well educated and informed about MM than you are. Furthermore, you have done it ALL ON YOUR OWN because you care,and you will continue to care.
I for one appreciate you and what you do. I read your blog every single day and look forward to them. I share them everyday with my husband and we pray for you and Pattie on a regular and ongoing basis.
Please don’t be upset or concerned about what Charlie thinks. The rest of us love and appreciate you for who you are and how well informed you are and how you take on the tough issues and address them head on.
Your VAST KNOWLEDGE helps me to know all about my disease and to intelligently talk to my oncologist about issues you have brought up in your blogs. It certainly helps me to be well informed. Keep your chin up and please continue to help us to cope with this wicked
disease. Cynthia
February 28th, 2012 at 12:36 am
I don’t know what to say, Cynthia, and that doesn’t happen very often! I was dragging a bit this evening. But it wasn’t something a reader wrote or said. Just plain old RVD wearing me down. Boy, Revlimid really wipes me out ever since my transplant. Reading your kind words helped get me going again. Thank you so much!