Thinking... since moving to Australia

Is it possible the disorder could be related to other medical conditions - namely glandular problems?

I first began to experience SAD after suffering Glandular Fever at the age of 16. Lymph nodes in my neck and behind my ears have never quite returned to their normal size, and I have never had the same amount of energy. I had put the latter down to increasing age, stress, beginning full time work etc.

Symptoms I suffered when back in the UK included:

Low mood
Irritable
Aching joints
Weak muscles
Bouts of severe depression
Light intolerance
Carbohydrate craving
Vastly increased appetite, followed by lack of appetite, in some cases for days
Apathy
Social sensitivity
Lack of interest in usual hobbies and any social activities
Lack of concentration
Lack of libido
Chronic fatigue
Anxiety attacks
Insomnia
Nightmares
Paranoia

With the help of supplements including Zinc, Omega 3, 6 and 9 Magnesium B6, a balanced diet and regular exercise, I have managed to vastly reduce or eliminate the above symptoms since moving to Australia. Lowering the intake of any of these supplements has an almost immediate affect on my mood.

Interestingly, symptoms I would never have believed to be related have now also disappeared, including:

Back ache
Severe headaches/Migraines
Intense menstrual pain, heavy bleeding and clotting
Intense PMT, emotional and physical

Also, as a sufferer of Supra Ventricular Tachycardia (SVT), I can report that symptoms related to this have now significantly decreased and I have been able to halve my medication.

Lack of daylight still results in a return of most symptoms, albeit far less severe than I ever experienced in the UK. I have also noticed physical symptoms which follow these - swollen glands, sore eyes, cold sores, sore throat, runny nose - the usual symptoms of the common cold. Could this be a glandular reaction to SAD? Or is SAD a glandular malfunction in itself? Many glands are capable of affecting our mood and energy levels - pineal, thyroid, hypothalamus. This would certainly explain the chemical imbalance between serotonin, adrenaline, melatonin and noradrenalin.

I’m not really sure whether or not to present this as a report, nor who would be interested in reading, as with no medical background I am unable to present any conclusive evidence other than my own experiences.

I would be grateful to hear your thoughts on this!

Hi Linda,

I cannot take a concentrated form of any vitamin because of my heart meds. The meds themselves have never really affected me other than increasing the fatigue, but that's because my heart rate is now so low (around 48) so is understandable.

I haven't changed my diet/nutrition since leaving the UK - it's definitely the sun that's helping me. I recently spent some time in Sydney and even the slight change in the weather there produced some symptoms.

How are you doing now?

Hi Sunshine

I was very interested to read your post and it got me thinking about an illness I had in my teens.

When I was about 13-14 I had a really bad episode of illness which started in January and lasted until April. The doctor "diagnosed" glandular fever but I had numerous blood tests and nothing came back to say that is what is was. I lost a lot of weight and had constant flu like symtoms. (I often wonder if this was the start of my SAD due to the time of year it happened)

In November 2003 I lost partial sight in my right eye. Again after numerous weekly tests for MS and MRI scans nothing was concluded. It now transpires that the lost of my sight may have been a virus and the start of what they have now diagnosed as ME/CFS.

I have had SAD for at least 20 years but didn't realise that was what it was until the winter 0f 2000.

I have relapse periods of extreme pain in my joints and muscles can't exercise and I am now on the way to mastering the art of "pacing". I can be fine one minute, the next I have a temperature, swollen glands under my arms and neck, sort throat, and ache all over. I go to bed thinking I will get up the next day with the flu or a cold, but nothing. It is as if it has never happened, until I am active again the next day and again by the evening I feel the same. I have noticed this always happens on a Monday evening and I have put it down to doing too much at the weekends and then going to work on Monday.

I don't know if that is of any help to you but it seems such a coincidence. I feel that Glandular Fever/ME are connected and could be connected to SAD.