Would like some advice please!

Hiya guys!

Hope you are all well, I'm after a bit of advice....

I have been feeling 'rough' since mid october, low in mood, knackered all the time, light headed feeling like I'm going to faint...like it's all too much hard work, just wanting to get back in bed and hibernate!!

I got my blood checked, bp taken, dipped my urine, did a pregnancy test (i'm a nurse so my kind colleagues did it all for me!) it all came back fine (thyroid was fine too...I'm on thyroxine), so I took the results to my doctor who said he didnt know what it was, it could just be 'one of those things'! Grrrrr!!

I got home & started thinking, I remember feeling like this last year, same symptoms, but Dr said it was borderline thyroid and put me on thyroxine...was about end of March at this point as I'd plucked up courage to go, April arrived and I started to feel grand, but here we are again!!

Now I dont know wether to go back to my Dr and say I think it's SAD and give him the rationale as to why i think it is or wether to get myself a lightbox & try to sort myself out!

Will there be any benefit to me going back to the doctor as there are no tests for SAD are there? I kind of get the feeling not!

If you've managed to read this far thank you!! Look forward to hearing your views!

Gem x

Hi there,

If you think you've got SAD then I would recommend getting a lightbox as this is, as far as I know, the most likely way you will feel better. If I remember rightly about 85% of people with SAD find a lightbox beneficial.

Obviously cost can be scary as you are not sure if it will help. Some companies, if not all, offer a 3 week trial scheme where you can send the lightbox back for a refund if you think it is not any help. Also in some areas it it possible to hire lightboxes (look up the SADA, the SAD association).

As far as going to the doctor is concerned I think you have nothing to lose by going and saying what you think. If you don't want anti-depressants then don't let your doctor prescribe them to you. Another possibility would be to tell the Dr you are going to try the lightbox for a month and will come back and let them know whether it has helped you. I don't think you should think about it as an either Dr or lightbox choice. If the lightbox helps then I'm sure it would help the Dr to know that it has helped you, then at least they have a chance of suggesting it to then next person...

Of course, if going back to your doctor is something you'd just prefer not to do, then just get the lightbox.

As for me, I had 2 years with antidepressants 1999-2000, got a 2500 lux lightbox for 2001 which helped but was time consuming and got a 10000 lux one in 2003. I have never felt the need to discuss my lightbox with my current GP, though periodically wonder if I should do, even just for his education.

Above all, give a lightbox a chance.

SullyTheGoldfish