Symptoms and Causes of Major Depression

[MaryJacobyHastings]

I went from perfectly normal kidney function to stage 5 practically overnight when the perfect storm happened. After years of passing kidney stones and enduring numerous lithotripsies, my poor kidneys are scarred and inflamed. I was prescribed a blood pressure medication that was supposed to help the kidneys (Lisinoprol) in addition to taking Metformin for Diabetes when I developed hypercalcemia. In the meantime, I was taking NSAIDS for some arthritis relief, though not in great quantities, but enough to create a toxic ****tail that put me in the emergency room fighting for my life the end of January 2015. I spent 2-1/2 weeks in the hospital as doctors ran every possible test from a bone marrow biopsy to a kidney biopsy thinking some kind of cancer had to be the underlying cause of my kidney failure. They found no cancer, but this chapter has changed my life forever. I was already on 2 antidepressants at the time and I didn't think it could get any worse, but screwed up electrolytes only sent me into a deeper depression. My nephrologist told me it was normal for me to be depressed after the year I've had and this scary renal failure diagnosis. I am also reaching out to others fighting depression as a result of being given this early death sentence (end stage renal disease). I am in the process of getting on the national kidney transplant list and have not begun dialysis by choice. I try to convince myself I am going to recover without interventions but I know in the back of my mind, this may never happen, which makes it hard to stay positive all of the time.

[KelseyAtDaVita]

I went from perfectly normal kidney function to stage 5 practically overnight when the perfect storm happened. After years of passing kidney stones and enduring numerous lithotripsies, my poor kidneys are scarred and inflamed. I was prescribed a blood pressure medication that was supposed to help the kidneys (Lisinoprol) in addition to taking Metformin for Diabetes when I developed hypercalcemia. In the meantime, I was taking NSAIDS for some arthritis relief, though not in great quantities, but enough to create a toxic ****tail that put me in the emergency room fighting for my life the end of January 2015. I spent 2-1/2 weeks in the hospital as doctors ran every possible test from a bone marrow biopsy to a kidney biopsy thinking some kind of cancer had to be the underlying cause of my kidney failure. They found no cancer, but this chapter has changed my life forever. I was already on 2 antidepressants at the time and I didn't think it could get any worse, but screwed up electrolytes only sent me into a deeper depression. My nephrologist told me it was normal for me to be depressed after the year I've had and this scary renal failure diagnosis. I am also reaching out to others fighting depression as a result of being given this early death sentence (end stage renal disease). I am in the process of getting on the national kidney transplant list and have not begun dialysis by choice. I try to convince myself I am going to recover without interventions but I know in the back of my mind, this may never happen, which makes it hard to stay positive all of the time.

Hi MaryJacobyHastings, we're very sorry to hear about your diagnosis. However, you've chosen the right place to discuss what you're going through. I hope you find value in the myDaVita community and are able to connect with others who share your story to kidney disease. I hope you have a great day!

[raramorgan]

Hang in there with CKD you can go on dialysis until a transplant can be done. dialysis is not best but it can keep you alive till a transplant can be found. Try to think of things that make you happy. kids grand kids other family and try to focus on those thing and it will help you get through everyday. I am not usually a person who gets depressed very easy but when I was diagnosed with a very rare kidney disease it was hard because I can't have a transplant so when I go on dialysis that is where I'll be until I die and at 55 I plan to live a long time. It helped me make it through every day when I would keep my family in mind and then I stopped feeling depressed about it all the time. Take care and good luck.