I was disgnosed with idiopathic cerebellar ataxia in 2008. I get depressed a lot. I started by using a cane then a frame and now wheelchair bound."can anyone help. Any suggestion.
Thank you
I was getting depressed and was ready to cry all the time after I started a medication that's heavily advertised called Lyrica and I quit it pretty quick, it was to help me sleep I think. He then tried me on another drug that makes you walk in your sleep and go out in the middle of the nite and not even know it. so I did not use that very long either.He then put me on klonipen and I just used them up every once in a while, they are a very hard drug to stop taking. It can take like a year to get off these drugs for some people, benzodiazapams can be bad Doctors think they are good because they have no opiates.
hello my name is dave and I have SCA 7 im not chaired yet but do use a cane.You must make nutrition your new lifestyle,first thing is to find a wellness chiropractor mine is Dr.Dan G www.nepadrdan.com You must get your spine corrected so what little comunacation your nerves are getting is THE most important thing u can do it helped me soooooooooooooooo much.Then throw out your microwave oven its killing u , filter your water a whole house filter system is best THIS is vital no sugar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! carbs are your biggest enemy any glutin your body turns it to sugar and sugar causes inflammation which is the cause of all deseize.TRUST me it works post often and tell everyone your progress. Hope this helps Dave D
Hi, My Doctor could tell immeditly that I was having depression issues, so I am on Zoloft 100mg a day. It really helped a lot.
HAVE YOU SIGNED UP WITH NATIONAL ATAXIA FOUNDATION ONN FACEBOOK. ALSO THERE NUMBER IS 763-■■■■. I GET DEPRESSED TOO AND I HAVE CEREBELLUM ATAXIA. IF YOU TO CHAT MY EMAIL IS IOWASUE57@YAHOO.
BLESSINGS TO YOU..
SUSAN
Dave Doroskewicz said:
hello my name is dave and I have SCA 7 im not chaired yet but do use a cane.You must make nutrition your new lifestyle,first thing is to find a wellness chiropractor mine is Dr.Dan G www.nepadrdan.com You must get your spine corrected so what little comunacation your nerves are getting is THE most important thing u can do it helped me soooooooooooooooo much.Then throw out your microwave oven its killing u , filter your water a whole house filter system is best THIS is vital no sugar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! carbs are your biggest enemy any glutin your body turns it to sugar and sugar causes inflammation which is the cause of all deseize.TRUST me it works post often and tell everyone your progress. Hope this helps Dave D
hello my name is dave and I have SCA 7 im not chaired yet but do use a cane.You must make nutrition your new lifestyle,first thing is to find a wellness chiropractor mine is Dr.Dan G www.nepadrdan.com You must get your spine corrected so what little comunacation your nerves are getting is THE most important thing u can do it helped me soooooooooooooooo much.Then throw out your microwave oven its killing u , filter your water a whole house filter system is best THIS is vital no sugar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! carbs are your biggest enemy any glutin your body turns it to sugar and sugar causes inflammation which is the cause of all deseize.TRUST me it works post often and tell everyone your progress. Hope this helps Dave D
I SHARED THIS ON MY FB SITE; MY PLEASURE TO MEET YOU WITH GOOD ADVICE! AND I HOPE YOU JOIN!
Susan Shacka said:
Dave Doroskewicz said:hello my name is dave and I have SCA 7 im not chaired yet but do use a cane.You must make nutrition your new lifestyle,first thing is to find a wellness chiropractor mine is Dr.Dan G www.nepadrdan.com You must get your spine corrected so what little comunacation your nerves are getting is THE most important thing u can do it helped me soooooooooooooooo much.Then throw out your microwave oven its killing u , filter your water a whole house filter system is best THIS is vital no sugar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! carbs are your biggest enemy any glutin your body turns it to sugar and sugar causes inflammation which is the cause of all deseize.TRUST me it works post often and tell everyone your progress. Hope this helps Dave D
If you aren't depressed to a degree you are healthy. I have had SCA all my life but, just diagnosed four years ago. I knew something was wrong as I would not participate in many activites as a child and as an adult. Believe it or not I made 37 years as a cop but, with a lot of injures. Things came to the top when I took on a high stress job that finally put everything into full gear.
My first advice is to take physical therapy. Although I don't need many of the exercise I did learn to use my cane, roloator, walker, and a wheel chair. The only reason I am still on the cane is the professional training I received. Secondly and I have had a hard time of it find something to do with your time. I call this the lonely disease. I go days without seeing or hearing from anyone other than my wife which is the highlight of my day :).
Take the high road and make yourself get back on the cane. There are days when I force my self to use it. I am lucky that I can control my SCA by sheer will alone. I can do it with God kicking me in the ass. God bless you and forge ahead. It is a hard thing to do but, it can be done.
By the way to who ever said to get rid of the microwave can you please explain???
Dave, explain the microwave statement. Thanks!
Dave Doroskewicz said:
hello my name is dave and I have SCA 7 im not chaired yet but do use a cane.You must make nutrition your new lifestyle,first thing is to find a wellness chiropractor mine is Dr.Dan G www.nepadrdan.com You must get your spine corrected so what little comunacation your nerves are getting is THE most important thing u can do it helped me soooooooooooooooo much.Then throw out your microwave oven its killing u , filter your water a whole house filter system is best THIS is vital no sugar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! carbs are your biggest enemy any glutin your body turns it to sugar and sugar causes inflammation which is the cause of all deseize.TRUST me it works post often and tell everyone your progress. Hope this helps Dave D
Your time frame sounds like mine. Idiopathic cerebellar ataxia with noticeable symptoms from around 2008. I am starting to deal with signs of depression. My dr.. prescribed an anti-anxiety medication, only 20 mg,. taken at bedtime. It helps me get to sleep.
I use a cane, have a rollator that I use occasionally, and have not used a wheelchair yet. I am trying to maintain driving my car locally.
But I am staying at home a lot, my social contacts have dwindled and I have had to give up some volunteer efforts. I am not surprised at feeling depressed. But I.'m angry too. Dealing with this has affected everything.
I am a young 75, but the ataxia takes so much out of me trying to balance that I am very fatigued by the afternoon and need to nap. I hate it that I lurch and stagger, and I am uncomfortable with others seeing this behavior.
The fact that my husband passed away two years ago only contributed to my life.changing in challenging ways. He was so supportive and when you do things together, you attract other couples and the lonliness is not there.
So between that loss and my condition, it's not a wonder I have gained 30 pounds!
One thing I believe in is trying to stay in touch with positive, supportive people The other is to stay busy as much as possible. We all have things we could be doing. even if it is at home. I try to see someone in my home or going out for lunch once a week.
Good luck. I'll be thinking of you.
Hello from WI.
I also was diagnosed with ataxia in 2008. I used to get depressed a lot esp when I had to give up the cane to use a rollator. I also live alone. I realized that I was spending too much time pitying myself (no one else was feeling sorry for me). I read on a support group "I may have ataxia--but it doesn't have me". I decided to learn what I could about ataxia. I have modified my eating habits. [Low fat, low sugar, low sodium] [I cut out soda entirely] I am an avid reader of food labels.It's taken me years but I've discovered how certain foods afffect me. There's no magic list- you have to discover by trial and error. Stay here! This is a wonderful way to find support!
I WAS diagnosed on 2007. y do not know what kind of ataxia I have but also I am depressed and I was using a cane and know I am using a walker and i do not understand why can somebody find a medicine to feel better and walk without a help, sorry that I CAN NOT HELP YOU, I wish you the best
Hi,
I have always felt that self pity is a waste of my time - it uses up vital energy that I need for other things. When I feel myself starting to go there I think of someone else who has it worse than me. My daughter's half brother died at 27 of a massive heart attack following a miserable life of open heart surgeries, pacemaker, defibrillators. He was too sick to finish high school, and was finally awarded an honorary diploma shortly before he died.
He was born with a wall missing in his heart, and struggled to live for all of those 27 years. How can I feel sorry for myself after witnessing that. My daughter suffers from severe depression, however; I am glad that I am not depressed. I feel fortunate to have found this group. I am learning so much, and hope I can help others as they have helped me already.
Nancy J
Dear Joehamed, Your twin daughters are adorable! I was diagnosed eleven years ago with Sporadic (idiopathic) Cerebellar Ataxia (unknown cause), although I had small symptoms starting about eight years before diagnosis. No one in my family, as far back as we know, has/had ataxia, except me. Anyway, although difficult, I try to keep as active (safely) as possible. I exercise for strength and balance. I use a cane, and for pleasure walking, an Access Active Rollator. I eat as healthy as possible, nothing processed and natural, organic foods (lots of veggies and fruit), no dairy (except yogurt), or added sugar. I've also had physical therapy in the past, and just finished aquatic therapy, with plans to continue it on my own. I'm on an anti-depressant (Sertraline, generic of Zoloft - 200 mgs daily), originally for a deferent reason, which helps balance chemicals. Although ataxia is extremely frustrating and challenging, I try to keep a positive attitude (glass half full rather than half empty...,ha!) ;o)
I don't know what your activity level is but depression can be very crippling itself. I would try to be around people ( get out if you can). Find things that you CAN do. I know that can be hard because I'm struggling with that myself. I actually finally found an exercise class for people with problems. There are people with back, shoulder, me (balance) and just want to stretch and be social. If you can't do a certain exercise then they find a different way to do the same exercise. I found this through my church but there may be others out there. Your wheelchair is how you get around, it's not who you are.
I hope this helps. I hope you don't let your depression get the best of you.
I too suffered from ataxia of unknown origin starting when I was 39; and I suffered horribly with headaches confusion and random falls for the next 10 years. After too many wasted appointments with "specialists"; I decided to go on a gluten free diet two years ago because I was so sick and had heard it could help those with neuro symptoms. Amazingly, the fuzzy, brain fog head that had been my constant companion slowly melted away over the last two years. I am still not as well as I would like; but so much better than I used to be. Last summer, I was diagnosed with Celiac disease and as such, will continue with a gluten free diet for the rest of my life.
I highly recommend you try a gluten free diet as there is a chance you may have gluten ataxia or celiac disease. It was a full 3 months on the diet before I noticed any improvement; so be patient. Most people think Celiac disease only causes stomach problems; but almost 40% of the afflicted suffer from neuro symptoms like a heavy head, headaches, migraines, vertigo, dizziness, poor balance and ataxia.
I wish you well and don't hesitate to contact me if you wish to discuss any of this in more detail.
best regards, Bill