What Is Your Current Diagnosis?
Bipolar
What Was Your Illness, Injury or Surgery?
Shoulder Surgery August 17th 2010
Describe your mood before the illness/injury/surgery
My mood before the surgery was quite manic. I was doing anything and everything. I couldn't sit down. I went on vacation and did everything without taking a nap in the afternoon which is not like me.
Did your mood change after the illness/injury/surgery?
My mood changed dramatically after the surgery. I'm depressed because I can't do anything at all with my shoulder/arm. People told me shoulder surgery is hell and they were right. I just started physical therapy and I swear I feel worse than I did before I started. I'm sleeping more during the day. I'm not getting anything done around the house. I'm not sleeping at night and that's after taking a Lunesta and a Vicodin. I'm gaining weight because I can't exercise, even the pounding of walking fast hurts my arm. I basically just feel helpless and useless and I know these feelings very well.
How did you cope with mood problems during recovery?
I'm still trying to cope with my mood by working with my therapist and my psychotherapist. I may need to get my meds adjusted if I feel any worse. I'm trying to eat better and I'm going to physical therapy. My therapist has been my best support, and so has my spouse. They are both there when I need to talk but like I said I think I may need to increase my meds if this depression worsens. I'm afraid of ending up in the hospital.
Advice
- I really can't offer any advice yet, but I can tell you what I've been told and that is to try to get outside or find something you like and do it. I personally haven't been able to do that since the things I like to do involve using my hands, like fixing things and working in the yard so with a shoulder problem it's pretty hard to do that.
