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Suggest Treatment For Depression, Diarrhea And Upset Stomach
Question: My wife has stated she is depressed, sleeps all day and is awake all night. For the past three days she has experienced sudden cases of diahhrea accompanied by a upset and painful stomach. She also has eaten very little in the past few days, and states she has no appitite. When questioned, she says that is all caused by nerves which started when I had a fall, and hit my head, causing a small wound. She does have a propensity to take incidents, even small ones, very seriously.
Brief Answer:
Depression and physical symptoms
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
If your wife is aware that she is depressed, I advise that she see a psychiatrist, and if she can't get in to see one in a timely way, then she should start with her primary care doctor.
Anxiety can cause gastrointestinal problems, but without further history and exam, it is hard to know if her digestive symptoms are from a passing gastrointestinal virus, or other medical causes. These should be ruled out before chalking it up to psychological causes, which would cause more of a chronic problem.
If her depressive symptoms have been going on for weeks or months, she may benefit from an antidepressant such as an SSRI. Escitalopram (Lexapro) has one of the quickest onsets and fewest side effects. However, it can take a couple of weeks to notice improvement (and most side effects go away or lessen in that period of time too).
A psychologist can talk with her to learn what thought issues are troubling her. Her reaction to the fall and injury you described sound out of proportion. So I would recommend talk therapy in addition to seeing a psychiatrist (who usually will not provide talk therapy).
So I would do the following:
1. See primary care doctor (to rule out physical problems) and psychiatrist (to treat the depression with medication).
2. See a psychologist for cognitive therapy.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification.
Depression and physical symptoms
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
If your wife is aware that she is depressed, I advise that she see a psychiatrist, and if she can't get in to see one in a timely way, then she should start with her primary care doctor.
Anxiety can cause gastrointestinal problems, but without further history and exam, it is hard to know if her digestive symptoms are from a passing gastrointestinal virus, or other medical causes. These should be ruled out before chalking it up to psychological causes, which would cause more of a chronic problem.
If her depressive symptoms have been going on for weeks or months, she may benefit from an antidepressant such as an SSRI. Escitalopram (Lexapro) has one of the quickest onsets and fewest side effects. However, it can take a couple of weeks to notice improvement (and most side effects go away or lessen in that period of time too).
A psychologist can talk with her to learn what thought issues are troubling her. Her reaction to the fall and injury you described sound out of proportion. So I would recommend talk therapy in addition to seeing a psychiatrist (who usually will not provide talk therapy).
So I would do the following:
1. See primary care doctor (to rule out physical problems) and psychiatrist (to treat the depression with medication).
2. See a psychologist for cognitive therapy.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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