Exhausted but told I'm depressed.

Beckyboo62,

Be persistent.

You did a good job explaining your situation here, have you tried to do the same with your physician? Explaining that you have had depression since 1993, have been on multiple medications, and what you are feeling currently, is not what your usual depression symptoms feel like.

Also, be careful of the symptoms you express in the office visit, because if you appear significantly depressed, that is what the physician in going to pick up on and focus upon.

Ask the physician if he feels that it could be anything other than depression, what is on his differential diagnosis? See if you can go over the differential and see if you think the symptoms actually fit these conditions better than depression. If you think so, explain to the physician why you believe that the other diagnosis is a better fit.

Or, do some research on your own. Then when you see that physician, present your ideas of what you think it is and ask if he thinks it could possibly be the etiology. Don't let him just say no, but ask why not? However, don't take in 500 pieces a paper printed out off the internet, the physician just doesn't have time to go over all of that. Be concise.


But, you will have to be persistent. Good luck.