u/AudienceHead6899

Hey,

I'm feeling quite stuck about what to do and whether there is anything that can be done and my current MH. Would really appreciate some perspective.

37F, England.

I'm currently on 112.5mg venlafaxine and while it has definitely helped a bit: I feel more in control, less labile emotions and far less actively suicidal than previously when I was on various SSRIs, I still feel quite low a lot of the time.

Motivation is a problem, I go to work and appear to be functioning but I really don't feel like I am. I struggle at home, my husband does most of the day to day household stuff. I really struggle with my kids, being around them makes me feel so down and anxious and on edge. I'm struggling doing the things that I enjoy and that keep me well, running, swimming, making bread. I still see the friends but only because they initiate making plans. I have friends I no longer see because I don't have the energy to reach out.

I am exhausted all the time and given the chance will sleep for several hours during the day. I usually wake about 5am when I usually don't have to be awake until 6, but have been managing to get to sleep better than previously. In the past I've struggled with actually sleeping whereas now I feel I'm sleeping too much by napping for 3-4 hours given the chance- I still feel exhausted.

For a long time I feel like there is no joy on the world and this hasn't improved on venlafaxine.

I have been doing EMDR therapy for a few months and I really hoped this might help but I don't feel like it's making any difference to my overall mood, it is helping slightly with the trauma side of things.

I've spent a lot of time going back and forth to my GP over the past couple of years. I've been several different antidepressants including several SSRIs and mirtazapine, and amitriptyline for a bit to help with sleep.

I feel I need to go back to my GP but don't know what to say or ask for. I feel like there isn't anything else they can do. And I'm not in as bad a place as I was before, so maybe this is just it? This is as good as things get? Venlafaxine has definitely helped a bit, just not completely.

Feeling quite down thinking this could be life forever more.

I've been on my current venlafaxine dose for 6 weeks. I previously went up to 150mg but was completely exhausted and sleeping all the time so after 6 weeks asked to go back down.

England based and wondering if this sounds usual.

2004- aged 14/15 - cholesteatoma, successful mastoidectomy, bone replacements, eardrum graft etc. hearing was restored as good as other ear.

12 years of follow-ups with ENT consultant. He was happy, said to request re-referral if any future concerns. I now live in a different part of the country.

Recently- Gradual hearing loss, noticeably worse past couple of months. No pain or discharge or obvious infection when GP looked in ear.

However, I only had signs of my first cholesteatoma once a lot of damage had already been done. So the lack of other signs doesn't completely reassure me.

Last week- saw GP, asked for ENT referral to check for recurrence. GP initially was going to refer to just audiology because I'd "had the cholesteatoma treated". Only after I reiterated my concern about recurrence she checked online and found it can reoccur.

Today - received an ENT appt for October. I've heard ENT is very busy so fair enough.

I'm nosy so I looked up the doctor and he's a GPSI (GP with special interest in ENT) rather than a hospital based ENT consultant.

Is this usual?

I'm a midwife and if a woman needs to see an obstetrician they're usually referred to see a consultant, who they'll see for the first appointment and then registrars in that consultant's clinic for follow-ups. I realise obstetrics is an acute service though so may be different.

Is ENT quite different to this?

Does this sound like a usual route?

I also have an audiology appointment next month.

Edit: typo