Hey guys. Had a really good chat with my MS nurse a few weeks ago... She was just brilliant, listened to everything I needed to tell her and gave me several referrals (did you know that neuro physio is a thing!!??). During that call however, I realised I'm really not doing as well mentally as I thought I was... A bit of background: I had what I can only describe as a breakdown in October last year and I was off work for 3 months. I was a mess both mentally and physically, but I was convinced that it was because I hadn't slept for more than about 4 or 5 hours a night in 10 months, and that was a good night. Most nights it was closer to 3 hours. When I spoke to the doc, she said she'd give me sleepers for a week (she didn't... It was antihistamines, and they didn't work) but if I wasn't feeling better in a week, she suggested I start antidepressants. I have nothing against them, but I really didn't feel that I was depressed (and still don't, actually), and I also didn't want to go down that route immediately without trying other things and working out where things went wrong first. I know so many people on antidepressants and for most it's been a years long commitment, and those who have managed to come off have found it incredibly hard and felt it was worse coming off than it was actually being in a state of depression. I've been feeling so much better than I was a few months ago, but I'm still struggling physically, and finding even the smallest of things cause me so much stress, and in the call with the nurse I started this involuntary heavy breathing thing again which had started two days before I went off sick from work. It feels like I can't breathe, like I've run out of breath and need to take a really deep breath and blow it out really quickly. She kept talking about low mood and I think she's right... I'm sad for myself and worried for the future. I'm so anxious sometimes (often for no obvious reason) that I feel sick. I've lost 6kg since October (I'm tall and I only weighed 59kg to start with) and my appetite is coming back now but I still have a few days a week when I just don't eat. I'm too tired or sick feeling. I can, however, look forward to things and I'm hopeful (or deluded) that this is a blip and if I just take it really easy, I will feel better in a few months hence, I don't think I'm 'depressed' as such. God I'm going on, sorry.... Nurse suggested Duloxotine to help with my 'low mood' and says it might also help with the weakness and altered sensation, as well as with sleep. Doc is calling tomorrow to discuss dosage. Does anyone have any experience of being on Duloxotine... And coming off of it? At this point all I want is to feel better, but I'm worried about starting on something I can't then get off of later down the line, and if I'm going to do this, I want to have a good feeling that it's going to work. Sorry for rambling and if you made it this far, thanks for reading ❤️