Q: I go to sleep in a completely normal state of mind, but wake up after sleeping in a deeply depressed or depressed mood. It usually goes away after two to three hours. This has been happening for many years. I took antidepressants often, but they never helped much. My general health is excellent.
Mrs NE Meah, Leicestershire.
A: I have no doubt that you have some form of depression. In fact, I saw the exact pattern you described earlier in one of my patients.
The noticeable change in mood – the feeling of deep depression in the morning when you wake up from sleep – corresponds to a known biorhythm linked to the body’s production of the hormone cortisol.
Cortisol has many functions: its levels rise during stress or danger as part of our fight-or-flight response, and it helps regulate blood pressure and inflammation, among other things.
DR. MARTIN SCURR: The feeling of deep depression in the morning when you wake up from sleep corresponds to a known biorhythm linked to the body’s production of the hormone cortisol
There are significant fluctuations in the amount of cortisol the body produces during the day and night, with levels lowest in the darkest hours just before sunrise, but peaking around 9am, likely to start us off for the day.
We know very little about what exactly happens in the brain during depression. However, we do know that chemical messengers are involved and that the hypothalamus (a part of the brain involved in sending messages to stimulate cortisol production) is part of the picture.
It is important to note that patterns of depression symptoms vary widely.
For some, a depressed mood is overwhelming. Still others experience little mood disturbance, instead reporting other so-called biological features of depression, including weight loss, fatigue, sleep problems, poor memory, and loss of interest in things that used to be fun.
Studies have even shown a slowing of finger and toenail growth. All this confirms that this condition can affect the whole body, and not just mood.
In your long letter you mention that your father had severe depression – and we know that depression can run in families.
My patient with similar symptoms responded to antidepressants, but your doctor is undoubtedly best placed to help you find an appropriate solution.
Q: I recently had surgery to remove a tumor at the junction of the duodenum, bile ducts, and pancreas. I am cancer free but have to go to the toilet six times a day, pass a lot of gas and feel very uncomfortable. Will I always live with this?
Tony Dean, by email.
A: The operation you underwent, known as the Whipple procedure, is complex and involves removing the head (the wide part) of the pancreas as well as the first part of the small intestine, the gallbladder and the bile ducts (the small one).. channels). which connects the organs in the digestive system).
The main function of the pancreas is to secrete many of the enzymes needed to break down food. If not enough of it is produced, the partially digested food will continue to enter the intestines, which can lead to diarrhea, gas, bloating and pain.
Therefore, after this operation, patients often have several bowel movements per day for several weeks, but the frequency gradually decreases.
For now, I suggest you focus on ensuring your gut functions as well as possible by improving the health of your microbiome – the community of microorganisms that play a critical role in our health, including digestion.
DR. MARTIN SCURR: After this surgery, patients often have bowel movements several times a day for several weeks
Try adding fiber in the form of oats, fruit, vegetables and salad; If you gradually increase your intake over several weeks, your bowel movements should become less frequent.
You can also consider taking a probiotic daily. These “friendly” bacteria are found in fermented foods such as yogurt, kefir, or sauerkraut, and while readily available and relatively inexpensive, supplements are also available in health food stores.
Your bowel movements should become more or less normal within six to eight months after surgery.
The weight you lost postoperatively must also be regained.
If not, consult your doctor; You may have blood tests to make sure you are not deficient in essential nutrients, and you may be prescribed capsules to supplement the production of pancreatic enzymes.
In my eyes… hope for migraine sufferers like me
For anyone who has never had a migraine – I’ve had it for a long time – it’s hard to describe how terrible they can be.
It is not only pain, but also nausea, clumsiness, blurred vision and (the predominant symptom) a feeling of distress and irritability when exposed to light or sound.
I recently attended a talk by a neurologist friend about innovations in migraine treatment – the first breakthrough came in 1992 with drugs called triptans, which can stop symptoms – but they don’t work for everyone.
But a new class of drugs, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonists, can actually prevent a seizure. Currently, they are only available to patients who do not respond to or cannot tolerate other options.
My friend says patients claim the drugs have “changed their lives.” There will come a time when CGRP antagonists will be the first-line treatment. An enlightenment is emerging.
Write to Dr. Scurr
Write to Dr. Register at Good Health, Daily Mail, 9 Derry Street, London, W8 5HY or email: drmartin@dailymail.co.uk.
DR Scurr cannot enter into personal correspondence.
If you have any health problems, consult your own doctor.
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Crystal Leahy is an author and health journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a background in health and wellness, Crystal has a passion for helping people live their best lives through healthy habits and lifestyles.
