of one of the writers for www.Askmen.com, he talks quite plainly about feeling overwhelmed by everyday issues a few months after prostate surgery. It is simple clinical depression.  This kind of depression has an organic root and is an imbalance in chemistry. this can be caused by hormonal changes, anesthesia and simple shock to your body.

I have always said, every doctor should hand a patient the card of a qualified therapist when a diagnosis of cancer is made. A therapist is just another tool to help you through the events and decisions.

Go to your family doctor. Tell him how you are feeling. He will most likely prescribe a mild anitdepressant.  Many AD's can cause impotence, so be sure to ask your doc for one which does not.

I had never needed AD's until a couple months after surgery. Yep, I felt like such a loser going in to ask for them....as if I weren't working on it hard enough. Now I realize how even that feeling was part of the depression - It just wasn't worth it.

I'm on 150 mg of Wellbutrin and things are much better. I'll be off them in a few months as things settle down.  Don't waste another day. Call your GP and get on with healing.

and take care of yourself.

Paul

I have never taken antidepressants in my life and always felt I was a pretty even-keel guy.  I have experienced some incredible personal traumas and tragedies, and in my line of work deal frequently with death and tragedies.  But after surgery, which totally removed my cancer, I have had quite a few "down" days.

I recently called my doctor's office regarding some problems I was having.  I received a call back from the physician's assistant and told him I was bleeding quite a bit from the wound site; was having some incontinence issues; and that my wife (who, incidentally is an RN) had suggested it might be helpful if I have something to help me with anxiety - at least for a short while.  His response?  "Well, if we take care of the first two, the last one will take care of itself."  End of discussion.

Actually, neither of the first two issues have been resolved, but I am doing some better emotionally.  Of course, the initial onset was totally unexpected, so how can I be certain it will not happen again?  One good thing though, my experience has made me  want to be absolutely certain that I don't become mechanical when I am dealing with families and individuals in death and crises in my work.  No matter how much you see or experience each person if different and need to be treated with respect and sincere concern.