Johndg2

I posted on the cold/flu board, but it may be more appropraite to post here.
Does anyone think that depression may cause common colds and such to linger longer than it should? Like a psychosomatice thing where your depression will not let your body recover as quickly as it should. Or possibly immune function is lowered with depressed people. There is a link b/w seratonin and immune function. Something of that sort is going on with me. I should note a couple things. I stared taking paxil and zyprexa in 2002 after a serious psychotic epeisode. It really helped out. Before then, I had been depressed off and on for years. I made it through some strange depressed, and neurotic times without meds, but my god it took a long time, but I believe it paid off. Being older, I didnt have the time to be a total wreck with more responsibilities. I've been pretty stable ever since I started meds. I had to go off paxil in 2004, and had severe withdraws, which I believe hurt my immune system, because I started catching colds way more than I ever had. Took St. Johns wort and 5-HtP for a year; it worked beautifully for a year untill it pooped out when I got sick again. Last year at this time I got a stomach virus, and then the depression came again. I was left with a really awful physical depression, which I cant even explain (really tired and felt like I was poisined). That lasted weeks, then I got a sinus infection that lasted 2 months. After that cleared, I still felt awfyu. Finally started taking lexapro, which is working, but admitedly not as good as paxil... I'm willing to take that since I feel like it's safer (who knows) I didnt get sick that much whil ON paxil by the way. It started when I came OFF. Anyways, if youv'e read this far, has anyone experinced a similar things. I dont feel that bad now, the cold just lingers too long after the worst is over. Anyone else? Also I smoke, which is not good, and I should quit, soon, maybe today.

pieces, Johndg2