I've been reading the posts about meds - especially anti-depressants. I have fibromyalgia and I started out several years ago on Wellbutrin, but I got horrible headaches, so I was switched to a low dosage of Zoloft, which has worked well. I found that without an anti-depressant, when I would have a flare-up of symptoms, I didn't have any reserves to deal with it and I would really get in an emotional "pit." This keeps me on an even keel. My son (26 yrs old) is clinically depressed. We finally convinced him to take something to even out his emotional roller-coaster. He's taking Cymbalta, but he says he's still adjusting and feels a little groggy. I take Darvocet as needed for the pain and can usually manage the rest by pacing myself (not always easy). I'm considering Lyrica, but I don't know if I really need that just yet. I work full-time but have had to adjust the rest of my life to accomodate how I feel. I work at being positive and give myself permission to say no and to lie down when needed. I try to exercise but it always seems that I can do a really good week, then I get overly busy with work or at home for a week and then I'll have a flare-up of pain and then I'm back to square one with exercise - no consistency.

Oh Happy I am so sorry you had to go through that. Did you call your Dr. and let him know what was going on? I know it is horrrible trying to get off those meds, especially if you've been on them for a long time. Please let your Dr. know what happened if you haven't already. I will keep you in my prayers. Rachel

I am on effexor xr and they are try to get me off it so we went to hafe for a week and then went 2 days with not takeing it man I was so dizzy on Fri I could not get up so I ask Kevin my dd boy friend to take the percription to the drug store me ask them to fill it and he would wait for it because I really need they was to be closing in 10 mins that young man is so sweet Happy and he is a good cook and loves to bake

Pat you are too right. I have seen the benefits and the disasters of psych meds all to often. I will whole heartedly agree with you especially about having a Dr. that is willing to listen and work with you. When I was on Cymbalta, IT WAS A NIGHTMARE! Thank god I have a really good friend that is a nurse and I was a hospice nurse so we had my Dr. home phone number. She was able to call him when I was at my lowest and tell him what was going on. Unfortunately that is not the case for so many others out there. This gave me tremendous insight as to why certain crimes are committed senselessly. I have come to realize that mental deffect is a real disorder unfortunately if it is ignored the consequenses can be astromnimical. I can also sympathize with those of you who are actively resisting the urge to shoot somebody. That is not just a psych thing that is also a stress thing. So remember to keep resisting the urge because if you shoot someone your color scheme is very limited in prison. and I don't think they encourage quilt making. Too many needles and sharp objects. So you would have to find a different hobby.

I've been taking Wellbutrin for about a year now. My gyno prescribed it. It keeps me from wanting to kill as many people. I still just wanna shoot some of them tho. Just kidding. Kinda.
Sherry

After working in psych/mental health nursing since 1982, I can attest to the fact that there is no one medication that will work for every person. We all have slightly different biochemistry, and frustrating though it is, sometimes we have to try many different medications for depression (or psychosis) before we find the one that works best for any individual. I've seen lucky folks that do well with the first one tried, and others that took a couple of years of trial and error to hit on the right medication or combination. I wish there was a nice test that would let us know which one will work, but there isn't. I would encourage anybody out there who's having problems with depression to continue to work with your doctor. And if you don't have a good working relationship with your doctor, remember that there are many pages of them in the Yellow Pages--find one you like. No sense in staying with one you don't like or trust.

Pat in Rockport, TX who just got back from a trip to Seattle and was up all night on the plane. I need sleep! The lady sitting next to me went right to sleep. I just wanted to pinch her.

Eileen, I have been on wellbutrin for post partum depression and for seasonal depression along with Lexapro. Both have been wonderful for me. I have seen people on Zoloft in my porfession with ZERO affect. It was like "oh look my house is burning down I wonder if I should get out" . Then I have seen people where it work has done wonders. Unfortunately since the accident I have been on everything Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Cymbalt, you name it. Now I am on three. Yep Welbutrin, Lexapro, and Noratpyptoline(I know that is not spelled right sorry). This combination seems to be working so we aren't messing with it. I don't have the missing parts of the day where I can't tell people where I've been. Also I have not hurt my self doing something foolish (like putting the potholder on one hand and taking the pan out of the oven with the othe) in a long while. I told you I had issues. I am glad to hear that you had such a good time at your seminar and had your batteries recharged. I know what it means to just get away from everything and relax. Hope that the nerve pain continues to get better Rachel

Eileen I had that same experience w/ another meds (can't remember which!) -- fixed the "don't feel bad" problem by not feeling ANYTHING... not good! So Wellbutrin is also my "drug of choice"-- plus, it's supposed to have the least weight-gain effect... too bad, I'd like to blame that on something besides my own lack of willpower

Glad to hear the Super Seminar was good for you too! It IS therapeutic!!
Florence

I'm back from the Super Seminar and it was better than a massage! I'll let you know what happens after the orthopedist on Tuesday.
Rachel, the Cymbalta made me unusually not sad. I don't mean that I was overly happy, I mean that I couldn't even shed a tear when I should have-our son's wedding, daughter's college graduation. Nothing, nada. The doctor said it was unnatural for me to be that way so she took me off the Cymbalta and put me on Wellbutrin.
Eileen

Eileen, I feel for you. Believe me I know what it is like to have ins. problems. I am going through them right now. The accident ins. won't cover Lyrica. So I am on Celebrex. That combined with my 3 antidepressants and my Lortab and Flexeril; keep me moving and chipper. I personally think Lyrica would be cheaper. They tried to put me on Cymbalta again. My husband told them that he loved me very much and that he knew that if I was on that drug again, one of us would be dead and the other behind bars. Either way it would not be good for our children. You see I left him shortly after my accident because I was very hostile and felt like I could hurt him just for saying HI. Not a good drug for me. Oh well back to you PLEASE TREAT YOURSELF TO AT LEAST A HALF HOUR MASSAGE. Most massage therapist charge around $40 for it. Or if there is a massage therapy school near by they will work on you at a much lower price. It is well worth it. Trust me. Keep us up dated Rachel

Eileen,
Hope the Lyrcia works for you. I have seen other people on this line who have had problems with it. I have been lucky, I don't really have any problems with it except that it makes me loopy on an empty stomach. The first night I took it, I slept through the night, first time in years. Between the Lyrica and a course of biofeedback, I have very little pain at all. I'm also a big fan of chiropractic, but I know it's hard when insurance doesn't cover it. I found a good one here in Austin that does a family rate, which makes it affordable for us. Good luck.
Frances in cloudy Austin where it's supposed to be 85 today.

Rachel,
It's probably one sided because that's where my injury is. The location of the nerves are for the right side of my body.
I went to my primary yesterday and he listened. He's so great. I was able to talk to him about a lot of different issues. He said the RSD may be at a very stage and they're watching it and having me take the Lyrica. This is WC and they won't cover a chiropractor unless the pain doctor refers me.
Thank you my friend. I have an app't with the orthopedist next week. I'll keep you posted.
eileenkny

Anne, I am so glad that you recieved some answers at least. Please do not give up looking for more. If necessary if it happens again try to get back to these dr.s. Maybe they can help you more. I do understand what they mean that they need to see you while it is happening. I've been there. I know it doesn't make sense but as a nurse I have seen where a patient has been so sick and yet on the day of the appt. with the Dr. better. Only to be acute again the next night. They can't fix what they can't see. It is almost like you wish you were sick because you feel they don't believe you or that it is all in your head. I feel for you I really do.

Eileen, GO TO A CHIROPRACTOR OR A MASSAGE THERAPIST, AND ANOTHER DOCTOR!!! You need more answers. You need more infromation. Plus the massage deffinately will not hurt you in the least. YOU DESERVE IT!!!! PAMPER YOURSELF !!!!After Mother's Day is coming give yourself a present. See a spine specialist and a neurologist. There may be a problem with the mylon sheath around your nerves or it may simply be a pinched nerve and you need an adjustment. Either way do not ignore your body. Further more it seems odd to me that the symptoms are only one sided. Ask for more answers and a second oppinion. Your ins. and your Dr. can not deny you those. They would seek them out them selves. Please let us know how things are going Rachel

Have had some of you ask about the progress with my new dr. and the mystery anemia.

Well there is good news and bad news. The good news I have been holding my own for over a month and actually have higher hemaglobin levels than I have had for a long time. The bad news any further diagnosis has to happen when the phenomena is happening (if it is what they think it is) but the month here has not been a total loss. One I have more information than I have ever had and now have some amunition to use with drs. when they say you have to be bleeding even when I see no evidence of it and you cant drop as fast as I do and be bleeding and not see the evidence. Even a medical idiot like me can figure that out.

Two I now feel like I am not exaggerating or making up symptoms because the things that this doctor has pointed out to me has confirmed much of what I thought was going on and didn't have the confidence to assert because "doctor knows best" yah right!!!!!

Three I do NOT have osteoporosis at this time only osteopenia the beginnings of osteoporosis but a condition that can be controlled with calcium and Vit. D Whoo Hoo since the standard osteoporosis meds do a number on your digestive system and were suspected of causing some of the bleeding.

So all in all the trip was worth it and we are waiting for results on one test and if that is ok we leave here next week for our summer journeys Whoo Hoo Love it here but six weeks is enough

Ann hopefully on the road soon