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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by Bridget on July 14, 2003, at 9:58:01
In reply to Re: Efferox side effects, posted by ibncm on July 14, 2003, at 9:34:11
I just wanted to touch base with everyone. I am on my third day of 75 mg and doing good. Most side effects are gone. I have so much energy and feel so much more emotional, in a good way towards my husband it is weird but I really feel like I am in love . I feel like I can feel resl feelings...make any sense?,,anyways..alao in a week I have lost 6lbs...
Posted by mercedes on July 14, 2003, at 13:33:37
In reply to Re: Efferox XR DOING GREAT SO FAR, posted by Bridget on July 14, 2003, at 9:58:01
Good to hear positive info Bridgett! Effexor has been a great med for my depression. Although I still have some down days and occasional "severe" panic attacks. But as for the "feel real feelings" I can relate. I had lost my spirit, soul and all emotions some years back. I couldn't feel love for my son, nor my mom, nor anyone. My feelings have come back and I "feel" so happy for you! Keep touching base with us.
Mercedes
**********************************
> I just wanted to touch base with everyone. I am on my third day of 75 mg and doing good. Most side effects are gone. I have so much energy and feel so much more emotional, in a good way towards my husband it is weird but I really feel like I am in love . I feel like I can feel resl feelings...make any sense?,,anyways..alao in a week I have lost 6lbs...
Posted by mercedes on July 14, 2003, at 13:48:10
In reply to *sigh* , posted by Tiger's Dad on July 14, 2003, at 3:28:39
Questions?
What time of day do you take your effexor? If you're still up at 4:30 am, do you feel sleepy and groggy during the day? Is that when you sleep? If you're taking it at nightime, that could be the reason, based on my own experience.
Merc
***************************
> Day 6 at 225mg Effexor XR. I'm still up at 4:30am :( Hope I see some _positive_ effects soon.
Posted by zinya on July 14, 2003, at 14:46:29
In reply to Re: drinking on Effexor » zinya, posted by mercedes on July 13, 2003, at 20:47:21
hi mercedes!
thanks so much for your response about how you handle this... I'm not sure if/when i'll ever "experiment" with having a drink again while on Effexor but decided to ask you while you'd mentioned it... I think it's more the idea of not wanting to think i've had the last drink i'd ever have, although obviously if Effexor proves to be as beneficial as I'm still hoping, anything will be worth it... I've been someone who could go through phases of drinking daily, as I was again last fall after my mom died, having a drink nearly every night, but I also have often just stopped on a dime and gone long stretches with none, so it's not as if this is something unprecedented. Plus i think the depression itself (or whatever is going on in me) had caused me to start having weird reactions to a wine or a beer the last few times i had one. Seemed my liver or something was in protest and not making it the pleasant addition it had always been.
I'm like you in having no appetite in the morning. That's been true of me for eons. My metabolism or something has always (or at least since my 20's) been slow enough that i just could never adapt to breakfast beyond coffee and toast or at most a soft-boiled egg. Anything more, literally anything more, and I just get loagie - logey? (sp?) -- the rest of the day. So it seemed to be not enough (plus being with coffee) to be a wise time to take the Effexor, not enough food in my stomach. So far it works to take it at night after dinner.
But i found it curious that you too have the wake-with-no-appetite syndrome, and i wonder how true that might be for others of us -- although probably just a coincidence...
thanks for your 'pats on the back' :)) ... I'm a long way from making a road trip like you did. While i haven't had anxiety about driving or making a road trip, at least in the sense of anxiety i usually think of, what i have had is an enormous lethargy, such that even an appt. across town in 40 min. of traffic feels just too daunting and i wind up not doing such things more often than not. Clear back at Christmas, i had planned to drive up to SF to spend days with a friend, first Christmas without mom and all, and a trip i always used to love to make up the coast, but i literally absolutely couldn't even fathom such a trip. Just too much energy -- whether it was anxiety too or not, i don't know.
This whole process of finally coming to terms with this having been indeed 'clinical - or major - depression' that i've been struggling with for possibly 15 years and maybe even in a way since childhood, since a horrible car accident when i was 6 essentially took my parents away from my daily life for nearly a year as they recovered, i know from therapy over the years that it changed me significantly and i think i became overnight a child dealing with abandonment and depression -- issues all too common for many kids for many reasons and, especially in those days, never addressed or even considered by doctors who checked me out at the time for injuries (i'd been in the back seat) and gave me a "clean bill of health' and i was farmed out to relatives while my parents were hospitalized and then with full-time nursing at home...
Things in adulthood made it become much more of an impact on me but i think in retrospect i'd spent most of my life just sweeping under the carpet... And then esp. in last 15 years, and i think with mom's loss, my last immediate family, the "center would not hold" anymore and i just sunk each month more into this thing i finally decided wasn't "just" grieving but also depression. And what i started all this to say was that i've only gradually come to realize just how much of this thing i'm generally calling depression really was anxiety. Learning to recognize it seems to be an important step--and to try to separate it from 'depression' cuz maybe it's more helpful to realize something is anxiety that one can address more one by one, more concretely, as part of the path out.
The first week on Effexor, the first positive sign i noticed was a sense of reduced anxiety, but then since then it's been mostly a feeling that the depression has lifted but there's still a battle with anxiety that gets triggered as well as what for me is the most overwhelming thing, absolute lack of energy.
anyway, i'm babbling, but with a spirit of reciprocating the warmth and sharing from your post and sending good vibes in return in your own 'patting on the back' paths :))
zinya
>
> Congratulations on doing some trimming on the deck. I'm so happy to hear that you are getting some work done. I know it takes alot to come up with the energy to do something like that. Just remember to pat yourself on the back when you do that. And here's my pat on the back to you. Pat...pat. You've been more productive than me today. The weather where you are sounds like the weather here where I am. I live in a small town near Fresno, CA. hot but a bit breezy.
> Wishing good things for you...and keep on writing.
> Mercedes
Posted by Susy on July 14, 2003, at 15:48:04
In reply to Re: To Suzy re: xanex....Zinya can u also help?, posted by mercedes on July 13, 2003, at 21:58:32
> Suzy, you don't mention if you have health insurance. I am assuming you don't since you have to pay for your medication.
>
> I too, lived in L.A. county (Azusa) up until last Sept. when I sold my house and bought one near Fresno, CA. I am not working now because my company was sold but I pay for my own medical insurance....a whopping $286.00 a month! But I need it. I too hope to work soon.
>
> However, when I was working, my primary care physician referred me to a psyciatrist and he prescribed the alp (xanex) for me. Normally reg. med dr's don't want to prescibe because it is a psyciatric drug, a "controlled substance".
>
> So first question, do you have insurance? Do you have Medical? If you don't have insurance, you need to make an appt. with a psychiatrist near your home that has "income average" or "pay scale" plan. (My pdoc charges my ins. $75.00 a visit plus I have to pay a co-pay of $15.00. Be sure to describe all your symtoms. I know of one pdoc in Covina but don't know if you want to go that far (about 25 miles from L.A.
>
> Le bamos a preguntar a Zinya to help here cause she is very good about looking up things on internet.
> Te deseo salud y me dises tocante la segurancia.
> Entre todos te bamos a ayudar.
> Mercedes
> *******************************
> Mercedes, Thanks a lot for your interest and specially for all the help you are giving me, you are right I don't have a Health Insurance, I do have Medical but it is for emergencies only.
I think I am going to buy a health plan once I am able to work again. But meanwhile, thanks for the idea, I can make an appoinment with a psiquiatrist to see if he wants to continue touching bases with my case at least once per month. I will tell you that I think I am also a little bit depressed, my mother passed away last March 20 and I wasn't able to fly to Spain, because, crazy thing, I am affraid to fly, can you believe it? I came by plane to USA 20 years ago and now I can't take another one. All this because of the same, what if I have an attack in the middle of the fly....etc. Now, I don't even know if I want to go back again, because she won't be there waiting for me as I always dreamed.
Then, I live in a beautiful rented house but there is this neighbor who always puts a lot of pressure on me to the point of harrassment, I never met such an insensitive and selfish human been;and I lived affraid one day she is going to get the owners to kick us out and the rents these days are very expensive here in L.A.
Besides, I had this relation with this guy for around 7 years and he doesn't want to let me go. I do feel something for him. But it is just that he is continuosly humillating me, I think he is neurotic but he will never admit it, all the times something went wrong it was because of his bad temper and then he blamed everything on me.
I feel bad not to see him, but the last times I saw him I came back home thinking I was about to pass out, and praying God to please let me wake up alive next morning.
So, as you can see, there is nothing positive in my life at this moment, I have to deal with this anxiety, lack of energy and panic attacks and I think that make me even more depressed and anxious because I wish I could quit Xanax and feel like I used to be at least 2 yrs ago. Sometimes I don't even know if one day I will have my strenght back to continue and planning for the future....or just give up and see what happens.
Please keep on writing Mercedes, and say Hi to Cher if you see her.Hugs, Susy
Posted by KimberlyDi on July 14, 2003, at 16:29:07
In reply to Re: Efferox XR DOING GREAT SO FAR, posted by Bridget on July 14, 2003, at 9:58:01
I know what you mean about feeling more towards your husband. I was keeping mine at a distance because I was overwhelmed by anxiety from work demands and family needs. I was alternating from scared to angry and back. Now, I can finally relax enough to enjoy being around him. To laugh, play, and be affectionate. He's been reacting rather well to the new me (or is it the old me?). I enjoyed a few lbs weight loss also. Even at 2 months, I still don't have much of an appetite. Glad you are doing well on it so far.
Good Luck!!!
KDi from Texas> I just wanted to touch base with everyone. I am on my third day of 75 mg and doing good. Most side effects are gone. I have so much energy and feel so much more emotional, in a good way towards my husband it is weird but I really feel like I am in love . I feel like I can feel resl feelings...make any sense?,,anyways..alao in a week I have lost 6lbs...
Posted by zinya on July 14, 2003, at 17:16:20
In reply to Re: To Suzy re: xanex....Zinya can u also help?, posted by Susy on July 14, 2003, at 15:48:04
Hola again Suzy,
As you share more elements of what you are dealing with -- and I think you mentioned in an earlier post that you have children here as well, isn't that right? -- I have the sense now from you've said that the loss of your mother just 4 months ago? - must surely be having an added enormous component in your sense of depression. As I've mentioned, i too lost my mom this past year, and the grief has been profound. My heart goes out to you, especially in having to be so far from your roots and not there to mourn her with family.
And it leads me to think of another idea of a path you might pursue, however. There are bereavement groups here run by hospice groups, with meetings for those going through grief like yours. It might be a helpful starting point if you found a hospice near you with such service. I have the sense that you don't have to have used that particular hospice service in order to avail of their bereavement support groups. I know of one through Cedars Sinai, if that is anywhere near you. (I wrote you once when you first started posting here asking if you lived near UCLA, where you might find some information on getting medical help. I don't think I ever got a response to that post, so i'm not sure where in LA you are.) And through such a support group, the leaders could also give you ideas about people to see in terms of finding a pdoc etc. as well. I'm guessing they have a network of names of people and would know about those who are more reasonable and take those without health insurance.
Just an idea that might sound helpful to you...
wishing you well and sending abrazos,
zinya
Posted by Tiger's Dad on July 14, 2003, at 18:28:10
In reply to Re: *sigh* » Tiger's Dad, posted by mercedes on July 14, 2003, at 13:48:10
> Questions?
> What time of day do you take your effexor? If you're still up at 4:30 am, do you feel sleepy and groggy during the day? Is that when you sleep? If you're taking it at nightime, that could be the reason, based on my own experience.
> Merc
> ***************************
> > Day 6 at 225mg Effexor XR. I'm still up at 4:30am :( Hope I see some _positive_ effects soon.
>
>Sorry, I was mostly blowing off steam. I was starting to go a little crazy. I take my meds first thing in the morning but I've been ramping up my dosage since the beginning of June so I haven't had much chance for the side-effects to settle out. As with every time I've upped my dosage, I've been very sleepy during the day and am up hourly at night. After five days of this I decided it was time to try coffee again. I don't think it worked out too well :P I'm desperate to find a dosage that'll work for me.
I've been chronically depressed for as long as I can remember. I also suffer from social anxiety disorder. I just turned 40 a couple of weeks ago.
I started seeing therapists when I was around 13, but after years of talk and trying several tricyclics, benzodiazapines, l-tryptophan, and Zoloft with no effect, I pretty much gave up on ever finding anything that would work for me by the time I was in my twenties.I've felt that my condition has crippled me and left me mostly non-functional during my entire working life, but I've received regular, healthy raises and bonuses... at least until I lost my job in February 2002 (two weeks after I bought my new house yet and a month after my beloved 10yo cat Ed died). Here I am 16 months later, still an unemployed software engineer living off what's left of my savings. I've come to the realization that a significant part of the difficulty I've had finding a new job stems from my fear of being unable to perform and this has been my primary motivation in seeking help again. I have very little confidence in therapy without first finding a drug which will deal with the plethora of somatic effects I suffer from my depression and my social anxiety. I've been on Effexor XR six weeks as of today. As bad as the side-effects have been, they're nothing compared to what I've been suffering with most of my life.
Posted by bookgurl99 on July 14, 2003, at 20:34:39
In reply to Had terrible attack. Any 1 have these symtoms?, posted by mercedes on July 11, 2003, at 3:26:16
Mercedes,
I've experienced this. It sounds like you should see your dr., and possibly a neurologist. It sounds like you could be having complicated migraines or basilar artery migraines. These are both potentially serious, though treatable.
There's a link on these at http://s-2000.com/bam/ .
I have this and it is a pisser.
books
Posted by bookgurl99 on July 14, 2003, at 20:36:49
In reply to Had terrible attack. Any 1 have these symtoms?, posted by mercedes on July 11, 2003, at 3:26:16
Mercedes,
btw, these migraines do not need to be accompanied with a headache. or, sometimes, the headache happens _after_ all the other symptoms.
good luck getting treated. :D
Posted by worrier on July 14, 2003, at 21:21:17
In reply to Re: Had terrible attack. Any 1 have these symtoms? » worrier, posted by mercedes on July 13, 2003, at 2:04:01
> Dear Worrier,
> You are the second person that has mentioned "migranes". This never occurred to me because I hardly ever have headaches. My head hurts alot after my attacks, but not before. If I have ever had a headache, the strongest thing I take is Tylenol because I fear mixing over the counter drugs with my prescibed drugs.
>
> I'll mention it to my pdoc and then pursue it with my neurologist. Does your brother-n-law take daily medication for these migranes? My son used to get migranes at the age of 6 & 7. He was very sensitive to bright light or sun. Now that I think about it, I had worked in my yard outside in the sun, the day before.
> Thanks for your input,
> Mercedes> Mercedes, my brother-in-law takes a beta-blocker daily as a preventive med. but it hasn't been that effective. You mentioned that you get headaches after your "attacks".That fits his pattern exactly. The weird sensory stuff happens first, followed by the headache. Definitely sounds worth looking into. Good luck to you, Worrier.
Posted by Susy on July 14, 2003, at 21:49:46
In reply to Re: To Suzy re: xanex....Zinya can u also help? » Susy, posted by zinya on July 14, 2003, at 17:16:20
> Hola again Suzy,
>
> As you share more elements of what you are dealing with -- and I think you mentioned in an earlier post that you have children here as well, isn't that right? -- I have the sense now from you've said that the loss of your mother just 4 months ago? - must surely be having an added enormous component in your sense of depression. As I've mentioned, i too lost my mom this past year, and the grief has been profound. My heart goes out to you, especially in having to be so far from your roots and not there to mourn her with family.
>
> And it leads me to think of another idea of a path you might pursue, however. There are bereavement groups here run by hospice groups, with meetings for those going through grief like yours. It might be a helpful starting point if you found a hospice near you with such service. I have the sense that you don't have to have used that particular hospice service in order to avail of their bereavement support groups. I know of one through Cedars Sinai, if that is anywhere near you. (I wrote you once when you first started posting here asking if you lived near UCLA, where you might find some information on getting medical help. I don't think I ever got a response to that post, so i'm not sure where in LA you are.) And through such a support group, the leaders could also give you ideas about people to see in terms of finding a pdoc etc. as well. I'm guessing they have a network of names of people and would know about those who are more reasonable and take those without health insurance.
>
> Just an idea that might sound helpful to you...
>
> wishing you well and sending abrazos,
> zinyaHi Zinya, yes, I do remember once somebody mention about the UCLA, sorry I didn't response
I didn't know it was you but now I won't forget. The thing is I don't even know where UCLA is I think is next to Beverly Hills isn't? I live in the San Fernando Valley Area, I will ask and find out, hopefully they still have this services. Where should I find a Hospice?
Any idea you can give me would help a lot, right now all I have is you guys here in Babble.
About my mother, yes, is a pain I don't think it will ever go away.I do love to drive, but lately I catch myself in the freeway crying like crazy remembering old times when she was still alive.
And a lot of another ideas come to mind, the other day when I went to this county hospital they didn't give me medical attention because it wasn't an emergency, so this girl seated next asked me, and I explain how I felt, she told me,well tell them that you feel like killing yourself. No, I told her, I don't want to kill myself, I do want to live. I just want to feel better and deal with my life with more peace and energy.
Obviously, I do have some death thoughts
specially being a person who suffers Panic Attacks that is mostly the fear I have when I
suffer them, and imagine now, yes, I do have children (3) 19, 14 and 8. And I can see how they are going to suffer when the same happens to me.
Well, I am kind of sad right now. I better write back next time.
Hugs for you Zinya, Cher and dear Mercedes.
Thanks for everything.
Posted by zinya on July 15, 2003, at 13:58:24
In reply to Re: To Suzy re: xanex....Zinya can u also help?, posted by Susy on July 14, 2003, at 21:49:46
hola Suzy,
gosh, i feel so much for you and what it adds to not having health insurance. I don't have it now either so I empathize. For me it has been largely a catch-22 that the depression itself has just daunted me and tasks like seeking info and deciding on health insurance just still hasn't risen to the level of things i can cope with tackling. Kind of stupid, but that's where I'm at.If you could give me a more specific idea of where in San Fernando Valley you are (which city), since it's such a huge area, I could try to find a name of a hospice program that would be near you. I myself am about 40 min. away from the one I go to for the bereavement group and some nights I just can't muster the energy to drive that far, and especially as you have kids, i would think it would be good to find a place as close to you as possible.
Do all of your kids live with you or is the oldest one on her own now? How many years have you lived here (meaning how long ago did you come from Spain?) I think you mentioned that early on but I've forgotten.
sending you mas abrazos bien grandes!
zinya> Hi Zinya, yes, I do remember once somebody mention about the UCLA, sorry I didn't response
> I didn't know it was you but now I won't forget. The thing is I don't even know where UCLA is I think is next to Beverly Hills isn't? I live in the San Fernando Valley Area, I will ask and find out, hopefully they still have this services. Where should I find a Hospice?
> Any idea you can give me would help a lot, right now all I have is you guys here in Babble.
> About my mother, yes, is a pain I don't think it will ever go away.I do love to drive, but lately I catch myself in the freeway crying like crazy remembering old times when she was still alive.
> And a lot of another ideas come to mind, the other day when I went to this county hospital they didn't give me medical attention because it wasn't an emergency, so this girl seated next asked me, and I explain how I felt, she told me,well tell them that you feel like killing yourself. No, I told her, I don't want to kill myself, I do want to live. I just want to feel better and deal with my life with more peace and energy.
> Obviously, I do have some death thoughts
> specially being a person who suffers Panic Attacks that is mostly the fear I have when I
> suffer them, and imagine now, yes, I do have children (3) 19, 14 and 8. And I can see how they are going to suffer when the same happens to me.
> Well, I am kind of sad right now. I better write back next time.
> Hugs for you Zinya, Cher and dear Mercedes.
> Thanks for everything.
Posted by zinya on July 15, 2003, at 14:15:04
In reply to Re: *sigh* » mercedes, posted by Tiger's Dad on July 14, 2003, at 18:28:10
hi Tiger's Dad,
Did you ever try taking your Effexor at night? As we've all discovered here, it affects each of us so uniquely. If your daytimes are sleepy, and you're taking it in the early morning and then can't sleep at night, i'm wondering if maybe you're reacting to it more like I am than some others. I take mine at night, originally cuz i eat my biggest meal at dinner and wanting to take it on the fullest stomach possible to avoid nausea. But i find it works for me sleep-wise as well. I get very sleepy at night and am sleeping as soundly as i can recall through the night. I do have coffee first thing in the a.m. as per my usual routine my whole adulthood and i have found myself gradually creeping up to having actually a 3rd coffee in late afternoon lately (i never let myself have coffee more often than every 4 hours as i've learned it just causes a compounding effect that winds up making a person have more of a sudden 'caffeine withdrawal').
I started about the same time you did but i'm taking it much slower building up just cuz i'd had so many bad side effects with other ad's and wanted to give this the best shot possible, so I'm only at 100 mg in the same amount of time you (and most people) are (or would be) at 225. And last night was only my 2nd dose at 100 (i went from 19 to 37.5 to 56 to 75 and now 100). I find again that my 2nd day on a new dose level (days 2 through about 5) tend to be the most side-effect ridden and i indeed felt pretty "out of it" when i woke up this morning - in an unusual way - not groggy but kind of spacey - but after coffee it passed okay - My biggest ongoing problem is inordinate sweating but i too am able to live with it.
But you might try working your way toward nighttime if you haven't tried it then. And maybe if you're waking up during the night anyway, the shortest route to shifting your dosage toward nighttime might be to try taking it when you are awake in the middle of the night and then move to taking it before bedtime, and see if that works better for you.
??
Just an idea.
and good wishes,
zinya
Posted by Tiger's Dad on July 15, 2003, at 14:36:36
In reply to Re: sleepiness etc. and dosage times » Tiger's Dad, posted by zinya on July 15, 2003, at 14:15:04
I've considered doing just that, but I'd have to shift my dosage times by about three hours a day. I'm just too wrung out right now to coordinate that sort of thing over a period of four or five days.
Posted by bookgurl99 on July 15, 2003, at 14:53:26
In reply to Re: sleepiness etc. and dosage times » zinya, posted by Tiger's Dad on July 15, 2003, at 14:36:36
Starting effexor xr 37.5 mgs today for migraine prevention. Watching this thread.
Posted by Dasart1 on July 15, 2003, at 16:02:02
In reply to starting effexor, posted by bookgurl99 on July 15, 2003, at 14:53:26
Hi kids,
I recently started Effexor XR @ 150 mg per day about two weeks ago. As of today I am up to 300 mg. Id’ like to say to those of you of which whom have been started at a much lower dose than this and that is not to worry too much. Beginning at such a low dose probably indicates a milder form of depression and the good news is that your depression is probably curable. As where mine is chronic and clinical and is not curable. I will always (for the rest of my life) need to be medicated for this (as well as many other) problems. I’d like to know if any one has hit the 400-mg dose yet. As I understand this drug...the highest dose recommended is at 425 mg. I fear that my dose will indeed be increased again in a week or so. As I am severely depressed and have been so for many, many years...If not my entire life (it’s a long story). So is any one up around 300 mg or 400 mg? I’d really like to know if some one is at this range and has previously been on a different antidepressant if they have noticed a difference between them. I am switching over from Paxil to Effexor XR and am rather curious to say the least.
Sincerely, Das
Posted by mercedes on July 15, 2003, at 16:26:35
In reply to Re: Had terrible attack. Any 1 have these symtoms?, posted by bookgurl99 on July 14, 2003, at 20:34:39
Dear Books, I got so excited to hear someone elso has symtoms like me, that when I went to click on the site, my mouse flew off my desk! I've checked it out a little (they are presently revising site)and the comments from some people are what I have experienced. At least I have a name, this Basilar Artery Migraine or BAM that I will do more research on. Thank you so very very much. I'll keep you posted. I see my MD tomorrow and my pdoc this coming monday. I've had several neurologist perform all kinds of test with no results and they just say, ie., nope, you don't have seizures...bye ! So irritating! What have you been prescribed if I may ask? How do you cope?
Mercedes
*******************************************> Mercedes,
>
> I've experienced this. It sounds like you should see your dr., and possibly a neurologist. It sounds like you could be having complicated migraines or basilar artery migraines. These are both potentially serious, though treatable.
>
> There's a link on these at http://s-2000.com/bam/ .
>
> I have this and it is a pisser.
>
> books
Posted by Nissy on July 15, 2003, at 17:08:10
In reply to Re: starting effexor @ 150 mg and climbing » bookgurl99, posted by Dasart1 on July 15, 2003, at 16:02:02
Hello,
I am on 450 mg of Effexor xr. And my P Doc said I can go as high as 600 mg.
Nissy
Posted by mercedes on July 15, 2003, at 17:21:17
In reply to Re: *sigh* » mercedes, posted by Tiger's Dad on July 14, 2003, at 18:28:10
Hi again. I've included part of your comment only because I have the same problem but not as long as you have. I'm an unemployed accountant and when I read my resume', it sounds impressive however I doubt that I can do the things I used to do., ie financial analysis, budget preparation (the other day I couln't even balance my own check book, took me 3 days - HA!)
I've been in the accounting field for 30 years and feel very inadeqate, stupid mostly. Is it the medications that have made my brain worthless or is it all those attacks I've been having? I ask myself this all the time.I'd like to think positive though. I am going to get better. I have to beleive that. I was smart and will be smart again. Being out of work and with social anxiety keeps us from communicating with our peers. When I talk with some of my ex co-worker freinds I feel my intellegence comes back when we talk about our work, what we used to do. It's funny that I CAN remember supplier's names, a yr we had 17 million in profits,etc. when we talk, yet I can't memeber what I did yesterday or even this morning.....sound familiar? Keep on trucking okay. It will get better for all of us soon.
MercedesExerpt... posted by Tigersdad:
I've felt that my condition has crippled me and left me mostly non-functional during my entire working life, but I've received regular, healthy raises and bonuses... at least until I lost my job in February 2002 (two weeks after I bought my new house yet and a month after my beloved 10yo cat Ed died). Here I am 16 months later, still an unemployed software engineer living off what's left of my savings. I've come to the realization that a significant part of the difficulty I've had finding a new job stems from my fear of being unable to perform and this has been my primary motivation in seeking help again.
Posted by KimberlyDi on July 15, 2003, at 17:59:19
In reply to Re: starting effexor @ 150 mg and climbing » bookgurl99, posted by Dasart1 on July 15, 2003, at 16:02:02
Hello Das,
I've been on Zoloft, Paxil, Prozac, Wellbutrin, and now Effexor. Effexor has been the most powerful anti-anxiety AD that I've ever been on. I'm not sure how well it works on depression. My overall mood has lifted over the past 2 months (how long I've been taking Effexor). It also has the most noticable Side Effects of any AD that I've taken. Basic advice, Give it 4-6 weeks at least and if you decide not to take it anymore, taper off it slowly. Keep posting to Psycho-Babble. You'll get lots of information.
Good Luck!
KDi from Texas> Hi kids,
> I recently started Effexor XR @ 150 mg per day about two weeks ago. As of today I am up to 300 mg. Id’ like to say to those of you of which whom have been started at a much lower dose than this and that is not to worry too much. Beginning at such a low dose probably indicates a milder form of depression and the good news is that your depression is probably curable. As where mine is chronic and clinical and is not curable. I will always (for the rest of my life) need to be medicated for this (as well as many other) problems. I’d like to know if any one has hit the 400-mg dose yet. As I understand this drug...the highest dose recommended is at 425 mg. I fear that my dose will indeed be increased again in a week or so. As I am severely depressed and have been so for many, many years...If not my entire life (it’s a long story). So is any one up around 300 mg or 400 mg? I’d really like to know if some one is at this range and has previously been on a different antidepressant if they have noticed a difference between them. I am switching over from Paxil to Effexor XR and am rather curious to say the least.
> Sincerely, Das
>
Posted by mercedes on July 15, 2003, at 18:31:26
In reply to Re: To Suzy re: xanex....Zinya can u also help?, posted by Susy on July 14, 2003, at 15:48:04
Susy...you'd better hang in there okay? Don't give up, Susy. I think we all have been or still are..feeling like you. Most people when they are severly depressed, can't do anything. At least you are still reaching out through this site. That means that you want to get help and are not giving up. You have a lot to live for even though it may seem like you don't. There are positive things in your life. Maybe you couldn't go to your mother's funeral. Do you think she is mad at you for that? Her body is in Spain but her spirit is closer to you now, more than ever. I too lost my mother 3 years ago on valentines day. I was in my deepest depression and having so many anxiety attacks that I couln't drive. I still had to work with all this sickness. I cried for her alot. Now I talk to her in my mind. I also go through her cause she is closer to God, and ask for her to ask God to help me get well, and she is. My mother, who is in heaven now, know's all the secrets I kept from her (especially the rape) and I know she understands. For a short time, I was going to rape survivors meetings and I lied to mom and told her I was taking a class. I felt so guilty lying to her. She knows the truth now and is probably saying, pobre mija.
I wish I could kick that neighbor of your's. She cannot have you kicked out you know. If the landlord even wanted you out, you can live there free for three months, did you know that? As for your male freind, his humiliating you is not good for you at all. It only belittles you and makes you more vulnerable to getting depressed and anxious. Tell him you won't take his verbal abuse anymore if he wants to continue seeing you. You need positive in your life now. Not negative stuff. Okay.
Hugs and prayers,
Mercedes
************************************
> Mercedes, Thanks a lot for your interest and specially for all the help you are giving me, you are right I don't have a Health Insurance, I do have Medical but it is for emergencies only.
I think I am going to buy a health plan once I am able to work again. But meanwhile, thanks for the idea, I can make an appoinment with a psiquiatrist to see if he wants to continue touching bases with my case at least once per month. I will tell you that I think I am also a little bit depressed, my mother passed away last March 20 and I wasn't able to fly to Spain, because, crazy thing, I am affraid to fly, can you believe it? I came by plane to USA 20 years ago and now I can't take another one. All this because of the same, what if I have an attack in the middle of the fly....etc. Now, I don't even know if I want to go back again, because she won't be there waiting for me as I always dreamed.
Then, I live in a beautiful rented house but there is this neighbor who always puts a lot of pressure on me to the point of harrassment, I never met such an insensitive and selfish human been;and I lived affraid one day she is going to get the owners to kick us out and the rents these days are very expensive here in L.A.
Besides, I had this relation with this guy for around 7 years and he doesn't want to let me go. I do feel something for him. But it is just that he is continuosly humillating me, I think he is neurotic but he will never admit it, all the times something went wrong it was because of his bad temper and then he blamed everything on me.
I feel bad not to see him, but the last times I saw him I came back home thinking I was about to pass out, and praying God to please let me wake up alive next morning.
So, as you can see, there is nothing positive in my life at this moment, I have to deal with this anxiety, lack of energy and panic attacks and I think that make me even more depressed and anxious because I wish I could quit Xanax and feel like I used to be at least 2 yrs ago. Sometimes I don't even know if one day I will have my strenght back to continue and planning for the future....or just give up and see what happens.
Please keep on writing Mercedes, and say Hi to Cher if you see her.Hugs, Susy
Posted by mercedes on July 15, 2003, at 18:47:38
In reply to Re: starting effexor @ 150 mg and climbing » bookgurl99, posted by Dasart1 on July 15, 2003, at 16:02:02
Hi kid...I like that
Anyway, I have been on 300 mgs now for about 5 months (started slow of course). I take it for depression and take Xanex for anxiety. being on 300 mgs has helped my mood alot. Really "feel" happy for the first time in years. Have some down days sometimes but I think that's normal. Keep us posted.
Mercedes
Posted by mercedes on July 15, 2003, at 19:23:34
In reply to Re: Has anyone experienced nightmares on Effexor XR?, posted by Susy on July 11, 2003, at 9:24:13
Susy, I remember you saying you had these zig zag lines in you vision or with eyes closed. Well, while looking up info from someone trying to help me out, I found this site. I am researching more on my illness, have been on the net all day but wanted you to know that maybe we have this 'basilar migrain' thing. Sorry I couldn't do a connection to the site but you can copy and paste.
Mercedeshttp://www.neurologychannel.com/migraine/#basilar
Migraine with aura is characterized by a neurological phenomenon (aura) that is experienced 10 to 30 minutes before the headache. Most auras are visual and are described as bright shimmering lights around objects or at the edges of the field of vision (called scintillating scotomas) or zigzag lines, wavy images, or hallucinations. Others experience temporary vision loss.
Nonvisual auras include motor weakness, speech or language abnormalities, dizziness, vertigo, and tingling or numbness (parasthesia) of the face, tongue, or extremities.
Posted by Susy on July 15, 2003, at 19:25:25
In reply to Re: To Suzy re: xanex....Zinya can u also help? » Susy, posted by zinya on July 15, 2003, at 13:58:24
Hi, Zinya, this is Susy again =)
I live in the city of North Hollywood, next to Universal Studios; I called a place in this city called MacDonald Carry but they say they just take more severe symptoms, meaning they don't deal with anxiety or panic attacks.
I can go during the evenings when my oldest son is here and he can help me taking care of the youngests. Lately I have been feeling very tired though,hopefully I can have some energy to go and don't feel too nervous about it. I know I do need help. Maybe is also the weather. But still my heart pounding fast.=(
I came from Spain to U.S.A. in 1981. But I went back in 1986 and my brother stayed here.
Then I came back here again in 1992 the last time.
And my brother went back to Spain in 1999 when m our mother started to be sick. I noticed in 1992 that everything changed a lot in California specially for aliens, like me.
But, as I was writing to Mercedes I wasn't able to go and see my mother last year because of this fear to fly; fear I didn't have years ago =(. But again I don't want to have an attack in the middle of the flight.
I will also like to know more about you Zinya, I see that you are always giving support to everybody but don't say much about yourself.
Right now I have to go to pick my son up from a program he goes with the Police.
I'll write back later on tonight.Hugs, Susy
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