![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by bookgurl99 on March 26, 2004, at 8:24:53
Hey all --
After being off of Lexapro for about 6 weeks, I'm starting to realize that I've got the blues. While I'm not tremendously sad, I'm no longer feeling as motivated to get out of the house or be productive.
I recently quit coffee to prevent frequent migraines. I take Depakote daily and have mild hypothyroidism.
Does anyone have suggestions? I know exercise would be a good idea -- if I got myself out of the house. :D
Posted by noa on March 26, 2004, at 18:16:26
In reply to feeling mildly depressed -- suggestions?, posted by bookgurl99 on March 26, 2004, at 8:24:53
Bookgurl, I'm sorry you are feeling low. Is the hypothyroidism treated adequately? Are you sworn off ADs altogether?
Posted by CarolW on March 29, 2004, at 11:22:57
In reply to feeling mildly depressed -- suggestions?, posted by bookgurl99 on March 26, 2004, at 8:24:53
Hope you're taking thyroid med. I recommend Armour thyroid (it's natural source). Check out books about hypothyroidism (Dr. Broda Barnes, etc...). That low feeling can be primarily from that. Also, are you feeling as low as you were before the Lexapro - or better/worse? Because the SSRI's can alter the seratonin for a while after getting off of them (that's what's happening to me).
Take good vitamin/mineral supplements and eat only really good foods. Exercise would help alot - but I know it's hard to do when you feel tired. But, the sunshine and getting the blood moving can really help shake you out of it.
Hope you have had your blood sugar checked and full blood work-up to make sure it's not something else (like hormones, adrenal exhaustion, hypoglycemia, etc...).
Or, this may just be a short time where your body needs to rest. Maybe give yourself permission to do just that. Then, if you're still low, find some answers as to the root cause.
Good luck to you-
Posted by bookgurl99 on March 29, 2004, at 12:17:27
In reply to Re: feeling mildly depressed -- suggestions? » bookgurl99, posted by noa on March 26, 2004, at 18:16:26
> Bookgurl, I'm sorry you are feeling low. Is the hypothyroidism treated adequately? Are you sworn off ADs altogether?
Hey -- according to to a test I got last week, my thyroid is fine. My dr. even checked t3 in addition to t4.
I think it may be the Depakote.
I don't want to take any more AD's. I just don't think they're good for our long-term health.
I may try SJW if it doesn't pick up.
Posted by bookgurl99 on March 29, 2004, at 12:20:44
In reply to Re: feeling mildly depressed -- suggestions?, posted by CarolW on March 29, 2004, at 11:22:57
Hello --
> I recommend Armour thyroid (it's natural source).Right now, I'm just taking synthroid. Armour actually gave me problems by releasing too much t3 for me, which gave me other unpleasant symptoms.
>Check out books about hypothyroidism (Dr. Broda Barnes, etc...). That low feeling can be primarily from that.
What is the Broda Barnes book?
> Also, are you feeling as low as you were before the Lexapro - or better/worse? Because the SSRI's can alter the seratonin for a while after getting off of them (that's what's happening to me).
Yeah, I'm feeling worse. Which surprises me, because I was on a very low dose and got off of it very slowly. What have you heard about how SSRI's alter serotonin?
Posted by CarolW on March 29, 2004, at 17:53:23
In reply to Re: feeling mildly depressed -- suggestions?, posted by bookgurl99 on March 29, 2004, at 12:20:44
Dr. Barnes' book is called Hypothyroidism: The Unsuspected Illness. There's some other good ones out there, too (Stephen Langer wrote Solved: The Riddle of Illness)....
A pdoc told me that it takes a few weeks for the receptors to completely return to normal after taking the SSRI's. I took a very low dose for only three months. I got some strong reactions in withdrawal and I still am not up to speed quite yet. But, I think some people are just more sensitive than others.
I also have fibromyalgia symptoms - which is also more common in people with depression/anxiety. Not sure if that's an issue with you - but if you have body aches with your tiredness, it may be worth looking into.
Overall, I've learned that I have to take very good care of myself.
Posted by bookgurl99 on March 29, 2004, at 18:01:06
In reply to Re: feeling mildly depressed -- suggestions?, posted by CarolW on March 29, 2004, at 17:53:23
> I also have fibromyalgia symptoms - which is also more common in people with depression/anxiety. Not sure if that's an issue with you - but if you have body aches with your tiredness, it may be worth looking into.
> Overall, I've learned that I have to take very good care of myself.
Yeah, I have muscle aches. I guess I always thought they were part of the hypothyroidism package.I think I'm feeling a little better -- but I do agree with needing to take very good care. I hate it, because -- I'm not sure how old you are, but -- at age 28, I still see a lot of friends with great health and not having to worry about it at all. They think _I'm_ a huge hypochondriac when, for example, I say I can't go out because not getting enough sleep will cause serious problems. OH, well. Their day will come.
I guess, my hope is that medication somehow 'normalize' our systems so that we're free from this need. So that we can have more freedom to just live.
Posted by bookgurl99 on March 29, 2004, at 18:22:51
In reply to Re: feeling mildly depressed -- suggestions?, posted by CarolW on March 29, 2004, at 17:53:23
here's another thought -- if it does take several weeks to return to 'normal,' perhaps it will take a while for me to feel normal after caffeine withdrawal. i was drinking quite a lot of it.
one idea is that it could have been mobilizing dopamine to my frontal lobes, just as the stimulant medications do.
i think i'm having a hard time with patience on this -- with riding things out and seeing if i have a better outcome.
Posted by CarolW on March 29, 2004, at 19:28:09
In reply to Re: feeling mildly depressed -- suggestions?, posted by bookgurl99 on March 29, 2004, at 18:22:51
Yeah, my husband is caffeine addicted, too. He's now been drinking green tea (which has caffeine but not as much as coffee) after his one morning cup of coffee. He gets spacy without caffeine. It is really addictive and it overstimulates your body (it can exhaust your adrenal glands).
I just turned 42 and have always had a ton of energy. So, I too feel like I just want to get to feeling great and normal. But, sometimes I think my body is just tired from always going and I didn't take good enough care of myself - and I just burned out.
I take fish oil supplements (the type they test to make sure it doesn't have chemicals) with my vitamins. Also, Holy Basil, which is an ayurvedic supplement. These help uplift you. At night, Passion Flower capsules relax me. I used to use melatonin but it gave me a headache.
I am working to avoid returning to the regular medications as they seemed too strong for my system. But, if I need to return to them, I always figure they're out there.
Thinking happy thoughts works wonders, too. It kind of creates a better thought cycle in your head.
Posted by Dr. Bob on March 30, 2004, at 2:18:22
In reply to Re: feeling mildly depressed -- suggestions?, posted by CarolW on March 29, 2004, at 17:53:23
> Dr. Barnes' book is called Hypothyroidism: The Unsuspected Illness. There's some other good ones out there, too (Stephen Langer wrote Solved: The Riddle of Illness)....
I'd just like to plug the double double quotes feature at this site:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#amazon
The first time anyone refers to a book without using this option, I post this to try to make sure he or she at least knows about it. It's just an option, though, and doesn't *have* to be used. If people *choose* not to use it, I'd be interested why not, but I'd like that redirected to Psycho-Babble Administration:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20020918/msgs/7717.html
Thanks!
Bob
Posted by bookgurl99 on April 1, 2004, at 8:29:43
In reply to Re: feeling mildly depressed -- suggestions? » bookgurl99, posted by noa on March 26, 2004, at 18:16:26
noa -- hmm. i think i'm gonna go back to lexapro after all. i gave things a shot without it. i think the depakote that i'm on is bringing me down artificially -- unfortunately, i have to correct it artificially. St. John's Wort seems to be triggering migraine activity.
i think i'll work on treating my migraines in such a way as that i can get off of Depakote (quitting coffee, adding cal/mag,etc.), and then work on tapering off of Lexapro after quitting Depakote.
Posted by noa on April 8, 2004, at 17:31:55
In reply to Re: feeling mildly depressed -- suggestions?, posted by bookgurl99 on April 1, 2004, at 8:29:43
Just wondering how you're doing, bookgurl, since your last post here one week ago.
Posted by bookgurl99 on April 8, 2004, at 22:22:41
In reply to Re: feeling mildly depressed -- suggestions? » bookgurl99, posted by noa on April 8, 2004, at 17:31:55
Hey noa -- thanks for asking. :D
Well, I took the Lexapro one day and started having the start-up side effects and ocular migraines. I thought about it, and I thought that it's not worth taking the medication. My depressive symptoms are likely more related to some fleeting situations and possibly my low thyroid. As I'm just a little down, not suicidal, I've decided it makes sense to address those things instead of patching them over with a medication. I subsequently felt weird and out of it for a couple of days, I think from NOT taking the medication. But now I feel -- pretty good.
One thing I think I need to work on is seriously changing my diet. I'm interested in "The No Grain Diet" promoted by Joseph Mercola, largely because there's a lot of anecdotal evidence online about its success with autoimmune patients. It might be hard to stick to.
I've decided to slow down my pace of changing, and to keep drinking a _little_ caffeine for now. There's a lot going on, so I can gentle myself through these positive changes instead of being self-punishing.
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Alternative | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.