Posted by Enigma on May 12, 2006, at 11:44:19
In reply to Re: EMSAM - 3 weeks - 6mg/24h dose -not working for me » Enigma, posted by Phillipa on May 11, 2006, at 19:14:09
> Enigma I picked-up on something. You said the fatigue started two days before the patch. Any reason why this might have happened. How did you feel about starting the patch? Hopeful it would immediately work? Were you coming off a med and not a two week wash out period? Love Phillipa
Hi Phillipa.
Yes, that's the confusing part. I want to blame the Emsam for the fatigue, but yes, the fatigue started right before the Emsam. I was coming off another drug, but I did wait a week+ before starting the Emsam.
I was very "excited" to try the Emsam. I was really hoping it would be my miracle drug. I actually suggested it to my doctor.
I hope I can get a hold of the highest dose soon and give it a try. If my fatigue gets worse, then it would have to be the Emsam causing it, or at least playing a large role in it.
I found a new internist, and he thinks the fatigue is caused by my depression. Funny, I had to smile when he said "It's very hard to find a good psychiatrist". Anyway, I told him that I didn't think so (concerning the cause of the fatigue), as I normally have low energy and fatigue from depression, but *this* fatigue was *much* more intense and came on too quickly (in just 1 day).
He did agree to run a bunch of blood tests to see if anything viral is going on. A few weeks prior to this, I had a viral/sinus infection that lasted 6+ weeks, which is longest I've ever had. I took 3 different antibiotics to clear it, back to back.
I never felt like it was totally "cleared".During the last week or so, I felt the sinus pressure returning as well as the associated headaches.
He gave me a referral to an Ear/Nose/Throat doctor, but I haven't made the appt. yet. I know I should, but I've been down that road before (2 nasal surgeries so I can breath better through my nose which only marginally helped) and so forth, and I don't want that again. I'm more concerned the doc won't find anything causing the swollen sinuses.
I've always had this feeling like the sinus "thing" (I don't want to call it an infection because it might not be) is causing the fatigue, in that my body is fighting something viral, and I'm left very weak and tired.
I'll try to push myself to make that appt anyway, and get my butt down to the office to take the blood tests.
One of my problems has been the complete failure of my docs, p-docs and other types, to give me relief of any kind. Usually, the meds make me feel worse, which is really putting it lightly. So, I have very little faith left with docs in general. I almost feel like some people (like me) are just meant to suffer, as stupid as that sounds...
I generally have the "chemical" type of depression, not situational, as I like to call it. Unfortunately, I'm very depressed in the situational way as well (now), as I have little hope left at becoming healthy again (or at least able to work). I have an intense fear of the future now, as there's a deadline to the disability I get, even if it's still a year away. My employment technically ends in 2 weeks, and I now have to pay for Cobra, which is gonna be rough, finacially.
I'm also completely burnt out as a software engineer, but no other careers I'm qualified for will pay my bills.Anyway, I'm rambling as usual.. this is talk for the social board. Sorry. ;)
poster:Enigma
thread:642628
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060510/msgs/642993.html