Posted by alchemy on December 28, 2011, at 21:42:19
In reply to Can't get through school- what to try next? (long), posted by grapes on December 23, 2011, at 18:13:56
I am soo sorry.
> -had SAD since I was a kid (so reports my mom)
Sometimes others are better at noticing, but I would assume by now you would have know if it was really a problem. (might as well take some extra vit d, and maybe with some calcium. that was weird that you craved milk. my blood tests actually showed that I was low in both)
> -I was diagnosed with Depression when I was 18 (freshman year of college)- but I did not feel "sad". I was having trouble concentrating, remembering things (felt like a major IQ drop) and was craving milk at 1am. I went from winning an award for an oral presentation in my japanese 101 class first semester- to not being able to finish a sentence without an "um" second semester- and took a medical withdrawal. (I was at my "last choice school" and dealing with the shame of that....but I was eager to do well to transfer out.) I was told my issue was perfectionism. (I counter that I felt my brain stop working- of COURSE i got depressed?!)
Ya, sounds like depression was secondary. Funny thing is that sometimes mood meds can help with cognition- or decrease it. The brain is such a black box. When I first tried Topamax, I couldn't remember my address!
> -the week before my period- EVERYTHING gets worse.
Isn't it fun? Birth-control pills also make me worse. Everyone is different, but often people with depression become worse with the pill (or it may depend on the pill). SSRIs help some people, but it sounds like none of them have so far.
It sounds like some SNRIs have helped a little. So I guess there's Cymbalta left to try. Could you take a something for nausea?
Definitely continue taking Concerta or another stimulant.
> If I had my IQ back I swear I wouldn't be anxious at all.....
My 2 cents is that it may be worth it to try something like Xanax (until you get your IQ back :) Dr's have different opinions, I have been taking 2mg of long acting for years w/ no probs.
Modafinil/Provigil is debated on whether it helps cognition (expensive though)
It will be interesting to see what the new dr. says. Don't lose hope, there is a lot to try. And if anything, new drugs/findings can still come out.
poster:alchemy
thread:1005462
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20111226/msgs/1005749.html