Posted by Simus on September 12, 2004, at 15:00:15
In reply to Re: Question for Simus » Simus, posted by KaraS on September 12, 2004, at 4:29:57
> > Kara,
> >
> > I'm OK. Thanks for asking. Every so often I seem to go into an "information overload" phase, which is where I find myself now. Too much info... Do this, don't do that... Don't do this, do that... Don't do either... Do both... It will pass though. It always does. I think I just need to "reboot". LOL
> >
> > How have you been? How is work? Seen anyone famous lately???
> >
> > We had our church directory pictures taken today. It really is like reading "Flowers for Algernon" to see from directory to directory how much I have gone downhill over the past 15 years. Not the most uplifting day... But, who knows? Maybe things will turn around soon...
> >
> > Anyhow, take care. And keep Lar on his toes. Say something profound and give him "Spock eyebrows" again. LOL
> >
> > Simus
>
>
> Hi Simus,
>
> I know what you mean about information overload. It's hard enough to fully understand everything you read and then to realize that so much of the information is contradictory really is overwhelming. If the doctors and scientists who study these things can't agree on what to do, how are we supposed to figure it all out? All we can do is our best I guess (and hound Larry some more, of course).Kara,
One discouragement I have been dealing with lately is the fact that if ANY of the doctors had listened to me 10 years ago and had done ANY endocrine testing I asked for AT ALL, I wouldn't have had to go through the he** of 9 years on unneeded and unhelpful SSRIs and all the complications and life disruptions they have caused. My family doc wouldn't, nor would the p-doc. I even went on my own money to a nationally known Ohio "Clinic". I wanted to go to their endo department. They sent me to the psych department and told me that the psych dept would refer me to endo if they saw the need. The "student" took a look at my info, said,
"You were properly diagnosed, and you are on the right meds.", and sent me home. If I had only known then what I know now... Looking back, I was slender at the time, so they probably wouldn't have considered thyroid problems. But I was slender because of my obsessive dieting and exercise to control a life-long tendency toward "chubbiness". I probably not only masked the "symptom" of weight weight gain associated with thyroid problems, but also burned out my adrenals. Anyway, now I have to undo both the damage of 10 years of psych drugs and untreated endo problem (which I still have to pinpoint the exact cause of). Well, enough whining...
>
> Do you get church pictures taken every year and you were looking at your picture every year over that time span? Is that what you were talking about in your previous message? We all age unfortunately (everyone other than Dick Clark that is). Just think how much wiser you are than you were 15 years ago? (I know that doesn't work much for me either but I thought it was worth a try...)The directory is redone every 4 years, and there were dramatic changes between every picture. I gained considerable weight and I am clearly "unhealthier" from directory to directory. I hate having my picture taken, ESPECIALLY when I know it is going to be "published".
>
> I'm not great either. That job is awful and I think that they might can me anyway. The people are nice but it's just a dirty and gross environment and they're not explaining things well (partly because it's so busy and crazy there). My insomnia lately and the awful brain fog are making it more difficult.I understand, and my heart goes out to you. Brain fog is awful, and insomnia has a way with messing with every part of our lives. And people just don't seem to understand either one. It's hard enough to keep going in a job you love, not to mention a job you can't stand.
> I know that if I get myself out there I can do a lot better than this job but I was happy about this one because the evening hours would allow me time to interview during the day. What worries me is that my brain won't be up for any of the jobs and that once I get them, I won't be able to hold them. I started panicking about it a bit yesterday and today. The panic is good in some ways because at least it may get me moving to interview.
This is exactly where I am right now. The tears started welling up when I read that. I understand so well. I don't want to let another employer down because of my health taking another turn for the worse. I don't know if I could do it one more time...
> Do you have some days where you wake up feeling relatively normal and others where you wake up feeling so drugged and brain-fogged even though you haven't taken anything that could do this to you? I think it usually happens when I get a good long night's sleep after not sleeping well for at least a couple of days. I have been so groggy all day and I can't concentrate on these darn spreadsheets I need to work on. I wish I understood why this happens so that I could prevent it in the future. It's probably related to adrenal fatigue, don't you think? It's so frustrating. How am I supposed to function like this?
Yes, I know exactly what you mean about good/days bad days and trying to figure out what causes each. It very well could be adrenal fatigue. When I "stretch" myself by working harder and sleeping less, I feel really good... for about two or three days. Then I crash, and it takes a couple of days to recover. One thing that does help me during the "down" times (I may have mentioned this before) is green/ginseng/ginger tea. I put one bag of each in a big cup of boiling water and let them sit for several minutes. If you can stand the taste, it may help. I used to hate all teas, and expecially herbals. But when I finally found something to help the "fog" even a little, taste becames less important.
> I'm thinking seriously of trying Cymbalta. I've been following the other people who are taking it on the main board and overall the reports seem to be quite good. Maybe that will at least get me to being semi-functional.
That's a new one to me. What is it???
> Do you think that the Wellbutrin has helped you think clearly?
Oh, absolutely. But maybe it wasn't as much the Wellbutrin as finally getting off of the SSRIs.
> I keep meaning to try the ginkgo but I just hate trying these different things and dealing with all of the side effects. I know you understand. Have you had the nerve to try the licorice again?
I HATE taking a new ANYTHING. I am going to go to the health food store and get ginkgo tea and licorice tea. It isn't as strong as a pill, but I can "sip" a little and wait to see how I react to each, and work my way up. That is how I got into ginseng and ginger.
> Well sorry to blabber on here and not have much humor involved. I'm sure I'll be better company once I get these spreadsheets finished and I have some closure one way or another on that horrible job.
>
> KaraPlease write about anything you are going through. It always helps me too because more often than not I am going through the same thing. I may not have an answer, but it sure helps to know we aren't alone in this battle.
God bless,
Simus
poster:Simus
thread:384584
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20040901/msgs/390017.html