Posted by Pfinstegg on April 9, 2005, at 15:28:57
In reply to Long time no see! » Pfinstegg, posted by daisym on April 9, 2005, at 0:52:20
Well, that's the reason I haven't been posting-a younger, very ashamed, sad and lonely-feeling pfinstegg was taking up all my time. She was trying to avoid everyone-even everyone here. My analyst and I have worked for a long time on finding ways for her to feel accepted and cared for, as is, and I think she's feeling better enough to allow me to feel like posting again! I want to say, also, that the art therapy has been a big help with the youngest pfinsteggs. Some of the most useful, although painful, sessions are when tears pour onto the pastels, and I can mess all around with them. I don't do it as often as I'd like, as it's another expense, but I do get a lot out of it. The art therapist is wonderful about translating these pre-verbal states into words, both to me, and in her communications with my analyst.
I know you're going to see a pdoc soon. It's probably a very good idea to see what all your options are. I found that I responded very well to the SSRI's for about 5 years, but then didn't. At about that time, I began taking an anti-psychotic, Zyprexa. That helped a lot with the emotional pain, but very rapidly made me gain 40 pounds and gave me metabolic syndrome (well on the way to getting diabetes, which does not run in my family at all). Once I stopped it, the whole situation luckily reversed within a year, but I know not everyone is so lucky. I do think the depression and pain of PTSD is difficult to treat.And I think, too, that part of getting good psychotherapy for it involves feeling even more pain. It's different from major depression or bipolar. If you do decide on an anti-psychotic, Risperdal in very low doses might be a good one to consider. And all that class of drugs help a lot with sleep. They make you so sleepy that you HAVE to wait until bedtime to take them.I think the thing everyone needs to do is check frequently to see if they are developing insulin resistance or higher fasting blood sugars- something I've not yet heard of a pdoc suggesting!.
Another thing which helped me, in addition to a lot of fish oil and B vitamins, was getting my thyroid checked thoroughly. The endocrinologist would not have treated me, because my TSH was only 4.5. But i learned here that it's better for mood disorders to have the TSH between 0.5 and 1.0. I learned here also that half of the thyroid supplementation should be as T4 (Synthroid), and half as T3 (Cytomel). Cytomel is short-acting, and I really do notice an improvement in my mood about a half hour after I take it morning and afternoon. (When you take these, you do have to watch for osteoporosis with DEXA scans, and take 1500 mg. of Calcium, 300 mg. of Magnesium and either 400 or 800 IU's Vitamin D. (This is a free pdoc consultation from an older pfinstegg, who tends to start talking and doesn't stop)
I'd be interested in how that visit goes.
poster:Pfinstegg
thread:480204
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20050409/msgs/482057.html