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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by lesliekay on August 25, 2003, at 4:03:52
I keep waiting for Lexapro to kick in, granted it has only been 4 days or so, I am falling down a tunnel. I don't know if I can make it back up. I don't know what to do, I can barely get out of bed right now. I slept for 29 hours. I know I am going to end up in the hospital again.
Posted by Arthurgibson on August 25, 2003, at 6:52:51
In reply to I I don't know if I can keep waiting, posted by lesliekay on August 25, 2003, at 4:03:52
It will kick in, don't worry. Everything WILL turn out fine, it will just be tough for a few days, a week or two at the most. Keep posting here for support and reassurance. That's what we are here for.
I had to wait six weeks for PROZAC to work. The longest six weeks of my life, but IT DID and it WAS worth the wait.
Good luck, you are going to be just fine.
Posted by BarbaraCat on August 25, 2003, at 13:47:32
In reply to I I don't know if I can keep waiting, posted by lesliekay on August 25, 2003, at 4:03:52
**Be thankful you're sleeping so much. No, really! You probably need the rest after being under a depressive siege. It's hard on the body. Make yourself comfy and give in to the rest and sleep and take extra good care of yourself. Don't beat yourself up because you're not 'accomplishing' anything right now. There are too many people on the planet, most are accomplishing too many things, and right now it's your turn to take care of you.
If you ever wake up in the middle of a fright, go into the bathroom and wash your face with warm water and rinse with cool water and run cool water on your wrists for half a minute or so, breathing longer and slower from the belly with each breath. Works every time for me. Crying helps and is very healing. The only bad thing about crying is it gives me a headache and makes my face looks like a donut, but who cares when you're tucked into bed?
You'll eventually come out of this, you know it. We all do, although we always forget every time. Try not to give in to the fear of what might happen because it's just your mind and your mind is amplifying every worrisome thought right now. It ain't necessarily thinking very accurately right now. Remember to breathe slowly and from the belly whenever you think about it. This is so important that you might consider putting little sticky notes around the house simply saying 'BREATHE!' on them. Disordered breathing is a HUGE contributor to depression and anxiety.
If you start to get panicky, breathe into a paper bag for a minute or so. It really helps to normalize the blood pH into a calm state. Sometimes anxiety can accompany depression so we must be prepared for all permutations, but luckily, it sounds like you're more on the other end of the spectrum with the sleepies.
I know it's useless to suggest taking a walk during these bad states, but as soon as you can force yourself to move your energy, it will help tremendously. Keep in mind that Lexapro may not be the end all and perhaps there's a better med out there for you, but it will definitely shift things for the better. All things in good time and this too shall pass. We're with you. BarbaraCat
> I keep waiting for Lexapro to kick in, granted it has only been 4 days or so, I am falling down a tunnel. I don't know if I can make it back up. I don't know what to do, I can barely get out of bed right now. I slept for 29 hours. I know I am going to end up in the hospital again.
Posted by Nanter1 on August 25, 2003, at 15:35:55
In reply to I I don't know if I can keep waiting, posted by lesliekay on August 25, 2003, at 4:03:52
> I keep waiting for Lexapro to kick in, granted it has only been 4 days or so, I am falling down a tunnel. I don't know if I can make it back up. I don't know what to do, I can barely get out of bed right now. I slept for 29 hours. I know I am going to end up in the hospital again.
Leslie:
Like many here, I've been through the ups and downs of using these medications and have learned some things about the course you can expect.
1. When you first start taking one of these medications, whether it be the first time or a resumption after having been med-free for a while, it can often feel as if the medicine can't possibly work and the way you feel will never leave you. Trust that this is not the case; it is your current neurochemical state that makes you feel that way. It's playing tricks on you.
2. It can take very varying amounts of time for these medications to work. I've had points where I didn't see a noticeable improvement for 6 weeks. Other times it only took a couple of weeks.
3. Keep taking the medication! When you feel terrible, just imagine the medicine inside of you working. Even though you feel lousy, know that it's making changes RIGHT NOW that WILL make you feel better.
4. Sometimes the medications can make you feel worse when you start taking them. Know that this is only temporary and will dissipate.
5. You probably feel that you don't want to face the world and your way of effecting that is to sleep all the time. Try to muster some energy if at all possible and go about some ordinary activites. It will take incredible willpower but will probably speed your recovery.
6. Don't neglect nutrition! I've been guilty of not eating well or not even eating at all because I've felt so poor and thought there was no hope. If you eat consistently, eat well, take vitamins, get good quantities of protein and essential fatty acids (such as from fish and healthy oils), your recovery will proceed more quickly. If at first you have to drag yourself out of bed just to eat, do it! Your brain needs this nutrition for the medication to work, as you must manufacture the neurotransmitter that is currently deficient. Not eating will only limit your body's ability to do so and will cause your recovery to take far longer.
7. Every day brings you that much closer to being yourself again.Best of luck. Know that you will feel better, and until you do (and afterwards!), we're here to answer questions and just provide a helping hand and a friendly ear. Don't hesitate to ask me or anyone else any other questions you may have.
-Luke
Posted by HenryO on August 26, 2003, at 3:31:28
In reply to I I don't know if I can keep waiting, posted by lesliekay on August 25, 2003, at 4:03:52
Get ahold of some Pindolol (a.k.a. Visken) it's a beta blocker. When I am in the place you are it puts the fire out. I wish I could just reach through the screen and hand you some. It works as quick as asprin or Tylenol. It doesn't make everything peachy, but when I've been in acute pain and the Pindolol starts working I think, if it never gets any worse than this I can accept it. Hope you have the same experience with it as I did. It is more of a physiological than a psychoactive med so I think it's apt to have a less subjective effect.
Posted by lesliekay on August 26, 2003, at 22:20:33
In reply to don't keep waiting- Pnidolol a.k.a. Visken, posted by HenryO on August 26, 2003, at 3:31:28
I walked into work yesterday feeling a little bit better, after a few hours, a lot better. I don't know if it was a rapid cycle shift or the lexapro but I don't care.....I'M BETTER!!!! Thank you for all of your kind words. I still can't believe that my psych let me take this med...now all I have to be concerned with is the mania it might cause. leslie
Posted by Treb on August 26, 2003, at 22:33:33
In reply to HEY HEY HEY ALL LOVE NOW, posted by lesliekay on August 26, 2003, at 22:20:33
I take 500 mg Depakote at night and 500 mg in the day along with Lexapro. It keeps the manic at bay. I have been on the Depakote for 19 mos and combined with the Lexapro has been the best combo for me. Good Luck! Treb
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