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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by bridgey1128 on October 2, 2004, at 8:39:36
In reply to RE: More info please...stressed » bridgey1128, posted by headachequeen on October 1, 2004, at 20:41:59
Aussie..Did I mention I was a redhead? We have weird side effects...that's probably the reason. I have always reacted weirdly and differently to drugs and always had the most odd side effects. That is probably why NO WEIGHT LOSS with the Topomax. Because that would be a DESIRED one, you see.....ah the joys of being a redhead...*sigh*
Posted by headachequeen on October 2, 2004, at 9:56:47
In reply to RE: More info please...stressed, posted by Aussie on October 1, 2004, at 23:34:06
> Zyprexa is probably the drug that made you feel like a zombie.
> Effexor doesn't do that.I should have been more concise in my reply earlier... some journalist I am lol...
I was originally on Effexor and Welbutrin, then just on Effexor when they realised that seizures were a problem as I was epileptic and welbutrin causes seizures and exacerbates seizures...
with the effexor by itself I was a zombie... the zyprexa added to it made me a whole clan of zombies or whatever a group of zombies is called...
being celtic in background, I would of course be a clan <g>
and it was not pretty I am told...and you have again reminded me how fortunate I was to have such an easy time coming off the two of them...
never again....
I don't care if the sky is falling and the earth opening at my feet...
never again...
I will stick pins in my eyes first
kat
Posted by bridgey1128 on October 2, 2004, at 10:32:22
In reply to RE: More info please...stressed, posted by headachequeen on October 2, 2004, at 9:56:47
Effexor didn't do anything for me except not work and up my libido beyond belief. I think it flipped me into a mania. Which just proves I shouldn't have been taking it to begin with. At that time I didn't know I was bipolar, which explains why I didn't know what was going on. For people who are bipolar STAY AWAY FROM EFFEXOR!!!! NOT a good drug. Actually people who are bipolar should stay away from antidepressants period. They don't work. Which isn't good because Topomax isn't good for depression, which is another catch 22. *sigh*. Problem for me now is I was doing well but now I feel like I am going back into another depression. I just have to fight them because frankly, I don't have the $ to go to a psych or a a counselor. My deductible is so high it would cause me to STAY depressed to worry about paying the freaking bill!!! So I guess I'll have to battle it yet again if it comes. Time to up the meds again I guess.....
Posted by stressed on October 2, 2004, at 11:37:34
In reply to RE: More info please...stressed, posted by Aussie on October 1, 2004, at 23:34:06
Aussie.....when you say you lost weight almost emmediatly, are you saying after a couple of weeks? I am expecting to see her lose in the second week, and that may be unreasonable. Because of her binging problem, I am not supposed to mention a diet, weight, etc. at all to her. I really can't ask her if she has lost anything. Doctors instructions, of course. Thanks for your input. All of you are helping me in getting through these tough times with her. Thank you so very much.
Posted by headachequeen on October 2, 2004, at 13:15:14
In reply to RE: More info please...stressed, posted by stressed on October 2, 2004, at 11:37:34
> Aussie.....when you say you lost weight almost emmediatly, are you saying after a couple of weeks? I am expecting to see her lose in the second week, and that may be unreasonable.
Okay, Stressed...
I am not Aussie, but I am a redhead like Bridgey, does that count :) ???
and I have all the freak and strange health things that go with being a redhead... arrghhhanyway, first, let me add a word to the advice that you have been given, when you do notice a change, please encourage her, be supportive and compliment her...
it is soooo helpful...I remember people walking on eggshells around me... I have done the anorexic trip and looked like a skeleton with flesh and done a version of the binge trip and no one would say anything if I lost weight...
they were afraid to comment in case it was because I was sick and was losing weight because of some dire symptoms or because it might embarrass me...
hey world!!! I have lost a lot of weight...
I look almost like the person I was before the wrong meds were prescribed and I started eating to combat the boredom and the unhappiness ....
it would be nice to have someone notice that I now wear clothes a few sizes smaller...other than that, I did start to lose weight right away... it was only a couple of pounds...three in the first week... not a hugely noticeable thing unless you saw the number registering on the scale...
and the binge attacks were curbed... suddenly I no longer found myself standing there with food in hand that I really didn't want but ate because it was in my hand and why waste it...
some days I was simply not hungry at all... I forced myself to eat something... yoghurt or carrot sticks...
I had a craving for protein, chicken was a favourite choice...lately I am on a more balanced diet plan of choice not of planning I must admit, but I do eat only one main meal a day with perhaps a snack in the evening of a slice of whole wheat bread and some cheese or nuts or peanut butter that sort of thing... whereas before it was all day constantly...
my office had a supply of emergency rations in case I felt myself about to die of starvation at fifteen-minute intervals...
I was not hungry, I was lonely, bored, deprived, whatever...
the topomax curbed so many wrong feelings about eating...
and it worked over a period of time... from a size 16 pair of jeans to a size eight... and from a large jacket or sweater and sometimes and XL to a small...IT WILL WORK but do not panic as that will create more stress for her and she has enough stress about her weight and her binge-eating and whatever is causing it (binge-eating and anorexia and all the eating disorders seldom just happen so my shrink keeps telling me)
Be positive and supportive... and patient...
it is VITAL...
she has been on the med for a short time...
I saw the weight loss on the scale and that helped... I saw the weight loss effectively in a month or so when I had to get a size smaller in jeans and pants and skirts...
can't remember exactly when...
I do know that by September (started in January) I was in a size ten...and she will be healthier if it does not come off in a matter of days too....
kat
Posted by stressed on October 2, 2004, at 17:28:06
In reply to RE: More info please...stressed, posted by headachequeen on October 2, 2004, at 13:15:14
Kat,
Thanks so much for the support and information. It was really uplifting and encouraging for me. How great for you to be able to lose that amount of weight. I just keep thinking "what if she is that one person that Topamax doesn't work?." I know how hard it is to lose weight. You are really helping me through this, more than you know.....really. Anyone feel free to add information anytime. Thanks
Posted by headachequeen on October 2, 2004, at 19:57:23
In reply to Thanks for the advice, posted by stressed on October 2, 2004, at 17:28:06
> Kat,
> Thanks so much for the support and information. It was really uplifting and encouraging for me. How great for you to be able to lose that amount of weight. I just keep thinking "what if she is that one person that Topamax doesn't work?." I know how hard it is to lose weight. You are really helping me through this, more than you know.....really. Anyone feel free to add information anytime. Thanks
I have been helped here by so many people and soooo sooo often... that I am happy to be able to help someone else... my chance to pay it forward...just remember to give things time and that you will not notice the change overnight...
relax and be patient...it will come...
as I think of our foster kids and our own kids, and there were more foster kids than own kids <g>, I have to say that the most important thing you can do is let her know that you love her no matter what
love is the most important tool in her arsenal... love and support as she tries to overcome this... and unconditional love is the most important thing of all...
now my bog challenge is to keep the weight off and to beat the seizures... I used to think it would be wonderful to be able to go to sleep at night and not worry about a seizure happening...
now I remember that old saw about being careful what you wish for...
suddenly the nights became totally seizure-free and days became terrifying...
so now I am happy when they happen at night...
and I look forward to seizure-free time as long as the weight stays off...
I always have these little riders that I attach to life <g>
kat
Posted by iris2 on October 2, 2004, at 22:36:02
In reply to RE: More info please...stressed, posted by stressed on October 2, 2004, at 11:37:34
Because of her binging problem, I am not supposed to mention a diet, weight, etc. at all to her. I really can't ask her if she has lost anything. Doctors instructions, of course.
I am curious is this doctor a therapist?
I think it is paramount that your daughter sees a therapist. If she has an eating disorder than no matter what medication she needs to work on the causes. You seem really preoccupied by her weight more than the binging. How overweight is she? Are she or you over stressing the weight problem? Does she have a lot of body image problems? Is being a little overweight seems like a huge amount and impossible to deal with? Or is she actually very overweight. I know at this age body image is very important but if it is overblown by those around her that only makes her emotional problems worse. I am asking because I have had an eating disorder since I was 15. I was anorexic and weighed 56 pounds at 5'2" before I started eating again. My mother was always weight conscious. Way too worried about her own weight and both her daughters. It created many more problems for me. I have been bulimic and binge eating for 30 years now. I am better now. I do not have the symptoms most of the time but I always suffer with body image problems. I am not happy unless I am very underweight. A lot of grace and age has been helpful to me. I am probably about the correct weight for my height but I feel like I am overweight. The problem is too much emphasis on weight and not enough on physical activity and eating correctly. That is especially important to a teenager. They, as all of us need to be physically active as it creates a better more muscular body and from that a better body image to say nothing of improving self image, confidence and boosting those all important good feeling chemicals in our brains.
It would be interesting to know how much your daughter really is overweight? You sound very concerned. How much is the concern coming from her just feeling bad about herself as apposed to a big weight problem.
Unless someone is morbidly obese no one should take a medication solely to loose weight. Topimax is used as a mood stabilizer. It is news to me that a doctor would prescribe it to someone just to loose weight. It is a difficult medication and one needs not to be in any rush with it. It can be dangerous.I took it as a mood stabilizer only because I have a bladder disease that makes it virtually impossible for me to take most medications and I was able to take Topimax. My doctor never told me that it could cause weight loss. I never noticed any improvement in my bulimia or binging. Nor did it get worse. My depression either got worse or nothing happened. But it seemed to me that when I took it I was more tired. I did not loose any weight. I was on it for several months. I cannot remember how much. I weaned myself off of it. I cannot remember all the side effects but it took me a couple of months to get off the stuff. After I went off of it I gained about 30 pounds. I had no idea it was from not taking the Topimax. I had not been I touch with my doctor. When I told him how I had gained so much weight so quickly he asked me if I had stopped taking the Topimax. He than told me that it was a common effect to gain a lot of weight even though I never lost any on it when you go off of it. Because of my eating disorder and what this weight gain caused me mentally he suggested I go back on the Topimax. I immediately lost the weight I had gained but not more. I weaned myself off of it again but this time over several months.
I tell you all this because I have a lot of experience with eating disorders and it started at about your daughter’s age. I also have taken Topimax. From what you have described I do not think this is what your daughter needs to be taking. Just my opinion.
I think the doctor is dealing with symptoms and not with the disease. In the end that will hurt more than help. Loosing weight is not the answer if she has an eating disorder. I have seen people actually gain weight and be overweight but because they got the right kind of help for their eating disorders they were a lot happier and dealt with the weight gain like "normal" people do.
I hope I did not make you feel too unhappy with what is going on but I think there needs to be good judgment when dealing with such complicated and life threatening illnesses and medications.
irene
Posted by stressed on October 3, 2004, at 12:28:30
In reply to Re: Thanks for the advice » stressed, posted by headachequeen on October 2, 2004, at 19:57:23
Ok, here is the situation. My daughter weighs around 170, maybe a little more. She is 5'6. She has about six Cheerleading uniforms she needs to be able to wear through out the year. So far they are really tight, and I know she will be very hurt if she cannot cheer because she can't wear the cloths. She lives for this chearleading thing. I am a fittnes instuctor, and she has been working out with a trainer and doing cardio for over one year. Nothing is changing. Her Phys. told us that Topamax changes the way you think about food, and could possibly help along with cognative therapy. I see how this will disrupt her life and it's painful to hear the comments the kids and other people make about her gainging this weight. I know I can't shield her from that, and it will eventually get to her. She keeps saying she doesn't want to be fat. I wish it were me, because I know it's harder to watch it happen to your child. Thanks for any other adivice anyone wants to contribute. I really have been relying on all of you for support.
Posted by headachequeen on October 3, 2004, at 12:48:47
In reply to Re: Thanks for the advice, posted by stressed on October 3, 2004, at 12:28:30
> Ok, here is the situation. My daughter weighs around 170, maybe a little more. She is 5'6.
could the fitness and exercise program be bumped up a notch to help her work off the weight??through the time you have been on the list she should SAFELY have been able to move up to the next level (50 mg) of the med... and it should be beginning to curb the urge to eat...
this is going to work... but we have to give it time....
and we have to be confident for her and with her and with you...
and we are here to help you get through it so you can be confident for her...the negative approach will not help you and we are not going there...
agreed???
kat
Posted by iris2 on October 3, 2004, at 12:55:21
In reply to Re: Thanks for the advice, posted by stressed on October 3, 2004, at 12:28:30
> Ok, here is the situation. My daughter weighs around 170, maybe a little more. She is 5'6. She has about six Cheerleading uniforms she needs to be able to wear through out the year. So far they are really tight, and I know she will be very hurt if she cannot cheer because she can't wear the cloths. She lives for this chearleading thing. I am a fittnes instuctor, and she has been working out with a trainer and doing cardio for over one year. Nothing is changing. Her Phys. told us that Topamax changes the way you think about food, and could possibly help along with cognative therapy. I see how this will disrupt her life and it's painful to hear the comments the kids and other people make about her gainging this weight. I know I can't shield her from that, and it will eventually get to her. She keeps saying she doesn't want to be fat. I wish it were me, because I know it's harder to watch it happen to your child. Thanks for any other adivice anyone wants to contribute. I really have been relying on all of you for support.
Ok so I think I understand you to be saying that she is in "therapy" as in talking to someone?
I guess her doctor is of the opinion that this is not just a simple overweight problem. That she has some psychiatric issues that are affecting her. You said that she binge eats? I certainly understand how impportant the cheerleeding is to a teen and how important her weight is . How other kids can be so cruel about it all. How it will affect her self esteem. I guess from the way you speak about it all it makes me causious as to what her problems actually are. It is difficult to ascertain from you whether she has mental health issues or not. I understand your great concern as her Mother.Not wanting her to be hurt by life. If she is seeing a pdoc and he/she thinks her problem with her weight is psychological (not that is usually is not) to a degree that say she would have a diagnosis of an eating disorder and therefore she needs psychiatric medictions to ameliorate her symptoms. NOT JUST to LOOSE WEIGHT. This would be an abuse of medication and would not be to her advantage in the long term. No one wants to be fat. Lots of us have trouble keeping our weight down . Most of us do not have major mental health issues that would demand psychaitric intervention for it. I wish you and your daughter the best.irene
Posted by bridgey1128 on October 3, 2004, at 13:51:21
In reply to Re: Thanks for the advice » stressed, posted by iris2 on October 3, 2004, at 12:55:21
If she has muscle and is 170...that isn't too overweight for 5ft 6. I hope she isn't trying to look at the scale and is just telling by clothes if she is losing weight. Kids are cruel and mean. I know cheerleading is important to her but honestly, it's not the end of the world. She's only 16. Yes, I know, try to explain that to a 16 year old. I am 5'6" and at 170, because of the muscle I have, I look good. I weigh 230 right now and look like I weigh about 190. I guess it depends on your body type. Can she not just get bigger uniforms? I mean heaven sake. It's not like she isn't healthy enough to cheer is she? When I was in high school we had a chick on the squad who was pretty chunky but dang she could cheer better than any of them and ended up being Captain her senior year. It sounds like maybe she has some serious outside influences that have to do with her self image. Life isn't all about the outside image. Skinny doesn't equal healthy either. As long as she eats healthy and you said she has been exercising (hopefully not obsessively) her weight shouldn't matter. She's not morbidly obese, just slightly overweight for her height and if people can't keep their mouth shut about her gaining a few pounds then what snobs!! Maybe she needs some better people to hang around with. If she has real friends they will understand what she is going through thick or thin..excuse the pun. It sounds like you are a really supportive mom and she is blessed to have you. I hope she has a few good friends she can trust as well. She is going to need them.
Posted by stressed on October 3, 2004, at 14:59:58
In reply to Re: Thanks for the advice » stressed, posted by iris2 on October 3, 2004, at 12:55:21
Thanks so much everyone. She is seeing an M.D. and a shrink, so I think we are safe there. I hope. I will let you know how it goes. You are all such wonderful people. Thanks again.
Posted by headachequeen on October 3, 2004, at 16:15:33
In reply to Re: Thanks for the advice, posted by bridgey1128 on October 3, 2004, at 13:51:21
> If she has muscle and is 170...that isn't too overweight for 5ft 6. I hope she isn't trying to look at the scale and is just telling by clothes if she is losing weight. Kids are cruel and mean. I know cheerleading is important to her but honestly, it's not the end of the world. She's only 16. Yes, I know, try to explain that to a 16 year old. I am 5'6" and at 170, because of the muscle I have, I look good. I weigh 230 right now and look like I weigh about 190. I guess it depends on your body type. Can she not just get bigger uniforms? I mean heaven sake. It's not like she isn't healthy enough to cheer is she? When I was in high school we had a chick on the squad who was pretty chunky but dang she could cheer better than any of them and ended up being Captain her senior year. It sounds like maybe she has some serious outside influences that have to do with her self image. Life isn't all about the outside image. Skinny doesn't equal healthy either. As long as she eats healthy and you said she has been exercising (hopefully not obsessively) her weight shouldn't matter. She's not morbidly obese, just slightly overweight for her height and if people can't keep their mouth shut about her gaining a few pounds then what snobs!! Maybe she needs some better people to hang around with. If she has real friends they will understand what she is going through thick or thin..excuse the pun. It sounds like you are a really supportive mom and she is blessed to have you. I hope she has a few good friends she can trust as well. She is going to need them.
I have been thinking along the same lines, Bridgey and I have to add that I have seen photos of Bridgey.. it is hard to believe her weight when you see her photos at 190...
When I was in high school I was on the cheering squad too until I was kicked off for breaking one of the rules... it seems that riding the football bus was simply the greatest sin of all time but the game was seven hours from home and the station wagon left without four of us...were we supposed to walk????
I think that at 5'6" and less than ninety pounds I looked worse than your daughter would at 170 unless she is sloppy, based on the program she follows as described, I doubt very much that she is that...
I was so grateful for the Aran-knit turtlenecks and the tartan pleated skirts and even then it didn't sink in that perhaps I needed help and that I had an eating disorder...
eating disorders didn't exist then...
I remember gaining a few pounds and panicking...
so I can sympathise on many levels with your daughter...
yes the teen peer group is brutal...
and yes the teen self is more brutal...
but she needs to remember and to learn that she has to accept herself..
if she has self esteem people will accept her as is where is and when is...the captain of our cheering squad was almost six feet tall and this in an society in which most of the girls were 5'4" or less...
she was beautiful and she knew it and so did they. Everyone wanted to be Morag...
Another of our Cheerleaders was severely crippled... she walked with a sort of hunched over style... yet she was accepted as a cheerleader and she was one of the most popular girls in school right up there with Morag and the rest...
If your daughter accepts herself as she works on this problem and holds her head up and has fun the rest will want to be with her..
they will want to BE her...
I know... I learned it... and lived it...and another problem is to make sure the weight loss doesn't go too far....
I know, you didn't need that now...
my husband keeps reminding me how thin I was when he met me... and he worries that I am going to obsess about weight again...
keeps telling people that he thinks this has gone far enough...
well I don't want to be the ninety-pound scrawny person again EVER
I see my school photos and wonder how on earth no one noticed...
but I would like to lose a few more...
and then it is a matter of holding the line...kat
Posted by iris2 on October 3, 2004, at 20:02:48
In reply to Re: Thanks for the advice » bridgey1128, posted by headachequeen on October 3, 2004, at 16:15:33
I see a trend here. It seems that many of us think that this teen has to work on self image and not worry so much about her weight. I am not there observing first hand but for those of us that have exerienced eating disorders first hand it appears that some of us think the implications of stressing this little extra weight instead of real life issues like self esteem is not the correct treatment for either an overweight person and/or a person with eating disorder problems.
If she really has an eating disorder loosing all the weight in the world will not make her happy or have a good body image.
I have not heard of taking Topamax as a first defense against eating disorders. But then again I am an old timer and have not kept up with eating disorder treatments.
What does anyone else think?
I have seen my best friend run her teen to a pdoc she knew would provide meds for her because she decided her daughter had ADHD only after seeing a pamphlet for Strattera in the pdocs office. My friend did not like this pdoc but took her daughter there anyway because she new she would just give her meds without any treatment or evaluation and she did. My friend used to think her daughter had OCD. I talked her out of that one. The girl seems to have some problems but they involve attention getting mostly as I have observed. She was supposed to take her to a therapist after the pdoc for eveluation but decided she did not want to. She takes medication for everything herself. As a kid I thought if something is wrong just go to the doctor(God) and it will be fixed. As we grow up we see that "God" cannot cure what ails us a lot of the time so we had better take care of what we have as best we can. Some people take medicine so lightly. Medicines are poisons to our systems. For all the good some of them do they all do some harm. People need to remember this and not take drugs so lightly. If I could find a way to not be so depressed and function without meds believe me I would. God knows all the medications I have taken and what the long term effects on my liver and the rest of my body are!
Irene
Sorry about the rambling but this hit me so close to home because of my friend and her attitude about taking drugs.
irene
Posted by headachequeen on October 3, 2004, at 23:11:24
In reply to Re: Thanks for the advice » headachequeen, posted by iris2 on October 3, 2004, at 20:02:48
> I see a trend here. It seems that many of us think that this teen has to work on self image and not worry so much about her weight.
This gal is going to worry about her weight no matter what... believe me I know... been there and done that...
so the topomax and counselling together will help...
but I am trying to suggest that helping her work on self esteem will help too...found that out eventually..
she seems a strong candidate for finding it out herself...
if she can make the cheering squad and is five-six and 170 and athletic and active she is not morbidly obese so well on her way to success...
she needs solid encouragement and positive support and that seems to be there...
now Mom needs positive support too...
that I hope she will find here...
heaven knows when I hit 170 at five six a while back I thought I looked pretty good after too long being too much more than that... and people thought so too...
kept telling me to stop losing weight LOLshe will get there and Mom, you will get through this...
the topomax will curb the binging...
bet she has lost interest in chocolate for starters...
kat
Posted by stressed on October 4, 2004, at 8:18:23
In reply to Re: Thanks for the advice » iris2, posted by headachequeen on October 3, 2004, at 23:11:24
I think my daughter may be begining to feel the effects, but I'm not sure. She asked me today if I would help her with some sort of a diet. I told her to decide what she wants to do and let me know. I'm really leary about this part, because I don't want her to backslide and feel anxiety about this. I know the physy. is working with her on self-esteem and trying to find out why she is binging. I am a controlling mother, and am trying to make myself stay out of this issue. (That's why I am asking everyone here, Ha) That could be a key to this binging. I will have to talk to him about her suggestion before I go on with this. As far as chocolate, she still loves it. How can she not with parents like us!!! She did say a diet coke didn't taste all that good Sat. night. Thanks so much for you support, God know I need it. I have never ever used a message board, and am learning how to do it. I think I am becoming addicted to this......just like fountain cokes. The real old fashioned thing with the soda water and syrup. Have a safe day everyone!!
Posted by bridgey1128 on October 4, 2004, at 10:44:18
In reply to Re: Thanks for the advice » iris2, posted by headachequeen on October 3, 2004, at 23:11:24
With the Topomax food never tasted funny to me like some people have mentioned. I just haven't wanted to eat. Now that could also be because I have been on Atkins and it just makes me not hungry so I am not sure. I have to make myself eat because I just flat out forget. Still the key is WATER WATER WATER. You just have to drink it with Topomax. For her kidney's sake whether she likes the taste or not. I had to learn to like it when I was on a diet in high school and now it's what I mostly drink. I drink more than 8 glasses a day though and I think that myth has been busted anyway. Of course, what USED to be good for us isn't, and what used to be bad for us isn't, so it's a wonder we haven't become extinct! I just make it a habit to use the real stuff. If I go out, I am going to eat REAL salad dressing and REAL butter. The fake stuff has more sugar in it anyway and my body metabolizes fat better than sugar. Popcorn is a good snack btw. I actually prefer the snack size with the real butter and salt. It may add some calories, but what good is a snack if you really don't enjoy eating it!! I went for my annual OB/GYN appmt today! WHEE!! The Dr said my weight hadn't changed since last year but then I told him what had happened with taking the Effexor. Gained 20lbs coming off of it. Don't know why..maybe another redhead thing. Then gained 10 more from the stupid steroid the PA gave me for my bronchitis. Should have known better!!! So he was impressed that I had lost it since last year. Another thing to beware. Sometimes people's body's treat diet drinks like the real thing. I know mine does. It slows my weight loss down considerably. I try not to drink many. Once again..might be a redhead thing...Man are we doomed or what!!
Posted by Aussie on October 4, 2004, at 12:14:47
In reply to Re: Thanks for the advice, posted by bridgey1128 on October 4, 2004, at 10:44:18
I realise this is not connected, but, why are redheads different? I'm not saying they aren't by the way :)
I'm lonely.
Any advice on how to cope with getting off serzone?
Thanks FDA! Just when everything was fine they decide to ban it.
F____ hell.
Aussie.
Posted by bridgey1128 on October 4, 2004, at 14:06:36
In reply to Re: Thanks for the advice, posted by Aussie on October 4, 2004, at 12:14:47
Why are we different...hmm that is a huge post in itself. Well, growing up I always knew I was different than other children. hehe Yes, redheads have tempers. We bleed easier, we need 20% more anesthesia, have a higher pain tolerance, among other things. We react to medicines differently and we metabolize them faster than other hair colors. I am not just making this up. The "redheaded gene" so to speak, was discovered in 1997. Melanocortin 1 is the gene which every color has but ours is defunct. We are essentially mutants. And because of that defunct gene, it affects everything else. This is a simple way of putting it. If you have ever known any redheads, ask them and you will find a lot of similarities (besides the temper..that's a given!!). I have always had to use 4 Advil for pain for EVERYTHING. My son was born in 97' and I had to have a c-section...guess what happened. My epidural ran out right when they were getting ready to cut me open! By the time my daughter came along in 2001, I knew about the study and I mentioned it to my anethesiologist. I told him flat out I needed more juice because of my hair color (IT IS NATURAL!!) and what happened with my son. He listened! Ahhh...no worries mate! Of course, I had the also horrid side effect of itching my nose off from the spinal afterwards......AAAAHH!!! GIVE ME PAIN!!! I CAN'T TAKE ITCHING!! So...in a nutshell that is why we redheads are different. Just put redhead into your browser and take a look. It's very facinating. You'll never look at us the same again! :)
Posted by headachequeen on October 4, 2004, at 14:38:09
In reply to Re: Thanks for the advice, posted by bridgey1128 on October 4, 2004, at 14:06:36
> Why are we different...hmm that is a huge post in itself. Well, growing up I always knew I was different than other children. hehe Yes, redheads have tempers. We bleed easier, we need 20% more anesthesia, have a higher pain tolerance, among other things. We react to medicines differently and we metabolize them faster than other hair colors. I am not just making this up. The "redheaded gene" so to speak, was discovered in 1997.
Well, here I am again, ready to argue... another redhead trait <G>
first, redheads experience pain much more intensely than do other hair-colours... as has been made public following a recent study... shall find the info and send it along... it is in the study downstairs... pinned to the bulletin board along with reams of material on redheads...
believe me they wasted vast sums of money and oodles of money on the study-- I could have told them... I need morphine for a hangnail... pain and I do not get along... my three children were born naturally because my doctor did not believe in any sort of birth other than natural at the time the first was coming along... he changed his tune in a hurry and told me that he would never put ANY redhead through that again (I was his first pregnant redhead and I heard him stating to one of the nurses that he would avoid ever having a pregnant redheaded patient again if at all possible he had not realised how dreadful it could be... birth is supposed to be a wonderful thing he kept telling me, don't know where he got that idea...)
the next two babies were born before he could get to the hospital to intervene and the one was born with a nurse in charge who was trained during the Spanish Inquisition and believed that birth was meant to be painful... it was ... my third was a child who decided she did not want to be born when she was supposed to be born and waited for almost six weeks, a redheaded thing.. then when she was born it was NOW, no time for intervention at all... she is still stubborn and she is redheaded... so is her brother, the middle child...secondly the redheaded gene as you describe is not all that newly known...
since I was very young the differences in our genetic make-up has been known and documented...surgeons were always told never to turn their backs on redheaded patients -- they would be the ones to develop post-op infections that were really difficult to treat and they would be the ones with major bleeding problems...
I have had five abdominal surgeries and in each instance despite the watchful eye of surgeon and residents and nursing staff and the administration of antibiotics beginning before the surgery, I have developed massive infections, one which took almost a year to eliminate...
got rid of that and a puncture wound to my hand developed into cellulitis in four days... that turned into gangrene and almost went to amputation
had some skilled doctors involved and a determined physiotherapist and I have 85% usage of that hand now...
for a period of time every November we went through a repeat... November was gangrene month around the old homestead...
it was such a fun thing to look forward to...just another redhead thing...
Eye surgery this year, had a few procedures done and each time the bleeding caused the surgeon to wish I were anything but a redhead... each time he would mutter that there was no doubting that my hair colour was genuine -- and I think there may have been a few other words under his breath that I was not meant to hear...
In my teens nosebleeds were a constant because my blood did not have a clotting factor that other people have... while other kids drank soft drinks and milk, to which I am allergic -- read recently that we have more allergies too, have you heard that, Bridgey???-- I downed gallons of liquid calcium supplements to try and make my blood thicker or whatever it was supposed to do...
as for anaesthesia... that is so much fun... I almost always wake up before they are through with the procedure... only thrice do I remember sleeping through the whole thing, and on those times I woke up in my room, having missed recovery entirely.
In two of those instances I had an older more experienced anaesthetist who knew about redheads and was not going to let me get the better of him as he put it.. and he told me this in the operating room...
The third time I woke up in ICU with the surgeon standing beside me waiting and watching... a forty-five minute procedure had turned into a seven-hour endurance test as he called it and part of that was because of the redhead factor and part because the previous surgeon had made some rather glaring mistakes, dear soul that he is...Mosquito bites, bee stings, splinters, small cuts... the least thing can turn to raging infection... the redhead thing...
Pain is a raging sensation when it takes hold although once we are accustomed to a certain pain we are able to withstand it longer and easier than others...
did I mention that redheads are not always sensible about things...kat
Posted by bridgey1128 on October 4, 2004, at 15:37:18
In reply to Re: Thanks for the advice » bridgey1128, posted by headachequeen on October 4, 2004, at 14:38:09
It's interesting, the pain thing. I think it's one pole or the other. I have a very high tolerance to pain, whereas I know several other redheads who cannot tolerate much pain. Now, I feel pain before most people, I just tend to tolerate it for much longer. Hence my back pain for many years and my Dr not able to do anything really about it so I pretty much gave up and decided to live with it. My CHIRO was the one who finally fixed my lower back. It still hurts but I think that is because it is adjusting to it actually being in the right place. Different kind of pain. Yeah anyone in the medical field has know we were different for many years but the gene was only discovered in 1997. Until then it hadn't been pin pointed exactly HOW we were different genetically. My mom is a dental hygienist and she knows to be careful with redheads because we bleed easy. Of course, that doesn't keep her from wreaking havoc on my mouth when she cleans my teeth. She just says..Stop acting like a baby! And I have a high pain tolerance!!! I just tell her I hope she treats her other patients more gently!! My mom told the Dr that did my tonsilectomy about redheads when he did a newer surgery on me...I don't think he believed her. Well, he should have! I woke up that Sunday morning with blood pouring out of my mouth and nose. I ended up passing out in the bathroom at the ER and had to crawl back to the bed. They WERE going to send me home! But my mom said...OH NO YOU DON'T! And they readmitted me. Good call...thanks Mom!! She said...I TOLD YOU SO!! I think that changed his tune about redheads! hehe
Posted by Aussie on October 4, 2004, at 16:39:13
In reply to Re: Thanks for the advice, posted by bridgey1128 on October 4, 2004, at 15:37:18
Wow.
That's amazing and interesting. I had no idea.
Dr. Bob must not be watching. I've thought he would cut me off before now. But hey, Dr. Bob I think this has relevance as we are sharing about genetic factors that influence how we react to the drugs we are taking. Usually we just talk about environmental factors. To continue along the vein of genetics AND the environment: Both my parents are on psyc. prescribed drugs, no wonder I am too. The weird thing of it is I didn't need anything until I hit my 40s. Perhaps that's the environment. I think I need to go back to Australia..............
:) Aussie.
Posted by iris2 on October 5, 2004, at 11:11:34
In reply to I'm taking advice from all » headachequeen, posted by stressed on October 4, 2004, at 8:18:23
I think you are doing excellent on the message board. I have been doing this on and off for about a year and you are better at it than me!
Kudos to you for admitting you are controlling.
Even realizing that you are controlling is difficult and hard and then to admit it to us and I do not know who else tells me that you are very caring and sincere in wanting to help your daughter.I was concerned with your posts because you always spoke of your daughters weight so much. It is really not the most important thing here. If she gets better and does not loose a pound that would be a great success. Plenty of us with eating disorders have lost lots of weight; I ended up weighing 56 pound at 5'2" before I started to eat much again. I still looked in the mirror and thought I was fat. Loosing all the weight did nothing for my disease. I am better now. I still always feel like I am overweight. But when I weigh like 120 or so (I never weigh myself) I just tell by how I feel and how my clothes fit I feel pretty good about myself and am not not wanting to go out or embarrassed for others to see me. My body image is still not perfect, but whose is and I definitely make my weight affect my mood and my life way too much. I am not what would be called a great success story. But now so many years later the medical community knows so much more about it all.
I have seen people with eating disorders get overweight while in therapy and they were fine with it because they were not so absorbed in what they weighed. My sister is so overweight yet she is probably happier (not happy) with herself than I and does not let her being overweight stop her from doing anything she wants to in life. Not like me. I am still ill to some degree.
The reason I am so proud of you about talking about being controlling is that you realize or are beginning to that your daughters problem is a family problem she is just the one with the negative symptoms. Sometimes especially if the person is young and living at home the entire family dynamics must change not just your daughter. People do not realize that most of the time an illness like this is an illness of the family not just of the one showing the symptoms. It will be much easier for her to get better and follow her therapy if you and or others in the family make some needed changes too. Please do not take this personally. It is simply a known thing that many psychiatric illnesses or problem children are the "symptom" of problems in a family. I do not mean that your family is irregular or has something very wrong just that the particular mix is causing it to be poisonous for your daughter. Of course she still has to be the one to take most of the responsibility for her getting better.
I myself at 45 sometimes forget this and am still trying to change my parents. Make my mother more active and quit talking about food incessantly. Stop my father from being the control freak he is. Both are caring and well meaning parents. I do not want to seem like I think differently. It is hard to recognize ones "faults" and even harder to change them. That is why I am so proud of you. I am still having problems after umpteen years of therapy recognizing or admitting my faults. I cannot change something I will not admit to can I?
Good luck, I am sure we will speak again,
irene
Posted by iris2 on October 5, 2004, at 11:16:45
In reply to Re: Thanks for the advice, posted by bridgey1128 on October 4, 2004, at 10:44:18
Just curious what your backround it?
What are you taking Topomax for?
Are you diagnoses with an eating disorder?
Sorry if I am nebbie. Please only answer what you are comfortable with.irene
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