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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 18 of 18. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Spriggy on April 5, 2005, at 17:54:04
I just got back from my appointment. My doctor basically ordered me ( in a nice way) to begin taking the Seroquel. He said my anxiety is waaay out of control, wreacking havoc on my body and since he can't treat it with SSRI's, this is the only way (since BEnzo's do little to nothing).
He said it should help me gain some weight (my BMI was 18 which he was concerned with), calm my anxiety, help me sleep and elevate my low blood sugar.
So I guess I have no choice if I want to get better.
HE is also sending me to an endocronologist. He has no results back yet from the hospital (heart monitor or blood work) but he did do his own full thyroid panel on me today.
Anyway, tonight, I will have my wonderful husband drive to the hospital parking lot as I swallow my first Seroquel.
Wish me luck!
Posted by Phillipa on April 5, 2005, at 18:29:25
In reply to My dr. has ordered me to take Seroquel.. LOL, posted by Spriggy on April 5, 2005, at 17:54:04
Good luck Spriggy. How much is he starting you with? I guess he feels that the anxiety is leading to the wt loss and elevated heartrate. But what about the thyroid nodule? Is he leaving the thyroid, and the diabetes up to the endocrinologist? Did he tell you to eat small frequent meals containing protein to also balance your blood sugar? Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Spriggy on April 5, 2005, at 19:07:49
In reply to Re: My dr. has ordered me to take Seroquel.. LOL » Spriggy, posted by Phillipa on April 5, 2005, at 18:29:25
Yes Jan (did you get my email????), he says to eat 6 small meals throughout the day.
My average level (according to his test) was 58!!! YIKES.
Yes, doctor thinks the anxiety is a cause of the weight loss BUT he did say, " the endocronologist will know a whole lot more about what's going on than I will but my goal is to manage your stress level right now."
A sweet lady from church offered to take this paranoid drug freak to the hospital parking lot and sit with me while I take my first Seroquel- then as it knocks me out into sleep land, she is bringing me home.
I am starting out at 25 mg's- he said if that doesn't work go to 50 mg's.
What mg' did you take that made you feel "drunk?"
Posted by Minnie-Haha on April 5, 2005, at 19:35:44
In reply to My dr. has ordered me to take Seroquel.. LOL, posted by Spriggy on April 5, 2005, at 17:54:04
> ... HE is also sending me to an endocronologist. He has no results back yet from the hospital (heart monitor or blood work) but he did do his own full thyroid panel on me today...
Please push to get that appointment ASAP. Do you have insurance? If you can't get the doctor to push it through as urgent, call your insurance company's customer service department. Do not make light of your condition. I hate to do this, but I had to once to get someone to take action on what had become unbearably anxious for me. I said (to customer service): "Listen. I am really worried and I'm mentally unstable. Do I have to say the word 'suicide' to get someone to take me seriously?" Save this as a last resort, obviously. You have not actually said that you are suicidal, but once they hear that word, they usually get a little more earnest about helping you.
Good luck? Of course good luck! Keep us posted, but mostly, keep pushing your health-care team! Remember, do not make light of your situation. Don't get nasty and out-of-control either (if you can help it), but let them know that you are very concerned, that your husband is concerned, that others who care about you are concerned, and that you are gonna keep pushing for a differential diagnosis, and good short- and long-term treatment plans.
Listen to Aunt Minnie.
Posted by MidnightBlue on April 5, 2005, at 20:50:43
In reply to Re: My dr. has ordered me to take Seroquel.. LOL, posted by Minnie-Haha on April 5, 2005, at 19:35:44
Spriggy,
I have been reading about you for weeks and FULLY sympathize with the "new pill" thing. I'm right there in the parking lot with you! I'd be scared to death. Why don't these doctors get that? I really think this is thyroid. Can you husband call and get you in to the endo faster? I think the emergency room route might not be such a bad one after all next time you have an attack.
Posted by Phillipa on April 5, 2005, at 20:53:27
In reply to Re: My dr. has ordered me to take Seroquel.. LOL, posted by MidnightBlue on April 5, 2005, at 20:50:43
When will you listen to us! WE care! Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by justyourlaugh on April 5, 2005, at 22:26:10
In reply to My dr. has ordered me to take Seroquel.. LOL, posted by Spriggy on April 5, 2005, at 17:54:04
i understand the concern..
took it for years in the pm..
still keep 100mg tabs around incase of "crisis"..
benzos also did nothing..
only drug i truely felt releif from after 30 minutes..
i am hypothyroid..
thinking of you.
j
Posted by Maxime on April 5, 2005, at 22:28:59
In reply to Re: My dr. has ordered me to take Seroquel.. LOL, posted by Spriggy on April 5, 2005, at 19:07:49
Hi Spriggy -
I know you have been going through a lot. But when I read your posts part of me is jealous of the support you have through your husband and that you are seeing doctors who actually do the proper tests.
Tomorrow I will see my GP and I will tell her everything I have been going through and I she will tell me that everything is psychosomatic. I will leave her office in tears and haul my sorry *ss home and collapse from exhaustion that is being brought on by nothing.
I hope you realise how lucky you are. :-)
Hugs,
Maxime
> Yes Jan (did you get my email????), he says to eat 6 small meals throughout the day.
>
> My average level (according to his test) was 58!!! YIKES.
>
> Yes, doctor thinks the anxiety is a cause of the weight loss BUT he did say, " the endocronologist will know a whole lot more about what's going on than I will but my goal is to manage your stress level right now."
>
> A sweet lady from church offered to take this paranoid drug freak to the hospital parking lot and sit with me while I take my first Seroquel- then as it knocks me out into sleep land, she is bringing me home.
>
> I am starting out at 25 mg's- he said if that doesn't work go to 50 mg's.
>
> What mg' did you take that made you feel "drunk?"
Posted by Maxime on April 5, 2005, at 22:34:22
In reply to Re: My dr. has ordered me to take Seroquel.. LOL » Spriggy, posted by Maxime on April 5, 2005, at 22:28:59
Oh and I forgot to mention that what is going on is so obviously your thyroid. The weight loss, the anxiety, heart problems is textbook hyperthyroid. And when this is all over I want you to give me the name and number of the first doctor who started you on psych meds without testing your f*cking thyroid!
Maxime
Posted by justyourlaugh on April 5, 2005, at 22:38:23
In reply to Re: My dr. has ordered me to take Seroquel.. LOL » Spriggy, posted by Maxime on April 5, 2005, at 22:28:59
i think we may have been wrong footed..
or i was an a$$..
only in the er did i get the proper tests..
i only deal with a pdoc now..
i freeked out my gp..
psychosomatic , lipochomatic..
someone will listen..
keep you "sorry *ss" in the offices..
jyl
Posted by Maxime on April 5, 2005, at 23:18:13
In reply to maxime..., posted by justyourlaugh on April 5, 2005, at 22:38:23
> i think we may have been wrong footed..
> or i was an a$$..
> only in the er did i get the proper tests..
> i only deal with a pdoc now..
> i freeked out my gp..
> psychosomatic , lipochomatic..
> someone will listen..
> keep you "sorry *ss" in the offices..
> jylUm, okay. Your post has too many lines to be a Haiku so I know it's not that. I really don't know what you are trying to say, but I wanted to respond so that wouldn't think I was ignoring you. I'm not ... I just don't understand what you wrote.
Can you try again? :-)
Maxime
Posted by justyourlaugh on April 5, 2005, at 23:29:53
In reply to Re: maxime... » justyourlaugh, posted by Maxime on April 5, 2005, at 23:18:13
sorry,,
i post to you because i have nothing to offer..because
you have the knowledge..but i didnt want you to think i was not listening...
j
Posted by Phillipa on April 6, 2005, at 0:12:03
In reply to Re: maxime... » Maxime, posted by justyourlaugh on April 5, 2005, at 23:29:53
You're so sweet. Where are you from? It's hard sometimes to interpret your posts, but they are all so thoughtful and that's why we're here to help each other. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Maxime on April 6, 2005, at 0:34:24
In reply to Re: maxime... » Maxime, posted by justyourlaugh on April 5, 2005, at 23:29:53
> sorry,,
> i post to you because i have nothing to offer..because
> you have the knowledge..but i didnt want you to think i was not listening...
> j
>Awww j, you are so sweet. You have a lot to offer! Everyone does in their own way. :-)
You have a kind heart so you are special. That is your gift.
Hugs,
Maxime
Posted by PM80 on April 6, 2005, at 7:54:14
In reply to My dr. has ordered me to take Seroquel.. LOL, posted by Spriggy on April 5, 2005, at 17:54:04
Spriggy, if it is not something to do with your thyroid (or maybe even if it is) Seroquel can help with blood sugar. For me, this has been another great benefit. I used to be all shaky and feel kinda weird (which sometimes lead to a full-blown panic attack) because of blood sugar levels late in the morning before lunch and sometimes before dinner almost every day. This has only happened maybe a couple of times since I went on Seroquel. It is soooo nice not to feel like that everyday. Neither 25mg or 50mg is a high dose, so you probably won't have the munchies that people on higher doses sometimes experience. So it is unlikely that you will get fat on this - just fyi in case you were concerned about the other side of the weight issue.
Also, try not to be concerned if this dose isn't enough for you. If you trust your doctor, then trust your instincts in trusting him/her. It is a good sign that he is doing tests to rule out physical imbalances. If you don't trust your doc, find another one. You are the person that has to live with your treatment plan.
Posted by Spriggy on April 6, 2005, at 11:01:05
In reply to Re: My dr. has ordered me to take Seroquel.. LOL » Spriggy, posted by PM80 on April 6, 2005, at 7:54:14
Okay, well I took the Seroquel as I sat in the hospital er parking lot. The good news is, the lady from church WORKS there so she knows everyone. She said, " If you even feel a weird sneeze coming on, I'll get you in there and they'll check you for free!"
So I took the 25 mg's ( dr. suggested starting at 50 mg's). I waited about 45 minutes- felt NOTHING. So I took the other 25 mg's. I think taking the extra 25 made me "anxious" because within minutes, I started feeling like I couldn't swallow good and breatheless (which I kept saying, " this IS my anxiety- not the meds").Regardless, 1.5 hours after taking all of this (what kind of sweet woman sits in the parking lot of the ER that long with someone??), she went ahead and had them check my vitals ( I was getting a very DRUGGED feeling at this time).
My vitals were fine. The ER people were so nice- when I told them what we had been doing (sitting in the parking lot) they all got quite a kick out of that and laughed hysterically (but I was laughing too so it wasn't offensive!).
I told them.. " you know you have anxiety when you have anxiety over taking medicince for your anxiety." The nurse, said, " very true. we should write that down."
Anyway, my sweet friend from church drove me home, my husband gave me a nice warm bath, I fell asleep in the bathtub. Woke up a bit but felt totally OUT Of it.
I zonked out on the couch while watching "Dog the Bounty Hunter." LOL.
ONe thing I noticed is that my sleep was not nearly as "good" as when I was on Restoril. I woke up many times last night throughout the night. I never seem to wake up on Restoril.. but oh well..
So.. I SURVIVED my first night on Seroquel. I will try it again tonight.. and here on out until this anxiety gets resolved.
Dr. wants me to start taking it during the day but YEAH RIGHT, like I could take that stuff and care for my kiddos!
Thanks for all the support here. You all are th best.
Posted by MidnightBlue on April 6, 2005, at 14:59:09
In reply to I took the Seroquel- 50 mg's-, posted by Spriggy on April 6, 2005, at 11:01:05
I am so proud of you! I'd have been sitting in a car outside an ER, too. You have no clue how many times I have threatened to do that. Usually I just end up NOT taking the medicine. Doctor's just don't get it.
I don't think I would have had the courage to take the second 25mg though. And like you, I sure don't think I'd take it during the day. At least not right now with everything else you have going on.
When I first took a new sleeping pill I made my husband go and check on me every 15 min. to see if I was still breathing okay.
Posted by PM80 on April 6, 2005, at 16:04:45
In reply to I took the Seroquel- 50 mg's-, posted by Spriggy on April 6, 2005, at 11:01:05
Good for you!! The sleepiness factor will get better as you take it for longer. Also, I found that the drowsiness is worse if I take seroquel close to when I eat (within an hour or so). This is good to sleep with, though, isn't it! Also, the drowsiness for me doesn't last all that long (about 30min long approx. 45min after taking it) when i do get drowsy after taking 50mg in the daytime. Did that last sentence make sense?!? Anyway, good job spriggy, you did it.
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