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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1796 to 1820 of 1838. Go back in thread:
Posted by SandyWeb on April 13, 2006, at 11:49:18
In reply to Re: Bye Bye, Topamax » SandyWeb, posted by Storm Rider on April 13, 2006, at 8:31:16
Thanks Kat,
Took my last 100mg pill this morning.
I'm not sure what help you will be able to locate because the only reason I'm on the PharmaCare prescription program (which is usually just reserved for our elderly population) is because it is also used by Family Services (AKA: Welfare). When the Neurontin was approved, and the pharmacist saw this in his little magic box when I went to pay for the prescription, he was quite surprised to see that not only was it approved for the off-label use of social anxiety (maybe somebody goofed-up) BUT it also was approved for long-term use....meaning I didn't have to keep re-applying for approval. But after 3 years or so, it pooped out. And, in all honesty, it was rather mild...especially in regards to Topamax.
Also, will only take 15mg of Remeron tonight (instead of my usual 45mg) because I CAN NOT have the weight come back on once the Topamax helped me to get me back down to a reasonable weight. Not quite sure how I'll do without an antidepressant, but I guess time will tell. Hey, maybe I'm all cured except for this dang anxiety and insomnia. Argh! Who knows, right? Maybe my brain chemistry has shifted around enough that I really don't need all those meds anymore.....just something to keep me calm (albiet at rather a high dose.....then again, most ALL my meds were in the eye-popping high dose ranges....even over-the counter. My daughter's that way too, but my son only needs, for example, half an ibuprofen, and he's fine!). And, of course, I need to sleep!!!! Either by pills or a hammer to the head! Lol.
But seriously, once I get over the wonders of withdrawal, I may find that my chemistry has changed enough that I'm only dealing with anxiety and insomnia now. WooHoo. Who would think a person would say "WooHoo!" to anxiety and insomnia?? Lol. Just get me the right dosage so that I don't run out (cause that sends me spiralling down the suicidal tunnel....I CAN NOT RUN OUT!), and maybe I can start take a walk around the block and then maybe take a walk to the local store and then maybe a walk to church (eeks!!!! social interaction!!!), and then maybe I can get a VERY part-time volunteer position with minimal client contact, and then maybe more hours with more contact, and then maybe.....a part-time job...and who knows. But baby steps. And the first step is: Wait for this dang withdrawal to start, see how horrible the anxiety is going to be, beg on my bloody knees if my doc won't give me more Klonopin, AND MAKE IT THROUGH IT....because I WILL MAKE IT THROUGH IT. It's all just a matter of time. I just hope it doesn't come down to a matter of my actually having a NEED for these meds or I'm going to go through the withdrawals and come out the other end loopy. But I can't forsee the future. Today is Thursday. My blood levels are still normal...until tonight when I drastically reduce the Remeron and altogether stop the Topamax. Then we'll listen to my story tomorrow. Lol!
Something happened on this board with me some time ago that scared a lot of people. Let me just say that I promised, once that whole "adventure" was over, that I would NEVER take anyone along on something like that again. And I make that promise again. Because no matter how caring and how concerned and how hard other people are trying to help......it doesn't go anywhere because the one with the problem is not thinking normally as in "click, click, click".....but "click, click, clunk". And there is NOTHING anyone can say or do to help that person. All they do is prolong the inevitable, and everybody gets hurt in the end. SO....that being said.....and myself being in sound mind and body at the moment.....I do promise that there will not be a repeat on this board. I do not believe in taking people down that path, even if these people willingly WANT to travel the path with you. It's not right, it's not fair. And I won't let it happen.
I mean, I don't know what to expect here. I'm going to be cold-turkeying off TWO meds....and I'm clueless as to what to expect from my mind and body. I may find that I have a great deal of strength that was hidden behind the meds. Who knew?? I may develop a great deal of strength because it means living with fewer and fewer meds!!!! YES!!!!!!! That can only be good!!!!!!
I'm optimistic. I'm not stupid enough to think I'm just going to breeze through this, but I do think this is something I can do. And I'll stay in touch. And if I disappear for a few days, maybe it's just because I'm physically ill. I'll be back. Thanks for wanting to stick by me.
And the adventure is about to begin........
Hugs,
Sandy
Posted by SandyWeb on April 13, 2006, at 12:16:49
In reply to Re: Bye Bye, Topamax » SandyWeb, posted by SLS on April 13, 2006, at 8:45:14
Wellbutrin is the devil's spawn! LOL! Just kidding.
No, I tried it two (or maybe it was three) different times.
Never had an anti-anxiety with it, but don't want to touch that stuff AGAIN.
First time, I thought I was going to have a heart attack. All I did was vacuum and clean the kitchen floor. Then I had to sit down for 45 minutes, trying to catch my breath (for 45 minutes, mind you!!) with my heart rate going crazy. Later got a drive from my sister to the doctor, and even after sitting quietly in the waiting room for 20 minutes or so, HR was still OVER 110. So she freaked and threw the Ativan at me. I mean, I really thought I was going to code on my livingroom couch. Never felt anything like that before!
Stupid me, tried it again many months later from my leftovers. Did NOTHING physical. The anxiety just kept getting worse and worse and worse, but I kept at it....knowing it was probably start-up anxiety and digging my fingernails into my thighs. Plus, I was getting very irritable. Well, I'm not an irritable gal. I just don't get upset with people very often. What's the point? But after a week of increasing anxiety, I just couldn't handle it anymore. I thought I was going to jump out of my skin. I was scared to even walk past my front door.
And the third time....which happened each time....was that my eyes couldn't focus when I tried to read. I LOVE to read. Some people watch tv. Some people watch movies. Some people build models. Some people play video games. I read fictions (murder and meyham, I call them. Lol. Mystery). It diverts myself from my own thoughts and helps me to relax. But my eyes wouldn't focus. And during this time, too, I was still in University. I had to purchase one of those drugstore reading glasses just so I could write an exam because I couldn't accommodate my eyes to the written word. And I just HAD to quit for that reason. I didn't want to do any permanent damage. I even experiemented. Stopped the pills for a couple days. Hey, I could read again. Back on the pills. What the heck are all those letters??? I just couldn't do that to myself. My sight is too important.
So, for a number of reasons, Wellbutrin simply is NOT the drug for me. And when you can hardly catch your breath for 45 minutes (after doing minimal housework) and your heart is pounding out of your chest and you're scared to even move your finger in case that's enough to cause enough effort to crash you.....and when you finally are pretty calm so you can get to the doctor (I have NO idea what my numbers were and I don't WANT to know)and you scare your doctor.....big-eyed scared.....and she said that I wasn't even close to the therapeutic level yet. It was the first day on it!!!!!
And it was the DUMB gene that made me try it two more times. DUH. But with NO physical activity. What, did I expect my place would magically vacuum itself if I stayed on Wellbutrin.
Oh, and I never got that energy boost that so many people talk about. Nada. Just almost a coronary arrest. Does that count? Lol.
Drugs are fun! Lol.
Hugs,
Sandy
Posted by challenged on April 13, 2006, at 13:14:10
In reply to Re: Bye Bye, Topamax (Wellbutrin) » SLS, posted by SandyWeb on April 13, 2006, at 12:16:49
> Wellbutrin is the devil's spawn! LOL! Just kidding.
>
> No, I tried it two (or maybe it was three) different times.
>
> Never had an anti-anxiety with it, but don't want to touch that stuff AGAIN.
>
> First time, I thought I was going to have a heart attack. All I did was vacuum and clean the kitchen floor. Then I had to sit down for 45 minutes, trying to catch my breath (for 45 minutes, mind you!!) with my heart rate going crazy. Later got a drive from my sister to the doctor, and even after sitting quietly in the waiting room for 20 minutes or so, HR was still OVER 110. So she freaked and threw the Ativan at me. I mean, I really thought I was going to code on my livingroom couch. Never felt anything like that before!
>
> Stupid me, tried it again many months later from my leftovers. Did NOTHING physical. The anxiety just kept getting worse and worse and worse, but I kept at it....knowing it was probably start-up anxiety and digging my fingernails into my thighs. Plus, I was getting very irritable. Well, I'm not an irritable gal. I just don't get upset with people very often. What's the point? But after a week of increasing anxiety, I just couldn't handle it anymore. I thought I was going to jump out of my skin. I was scared to even walk past my front door.
>
> And the third time....which happened each time....was that my eyes couldn't focus when I tried to read. I LOVE to read. Some people watch tv. Some people watch movies. Some people build models. Some people play video games. I read fictions (murder and meyham, I call them. Lol. Mystery). It diverts myself from my own thoughts and helps me to relax. But my eyes wouldn't focus. And during this time, too, I was still in University. I had to purchase one of those drugstore reading glasses just so I could write an exam because I couldn't accommodate my eyes to the written word. And I just HAD to quit for that reason. I didn't want to do any permanent damage. I even experiemented. Stopped the pills for a couple days. Hey, I could read again. Back on the pills. What the heck are all those letters??? I just couldn't do that to myself. My sight is too important.
>
> So, for a number of reasons, Wellbutrin simply is NOT the drug for me. And when you can hardly catch your breath for 45 minutes (after doing minimal housework) and your heart is pounding out of your chest and you're scared to even move your finger in case that's enough to cause enough effort to crash you.....and when you finally are pretty calm so you can get to the doctor (I have NO idea what my numbers were and I don't WANT to know)and you scare your doctor.....big-eyed scared.....and she said that I wasn't even close to the therapeutic level yet. It was the first day on it!!!!!
>
> And it was the DUMB gene that made me try it two more times. DUH. But with NO physical activity. What, did I expect my place would magically vacuum itself if I stayed on Wellbutrin.
>
> Oh, and I never got that energy boost that so many people talk about. Nada. Just almost a coronary arrest. Does that count? Lol.
>
> Drugs are fun! Lol.
>
> Hugs,
>
> Sandy
>Sandy,Scott, Kat, and anyone else with information:
I just recently stopped using wellbutrin XL 300 mill daily myself, I couldn't sleep and was afraid of weight gain as well as diabetes which is prevelent in my family history as well...... Of course as some of you know that have been reading along this board, I now am back on my topamax after being off for a month cold turkey and going back on my 200 mil daily and am very tired as a result. Does anyone want to offer any information on how they feel about the two meds interacting together however realizing that for each person they may be different but knowing at the same time a standard may exist? !!!
Thank you for any information. All will be greatly appreciated!!!.......Nettie
Take Care Sandy
Posted by SandyWeb on April 13, 2006, at 14:29:20
In reply to Re: Bye Bye, Topamax » SandyWeb, posted by Storm Rider on April 13, 2006, at 8:31:16
Kat,
Just an update,
I phoned PharmaCare myself this afternoon. Refused again. Whatever paperwork had been sent to doc the second time had been turned down....again. So that's that.
My doctor had actually given me a prescription for another month's worth, but what's the point? I wouldn't be BORROWING the funds from my sister for the meds, I'd be TAKING the money from her....because PharmaCare has refused me twice now. And I'm not about to do that to her. I thought I would have one lump sum cheque to give her, like I did with the Neurontin when it was finally approved, but now...what? I pay her $5 a month until I'm too old to know how to count?? I feel bad for her. She didn't have that money to throw away.
If I had any backbone, I'd ask my doc what the heck he's been writing in his reports to PharmaCare? Doesn't rish of diabetes qualify? I don't know. Thought it did. Maybe I actually have to have it. Yeah, well...there's a plan. *sigh*
Okay, so that part of my life is over. Done. Finito. Onward and upward. And I'm not even going to take the measly little 15mg of Remeron tonight. All I need is to awaken that Remeron HUNGER in my brain, and I'm a goner!! While I have this little window, I'm staying away from it, come what may.
Too bad it worked out this way. Doesn't seem to make much sense, but hey....we're mental patients. DUH is our middle name. *smirk*
Sorry. Just disappointed.
Take care. Leaving in an hour to pick up about 3 dozen boxes because we're moving at the end of June. Might as well give myself something to concentrate on rather than all this. And I don't mind packing. Find it rather therapeutic.
Hugs,
Sandy
Posted by SLS on April 13, 2006, at 14:52:53
In reply to Re: Bye Bye, Topamax (Wellbutrin) » SLS, posted by SandyWeb on April 13, 2006, at 12:16:49
> Wellbutrin is the devil's spawn! LOL! Just kidding.
>
> No, I tried it two (or maybe it was three) different times.
>
> Never had an anti-anxiety with it, but don't want to touch that stuff AGAIN.
Oh, well. I thought it was worth a shot.
- Scott
Posted by Maxime on April 13, 2006, at 19:49:04
In reply to Bye Bye, Topamax, posted by SandyWeb on April 12, 2006, at 16:05:36
Hi there. I don't know which Province you live in, but I am in Quebec. I know about the exemption problem. You should have your doctor try again and list every possible mood stabiliser (even if you haven't tried them) and say that Topomax is the ONLY thing that has worked. I know it's wrong to lie, but if this med is helping you well....
Maxime
> Well, I started Topamax on February 7th and looks as though I will be quitting cold-turkey tomorrow (April 13th) at 250mg. Not much to be done about it. Absolutely loved the med. Although no med is perfect, it seemed to keep my moods fairly stable and even (WooHoo!!!) began dropping the weight from basically the first day. I'm pretty serious about that! It impacted my appetite from the very beginning. In fact, I can now wear MOST of my old pants again....probably could still lose 2-3 pounds more, but we're talking about a 50+ pound weight gain from the dreaded Remeron. All the side effects I had from Topamax occurred only in the beginning, and they really were more of a nusance than anything else. And then they went away. Tingling feet and hands, COLD body, can't think of anything else so it musn't have been too big a deal.
>
> WELL....it appears that our lovely Canadian drug plan is refusing to accept this "exception status" med for me. So instead of paying $5 for a 3-month supply, we'd be looking more at $450 for 3 months. Can't do. Down to 2 pills. I don't understand why they agreed to Neurontin, but not to this med. So time to go loopy again.
>
> AND....if I can't have the Topamax, I'm cold-turkeying off the Remeron as well. Remeron is covered at $5.00, BUT......I can't stop eating on it. And I'm prone to diabetes because of the monster babies I spawned! Lol! And Remeron is the only antidepressant that I can tolerate. SSRI's send me non-stop to the bathroom....for WEEKS! It just never stops. Welbutrin causes panic attacks and high heart rate. Effexor could make me walk right out in front of a car because I'm so DUH. Paxil makes me psychotic. And all the rest just kill my body.
>
> I've had seizures before, but years ago. When I used to drink. I haven't had alcohol for four years now, and I have absolutely no interest in it.
>
> Remeron made my head quiet. Especially at night. It would talk and talk and talk. Of course it was me because....well, who else is in there BUT me, right?? Lol. But me would be talking to me talking to me talking to me. It would get so noisy. I take Seroquel to help me sleep, and it doesn't even stop the noisy head. But the Remeron does.
>
> But if I can't have the Topamax, I can't risk the Remeron. I'm going to be bouncing like crazy. Oh my gosh. And there are NO samples of Topamax. Ha ha ha. I'm going to be so sick. And the worst of the matter is: my 14-year old daughter is visiting for Easter from the 13th to the 17th. And I have to act NORMAL. I'm probably going to use up a whole month's worth of Klonopin in one day! *smirk*
>
> This is going to be hard, guys. Why can't they just approve the Topamax? I'm on the smallest cocktail I've been on yet, and I still have battles that I go through, but.....I SURVIVE the battles. The cocktail works. Dang it.
>
> Anyways, now I'll only be on:
>
> Inderal LA (physical panic)
> Clonazepam (psychological panic)
> Seroquel (sleep...would rather something better, but don't know what)
>
> Good luck on the Topamax!! I think it's a GREAT drug if it's targeting the correct problem.
>
> Be well.
>
> Sandy
>
Posted by Storm Rider on April 13, 2006, at 20:16:05
In reply to Re: Bye Bye, Topamax » Storm Rider, posted by SandyWeb on April 13, 2006, at 14:29:20
Sandy, you must be disappointed...
and frustrated beyond belief...
still there has to be a way around this..
I am looking...
no guarantees I know but this is what I do --
I was born to tilt at windmills and I have a fair success rate... my lance is dented and the tip a little rusty and Old Rosinante longs for a quiet stable, but we have our successes to keep us going :)
So I shall see what I can find out...
as I say no guarantees but it is worth a try..
meanwhile, stay with the list... you are one of us and we need your input
kat
>
> Take care. Leaving in an hour to pick up about 3 dozen boxes because we're moving at the end of June. Might as well give myself something to concentrate on rather than all this. And I don't mind packing. Find it rather therapeutic.
>
> Hugs,
>
> Sandy
>
Posted by Aleese on April 13, 2006, at 20:18:53
In reply to Re: Bye Bye, Topamax (Wellbutrin), posted by challenged on April 13, 2006, at 13:14:10
> > Wellbutrin is the devil's spawn! LOL! Just kidding.
> >
> > No, I tried it two (or maybe it was three) different times.
> >
> > Never had an anti-anxiety with it, but don't want to touch that stuff AGAIN.
> >
> > First time, I thought I was going to have a heart attack. All I did was vacuum and clean the kitchen floor. Then I had to sit down for 45 minutes, trying to catch my breath (for 45 minutes, mind you!!) with my heart rate going crazy. Later got a drive from my sister to the doctor, and even after sitting quietly in the waiting room for 20 minutes or so, HR was still OVER 110. So she freaked and threw the Ativan at me. I mean, I really thought I was going to code on my livingroom couch. Never felt anything like that before!
> >
> > Stupid me, tried it again many months later from my leftovers. Did NOTHING physical. The anxiety just kept getting worse and worse and worse, but I kept at it....knowing it was probably start-up anxiety and digging my fingernails into my thighs. Plus, I was getting very irritable. Well, I'm not an irritable gal. I just don't get upset with people very often. What's the point? But after a week of increasing anxiety, I just couldn't handle it anymore. I thought I was going to jump out of my skin. I was scared to even walk past my front door.
> >
> > And the third time....which happened each time....was that my eyes couldn't focus when I tried to read. I LOVE to read. Some people watch tv. Some people watch movies. Some people build models. Some people play video games. I read fictions (murder and meyham, I call them. Lol. Mystery). It diverts myself from my own thoughts and helps me to relax. But my eyes wouldn't focus. And during this time, too, I was still in University. I had to purchase one of those drugstore reading glasses just so I could write an exam because I couldn't accommodate my eyes to the written word. And I just HAD to quit for that reason. I didn't want to do any permanent damage. I even experiemented. Stopped the pills for a couple days. Hey, I could read again. Back on the pills. What the heck are all those letters??? I just couldn't do that to myself. My sight is too important.
> >
> > So, for a number of reasons, Wellbutrin simply is NOT the drug for me. And when you can hardly catch your breath for 45 minutes (after doing minimal housework) and your heart is pounding out of your chest and you're scared to even move your finger in case that's enough to cause enough effort to crash you.....and when you finally are pretty calm so you can get to the doctor (I have NO idea what my numbers were and I don't WANT to know)and you scare your doctor.....big-eyed scared.....and she said that I wasn't even close to the therapeutic level yet. It was the first day on it!!!!!
> >
> > And it was the DUMB gene that made me try it two more times. DUH. But with NO physical activity. What, did I expect my place would magically vacuum itself if I stayed on Wellbutrin.
> >
> > Oh, and I never got that energy boost that so many people talk about. Nada. Just almost a coronary arrest. Does that count? Lol.
> >
> > Drugs are fun! Lol.
> >
> > Hugs,
> >
> > Sandy
> >
>
> Sandy,Scott, Kat, and anyone else with information:
>
> I just recently stopped using wellbutrin XL 300 mill daily myself, I couldn't sleep and was afraid of weight gain as well as diabetes which is prevelent in my family history as well...... Of course as some of you know that have been reading along this board, I now am back on my topamax after being off for a month cold turkey and going back on my 200 mil daily and am very tired as a result. Does anyone want to offer any information on how they feel about the two meds interacting together however realizing that for each person they may be different but knowing at the same time a standard may exist? !!!
>
> Thank you for any information. All will be greatly appreciated!!!.......Nettie
>
> Take Care Sandy
>I hink Welbutrin did the same to my Aunt!!
Posted by challenged on April 14, 2006, at 1:44:39
In reply to Re: Bye Bye, Topamax » SandyWeb, posted by Storm Rider on April 13, 2006, at 20:16:05
> Sandy, you must be disappointed...
> and frustrated beyond belief...
> still there has to be a way around this..
> I am looking...
> no guarantees I know but this is what I do --
> I was born to tilt at windmills and I have a fair success rate... my lance is dented and the tip a little rusty and Old Rosinante longs for a quiet stable, but we have our successes to keep us going :)
> So I shall see what I can find out...
> as I say no guarantees but it is worth a try..
> meanwhile, stay with the list... you are one of us and we need your input
> kat
> >
> > Take care. Leaving in an hour to pick up about 3 dozen boxes because we're moving at the end of June. Might as well give myself something to concentrate on rather than all this. And I don't mind packing. Find it rather therapeutic.
> >
> > Hugs,
> >
> > Sandy
> >
> Kat, you are laurelses, a trooper, and I myself thank you for myself and for Sandy for all the help you provide for your unselfish, tiredless, efforts you provide us all here on this board. You are a wonderful person....Nettie
>
Posted by SandyWeb on April 14, 2006, at 11:17:37
In reply to Re:IMPORTANT » SandyWeb, posted by Maxime on April 13, 2006, at 19:49:04
Hi Maxime,
I know you meant well by your message, and I *really* appreciate that you even took the time to communicate your idea to us.
But even if it were just ME writing out the Exemption Status form, and just the doctor signing on the dotted line, I wouldn't feel right about listing all sorts of meds that I haven't even tried that.....you never know....somewhere down the line, I may try and find to be my miracle med, right?
I truly am not getting down on your case. I'm touched that you were thinking of ways to try and help me with this miserable situation. But not only can't *I* lie about meds that I haven't tried, but I wouldn't even think of asking my doctor to lie for me as well. We're supposed to be working as a team, and not a team like Bonnie and Clyde! Lol.
I've actually come to accept that the Topamax is gone. I had it long enough to get me down to a proper weight for my height (and maybe that was all that G*d's intention was), and since I'm also staying away from the Remeron....well, even though I'm middle-aged (good golly, when did THAT happen?!?)...I'm hoping I can learn some new ways of eating and exercising.
Inderal LA: weight neutral?? Hopefully.
Seroquel: I know it cause weight gain, BUT I'm only taking 100mg at night for insomnia (can't imagine that would cause the munchies)
Clonazepam: I don't know. Weight neutral??? PLEASE!!
Thanks so much for your concern. It's rather uplifting to know that others are reading this thread and thinking through scenerios as to how to help poor pitiful Sandy. LOL! But I *will* be fine. Each day behind me is another day towards completing the withdrawal process.
Take care, Maxime!
Sandy
Posted by Maxime on April 14, 2006, at 13:08:18
In reply to Re:IMPORTANT » Maxime, posted by SandyWeb on April 14, 2006, at 11:17:37
I understand.
And you aren't pitiful! You are struggling and fighting. There is nothing pitiful about that!
I know lying is wrong, but sometimes the system leaves us so desperate and with no other choice.
I don't think I would do it unless it was a med that was making a world of difference.Klonopin is weight neutral. They have weight gain as a side effect but I don't know anyone who has gained on it (including myself).
Good luck! And remember, you are strong. :-)
Hugs, Maxime
> Hi Maxime,
>
> I know you meant well by your message, and I *really* appreciate that you even took the time to communicate your idea to us.
>
> But even if it were just ME writing out the Exemption Status form, and just the doctor signing on the dotted line, I wouldn't feel right about listing all sorts of meds that I haven't even tried that.....you never know....somewhere down the line, I may try and find to be my miracle med, right?
>
> I truly am not getting down on your case. I'm touched that you were thinking of ways to try and help me with this miserable situation. But not only can't *I* lie about meds that I haven't tried, but I wouldn't even think of asking my doctor to lie for me as well. We're supposed to be working as a team, and not a team like Bonnie and Clyde! Lol.
>
> I've actually come to accept that the Topamax is gone. I had it long enough to get me down to a proper weight for my height (and maybe that was all that G*d's intention was), and since I'm also staying away from the Remeron....well, even though I'm middle-aged (good golly, when did THAT happen?!?)...I'm hoping I can learn some new ways of eating and exercising.
>
> Inderal LA: weight neutral?? Hopefully.
>
> Seroquel: I know it cause weight gain, BUT I'm only taking 100mg at night for insomnia (can't imagine that would cause the munchies)
>
> Clonazepam: I don't know. Weight neutral??? PLEASE!!
>
> Thanks so much for your concern. It's rather uplifting to know that others are reading this thread and thinking through scenerios as to how to help poor pitiful Sandy. LOL! But I *will* be fine. Each day behind me is another day towards completing the withdrawal process.
>
> Take care, Maxime!
>
> Sandy
Posted by storm rider on April 14, 2006, at 13:33:26
In reply to Re:IMPORTANT » SandyWeb, posted by Maxime on April 14, 2006, at 13:08:18
Sandy, delete the word pitiful from your vocab...
lol
as we all are, you are struggling to make your world and life style better for you...insomnia, now there is something I know all too well from a very personal experience...
part of me is afraid to sleep because of the risk of seizure...the old 'it won't get me this time' thing...
the other part of me doesn't know how to stop thinking and let the brain use the off switch to allow sleep...
as a result sleep is definitely a rare commodity in this person's lifestyle...
Immovane, I forget the generic term, is not weight related and does let one reach that sleep phase...
I now have to take two at night (10 mg each) to sleep as I have been on it for several years and have adjusted to the lower dose; tried something else but it was the same as drinking a glass of water, and addictive to boot...
one of the meds I had stopped taking cold turkey three years ago and now I forget its name...
suddenly realised that I had this stuff before and didn't want it again and wasn't sleeping anyway..
let's just go back to immovane and the increased dosage...
my doctor, the one who moved, had said I could increase to three a night if necessary -- it was the new one who suggested a change to the tranquilizer and that I do not want in a million years...
immovane works is pharmacy plan friendly and does not add pounds... at this point I would be happy if it did actually...
sigh
kat
Posted by SandyWeb on April 14, 2006, at 14:29:49
In reply to Re: Bye Bye, Topamax, posted by challenged on April 14, 2006, at 1:44:39
Kat,
Ummm, do you ever sleep? Lol. If you're not researching, then you're typing to us, and if not typing to us, then preparing for your show. You're going to burn out, lady. Do what all the kitty kats are doing these days. SLEEP. *smile*
Please don't think that you need to take this on as a project. Everything will be fine. I have a feeling you're a perfectionist. Don't worry about it. Now...if my bank account suddenly dropped to zero.....okay, then I'd be yelling to high Heaven for ANYONE and EVERYONE to help me. Lol.
But I lived without medications until March 25th, 2003. I still keep all my University agendas. Crazy, huh? Just looking through it now, how the HECK was I doing all those assignments and term papers and clinicals and FINALS just as I was beginning to take Zoloft (my very first foray into the exciting world of psychopharmacology)??? And I had to stop that med because it made me feel like I was outside my body. And all this while making A's and B's!!!!! I'd be lucky to even know where to locate an A or a B in the alphabet now! LOL.
Anyways, way off track. I just meant to say that you don't need to spend so much time on trying to figure out this riddle. Humans run PharmaCare. And sometimes just the right person (or the wrong person) making a decision impacts on the outcome of a patient's chances of receiving an exception status med. I'm aware of that. I've accepted that. I don't fight anymore. It doesn't take a whole heck of a lot of stress anymore in my life to crash my coping systems, and so I know when to back down. And who knows? Maybe my brain chemistry has changed enough that I really don't need such hard core meds anymore. Just keep me supplied with the Klonopin (bad things happen when I run out!!!! You don't want to know. But I know this, and so this is something that I *would* fight for). I also know that I need the Inderal LA or I'm going to have one panic attack after another when I feel my heart beating in my head, fingers, stomach, back....all those lovely places....so again, I'd fight for that med.
I think I'm rambling. Am I? Not too sure anymore. Seems like an awfully long sentence!! LOL!
I'll stop it here.
Sandy
Posted by SandyWeb on April 14, 2006, at 16:26:26
In reply to Re:IMPORTANT » SandyWeb, posted by Maxime on April 14, 2006, at 13:08:18
Hi Maxime,
I was kind-of kidding when I called myself "pitiful". I just meant that the situation wasn't one that I'd happily sign up for! Lol. Such is life. And it can be as bad as we make of it, or as good as we wish to imagine it to be. And I'm choosing to see the Topamax "experiment" was a success in that I lost a lot of weight (although it would have been nice to just have had ONE MORE MONTH OF WEIGHT LOSS. As my daughter says, "Grrrr-sy"! Lol). I'm not concerned about the effects from the gestational diabetes from both my pregnancies now, although I suppose the damage could already be done. But that information is in "tomorrow", and I'm living in "today"....and so far....."today" is fine.
And don't feel bad about your suggestion to me. We all say and do things when we're trying really hard to come up with a remedy. THANK YOU for thinking of me. It feels good to know that I can come over here and have at least two wonderful women to bounce questions and irritations off of. And then when someone else pops in with a comment, it amazes me that this is really just one huge community and anybody could be listening in on us at any time. So hopefully we're helping somebody else as we stumble along this little used trail. And you know what? So far (and now I'm probably hexing myself! Lol!!!), I'm still feeling fine and haven't even had to use the Klonopin yet. Then again, I know the half life of these meds is high, so.......let's see how whacko I am this time next week!! LOL!
Be good! I hope you have a great holiday!
Sandy
Posted by SandyWeb on April 14, 2006, at 17:25:58
In reply to Re:IMPORTANT » Maxime, posted by storm rider on April 14, 2006, at 13:33:26
Oh gosh, I know what you mean about not knowing how to turn the brain off at bedtime. I actually had to train my brain to accept the Seroquel because that didn't even want to work.
It's funny that you mentioned Immovane. They would rather prescribe this because it's non-addictive......although more expensive to produce then the benzos. Anyways, it is just a piece of junk to me. Really! It does absolutely nothing. Not even the metal mouth everyone talks about.
I even upped the dose real high (since I seem to need high doses, so why would it be any different with this med, right?). NOTHING!! I swear the pharmacists all play games with me and say....let's pretend to give her a sleeping pill, but really we'll just give her an aspirin. Pathetic. The pdoc I was seeing at the time practically called me a liar to my face, and that was the last time I saw her. Absolutely no affect whatsoever. Maybe if I downed the whole dang bottle??????
My daughter, unfortunately, seems to have her mum's whacked-out body chemistry too, and she was having a hard time sleeping one night....so I gave her one. Nothing. Gave her another one a little later. Nothing. Like mother, like daughter. But my son is the opposite. I almost feel sorry for her. She's probably going to be fighting with doctors all her life if she finds herself in need of medical attention. "Oh no, honey, we can't give you any more pain relief. You're at the max." Yeah, for the NORM!! Don't they remember from med school that a small amount of people don't get relief until OVER that dosage....the same as a small amount get relief UNDER that dosage??
I would be so happy to have a pill that KEPT me asleep. I don't have problems falling asleep.....it's staying asleep. You never know when hubby might decide to come back and do a bit of strangling here and a bit of suffocating there and all the other love tokens he liked to bestow on me. So...I'm always listening. And bad news now.....Since March 26th.......we don't know where he is. He used to be 5000 miles away from us. Now....he got fired, he moved, and.....
Well, anyways, yeah, sleep is a good thing. I hope you have sweet dreams tonight.
Take care!
Sandy
Posted by Aleese on April 14, 2006, at 20:39:51
In reply to Re:IMPORTANT » storm rider, posted by SandyWeb on April 14, 2006, at 17:25:58
Does anyone have any idea why Topomax would work as a appetite decrease for some and NOT others??
Posted by challenged on April 14, 2006, at 20:57:23
In reply to Topomax Weightloss, posted by Aleese on April 14, 2006, at 20:39:51
> Does anyone have any idea why Topomax would work as a appetite decrease for some and NOT others??
Aleese,
I have the same question.......It seems to not decrease my appetite either......I would like to know also.......How many milligramns are you taking?
Nettie
Posted by Aleese on April 14, 2006, at 21:05:29
In reply to Re: Topomax Weightloss, posted by challenged on April 14, 2006, at 20:57:23
> > Does anyone have any idea why Topomax would work as a appetite decrease for some and NOT others??
>
> Aleese,
>
> I have the same question.......It seems to not decrease my appetite either......I would like to know also.......How many milligramns are you taking?
>
> NettieI am taking 50 mgs.
Posted by challenged on April 14, 2006, at 21:48:16
In reply to Re: Topomax Weightloss, posted by Aleese on April 14, 2006, at 21:05:29
> > > Does anyone have any idea why Topomax would work as a appetite decrease for some and NOT others??
> >
> > Aleese,
> >
> > I have the same question.......It seems to not decrease my appetite either......I would like to know also.......How many milligramns are you taking?
> >
> > Nettie
>
> I am taking 50 mgs.Aleese;
Gosh, I am on 200 daily on my up to my normal 250 if not 300 this time around..... so I just started back on them after being off for a month.......hmmm I don't know.......waiting to hear from others as well...not really taking them for weight control but then again staying away from other meds that indeed contribute to weight gain, on the other hand, which aren't good for me.
Nettie
Posted by storm rider on April 14, 2006, at 22:40:40
In reply to Re:IMPORTANT » storm rider, posted by SandyWeb on April 14, 2006, at 17:25:58
> Oh gosh, I know what you mean about not knowing how to turn the brain off at bedtime. I actually had to train my brain to accept the Seroquel because that didn't even want to work.
>
> It's funny that you mentioned Immovane. They would rather prescribe this because it's non-addictive......although more expensive to produce then the benzos. Anyways, it is just a piece of junk to me. Really! It does absolutely nothing. Not even the metal mouth everyone talks about.
>
> I even upped the dose real high (since I seem to need high doses, so why would it be any different with this med, right?). NOTHING!! I swear the pharmacists all play games with me and say....let's pretend to give her a sleeping pill, but really we'll just give her an aspirin. Pathetic. The pdoc I was seeing at the time practically called me a liar to my face, and that was the last time I saw her. Absolutely no affect whatsoever. Maybe if I downed the whole dang bottle??????
>
> My daughter, unfortunately, seems to have her mum's whacked-out body chemistry too, and she was having a hard time sleeping one night....so I gave her one. Nothing. Gave her another one a little later. Nothing. Like mother, like daughter. But my son is the opposite. I almost feel sorry for her. She's probably going to be fighting with doctors all her life if she finds herself in need of medical attention. "Oh no, honey, we can't give you any more pain relief. You're at the max." Yeah, for the NORM!! Don't they remember from med school that a small amount of people don't get relief until OVER that dosage....the same as a small amount get relief UNDER that dosage??
>
> I would be so happy to have a pill that KEPT me asleep. I don't have problems falling asleep.....it's staying asleep. You never know when hubby might decide to come back and do a bit of strangling here and a bit of suffocating there and all the other love tokens he liked to bestow on me. So...I'm always listening. And bad news now.....Since March 26th.......we don't know where he is. He used to be 5000 miles away from us. Now....he got fired, he moved, and.....
>
> Well, anyways, yeah, sleep is a good thing. I hope you have sweet dreams tonight.
>
> Take care!
>
> Sandy
sometimes, around 1230 or so, I can fall asleep... that is not a problem...
but at two o'clock I wake up... and that is it for the night...
then somewhere between 0530 and 0700 I fall back to sleep... when the rest of the world is starting the day... if I take two of the immovane then I am able to sleep... as long as there are no noises...
no one closes a door on the street or starts a car or or or...and as long as I have no thoughts running...
I have always been a night owl... do my best work at night, but there are times when I really would like to sleep...
just can't convince my brain that it wants to shut down, and then there is that fear of seizure business ... it does not help to be afraid to sleep because one has no control over what happens when one is asleep...
and of course I have my own set of fears, akin in a way to yours... although my threat is not my husband, he is one of the things in life that keeps me sane <s>I have big dogs, one reason being that I love the breed, and love working with them, another being that they are a power breed and a protection breed...
they are here for a purpose...
and still I don't sleep...so I do my research and work on shows -- and the program director for the radio network is ecstatic as the programs reach him weeks and weeks ahead of schedult LOL -- writing and producing them (today I am working on one that will run in July says she with a smug smirk plastered all over her face...
wherever I go, even to the tv studios, one or two of my dogs will be tight on my heels...but the immovane is not addictive the way that other sleep med/tranquiliser is... and I still can't remember the name..
the directions are to take as needed...
one, two or three a night...they do help.... although I still waken around two it is a little easier to go back to sleep...
kat
Posted by storm rider on April 14, 2006, at 22:45:31
In reply to Re: Bye Bye, Topamax, posted by challenged on April 14, 2006, at 1:44:39
all the help you provide for your unselfish, tiredless, efforts you provide us all here on this board. You are a wonderful person....Nettie
> >
>
>No, Nettie, I am simply me... somewhat obsessive, totally impulsive and totally resentful when people are not treated with proper understanding and compassion...
I have been on a crusade of late trying to make people in various levels of power accept responsibility for our working poor and elderly who are unable to maintain their homes and lifestyles...
heat their homes and provide for themselves at the same time ---
and now a new problem is pointed out...
Sandy I am sure, is not alone...
if I can find a way to help her, to make someone show me a bit of light at the end of that tunnel, then maybe I can help others...
and when I find a windmill I have to attack it head on..
it all comes from having to read Don Quixote in high school when my French teacher didn't know what to do with this francophone student foisted upon him lol
but thank you for your kindness...
kat
Posted by storm rider on April 14, 2006, at 22:49:50
In reply to Re: Topomax Weightloss, posted by challenged on April 14, 2006, at 20:57:23
> > Does anyone have any idea why Topomax would work as a appetite decrease for some and NOT others??
>
> Aleese,
>
> I have the same question.......It seems to not decrease my appetite either......I would like to know also.......How many milligramns are you taking?
>
> NettieOnce again, I think it depends a great deal on how it is taken... working up to the dosage slowly, starting in the evening until the half dose is reached then starting in the mornings until the total is reached...
starting in large amounts is not going to work and I don't understand why I just know it doesn't....
no great explanation, just experience and others' experiences and what I learned at the clinics...
kat
Posted by Aleese on April 14, 2006, at 23:01:49
In reply to Re: Topomax Weightloss » challenged, posted by storm rider on April 14, 2006, at 22:49:50
> > > Does anyone have any idea why Topomax would work as a appetite decrease for some and NOT others??
> >
> > Aleese,
> >
> > I have the same question.......It seems to not decrease my appetite either......I would like to know also.......How many milligramns are you taking?
> >
> > Nettie
>
> Once again, I think it depends a great deal on how it is taken... working up to the dosage slowly, starting in the evening until the half dose is reached then starting in the mornings until the total is reached...
>
> starting in large amounts is not going to work and I don't understand why I just know it doesn't....
>
> no great explanation, just experience and others' experiences and what I learned at the clinics...
> kat
>
> Its not any of that because I know of 3 different people who started loosing at 50 mgs....my question is why does it work that way for some and not others because I am on 5 mgs as well!!???
Posted by SandyWeb on April 15, 2006, at 9:12:48
In reply to Re:IMPORTANT » SandyWeb, posted by storm rider on April 14, 2006, at 22:40:40
Kat wrote:
"but the immovane is not addictive the way that other sleep med/tranquiliser is... and I still can't remember the name"
Zopiclone!!!! Zopiclone!!!!
I knew if we thought about it enough, the ole grey matter would come through for us! Lol. Anyways, in MY experience (and my daughter's)....and not putting words in ANYBODY ELSE'S MOUTH.....I found this med to be just a spec of dirt they found on the floor and decided to fuse together and pretend it was a sleeping pill. Lol. Truly, it had absolutely NO EFFECT on either my daughter or myself....but the medical profession just doesn't seem to want to believe that. I guess they think I'm trying to get the GOOD DOPE instead. That's ridiculous. If a ball of lint would knock me out for a night of restful sleep, I'd choke and gag that dang thing down my throat every night! LOL!
As they say, everyone's body chemistry is different. I just wish that when a patient tells a doctor that a particular med doesn't have any effect at this dose or this dose or even this dose.....that the doc would believe you. Aren't we supposed to be working as a team? When did the patient become the rouble-rouser? *smile*
You know, I really should take a look through my file next time I'm in his office. Although that may do more bad than good. If I see all these descriptions of me that are so off-base, I'm going to feel so ineffective in my ability to TRY and explain myself to him.
And do you know that they don't really even read all those reports? When I was in the hospital due to a suicide attempt, I had to make an appointment with my regular doctor when I got out to get the stitches out. So I go to the doc's....and they wonder why I'm there this time. I asked if any paperwork had come in from the hospital. And she (left her for another doctor after this episode) said that so many reports were always coming in on me (during the time that some un-named pdoc we all know was having the cops visit me all hours of the day and night)...and no...she hadn't read the report. What did it say? Well, I just turned my wrist over and said that I needed to get my stitches out. So she takes me to the nurses office, doesn't even tell her WHERE the stitches are, and just says that I need stitches out. So the nurse sets up her tray, all happy and chatty, getting prepared to remove my stitches from a sports injury or something....and then I have to turn my wrist over again. Slight pause.....but she handled it well. And she actually treated me quite kindly. I was impressed. I think she's in the right profession.
So, later I'm back for follow-up with the pdoc and team at the hospital and I tell them that my doc didn't even read the hospital report and didn't know that I needed my stitches out. They all looked around at each other, and boy...the different emotions....anger, shock, disgust, disbelieve. The pdoc said that he had typed up 10 pages on my stay in the Crisis Unit....and my friendly neighborhood doc couldn't even be bothered to read it because so many papers were always coming in on me anyways. Whatever happened to ethics in medicine?
I also mentioned that she wouldn't write me a prescription for the Seroquel that the pdoc was giving me for sleep. I asked if he could do that for me. Of course he could. She was just a jerk. I think she was just as glad to get rid of me as I was to get rid of her. Not a very classy lady. I honestly don't know why some people go into medicine. I mean, there will be the patient from time to time who doesn't quite fit the mold....and the doc may have to do some research and try to figure out why something isn't working and what might possibly work. But she just couldn't be bothered. As you can tell.....I AM SO GLAD TO BE RID OF HER!!!!!
Okay, so Kat......ZOPICLONE!! Lol!!!!!! How do we ever get off onto these rambles?? Hey, and it's 2.5 days of cold-turkey on Topamax and Remeron. Still feeling good. Give me a few more days, though, once the half-lives are dropping.....then the little men in their long green coats might be coming to take me away! Ha ha!
(((Kat)))
Sandy
Posted by storm rider on April 15, 2006, at 13:30:14
In reply to Re:IMPORTANT (You are getting sleepy...NOT)(Kat) » storm rider, posted by SandyWeb on April 15, 2006, at 9:12:48
As for reading charts... the neurologist I see is supposed to be the top of the heap as far as epilepsy is concerned in this neck of the woods...
it was the first one who put me on topomax and he knows about it because he is actually a headache specialist...
what a weird circle of events it took to get me onto topomax... sent to the wrong neurologist in the first place LOLat any rate, every appointment, the neuro asks about the last appointments... can't be bothered taking a second to refresh his memory by checking my file...
then he asks about the recent statis episodes, has my husband tell him what happened each time...
I do not have to hear it again and my husband does not have to relive it again... and again and again...
Does he not realise that it is hard on the man to review these things...
and stress undoes the benefit of the topomax...
starts the seizure activity all over sigh...By the way, does anyone else wear medicalert bracelet or medallion ... you know, the thing that tells paramedics and er personnel that you have a particular medical condition or are on a particular mediction???
As I am violently allergic to codeine and to penicillin and because of the epilepsy and 'asthma'-like condition, I wear a bracelet...
but I have never known anyone to pay any attention to it...the last time the ambulance had to be called, I came to just as the firemen were coming into the living room with oxygen...
one of them checked my pulse and blood pressure...
ignored the bracelet...the paramedics arrived and one started an iv while the other checked my pulse and blood pressure...
neither looked at the bracelet...got to er... someone added something to the iv
checked my pulse and blood pressure and did all sorts of things
at no time did anyone look at my bracelet to find out if I had any condition that might need to be considered or any allergy to medication...so why did I bother with all that money to register and maintain my registration??????
go figure...
kat
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