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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Phillipa on February 4, 2005, at 20:01:50
I'm amazed at the research all of you do on your illness and medications. How do you concentrate. My depression and anxiety, if that's what it is keeps me from this. I have to read things 3-4 times just to get the idea of an article. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by BennyJ on February 4, 2005, at 20:13:29
In reply to How Do You Concentrate On Meds?, posted by Phillipa on February 4, 2005, at 20:01:50
Hi Phillipa,
Try starting with a real general text, like first and second year pharmcol students use. I bought a copy of 'basic and clinical pharmacology' as a reference text...I found once I understood the general categories and benefits of meds the more indepth research papers off medline made more sense, much easier to focus on.keep smilin,
Ben
> I'm amazed at the research all of you do on your illness and medications. How do you concentrate. My depression and anxiety, if that's what it is keeps me from this. I have to read things 3-4 times just to get the idea of an article. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by CareBear04 on February 5, 2005, at 18:49:20
In reply to How Do You Concentrate On Meds?, posted by Phillipa on February 4, 2005, at 20:01:50
hey phillipa, i'm so messed up that i don't know if the question is "how do i concentrate on meds?" or "how do i concetrate without meds?" my current tally is sixteen, and there's just no way to know what's doing what and what my body and my mind would be like if we could strip away everything. i was very lithium toxic about three times in the fall, and it really messed up my brain. i was worried i would have permanent brain damage or that the meds i was on now were the cause, but recently, my head has cleared a little, and i'm feeling a little smarter, a little more like i used to be. i still have tons of trouble reading, like you mentioned. i used to read several books a day; reading was so pleasurable and natural. now, i get up and constantly distracted trying to read a afew pages. i sympathize with you!
Posted by Phillipa on February 5, 2005, at 18:55:27
In reply to Re: How Do You Concentrate On Meds? » Phillipa, posted by CareBear04 on February 5, 2005, at 18:49:20
Thanks for responding, with similar complaints. I'm starting to feel like a "cry baby". Always thinking of myself, but I can't get out of myself. Keep thinking "how did I manage to work and manage other people" etc. in the past. Now, would you believe my husband reads aloud with me reading with him each night before we go to sleep! Besides, i can't be without him by my side, and he's "had it". I don't understand what's happened to the person who used to go to the library and contentedly sit and read all day. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by CareBear04 on February 5, 2005, at 19:02:24
In reply to Re: How Do You Concentrate On Meds? » CareBear04, posted by Phillipa on February 5, 2005, at 18:55:27
phillipa, i definitely feel you... i graduated early from university, so i'm young, but i look back at all that i did compared to the bum i am now, and i feel so sad about what i've lost and who i've lost. where am i and who am i now?
on another note-- this is probably more "social board" related-- but i'm glad you have such a supportive husband, and i hope to find one myself. i sometimes wonder who will want to take not only me but also my baggage. i did have a friend say once, though, that problems are only baggage until they have been processed and dealt with. i've come to terms with my BP dx, but 16 meds... i don't think that's a resolution.
Posted by sabre on February 5, 2005, at 19:43:47
In reply to Re: How Do You Concentrate On Meds? » Phillipa, posted by CareBear04 on February 5, 2005, at 19:02:24
I sympathise with you too, Phillipa.
I know how it is to be too agitated to sit and read or to be so depressed that you can't keep your brain from floating out the door as you read and re-read sections of a book in the attempt to make it go in. The side effects of drugs don't help either with some making you so fatigued and the vision so blurred you can't physically do it.
I'm lucky because I don't feel like this all the time. I keep hoping that one day the right article or chapter in a text book will yield the answers. Is that delusional?
sabre
Posted by Phillipa on February 5, 2005, at 20:05:31
In reply to Re: How Do You Concentrate On Meds?, posted by sabre on February 5, 2005, at 19:43:47
I don't know, but I do the same. Like Babbling on this Board. Someday I read the "answer". Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Smeegle on February 7, 2005, at 1:15:48
In reply to Re: How Do You Concentrate On Meds? » sabre, posted by Phillipa on February 5, 2005, at 20:05:31
How do I concentrate? Provigil! I work full time and attend school at night and was about ready to quit. I was already dropping classes left and right because I either couldn't stay awake in class (was getting a full 8-10 hours sleep on a regular basis) and/or I just couldn't keep up with what the heck the teacher was talking about. My brain was just not processing fast enough (needed more RAM...lol). Since getting on Provigil (mostly just for school days or when I need the extra focus at work). It isn't a true stimulant but acts similarly. It just "promotes wakefullness" and helps me be more awake and alert. I used to be able to drink a double espresso and go back to bed, now I rarely have more than 1/2 cup of coffee and am good to go all day. (they have a site, check it out and discuss it with your dr...though not all insurances will cover it)
Smeegs
Posted by Phillipa on February 7, 2005, at 17:27:56
In reply to Re: How Do You Concentrate On Meds?, posted by Smeegle on February 7, 2005, at 1:15:48
With all the anxiety? I would be afraid to try. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by gromit on February 9, 2005, at 6:56:43
In reply to Re: How Do You Concentrate On Meds? » Smeegle, posted by Phillipa on February 7, 2005, at 17:27:56
16 meds, was that a typo?
Posted by CareBear04 on February 9, 2005, at 19:27:00
In reply to Re: How Do You Concentrate On Meds?, posted by gromit on February 9, 2005, at 6:56:43
no, really 16. here's what i remember-- zoloft, prozac, lamictal, lithium, adderall, concerta, seroquel, haldol, reglan, zofran, phenergan, prevacid, ambien, trazodone, etc.
blah!
Posted by Phillipa on February 9, 2005, at 19:42:46
In reply to Re: How Do You Concentrate On Meds? » Phillipa, posted by CareBear04 on February 5, 2005, at 18:49:20
Wow! You must have some concentration or you couldn't remember when to take what! Do they work for you? And how did you end up on so many meds. If something goes wrong how will you know what med caused it? Fondly, Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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