Posted by Lorraine on December 30, 2001, at 23:29:14
In reply to Re: hi there » shellir, posted by Elizabeth on December 29, 2001, at 6:15:45
Elizabeth:
Good to hear from you. You sound good. How are your meds doing? I know disability and medicaid are a pain--people in NDMDA complain about the hoop jumping all the time. Perseverance seems to be the biggest piece--which you certainly have.
I'm on St John's Wart, ritalin XR and neurontin. Day 12 of SJ, thought being that since I react so negatively to so many meds may as well try one that is "supposed" to have few side effects. Funny thing, noticed reduction in physical anxiety right away (stopped all daytime Neurontin, which was about 800 mg before started SJ), but also noticed fatigue. Having been on an MAO before as well as the blood pressure reducing drug had my suspicions and took my bp--sure enough low. Recent stuff says SJ is not an MAO, but the bp effect is interesting. I'm actually thinking that it is this dip in bp that has a lot to do with the fatigue that I have felt on other ADs, but then again, noone was taking my bp.
I wish you the best New Year (you truly deserve it).
Lorraine
> Hi Shelli.
>
> > I am still in Philadelphia (entire family is here), and everything remains up in the air.
>
> Ahh, that's how I came to be in NC too. Also, same here about everything being up in the air!
>
> > The only thing that is settled is an appointment the third week in January with Dr. Robert Hedaya, the "total" psychiatrist who teaches at Georgetown.
>
> That sounds like a plan. I think getting tests done is probably a good idea if conventional psych treatments haven't worked very well.
>
> > Meanwhile, first I was rejected for ECT at U of Penn (need therapy);
>
> What is with this therapy crap? Haven't you been in a lot of therapy already? And how is therapy incompatible with ECT, anyway -- why can't you do both?
>
> > yesterday I got rejected because I need to be off opiates for a month --presently I have about another ten days of methadone (15mg 2 or 3x a day). Then I have a few hydrocodone at home. I am so tired of explaining my "opiate" history.
>
> I'd just tell about the doctor in DC who prescribed them for you -- I wouldn't go into the previous self-medication with hydro, as it might make them distrustful of you.
>
> > I am not yet broken into thinking drugs are my problem rather than depression. I am much stronger than I ever imaged, although if not for my parents, I am sure I would be either in McLean in Boston (my first choice) or dead.
>
> I have the same feelings about my parents. I don't know what I'd do without them. My sister has been wonderful too, although being in college she sort of has her own world that she lives in right now.
>
> > What is your situation? You are also very much in my thoughts.
>
> Thanks. :) I'm trying to find a decent pdoc in NC, staying with my parents. I'm also trying to get Medicaid so that I can see a neurologist and get the expensive tests that will probably require. Medicaid is *very* hard to get here -- I wish they would just let me transfer it from Massachusetts, but here they actually require you to be approved for disability before they'll consider you for Medicaid! So that's a PITA. Otherwise, I'm just trying to stay active, get out regularly, get/stay in touch with friends and family, etc. I've been pretty psyched about the _Lord of the Rings_ movie because I've been a big fan of the books since I was a little kid (I've reread LOTR twice since September). My sister is home for the holidays, which is nice since I don't get to see her that often. I visited my boyfriend in NJ just before xmas -- I hadn't seen him for a month or so. I hope that I can go up there pretty often, but it's pretty tricky (the last couple times, I've taken Amtrak from Union Station to Trenton after driving up to DC). That's pretty much where I stand now.
>
> I hope things improve for you. It's hard, but I know that you're strong.
>
> best wishes,
> -elizabeth
poster:Lorraine
thread:87311
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011222/msgs/88311.html