Posted by up'n'down on August 5, 2005, at 4:59:28
In reply to Ugh. Back to the mixing board..., posted by Racer on August 4, 2005, at 16:50:04
> Or the LabORatory...
>
> I called Dr CattleProd's office to move up my appointment. For any of you who remember what last year was like for me, you might understand why that would be hard for me, so I resisted. But right now, I'm just not doing well enough to hold out like this until late September.
>
> Right now, though, I'm back to that very negative sort of "I don't want to try any drugs at all, they're all worse than the depression, etc." I could use support, with a little education mixed in, if anyone could offer it.
>
> Here's the thing: I am sick of getting fat, sedated, and constipated on anti-depressants. I want to be able to move, to stay awake, and heaven help me -- I want to be thin again more than I can say. PLEASE do not tell me that I have to compromise my quality of life in order to feel better -- that's one of those things I do to myself already. I can do it better than you can, so please consider it already adequately done, 'K?
>
> So, support in the sense that someone understands how hard it is for me to consider taking anything, because of too many bad experiences. Education because there are two things I'm going to bring up to discuss with him: stimulants and thyroid.
>
> Stims are probably a bad idea, but they're worth talking about. They may also be impossible, since I'm on Wellbutrin XL, so they're probably academic. Thyroid is something he brought up way back in the beginning, because he says that his experience is that adding thyroid hormone in can boost someone into better response to anti-depressants, and that he'll sometimes boost someone into mildly hyperthyroid to get a response.
>
> So, can anyone tell me anything about side effects -- and other effects -- of thyroid supplements? Have they helped you? Have you tried them and not been helped?
>
> And please consider this a good place for me to scream. Loudly. I'm so sick of all this.
>
> Thank you for your attention to this situation. Yours sincerely,...
Dear Racer;I have always been a firm believer in medications for "our diseases" but lately I have been questioning myself concerning whether we are harming ourselves more than helping. This is a great departure from my usual thoughts, and brought about a lot because of the trouble I read about so many having with their meds.
I am not giving up on meds by any means, but it is troublesome to me that I am having misgivings about something I have been so convinced of before.
So, what has this to do with you? I guess I'm saying that I get discouraged about meds, too, but along with therapy, they seem to be our best help.
I take Levothyroxine 75 micrograms daily with 1/2 tab one day a week. Notice the small dose and the 1/2 tab a day was found to be needed because on one of my routine tests it was a wee bit out of normal range. As far as side effects from it, I can't say that I have noticed any at all. The one thing I would know quite soon is if I stopped taking it. I thought I knew what fatigue was until I experienced hypothyroidism! You just lie in bed and don't even feel like raising your arm to look at your watch.
I don't know how it would be to take thyroid med when you aren't Hypo, but it surely is worth inquiring into.
So Racer, take courage, and know that we care about what you are feeling. You are so good to talk to anyone who has questions, and you always have a good answer. I hope my ramble may be of some benefit to you. up 'n' down
poster:up'n'down
thread:537554
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050803/msgs/537755.html