Posted by KaraS on August 3, 2004, at 14:09:55
In reply to Re: what I'm taking » KaraS, posted by Simus on August 3, 2004, at 10:14:59
> > I recently went on vacation with my sister and her family. I was quite worried before I left about not having the energy to make conversation the whole time and I was afraid that I'd be a total drag and ruin everyone's time. Fortunately that didn't happen - I think because I'm anergic but not totally anhedonic. I was able to enjoy some things and to laugh quite a bit. Your sense of humor is wonderful so I'm thinking you might be the same way.
>
> Exactly the same.
>
> > Still, it was hard for me to be with my family in the sense that they don't fully get it. Their attitude is "just do it and don't think about it so much." Arrrggg!! You just want to scream. I try to tell them that what they're saying to me is like trying to tell a blind person to see or telling someone with broken legs to walk. The lack of motivation is the nature of the beast! All to no avail of course. But I digress...
>
> As if anyone would intentionally live like this...YES! THANK YOU!
>
> > Back to what I'm taking. Right now I'm taking about 18 mg. of Effexor as I slowly decrease it in hopes of going off of it entirely. It helped me a little bit but not a lot. I have tried several other meds (doxepin, Prozac, nortriptyline, desipramine, Zoloft and Paxil). Only the Prozac was I able to tolerate and get a successful antidepressant response from but it only lasted a short while. The doxepin totally got rid of the anxiety and panic attacks however.
>
> I am currently on Wellbutrin and Xanax. The Wellbutrin has helped the depression and I feel (relatively) quite well with the exception of insomnia, but I am wondering if the Wellbutrin has contributed to the overtaxing of my adrenal system. Not sure... But if it works for the depression/anxiety, I don't dare touch it! I have been on Effexor too, and have done fairly well on it. Just recently I was on Lexapro and that didn't go well at all. I have also taken Paxil, Zoloft, Buspar, Seroquel, and a few others that escape my memory. I have been on meds for over 9 years now.
>
> > One thing that sounds different for the two of us is that your situation sounds fairly recent. I have been battling depression my entire adult life. Stress may have thrown your system out of kilter but I know that I have a strong genetic component to my depression. I have also had different kinds of depression over the years. Most of the time it has been anxious depression but now it is lethargic in nature or atypical so what might have worked for me a few years ago might not work for me at all now. The different manifestation of the depression might have something to do with adrenal fatigue however.
>
> Well, actually there again we are quite similar. I have had depression since childhood. My earliest memory of depressive behavior was at around 8 years old when my father died. And it basically followed me to some degree my whole life (I am now 43). I remember anxiety even earlier than that. I didn't start having panic attacks though until after my first daughter was born when I was 28. There is a strong genetic tendency on my mother's side for alcohol/drug abuse (ALL of her brother and sisters), although I don't really remember any of them being treated for depressed or anxiety per se.
>WOW, Simus, you're not going to believe this but my father also died when I was 8 years old. I never married or had children so in that we definitely differ. I don't have the support network you have but neither do I have the constant pressure of having to interact with my family's friends or co-workers. I have less to worry about in terms of living up to their expectations as well. My mother is a very anxious/neurotic person with a slight tendency towards depression (but not to the degree that I am). I mean she's much more neurotic but not as depressive. My panic attacks started when I was 24 and I'm 49 now so we are similar there too. (I haven't had a panic attack in eons - thank G-d for small favors.)
> > In terms of vitamins and supplements, I'm taking a good multi, B-complex, Ester C, E, small amount of fish oil, Evening Primrose Oil, MSN, Calcium/Magnesium and sometimes extra folic acid and B12. Nothing too exciting there but I find that when I take them religiously I get sick less often and I'm less likely to get a CFS attack. I've tried a few things for immune support: Echinnacea, Beta-Glucan, Olive Leaf, reishi mushrooms. I don't know if they help or not but I take them when I feel sick anyway.
>
> I take very similar supplements, except that extra vitamin C and B5 are suggested for adrenal fatigue (among other things). I also try to do the ginseng/ginger/green tea daily. I need to get into the digestive enzymes more faithfully, along with some of the amino acids and herbals.
>You definitely sound better and on the road to recovery. Have you ever considered taking probiotics or triphala?
> Right now I am struggling with what to do about the weight I have gained on the meds, especially in light of the fact that I need to not over-stress my body until my adrenals have recovered. Any ideas???
>
Do you take anything to help with sleep? Tryptophan is supposed to help with that and it is also supposed to dampen the appetite. That wouldn't tax your adrenals either.
I'll send you another message later with all of the things I want to try in the future.
Also, would you mind telling me what part of the country you live in? I live in L.A - at least for now.
> (Thanks for taking the time to respond.)
>
> Simus
>
> P.S. Or you could save the response for when we are chatting with Larry and his better half in the hot-tub. LOL
Kara
P.S. We should call over and make sure Larry and his girlfriend save us some space. If not, we could always ask them later at night when we're camped out with our sleeping bags in their hotel room!
poster:KaraS
thread:359642
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20040718/msgs/373654.html