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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Kathie on May 24, 2000, at 14:41:03
I haven't been here for awhile, been busy. Painting lumber for our deck, painting the fence which I didn't finish last fall, hanging out at my brother-in-law's parent's farm and helping clear out brush....we are going to build a cabin there.....plus doing the usual working, housework, laundry, cooking, etc, etc..sadly it has interferred with my internet time!!
I am trying to make a valiant effort to lose weight...I reduced the Paxil down to 20 mgs a day instead of the 20/30 alternating...hoping the reduction will help with the carb cravings that almost kill me! Trying to stay physically more active (see first paragraph). I have been reading a lot about Apple Cidar Vinegar pills to help in the weight loss process and was wondering if anyone has tried it?? Normal herbal diet supplements make my heart race and my hands vibrate so they are out for me. I'd love to hear back from you.
How is tina doing?? Are the new drugs helping you? Are you sleeping? Is the anxiety more managable now?
bob, my favourite writer/author/edit freak...how have things been going for you? Any new therapy break throughs??
I assume Greg is on vacation so I won't ask about him....
Noa, how does your apartment look?? Has your rent gone up? Do you get to stay?
Let me know how goes the battle!!
Kathie
Posted by Tina1 on May 24, 2000, at 17:50:25
In reply to Checking in! tina, bob, noa....., posted by Kathie on May 24, 2000, at 14:41:03
Thanks for asking Kath. Your absence didn't go un-noticed, we missed ya. The new med doesn't seem to be having a noticable effect yet but the doc just said to give it time. The anxiety hasn't abated either which is getting me down a bit but I'm trying to soldier on, with the help of you and the rest. Greg has left on vacation which is going to drive me crazy I'm sure. I whined to him off-board quite often. Well, I'll let the other's get on with answering you too and A big Howdy to Bob and Noa from me too. Take care Kathie, we luv ya, glad you're back.---Hugs Tina
> I haven't been here for awhile, been busy. Painting lumber for our deck, painting the fence which I didn't finish last fall, hanging out at my brother-in-law's parent's farm and helping clear out brush....we are going to build a cabin there.....plus doing the usual working, housework, laundry, cooking, etc, etc..sadly it has interferred with my internet time!!
>
> I am trying to make a valiant effort to lose weight...I reduced the Paxil down to 20 mgs a day instead of the 20/30 alternating...hoping the reduction will help with the carb cravings that almost kill me! Trying to stay physically more active (see first paragraph). I have been reading a lot about Apple Cidar Vinegar pills to help in the weight loss process and was wondering if anyone has tried it?? Normal herbal diet supplements make my heart race and my hands vibrate so they are out for me. I'd love to hear back from you.
>
> How is tina doing?? Are the new drugs helping you? Are you sleeping? Is the anxiety more managable now?
>
> bob, my favourite writer/author/edit freak...how have things been going for you? Any new therapy break throughs??
>
> I assume Greg is on vacation so I won't ask about him....
>
> Noa, how does your apartment look?? Has your rent gone up? Do you get to stay?
>
> Let me know how goes the battle!!
>
> Kathie
Posted by Tina1 on May 24, 2000, at 18:00:16
In reply to Checking in! tina, bob, noa....., posted by Kathie on May 24, 2000, at 14:41:03
Apple cider vinegar as a weight loss supplement has had some good effects but watch out if you are prone to heartburn or acid stomach. It can be hell, especially when it's hot outside.
> I haven't been here for awhile, been busy. Painting lumber for our deck, painting the fence which I didn't finish last fall, hanging out at my brother-in-law's parent's farm and helping clear out brush....we are going to build a cabin there.....plus doing the usual working, housework, laundry, cooking, etc, etc..sadly it has interferred with my internet time!!
>
> I am trying to make a valiant effort to lose weight...I reduced the Paxil down to 20 mgs a day instead of the 20/30 alternating...hoping the reduction will help with the carb cravings that almost kill me! Trying to stay physically more active (see first paragraph). I have been reading a lot about Apple Cidar Vinegar pills to help in the weight loss process and was wondering if anyone has tried it?? Normal herbal diet supplements make my heart race and my hands vibrate so they are out for me. I'd love to hear back from you.
>
> How is tina doing?? Are the new drugs helping you? Are you sleeping? Is the anxiety more managable now?
>
> bob, my favourite writer/author/edit freak...how have things been going for you? Any new therapy break throughs??
>
> I assume Greg is on vacation so I won't ask about him....
>
> Noa, how does your apartment look?? Has your rent gone up? Do you get to stay?
>
> Let me know how goes the battle!!
>
> Kathie
Posted by Noa on May 24, 2000, at 18:48:59
In reply to P.S.: Kathie, posted by Tina1 on May 24, 2000, at 18:00:16
Hi, welcome back.
My apartment is mostly the same or worse, except the bathroom. I have been taking baths of late, so I cleaned up in there, and have been enjoying myself. I have been doing better, I think thanks to med changes--increased thyroid meds, no lithium, lower effexor, higher serzone. I am sleeping decently, and in fact have to budget more time for sleep--at least 8 hours, if not 9. That's ok. It is so much better than the disjointed sleep I had before. I don't think my current med cocktail is "perfect" and feel I am in a medication "holding pattern", but as long as I feel stable for a while, I am not planning any changes. If I need a change, the next trial will be substituting adderal for ritalin.
My mood is better. I am more productive at work. I am feeling hopeful, god help me! The anxiety about feeling better is lurking, but not intruding as it has done before. I am trying to take everything one day at a time, one moment at a time, trying to avoid thinking too much about whether this improvement will "hold" or not, etc. Sometimes, when I realize I feel better, and am able to do my job or enjoy something with friends, I stop and notice it and get this "pinch me, am I dreaming?" feeling. It is hard to reconcile this with the depths I was in just a short few weeks ago. Part of my healing is about reconciling these extremely disparate experiences of myself. To not disown that other part of myself when I am here, and equally, to be able to hold onto this part of me when I am there. So, every once in a while, I say to myself, "this feels better now. I am so relieved to be here in this better place. But it will be ok if I have a relapse into depression again. It does not have to mean that this better place is lost." The less I disown that awful despondent state I get into when depressed, the better able I think I will be able to be to experience that without losing all hope, and perhaps I can learn to ride those waves better and not have them spiral downward so intensely. I can't tell if I am explaining this clearly. Does anyone relate to this?
Posted by quilter on May 25, 2000, at 0:50:45
In reply to Re: Hey!, posted by Noa on May 24, 2000, at 18:48:59
Noa, I got tired of always waiting for the other shoe to drop. Now I try to get as much out of each day I feel good as is humanly possible. I still get scared when I feel things begin to slip, but I've been trying to be more proactive and ask for help while that's still possible. Quilter
Posted by Noa on May 25, 2000, at 8:47:32
In reply to Re: Hey!, posted by quilter on May 25, 2000, at 0:50:45
Quilter, thanks for the post. It is encouraging to hear you talk about having some success with not "waiting for the other shoe to drop", which is such an apt expression for this phenomenon. As my therapist said recently, sometimes the dread can be debilitating, perhaps not as bad as the depression itself, but a fair contender.
Posted by bob on May 25, 2000, at 15:08:01
In reply to Re: Hey!, posted by Noa on May 24, 2000, at 18:48:59
Hi Kathie and all y'all,
> ... So, every once in a while, I say to myself, "this feels better now. I am so relieved to be here in this better place. But it will be ok if I have a relapse into depression again. It does not have to mean that this better place is lost." The less I disown that awful despondent state I get into when depressed, the better able I think I will be able to be to experience that without losing all hope, and perhaps I can learn to ride those waves better and not have them spiral downward so intensely. I can't tell if I am explaining this clearly. Does anyone relate to this?
Crystal clear, to me. I've been listening too much to Melissa Etheridge's latest cd, with such cheerful lyrics as:
There comes a time we all know
There's a place that we must go
Into the soul, into the heart
Into the darkYeah, Kathie ... not so much more breakthroughs, but a better understanding of the breadth and depth of the last one. To make matters harder, the desipramine had me backsliding very, very slowly. I did finally pick up on it, tho, and I've been back on nortriptyline for three days ... and it feels like someone just yanked the curtains open for me. At the very least, I can get myself to sleep at a reasonable hour for the first time in weeks.
... so if you notice fewer posts from me for the present time, it's just because I'm catching up on my sleep ;^)
cheers,
bob
This is the end of the thread.
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