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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 25. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Phillipa on March 26, 2007, at 13:42:25
First you won't hurt my feelings with anything you say as I'm crying anyway . I have gotten so many mixed messages from docs. I can't think clearly and pick at my cuticles til they bleed. Mind you this new pdoc took me off all meds but benzos. I am going down hill fast even though the luvox I'd taken for years didn't seem to work at 50mg and I know it goes to 300mg. But kept hoping for EMSAM and the fact that I was looking for a new pdoc I didn't want a complicated med regime. plus this Graves and hasimotos at the same time which I don't get. So he took me off 20mg of valium and 50mg of luvox. Then put me on 6mg long acting xanax with lunesta to sleep for a week. Then not my choice cause of expense switched me to 8mg of ativan. My goodness I've never taken this high a dose of a benzo I know the equilancy and I feel worse than I ever had. Taking 4mg of ativan with the 3mg of lunesta two hours and awake and continues night after night. I've tried to pull weeds, ride my bike, go to store and all the things I'm supposed to do and certainly should be able to at this high dose.Call to pdoc who will probably say get another already happened to me here. So what's wrong with me? I don't know what to do anymore and I'm just out of gas. Love Phillipa
Posted by JaneB on March 26, 2007, at 14:06:05
In reply to What IS Wrong With Me? Seriously?, posted by Phillipa on March 26, 2007, at 13:42:25
I can't remember. Have you ever tried Remeron? I sure slept well on that one.
Jane
Posted by TheMeanReds on March 26, 2007, at 15:07:11
In reply to Re: What IS Wrong With Me? Seriously?, posted by JaneB on March 26, 2007, at 14:06:05
Have you been thinking of past events that you couldnt control, more than usual, and feeling depressed about it more than you have before in your life?
I think I read something above in a thread, that maybe you have been.
I know a good phrase if said to me while I feel like that: 'Its not your fault.'
Posted by valene on March 26, 2007, at 15:14:08
In reply to What IS Wrong With Me? Seriously?, posted by Phillipa on March 26, 2007, at 13:42:25
> First you won't hurt my feelings with anything you say as I'm crying anyway . I have gotten so many mixed messages from docs. I can't think clearly and pick at my cuticles til they bleed. Mind you this new pdoc took me off all meds but benzos. I am going down hill fast even though the luvox I'd taken for years didn't seem to work at 50mg and I know it goes to 300mg. But kept hoping for EMSAM and the fact that I was looking for a new pdoc I didn't want a complicated med regime. plus this Graves and hasimotos at the same time which I don't get. So he took me off 20mg of valium and 50mg of luvox. Then put me on 6mg long acting xanax with lunesta to sleep for a week. Then not my choice cause of expense switched me to 8mg of ativan. My goodness I've never taken this high a dose of a benzo I know the equilancy and I feel worse than I ever had. Taking 4mg of ativan with the 3mg of lunesta two hours and awake and continues night after night. I've tried to pull weeds, ride my bike, go to store and all the things I'm supposed to do and certainly should be able to at this high dose.Call to pdoc who will probably say get another already happened to me here. So what's wrong with me? I don't know what to do anymore and I'm just out of gas. Love Phillipa
Phillipa, I don't think this new pdoc will drop you!
You need to stay at some even dose of benzo without going up and down on them. If you are sensitive like most people, you will get withdrawal symptoms, which may be part of what you are experiencing..... 20 valium to 6 xanax xr to 8 ativan then down from that would have me in a real mess. Just my humble opinion. Love, Val
PS It's fine if you want to go off benzos, but do it very gradually if so.
Posted by Phillipa on March 26, 2007, at 16:23:12
In reply to Re: What IS Wrong With Me? Seriously? » Phillipa, posted by valene on March 26, 2007, at 15:14:08
Valene I know you're good with the eqivelency of benzos so you're saying I'm not taking enough? Love Phillipa
Posted by chiron on March 26, 2007, at 16:53:53
In reply to Re: What IS Wrong With Me? Seriously? » Phillipa, posted by valene on March 26, 2007, at 15:14:08
Your brain isn't communicating right, producing enough neurotransmitters, or doing something that is screwing around with how you feel. Hang in there.
Posted by Brutus1 on March 26, 2007, at 18:53:37
In reply to What IS Wrong With Me? Seriously?, posted by Phillipa on March 26, 2007, at 13:42:25
Phillipa,
Take a deep breath. Take a step back. Your not crazy. Last time I posted w/you, you were doing good on XANAX XR. Maybe 4 MGs of Ativan isn't enough.
When do you take your doses?
B
> First you won't hurt my feelings with anything you say as I'm crying anyway . I have gotten so many mixed messages from docs. I can't think clearly and pick at my cuticles til they bleed. Mind you this new pdoc took me off all meds but benzos. I am going down hill fast even though the luvox I'd taken for years didn't seem to work at 50mg and I know it goes to 300mg. But kept hoping for EMSAM and the fact that I was looking for a new pdoc I didn't want a complicated med regime. plus this Graves and hasimotos at the same time which I don't get. So he took me off 20mg of valium and 50mg of luvox. Then put me on 6mg long acting xanax with lunesta to sleep for a week. Then not my choice cause of expense switched me to 8mg of ativan. My goodness I've never taken this high a dose of a benzo I know the equilancy and I feel worse than I ever had. Taking 4mg of ativan with the 3mg of lunesta two hours and awake and continues night after night. I've tried to pull weeds, ride my bike, go to store and all the things I'm supposed to do and certainly should be able to at this high dose.Call to pdoc who will probably say get another already happened to me here. So what's wrong with me? I don't know what to do anymore and I'm just out of gas. Love Phillipa
Posted by valene on March 26, 2007, at 19:10:15
In reply to Re: What IS Wrong With Me? Seriously? » valene, posted by Phillipa on March 26, 2007, at 16:23:12
> Valene I know you're good with the eqivelency of benzos so you're saying I'm not taking enough? Love Phillipa
Phillipa,
Here is Ashton's equivalent dose chart:http://www.benzo.org.uk/bzequiv.htm
Hope this helps! Love, Val
Posted by Phillipa on March 26, 2007, at 19:35:13
In reply to Re: What IS Wrong With Me? Seriously?, posted by Brutus1 on March 26, 2007, at 18:53:37
Brutus it is a total of 8mg which to me is extremely high. I talked to the pdoc a while ago and at my request going to take lmg throughout the daytime and at night take 4mg. Will probably be about 6mg. The xanax long acting he discontinued because of cost to me. He again stressed getting another endo as mine still hasn't called him back and he's thoroughly convinced my problem is physical. I would imagine he would be on top of thyroid issues too as he was an MD before becoming a psychiatrist and was upset that I won't see the internist he knows and is friends with until Friday. There are a lot of medical issues chronic lymes disease, hypo and hyper thyroidism, a lot of autoimmune stuff in my family history. Love Phillipa
Posted by Racer on March 26, 2007, at 20:39:40
In reply to What IS Wrong With Me? Seriously?, posted by Phillipa on March 26, 2007, at 13:42:25
Posted by saturn on March 26, 2007, at 20:53:28
In reply to Re: What IS Wrong With Me? Seriously? » Brutus1, posted by Phillipa on March 26, 2007, at 19:35:13
Like Racer, I also think SSRI withdrawal may certainly be a factor.
Posted by Phillipa on March 26, 2007, at 21:33:53
In reply to Re: What IS Wrong With Me? Seriously?, posted by saturn on March 26, 2007, at 20:53:28
Hope you guys are right as the pdoc is so insistant that it's the thyroid and wants me to get a new endo and is upset that the appointment with the internist he knows isn't til Friday. Love Phillipa
Posted by saturn on March 26, 2007, at 22:11:34
In reply to Re: What IS Wrong With Me? Seriously? » saturn, posted by Phillipa on March 26, 2007, at 21:33:53
> Hope you guys are right as the pdoc is so insistant that it's the thyroid and wants me to get a new endo and is upset that the appointment with the internist he knows isn't til Friday. Love Phillipa
Maybe it's both: thyroid AND luvox withdrawal. Personally, I wouldn't stop an SSRI cold Turkey. Maybe you could switch to a comparable dose of Prozac and then taper. It just seems that if you've been on Luvox for years and then stop cold turkey, that that could cause a problem, espcially since luvox has such the shortest half-life of all the SSRI's (16 hours)--even shorter than Paxil. Good Luck Phillipa. Saturn.
Posted by Phillipa on March 26, 2007, at 22:35:55
In reply to Re: What IS Wrong With Me? Seriously? » Phillipa, posted by saturn on March 26, 2007, at 22:11:34
Saturn I was on a low dose had always hoped to try EMSAM and the pdoc said no to stimulating. And the luvox was only 50mg and I cut it in half for a week and then stopped it. Seems like a long time ago. Love Phillipa
Posted by bassman on March 27, 2007, at 15:41:25
In reply to What IS Wrong With Me? Seriously?, posted by Phillipa on March 26, 2007, at 13:42:25
I have never been able to feel even close to O.K. with my panic disorder without some AD in me....even oodles of Xanax didn't work. I actually think large doses of benzos may make things worse with anxiety, at least for me. I get depressed and have this funny zombie feeling. About 1.5-2 mg benzos is my limit.
I wasn't really trying to talk about me-my point was that my experience with extreme anxiety like you are feeling, just a benzo-at any dose-wasn't enough. Even a low dose of an AD helped.
You're the caregiver on this board...please take care of yourself as well as you take care of the rest of us.
Posted by Phillipa on March 27, 2007, at 19:06:58
In reply to Re: What IS Wrong With Me? Seriously?, posted by bassman on March 27, 2007, at 15:41:25
Bassman that was sweet right now I'm not a caretaker I am seriously suffering. And the decision to take me off an ad was the new pdocs to get a bassline. Something is wrong as my eyes are blurry, can't see straight, walk straight and cry all the time. No one seems in the medical world to give a darn. Love Phillipa crying now
Posted by KayeBaby on March 28, 2007, at 1:57:54
In reply to Re: What IS Wrong With Me? Seriously? » bassman, posted by Phillipa on March 27, 2007, at 19:06:58
> Bassman that was sweet right now I'm not a caretaker I am seriously suffering. And the decision to take me off an ad was the new pdocs to get a bassline. Something is wrong as my eyes are blurry, can't see straight, walk straight and cry all the time. No one seems in the medical world to give a darn. Love Phillipa crying now
Phillipa, your symptoms sound so hyper-t. What is your BP and pulse been running? Not to be indelicate but how often are you going to the bathroom(#2)?
Apetite? I already know sleep is poor.
Did you get a thyroid panel run?Did your Dr. metion a beta blocker. If you are hyper this will probably help you more than a benzo. (of course you need to stay your benzo as well)
Take Care,
Kaye
Posted by Phillipa on March 28, 2007, at 19:01:53
In reply to Re: What IS Wrong With Me? Seriously?, posted by KayeBaby on March 28, 2007, at 1:57:54
Kaye I force myself to eat as I lost my taste three years ago went to specialists don't know what it is. All I know is no more does any food have tase. And the BP and pulse varies with the thyroid. Acturally I'll have my BP taken when I see the internist on Friday. Love Phillipa
Posted by Quintal on March 28, 2007, at 20:38:33
In reply to Re: What IS Wrong With Me? Seriously? » bassman, posted by Phillipa on March 27, 2007, at 19:06:58
>Something is wrong as my eyes are blurry, can't see straight, walk straight and cry all the time. No one seems in the medical world to give a darn.
Phillipa do you not think the sudden (very large) increase in your benzo dose might be causing the problems with your balance and co-ordination? These (along with anger and emotional lability) are classic side effects of high dose benzo use. I experienced this many times myself when I was taking Klonopin at 4-8mg.
Q
Posted by Phillipa on March 28, 2007, at 21:29:57
In reply to Re: What IS Wrong With Me? Seriously? » Phillipa, posted by Quintal on March 28, 2007, at 20:38:33
Guess what this is not the UK where I live and benzos are used all the time. It is most definitely the non use of cross taper. Should not have been taken off valium and just switched to another benzo But like a good little girl I followed my pdocs orders. This is not my choice. My pdoc feels the anxiety is from a physical cause. And Heather Ashton can take a flying ******. Phillipa
Posted by Quintal on March 28, 2007, at 21:40:31
In reply to Re: What IS Wrong With Me? Seriously? » Phillipa, posted by Quintal on March 28, 2007, at 20:38:33
Posted by Phillipa on March 28, 2007, at 21:46:57
In reply to Re: What IS Wrong With Me? Seriously? (nm) » Quintal, posted by Quintal on March 28, 2007, at 21:40:31
Okay Quintal I'm sorry. You posted the truth on the withdrawal board. I retract the above post to Quintal except the Heather Ashton I'm sick of her name. Love Phillipa
Posted by Quintal on March 28, 2007, at 22:09:16
In reply to Re: What IS Wrong With Me? Seriously? » Quintal, posted by Phillipa on March 28, 2007, at 21:46:57
That's okay Phillipa, I know you're going through a hard time right now. It's just seems obvious to me that what's happening to you is very likely due to the sudden increase in the benzos as well as the switching around not only between different benzos but also between different equivalencies - I know this isn't your decision, you're just following the pdoc's advice, and it makes me angry to see him making you suffer like this.
All I can do is offer you advice from my experiences with benzos, even though everyone's experiences are different I can relate to what's happening to you here. Whenever I increased my Klonopin I changed from a timid mouse into a roaring lion - even to the point of starting fist fights with my dad and smashing up the house, then plunging into suicidal despair over what I'd done. Benzos can make you lose control over your emotions at high doses - that's not a judgement or an accusation or anything of the kind, it's just a fact that I hope might help you understand what's happening to you right now. Things usually settle a bit after a few weeks as you develop tolerance to the new dose. I hope things get a lot better for you very soon.
Q
Posted by Phillipa on March 28, 2007, at 22:43:08
In reply to (((Phillipa))) » Phillipa, posted by Quintal on March 28, 2007, at 22:09:16
I'm a timid mouse here letting my husband yell at me over things I have no control over. Like how someone is driving . Not me I haven't been driving. Ed and I talked about it today and a cross over should have been done. And the thing that makes me upset is they don't sedate me. So that's why I'm taking less than prescribed. Too many things at home and medical issues at the same time. When it blows over I always down the doses of my meds. Even the valium and luvox I would in bad time take 20mg and 50mg of luvox and in good times 15mg of valium and 25mg of luvox. My emotions I've been taught to stuff as when you're a nurse you're not allowed to show emotion . If a pt dies you still have 6 others to care for with a smiley face and good attitude. Love Phillipa
Posted by rjlockhart on March 29, 2007, at 23:02:38
In reply to Re: What IS Wrong With Me? Seriously?, posted by TheMeanReds on March 26, 2007, at 15:07:11
T-E-M-A-Z-E-P-A-M 60mg will get you sleep.
Or could you ask your doctor about taking Xanax 6mg XR at night for sleep.
Babblemail me.Matt
This is the end of the thread.
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