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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by sleepygirl2 on September 17, 2012, at 12:21:56
Let's say, you're on meds, I take 4.
Lamictal 200 (starting to taper down), Effexor xr 150mgs,
Klonopin .5mgs and seroquel 50You're employed full time.
For me, it's a job with a lot of close contact with people.Family? I've a husband, no kids. I imagine having kids is a lot of work.
How do you do it? With meds and otherwise?
Posted by Christ_empowered on September 17, 2012, at 12:32:18
In reply to How do you stay functional?, posted by sleepygirl2 on September 17, 2012, at 12:21:56
Could you consolidate your meds? I see 2--the klonopin and the seroquel--that are low-dose. I would personally go for neurontin, lyrica, xanax xr...full dose, but nothing crazy. Seroquel...if you're in a jobby job, I'd hate to ramp that dose up. Personally, I found it incapacitating.
I'm on 2. Neurontin 900 and Abillify 30. I wanted Abilify 15 and nothing else, but I don't always get what I want, now do I? Not working, but doing vocational rehab. More incapacitated by what I suspect is a mild sort of PTSD with some compulsive elements (either deeply engrained in my "disorder" or a part of my make up) than I am by meds. Trouble is, with psychosis on board (ADs are out), intense depressive tendencies (benzos are out), and agitation (*something* has to calm that down in addition to the Abilify), there's not a whole lot I can do. At least it keeps the meds minimal.
Personally, Orthomolecular medicine helped me out A WHOLE LOT. Sorry about the screaming caps, but seriously: its been awesome. I've seen charts and diagrams of how it works, but..ummm..I think its guess work. Plus my line up is kind of deluxe.
This isn't really about me. This is about you. What's incapacitating--the meds, the disorder(s), the real life stress, or all of the above? One problem I have with mental health is that they try to "Fit you into" your life and into society in general. The assumption is almost always that YOU are the problem. Can you make any lifestyle adjustments? Not everyone can. Not faulting you if you can't.
Posted by sleepygirl2 on September 17, 2012, at 14:47:24
In reply to Re: How do you stay functional?, posted by Christ_empowered on September 17, 2012, at 12:32:18
The problem is my general tendency to be anxious and real life stress. The seroquel has made me gain weight. I want to get off the meds, as my reproductive years are getting fewer.
I can't really change my job, but I could exercise, eat better.
Posted by Phillipa on September 17, 2012, at 15:00:27
In reply to Re: How do you stay functional? » Christ_empowered, posted by sleepygirl2 on September 17, 2012, at 14:47:24
make sure you check each as was looking at google last night and now they claim that ad's can cause heart and lung defects in newborns. I took meds with third not ads. but benzos I guess she did suffer withdrawal. Talk to your doc about it first. Phillipa
Posted by phidippus on September 17, 2012, at 16:38:04
In reply to How do you stay functional?, posted by sleepygirl2 on September 17, 2012, at 12:21:56
I take my meds:
Abilify 10 mg
Lithium 1200 mg
Viibryd 60 mg
Vyvanse 60 mg
I go to school full time pursuing my degree in Neuroscience.I spend time with my family.
I pursue my hobbies, music and ghost hunting.
I have lots of sex.
Eric
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on September 17, 2012, at 17:39:58
In reply to How do you stay functional?, posted by sleepygirl2 on September 17, 2012, at 12:21:56
Take my meds, allow some "me" time ever day, and accept that on some days I wont feel great.
Its hard, but the alternative is dropping out of society, and i cant allow that to happen again
Posted by alchemy on September 17, 2012, at 19:06:07
In reply to How do you stay functional?, posted by sleepygirl2 on September 17, 2012, at 12:21:56
> How do you do it? With meds and otherwise?
I always wonder how other people do it as well. Luckily, I cycle a little so I have some times when it isn't as hard to function. Sometimes when my head is really down, I can at least hope that it will only be that bad for a couple of hours (although not always true).
We are all vary with our degree and type of depression. I have never had the type where you are in bed all day, and I sympathize for those that feel that way. It is always suprising to find out how many people including celebrities have depression that you would have never suspected. It can give me some encouragement.
Sometimes I struggle through it, or have to really push myself. But I try and allow myself/not feel so guilty if I'm not always a "go-getter". And I guess I keep somehow hoping that it will change.
I would like to stress to those that are reading this - your reality and level of functioning is not others reality. It is a spectrum and dimensional. To be at the lowest extreme is not the same as being in the "middle".
At my current level of mood disorder, it seems like all I do is try and "function". I do not understand how people actually enjoy doing things. To tell me to just get a hobby feels like an insult. I wish I did want to have a hobby. There are times that to fake liking a hobby is more exhausting than it is worth. And then there are other times that pushing myself out the door can be beneficial.
Posted by Phillipa on September 17, 2012, at 21:31:08
In reply to Re: How do you stay functional? » sleepygirl2, posted by alchemy on September 17, 2012, at 19:06:07
First not a hobby person never have been it's not me. I have to be active and get out the door. Kids keeps that happening. Phillipa
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on September 17, 2012, at 23:04:07
In reply to Re: How do you stay functional? » alchemy, posted by Phillipa on September 17, 2012, at 21:31:08
I also accept that some days I will only just scrape through work, go home and lay on the bed reading, that I will only just be functional
Posted by SLS on September 17, 2012, at 23:33:54
In reply to How do you stay functional?, posted by sleepygirl2 on September 17, 2012, at 12:21:56
> Let's say, you're on meds, I take 4.
> Lamictal 200 (starting to taper down), Effexor xr 150mgs,
> Klonopin .5mgs and seroquel 50
>
> You're employed full time.
> For me, it's a job with a lot of close contact with people.
>
> Family? I've a husband, no kids. I imagine having kids is a lot of work.
>
> How do you do it? With meds and otherwise?
Some people don't.
- Scott
Posted by ihatedrugs on September 18, 2012, at 0:18:55
In reply to How do you stay functional?, posted by sleepygirl2 on September 17, 2012, at 12:21:56
> Let's say, you're on meds, I take 4.
> Lamictal 200 (starting to taper down), Effexor xr 150mgs,
> Klonopin .5mgs and seroquel 50
>
> You're employed full time.
> For me, it's a job with a lot of close contact with people.
>
> Family? I've a husband, no kids. I imagine having kids is a lot of work.
>
> How do you do it? With meds and otherwise?If you really want kids, you'll learn to manage. I didn't take meds for MDD until I was 33. I had 2 girls at 25 and 26 years old. My husband traveled around 10 days in a month sometimes more, so I was alone quite a bit (I was a stay home mom). I won't say it was easy but it was so worth it. Having my kids made me work harder at getting and staying healthy. It is very important to have a support system, especially from your husband. If you contemplate the idea you and your husband could talk about contingency plans if you fall ill or the stress is too much to handle. This way you won't feel the pressure of not knowing what to do or what to tell the kids if your condition worsens.
Don't let this disease rob you of the joy of having a child. Many of us on this board have done it in our unique way. You'll find yours.
Posted by sleepygirl2 on September 18, 2012, at 20:42:36
In reply to Re: How do you stay functional? » sleepygirl2, posted by phidippus on September 17, 2012, at 16:38:04
Excellent plan :-)
Posted by sleepygirl2 on September 18, 2012, at 20:46:08
In reply to Re: How do you stay functional?, posted by ihatedrugs on September 18, 2012, at 0:18:55
Thanks, that was very kind.
:-)
Posted by sleepygirl2 on September 18, 2012, at 20:48:04
In reply to How do you stay functional?, posted by sleepygirl2 on September 17, 2012, at 12:21:56
Posted by jono_in_adelaide on September 19, 2012, at 0:08:09
In reply to Thanks everyone :-) (nm), posted by sleepygirl2 on September 18, 2012, at 20:48:04
I'm gay, and I'm glad, because it has spared me any decision about kids - in good concience, i dont think I could father a child and pass on these f*ck*d up genes, I saw what my mother went through with depression and anxiety, and I have lived it my self.... better that it stops here
Posted by sleepygirl2 on September 19, 2012, at 11:38:38
In reply to Re: Kids, posted by jono_in_adelaide on September 19, 2012, at 0:08:09
Yeah, I see what you're saying.
I think, in my case, that environment played a major role. Everyone in my family has been on some psych med (mostly an ssri), but all for a limited time.
I chose this road, and I think that with time I can get off it.
That being said, I have been feeling like absolute sh*t yesterday and today, a mood dip I guess? Not wanting to be at work? Absolutely. Worse than usual? Yes.
So, I'm delaying my taper down on lamictal.
Frustrating.
This is the end of the thread.
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