Question:

: : :Is there any asthma medication I can ask my doctor for, just to get me :thru the cold?  This last bout started in my sinuses, and I was just :praying it wouldn’t reach my lungs, but it has…now I’m coughing like :a heavy smoker, and it seems to last an eternity. : : :There is not a whole lot that you can do.  Colds are caused by viruses :and the only thing that can defeat them is the body’s immune system. : :In an attempt to make life more comfortable, you might discuss (with :your doctor) going on an increased regimen of asthma medications while :you wait for the cold to go away. : My experience suggests:- 1) When a cold starts, immediately double up on inhaled steroids (assuming you take them! – I suspect your doctor may recommend them); it is important not to wait until you start to feel worse. If one doubling does not succeed, do it again. Your doctor should advise on how much is the safe maximum. Depending on how serious your asthma actually is you may be well advised to start monitoring your ability to breath out using a "PFL" (Peak Flow Meter, or "puff-meter as my wife calls it). 2) The suggestion that your sinuses may be involved should be followed up. I had an ever more frequent series of "colds" and other infections, culminating in about 6 months during which I was hardly ever free of something. This was eventually diagnosed as a blocked infected sinus, and I had an operation to get it draining again. This still flares up from time to time, but I quickly take antibiotic and avoid nasty consequences. For mild sinus/cold symptoms, some of the old fashioed cures still work, and work well: steam inhalation (or use of a steam room in a health suite) is very good. Barry Landy                        Computer Laboratory:+44 1223 334600 University of Cambridge Computing Service New Museums Site                   Email: Remove "nospam" from above Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QG

Response:

Hi Colleen: Thank you SO much for sharing your knowledge and information.  I will make an appointment with my doctor to see if I can get on some antibiotics which will, hopefully, kick this thing! Again, many thanks! Kathy – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Colleen: Thanks for your response!  I’m presently taking Flovent 250 (2 puff 3x daily), and Singulair in the evenings. Hi Kathy, If those two drugs control your asthma, then there isn’t any point in changing them. I believe, however,  that "all" asthmatics should  have access to a short-acting bronchodilator medication for use in an emergency.  You really should get a script from your doctor for one. I’ve heard the medication "Pulmicort" being mentioned on this newsgroup.  Some say that they take this only when they have a chest cold, just to get them thru it.  Should I be looking at talking to my doctor about this medication? All inhaled corticosteroids should be taken daily as prescribed. I use Pulmicort via nebulizer (twice a day).  It is an inhaled corticosteroid similar to Flovent and must be used on a regular basis to be effective.   You may be confusing Pulmicort with Prednisone (an oral corticosteroid) which is often prescribed (short term) for asthmatics when they have a severe chest infection (cold). However, I sure don’t recommend the use of oral steroids unless there is absolutely no other choice.   You may need an antibiotic though. Ceftin and Cipro are both good for upper respiratory infections. Talk to your doctor Kathy, you may need one to help you get over this infection, otherwise, your asthma could become more serious. Cheers, Colleen Thanks again! Kathy

Response:

Is there any asthma medication I can ask my doctor for, just to get me thru the cold?  This last bout started in my sinuses, and I was just praying it wouldn’t reach my lungs, but it has…now I’m coughing like a heavy smoker, and it seems to last an eternity.

There is not a whole lot that you can do.  Colds are caused by viruses and the only thing that can defeat them is the body’s immune system. In an attempt to make life more comfortable, you might discuss (with your doctor) going on an increased regimen of asthma medications while you wait for the cold to go away. "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has limits." Einstein

Response:

Hi Colleen: Thanks for your response!  I’m presently taking Flovent 250 (2 puff 3x daily), and Singulair in the evenings.

Hi Kathy, If those two drugs control your asthma, then there isn’t any point in changing them. I believe, however,  that "all" asthmatics should  have access to a short-acting bronchodilator medication for use in an emergency.  You really should get a script from your doctor for one. I’ve heard the medication "Pulmicort" being mentioned on this newsgroup.  Some say that they take this only when they have a chest cold, just to get them thru it.  Should I be looking at talking to my doctor about this medication?

All inhaled corticosteroids should be taken daily as prescribed. I use Pulmicort via nebulizer (twice a day).  It is an inhaled corticosteroid similar to Flovent and must be used on a regular basis to be effective.   You may be confusing Pulmicort with Prednisone (an oral corticosteroid) which is often prescribed (short term) for asthmatics when they have a severe chest infection (cold). However, I sure don’t recommend the use of oral steroids unless there is absolutely no other choice.   You may need an antibiotic though. Ceftin and Cipro are both good for upper respiratory infections. Talk to your doctor Kathy, you may need one to help you get over this infection, otherwise, your asthma could become more serious. Cheers, Colleen – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Thanks again! Kathy

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi there… I’m fairly new to this asthma thing; having been diagnosed around two years ago at the age of 38.  I have a quick question….. Everytime I contract a cold (which seems to be too often lately), once it reaches my lungs, it sets me WAY back…takes forever to get thru the cold. Is there any asthma medication I can ask my doctor for, just to get me thru the cold?  This last bout started in my sinuses, and I was just praying it wouldn’t reach my lungs, but it has…now I’m coughing like a heavy smoker, and it seems to last an eternity. Thanks for any advise! Kathy Hi Kathy, What medication are you taking for your asthma? If you are not taking inhaled steroids, you should be. Also Singulair may be helpful to you too. Sinus infections could be the root of your problem. Some of the  "colds" you are experiencing may not actually be "colds" at all,  but inflammation caused  by purulence draining into your lungs from your sinus. What are you doing to try to keep your sinus infections under control? Warm salt water nasal irrigation is really helpful to me. The advice offered by Dr. Murray Grossan MD (ENT on-line consultant) below is definitely worth taking. http://www.ent-consult.com/ http://www.ent-consult.com/abstract.html http://www.ent-consult.com/cough.html You may also want to check the alt. support.sinusitis newsgroup. Cheers, Colleen

Hi Colleen: Thanks for your response!  I’m presently taking Flovent 250 (2 puff 3x daily), and Singulair in the evenings. Interesting point about the draining sinuses causing infection.  I’m presently not taking anything other than vitamins.  I’ve heard the medication "Pulmicort" being mentioned on this newsgroup.  Some say that they take this only when they have a chest cold, just to get them thru it.  Should I be looking at talking to my doctor about this medication? Thanks again! Kathy

Response:

Hi, I had the same problem.  Then the phlegm is really thick and makes you choke.  First I was told when I first felt a cold coming on to use my rescue inhaler (Proventil) 4 times daily rather than as needed.  Then I was given Entex LA (decongestant/expectorant) and this has helped me a lot.   I am not a Dr/Professional so check with YOUR doctor before using your rescue inhaler more often that was told to you.  (my disclaimer) Good luck to you—– Lynn – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi there… I’m fairly new to this asthma thing; having been diagnosed around two years ago at the age of 38.  I have a quick question….. Everytime I contract a cold (which seems to be too often lately), once it reaches my lungs, it sets me WAY back…takes forever to get thru the cold. Is there any asthma medication I can ask my doctor for, just to get me thru the cold?  This last bout started in my sinuses, and I was just praying it wouldn’t reach my lungs, but it has…now I’m coughing like a heavy smoker, and it seems to last an eternity. Thanks for any advise! Kathy

Response:

Hi there… I’m fairly new to this asthma thing; having been diagnosed around two years ago at the age of 38.  I have a quick question….. Everytime I contract a cold (which seems to be too often lately), once it reaches my lungs, it sets me WAY back…takes forever to get thru the cold. Is there any asthma medication I can ask my doctor for, just to get me thru the cold?  This last bout started in my sinuses, and I was just praying it wouldn’t reach my lungs, but it has…now I’m coughing like a heavy smoker, and it seems to last an eternity. Thanks for any advise! Kathy

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi there… I’m fairly new to this asthma thing; having been diagnosed around two years ago at the age of 38.  I have a quick question….. Everytime I contract a cold (which seems to be too often lately), once it reaches my lungs, it sets me WAY back…takes forever to get thru the cold. Is there any asthma medication I can ask my doctor for, just to get me thru the cold?  This last bout started in my sinuses, and I was just praying it wouldn’t reach my lungs, but it has…now I’m coughing like a heavy smoker, and it seems to last an eternity. Thanks for any advise! Kathy

Hi Kathy, What medication are you taking for your asthma? If you are not taking inhaled steroids, you should be. Also Singulair may be helpful to you too. Sinus infections could be the root of your problem. Some of the  "colds" you are experiencing may not actually be "colds" at all,  but inflammation caused  by purulence draining into your lungs from your sinus. What are you doing to try to keep your sinus infections under control? Warm salt water nasal irrigation is really helpful to me. The advice offered by Dr. Murray Grossan MD (ENT on-line consultant) below is definitely worth taking. http://www.ent-consult.com/ http://www.ent-consult.com/abstract.html http://www.ent-consult.com/cough.html You may also want to check the alt. support.sinusitis newsgroup. Cheers, Colleen

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Question:

Thanks to all who replied to my question about Advair. We were very careful to keep the Flovent the same level (she used the Flovent inhaler in addition to the Advair to keep it equal) and she switched from a Serevent diskus, so all things should have been the same. However, I left the choice to her, and she decided to go back to the Serevent diskus and Flovent MDI. She hasn’t been having any problem since. I guess it’s a case of "different strokes for different folks." sue — Susan Hartman/Dirty Linen The Magazine of Folk and World Music http://www.dirtylinen.com

Response:

Does Advair have the same compounds as Pulmicort. Check with your doctor. Lane – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello. I’ve read lots of posts about Advair and seen that most people like it. But I’m still slightly concerned. My 13-y.o. daughter has severe asthma and takes Accolate, Serevent, Flovent, and Zyrtec. She’s been well controlled over the summer. In the past she has tried Pulmicort Turbohaler and had disastrous results. She couldn’t sleep at night, couldn’t wake in the morning, and had awful nightmares and almost "psychotic" dreams/nighttime episodes. This occured between 1-3 weeks after starting Pulmicort, and when we made the connection we put her back on Flovent and she was fine. (And this has happened twice, at 18-mo intervals). Well, she just started Advair about a week and a half ago and is starting to have trouble sleeping and waking. This morning she mentioned that she thinks it might be similar to the Pulmicort experience. But since it’s just the first couple of weeks of school, it’s hard to say whether it’s Advair-related or normal teen adjustment to a daytime schedule! Though she did also just yesterday have her first asthma flare in a long while – several weeks at least (used the neb for the first time since the beginning of summer). So my question is, has anyone had similar problems with Pulmicort Turbohaler, and what is the experience of those "sensitive" people to Advair? Is there something related to the delivery method? Or was the Pulmicort/Flovent difference related to the drug involved? I should also mention that’s she’s one of those unfortunate people who responds "over the top" to prednisone…every bad side effect known to woman! Munchies, water retention, screaming meanies, etc. Thanks for any light you can shed. Sue — Susan Hartman/Dirty Linen The Magazine of Folk and World Music http://www.dirtylinen.com

Response:

Her reaction to Advair shouldn’t be any different than her reaction to Flovent and Serevent since Advair is the combination of the 2 drugs in a more convenient form. What dose is she on? And did she increase her dose? For example if she was on Flovent 220 is her Advair 250/50? Or higher?

Response:

Well, she just started Advair about a week and a half ago and is starting to have trouble sleeping and waking. This morning she mentioned that she thinks it might be similar to the Pulmicort experience.

It may be an issue of dose. It is possible that her technique with the MDI is not optimal so what the doctor thinks is an equivalent dose of the dry powder inhalers is actually an increase. Advair comes in three different strengths so it may be possible to reduce her dose safely. — CBI, MD

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I took Advair for about six weeks and finally decided to take a break inasmuch as my nasal passges have been very sore deuring that time.  I don’t know if there’s a connection, thus the break to see what happens.  If it clears up then reappears when I resume the Advair, then I’ve resolved the problem.  I did find that the NIH resume was most helpful … I don’t have it in front of me, but loss of sleep might’ve been one of the side effects. Hope this helps … Al Fisher

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Hello. I’ve read lots of posts about Advair and seen that most people like it. But I’m still slightly concerned.

I loved Advair.  I was down to one puff a day, and was off my ventolin inhalers completely.  <I am one ofthose people who has cats, sleeps with them – and is allergic However, I also had a concern – I began having heart palpitaitons.  I checked the web for side effects, asked the doctor – and my concerns were dismissed.  I ended up in the hospital with Ventricular Tachycardia (VT). Normally a very healthy (other than the asthma) adult who hikes, bikes and climbs stairs, my energy level was dropping off the bottom. I have since read that the Advair guys had done some tests on VT and Advair, but I don’t know what the results were.  Why would they do the tests if there was no concern?  If you do develop VT from using Advair – does it disappear after you stop using it? Does anyone have any anecdotal evidence on this? Connie

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I found on a switch from Aerobid to Flovent, that the switch itself caused me to be extremely sensitive for about 3 weeks. It wasn’t that the new drug didn’t work, I think it was that the old one quit before the new one built up. Time may help? LA – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hello. I’ve read lots of posts about Advair and seen that most people like it. But I’m still slightly concerned. My 13-y.o. daughter has severe asthma and takes Accolate, Serevent, Flovent, and Zyrtec. She’s been well controlled over the summer. In the past she has tried Pulmicort Turbohaler and had disastrous results. She couldn’t sleep at night, couldn’t wake in the morning, and had awful nightmares and almost "psychotic" dreams/nighttime episodes. This occured between 1-3 weeks after starting Pulmicort, and when we made the connection we put her back on Flovent and she was fine. (And this has happened twice, at 18-mo intervals). Well, she just started Advair about a week and a half ago and is starting to have trouble sleeping and waking. This morning she mentioned that she thinks it might be similar to the Pulmicort experience. But since it’s just the first couple of weeks of school, it’s hard to say whether it’s Advair-related or normal teen adjustment to a daytime schedule! Though she did also just yesterday have her first asthma flare in a long while – several weeks at least (used the neb for the first time since the beginning of summer). So my question is, has anyone had similar problems with Pulmicort Turbohaler, and what is the experience of those "sensitive" people to Advair? Is there something related to the delivery method? Or was the Pulmicort/Flovent difference related to the drug involved? I should also mention that’s she’s one of those unfortunate people who responds "over the top" to prednisone…every bad side effect known to woman! Munchies, water retention, screaming meanies, etc. Thanks for any light you can shed. Sue — Susan Hartman/Dirty Linen The Magazine of Folk and World Music http://www.dirtylinen.com

Response:

Hello. I’ve read lots of posts about Advair and seen that most people like it. But I’m still slightly concerned. My 13-y.o. daughter has severe asthma and takes Accolate, Serevent, Flovent, and Zyrtec. She’s been well controlled over the summer. In the past she has tried Pulmicort Turbohaler and had disastrous results. She couldn’t sleep at night, couldn’t wake in the morning, and had awful nightmares and almost "psychotic" dreams/nighttime episodes. This occured between 1-3 weeks after starting Pulmicort, and when we made the connection we put her back on Flovent and she was fine. (And this has happened twice, at 18-mo intervals). Well, she just started Advair about a week and a half ago and is starting to have trouble sleeping and waking. This morning she mentioned that she thinks it might be similar to the Pulmicort experience. But since it’s just the first couple of weeks of school, it’s hard to say whether it’s Advair-related or normal teen adjustment to a daytime schedule! Though she did also just yesterday have her first asthma flare in a long while – several weeks at least (used the neb for the first time since the beginning of summer). So my question is, has anyone had similar problems with Pulmicort Turbohaler, and what is the experience of those "sensitive" people to Advair? Is there something related to the delivery method? Or was the Pulmicort/Flovent difference related to the drug involved? I should also mention that’s she’s one of those unfortunate people who responds "over the top" to prednisone…every bad side effect known to woman! Munchies, water retention, screaming meanies, etc. Thanks for any light you can shed. Sue — Susan Hartman/Dirty Linen The Magazine of Folk and World Music http://www.dirtylinen.com

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Question:

I know people have probably over posted about this, but.. is there anyone (besides me that is) who *hasn’t* had wonderful success with Singulair?? I’ve been on it for months now and I’ve hardly noticed a thing. I’m still taking my inhaler 3 and 4 times a day! Are the people who’re having lots of luck with it taking it in conjunction with other things? It’s *so* frustrating, since I still can hardly walk down the hall without having problems. Thanks for your help! Kelly

Maybe one of these days this info will get incorporated into the FAQ. Singulair and Accolate have a pattern of beneficial response where VERY APPROXIMATELY 1/3 of users expereince a strong, positve response; 1/3 of users get a mild benefit; and 1/3 of users derive NO BENEFIT at all.  IT takes a month or two to distinguish between the second and third groups.

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Hi Kelly, I have felt exactly the same about Singulair.  I have been on it now for about 1 year but have not noticed any improvement with it at all.  I am still on Prednisolone 20mg, Theophylline 300mg x2, Fluticasone 1000mcg x2, Serevent 50mcg and 100mcg, Atrovent 40mg x2 and Ventolin 200mg x4 everyday. Why is it that Sigulair seems to be the saviour for some, and a waste of time for others like us? Maybe some others out there will know the answer to that. Becky – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I know people have probably over posted about this, but.. is there anyone (besides me that is) who *hasn’t* had wonderful success with Singulair?? I’ve been on it for months now and I’ve hardly noticed a thing. I’m still taking my inhaler 3 and 4 times a day! Are the people who’re having lots of luck with it taking it in conjunction with other things? It’s *so* frustrating, since I still can hardly walk down the hall without having problems. Thanks for your help! Kelly

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Singulair is ususally prescribed for those with mild to moderate asthma. an expert on asthma but I’m surprised that your symptoms are so servere after a year of treatment!  Has your doctor changed your meds during that time or suggested other forms of therapy?

Response:

I know people have probably over posted about this, but.. is there anyone (besides me that is) who *hasn’t* had wonderful success with Singulair??

Not a wonderful success but I would say *some* success.  I was on flixotide, atrovent, ventolin, phyllocontin and needing prednisolone about every 3 months.  After some difficulties and disruption at work I rapidly went downhill until I was at 6 days per month off work and needing prednisolone every few weeks.  The doses I was on of the other things were about the maximum suggested (and about 30+ shots of ventolin per day). In April 1997 my parents went on holiday for a while and I "house sat" for them; playing computer games mainly.  I got so involved in one of them I played for 36 hours straight; the only medication I took in that time was ventolin.  I felt a lot better.  I haven’t touched flixotide or atrovent since; medical advice was that I was looking for a very serious attack anytime soon if I didn’t go back on the medication.  I held out. However the medication I *was* on appears to be the "standard" treatment for "brittle asthma" – i.e. very rapid onset (the stuff that may kill on the first attack with a new subject); I *don’t have* rapid onset asthma. The treatment I had had and had been receiving was a "hold over" from the prescription practices of a previous doctor – it had never been explained to me what it was all for and my current doctor had (as I had) assumed it was all o.k. Since I was still at about *two* days off work per month I saw my *new* doctor again; she suggested Singulair (‘cos we’d tried everything else). I’m now down to about 1 day per month on average from asthma related problems.  So, I wouldn’t say it was *hugely* succesful; I would say it works reasonably well for me as I have a very slow declining sort of asthma problem and it stabilises my base levels. I’ve now been on Singulair over a year; my energy levels are much more than previously and I don’t have to worry about going out (I know I shall be able to physically cope until I can get back).  I have had less ‘flu and bronchitic problems (possibly because I’m not on oral steroids all the time now) and I’m a lot happier with my state generally. It *wasn’t* a quick fix; it’s been very gradual in my case. change demonically challenged to demon in reply; hoping to avoid the spam Rex M F Smith

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I know people have probably over posted about this, but.. is there anyone (besides me that is) who *hasn’t* had wonderful success with Singulair?? I’ve been on it for months now and I’ve hardly noticed a thing. I’m still taking my inhaler 3 and 4 times a day! Are the people who’re having lots of luck with it taking it in conjunction with other things? It’s *so* frustrating, since I still can hardly walk down the hall without having problems. Thanks for your help! Kelly

I’ve read Singulair has a sucess of 1/3 show dramatic improvement, 1/3 show significant improvement, 1/3 show no improvement. If you show no improvement, you should stop taking it. New studies show it starts to become effective within the 1st 24 hr, if it doesn’t help in 7 days, it probably won’t help. I started Singulair last spring. Initially I got a 10% improvement with peak flow and was happy with it. In the summer I had some exacerbations that dropped peak flows to 50%, and Singulair didn’t seem to help (tho it isn’t supposed to help in exacerbations) I did notice some side effects of tiredness, and was taking every other day. Lately I just stopped taking, may start up again. I use a peak flow meter to monitor lung function and a Action Plan to increase meds when peak flow drops into Yellow Zone. I’ve been using a new steroid inhaler, Pulmicort, since beginning of year. It’s so effective I don’t seem to need Singulair. If you need inhalers 3-4x/day, your asthma is not well controlled. Most asthmatics can control their asthma with inhaled steroids twice a day; and an occasional puff of albuterol less than once/day. (I also use Serevent twice a day) Ellis

Response:

I know people have probably over posted about this, but.. is there anyone (besides me that is) who *hasn’t* had wonderful success with Singulair?? I’ve been on it for months now and I’ve hardly noticed a thing. I’m still taking my inhaler 3 and 4 times a day! Are the people who’re having lots of luck with it taking it in conjunction with other things? It’s *so* frustrating, since I still can hardly walk down the hall without having problems.

I tried Accolate and Singulair for two months each.  I could have been taking sugar pills, they had no effects whatsoever (but no side effects either). From the reports in the newsgroup about 1/3 of the people who try it get dramatic results, another 1/3 get mild results and the final 1/3 (us) get no results. "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has limits." Einstein

Response:

I know people have probably over posted about this, but.. is there anyone (besides me that is) who *hasn’t* had wonderful success with Singulair?? I’ve been on it for months now and I’ve hardly noticed a thing. I’m still taking my inhaler 3 and 4 times a day! Are the people who’re having lots of luck with it taking it in conjunction with other things? It’s *so* frustrating, since I still can hardly walk down the hall without having problems. Thanks for your help! Kelly

Response:

Kelly,  I showed almost immediate results from taking singulair!  When you say inhaler, to what medicaiton are you refering.  Is it a preventor medication like servent or a reliever med like proventil?  You might require a preventor med to stop your asthma from getting out of hand.  Are you taking any inhaled steriods such as azmacort or flovent?  These are primary meds in preventing asthma since they help to prevent inflamation of the bronchial tubes. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I know people have probably over posted about this, but.. is there anyone (besides me that is) who *hasn’t* had wonderful success with Singulair?? I’ve been on it for months now and I’ve hardly noticed a thing. I’m still taking my inhaler 3 and 4 times a day! Are the people who’re having lots of luck with it taking it in conjunction with other things? It’s *so* frustrating, since I still can hardly walk down the hall without having problems. Thanks for your help! Kelly

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Question:

Hi all!  Just came from Dr, now we have 2 inhalers (Flovent and Albuterol) plus ventolin to add to the albuterol nebulizer.  We also have the Steroids (Predinisone) for 5 days and another allergy medicine to try (Claritin didn’t help)…..     Thanks everyone who posted and emailed me, we have an action plan now and the Doctor talked to me for a long time today about what to look for – in order to know to take her to the ER, signs like some of the ones mentioned…     Finding the trigger I’m thinking will be next to impossible since she only gets it 2x per year, we are thinking it’s pollen or something seasonal.  I tried to respond via dejanews about the environment suggestions, it’s not showing up here now but anyway, the possibility of eliminating dust mold etc are pretty remote, if it’s the house, carpet, furniture…. Thanks again all, Kathleen | Hi Steve and Kathleen, | | I have a daughter 6 1/2 years of age and a son 4 years of age. Both have | had asthma since they were 3 months old. | | I have two nebulizers at home and I give the kids ventolin when they are | coughing.  They also have taken preventative medication Intal (didn’t work) | and Pulmicort.  They are now on 2 other preventative treatments Flixatide | (which is like Pulmicort) and Serevent (which is a preventative ventolin). | | I have them under the control of a pediatric respritory doctor who is | superb.  I can give my kids Ventolin every 1 – 2 hours.  My asthma plan is | they have 2 machines close together 1/2 hour apart.  Wait an 1hr give | another and wait an 1 hr and give another, if they don’t settle I take them | up to the hospital or start a 3 day course of prednisolone. | | Take a good close look at their chest.  If their chest is suken when you | lift their shirt then they need oxygen immediately. | | If she needs prednisolone, I feel she needs a preventative.  My children | have not been able to stop preventative medication for more than 3 months at | a time. | | Are you in Australia? | | LA

Response:

Barry is a salesman.  He sells air cleaners.

I am glad that you asked this question as it was the first thing I thought when I read the posting.

Response:

Hi ! First let me say that I can not help you but before you toss this you might be able to help me… I am a preschool teacher ( 4 and 5 year olds) and more of my students are being diagnosed with asthma.  One of my students was hospilatized theis weekend. ( he’s fine now but it got me thinking) I have taken courses in Health, Safety and Nutrition as well as CPR and First Aid and yet I too, do not know much about the early signs of a problem. I hope I would recognize a child in a severe condition and could respond accordingly but I’m not sure I could detect the early signs…. Can you help educate me? Can you share some information? Do you know of any helpful books or brochures. I would hate to think I could overlook sign until a distressful situation developed.   I probably won’t remember how I got to this board so can you respond in a

Response:

Tough call. If your child is mature enough to understand how to use a peak flow meter then I would get one. It is a little plastic device that they blow into as hard as they can. Asthmatics have a hard time getting air out of their lungs quickly. If there is an asthma attack it will show up on the peak flow. Have your child do three blows twice a day and record the results. Know what her best is. If she is 80-100% of her best, she is ok. If she is 60-80% of her best she is having some trouble, needs albuterol, but you don’t need to rush to the ER. Just see your doctor as quickly as possible. Under 60% then an ER visit is indicated. Remember, asthma is a desease of inflammation, not bronchoconstriction. Albuterol is a bronchodilator and steroids are antiinflammatories. Although you cannot overdose albuterol you may get to a point were it’s not effective anymore because you need that steroid. Also, is your child on a preventative medicine? I hope that helps. For more information on asthma you can check out my website at www.ibabydoc.com. No spam I just love being a pediatrician and helping children. Dr. Michael Bornstein, M.D. F.A.A.P. www.ibabydoc.com

Response:

My daughter has had asthma since she was around 2yo, just ‘officially’ diagnosed early this year.  We have a nebulizer at home and I have been instructed to use it when she starts coughing, with albuterol & saline solution.  About 2x a year it isn’t enough and she has had to take Pedipred/predinisone (spelling?) for 10 days and that has always cleared it up.     My question is, how do I know she needs to go to the hospital?

The Expert Panel Report 2 has a figure classifying severity of asthma exacerbations [Fig 3-9]. Some of the symptoms for a severe exacerbation are: Breathlessness–while at rest Talks in words, rather than phrases or sentences. Agitated Repiratory rate often 30/min Wheeze–usually loud; throughout inhale & exhale Pulse–120/min Peak flow <50% personal best [a 5 yr old should be             able to use a peak flow meter] Note: The presence of several parameters, but not necessarily all, indicates the general classification of the exacerbation.  Her appetite is better today than yesterday, she is wanting to get around today (yesterday she slept on and off all day) but I can feel the wheezing in her chest.  I have been giving her breathing treatments at least every three hours.     This started up Friday morning and I let her go to school, however the nebulizer does not seem to be helping, not more than for a couple hours anyway.  Is it possible to overdose on Albuterol??

Ask your doctor; albuterol is a fairly safe drug. Current asthma guidelines are to have an Action Plan to increase drugs when peak flow decreases or symptoms increase; typically a steroid inhaler is added or increased and albuterol used as needed, when peak flows drop below 80% personal best or symptoms increase. Such an Action Plan may help avoid the need to go on oral steroids like Pedipred or make a trip to ER. http://www.ama-assn.org/special/asthma/treatmnt/updates/patient.htm Patient Asthma Action Plans Ellis – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –     We have had a great doctor since she was born, and will go see her tomorrow but it would be nice if I could converse with others who have dealt with this type of asthma…..   It never seems particularly severe to me but her doctor is always very concerned by the time I take her in.  I tend to worry about it a lot when she gets like this and fear the worst.. that I will under-react and it will be TOO LATE. Thanks, Kathleen

Response:

My daughter has had asthma since she was around 2yo, just ‘officially’ diagnosed early this year.  We have a nebulizer at home and I have been instructed to use it when she starts coughing, with albuterol & saline solution.  About 2x a year it isn’t enough and she has had to take Pedipred/predinisone (spelling?) for 10 days and that has always cleared it up.     My question is, how do I know she needs to go to the hospital?  Her appetite is better today than yesterday, she is wanting to get around today (yesterday she slept on and off all day) but I can feel the wheezing in her chest.  I have been giving her breathing treatments at least every three hours.     This started up Friday morning and I let her go to school, however the nebulizer does not seem to be helping, not more than for a couple hours anyway.  Is it possible to overdose on Albuterol??     We have had a great doctor since she was born, and will go see her tomorrow but it would be nice if I could converse with others who have dealt with this type of asthma…..   It never seems particularly severe to me but her doctor is always very concerned by the time I take her in.  I tend to worry about it a lot when she gets like this and fear the worst.. that I will under-react and it will be TOO LATE. Thanks, Kathleen I am not looking for treatment or medical gagets, just people who are familiar with this scenario — "If you think you are too small to be effective then you have never been in bed with a mosquito."

Response:

Barry here of http://www.aircleaners.com I know that your against medical devices, but if the drugs arent working then mabe its an environmental problem that products such as HEPA air cleaners, DustMite Proof mattress and pillow encasings Ect.. may help. Mabe your homes indoor environment needs to be cleaned up. Do you have any carpet that is less then two years old ? Have you had any roof leaks in the past? You could have a chemical outgassing problem or a mold problem in your home that could cause chronic health problems.Also have you had much pest control ? If you dont get rid of the triggers first, the drugs wont always do a good job.You need to look at the big picture for possible environmental problems.Both at home and at school. The drugs are just a part of it. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My daughter has had asthma since she was around 2yo, just ‘officially’ diagnosed early this year.  We have a nebulizer at home and I have been instructed to use it when she starts coughing, with albuterol & saline solution.  About 2x a year it isn’t enough and she has had to take Pedipred/predinisone (spelling?) for 10 days and that has always cleared it up.     My question is, how do I know she needs to go to the hospital?  Her appetite is better today than yesterday, she is wanting to get around today (yesterday she slept on and off all day) but I can feel the wheezing in her chest.  I have been giving her breathing treatments at least every three hours.     This started up Friday morning and I let her go to school, however the nebulizer does not seem to be helping, not more than for a couple hours anyway.  Is it possible to overdose on Albuterol??     We have had a great doctor since she was born, and will go see her tomorrow but it would be nice if I could converse with others who have dealt with this type of asthma…..   It never seems particularly severe to me but her doctor is always very concerned by the time I take her in.  I tend to worry about it a lot when she gets like this and fear the worst.. that I will under-react and it will be TOO LATE. Thanks, Kathleen I am not looking for treatment or medical gagets, just people who are familiar with this scenario — "If you think you are too small to be effective then you have never been in bed with a mosquito."

Response:

Barry here of http://www.aircleaners.com I know that your against medical devices, but if the drugs arent working then mabe its an environmental problem that products such as HEPA air cleaners, DustMite Proof mattress and pillow encasings Ect.. may help. Mabe your homes indoor environment needs to be cleaned up. Do you have any carpet that is less then two years old ? Have you had any roof leaks in the past? You could have a chemical outgassing problem or a mold problem in your home that could cause chronic health problems.Also have you had much pest control ? If you dont get rid of the triggers first, the drugs wont always do a good job.You need to look at the big picture for possible environmental problems.Both at home and at school. The drugs are just a part of it.

This in no way remotely addresses the questions she was answering. I don’t understand you people.

Response:

Barry here of http://www.aircleaners.com I know that your against medical devices, but if the drugs arent working then mabe its an environmental problem that products such as HEPA air cleaners, DustMite Proof mattress and pillow encasings Ect.. may help. Mabe your homes indoor environment needs to be cleaned up. Do you have any carpet that is less then two years old ? Have you had any roof leaks in the past? You could have a chemical outgassing problem or a mold problem in your home that could cause chronic health problems.Also have you had much pest control ? If you dont get rid of the triggers first, the drugs wont always do a good job.You need to look at the big picture for possible environmental problems.Both at home and at school.

That is assuming that there is an ‘environmental problem.’ Generally, in the case of asthma the problem will be allergy. Identifying the allergen in question is a must before you try to spend any money controlling things that usually are not causing problems. "Being responsible sometimes means pissing people off."    General Colin Powell

Response:

Barry here of http://www.aircleaners.com I know that your against medical devices, but if the drugs arent working then mabe its an environmental problem that products such as HEPA air cleaners, DustMite Proof mattress and pillow encasings Ect.. may help. Mabe your homes indoor environment needs to be cleaned up. Do you have any carpet that is less then two years old ? Have you had any roof leaks in the past? You could have a chemical outgassing problem or a mold problem in your home that could cause chronic health problems.Also have you had much pest control ? If you dont get rid of the triggers first, the drugs wont always do a good job.You need to look at the big picture for possible environmental problems.Both at home and at school. The drugs are just a part of it. This in no way remotely addresses the questions she was answering. I don’t understand you people.

Barry is a salesman.  He sells air cleaners. PS  Barry, are you still selling Alpine products? "Being responsible sometimes means pissing people off."    General Colin Powell

Response:

: : Barry here of http://www.aircleaners.com I know that your against medical : devices, but if the drugs arent working then mabe its an environmental : problem that products such as HEPA air cleaners, DustMite Proof mattress and : pillow encasings Ect.. may help. Mabe your homes indoor environment needs to : be cleaned up. Do you have any carpet that is less then two years old ? Have : you had any roof leaks in the past? You could have a chemical outgassing : problem or a mold problem in your home that could cause chronic health : problems.Also have you had much pest control ? If you dont get rid of the : triggers first, the drugs wont always do a good job.You need to look at the : big picture for possible environmental problems.Both at home and at school. : : That is assuming that there is an ‘environmental problem.’ : : Generally, in the case of asthma the problem will be allergy. : Identifying the allergen in question is a must before you try to spend : any money controlling things that usually are not causing problems. I do have asthma triggered by environmental problems and the air cleaners don’t help much if any. If you have an environmental trigger you get away from it or clean it up. At best a room sized air filter help me a very little bit. Cleaning the airconditioner ducts and sealing the leak between the cloths dryer and the return air and putting a decent filtering set helped a lot. The fabric softener in laundry products causes me problems if I get in in my lungs. I don’t use the crap on my cloths and we had changed for the one that caused me trouble but there was still enough in the  ducts to cause problems. I am not cured but I am a lot better. Before you spend money fixing problems find out what  triggers the asthma. An allergy test is a good start. Baring that some commons sense things that don’t cost anything are don’t run the vacuum while your child is in the house. Do it when she will be at school or a friends for a few hours. Make sure some fresh air gets in the house don’t live on recycled air. Wash the bed clothes in hot 150 degree water and dry them on high heat or dry them on a line in the sun shine. Both hard on dust mites. Keep the humidity between 30 and 50% if possible. Higher than this dust mites an molds are a problem lower than this air way irritation is a problem. Use ivory soap and avoid perfumed stuff for her in particular. They may or may not cause her a problem but they don’t help. Don’t use perfumed products when you can get a better cheaper plain product. Make your house smell clean by being clean not by deodorizers. Don’t use fabric softener on her clothes or bedding. It may not be a problem but it won’t help her asthma. One thing Barry is right on about is roof leaks and black slimy mold. If you have black slimy mold in the house you need to find out what it is and get rid of it. Some of them are very very bad news. They are also very rare. The seem to like to grow on the paper on sheet rock in the walls. Mildew is a lesser problem that should be dealt with by lowering the humidity until it is not much of a problem except at the corners of the bath tube and so on. Keeping molds out of carped bath rooms is hard to do. If you must have carpeted bathrooms make sure the shower curtain is tight and run the exhaust fan a lot and make sure the male members of the family have good aim. If you have animals move them outside or get rid of them. Don’t use a lot of Clorox or other cleaners that irritate the airways while she is in the house. Until you find the triggers or she grows enough that the asthma no longer causes attacks because the air ways get big enough the don’t close off you are running blind on trying to find relief by avoiding triggers. An allergist and pulmunolgist are your best bets for finding triggers and developing a plan to treat the asthma. Your daughter may be able to tell you what makes her feel bad. Sometimes they are right. — Gordon    W5RED

Response:

Question:

Website Hoax on Killer Virus Triggers Hong Kong Panic Tue April 1, 2003 08:55 AM ET

so???? — Mvh / Regards -=< Christian =- What capital has 164 letters in its name? See my web page to find out. http://www.cmnielsen.dk     ICQ: 25308942 " If something’s hard to do, then it’s not worth doing. Homer J. Simpson"

Response:

Could it be that "SARS" is just an adverse reaction to the anti-depressant drug Effexor that Wyeth Pharmaceuticals is now pushing in China? Similar symptoms: 1: Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2003 Apr 1;167(7):958-61 Drug-induced Pneumonitis and Heart Failure Simultaneously Associated with Venlafaxine. Drent M, Singh S, Gorgels AP, Hansell DM, Bekers O, Nicholson AG, Van Suylen RJ, Du Bois RM. Department of Respiratory Medicine, University Hospital of Maastricht, Two cases of interstitial pneumonia with cardiac failure developing in patients treated with the new antidepressant venlafaxine are presented. A strong relationship between the development of the patients’ illness and the initiation of venlafaxine treatment was identified.  The cytochrome P (CYP) 450 system is involved in the metabolism of venlafaxine, suggesting that alterations in the drug metabolic clearance might be, at least in part, responsible for the development of drug-induced damage in these cases. This might occur either as a consequence of a genetic factor or concomitant drug therapy with an inhibitor of the related CYP system.  After identifying the causative agent in the first case, withdrawal of the antidepressant together with corticosteroid treatment led to a favorable outcome. In the other case, the multiorgan failure became fatal.  These cases highlight a hitherto undescribed association of an adverse lung reaction and heart failure due to venlafaxine. PMID: 12663337 [PubMed - in process]

Response:

Could it be that "SARS" is just an adverse reaction to the anti-depressant drug Effexor that Wyeth Pharmaceuticals is now pushing in China? Similar symptoms:

Yeah, world’s first contagious drug reaction.

Response:

Could it be that "SARS" is just an adverse reaction to the anti-depressant drug Effexor that Wyeth Pharmaceuticals is now pushing in China? Similar symptoms: Yeah, world’s first contagious drug reaction.

Is it SARS or is it a reaction to the drug Effexor? Effexor is now being agressively sold in China by Wyeth who claims on its website that it has "superior safety". Yet PubMed shows several reports of severe and fatal Effexor side effects — which at this point mimic symptoms of SARS. Patients taking Effexor need to know.

Response:

Question:

On Mon, 22 Jan 2001 17:43:59 GMT, blueskies…@my-deja.com wrote:

Karen, you hit on what I think hurts me the most about this…his total and complete insensitivity to how I feel about it, and his apparent lack of respect for me. He compromises. It’s his way or no way. I have NOTHING to be upset about, and this, in his opinion, is my problem that I simply need to "get over". He is "doing nothing wrong", and there is no reason that he should stop (his words). I don’t believe he understands the word respect. KB

 Like I said in a previous post, start looking at porn yourself and when he gets upset about it just say he is going to have to get over it. It will show him how you feel when he says it to you. The end result will hopefully be he gets the hint.

Response:

Evolution has designed man to impregnate as many females as he can so as to place more of his genes into the pool. Marriage, and monogamy places restrictions on that plan. Looking at porn (love of female and female anatomy) is a way of spreading his genes…by proxy if you will. By the same token, evolutions plan is that females want to "capture" a male, have his genes inseminate her, and then keep him around to help care for the offspring.  She does not want him spreading any more of his genes. What you are feeling are very deep, evolutionary placed emotions to try to prevent him from moving on. He is paying homage to his instincts just as you are.  And he is doing it in the most acceptable way at this time and place in our society. If he is not spending the babies diaper money on the porn, then leave him alone. If you really want to make him think of you as the most desireable woman in the world, then become his feat accompli and learn to enjoy the porn yourself and include yourself in his viewing. Not too many women do that, but he ones that do become almost irreplaceable in a man’s life. rg <blueskies…@my-deja.com

wrote in message

news:94g65t$i4g$1@nnrp1.deja.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

I just found this group, and I have a question (forgive me if this topic has been discussed before). My husband enjoys viewing porn on the internet. He has even subscribed to 2 websites at a cost of $10/month. I have told him that it bothers me to no end, but his response is that "all men do it" and it’s no big deal. I’ve tried to explain that when he is looking at other women on line, and sometimes, well, let’s say, pleasuring himself, that it makes me feel unattractive, unwanted, and undesirable. I am NOT any of those things. (age 36, blonde, 5′4", 105 pounds, and I can still turn a head or two). I don’t know if I’m overreacting, or being unreasonable. I cannot help the way I feel though, and frankly, the idea of it is a major turn-off for me. Yes, our sex life is very good, quite frequent, satisfying and intense. I have gotten extremely upset over this, to the point of tears, and it falls on deaf ears. I’ve tried begging, pleading, threatening… you name it, to make him stop. He says that I don’t understand, and it’s my problem… I’m being a prude. He will not stop. He doesn’t do it that often (that I’m aware of), but it sickens me to think about it. Am I being unreasonable? Any advice? Thanks….. Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/

Response:

It upsets me because I do NOT understand the need for it. As I told him one night, as I caught him with junior in hand, looking at it, WHY does he prefer to jerk off looking at pornography, when he has a perfectly good wife in bed. (he thought I was asleep. I was, but came out for a drink of water). He does not view it in front of me. No, he isn’t spending the baby money (I have an 8yr old son!), but since he is unemployed, guess who IS paying for this!?!?!? KB In article <14939-3A6C8EA6…@storefull-103.iap.bryant.webtv.net

,

  KTGO…@webtv.net (Karen) wrote: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

blueskies wrote, begging, pleading, threatening… you name it, to make him stop. He

says

that I don’t understand, and it’s my problem… I’m being a prude. He will not stop. He doesn’t do it that often (that I’m aware of), but it sickens me to think about it. Am I being unreasonable? Any advice? Thanks….. Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/  Does it upset you because he is looking at other woman? Does he make comments about them? Does he try to include you when he is checking

out

this stuff? I am just trying to understand the full picture. My

husband

also views this type of stuff, but it is not the woman or the sex

itself

that he likes. It is his never ending curiosity to find the unusual. something he has never seen before. Some may think that is

disgusting, I

think it is simply human nature.  I feel as long as it is not children he is looking at (which he is firmly against).  Then I see no problem with it. (except for maybe the "hey babe, check this out, gross!".

every

5 seconds). It is not my cup of tea, but I don’t hold it against him. Ps. I can’t believe you are paying for it though! good grief it is

every

where and free. Karen

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/

Response:

On Mon, 22 Jan 2001 21:49:48 GMT, blueskies…@my-deja.com wrote:

but since he is unemployed, guess who IS paying for this!?!?!?

For you is the issue the porn or the fact he is unemployed?  Put another way, if he was working, would this matter as long as you also had a good sex life? Is the porn a new development? Floridanewbie — Love may be blind but marriage is a real eye opener.

Response:

Do you want me to? rg "Jadelee111512" <jadelee111…@aol.com

wrote in message

news:20010122165116.04553.00000626@ng-cc1.aol.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

From: "rg" jobba…@hotmail.com Evolution has designed man to impregnate as many females as he can so as

to

place more of his genes into the pool. Marriage, and monogamy places restrictions on that plan. Looking at porn (love of female and female anatomy) is a way of spreading his genes…by proxy if you will. By the same token, evolutions plan is that females want to "capture" a

male,

have his genes inseminate her, and then keep him around to help care for

the

offspring.  She does not want him spreading any more of his genes. What you are feeling are very deep, evolutionary placed emotions to try

to

prevent him from moving on. He is paying homage to his instincts just as you are.  And he is doing it

in

the most acceptable way at this time and place in our society. If he is not spending the babies diaper money on the porn, then leave him alone. If you really want to make him think of you as the most desireable woman

in

the world, then become his feat accompli and learn to enjoy the porn yourself and include yourself in his viewing. Not too many women do that, but he ones that do become almost

irreplaceable

in a man’s life. rg Couldn’t stay away, eh?

Response:

,,control freak,,shakes head,,, Doc Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/

Response:

If he is unemployed, then he should NOT be spending money on this. This is a totally unnecessary expense. He should be looking for a job, or training for one. rg <blueskies…@my-deja.com

wrote in message

news:94i9to$b1f$1@nnrp1.deja.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

It upsets me because I do NOT understand the need for it. As I told him one night, as I caught him with junior in hand, looking at it, WHY does he prefer to jerk off looking at pornography, when he has a perfectly good wife in bed. (he thought I was asleep. I was, but came out for a drink of water). He does not view it in front of me. No, he isn’t spending the baby money (I have an 8yr old son!), but since he is unemployed, guess who IS paying for this!?!?!? KB In article <14939-3A6C8EA6…@storefull-103.iap.bryant.webtv.net,   KTGO…@webtv.net (Karen) wrote: blueskies wrote, begging, pleading, threatening… you name it, to make him stop. He says that I don’t understand, and it’s my problem… I’m being a prude. He will not stop. He doesn’t do it that often (that I’m aware of), but it sickens me to think about it. Am I being unreasonable? Any advice? Thanks….. Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/  Does it upset you because he is looking at other woman? Does he make comments about them? Does he try to include you when he is checking out this stuff? I am just trying to understand the full picture. My husband also views this type of stuff, but it is not the woman or the sex itself that he likes. It is his never ending curiosity to find the unusual. something he has never seen before. Some may think that is disgusting, I think it is simply human nature.  I feel as long as it is not children he is looking at (which he is firmly against).  Then I see no problem with it. (except for maybe the "hey babe, check this out, gross!". every 5 seconds). It is not my cup of tea, but I don’t hold it against him. Ps. I can’t believe you are paying for it though! good grief it is every where and free. Karen Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/

Response:

With the savings, you may be able to get some counseling to find out why you are so upset over the thought of your husband satisfying his biological need for diversity in such a harmless way.  You obvioulsy have some very serious control issues, and if I were him, seeking a divorce would be very near the top of my list, unless you were to experience a very sudden and dramatic attitude change. I hope this helps!!!

I agree about the control.  Things outside of ourselves do not "make" us feel one way or another.  We make ourselves feel the way we do…as a conditioned or congicent response.  Buddism has much to say about that. But I don’t think divorce is the answer.  There is lots of room for resolution of this problem…and it may require a compromise in which he spends a little less time viewing…and you spend a little more time viewing. rg

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

From: "rg" jobba…@hotmail.com Evolution has designed man to impregnate as many females as he can so as to place more of his genes into the pool. Marriage, and monogamy places restrictions on that plan. Looking at porn (love of female and female anatomy) is a way of spreading his genes…by proxy if you will. By the same token, evolutions plan is that females want to "capture" a male, have his genes inseminate her, and then keep him around to help care for the offspring.  She does not want him spreading any more of his genes. What you are feeling are very deep, evolutionary placed emotions to try to prevent him from moving on. He is paying homage to his instincts just as you are.  And he is doing it in the most acceptable way at this time and place in our society. If he is not spending the babies diaper money on the porn, then leave him alone. If you really want to make him think of you as the most desireable woman in the world, then become his feat accompli and learn to enjoy the porn yourself and include yourself in his viewing. Not too many women do that, but he ones that do become almost irreplaceable in a man’s life. rg

Couldn’t stay away, eh?

Response:

blueskies wrote, begging, pleading, threatening… you name it, to make him stop. He says that I don’t understand, and it’s my problem… I’m being a prude. He will not stop. He doesn’t do it that often (that I’m aware of), but it sickens me to think about it. Am I being unreasonable? Any advice? Thanks….. Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/    Does it upset you because he is looking at other woman? Does he make comments about them? Does he try to include you when he is checking out this stuff? I am just trying to understand the full picture. My husband also views this type of stuff, but it is not the woman or the sex itself that he likes. It is his never ending curiosity to find the unusual. something he has never seen before. Some may think that is disgusting, I think it is simply human nature.  I feel as long as it is not children he is looking at (which he is firmly against).  Then I see no problem with it. (except for maybe the "hey babe, check this out, gross!". every 5 seconds). It is not my cup of tea, but I don’t hold it against him. Ps. I can’t believe you are paying for it though! good grief it is every where and free. Karen

Response:

You are *not* being unreasonable.  I would wonder why, when something is this important to you, your husband has to turn into "dork mode" and make a case out of it being "your problem".    Hopefully he can be brought around to seeing what a selfish action this is, and how counter-productive to an intimate relationship this is. Best of luck, LS

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -JohnyK wrote:

On Mon, 22 Jan 2001 02:33:33 GMT, blueskies…@my-deja.com wrote: I just found this group, and I have a question (forgive me if this topic has been discussed before). My husband enjoys viewing porn on the internet. He has even subscribed to 2 websites at a cost of $10/month. I have told him that it bothers me to no end, but his response is that "all men do it" and it’s no big deal. I’ve tried to explain that when he is looking at other women on line, and sometimes, well, let’s say, pleasuring himself, that it makes me feel unattractive, unwanted, and undesirable. I am NOT any of those things. (age 36, blonde, 5′4", 105 pounds, and I can still turn a head or two). I don’t know if I’m overreacting, or being unreasonable. I cannot help the way I feel though, and frankly, the idea of it is a major turn-off for me. Yes, our sex life is very good, quite frequent, satisfying and intense. I have gotten extremely upset over this, to the point of tears, and it falls on deaf ears. I’ve tried begging, pleading, threatening… you name it, to make him stop. He says that I don’t understand, and it’s my problem… I’m being a prude. He will not stop. He doesn’t do it that often (that I’m aware of), but it sickens me to think about it. Am I being unreasonable? Any advice? Thanks…..  Go to sites that have men pictured on them and see if he likes it when you do this.  This is not a joke…..I’m dead serious

I agree with JohnnyK on this, go to a porn site just for Women and see if he likes it.

Response:

Karen, Can you explain the ‘comfort and security’ males get from this? I have the same problem at home also, and it causes me many days of grief wondering what’s wrong with me/him. I’m trying to understand exactly what it is that they get from viewing all this porn. Mine does it when I’m not home, boy does that really want to make me leave the house!! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

BTW, watching porn has nothing to do with your attractiveness. It’s a way for him to get comfort, much like a baby bottle or security blanket. Karen

Response:

Karen, you hit on what I think hurts me the most about this…his total and complete insensitivity to how I feel about it, and his apparent lack of respect for me. He compromises. It’s his way or no way. I have NOTHING to be upset about, and this, in his opinion, is my problem that I simply need to "get over". He is "doing nothing wrong", and there is no reason that he should stop (his words). I don’t believe he understands the word respect. KB In article <94hprh$6k…@carroll.library.ucla.edu

,

  ro…@hhmi.ucla.edu (Karen Ronan) wrote: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

The problem isn’t really porn. It’s your husband’s insensitivity and deaf ears to your hurt feelings. Many men watch porn and also put some limits/boundaries on it out of ***respect*** for their wives’ feelings. Your husband is totally unwilling to respect your feelings and make some compromises, and that is a problem in a marriage. BTW, watching porn has nothing to do with your attractiveness. It’s a way for him to get comfort, much like a baby bottle or security blanket. Karen blueskies…@my-deja.com writes: I just found this group, and I have a question (forgive me if this topic has been discussed before). My husband enjoys viewing porn on

the

internet. He has even subscribed to 2 websites at a cost of

$10/month.

I have told him that it bothers me to no end, but his response is that "all men do it" and it’s no big deal. I’ve tried to explain

that

when he is looking at other women on line, and sometimes, well,

let’s

say, pleasuring himself, that it makes me feel unattractive,

unwanted,

and undesirable. I am NOT any of those things. (age 36, blonde,

5′4",

105 pounds, and I can still turn a head or two). I don’t know if I’m overreacting, or being unreasonable. I cannot help the way I feel though, and frankly, the idea of it is a major turn-off for me. Yes, our sex life is very good, quite frequent, satisfying and intense. I have gotten extremely upset over this, to the point of tears, and it falls on deaf ears. I’ve tried begging, pleading, threatening… you name it, to make him stop. He says that I don’t understand, and

it’s my

problem… I’m being a prude. He will not stop. He doesn’t do it

that

often (that I’m aware of), but it sickens me to think about it. Am I being unreasonable? Any advice? Thanks…..

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/

Response:

The problem isn’t really porn. It’s your husband’s insensitivity and deaf ears to your hurt feelings. Many men watch porn and also put some limits/boundaries on it out of ***respect*** for their wives’ feelings. Your husband is totally unwilling to respect your feelings and make some compromises, and that is a problem in a marriage. BTW, watching porn has nothing to do with your attractiveness. It’s a way for him to get comfort, much like a baby bottle or security blanket. Karen – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -blueskies…@my-deja.com writes:

I just found this group, and I have a question (forgive me if this topic has been discussed before). My husband enjoys viewing porn on the internet. He has even subscribed to 2 websites at a cost of $10/month. I have told him that it bothers me to no end, but his response is that "all men do it" and it’s no big deal. I’ve tried to explain that when he is looking at other women on line, and sometimes, well, let’s say, pleasuring himself, that it makes me feel unattractive, unwanted, and undesirable. I am NOT any of those things. (age 36, blonde, 5′4", 105 pounds, and I can still turn a head or two). I don’t know if I’m overreacting, or being unreasonable. I cannot help the way I feel though, and frankly, the idea of it is a major turn-off for me. Yes, our sex life is very good, quite frequent, satisfying and intense. I have gotten extremely upset over this, to the point of tears, and it falls on deaf ears. I’ve tried begging, pleading, threatening… you name it, to make him stop. He says that I don’t understand, and it’s my problem… I’m being a prude. He will not stop. He doesn’t do it that often (that I’m aware of), but it sickens me to think about it. Am I being unreasonable? Any advice? Thanks…..

Response:

thank you for the food for thought. You hit quite a few nails on the head. Now, I just have to figure out how 2 bullheaded people to work through the underlying issues…… or not.  Thank you for your helpful insights, except of course for the one that said HE should divorce me over it… KB peel an onion and there are many layers…. In article <94hj3g$u…@bob.news.rcn.net

,

  "urf" <urf…@nospam.com

wrote:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

In an odd way you are BOTH being effected by porn in the SAME way. You are both having an EMOTIONAL reaction. This is about what you are FEELING and what he is FEELING. There is no part of this that is logical or even well thought out. When faced with problems involing FEELINGS I always find it is best to go DEEP into the feeling. Look for the why of your feelings. Often the why is unrelated to the incident that provokes the feeling. I would say the same thing to your husband but since your the only one here I’ll focus on you. Here are some POSSIBILITIES that you might consider. Things that can cause negative emotional responses. Anger issues. Misplaced anger. Has there been a patten of behavior

that has

you feeling bad about your relationship in general? Are you taking it

out on

him? Insecurity issues. Does he give you reasons to doubt his commitment

to you.

No compliments. No positive reenforcement for your efforts. No affection

shown

towards you. Control issues. Perhaps your reaction is negative because you can not control him. You want him to bend to your will but he won’t. Not just in this

but

other areas as well. This is just a focal point of that feeling. Fear. You might be afraid that you are losing him. This might be

another

example of how he is moving away from you. Notice these are mostly negative emotional states. If they were

positive you

would not be having any problem. If you felt adored you would not care if he

admired a

picture on a piece of glass. If you felt loved you would not feel afraid that

he

might desire to go elsewhere. Just food for thought <blueskies…@my-deja.com wrote in message news:94g65t$i4g$1@nnrp1.deja.com… I just found this group, and I have a question (forgive me if this topic has been discussed before). My husband enjoys viewing porn on

the

internet. He has even subscribed to 2 websites at a cost of

$10/month.

I have told him that it bothers me to no end, but his response is that "all men do it" and it’s no big deal. I’ve tried to explain

that

when he is looking at other women on line, and sometimes, well,

let’s

say, pleasuring himself, that it makes me feel unattractive,

unwanted,

and undesirable. I am NOT any of those things. (age 36, blonde,

5′4",

105 pounds, and I can still turn a head or two). I don’t know if I’m overreacting, or being unreasonable. I cannot help the way I feel though, and frankly, the idea of it is a major turn-off for me. Yes, our sex life is very good, quite frequent, satisfying and intense. I have gotten extremely upset over this, to the point of tears, and it falls on deaf ears. I’ve tried begging, pleading, threatening… you name it, to make him stop. He says that I don’t understand, and

it’s my

problem… I’m being a prude. He will not stop. He doesn’t do it

that

often (that I’m aware of), but it sickens me to think about it. Am I being unreasonable? Any advice? Thanks….. Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/

Response:

From: "urf" urf…@nospam.com In an odd way you are BOTH being effected by porn in the SAME way. You are both having an EMOTIONAL reaction.

Actually it is possible that she is having an emotional reaction and he is having a physical reaction.  One of the things that porn allows is to numb out and NOT feel emotions…which is why some men choose it.  It enables them to stay in a state of numbness and not have to experience emotions.

This is about what you are FEELING and what he is FEELING.

Not necessarily.  She is reacting to his behavior…they may not necessarily be as closely related to feeling as they are to simply responding.

When faced with problems involing FEELINGS I always find it is best to go DEEP into the feeling. Look for the why of your feelings. Often the why is unrelated to the incident that provokes the feeling.

It is a good idea for each of them to figure out why they are feeling or responding or reacting in the ways that they are.  It is my guess that he is too much into the *doing* and she is into the *responding* that going into the feeling just may not be possible (right now). Anger, insecurity, control and fear are certainly issues that might exist for this poster.  Since she is in a marriage, it makes sense for the two of them to be working together on what emotions exist (or are missing)…and for the two of them to look inward.  Not just her….porn issues in a marriage are a two way street.

Response:

In article <94g65t$i4…@nnrp1.deja.com

,

  blueskies…@my-deja.com wrote:

I just found this group, and I have a question (forgive me if this topic has been discussed before). My husband enjoys viewing porn on the internet. He has even subscribed to 2 websites at a cost of $10/month. I have told him that it bothers me to no end, but his response is that "all men do it" and it’s no big deal.

$20 a month on online porn is very wasteful.  I would recommend that he visit http://www.hardcorejunky.net/links2.html, which has a great deal of categorized FREE links (the Latina page, http://www.hardcorejunky.net/latinas.html, is my personal favorite!!!). With the savings, you may be able to get some counseling to find out why you are so upset over the thought of your husband satisfying his biological need for diversity in such a harmless way.  You obvioulsy have some very serious control issues, and if I were him, seeking a divorce would be very near the top of my list, unless you were to experience a very sudden and dramatic attitude change. I hope this helps!!! Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/

Response:

subversionma…@my-deja.com wrote:

$20 a month on online porn is very wasteful.  I would recommend that he visit http://www.hardcorejunky.net/links2.html, which has a great deal of categorized FREE links (the Latina page, http://www.hardcorejunky.net/latinas.html, is my personal favorite!!!). With the savings, you may be able to get some counseling to find out why you are so upset over the thought of your husband satisfying his biological need for diversity in such a harmless way.  You obvioulsy have some very serious control issues,

No, that’s not obvious at all. That conclusion is premature. Indeed, it might have nothing at all to do with her and everything to do with him. **********

and if I were him, seeking a divorce would be very near the top of my list, unless you were to experience a very sudden and dramatic attitude change.

Reverse the roles for a moment Sub. For example, if it’s your wife who was getting off on porn on a regular basis by herself, how would you feel about that situation? CJ

Response:

Yes, I think you are overreacting. I recommend Nadine Strossen’s book "Defending Pornography." Also, try watching a porn movie on your own. You might like it. — Walt In article <94g65t$i4…@nnrp1.deja.com

,

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -  blueskies…@my-deja.com wrote:

I just found this group, and I have a question (forgive me if this topic has been discussed before). My husband enjoys viewing porn on

the

internet. He has even subscribed to 2 websites at a cost of $10/month. I have told him that it bothers me to no end, but his response is that "all men do it" and it’s no big deal. I’ve tried to explain that when he is looking at other women on line, and sometimes, well, let’s say, pleasuring himself, that it makes me feel unattractive, unwanted, and undesirable. I am NOT any of those things. (age 36, blonde, 5′4", 105 pounds, and I can still turn a head or two). I don’t know if I’m overreacting, or being unreasonable. I cannot help the way I feel though, and frankly, the idea of it is a major turn-off for me. Yes, our sex life is very good, quite frequent, satisfying and intense. I have gotten extremely upset over this, to the point of tears, and it falls on deaf ears. I’ve tried begging, pleading, threatening… you name it, to make him stop. He says that I don’t understand, and it’s

my

problem… I’m being a prude. He will not stop. He doesn’t do it that often (that I’m aware of), but it sickens me to think about it. Am I being unreasonable? Any advice? Thanks….. Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/

Response:

In an odd way you are BOTH being effected by porn in the SAME way. You are both having an EMOTIONAL reaction. This is about what you are FEELING and what he is FEELING. There is no part of this that is logical or even well thought out. When faced with problems involing FEELINGS I always find it is best to go DEEP into the feeling. Look for the why of your feelings. Often the why is unrelated to the incident that provokes the feeling. I would say the same thing to your husband but since your the only one here I’ll focus on you. Here are some POSSIBILITIES that you might consider. Things that can cause negative emotional responses. Anger issues. Misplaced anger. Has there been a patten of behavior that has you feeling bad about your relationship in general? Are you taking it out on him? Insecurity issues. Does he give you reasons to doubt his commitment to you. No compliments. No positive reenforcement for your efforts. No affection shown towards you. Control issues. Perhaps your reaction is negative because you can not control him. You want him to bend to your will but he won’t. Not just in this but other areas as well. This is just a focal point of that feeling. Fear. You might be afraid that you are losing him. This might be another example of how he is moving away from you. Notice these are mostly negative emotional states. If they were positive you would not be having any problem. If you felt adored you would not care if he admired a picture on a piece of glass. If you felt loved you would not feel afraid that he might desire to go elsewhere. Just food for thought <blueskies…@my-deja.com

wrote in message

news:94g65t$i4g$1@nnrp1.deja.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

I just found this group, and I have a question (forgive me if this topic has been discussed before). My husband enjoys viewing porn on the internet. He has even subscribed to 2 websites at a cost of $10/month. I have told him that it bothers me to no end, but his response is that "all men do it" and it’s no big deal. I’ve tried to explain that when he is looking at other women on line, and sometimes, well, let’s say, pleasuring himself, that it makes me feel unattractive, unwanted, and undesirable. I am NOT any of those things. (age 36, blonde, 5′4", 105 pounds, and I can still turn a head or two). I don’t know if I’m overreacting, or being unreasonable. I cannot help the way I feel though, and frankly, the idea of it is a major turn-off for me. Yes, our sex life is very good, quite frequent, satisfying and intense. I have gotten extremely upset over this, to the point of tears, and it falls on deaf ears. I’ve tried begging, pleading, threatening… you name it, to make him stop. He says that I don’t understand, and it’s my problem… I’m being a prude. He will not stop. He doesn’t do it that often (that I’m aware of), but it sickens me to think about it. Am I being unreasonable? Any advice? Thanks….. Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/

Response:

In article <20010122034152.11992.00000…@ng-fl1.aol.com

,

  cjmorga…@aol.com (CJMorgan59) wrote: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

subversionma…@my-deja.com wrote: $20 a month on online porn is very wasteful.  I would recommend that

he

visit http://www.hardcorejunky.net/links2.html, which has a great

deal

of categorized FREE links (the Latina page, http://www.hardcorejunky.net/latinas.html, is my personal

favorite!!!).

With the savings, you may be able to get some counseling to find out why you are so upset over the thought of your husband satisfying his biological need for diversity in such a harmless way.  You obvioulsy have some very serious control issues, No, that’s not obvious at all. That conclusion is premature. Indeed,

it might

have nothing at all to do with her and everything to do with him. ********** and if I were him, seeking a divorce would be very near the top of my list, unless you were to experience a very sudden and dramatic attitude change. Reverse the roles for a moment Sub. For example, if it’s your wife who

was

getting off on porn on a regular basis by herself, how would you feel

about

that situation? CJ

As long as I was getting all the attention I needed too, it wouldn’t bother me a bit.  I have no need to control her mind.  Since she says they have a great sex life, the problem is obviously her control issues. Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/

Response:

I just found this group, and I have a question (forgive me if this topic has been discussed before). My husband enjoys viewing porn on the internet. He has even subscribed to 2 websites at a cost of $10/month. I have told him that it bothers me to no end, but his response is that "all men do it" and it’s no big deal. I’ve tried to explain that when he is looking at other women on line, and sometimes, well, let’s say, pleasuring himself, that it makes me feel unattractive, unwanted, and undesirable. I am NOT any of those things. (age 36, blonde, 5′4", 105 pounds, and I can still turn a head or two). I don’t know if I’m overreacting, or being unreasonable. I cannot help the way I feel though, and frankly, the idea of it is a major turn-off for me. Yes, our sex life is very good, quite frequent, satisfying and intense. I have gotten extremely upset over this, to the point of tears, and it falls on deaf ears. I’ve tried begging, pleading, threatening… you name it, to make him stop. He says that I don’t understand, and it’s my problem… I’m being a prude. He will not stop. He doesn’t do it that often (that I’m aware of), but it sickens me to think about it. Am I being unreasonable? Any advice? Thanks….. Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/

Response:

From: blueskies…@my-deja.com I just found this group, and I have a question (forgive me if this topic has been discussed before).

This topic has been discussed before.  Many a time.  And if it weren’t you, it would be someone else to bring it up again…and again and again.  So, no need to apologize )

My husband enjoys viewing porn on the internet. He has even subscribed to 2 websites at a cost of $10/month. I have told him that it bothers me to no end, but his response is that "all men do it" and it’s no big deal.

There are men that can look at porn and it’s no big deal…sometimes it turns them on and they end up making love to their wives and all is well that ends well.  Then there are men that look at porn and all kinds of problems occur…anywhere from not being able to get it up to getting it up and not being able to climax with their spouse.  And many other problems in between. Just like, some people can have a glass or two of wine andthere is no problem and for others, having a glass of wine turns into a problem.

I don’t know if I’m overreacting, or being unreasonable.

Some of it may be your stuff (insecurity or low self esteem) and some of it may be his stuff (more than just plain old guy stuff).  Have you tried talking to him about this…when he is not doing what you don’t like?

Yes, our sex life is very good, quite frequent, satisfying and intense.

So it’s safe to assume that you’re thinking, "if our sex life is frequent and satisfying and intense, then why the hell does he need that crap?"  While it doesn’t make sense to you…it may make sense to him.  Have you ever asked him what it is about the porno that keeps him interested?

I have gotten extremely upset over this, to the point of tears, and it falls on deaf ears

Many people will continue to do what they do despite protestations…men or women.  The bottom line is that he is aware that it is bothering you.  It is important that you both reach some kind of understanding about what porno means to each of you.  Until then, you won’t be able to find some common ground.

I’ve tried begging, pleading, threatening… you name it, to make him stop. He says that I don’t understand, and it’s my problem…

I feel confident in saying that each of you has a  problem with it…it not simply a matter of it being only one you with a problem.  I am not saying that both of you are messed up..but what I am saying is that somewhere, at some time, some wiring went in a particular direction and you both have to find a way to re-wire yourselves in order to connect.    He will not stop. He doesn’t do it that

often (that I’m aware of), but it sickens me to think about it. Am I being unreasonable? Any advice? Thanks…..

I think that you both need some intervention.  A person who can help both of you understand where each of you are.  Without knowing both of you, I can’t realistically say that either of you are wrong.  What I feel confident in saying is that you both could use an unbiased party to help you both understand each other better.  Both of you can bet your needs met if you can better listen to each other. Chances are, you are going to get some strong opinions about porn in here.  I strongly advice you to take what you need and leave the rest.  DO NOT take what posters say personally.  Everyone has their idea of pornography and not everyone has a full understanding of the possiblity of porn not necessarily being healthy in all relationships.   Hang in there!

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -On Mon, 22 Jan 2001 02:33:33 GMT, blueskies…@my-deja.com wrote:

I just found this group, and I have a question (forgive me if this topic has been discussed before). My husband enjoys viewing porn on the internet. He has even subscribed to 2 websites at a cost of $10/month. I have told him that it bothers me to no end, but his response is that "all men do it" and it’s no big deal. I’ve tried to explain that when he is looking at other women on line, and sometimes, well, let’s say, pleasuring himself, that it makes me feel unattractive, unwanted, and undesirable. I am NOT any of those things. (age 36, blonde, 5′4", 105 pounds, and I can still turn a head or two). I don’t know if I’m overreacting, or being unreasonable. I cannot help the way I feel though, and frankly, the idea of it is a major turn-off for me. Yes, our sex life is very good, quite frequent, satisfying and intense. I have gotten extremely upset over this, to the point of tears, and it falls on deaf ears. I’ve tried begging, pleading, threatening… you name it, to make him stop. He says that I don’t understand, and it’s my problem… I’m being a prude. He will not stop. He doesn’t do it that often (that I’m aware of), but it sickens me to think about it. Am I being unreasonable? Any advice? Thanks…..

 Go to sites that have men pictured on them and see if he likes it when you do this.  This is not a joke…..I’m dead serious

Response:

Question:

I need to break my silence and delurk for a few minutes.

I’m glad you are giving up your silence. but he doesn’t think I’m doing enough to fight my depression, and that I’m just giving in and staying in bed too much.

<nod, nod I know this one. , and my moods can change so rapidly

Mine too. I just can’t sleep properly.  I just want to feel rested, and to wake up and not still feel tired.  It would be great not to wake up heaps of times during the night.  I’m back taking valium again,

OK, NOW you’re really starting to sound like me but I went on Xanax. The last two nights, I’ve taken more than I’m supposed to, hoping that an extra pill or two will be enough to let me sleep.

I’m not telling but I might do this too but the Xanax does knock me out for a while. I also have been having weird and bad dreams again. I hope you start doing better soon. Maybe by opening up it will help. Mary Beth p’ed and e’d

Response:

I haven’t posted anything in almost 2 weeks now.  Perhaps I wanted to see if anyone would miss me….It doesn’t matter though.  I need to break my

hugs to you too! Sfunny..  I was just thinking I hadn’t seen you for a while in asd… glad to see that you are okayish…. I know how you feel about tiredness…  I’m on 225mg daily of effexor, and i constantly feel very tired…..  I sleep ok, but i wake at 7am every day ((( have you tried herbal sleeping pills???  They may mess up with your meds….  Not getting enough sleep is annoying…. Have you mentioned your sleeping problems to your GP/therapist??? Don’t worry for posting for selfish reasons….  you have helped us loads of times in the past, so it’s time that we helped you…. Take care of yourself you hear??? Brian… Pooh…  Something stinks in my room….  Better get the hoover out!!! /~~ The Depressed Nudist ~~

Response:

I need to break my silence and delurk for a few minutes. I’m glad you are giving up your silence.

Thanks.  Staying silent seems safer, but I know talking and stepping over the other boundaries that I think keep me safe is the only way for me to make progress. but he doesn’t think I’m doing enough to fight my depression, and that I’m just giving in and staying in bed too much. <nod, nod I know this one.

It’s hard for people, even those who, like Leigh, have battled some depression themselves, to see things from my point of view.  When some days just getting out of bed is a great achievement, or even just staying alive, it seems to me like I’m making a huge effort.  But other people can’t read my mind, and they don’t know how hard some days can be, so to them, it seems like I’m doing nothing. , and my moods can change so rapidly Mine too.

This is new for me, since I’m not bipolar.  All I know is that one day, or even one hour, I can feel fairly good, and the next I’m crying or just unable to function at all.  It’s taking a bit of getting used to. I just can’t sleep properly.  I just want to feel rested, and to wake up and not still feel tired.  It would be great not to wake up heaps of times during the night.  I’m back taking valium again, OK, NOW you’re really starting to sound like me but I went on Xanax.

I haven’t slept well in years, so I’m thinking of telling my pdoc when I see him next week if I can try a different sedative, because obviously the valium isn’t working as well as it’s supposed to. The last two nights, I’ve taken more than I’m supposed to, hoping that an extra pill or two will be enough to let me sleep. I’m not telling but I might do this too but the Xanax does knock me out for a while. I also have been having weird and bad dreams again. I hope you start doing better soon. Maybe by opening up it will help. Mary Beth p’ed and e’d

Thanks Mary Beth.  I’m glad you’ve found a pill that helps you sleep, at least at the moment anyway.  Luckily, I haven’t had many medication induced dreams (in fact, I rarely dream at all) so I really hope those go away quickly. I hope opening up a bit and posting again helps me, because nothing else seems to be working anymore. Also, thanks for responding to my post.  You don’t usually respond to things I write, and I was starting to wonder if I’d offended you or something.  I couldn’t think of how I might have done that, but I felt like I was being ignored.  I’m glad I’ve been proven wrong, and I can assume those thoughts were my own paranoia sneaking in again. I would have said that via e-mail, rather than posting it to the group,  but my proxy server is screwed up at the moment, and I can’t access my web based mail, only the account and newsgroups I have set up through Outlook Express. Thanks again, Kylie.

Response:

CAREFUL WITH THE VALIUM. It is a muscle relaxant. And your Heart is a MUSCLE. I do hope you find something to help you get some sleep. Have you tried Ambien or Deseryl? I flip and flop like a fish out of water at times when i try to sleep at night, i have been meaning to go to a sleep clinic. If you constantly wake up, you will never get into your REM stage of sleep and you will feel tired all of the time. I hope that you are doing better. Sincerely, Trish

Response:

It sure sounds like you’ve been through an unbelievable amount of shit.  I can’t even imagine.

Yep, an "unbelievable amount of shit" sums it up pretty well, although there are others here who have been through worse.  I’ve been diagnosed for about 14 months now, and on meds for about 8 months, yet nothing has made any difference.  I’m now failing out of uni because I can’t function properly, and I’m just trying to hang in there until my psychiatrist finds a medication that works for me.  He does believe I will respond to an SSRI, but since there’s a hell of a lot of them it could take a while to find the right one.   I have depression and have been "lucky" – I found a – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – great shrink many years ago who knew what she was doing about medication and put me on Parnate, which I have been taking for almost 10 years.  I also have seen her on a regular basis for psychotherapy.  It sound horrible that you had to experience these kind of side effects on your medication.  A competent doctor should work with you to find the best medicine for you which does not have those kind of effects.  There are so many medications available now – for me, I only got real help when I went to a shrink who was trained in psychopharmocology.  It was a great combination – she knew everything about the medicines and was a great psychotherapist.  There are a lot of people out there like that.  Maybe you could find a better shrink/therapist who would work more closely with you to get the right meds which don’t fuck up your body.  Good luck.

I’m not considering changing therapists or psychiatrists yet, because I have a great relationship with my therp, and my pdoc’s specialty is abuse and trauma survivors, which is what I need, and he is nice.  I will admit that the side-effects are a total pain in the arse, but hopefully I will find a good med soon which will work, so I don’t have to keep getting used to new meds and adjusting to new effects. Thanks for caring, and I’ll definitely keep what you’ve said about changing therps or pdocs if I don’t start making some progress soon. Kylie. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I haven’t posted anything in almost 2 weeks now.  Perhaps I wanted to see if anyone would miss me….It doesn’t matter though.  I need to break my silence and delurk for a few minutes. I’ve been on the medication side-effects roller-coaster for a while now, but my body has finally adjusted to Effexor XR 150 mg.  Before then, I had days of vomiting, and one really scary day when I couldn’t stand up or walk without feeling like I’d pass out, and my hands and feet going numb.  I ended up at the hospital for that one, but there wasn’t anything they could do.  I just had to adjust. Leigh and I are still together, but our relationship has been weakened recently by lots of fights, all caused by my moods.  He’s trying to be there for me, and understand how I’m feeling, but he doesn’t think I’m doing enough to fight my depression, and that I’m just giving in and staying in bed too much.  I tell him that I can’t leave my little room to stay at his place overnight, like I do every Tuesday night, and he gets angry.  I just need some space sometimes, and my moods can change so rapidly I  just know I need to be alone sometimes because I don’t want to say something and hurt him.  I love him too much. I haven’t seen my therp or pdoc in weeks.  I’ve spoken to both of them briefly on the phone, but that’s it.  I was genuinely sick last Monday, so I cancelled my appointment, and spoke to my therp on the phone instead. This Monday though, I wasn’t too sick to go.  I just couldn’t leave here, so I rang up and said I was still sick.  I only spoke to the receptionist.  I know I should get out of here and go see someone, but I don’t know if I can. I’m so tired, and all I want to do is sleep.  Getting dressed and walking to the counselling centre seems like too much. I just can’t sleep properly.  I just want to feel rested, and to wake up and not still feel tired.  It would be great not to wake up heaps of times during the night.  I’m back taking valium again, and even that isn’t working.  The last two nights, I’ve taken more than I’m supposed to, hoping that an extra pill or two will be enough to let me sleep.  It still hasn’t worked.  I take the maximum doseage when I go to bed, and still wake up within a couple of hours.  So I take an extra pill, hoping it will help me get back to sleep and stay asleep.  But I still wake up again and again. After a while I take one more, just hoping I’ll be able to sleep, but nothing works.  And yes, I do realise how scary that sounds, but I’m not going to take too many. Well, I guess that’s all the ranting I have to do at the moment.  Sorry for not posting lately.  There’s been a lot I wanted to say, but I just haven’t been able to come out of my shell.  Figures the time I do come out and post again, it’s for totally selfish reasons. Hugs to everyone.  I’ve been lurking, and have been with you all in my heart. Kylie. — ***** "I may seem alright and smile when you leave, but my smiles are just a front." "I try" – Macy Gray website:  http://members.dcscomp.com.au/thomas *****

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I haven’t posted anything in almost 2 weeks now.  Perhaps I wanted to see if anyone would miss me….It doesn’t matter though.  I need to break my silence and delurk for a few minutes. i’ve missed you. sorry, i should have said something. i’m glad you posted though, and i’m sorry things are not better for you right now. keep hangin on, kylie.

Thanks.  I didn’t think anyone had noticed I was gone.  I was hoping someone would care and post an MIA or something, but I needed to talk so I decided that my pride isn’t that important after all, and I should do what’s right for me, which is posting when I need to. I’m still hanging on, even though it’s really tough some days.  I keep going because of the slight hope that things will get better, so I’m clinging to that as tight as I can. {{{{{{kylie}}}}}}

Thanks  Right back at ya. Kylie. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – — "there is a sadness that grows up around me like a weed" (ani) http://shattering.org x-no-archive: yes in the headers —–= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =—– http://www.newsfeeds.com – The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! —–==  Over 80,000 Newsgroups – 16 Different Servers! =—–

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I haven’t posted anything in almost 2 weeks now.  Perhaps I wanted to see if anyone would miss me….It doesn’t matter though.  I need to break my hugs to you too! Sfunny..  I was just thinking I hadn’t seen you for a while in asd… glad to see that you are okayish….

Thanks.  I didn’t think people would notice that I was gone. I know how you feel about tiredness…  I’m on 225mg daily of effexor, and i constantly feel very tired…..  I sleep ok, but i wake at 7am every day (((

I understand.  Last year, I had problems falling asleep.  Now, I can fall asleep fairly quickly, but I just can’t stay asleep.  It’s become normal for me to wake up every 2 or 3 hours for no reason at all. have you tried herbal sleeping pills???  They may mess up with your meds….  Not getting enough sleep is annoying….

My boyfriend gave me some herbal pills called Valerian which sometimes work, and they don’t seem to interfere with my meds, but the instructions say take 3-6 tablets at night to improve sleep, and it takes the full 6 to have any effect at all for me, so I’m going through the bottle very quickly, and they’re expensive.  Unfortunatly I’m on a limited budget, so that has to be a consideration. Have you mentioned your sleeping problems to your GP/therapist???

Heaps of times.  They keep telling me the antidepressants or the valium will work, but since it’s becoming more and more obvious that they aren’t, hopefully they’ll decide to try something else. Don’t worry for posting for selfish reasons….  you have helped us loads of times in the past, so it’s time that we helped you….

I suppose…..It still feels like I’m being selfish though. Take care of yourself you hear???

I hear, and I’m trying. Brian… Pooh…  Something stinks in my room….  Better get the hoover out!!!

hehehehe Thanks Brian, Kylie. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – /~~ The Depressed Nudist ~~

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CAREFUL WITH THE VALIUM. It is a muscle relaxant. And your Heart is a MUSCLE. I do hope you find something to help you get some sleep. Have you tried Ambien or Deseryl? I flip and flop like a fish out of water at times when i try to sleep at night, i have been meaning to go to a sleep clinic. If you constantly wake up, you will never get into your REM stage of sleep and you will feel tired all of the time. I hope that you are doing better. Sincerely, Trish

Thanks Trish. I know it was stupid to take that much Valium.  The only good thing was that I spaced the pills out through the night, rather than taking double my maximum dose all at once.  I’m just willing to try anything if it means I’ll get a good nights sleep, and not constantly feel exhausted.  I had no other intentions. I’m feeling a little bit better at the moment, but I hope stress doesn’t kick in too badly with my exams approaching, because I know how much that effects me.  I’m just hanging in there and hoping that my pdoc will have some new suggestions when I see him next week. Again, thanks for your concern.  I know it was a mistake, and I won’t experiment with my valium doseage again. Kylie.

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I also have been having weird and bad dreams again.

Are you sharing all your dreams with Terry? Is he interested, or bored? If he is bored, you could tell me instead. I could be your new husband for that purpose, until Jun.05 anyway.

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<<I can’t access my web based mail, only the account and newsgroups I have set up through Outlook Express. Did you get the e-mail I sent you on May.05&06?

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<<I can fall asleep fairly quickly, but I just can’t stay asleep. It’s become normal for me to wake up every 2 or 3 hours for no reason at all. I’m that way normally. If it’s dark at night, I fall back to sleep each time, but if I go to bed really late at night, then when it’s already morning light and I wake up I can’t get back to sleep. By the way, it’s 3AM now, which means I am going to get only 2.5 hours sleep before first light wakes me up and I can’t get back to sleep, shit!

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little mouse said: <<I haven’t posted anything in almost 2 weeks now. Perhaps I wanted to see if anyone would miss me. Last Fall we were exchanging e-mail. I was encouraging you to say ‘hi’ to people etc. to overcome shyness. Apparently my advice worked, because you met your sweetheart ‘Leigh’ and ended your virginity with him. But when I e-mailed you a few weeks ago because you were hurting so bad and I wanted to help you, you ignored my e-mail, never replied. What’s wrong with you? <<Leigh and I are still together, but our relationship has been weakened recently by lots of fights, all caused by my moods. Oh, that’s so sad. I was so happy for you when you found Leigh. Leigh, if you are reading this, when she’s depressed DON’T fight with her, just hold her in your arms and let her know you love her, and ignore anything she says that seems to come from her depression. Don’t let her bad mood sucker you into a fight with her. Just give her the love she deserves, and which I know you want to give her but she resists it. Give it anyway, even if she says no sometimes. Let her know you love her in sickness and in health, for better or for worse, unconditionally. If you don’t actually love her like that, send me private e-mail so we can discuss it without her eavesdropping on it (remove my "shell." to get correct address). <<He’s trying to be there for me, and understand how I’m feeling, but he doesn’t think I’m doing enough to fight my depression, and that I’m just giving in and staying in bed too much.  I tell him that I can’t leave my little room to stay at his place overnight, like I do every Tuesday night, and he gets angry. Leigh, she can’t come to your place, she’s too emotionally low. You need to go to her place and stay with her. When she feels better THEN she can come to your place again. Don’t get angry at her for being lazy at times like this, you hear?? I cared about her before you even met her, and I still care about her, and I’m not going to let you treat her bad in her time of need. <<I just need some space sometimes, and my moods can change so rapidly I  just know I need to be alone sometimes because I don’t want to say something and hurt him.  I love him too much. No, don’t do that! He loves you and wants to help you. Don’t turn him away. He’ll be hurt more by not being allowed to be with you and help you, and worry if you’ll commit suicide while he’s gone, than any trivial hurt from something that "hurts" him. Please don’t turn him away if he wants to help you get through this. Please don’t worry about saying something to hurt him. Please listen to my advice. <<There’s been a lot I wanted to say, but I just haven’t been able to come out of my shell. Back to shy like you were last Summer? I got that way myself from August to early April, due to depression caused by SweetPest’s ending our friendship and nobody else in Real Life ever wanting me. So I understand. But if you let Leigh be with you almost all the time, and let him hug and kiss you many hours per day, you won’t get so depressed as I was totally alone with not a single person ever calling or visiting to check if I was alive much less feeling OK. <<Figures the time I do come out and post again, it’s for totally selfish reasons. That’s fine with me. You need help right now. My help is yours.

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I haven’t posted anything in almost 2 weeks now.  Perhaps I wanted to see if anyone would miss me….It doesn’t matter though.  I need to break my silence and delurk for a few minutes. I’ve been on the medication side-effects roller-coaster for a while now, but my body has finally adjusted to Effexor XR 150 mg.  Before then, I had days of vomiting, and one really scary day when I couldn’t stand up or walk without feeling like I’d pass out, and my hands and feet going numb.  I ended up at the hospital for that one, but there wasn’t anything they could do.  I just had to adjust. Leigh and I are still together, but our relationship has been weakened recently by lots of fights, all caused by my moods.  He’s trying to be there for me, and understand how I’m feeling, but he doesn’t think I’m doing enough to fight my depression, and that I’m just giving in and staying in bed too much.  I tell him that I can’t leave my little room to stay at his place overnight, like I do every Tuesday night, and he gets angry.  I just need some space sometimes, and my moods can change so rapidly I  just know I need to be alone sometimes because I don’t want to say something and hurt him.  I love him too much. I haven’t seen my therp or pdoc in weeks.  I’ve spoken to both of them briefly on the phone, but that’s it.  I was genuinely sick last Monday, so I cancelled my appointment, and spoke to my therp on the phone instead.  This Monday though, I wasn’t too sick to go.  I just couldn’t leave here, so I rang up and said I was still sick.  I only spoke to the receptionist.  I know I should get out of here and go see someone, but I don’t know if I can. I’m so tired, and all I want to do is sleep.  Getting dressed and walking to the counselling centre seems like too much. I just can’t sleep properly.  I just want to feel rested, and to wake up and not still feel tired.  It would be great not to wake up heaps of times during the night.  I’m back taking valium again, and even that isn’t working.  The last two nights, I’ve taken more than I’m supposed to, hoping that an extra pill or two will be enough to let me sleep.  It still hasn’t worked.  I take the maximum doseage when I go to bed, and still wake up within a couple of hours.  So I take an extra pill, hoping it will help me get back to sleep and stay asleep.  But I still wake up again and again. After a while I take one more, just hoping I’ll be able to sleep, but nothing works.  And yes, I do realise how scary that sounds, but I’m not going to take too many. Well, I guess that’s all the ranting I have to do at the moment.  Sorry for not posting lately.  There’s been a lot I wanted to say, but I just haven’t been able to come out of my shell.  Figures the time I do come out and post again, it’s for totally selfish reasons. Hugs to everyone.  I’ve been lurking, and have been with you all in my heart. Kylie. — ***** "I may seem alright and smile when you leave, but my smiles are just a front." "I try" – Macy Gray website:  http://members.dcscomp.com.au/thomas *****

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It sure sounds like you’ve been through an unbelievable amount of shit.  I can’t even imagine.  I have depression and have been "lucky" – I found a great shrink many years ago who knew what she was doing about medication and put me on Parnate, which I have been taking for almost 10 years.  I also have seen her on a regular basis for psychotherapy.  It sound horrible that you had to experience these kind of side effects on your medication.  A competent doctor should work with you to find the best medicine for you which does not have those kind of effects.  There are so many medications available now – for me, I only got real help when I went to a shrink who was trained in psychopharmocology.  It was a great combination – she knew everything about the medicines and was a great psychotherapist.  There are a lot of people out there like that.  Maybe you could find a better shrink/therapist who would work more closely with you to get the right meds which don’t fuck up your body.  Good luck.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I haven’t posted anything in almost 2 weeks now.  Perhaps I wanted to see if anyone would miss me….It doesn’t matter though.  I need to break my silence and delurk for a few minutes. I’ve been on the medication side-effects roller-coaster for a while now, but my body has finally adjusted to Effexor XR 150 mg.  Before then, I had days of vomiting, and one really scary day when I couldn’t stand up or walk without feeling like I’d pass out, and my hands and feet going numb.  I ended up at the hospital for that one, but there wasn’t anything they could do.  I just had to adjust. Leigh and I are still together, but our relationship has been weakened recently by lots of fights, all caused by my moods.  He’s trying to be there for me, and understand how I’m feeling, but he doesn’t think I’m doing enough to fight my depression, and that I’m just giving in and staying in bed too much.  I tell him that I can’t leave my little room to stay at his place overnight, like I do every Tuesday night, and he gets angry.  I just need some space sometimes, and my moods can change so rapidly I  just know I need to be alone sometimes because I don’t want to say something and hurt him.  I love him too much. I haven’t seen my therp or pdoc in weeks.  I’ve spoken to both of them briefly on the phone, but that’s it.  I was genuinely sick last Monday, so I cancelled my appointment, and spoke to my therp on the phone instead. This Monday though, I wasn’t too sick to go.  I just couldn’t leave here, so I rang up and said I was still sick.  I only spoke to the receptionist.  I know I should get out of here and go see someone, but I don’t know if I can. I’m so tired, and all I want to do is sleep.  Getting dressed and walking to the counselling centre seems like too much. I just can’t sleep properly.  I just want to feel rested, and to wake up and not still feel tired.  It would be great not to wake up heaps of times during the night.  I’m back taking valium again, and even that isn’t working.  The last two nights, I’ve taken more than I’m supposed to, hoping that an extra pill or two will be enough to let me sleep.  It still hasn’t worked.  I take the maximum doseage when I go to bed, and still wake up within a couple of hours.  So I take an extra pill, hoping it will help me get back to sleep and stay asleep.  But I still wake up again and again. After a while I take one more, just hoping I’ll be able to sleep, but nothing works.  And yes, I do realise how scary that sounds, but I’m not going to take too many. Well, I guess that’s all the ranting I have to do at the moment.  Sorry for not posting lately.  There’s been a lot I wanted to say, but I just haven’t been able to come out of my shell.  Figures the time I do come out and post again, it’s for totally selfish reasons. Hugs to everyone.  I’ve been lurking, and have been with you all in my heart. Kylie. — ***** "I may seem alright and smile when you leave, but my smiles are just a front." "I try" – Macy Gray website:  http://members.dcscomp.com.au/thomas *****

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Question:

After about 7 months on Paxil, I started becoming very depressed.  My pdoc reduced the dosage and I was better, but then the pa’s started to get worse again.  When she increased the Paxil, the depression returned.  So now I’m off Paxil.  Actually, I wish the depression hadn’t happened, I was doing pretty good on Paxil for a while. Peg

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 Hi Lynne, The SSRIs can induce or exacerbate movement disorders (possibly related to their effects on dopamine). I had a temporary increase in my restless legs syndrome (RLS) after a Zoloft increase which resolved after a Zoloft dose reduction. Zoloft has more effect on dopamine reuptake than any of the other SSRIs, and thus may cause these problems more frequently than other SSRIs. Bruxism (teeth grinding) can be brought on by an SSRI. A temporary reduction in your Paxil dose may resolve this problem, as may the addition of certain meds (Bromocriptine for one, I think). It’s also possible you’re exeriencing Paxil "poop out" with lessening of anti-aNXIETY EFFECTS AND NEED A DOSAGE ADJUSTMENT OR AUGMENTATION with another med. Good luck, Chip P.s. if I were in your situation I think I would try a reduction in Paxil dose and see if the teethgrinding improved. I have been taking Paxil for a year and a half and have suddenly developed what I think may be new side effects to the medicine. I was wondering if anyone else has had a side effect pop up after being on the medicine for quite awhile?. I am suddenly more nervous, anxious and generally stressed for no known reason. I have developed jaw clenching and have to wear a mouth guard at night. My jaw and neck also get tight during the day. I have had other side effects like insomnia all the way along, but not this new "tension" stuff. Thanks for any help or insight. Lynne

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So your saying everyone is not entitled their own opinion?  Kiss my ass. Xanman — Depressed?  Anxious?  http://members.tripod.com/Xanman22/index.html Xanland – http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Gallery/9098/ Xanland – A little insanity in an sane wolf.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Not good to share with the group.  Some people have done great on paxil. I for one don’t want to read what bad things can happen.  Remember, every med reacts differently with everyone. What kind of support is this group for then? You should not share bad experiences with meds? How about bad emotional phases, are they "allowed"? Nonsense. This is a support group, and in order to get support, we have to share the good with the bad. If somebody is in distress because they are unsure what to think of a med they are taking, why should they not ask others about it? It was not a "all meds are evil" mail after all. Skreee http://members.xoom.com/Skreee/James/JamesMason.html

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I have been taking Paxil for a year and a half and have suddenly developed what I think may be new side effects to the medicine.  I was wondering if anyone else has had a side effect pop up after being on the medicine for quite awhile?.  I am suddenly more nervous, anxious and generally stressed for no known reason.  I have developed jaw clenching and have to wear a mouth guard at night.  My jaw and neck also get tight during the day.  I have had other side effects like insomnia all the way along, but not this new "tension" stuff.  Thanks for any help or insight.  Lynne

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Not good to share with the group.  Some people have done great on paxil.  I for one don’t want to read what bad things can happen.  Remember, every med reacts differently with everyone. Xanman — Depressed?  Anxious?  http://members.tripod.com/Xanman22/index.html Xanland – http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Gallery/9098/ Xanland – A little insanity in an sane wolf.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have been taking Paxil for a year and a half and have suddenly developed what I think may be new side effects to the medicine.  I was wondering if anyone else has had a side effect pop up after being on the medicine for quite awhile?.  I am suddenly more nervous, anxious and generally stressed for no known reason.  I have developed jaw clenching and have to wear a mouth guard at night.  My jaw and neck also get tight during the day.  I have had other side effects like insomnia all the way along, but not this new "tension" stuff.  Thanks for any help or insight.  Lynne

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My jaw and neck also get tight during the day.  I have had other side effects like insomnia all the way along, but not this new "tension" stuff.

Hello, I am experiencing this too.  I have to mentally remind myself to loosen my jaw.  I did not think it was because of the paxil though, but who knows.  I get the insomnia occasionally, but to cope with that I switch to taking the pill in the morning for a few days and that seems to fix it.  I don’t know what to think about the jaw clenching, but do not feel it is serious enough to stop the paxil. Take Care, Amy Jo

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HI Lynne, I have the same symptoms of jaw clenching, I know how unpleasant it can be. I had a mouth guard many years ago (at the time we thought it was TMJ).  The guard doesn’t fit any more so now I am getting a partial upper plate (if the damn Dentist would just call me back).  I do relaxation exercises to help me relaxe those clenched muscles.  Oh BTW, I don’t take Paxil. Cathy — P.H.O.B.I.A. People Helping Others Become Independent Again Off-line Self Help Support Group, NJ http://community.nj.com/cc/phobia Anxiety Treatment Options http://www.members.tripod.com/~PhobiaGroup/index.html

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have been taking Paxil for a year and a half and have suddenly developed what I think may be new side effects to the medicine.  I was wondering if anyone else has had a side effect pop up after being on the medicine for quite awhile?.  I am suddenly more nervous, anxious and generally stressed for no known reason.  I have developed jaw clenching and have to wear a mouth guard at night.  My jaw and neck also get tight during the day.  I have had other side effects like insomnia all the way along, but not this new "tension" stuff.  Thanks for any help or insight.  Lynne

Response:

I have been taking Paxil for a year and a half and have suddenly developed what I think may be new side effects to the medicine.  I was wondering if anyone else has had a side effect pop up after being on the medicine for quite awhile?.  I am suddenly more nervous, anxious and generally stressed for no known reason.  I have developed jaw clenching and have to wear a mouth guard at night.  My jaw and neck also get tight during the day.  I have had other side effects like insomnia all the way along, but not this new "tension" stuff.  Thanks for any help or insight.  Lynne

Dear Lynn, You really should talk to your doctor about how poorly you are feeling. IMO…..it sounds like the Paxil dose you are on is not as effective as it was and you are experiencing a increase in your anxiety. There was recently a thread on SSRI anti-depressants and jaw clenching, it could be a side-effect of Paxil. Jaw clenching is also a symptom of anxiety, and you seem to be living with alot of tension and anxiety right now. You need to talk to your doctor, treatment might include increasing your paxil dose, or augmenting it with another med. Also, have you ever looked into CBT? P.S.  It wouldn`t hurt to have a good checkup with your doctor to rule out any physical causes of these symptoms. Take care. Jackie

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I have been taking Paxil for a year and a half and have suddenly developed what I think may be new side effects to the medicine.  I was wondering if anyone else has had a side effect pop up after being on the medicine for quite awhile?

I feel like some of the effects have really come and gone.  I’ve had almost all of them, it seems, but few have lasted the whole time so far. But how I think about it right now is that they are all tolerable except for weight gain.  And that’s interesting, because I know that without the drug I would totally be in fear of all of them.

Response:

Paxil definitely causes some people to involuntarily clench their jaws and/or grind their teeth (bruxism). I had my dentist custom-make a nighttime mouth guard for me, and that has helped a lot… I was getting a very sore TMJ (temporomandibular joint or something like that — where your jaw hinges to your head, just below your ear) from grinding my teeth all night. I still grind my teeth sometimes during the day but try to prevent it by reminding myself all the time. If it doesn’t look too silly, or when you’re alone, try sticking just the tip of your tongue between your teeth so you won’t bite down or clench! (You can do this with your mouth closed.) So far I’ve cracked two molars, loosened a canine tooth, and scraped the enamel off the tops of my front teeth — all from this newly intensified teeth-grinding since I’ve been on Paxil (one year plus two months). But for me — IT’s WORTH IT! Paxil has worked too well for my panic and depression for me to consider discontinuing it; I’ll stick with my mouth guard and other tricks to try and save my teeth.  :-) – Anne —

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Question:

I noticed the clusiness and dizziness with Zoloft, though none of the other side effects but not until I got to the higher doses, at 200 mg and 250 mg. You may be more sensitive to the drug than I was. The only other side effect I noticed was that I couldn’t remember dreaming and I have always been a vivid dreamer. Interesting… Regards, JaneG

I’ve been the opposite — generally I don’t remember my dreams, but since starting Zoloft I’ve had more vivid dreams. Go figure! I’ve always been sensitive to drugs in general — I’m allergic to about half of every antibiotic there is, and I’ve had adverse reactions to the other half! The one time I took Ambien, it gave me hallucinations and violent nausea within 15 minutes. Bleh. Thanks for your response! It makes me feel better to know that someone else has experienced the clumsiness. Souris

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What I am experiencing is trouble with my handwriting lately.  I can’t even read, so I have been printing.  I am only on 37 1/2 mg.  I have been on Zoloft for about 8 months.  It is hard sometimes to make o’s.   It really is strange. The intestional stuff was awful the first 2 months, then it went away.  I think I am going to mention this to my doctor.  I never really thought about it until I read your post.  Thanks.  Good Luck

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What I am experiencing is trouble with my handwriting lately.  I can’t even read, so I have been printing.  I am only on 37 1/2 mg.  I have been on Zoloft for about 8 months.  It is hard sometimes to make o’s.   It really is strange. The intestional stuff was awful the first 2 months, then it went away.  I think I am going to mention this to my doctor.  I never really thought about it until I read your post.  Thanks.  Good Luck

I had trouble writing too for some time and occasionally still have. With me it’s an anxiety symptom, I think. Anyway, handwriting is getting obsolete ) Philip

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I’ve been taking Zoloft for about two months now at a dosage of 75 mg. a day. I was wondering if anyone else had experienced side effects related to motor skills and memory? I find myself being clumsier — it’s harder to grasp things — and a lot more forgetful. Shouldn’t these side effects have gone away after two months? Because I’m taking Zoloft for depression brought on by health-related anxiety, these side effects have just served to give me new illnesses to worry about! I’ve also experienced a lot of intestinal discomfort, but I know that’s fairly common. Thanks! Souris

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I’ve been taking Zoloft for about two months now at a dosage of 75 mg. a day. I was wondering if anyone else had experienced side effects related to motor skills and memory? I find myself being clumsier — it’s harder to grasp things — and a lot more forgetful. Shouldn’t these side effects have gone away after two months? Because I’m taking Zoloft for depression brought on by health-related anxiety, these side effects have just served to give me new illnesses to worry about! I’ve also experienced a lot of intestinal discomfort, but I know that’s fairly common. Thanks! Souris

Souris, I noticed the clusiness and dizziness with Zoloft, though none of the other side effects but not until I got to the higher doses, at 200 mg and 250 mg. You may be more sensitive to the drug than I was. The only other side effect I noticed was that I couldn’t remember dreaming and I have always been a vivid dreamer. Interesting… Regards, JaneG

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Hello, I’ve tried Zoloft  off and on, the longest I’ve been on it for was 8 months.  Things got really weird for me, and I  lost the ability to feel sadness of any kind at all.  For instance if I say a dead cat on the side of the road, I wouldn’t even think  momentarily "poor kitty".  I was doing a lot of paper work at the time, and it made analyzing and writing about problems and their solutions a lot more difficult.  I just didn’t "get things" that I knew I should be able to grasp, and I couldn’t go on taking it feeling so clueless.  I tried Serzone too, but it seemed to make the depression worse, even though it did help the anxiety.  Good Luck. Blessings, Chrissie I’ve been taking Zoloft for about two months now at a dosage of 75 mg. a day. I was wondering if anyone else had experienced side effects related to motor skills and memory? I find myself being clumsier — it’s harder to grasp things — and a lot more forgetful. Shouldn’t these side effects have gone away after two months? Because I’m taking Zoloft for depression brought on by health-related anxiety, these side effects have just served to give me new illnesses to worry about! I’ve also experienced a lot of intestinal discomfort, but I know that’s fairly common.

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I’ve been taking Zoloft for about two months now at a dosage of 75 mg. a day. I was wondering if anyone else had experienced side effects related to motor skills and memory? I find myself being clumsier — it’s harder to grasp things — and a lot more forgetful. Shouldn’t these side effects have gone away after two months? Because I’m taking Zoloft for depression brought on by health-related anxiety, these side effects have just served to give me new illnesses to worry about! I’ve also experienced a lot of intestinal discomfort, but I know that’s fairly common. Thanks! Souris

I’m no expert on Zoloft but I’d say that if you experience no significant improvement but rather serious side effects instead, you’d better try another, milder med. If you want to try another SSRI you might want to take Luvox or Prozac, which are weaker and more benign than Zoloft or Paxil. YMMV of course. Philip – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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Question:

I started trying to get pregnant.  This is my first cycle without the Zoloft and I am due for AF any day now and I am soooooooo cranky and most of all sooooooooo sad all the time.  Does anyone have any suggestions on how to deal with this?  Today is so bad that I had to take my 2 yr old daughter over to my mom’s house because she doesn’t understand why I cry so much and it makes her so sad to see my crying.  I feel like a total failure because I can’t even take care of the daughter I do have when I am like this.         Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. KD Pearce remove the 4 before replying

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Hi- It sounds as though maybe you are having zoloft withdrawal.  Do you know a lot about this med?  Did your doctor explain to you that zoloft is a strong anti depressant?  Maybe you could benefit by taking something milder.  Good luck to you.

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as soon as I started trying (seriouly) to get pregnant 1.5 years ago my dr. took me off all meds. even the one for pms and it has been a huge ajustment and my poor husband and 4 year old are always the butt end of all my anger and sadness! My only suggestion is to ask your husband to help more. And ask your Re if you can take an over the counter drug for pms. they told me I could , but so far I have’nt. good luckMissy

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