Question:

This is a cryptographically signed message in MIME format. Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit I don’t understand your doctor’s comment on Accolate at all. In my case I was having fairly frequent episodes where walking 100′ was simply impossible and just getting out of bed and going to the bathroom did make me quite out of breath.  Prednisone was the only thing that worked for me.  Then *after* I started taking Accolate all of that went away completely. I have cats, I’m allergic to dust mites and molds as well.  They don’t have much effect anymore.  Cigarette smoke still does but it has to be really thick for that to happen. I’ve even had a sinus infection after that and it didn’t trigger the asthma at all.  For me, Accolate provided the control that nothing else had.  I still use Serevent once in a while (like on foggy days or when it rains) and I tend to use Albuterol before I exercise but I haven’t needed any rescue meds since I started the Accolate.  I did use Flovent 220 while I had the sinus infection though. Basically since it was Accolate that gave me the control I have no idea what your doctor meant.  You do have to be consistent about taking it though and it does take some time (it took me 3-4 months) to be fully effective. Loki – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Last week Wednesday I had to call 911 to take me to the hospital due to an asthma attack.  I have had asthma for about 6 or so years and it has several triggers including animal dander (I have 4 cats and get my shots), dust, and mold.  The night before I had cleaned out some cupboards in which water had leaked and I think I must have gotten a good breath of mold, since that night was uncomfortable for me and the following morning I had to turn back from the subway and return home to have my wife call 911. This was the first time that I had to be hospitalized although I have had a couple of bad attacks. The EMTs gave me two nebulized albuterols and then shipped me to the ER. There they gave me some more along with Salmeterol, magnesium, and other such. They also did a chest X-ray.   When I didn’t clear quite as quickly or fully as they liked they suggested I be admitted.  My peak flow at that point was 400 but I was still wheezing.  I stayed overnight and got a perscription for a week of prednisone (4-2-2-1-1-1 ). When I contacted my Dr. he felt that they had been too cautious and if I could walk 100′, go to the bathroom by myself, all without getting out of breath, then I should not have been admitted.  He also had asked why I had started with Accolate (my ussual "poison" is Aerobid and Seravent)?  I had gotten on that after some questions with my Allergist and hoped that it might allow me to take less medication on a regular basis. Here is the kicker … My Dr. said that Accolate isn’t really for the sort of asthma control I wanted.  That it was for keeping asthma from "exacerbating". He recommended I stop taking it, at least till a followup visit since it actually may have been partly responsible for my attack. I would be interested in anyone’s comment about the use of Accolate, my Dr.’s statements and anything else.   The attack was QUITE frightening, the hospital stay was at the least dull, but at the same time agravating, if it was unecessary! "Americans, while occasionally willing to be serfs, have always been obstinate about being peasantry." F.Scott Fitzgerald

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Response:

Last week Wednesday I had to call 911 to take me to the hospital due to an asthma attack.  I have had asthma for about 6 or so years and it has several triggers including animal dander (I have 4 cats and get my shots), dust, and mold.  The night before I had cleaned out some cupboards in which water had leaked and I think I must have gotten a good breath of mold, since that night was uncomfortable for me and the following morning I had to turn back from the subway and return home to have my wife call 911. This was the first time that I had to be hospitalized although I have had a couple of bad attacks. The EMTs gave me two nebulized albuterols and then shipped me to the ER. There they gave me some more along with Salmeterol, magnesium, and other such. They also did a chest X-ray.   When I didn’t clear quite as quickly or fully as they liked they suggested I be admitted.  My peak flow at that point was 400 but I was still wheezing.  I stayed overnight and got a perscription for a week of prednisone (4-2-2-1-1-1 ).   When I contacted my Dr. he felt that they had been too cautious and if I could walk 100′, go to the bathroom by myself, all without getting out of breath, then I should not have been admitted.  He also had asked why I had started with Accolate (my ussual "poison" is Aerobid and Seravent)?  I had gotten on that after some questions with my Allergist and hoped that it might allow me to take less medication on a regular basis. Here is the kicker … My Dr. said that Accolate isn’t really for the sort of asthma control I wanted.  That it was for keeping asthma from "exacerbating". He recommended I stop taking it, at least till a followup visit since it actually may have been partly responsible for my attack. I would be interested in anyone’s comment about the use of Accolate, my Dr.’s statements and anything else.   The attack was QUITE frightening, the hospital stay was at the least dull, but at the same time agravating, if it was unecessary! "Americans, while occasionally willing to be serfs, have always been obstinate about being peasantry." F.Scott Fitzgerald

Response:

Question:

I am using Serevent and Flovent 220 mcg, 2 puffs of each in the morning and then again in the evening.  I use the InspirEase spacer to take my medication.  Both medications state they contain enough medication for 120 puffs, which for me is a months worth of medication.  However, I have noticed that after a month instead of the cannisters being almost empty they are still half full.  I put them in water to measure them.  I am wondering why this is.  Could it be that the InspirEase doesn’t extract enough of the medicatiion from the cannister with each puff? Juls

Response:

I am using Serevent and Flovent 220 mcg, 2 puffs of each in the morning and then again in the evening.  I use the InspirEase spacer to take my medication.  Both medications state they contain enough medication for 120 puffs, which for me is a months worth of medication.  However, I have noticed that after a month instead of the cannisters being almost empty they are still half full.  I put them in water to measure them.  I am wondering why this is.  Could it be that the InspirEase doesn’t extract enough of the medicatiion from the cannister with each puff? Juls

How exactly does InspirEase work? All the spacers I’ve ever used simply had an opening on one end for the inhaler (where the mouth would usually be if not using a spacer) and an opening for me to breathe from. If that’s the case with InspirEase, then it wouldn’t make any difference in the amount of medicine that comes out when you press the canister down. I had actually read on some inhalers (might have been serevent, but I don’t remember) that that water measuring trick wasn’t very accurate and the best thing to do was keep track of how much you’re using. Also, is it possible that you have forgot to take every dose in a given month?

Response:

How exactly does InspirEase work? All the spacers I’ve ever used simply had an opening on one end for the inhaler (where the mouth would usually be if not using a spacer) and an opening for me to breathe from. If that’s the case with InspirEase, then it wouldn’t make any difference in the amount of medicine that comes out when you press the canister down.

Exactly..the only difference is that it has accordian -like folds and collapses as you take the meds…;

Response:

I am using Serevent and Flovent 220 mcg, 2 puffs of each in the morning and then again in the evening.  I use the InspirEase spacer to take my medication.  Both medications state they contain enough medication for 120 puffs, which for me is a months worth of medication.  However, I have noticed that after a month instead of the cannisters being almost empty they are still half full.  I put them in water to measure them.  I am wondering why this is.  Could it be that the InspirEase doesn’t extract enough of the medicatiion from the cannister with each puff?

The canisters are otherwise with propellant in order to ensure that the first actuation with have the same pressure as the 120th actuation.  The problem is that after 120 doses all you will be getting is propellant with no medication. No electrons were harmed in the posting of this message.

Response:

Question:

 I was given an older Black and Decker Router. Looks just like the  newer DeWalt units. 1/4" collet only all metal with the rack and  pinion depth adjustment. The base is broken as the router was  dropped. Was wondering if anyone had a base, perhaps from an old  burned out unit?  If you have one e-mail me with the price?  Thanks in advance.  Marty

Response:

Home Depot, Builders Square, etc. have generic routah bases that will fit your B&D. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –  I was given an older Black and Decker Router. Looks just like the  newer DeWalt units. 1/4" collet only all metal with the rack and  pinion depth adjustment. The base is broken as the router was  dropped. Was wondering if anyone had a base, perhaps from an old  burned out unit?  If you have one e-mail me with the price?  Thanks in advance.  Marty

Response:

For those who do not already know, DeWalt was bought out by Black & Decker.   The DeWalt and the Black & Decker routers are identically the same, except for the color schemes. Thus if you think the DeWalt Router is a good one, then so must the B&D be a good one. This also means that you can get parts for your routers from B&D. This makes it a lot easier to repair an old one or find that otherwise hard to get part. George – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Home Depot, Builders Square, etc. have generic routah bases that will fit your B&D.  I was given an older Black and Decker Router. Looks just like the  newer DeWalt units. 1/4" collet only all metal with the rack and  pinion depth adjustment. The base is broken as the router was  dropped. Was wondering if anyone had a base, perhaps from an old  burned out unit?  If you have one e-mail me with the price?  Thanks in advance.  Marty

Response:

: For those who do not already know, DeWalt was bought out by Black & : Decker.   The DeWalt and the Black & Decker routers are identically : the same, except for the color schemes. No, they aren’t.  DeWalt and ELU routers are the same, other than color (ELU is a high-end Swiss tool manufacturer bought by B&D). All routers marketed under the B&S label are low-end, junky ones.         In some other tool lines, particularly cordless drills, the B&D professional tools are identical to DeWalt, other than color and nameplate. : Thus if you think the DeWalt Router is a good one, then so must the : B&D be a good one.         Nope! : This also means that you can get parts for your routers from B&D. : This makes it a lot easier to repair an old one or find that otherwise : hard to get part.         This much is true — contact a B&D repair center if all else fails. : George : Home Depot, Builders Square, etc. have generic routah bases that will : fit your B&D. :

: :  I was given an older Black and Decker Router. Looks just like the :  newer DeWalt units. 1/4" collet only all metal with the rack and :  pinion depth adjustment. The base is broken as the router was :  dropped. Was wondering if anyone had a base, perhaps from an old :  burned out unit? : :  If you have one e-mail me with the price? : :  Thanks in advance. :  Marty — <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<                            Andrew Barss     Graduate Advisor, Department of Linguistics, University of Arizona              Communications 314A,  621-2201 or 621-6897 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – : For those who do not already know, DeWalt was bought out by Black & : Decker.   The DeWalt and the Black & Decker routers are identically : the same, except for the color schemes. No, they aren’t.  DeWalt and ELU routers are the same, other than color (ELU is a high-end Swiss tool manufacturer bought by B&D). All routers marketed under the B&S label are low-end, junky ones.    In some other tool lines, particularly cordless drills, the B&D professional tools are identical to DeWalt, other than color and nameplate. : Thus if you think the DeWalt Router is a good one, then so must the : B&D be a good one.    Nope! : This also means that you can get parts for your routers from B&D. : This makes it a lot easier to repair an old one or find that otherwise : hard to get part.    This much is true — contact a B&D repair center if all else fails. : George : Home Depot, Builders Square, etc. have generic routah bases that will : fit your B&D. : : :  I was given an older Black and Decker Router. Looks just like the :  newer DeWalt units. 1/4" collet only all metal with the rack and :  pinion depth adjustment. The base is broken as the router was :  dropped. Was wondering if anyone had a base, perhaps from an old :  burned out unit? : :  If you have one e-mail me with the price? : :  Thanks in advance. :  Marty — <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<                           Andrew Barss    Graduate Advisor, Department of Linguistics, University of Arizona         Communications 314A,  621-2201 or 621-6897 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The buyout of whomever by whomever seems to be relatively unimportant, the end product, or those products that become consumer available are. At the present time B&D offers only one router that is made by the previous supplier of the B&D product.   This product is offered only because of the contract arrangement between the two companies. In the not to distant future all products offered by B&D will be the same as the current product line sold under the DeWalt product line. It seems that in the desire of B&D to improve their product line that the purchase of a well know supplier has been the best way to achieve such goal. Thus, if the DeWalt line is continued and the product continues to be manufactured by the same contractor, then the two products will be very, very similar, if not identical. That is the reason that those of you who are current DeWalt owners may in the future be best advised to attempt to get your repair parts from B&D. Please note that I do not own either B&D or DeWalt tools, and I have no reason to support nor malign either maker. Sincerely George Thomas

Response:

Hi, I use both a 25+ year-old B&D and a new DeWalt. Despite a nearly identical ioutward appearance, the DeWalt has twice the guts of the B&D. It must be the windings. Casey – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – For those who do not already know, DeWalt was bought out by Black & Decker.   The DeWalt and the Black & Decker routers are identically the same, except for the color schemes. Thus if you think the DeWalt Router is a good one, then so must the B&D be a good one. This also means that you can get parts for your routers from B&D. This makes it a lot easier to repair an old one or find that otherwise hard to get part. George Home Depot, Builders Square, etc. have generic routah bases that will fit your B&D.  I was given an older Black and Decker Router. Looks just like the  newer DeWalt units. 1/4" collet only all metal with the rack and  pinion depth adjustment. The base is broken as the router was  dropped. Was wondering if anyone had a base, perhaps from an old  burned out unit?  If you have one e-mail me with the price?  Thanks in advance.  Marty

Response:

: For those who do not already know, DeWalt was bought out by Black & : Decker.   The DeWalt and the Black & Decker routers are identically : the same, except for the color schemes. No, they aren’t.  DeWalt and ELU routers are the same, other than color (ELU is a high-end Swiss tool manufacturer bought by B&D). All routers marketed under the B&S label are low-end, junky ones.

You are wrong on this.  Black and Decker has always had an industrial line of high quality tools.  They are not sold in hardware stores or other consumer outlets.  WW Grainger has them.   They appear similar to DeWalts except in color and badges.

Response:

: : No, they aren’t.  DeWalt and ELU routers are the same, other than color : (ELU is a high-end Swiss tool manufacturer bought by B&D). : : All routers marketed under the B&S label are low-end, junky ones. : You are wrong on this.  Black and Decker has always had an industrial line : of high quality tools.  They are not sold in hardware stores or other : consumer outlets.  WW Grainger has them.   They appear similar to DeWalts : except in color and badges.         Thanks for the correction.  I was unaware of this — I’ve gotten DeWalt stuff, and Elu stuff, from both industrial supply houses and directly from DeWalt/B&D stores, and had never seen a respectable router sold with the B&D label.  I got my cordless, DeWalt industrial drill from the same B&D store whch sold the el-crapola routers, and assumed that routers were one tool that wasn’t sold under the industrial B&D label.         –Andrew Barss

Response:

Question:

I’d like to hear any first-hand accounts from anyone who has made such a switch.  I’ve been maintaining quite well on Serevent, but if there’s a consensus that Accolate is even better, then I’ll consider changing too! — peterh at p b t dot com … Seattle WA "Would you excuse me?  I cut my foot just now, and my shoe is filling up with blood."  -"Romy & Michelle’s High School Reunion"

Response:

I’d like to hear any first-hand accounts from anyone who has made such a switch.  I’ve been maintaining quite well on Serevent, but if there’s a consensus that Accolate is even better, then I’ll consider changing too! —

Accolate is a pill you take twice a day on an empty stomach. That means 1 hr before eating or 2 hr after eating. Can be a hassle. If considering this approach suggest you consider the newly released Singulair, a pill you take once/day. Doesn’t have to be an empty stomach. See www.singulair.com Singulair works on the same principle as Accolate, and is as effective or more effective. During the transition period I think you might need to take both meds. Note–Serevent is not usually used alone, usually used with long acting asthma preventors like steroid inhalers. If Singulair is successful for you, you might be able to control your asthma with it and an occasional puff of Ventolin/Proventil. Ellis

Response:

I switched from Accolate to Singulair without having to use both medications during the transition.   Singulair seems to be working very well, but I also use Serevent and Flovent in the morning and at night. Laura – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’d like to hear any first-hand accounts from anyone who has made such a switch.  I’ve been maintaining quite well on Serevent, but if there’s a consensus that Accolate is even better, then I’ll consider changing too! — Accolate is a pill you take twice a day on an empty stomach. That means 1 hr before eating or 2 hr after eating. Can be a hassle. If considering this approach suggest you consider the newly released Singulair, a pill you take once/day. Doesn’t have to be an empty stomach. See www.singulair.com Singulair works on the same principle as Accolate, and is as effective or more effective. During the transition period I think you might need to take both meds. Note–Serevent is not usually used alone, usually used with long acting asthma preventors like steroid inhalers. If Singulair is successful for you, you might be able to control your asthma with it and an occasional puff of Ventolin/Proventil. Ellis

Response:

I recently switched from accolate to Singulair.  My doctor had me quit Accolate cold turkey, and begin on Singulair that night.  I expirenced no problems during the transition, and furthermore I am breathing even better now that I am on the Singulair.  It is also a big plus because I don’t have to adjust my eating schedule around my meds.

Response:

I switched from Accolate to Singulair without having to use both medications during the transition.   Singulair seems to be working very well, but I also use Serevent and Flovent in the morning and at night. Laura

To clarify what I meant: During the transition from Serevent to Accolate, or a transition from Serevent to Singulair, you might need to take both meds (the long- acting bronchodilator Serevent and the antileukotriene Accolate or Singulair). Accolate and Singulair work on the same principle, and seem to be equally effective; the advantage being toward the newer drug Singulair since it is only taken once a day instead of twice, and stomach doesn’t have to be empty. However the exact use of the new antileukotriene drugs in asthma therapy has not yet been determined. (See Expert Panel Report 2) Ellis

Response:

Question:

Mart, I seem to recall that not long ago that there was some concern that you were  planning on getting rid of yourself.  So are you investigating self-destructive techniques like getting stabbed and smashed on the head with a bottle? Ha! There must be easier ways surely?!?

Yeah, but we’re not telling….. I would grab you be the ankles, turn you upside down and shake you until some common sense fell into your head, but I think Vanessa’s already done that, albeit much more gently and rationally. I prefer Vanessa`s gentle touch, but I can`t argue….you`re absoluetly right!

Well, being gentle isn’t one of the listed adverse side effects of Effexor : Anyway, I’m glad you’re recovering from this adventure of yours. DON’T DO IT AGAIN! Cheers. The fact that my survival instincts kicked in and gave me the strenght to run prove (maybe) that I DO want to live?!?

Yep, good message there.  Your survival instinct does seem to be in pretty good shape.  BTW, I liked your original subject heading that fear can be good for you. P.S.  I tried to post a reply yesterday via xusenet, but that seems to be the only place it showed up.  But maybe one of these days a duplicate message will show up.  Feel free to ignore it. I only post on Google Groups these days and have no problem with it. Best wishes, Martin

I’m using Google now, but the problem I’ve got with it is that it runs behind my read-only newsserver.  It’s frustrating to see a message in my newsreader and not be able to respond because it hasn’t hit Google yet.  Once I get past some personal problems I’ll have to find a better way of doing this. Take care, Fig

Response:

Mart, I seem to recall that not long ago that there was some concern that you were  planning on getting rid of yourself.  So are you investigating self-destructive techniques like getting stabbed and smashed on the head with a bottle?

Ha! There must be easier ways surely?!? I would grab you be the ankles, turn you upside down and shake you until some common sense fell into your head, but I think Vanessa’s already done that, albeit much more gently and rationally.

I prefer Vanessa`s gentle touch, but I can`t argue….you`re absoluetly right! Anyway, I’m glad you’re recovering from this adventure of yours. DON’T DO IT AGAIN!

Cheers. The fact that my survival instincts kicked in and gave me the strenght to run prove (maybe) that I DO want to live?!? Take care, Figaro P.S.  I tried to post a reply yesterday via xusenet, but that seems to be the only place it showed up.  But maybe one of these days a duplicate message will show up.  Feel free to ignore it.

I only post on Google Groups these days and have no problem with it. Best wishes, Martin

Response:

You sure don’t do things by halves! Welcome back and please allow yourself time to heal. love Meryl

Thanks to you too, Meryl. I`m healing nicely…just a matter of time to see how much the scars fade. Love Mart

Response:

Yes, I`m back again. You thought you could get rid of me but here I am!!

Mart, I seem to recall that not long ago that there was some concern that you were  planning on getting rid of yourself.  So are you investigating self-destructive techniques like getting stabbed and smashed on the head with a bottle? I would grab you be the ankles, turn you upside down and shake you until some common sense fell into your head, but I think Vanessa’s already done that, albeit much more gently and rationally. Anyway, I’m glad you’re recovering from this adventure of yours. DON’T DO IT AGAIN! Take care, Figaro P.S.  I tried to post a reply yesterday via xusenet, but that seems to be the only place it showed up.  But maybe one of these days a duplicate message will show up.  Feel free to ignore it.

Response:

WOW… what an adventure you have been on!! No more playing "The Hulk" for you!! Make sure your stitch sites dont get infected…. I personally freak out over little things like that. Take care and stay the HELL out of the park at night Stacy

My stitches are out and the main wound (the arm one) is healing nicely. I learnt my lesson that I`m no superhero! It`s just you don`t expect 13-15 year old kids to carry bottles and knives (well not when I was that age). It`s amazing I had the strength to run, really. It could`ve been a lot worse if I had gone down. We live and learn! Mart

Response:

Wow, Mart, you have been through it!  Glad to see you back.  Leave those young punks alone next time!! Glad you are ok! Vicki

Many thanks Vicki. I think I`ll leave the heroics to the movies from now on! Love, Mart

Response:

Hope the stitches heal soon. Hope the pain is not too bad and that you are fit and healthy real soon. How is your anxiety these days? Vanessa

I know all the other stuff you said was right. I must have been told it a thousand times now but I know it`s only coz you (and my family/friends etc.) care! I`m not in pain now and the scar on my head is barely visible. My arm doesn`t ache anymore but the scar is still quite red. It definately has shortened though – maybe this is part of the healing process – and all the bruising has gone. It looks a hell of a lot better than it did! My anxiety is pretty much the same, though I`m trying out some meditation tapes….so we`ll see how that goes. Thanks for you concern. Love, Martin

Response:

You sure don’t do things by halves! Welcome back and please allow yourself time to heal. love Meryl – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Yes, I`m back again. You thought you could get rid of me but here I am!! So what`s been happening while I`ve been away? I`ve had a few minor problems since I was last here. Namely being bottled on the head and stabbed! It was partly my own fault…some youths offered me into a park for a fight…I`d had a few beers and thought I could take them on. Initially they ran away when I charged at them (it, as it turns out, is a gang well known to the local police). They were only 13-15 year-olds, but one of them hit me on the head with a bottle (from behind). I shouted, "come on, at least attack me from the front" then looked down to see my body streaming with blood (it was a hot night and I had my T-shirt tied round my waist). I had bent double from the force of the blow but had not hit the ground….but the sight of blood made me sober-up very quickly and I ran! Not long after (I was gonna walk home) a police van pulled up and I told them what had happened. One said, "By the way, you`ve also been stabbed!" I didn`t even know! I suppose the mixture of booze, adrenalin and the smash on my head had masked the pain. The back of my right arm had been slashed. An ambulance arrived and I was taken to hospital where I had a special glue for the head wound and 10 stitches in my arm. I`ve had them out now, but I`ll be scarred for life in both places. I blame Xanax in a way, because I`d had a few pills as well as the drink and it made me TOO confident. There were about 10 of them but I had no fear, and I`ve now realised how fear can actually help you. I thought they`d just stitch me up and I`d be able to carry on as normal. Not true. My arm has been aching so much…I went back to work with the stitches in, for 2 weeks. Then I woke up one morning and couldn`t move my arm. The doctor said I`d gone back to work too soon and signed me off for a week. I`m OK now though, which is why I`ve had the strength (typing-wise) to come on here and post such a long message to you guys. It`s not like me to ramble on but I thought I should tell you lot why I`ve been off here for ages. I`ll post this message on ASAPM so forgive me if you see it twice. I know I`ve been foolish but all posts of comfort will be gratefully received!!!! Love, Martin

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Yes, I`m back again. You thought you could get rid of me but here I am!! So what`s been happening while I`ve been away? I`ve had a few minor problems since I was last here. Namely being bottled on the head and stabbed! It was partly my own fault…some youths offered me into a park for a fight…I`d had a few beers and thought I could take them on. Initially they ran away when I charged at them (it, as it turns out, is a gang well known to the local police). They were only 13-15 year-olds, but one of them hit me on the head with a bottle (from behind). I shouted, "come on, at least attack me from the front" then looked down to see my body streaming with blood (it was a hot night and I had my T-shirt tied round my waist). I had bent double from the force of the blow but had not hit the ground….but the sight of blood made me sober-up very quickly and I ran! Not long after (I was gonna walk home) a police van pulled up and I told them what had happened. One said, "By the way, you`ve also been stabbed!" I didn`t even know! I suppose the mixture of booze, adrenalin and the smash on my head had masked the pain. The back of my right arm had been slashed. An ambulance arrived and I was taken to hospital where I had a special glue for the head wound and 10 stitches in my arm. I`ve had them out now, but I`ll be scarred for life in both places. I blame Xanax in a way, because I`d had a few pills as well as the drink and it made me TOO confident. There were about 10 of them but I had no fear, and I`ve now realised how fear can actually help you. I thought they`d just stitch me up and I`d be able to carry on as normal. Not true. My arm has been aching so much…I went back to work with the stitches in, for 2 weeks. Then I woke up one morning and couldn`t move my arm. The doctor said I`d gone back to work too soon and signed me off for a week. I`m OK now though, which is why I`ve had the strength (typing-wise) to come on here and post such a long message to you guys. It`s not like me to ramble on but I thought I should tell you lot why I`ve been off here for ages. I`ll post this message on ASAPM so forgive me if you see it twice. I know I`ve been foolish but all posts of comfort will be gratefully received!!!!

Helloooooo Mart How scary. Glad you are ok and hugs for a speedy recovery. What I’m about to say is going to sound like a bit of a lecture but it’s because I care that I am writing it. I hope you will take it in the spirit it is intended Yes you were foolish and glad that you realised this my friend. IMO it wasn’t the Xanax at fault it was the mixing of the alcohol with it. And as you found out it numbed your reflexes and your thinking to the point where you did not sense the fear or the danger you put yourself in.  Please take care with self-medicating with alcohol Mart – it is not only about impairing your judgement but it can make your meds less effective not to mention what it can do to your long term health. Hope the stitches heal soon. Hope the pain is not too bad and that you are fit and healthy real soon. How is your anxiety these days? Vanessa

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Yes, I`m back again. You thought you could get rid of me but here I am!! So what`s been happening while I`ve been away? I`ve had a few minor problems since I was last here. Namely being bottled on the head and stabbed! It was partly my own fault…some youths offered me into a park for a fight…I`d had a few beers and thought I could take them on. Initially they ran away when I charged at them (it, as it turns out, is a gang well known to the local police). They were only 13-15 year-olds, but one of them hit me on the head with a bottle (from behind). I shouted, "come on, at least attack me from the front" then looked down to see my body streaming with blood (it was a hot night and I had my T-shirt tied round my waist). I had bent double from the force of the blow but had not hit the ground….but the sight of blood made me sober-up very quickly and I ran! Not long after (I was gonna walk home) a police van pulled up and I told them what had happened. One said, "By the way, you`ve also been stabbed!" I didn`t even know! I suppose the mixture of booze, adrenalin and the smash on my head had masked the pain. The back of my right arm had been slashed. An ambulance arrived and I was taken to hospital where I had a special glue for the head wound and 10 stitches in my arm. I`ve had them out now, but I`ll be scarred for life in both places. I blame Xanax in a way, because I`d had a few pills as well as the drink and it made me TOO confident. There were about 10 of them but I had no fear, and I`ve now realised how fear can actually help you. I thought they`d just stitch me up and I`d be able to carry on as normal. Not true. My arm has been aching so much…I went back to work with the stitches in, for 2 weeks. Then I woke up one morning and couldn`t move my arm. The doctor said I`d gone back to work too soon and signed me off for a week. I`m OK now though, which is why I`ve had the strength (typing-wise) to come on here and post such a long message to you guys. It`s not like me to ramble on but I thought I should tell you lot why I`ve been off here for ages. I`ll post this message on ASAPM so forgive me if you see it twice. I know I`ve been foolish but all posts of comfort will be gratefully received!!!! Love, Martin

Wow, Mart, you have been through it!  Glad to see you back.  Leave those young punks alone next time!! Glad you are ok! Vicki

Response:

| Yes, I`m back again. You thought you could get rid of me but here I | am!! | | So what`s been happening while I`ve been away? | | I`ve had a few minor problems since I was last here. Namely being | bottled on the head and stabbed! It was partly my own fault…some | youths offered me into a park for a fight…I`d had a few beers and | thought I could take them on. Initially they ran away when I charged | at them (it, as it turns out, is a gang well known to the local | police). They were only 13-15 year-olds, but one of them hit me on the | head with a bottle (from behind). I shouted, "come on, at least attack | me from the front" then looked down to see my body streaming with | blood (it was a hot night and I had my T-shirt tied round my waist). I | had bent double from the force of the blow but had not hit the | ground….but the sight of blood made me sober-up very quickly and I | ran! | | Not long after (I was gonna walk home) a police van pulled up and I | told them what had happened. One said, "By the way, you`ve also been | stabbed!" I didn`t even know! I suppose the mixture of booze, | adrenalin and the smash on my head had masked the pain. The back of my | right arm had been slashed. | | An ambulance arrived and I was taken to hospital where I had a special | glue for the head wound and 10 stitches in my arm. I`ve had them out | now, but I`ll be scarred for life in both places. I blame Xanax in a | way, because I`d had a few pills as well as the drink and it made me | TOO confident. There were about 10 of them but I had no fear, and I`ve | now realised how fear can actually help you. | | I thought they`d just stitch me up and I`d be able to carry on as | normal. Not true. My arm has been aching so much…I went back to work | with the stitches in, for 2 weeks. Then I woke up one morning and | couldn`t move my arm. The doctor said I`d gone back to work too soon | and signed me off for a week. | | I`m OK now though, which is why I`ve had the strength (typing-wise) to | come on here and post such a long message to you guys. It`s not like | me to ramble on but I thought I should tell you lot why I`ve been off | here for ages. | | I`ll post this message on ASAPM so forgive me if you see it twice. I | know I`ve been foolish but all posts of comfort will be gratefully | received!!!! | | Love, | Martin WOW… what an adventure you have been on!! No more playing "The Hulk" for you!! Make sure your stitch sites dont get infected…. I personally freak out over little things like that. Take care and stay the HELL out of the park at night Stacy

Response:

Yes, I`m back again. You thought you could get rid of me but here I am!! So what`s been happening while I`ve been away? I`ve had a few minor problems since I was last here. Namely being bottled on the head and stabbed! It was partly my own fault…some youths offered me into a park for a fight…I`d had a few beers and thought I could take them on. Initially they ran away when I charged at them (it, as it turns out, is a gang well known to the local police). They were only 13-15 year-olds, but one of them hit me on the head with a bottle (from behind). I shouted, "come on, at least attack me from the front" then looked down to see my body streaming with blood (it was a hot night and I had my T-shirt tied round my waist). I had bent double from the force of the blow but had not hit the ground….but the sight of blood made me sober-up very quickly and I ran! Not long after (I was gonna walk home) a police van pulled up and I told them what had happened. One said, "By the way, you`ve also been stabbed!" I didn`t even know! I suppose the mixture of booze, adrenalin and the smash on my head had masked the pain. The back of my right arm had been slashed. An ambulance arrived and I was taken to hospital where I had a special glue for the head wound and 10 stitches in my arm. I`ve had them out now, but I`ll be scarred for life in both places. I blame Xanax in a way, because I`d had a few pills as well as the drink and it made me TOO confident. There were about 10 of them but I had no fear, and I`ve now realised how fear can actually help you. I thought they`d just stitch me up and I`d be able to carry on as normal. Not true. My arm has been aching so much…I went back to work with the stitches in, for 2 weeks. Then I woke up one morning and couldn`t move my arm. The doctor said I`d gone back to work too soon and signed me off for a week. I`m OK now though, which is why I`ve had the strength (typing-wise) to come on here and post such a long message to you guys. It`s not like me to ramble on but I thought I should tell you lot why I`ve been off here for ages. I`ll post this message on ASAPM so forgive me if you see it twice. I know I`ve been foolish but all posts of comfort will be gratefully received!!!! Love, Martin

Response:

Question:

I need some help/advise. Heres my story. I am reposting it again to make sure everyone reads this. And maybe SOMEONE can help me. here goes… hello. I am a 23 yr old male, married, with 2 kids. I have come to the conclusion that i may be suffering from a major mental sickness, well, i know i am, but i just dont know which one. I have been put on anti depressents but they dont work. But, i have never told anyone of all my symptoms, and have never heard of anyone else having them and feel like i am all alone. I could really use some feedback. ass normal symptoms of depression, but you;’ll see some disturbing ones that are MORE than depresiion. 1.Wild mood swings, depression to almost on a high, can happen several times in a day. one minute i can feel like i am better than everyone, and next, i can feel that everyone is better than me. and i am shit. 2.Weight loss and gain. 3.moods go with weather, when it rains i feel more confident and happy, when its sunny, i feel like shit. this isnt always the case, but alot of the time 4. sometimes hyper, sometimes lazy 5. uncomfortable around people who i think are more attractive than me, or people my own age 6. fear that everyone is looking at me, and feer of embarassment, EXTREME fear of talking in front of more than a couple people. 7.Sometimes dont wanna leave the house and i dont know why… it’s like i wanna leave but cant. 8. get chest pains and think i am dying….. 9. dangerous and spontaneous behavior, like reckless driving, gambling 10. when i know i have to be still, i tremer uncontrolably… like when someone is watching me do something with my hands, they will go OUT of CONTROL. even when i am getting a haircut, if i know they are cutting like my baings or sides, and i KNOW my head has to stay still, it will jerk  really fast, and my neck muscles will tighten up, and then my head will like tremer. 11. sometimes very weird thoughts, and like someone is running me down inside my head. like calling me a fuck up and stuff like that. 12. sometimes i feel uncomfortable around my closest freinds, and dont know what to say… and have to leave. 13. cant do anything in front of anyone except close friends or family, like type, or even hold my hands steady, etc. 14. I find myself in these very weird moods where I feel like someone else 15. marijuana makes everything worse most the time. dont do it anymore. but once i was talking to myself out loud on it, and thought the devil was inside my head, and weird stuff like that. i was told it’s depression and social phobia, but i think it has to be more. have been put on, paxil, prozac, effexor, none work and gives me sexual side effects. Right now i am on nuerontin for my panic symptoms and a mood stabalizor, nuthing for depression because it doesnt work, and xanax for extreme panic, but i save my xanax for like haircuts, or first days on jobs. If i take like 3mg xanax(big dose) before my haircut, it’s not as bad, but it’s still there. Xanax has helped me the most so far, but i am becoming too dependent on it. I mean, who has to take xanax so there head dont shake for a haircut? Or say they can control their hands from shanking uncontollably when doing a job in front of someone. especially in that high of dose. a small dose has never worked for me. I feel helpless, and almost dead in a way. my family or freinds dont know about this, and has been gradually getting worse since the age of around 17 i beleieve. i would like to go back to school, but I would rather take a bullet to the head, than have to recite a speech in front of people. Xanax couldnt even help me there. I am so scared and confused. Its very hard for me to make friends too because of this. I am beggining to think that its some sort of manic symptoms, but dont know. have been to mental health sites, but cant find any kinda disease about the UNCONTOLLABLE shakes and tremers. I welcome all replies, and hope someone has been thru this and made it. Have had some thoughts of suicide, but would never do it, there no way cause of my kids, and i’d just be way to scared and the damage it would do to my family. someone please help me. have been to shrinks, but havent told them everything, probably wont. I just want honest replies and maybe someone knows whats wrng with me. Please help me, i pray to god every night for help, maybe i will find it here. Thanks! and also, and opinions on the meds i am currently taking? I will go now! PEACE!!!!!!!

Response:

I’d say you got manic bi-polar depression or just a case of bi-polar II, maybe some seasonal depression, Social aniexty/panic disorder…. not sure though but it seems you fall into that area.. I have the same symtoms like you said you got, except I was very shy and quiet, and didn’t have as bad of panic attacks.. I feel the same shit, just not as bad.. I take 0.5mg Xanax 3 times a day and 40mg Celexa once a day and I feel normal, like I never felt before… I been on Depakote 500mg twice a day for about 6 months then I stopped it because it made me lazy, and even after I stopped it, my manic side was still somewhat dead. That was about 8 months ago, and I still feel great now. I found nothing to kill my shyness, until I found Dextromethorphan  I wanted to get high on something, marijuana just made me act stupid and makes you think about your problems too much and you get all down from that..   So I read on the net, Robotussin Maximum Strenght Cough , one 4oz bottle only contains about Dextromethorphan HBr 355mg as the active ingredent.  My first time I chugged down the whole 4oz at once, within a hour I started to feel the effects of the DXM. It was nothing like marijuana, but it’s more up into the area with LSD, depends on the dose you take. After about 8 hours the high was almost gone, and I went to sleep.. The next 2 weeks after that, just being on my regular medication and not redosing the DXM, I felt like a new person. My shyness was almost totally gone, I could talk to people without mumbling and even keep a good convosation going without shyness or panic or worrying how I am acting.. I regularly use DXM now, just about twice a month, at a dose of about 600mg.. I have done all the way up to 1.1g to see the effects. It’s non addictive, maybe mildly "mentally" addictive for some. My point is here, I spent so much money on all different kinds of mental drugs for shyness, aniexty and depression, and all I needed was a bottle of Robitussin for $4.95.. Amazing stuff, it even cleared all the acne from my face. (19/male) Now I am about to start college soon, I am going for a good degree from a univeristy for Chemistry, and maybe into Bio-chem too.            -shroomy/Rob

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I need some help/advise. Heres my story. I am reposting it again to make sure everyone reads this. And maybe SOMEONE can help me. here goes… hello. I am a 23 yr old male, married, with 2 kids. I have come to the conclusion that i may be suffering from a major mental sickness, well, i know i am, but i just dont know which one. I have been put on anti depressents but they dont work. But, i have never told anyone of all my symptoms, and have never heard of anyone else having them and feel like i am all alone. I could really use some feedback. ass normal symptoms of depression, but you;’ll see some disturbing ones that are MORE than depresiion. 1.Wild mood swings, depression to almost on a high, can happen several times in a day. one minute i can feel like i am better than everyone, and next, i can feel that everyone is better than me. and i am shit. 2.Weight loss and gain. 3.moods go with weather, when it rains i feel more confident and happy, when its sunny, i feel like shit. this isnt always the case, but alot of the time 4. sometimes hyper, sometimes lazy 5. uncomfortable around people who i think are more attractive than me, or people my own age 6. fear that everyone is looking at me, and feer of embarassment, EXTREME fear of talking in front of more than a couple people. 7.Sometimes dont wanna leave the house and i dont know why… it’s like i wanna leave but cant. 8. get chest pains and think i am dying….. 9. dangerous and spontaneous behavior, like reckless driving, gambling 10. when i know i have to be still, i tremer uncontrolably… like when someone is watching me do something with my hands, they will go OUT of CONTROL. even when i am getting a haircut, if i know they are cutting like my baings or sides, and i KNOW my head has to stay still, it will jerk  really fast, and my neck muscles will tighten up, and then my head will like tremer. 11. sometimes very weird thoughts, and like someone is running me down inside my head. like calling me a fuck up and stuff like that. 12. sometimes i feel uncomfortable around my closest freinds, and dont know what to say… and have to leave. 13. cant do anything in front of anyone except close friends or family, like type, or even hold my hands steady, etc. 14. I find myself in these very weird moods where I feel like someone else 15. marijuana makes everything worse most the time. dont do it anymore. but once i was talking to myself out loud on it, and thought the devil was inside my head, and weird stuff like that. i was told it’s depression and social phobia, but i think it has to be more. have been put on, paxil, prozac, effexor, none work and gives me sexual side effects. Right now i am on nuerontin for my panic symptoms and a mood stabalizor, nuthing for depression because it doesnt work, and xanax for extreme panic, but i save my xanax for like haircuts, or first days on jobs. If i take like 3mg xanax(big dose) before my haircut, it’s not as bad, but it’s still there. Xanax has helped me the most so far, but i am becoming too dependent on it. I mean, who has to take xanax so there head dont shake for a haircut? Or say they can control their hands from shanking uncontollably when doing a job in front of someone. especially in that high of dose. a small dose has never worked for me. I feel helpless, and almost dead in a way. my family or freinds dont know about this, and has been gradually getting worse since the age of around 17 i beleieve. i would like to go back to school, but I would rather take a bullet to the head, than have to recite a speech in front of people. Xanax couldnt even help me there. I am so scared and confused. Its very hard for me to make friends too because of this. I am beggining to think that its some sort of manic symptoms, but dont know. have been to mental health sites, but cant find any kinda disease about the UNCONTOLLABLE shakes and tremers. I welcome all replies, and hope someone has been thru this and made it. Have had some thoughts of suicide, but would never do it, there no way cause of my kids, and i’d just be way to scared and the damage it would do to my family. someone please help me. have been to shrinks, but havent told them everything, probably wont. I just want honest replies and maybe someone knows whats wrng with me. Please help me, i pray to god every night for help, maybe i will find it here. Thanks! and also, and opinions on the meds i am currently taking? I will go now! PEACE!!!!!!!

Response:

Path: lobby!ngtf-m01.news.aol.com!portc01.blue.aol.com!howland.erols.net!newshu

b2.home.com!news.home.com!news1.rdc1.ne.home.com.POSTED!not-for-mail – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Newsgroups: alt.support.depression.medication Lines: 98 X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 5.50.4133.2400 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V5.50.4133.2400 NNTP-Posting-Host: 24.22.162.6 X-Trace: news1.rdc1.ne.home.com 1002821635 24.22.162.6 (Thu, 11 Oct 2001 10:33:55 PDT) I need some help/advise. Heres my story. I am reposting it again to make sure everyone reads this. And maybe SOMEONE can help me. here goes… hello. I am a 23 yr old male, married, with 2 kids. I have come to the conclusion that i may be suffering from a major mental sickness, well, i know i am, but i just dont know which one. I have been put on anti depressents but they dont work. But, i have never told anyone of all my symptoms, and have never heard of anyone else having them and feel like i am all alone. I could really use some feedback. ass normal symptoms of depression, but you;’ll see some disturbing ones that are MORE than depresiion. 1.Wild mood swings, depression to almost on a high, can happen several times in a day. one minute i can feel like i am better than everyone, and next, i can feel that everyone is better than me. and i am shit. 2.Weight loss and gain. 3.moods go with weather, when it rains i feel more confident and happy, when its sunny, i feel like shit. this isnt always the case, but alot of the time 4. sometimes hyper, sometimes lazy 5. uncomfortable around people who i think are more attractive than me, or people my own age 6. fear that everyone is looking at me, and feer of embarassment, EXTREME fear of talking in front of more than a couple people. 7.Sometimes dont wanna leave the house and i dont know why… it’s like i wanna leave but cant. 8. get chest pains and think i am dying….. 9. dangerous and spontaneous behavior, like reckless driving, gambling 10. when i know i have to be still, i tremer uncontrolably… like when someone is watching me do something with my hands, they will go OUT of CONTROL. even when i am getting a haircut, if i know they are cutting like my baings or sides, and i KNOW my head has to stay still, it will jerk  really fast, and my neck muscles will tighten up, and then my head will like tremer. 11. sometimes very weird thoughts, and like someone is running me down inside my head. like calling me a fuck up and stuff like that. 12. sometimes i feel uncomfortable around my closest freinds, and dont know what to say… and have to leave. 13. cant do anything in front of anyone except close friends or family, like type, or even hold my hands steady, etc. 14. I find myself in these very weird moods where I feel like someone else 15. marijuana makes everything worse most the time. dont do it anymore. but once i was talking to myself out loud on it, and thought the devil was inside my head, and weird stuff like that. i was told it’s depression and social phobia, but i think it has to be more. have been put on, paxil, prozac, effexor, none work and gives me sexual side effects. Right now i am on nuerontin for my panic symptoms and a mood stabalizor, nuthing for depression because it doesnt work, and xanax for extreme panic, but i save my xanax for like haircuts, or first days on jobs. If i take like 3mg xanax(big dose) before my haircut, it’s not as bad, but it’s still there. Xanax has helped me the most so far, but i am becoming too dependent on it. I mean, who has to take xanax so there head dont shake for a haircut? Or say they can control their hands from shanking uncontollably when doing a job in front of someone. especially in that high of dose. a small dose has never worked for me. I feel helpless, and almost dead in a way. my family or freinds dont know about this, and has been gradually getting worse since the age of around 17 i beleieve. i would like to go back to school, but I would rather take a bullet to the head, than have to recite a speech in front of people. Xanax couldnt even help me there. I am so scared and confused. Its very hard for me to make friends too because of this. I am beggining to think that its some sort of manic symptoms, but dont know. have been to mental health sites, but cant find any kinda disease about the UNCONTOLLABLE shakes and tremers. I welcome all replies, and hope someone has been thru this and made it. Have had some thoughts of suicide, but would never do it, there no way cause of my kids, and i’d just be way to scared and the damage it would do to my family. someone please help me. have been to shrinks, but havent told them everything, probably wont. I just want honest replies and maybe someone knows whats wrng with me. Please help me, i pray to god every night for help, maybe i will find it here. Thanks! and also, and opinions on the meds i am currently taking? I will go now! PEACE!!!!!!!

the fact you are on mood stablizers…and an AP   rather than neurontic…is indicative your doctors are way awead of you   perhaps they dx’d you as bipolar II or classic manic depression but didnt tell you or something? they do that if they dont think the patient can handle it…or if you have a good job, and insurance…that you might lose if dxd as bipolar…etc.. yes, – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

    I’m piggybacking on this post because I never saw the original.  Have you ever described all of these symptoms to a doctor?  I don’t want to try to "diagnose" you but I will say that when a disorder goes undiagnosed for a long time a lot of complications can come out of it.  I had anxiety disorder and depression (still do, I guess) at age 16 and had probably had them since I was about 12.  What prompted me to get help was that the panic attacks started scaring me quite badly and I absolutely would not go out in public – at first I’d cross the street to avoid people looking at me, then I’d walk instead of taking the bus, then I stopped going to school because I was having panic attacks constantly.  Being 16 and never treated I had no idea what was wrong with me and I was sure I was just plain CRAZY.  I got help after refusing to leave my house for 2 months straight.     Anyway, all I’m trying to say is that I’m sure the symptoms are as horrible as you describe, but they probably don’t indicate any horrible dreadful untreatable disease, most likely the result of living with them for a time and paying a lot of attention to them.  Get yourself to a doctor and remember, antidepressants do take some time to work.  You shouldn’t have to take that much Xanax to stop shaking in public but if you get treatment and "start small" you might find that your anxiety eases up over time and eventually you’ll be able to handle those situations.  A word on the Xanax – it’s quite addictive and when you’re done with it you need to taper off slowly if you’ve been taking it on a regular (daily, every other day) basis or you’ll have the weirdest symptoms ever and you might not know what’s going on (and think you’re going crazy – just what you need, right?).     For what it’s worth, I still have the occasional, very occasional, panic attack but it’s been 14 years since I first started getting treatment for them and have learned to "manage" them.  I have trouble now comprehending how terrifying it used to be for me to sit on a bus on a "sideways" seat, you know where you look into the aisle at all the other people?  There are a lot of things I couldn’t do back then that I mostly just take for granted now. Get help, and be honest with your doctor about ALL the symptoms.    Best of luck to you,         Liz B

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’d say you got manic bi-polar depression or just a case of bi-polar II, maybe some seasonal depression, Social aniexty/panic disorder…. not sure though but it seems you fall into that area.. I have the same symtoms like you said you got, except I was very shy and quiet, and didn’t have as bad of panic attacks.. I feel the same shit, just not as bad.. I take 0.5mg Xanax 3 times a day and 40mg Celexa once a day and I feel normal, like I never felt before… I been on Depakote 500mg twice a day for about 6 months then I stopped it because it made me lazy, and even after I stopped it, my manic side was still somewhat dead. That was about 8 months ago, and I still feel great now. I found nothing to kill my shyness, until I found Dextromethorphan  I wanted to get high on something, marijuana just made me act stupid and makes you think about your problems too much and you get all down from that.. So I read on the net, Robotussin Maximum Strenght Cough , one 4oz bottle only contains about Dextromethorphan HBr 355mg as the active ingredent.  My first time I chugged down the whole 4oz at once, within a hour I started to feel the effects of the DXM. It was nothing like marijuana, but it’s more up into the area with LSD, depends on the dose you take. After about 8 hours the high was almost gone, and I went to sleep.. The next 2 weeks after that, just being on my regular medication and not redosing the DXM, I felt like a new person. My shyness was almost totally gone, I could talk to people without mumbling and even keep a good convosation going without shyness or panic or worrying how I am acting.. I regularly use DXM now, just about twice a month, at a dose of about 600mg.. I have done all the way up to 1.1g to see the effects. It’s non addictive, maybe mildly "mentally" addictive for some. My point is here, I spent so much money on all different kinds of mental drugs for shyness, aniexty and depression, and all I needed was a bottle of Robitussin for $4.95.. Amazing stuff, it even cleared all the acne from my face. (19/male) Now I am about to start college soon, I am going for a good degree from a univeristy for Chemistry, and maybe into Bio-chem too.            -shroomy/Rob I need some help/advise. Heres my story. I am reposting it again to make sure everyone reads this. And maybe SOMEONE can help me. here goes… hello. I am a 23 yr old male, married, with 2 kids. I have come to the conclusion that i may be suffering from a major mental sickness, well, i know i am, but i just dont know which one. I have been put on anti depressents but they dont work. But, i have never told anyone of all my symptoms, and have never heard of anyone else having them and feel like i am all alone. I could really use some feedback. half ass normal symptoms of depression, but you;’ll see some disturbing ones that are MORE than depresiion. 1.Wild mood swings, depression to almost on a high, can happen several times in a day. one minute i can feel like i am better than everyone, and next, i can feel that everyone is better than me. and i am shit. 2.Weight loss and gain. 3.moods go with weather, when it rains i feel more confident and happy, when its sunny, i feel like shit. this isnt always the case, but alot of the time 4. sometimes hyper, sometimes lazy 5. uncomfortable around people who i think are more attractive than me, or people my own age 6. fear that everyone is looking at me, and feer of embarassment, EXTREME fear of talking in front of more than a couple people. 7.Sometimes dont wanna leave the house and i dont know why… it’s like i wanna leave but cant. 8. get chest pains and think i am dying….. 9. dangerous and spontaneous behavior, like reckless driving, gambling 10. when i know i have to be still, i tremer uncontrolably… like when someone is watching me do something with my hands, they will go OUT of CONTROL. even when i am getting a haircut, if i know they are cutting like my baings or sides, and i KNOW my head has to stay still, it will jerk  really fast, and my neck muscles will tighten up, and then my head will like tremer. 11. sometimes very weird thoughts, and like someone is running me down inside my head. like calling me a fuck up and stuff like that. 12. sometimes i feel uncomfortable around my closest freinds, and dont know what to say… and have to leave. 13. cant do anything in front of anyone except close friends or family, like type, or even hold my hands steady, etc. 14. I find myself in these very weird moods where I feel like someone else 15. marijuana makes everything worse most the time. dont do it anymore. but once i was talking to myself out loud on it, and thought the devil was inside my head, and weird stuff like that. i was told it’s depression and social phobia, but i think it has to be more. have been put on, paxil, prozac, effexor, none work and gives me sexual side effects. Right now i am on nuerontin for my panic symptoms and a mood stabalizor, nuthing for depression because it doesnt work, and xanax for extreme panic, but i save my xanax for like haircuts, or first days on jobs. If i take like 3mg xanax(big dose) before my haircut, it’s not as bad, but it’s still there. Xanax has helped me the most so far, but i am becoming too dependent on it. I mean, who has to take xanax so there head dont shake for a haircut? Or say they can control their hands from shanking uncontollably when doing a job in front of someone. especially in that high of dose. a small dose has never worked for me. I feel helpless, and almost dead in a way. my family or freinds dont know about this, and has been gradually getting worse since the age of around 17 i beleieve. i would like to go back to school, but I would rather take a bullet to the head, than have to recite a speech in front of people. Xanax couldnt even help me there. I am so scared and confused. Its very hard for me to make friends too because of this. I am beggining to think that its some sort of manic symptoms, but dont know. have been to mental health sites, but cant find any kinda disease about the UNCONTOLLABLE shakes and tremers. I welcome all replies, and hope someone has been thru this and made it. Have had some thoughts of suicide, but would never do it, there no way cause of my kids, and i’d just be way to scared and the damage it would do to my family. someone please help me. have been to shrinks, but havent told them everything, probably wont. I just want honest replies and maybe someone knows whats wrng with me. Please help me, i pray to god every night for help, maybe i will find it here. Thanks! and also, and opinions on the meds i am currently taking? I will go now! PEACE!!!!!!!

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Question:

I was told I have mild case of Gerd earlier this year. I was getting allot of acid reflux. Since then I have been on Protonix and the reflux has stopped, BUT I get a lump feeling in my throat everyday, and sometimes just feel sick to my stomach? Does anyone have these same symptoms or know what they are ? Thanks

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I wish there were more people lurking around here…. I’m not sure, sorry!   try…..www.gerd-support.com/

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I get this same feeling and was told, by my GI MD, that it’s called a "globus sensation," and is caused by acid coming back up the esophagus.  At first, I thought I was going to choke on some food remnants, however, after the cause was explained to me, I now know it’s just part of the reflux problem.  Have you told your MD about this?  I would if I were you, because it’s possible that the Protonix is not working fully for you, and/or your dosage may need to be changed.  I’ve been on Tagamet, Prilosec, Protonix, and Aciphex, and nothing has really worked for me.  Yesterday I went for an EGD (esophagogstroduodenoscopy) and for the first time in one year, I no longer had the "lump in the throat" feeling.  I can only hope it lasts for a long time.  In one week I will know the results of the biopsies taken during the EGD. Hope this helps. Sharon

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I had the camera go down my throat, is that what you had. If so I wonder why you didnt have the lump sensation after having the procedure ?  I dont get the bad reflux like l use to so maybe just a little reflux cause the lump sensation…. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I get this same feeling and was told, by my GI MD, that it’s called a "globus sensation," and is caused by acid coming back up the esophagus.  At first, I thought I was going to choke on some food remnants, however, after the cause was explained to me, I now know it’s just part of the reflux problem.  Have you told your MD about this?  I would if I were you, because it’s possible that the Protonix is not working fully for you, and/or your dosage may need to be changed.  I’ve been on Tagamet, Prilosec, Protonix, and Aciphex, and nothing has really worked for me.  Yesterday I went for an EGD (esophagogstroduodenoscopy) and for the first time in one year, I no longer had the "lump in the throat" feeling.  I can only hope it lasts for a long time.  In one week I will know the results of the biopsies taken during the EGD. Hope this helps. Sharon

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Yes, it was the tube and camera.  Actually, I was told by my ENT a while back, during an endoscopic exam, that my esophagus was extremely narrow. Since I had the EGD yesterday, I have noticed that it is easier for me to swallow my daily pills/vitamins, and I attribute that to the procedure. However, my reflux is only a trifle better.  After the procedure, I barely had a sore throat yesterday afternoon and evening, and today I’m right as rain.  I think that during the procedure the doctor must have opened up my esophagus some, and maybe fixed a few other things, because the severe burning/acid reflux did not bother me from dawn to dusk today.  For cripe sakes, I even got reflux from plain Quaker Oats oatmeal!!  Yesterday the GI MD told me to add more fiber to my diet, which may help any digestive problems I may have.  As I stated in my previous email, I won’t know the results of the EGD for one week.  I have to take this one day at a time.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I had the camera go down my throat, is that what you had. If so I wonder why you didnt have the lump sensation after having the procedure ?  I dont get the bad reflux like l use to so maybe just a little reflux cause the lump sensation….

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Yes, I have the same symptoms, but my primary doc can’t explain the "lump" in my throat (actually, quite painful with trouble swallowing) that I’m having.  He treated me for GERD for several months, helped the heartburn but not the throat problem, so I’m off to a GI doc next week. Has your doc tried treating you for anxiety?  Mine did (with Xanax and Zoloft), and while it didn’t help me, it’s a common anxiety problem and perhaps a few weeks of trial meds could prove/disprove it for you? HTH, Chip

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was told I have mild case of Gerd earlier this year. I was getting allot of acid reflux. Since then I have been on Protonix and the reflux has stopped, BUT I get a lump feeling in my throat everyday, and sometimes just feel sick to my stomach? Does anyone have these same symptoms or know what they are ? Thanks

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Question:

 Well, I have stumbled into a setback the last few days…I am much more functional since I started the Zoloft, and when my time is occupied I do pretty dang well…However, the last couple of days, I have been alone with not much to occupy my time…This has been difficult…Not as bad as before but difficult…Today I cannot enjoy my usual Sunday morning lounge with paper in hand…Now I am begining to worry that I have peaked in the effect I will get from the Zoloft/Xanax combo…Could this be?  I am just about through with week 4 (2 weeks at 50, 2 at 100), will I see more improvement as the weeks go on…I got lots of improvement after 2 weeks, but haven’t seen any since…Need some good stuff today from you all!

Hi Charles, I can only speak from my experience with Paxil, the way I felt at week 4 was alright, the way I felt at  week 8 was good. I had a slow but steady improvement from the second week on Paxil which was the beginning of April, all the way through the summer, even though I didn`t increase my dose past the beginning of May. And I do remember having a off week around week 9 or 10, it had to do with a conflict I had with a family member. And I was so afraid I was having a setback or the med stopped working, which just added to my anxiety. Being alone use to  be a trigger for my anxiety, I think it was a lack of stimulation for me. I can tell you since being on Paxil, I LOVE being alone when I have the opportunity. My husband just had a business trip to Mexico, and normally I would be anxious, I enjoyed him being gone, this tells me I am really doing well( or maybe it is that he annoys the hell out of me <g ) You are having a rough week, but the Zoloft probably has not reached full effectiveness. You have to give it more time. I know this is easier said than done, but you need to occupy your mind. When I had a problem with boredom, what would happen is my thoughts turn inward, thinking about my anxiety and monitoring every sensation and twitch I was having. Even though you are having a bad time, from what you wrote I see improvement.  Sometimes getting better isn`t just measured in  having "good" days, but how we handle our bad days, and you say yourself, it is not as difficult as before. That tells me Zoloft is having a effect on you. Patience my dear friend, you will get there. *Hugs* P.S. And in a few weeks, if you feel you are`nt at the place you want to be, maybe increasing the Zoloft, you can go as high as 200mgs. Jackie "Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, The courage to change the things I cannot accept, And the wisdom to  hide the bodies of those I had to kill today because they ticked me  off and also, help me to be careful of the toes I step on today, as  they may be connected to the butt I may have to kiss tomorrow.

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Hi Charles! I cannot help with the meds questions, but I did want you to know that I am sending positive thoughts your way1 I hope you feel better soon! Being alone is tough, I know but you will get through it! Hang in there! Steph

Charles Writes: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -To all:  Well, I have stumbled into a setback the last few days…I am much more functional since I started the Zoloft, and when my time is occupied I do pretty dang well…However, the last couple of days, I have been alone with not much to occupy my time…This has been difficult…Not as bad as before but difficult…Today I cannot enjoy my usual Sunday morning lounge with paper in hand…Now I am begining to worry that I have peaked in the effect I will get from the Zoloft/Xanax combo…Could this be?  I am just about through with week 4 (2 weeks at 50, 2 at 100), will I see more improvement as the weeks go on…I got lots of improvement after 2 weeks, but haven’t seen any since…Need some good stuff today from you all! Thanks, — Charles Phipps

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Question:

This is nonsense.  Being an introvert is a personality trait which is neither inherently good nor inherently bad. -snip and rearange- It’s not introversion that causes depression, it’s listening to all the people telling you that something is wrong with you for not wanting their company. Um, excuse me, but did you actually read this post, or did you see the word "introvert" and then write a lot of stuff?  Where did anyone say anything about this personality trait being good or bad?  There’s absolutely nothing here that says that.

I liked Mason’s response, but I agree it seemed not really in direct response to your post.  If I had to take a guess at it, I would suggest that maybe Mason is still hearing people tell him he should be more extroverted, and so he is taking a moment out of his day to tell those voices to "shove off".  I suppose the fact that these voices also are, or are not, your voice is probably more relevent to you than him. Just my 2 cents of course.  Mainly relevent to me and my voices really. Sincerely Stewart — The Metaphor Man  *and*  The Great Defender of the Self (remove the SPAMBLOCK) Please send me an e-mail copy of your posted response.

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Nina wrote And maybe it’s useful to stop, to focus, to think "this moment.  now.  just this experience, this moment, now." But what if every moment of every day of my life, my body hurts, because I have Essential Tremor? What if this moment sucks, because I feel lonely, and weak, and sick, and tired, and my room is a wreck? What if the moments are bad? What then?

Oddly enough, IMHO, you just go with it.   Sincerely Stewart Hiding out in the shitty present to avoid dealing with the shitty future.  :-) — The Metaphor Man  *and*  The Great Defender of the Self (remove the SPAMBLOCK) Please send me an e-mail copy of your posted response.

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"this moment.  now.  just this experience, this moment, now."

But what if every moment of every day of my life, my body hurts, because I have Essential Tremor? What if this moment sucks, because I feel lonely, and weak, and sick, and tired, and my room is a wreck? What if the moments are bad? What then? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Nina, stuck inside on a snowy day, this moment, now!

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I lean far to the introvert side of the scale, of course.

This is nonsense.  Being an introvert is a personality trait which is neither inherently good nor inherently bad.  It is also completely different from depression.  There are extremely introverted people who bubble along happily and live healthy and productive and happy lives, who get married and have good friends.  It is a temptation to get depressed if you listen to the constant crock of shit criticism from your mother onward, about how you "ought" to be doing such-and-such and you’re abnormal for not having more friends and so on. I am really happy being by myself.  I do have a girlfriend and other friends but I no longer force myself to go to parties and just stay home unless I really want to go.  I reached an age of realization, and what a blessing it was to understand that I could simply tune out other people trying to set some sort of compulsory social interation standard for me.  If they "needed" other people all the time, fine.  I’ll do  whatever I damn well please, thank you very much. It’s not introversion that causes depression, it’s listening to all the people telling you that something is wrong with you for not wanting their company. –  Mason Barge "If this is coffee, please bring me some tea.  If this is tea, please bring me some coffee."  – Abraham Lincoln

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Ack. "Keep your eyes on the ball", was what my coach told me long ago, and it still works! DG

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I lean far to the introvert side of the scale, of course.

Me too Which made my bad game worse, etc.  So I started thinking:  focus.  It’s about now. It’s about this moment.  Life is only this moment, in some sense. Anchor yourself to now.

This is interesting, Nina. Things have been better for me lately, and when I read your post I realized that it was because I HAVE been doing this, focusing on the moment rather than the past or the future… Obviously, you can take this to its logical extreme, but that’s pretty unlikely for me.  But I see this kind of behavior in a lot of us, brooding on the future and the past until we achieve immobility.  And maybe it’s useful to stop, to focus, to think "this moment.  now.  just this experience, this moment, now."

I have spent too much time brooding on the past. Obviously, I am never going to forget Jim and the love we had, but slowly I am moving away from the constant awareness that he is no longer in my life. I find it a little  sad that I actually let the monthly anniversary of his death slip past me last month, but it is also a good thing that I was not planning what I should do to remember him on this day. Patricia {who had to count back to find that he died nine months ago…}

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Nina, <snipped outstanding post Excellent idea, and great food for thought!  Thank you for reminding me why I enjoy reading ASD so much!  In the moment, now, it’s snowy outside, but I’m home from work and having a wonderful time reading this newsgroup.  It *is* hard to remember to live in the moment sometimes. But I think this way of thinking helps. Holly

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what i remember about this is that introverts tend to have more brain wave activity than extroverts, so they seek less external stimuli. to put this in another way, so no one can say "are you insulting ______ ?": introverts tend to be "overstimulated" in relation to extroverts, who tend to seek out activities in order to achieve more stimulation.

Oooo, this is interesting.  I am thinking of the books by Donna Williams called; Nobody, nowhere, (1992);  Somebody, somewhere, (1994); and Like color to the blind,  (1996).  She is "autistic", and describes what her life is like.  To say that she experiences what others would deem "normal" as somehow an overwhelming overstimulation, would be an understatement. Interesting stuff. Sincerely Stewart — The Metaphor Man  *and*  The Great Defender of the Self (remove the SPAMBLOCK) Please send me an e-mail copy of your posted response.

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One of the differences between so-called introverts and extroverts, in a clinical sense, is that extroverts tend to live in the moment while introverts tend to live in the past and future.  I lean far to the introvert side of the scale, of course. That’s (I think) because we tend to think of introverts and extroverts in what I’d call the "social" sense– like extroverts are gregarious, outgoing people, and introverts are shy, solitary people.  However, that’s only a tiny piece of what these terms mean in a psychological sense– I learned this from my sister the psychiatrist some time ago, and I’ve never forgotten it, because it really highlights a big behavioral difference between certain people.  See also the paragraph that I kept from my original post, above.

Yeah, odd as it sounds, I bet one can even be a socially outgoing and gregarious introvert.  I am thinking here about say someone who physicall appears to be the life of the party, a person with friends by the dozens, but who actually "lives" inside, always feeling somehow disconnected from the party around them. But I am sure few people here on ASD would recognize that odd condition.   Just kidding of course. Sincerely Stewart — The Metaphor Man  *and*  The Great Defender of the Self (remove the SPAMBLOCK) Please send me an e-mail copy of your posted response.

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Just my 2 cents of course.  Mainly relevent to me and my voices really.

Stewart, honey, you’re hearing voices? pavanne, concerned — For more information about this service, send e-mail to:

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Something I’ve been thinking about. One of the differences between so-called introverts and extroverts, in a clinical sense, is that extroverts tend to live in the moment while introverts tend to live in the past and future.  I lean far to the introvert side of the scale, of course.

It’s funny, in person I appear to be quite extroverted.  I’ve long ago gotten over the crippling shyness that scarred my teen years; I’m quite adept at mingling and making small talk; I have no fear of social situations; I’m well read enough to be able to converse with almost anyone.  And yet I suffer from the same problem of living in the past and future, and not in the moment. And one of the things that’s been troubling me most is my inability to enjoy much of anything these days.  I start thinking about doing something, and then I think of all the reasons I shouldn’t, and I do nothing.  

The story of my life, Nina.   This all really struck me last week when I was playing racquetball last week, something that I’m awful at but really really enjoy. Instead of enjoying what I was doing, instead of focusing on the game, I was just awash in misery, thinking of other things.  Which made my bad game worse, etc.  So I started thinking:  focus.  It’s about now. It’s about this moment.  Life is only this moment, in some sense. Anchor yourself to now. And it really helped.  Obviously, you can take this to its logical extreme, but that’s pretty unlikely for me.  But I see this kind of behavior in a lot of us, brooding on the future and the past until we achieve immobility.  And maybe it’s useful to stop, to focus, to think "this moment.  now.  just this experience, this moment, now."

I felt like these two paragraphs were aimed at me, they are so very apropos to my situation this year.   John

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Question:

What’s going on? What do you think is causing it? Wish I could help. (((liah))) Trev

I don’t know… it happens every now and then… if it were consistent with my moods i’d blame it on being upset but it happens in all different kinds of moods… but it almost hurts when i shake… Thanks  {{{Trev}}} liah i’m unlike anyone you’ve ever not wanted to meet

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my whole body… it really sucks and it’s making me paranoid… just please make it stop liah

Hey, you just described my entire physical life since I was 13. I have Essential Tremor, and myoclonus. I shake and twitch constantly. Klonopin and Neurontin help, but if your’s is only a temporary condition, I doubt if you’ll have to resort to meds. What’s going on? What do you think is causing it? Wish I could help. (((liah))) Trev – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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my whole body… it really sucks and it’s making me paranoid… just please make it stop liah i’m unlike anyone you’ve ever not wanted to meet

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