Question:

Jim:  Have you ever had a cardiac workup? Bob

Response:

I’ve told her.  She didn’t seem highly concerned.  In fact, she began tapering my other meds.  (My peak flow was up.)  So now what? Aleta – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi!     If your albuterol (which is the same thing as salbuterol) isn’t working – tell your doctor NOW!  When you have a severe attack albuterol and drugs related are the first line of treatment used to get you breathing again.  It is very serious if these types of drugs do not work for you as it gives the emergeny treatment team few options to use to improve your breathing quickly.  Please don’t panic when you read this – there can be many reasons why it doesn’t seem to be working for you such as inhalation techniques, expiration dates, over reliance on rescue medication, etc. but do look into this now. Marion B.Sc.Pharmacy And I use Albuterol, and it’s never let me down, either. Good thing there are medications that always work! So what does it mean when your albuterol inhaler doesn’t do anything?  My asthma is fairly mild, but when I get an attack, I cough and cough.  Sometimes the albuterol stopes it right away, but other times it doesn’t seem to have any effect.  I don’t notice any difference in the coughing between the times that it does work and when it doesn’t (which I would expect if something other than asthma caused the non-responsive cough). Aleta

Response:

Hi!    If your albuterol (which is the same thing as salbuterol)

snip Marion B.Sc.Pharmacy

Hi, "Salbutamol" [not salbuterol]  is the WHO recommended name generally in use outside of the USA for  "Albuterol". See Asthma FAQ medications: ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/medicine/asthma/medications  Colleen

Response:

Hi Colleen! I see I made a spelling error. Thanks for pointing it out, Marion – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi!    If your albuterol (which is the same thing as salbuterol) snip Marion B.Sc.Pharmacy Hi, "Salbutamol" [not salbuterol]  is the WHO recommended name generally in use outside of the USA for  "Albuterol". See Asthma FAQ medications: ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet/news.answers/medicine/asthma/medications  Colleen

Response:

And I use Albuterol, and it’s never let me down, either. Good thing there are medications that always work!

So what does it mean when your albuterol inhaler doesn’t do anything?  My asthma is fairly mild, but when I get an attack, I cough and cough.  Sometimes the albuterol stopes it right away, but other times it doesn’t seem to have any effect.  I don’t notice any difference in the coughing between the times that it does work and when it doesn’t (which I would expect if something other than asthma caused the non-responsive cough). Aleta

Response:

And I use Albuterol, and it’s never let me down, either. Good thing there are medications that always work! So what does it mean when your albuterol inhaler doesn’t do anything?  My asthma is fairly mild, but when I get an attack, I cough and cough.  Sometimes the albuterol stopes it right away, but other times it doesn’t seem to have any effect.  I don’t notice any difference in the coughing between the times that it does work and when it doesn’t (which I would expect if something other than asthma caused the non-responsive cough). Aleta

Not all cough is caused by asthma; you could have a co-existing condition contributing to the cough. See: http://www.ummed.edu/dept/pulmonary/irwin/pitfalls.htm Common Pitfalls in Managing Patients with Chronic Cough "If patients continue to complain of persistently troublesome cough even after an extensive evaluation, reconsider the following pitfalls in management as possible contributing factors: 4.not considering that more than one condition is  simultaneously contributing to the cough;

Response:

Hi!     If your albuterol (which is the same thing as salbuterol) isn’t working – tell your doctor NOW!  When you have a severe attack albuterol and drugs related are the first line of treatment used to get you breathing again.  It is very serious if these types of drugs do not work for you as it gives the emergeny treatment team few options to use to improve your breathing quickly.  Please don’t panic when you read this – there can be many reasons why it doesn’t seem to be working for you such as inhalation techniques, expiration dates, over reliance on rescue medication, etc. but do look into this now. Marion B.Sc.Pharmacy – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – And I use Albuterol, and it’s never let me down, either. Good thing there are medications that always work! So what does it mean when your albuterol inhaler doesn’t do anything?  My asthma is fairly mild, but when I get an attack, I cough and cough.  Sometimes the albuterol stopes it right away, but other times it doesn’t seem to have any effect.  I don’t notice any difference in the coughing between the times that it does work and when it doesn’t (which I would expect if something other than asthma caused the non-responsive cough). Aleta

Response:

I seem to get a violent chest compressing asthma attack in the last few years once a day or so, that feels like somoene is sitting on my chest and I am about to strangulate. I have life long asthma and it is much worse in the spring and fall, I am on Flovent, and here is my point: Ventolin is amazing! I have used it for 20 years, but it is still amazing the little off blue inhaler buddy has saved my life hundreds of times.

Response:

Question:

Hi all! I’ve been lurking with a headache for over a week & decided to join in. I have daily headaches, some sinus, tension(? I guess, tho not a tense person), new allergies, vascular & medication side effects. I have had Migraines since exactly 6mos after a total hysterectomy in 1982. Migraines have improved thru prayer, believe it or not…less frequent & not as severe, which is GREAT!  But I still do get them. I’ve been on Inderal 120mg LA for 10yrs & my reg DR won’t d/c it cuz I had an odd allergic reaction to Imitrex…a blood clot in a coronary artery…long story.  I used to rely on Fiorinal, but found the rebound headaches were worse. I just use Excedrin migraine & Excedrin PM or ecotrin…doesn’t help much & I’m sure I get rebounds from Excedrin too, but I HAVE to take something!! I have alot of other serious illnesses also & take Tylox & Soma for those.  I DID stop the nutrasweet cuz I heard it could be a cause, but haven’t noticed much difference, except a little weight gain from caloric beverages…oh well!   One thing I do recommend for ANY headache that helps ALOT & sometimes dissolves them. 1) a great husband who massages my forehead with "red Tiger Balm"…feels great & works for me. Sometimes, I can’t take the scent or know this one’s not goin’ away, so I wipe the balm off 2) Tiger balm to neck muscles & back of head 3) ICE packs to forehead & back of neck…it just soothes, doesn’t quite eliminate headache 4) Tiger balm on the sinuses  To recover from a Migraine, I start with ginger ale, saltines, Haagendaz vanilla ice cream & chicken soup. It works every time…I may be on this for a few days, but it helps the nausea, puts something in the stomach & brings some nourishment. I hope this can help any of you! ~Stacie~ Lady O writes:

  Hi all, I’ve been on Sansert since February. No real side effects (lucky me!), a slight bit of nausea when I first started, that’s it. Well, about two weeks ago, my legs started swelling. I mean, *really* swelling. I put up with it for a couple of days, until my husband looked at them and cried, "You have to see a doctor!" So, I went into the ER, no problems with my kidneys, call your "regular" doctor (whoever the h*ll that is!) take this Lasix and potassium, blah blah blah. I finally called my pain doctor, who told me it’s probably not the Sansert after this long, but better wean off of it anyhow, just in case, and we’ll see. OMG!!! I have had the most awful headache since last Monday!! I’ve been into the ER twice (*after* the first visit, because the first ER was out of dilaudid, and the morphine didn’t work, and I didn’t feel like waiting/fighting/arguing for more, and I ended up in a different ER the next day, that *HAD* dilaudid!!!), and although I’m slightly better today, I’m still counting the minutes until I can get to the pharmacy to get my refills. The Maxalt finally pooped out on me after so many days of use. How long am I going to have to endure this headache before my brain realizes that no more Sansert is coming down the chute, thank you very much?? Even if the Sansert *isn’t* causing my legs to swell, I’ll stay off of it, just so I can avoid this headache every six months. . In the meantime, I’ve got a call into the pain doc. I know that *he* knows how to dose that morphine . . . Lady :O <<<Lady O, I looked up Sansert in my nursing drug book & it CAN cause the swelling you have! generic name: Methysergide maleate action: unknown. Specifically blocks serotonin in the peripheral nervous system. ADVERSE REACTIONS: CNS: insomnia,drowsiness,euphoria, vertigo,ataxia, light-headedness,weakness,hallucinations or feelings of dissociation,rapid speech,lethargy CV(cardio-vascular):vasoconstriction,causing chest pain,vascular insufficiency of LEGS;cold,numb,pain- ful limbs with or without numbness/tingling & absent or diminished pulses, orthostatic hypotension(low BP upon arising),flushing,tachycardia(fast heartrate) PERIPHERAL EDEMA(swelling of limbs) GI:abdominal pain, nausea,vomiting,diarrhea,heart- burn,constipation ALSO:weiht gain, arthralgia,myalgia,hair loss,rash *drug shouldn’t be used for migraine,vascular head- aches, or tension (muscular contraction) headaches *if drug shows no resonse after 3wks,is unlikely to be beneficial **drug may be withdrawn gradually every 6mo & then restarted after a least 3wks **do NOT stop drug abruptly but gradually over 2-3wks;abrupt withdrawal may cause REBOUND headaches I hope you are feling better! ~Stacie!

Response:

It’s similar to LSD & has something to do with Seratonin.  I believe it was 1964 that I began taking it at the Montifiore Headache Clinic in NYC, & they did know about the 6 month protocol there. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What is the drug in Sansert? I was told that Sansert has a 6 month protocol. WE did not know that in 1965,

Response:

What is the drug in Sansert? regards Don

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was told that Sansert has a 6 month protocol. WE did not know that in 1965, I took it for 1 and a 1/2  year and it nearly killed me. It sure took care of the headache.

Response:

I was told that Sansert has a 6 month protocol.

WE did not know that in 1965, I took it for 1 and a 1/2  year and it nearly killed me. It sure took care of the headache.

Response:

You are right . . . they still say you can’t take it for more than six months.  I figured that since I’ve been on it since February, my time was almost up, anyhow. I think that doctors consider it to be a "last ditch" effort to prevent headaches.  I have had a tremendous decrease in my headaches, but I think it is more due to the fact that I’ve eliminated aspartame from my diet, rather than the Sansert. I’m still plugging along, waiting for this stuff to get out of my system for good.  I’m not taking it any more, period! Lady – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was told that Sansert has a 6 month protocol.  That is, no one should remain on it for more than 6 months at a time.  My experience was that it worked well for that length of time, after which I started getting what they called "breakthrough headaches".  Over a course of a couple of years, I was on it for a total of 2 six month periods. I believe that it is used mainly to "break a cycle" of headaches & is not intended for long term use (Caveat: This was many years ago & might be outdated information).  I wouldn’t discount the Sansert yet. I’ve been on Sansert since February.

Response:

I was told that Sansert has a 6 month protocol.  That is, no one should remain on it for more than 6 months at a time.  My experience was that it worked well for that length of time, after which I started getting what they called "breakthrough headaches".  Over a course of a couple of years, I was on it for a total of 2 six month periods. I believe that it is used mainly to "break a cycle" of headaches & is not intended for long term use (Caveat: This was many years ago & might be outdated information). – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –  I wouldn’t discount the Sansert yet. I’ve been on Sansert since February.

Response:

Just a thought…I often had side effects hit me well into a therapy.  I didn’t get my first allergic reaction to Topomax until 8 months into it. They suspect it was a hormonal conflict, but still…you never know what will cause a reaction.  I wouldn’t discount the Sansert yet. I feel for you though, I know how those withdrawal headaches feel and it’s not pretty.  I’ll be praying for you cause some days…that’s all we got! Michelle

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi all, I’ve been on Sansert since February.  No real side effects (lucky me!), a slight bit of nausea when I first started, that’s it. Well, about two weeks ago, my legs started swelling.  I mean, *really* swelling.  I put up with it for a couple of days, until my husband looked at them and cried, "You have to see a doctor!"  So,  I went into the ER, no problems with my kidneys, call your "regular" doctor (whoever the h*ll that is!) take this Lasix and potassium, blah blah blah.  I finally called my pain doctor, who told me it’s probably not the Sansert after this long, but better wean off of it anyhow, just in case, and we’ll see. OMG!!!  I have had the most awful headache since last Monday!!  I’ve been into the ER twice (*after* the first visit, because the first ER was out of dilaudid, and the morphine didn’t work, and I didn’t feel like waiting/fighting/arguing for more, and I ended up in a different ER the next day, that *HAD* dilaudid!!!), and although I’m slightly better today, I’m still counting the minutes until I can get to the pharmacy to get my refills.  The Maxalt finally pooped out on me after so many days of use. How long am I going to have to endure this headache before my brain realizes that no more Sansert is coming down the chute, thank you very much??  Even if the Sansert *isn’t* causing my legs to swell, I’ll stay off of it, just so I can avoid this headache every six months. . . In the meantime, I’ve got a call into the pain doc.  I know that *he* knows  how to dose that morphine . . . Lady :O

Response:

Hi all, I’ve been on Sansert since February.  No real side effects (lucky me!), a slight bit of nausea when I first started, that’s it. Well, about two weeks ago, my legs started swelling.  I mean, *really* swelling.  I put up with it for a couple of days, until my husband looked at them and cried, "You have to see a doctor!"  So,  I went into the ER, no problems with my kidneys, call your "regular" doctor (whoever the h*ll that is!) take this Lasix and potassium, blah blah blah.  I finally called my pain doctor, who told me it’s probably not the Sansert after this long, but better wean off of it anyhow, just in case, and we’ll see. OMG!!!  I have had the most awful headache since last Monday!!  I’ve been into the ER twice (*after* the first visit, because the first ER was out of dilaudid, and the morphine didn’t work, and I didn’t feel like waiting/fighting/arguing for more, and I ended up in a different ER the next day, that *HAD* dilaudid!!!), and although I’m slightly better today, I’m still counting the minutes until I can get to the pharmacy to get my refills.  The Maxalt finally pooped out on me after so many days of use. How long am I going to have to endure this headache before my brain realizes that no more Sansert is coming down the chute, thank you very much??  Even if the Sansert *isn’t* causing my legs to swell, I’ll stay off of it, just so I can avoid this headache every six months. . . In the meantime, I’ve got a call into the pain doc.  I know that *he* knows  how to dose that morphine . . . Lady :O

Response:

Deseril (as per UK and Down Under) is Methysergide.  Used with some success but some pretty rare but bad side effects if prolonged use. Don from Down Under

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Just FYO, "Deseril" is the correct spelling in: "Nursing 2002 Drug Handbook"  22nd edition Stacie    Hawki writes: Someone nicely emailed me from the UK telling me that over there Sansert IS marketed as Desiril (think that spelling is correct)…so Stacie is correct!! I also of course immediately assumed she meant Desyrl/Trazadone…of course not at all like Sansert.. learn something everyday!! this group DOES have lots of useful info to share!! rb Hawki…..the nurse practitioner

Response:

Stacie I got it now….different spellings ……I don’t think Sansert is marketed in the US as deseril tho…. rb Hawki…..the nurse practitioner

Response:

Just FYO, "Deseril" is the correct spelling in: "Nursing 2002 Drug Handbook"  22nd edition Stacie    Hawki writes: Someone nicely emailed me from the UK telling me that over there Sansert IS marketed as Desiril (think that spelling is correct)…so Stacie is correct!! I also of course immediately assumed she meant Desyrl/Trazadone…of course not at all like Sansert.. learn something everyday!! this group DOES have lots of useful info to share!! rb Hawki…..the nurse practitioner

Response:

Mouse Someone nicely emailed me from the UK telling me that over there Sansert IS marketed as Desiril (think that spelling is correct)…so Stacie is correct!! I also of course immediately assumed she meant Desyrl/Trazadone…of course not at all like Sansert.. learn something everyday!! this group DOES have lots of useful info to share!! rb Hawki…..the nurse practitioner

Response:

    Hawki writes: also Deseril is like Sansert Stacie Do you mean "desyrel" (trazadone)….??? This is NOT like Sansert!!! rb Hawki…..the nurse practitioner <<<No, Hawki..DESERIL & Sansert are both "methysergide maleate"…adrenergic blockers DESYREL is "trazodone hydrochloride"….an anti-depressant Close, but quite different! Stacie

Response:

Stacie: You can’t possibly mean Deseryl…aka trazadone, can you?  Those two drugs (deseryl and sansert) aren’t even in the same ballpark!  I can’t find reference to any drug with your spelling, Deseril.  I’ve never heard of another drug like Sansert at all.  Care to give more details? Take care, Moisie (check to verify any post allegedly by me isn’t from altopia.net/alt.net)

: Don asks: : : What is the drug in Sansert? : : "Methysergide maleate"..also Deseril is like Sansert :

Response:

also Deseril is like Sansert

Stacie Do you mean "desyrel" (trazadone)….??? This is NOT like Sansert!!! rb Hawki…..the nurse practitioner

Response:

What is the drug in Sansert?

I think it is related to ergot, not sure,Bob Wold  knows. Toty

Response:

Don asks: What is the drug in Sansert? "Methysergide maleate"..also Deseril is like Sansert

Response:

Tiger Balm helps me sometimes, too.  It doesn’t get rid of the headache, but the warmth of it distracts from the pain of the headache.  I have to be careful not to get it too close to my eyes, though.  Yeouch!! And as far as I can tell, Haagen Dazs, of any flavor, will cure *anything*! Lady <—–  who loves chocolate chocolate chip!!

<snip – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –   One thing I do recommend for ANY headache that helps ALOT & sometimes dissolves them. 1) a great husband who massages my forehead with "red Tiger Balm"…feels great & works for me. Sometimes, I can’t take the scent or know this one’s not goin’ away, so I wipe the balm off 2) Tiger balm to neck muscles & back of head 3) ICE packs to forehead & back of neck…it just soothes, doesn’t quite eliminate headache 4) Tiger balm on the sinuses  To recover from a Migraine, I start with ginger ale, saltines, Haagendaz vanilla ice cream & chicken soup. It works every time…I may be on this for a few days, but it helps the nausea, puts something in the stomach & brings some nourishment. I hope this can help any of you! ~Stacie~ Lady O writes:

Response:

Question:

Can anyone help me find out what wrong? In the past month, my lungs have worsened.  My peak flow used to be around 375, but now I can’t get it any higher than 325.  My chest feels tight constantly–it didn’t before.  I sometimes feel intense pain in my chest–I had never felt that before about a month ago.  I need to use my albuterol inhaler about 8 times per week and my neb about 4 times a week–much more meds are needed than ever before.  I’ve been tested and tested for allergies,  but I’m really not allergic to anything.  My doctor says my asthma’s no worse than before.  What’s causing this?

It sounds like your asthma is worse than before. "Being responsible sometimes means pissing people off."    General Colin Powell

Response:

Can anyone help me find out what wrong? In the past month, my lungs have worsened.  My peak flow used to be around 375, but now I can’t get it any higher than 325.  My chest feels tight constantly–it didn’t before.  I sometimes feel intense pain in my chest–I had never felt that before about a month ago.  I need to use my albuterol inhaler about 8 times per week and my neb about 4 times a week–much more meds are needed than ever before.  I’ve been tested and tested for allergies,  but I’m really not allergic to anything.  My doctor says my asthma’s no worse than before.  What’s causing this? -Lannieta

Since your peak flow is down and symptoms have increased, this indicates your asthma has worsened. Apparently you have nonallergic asthma. It sounds like you need to increase your inhaled steroid or/and switch to one of the newer stronger ones; Pulmicort or Flovent. Current asthma guidelines are to use an Action Plan approved by your doctor to adjust medications. See: http://www.ama-assn.org/special/asthma/treatmnt/updates/patient.htm Patient Asthma Action Plans Ellis

Response:

Can anyone help me find out what wrong? In the past month, my lungs have worsened.  My peak flow used to be around 375, but now I can’t get it any higher than 325.  My chest feels tight constantly–it didn’t before.  I sometimes feel intense pain in my chest–I had never felt that before about a month ago.  I need to use my albuterol inhaler about 8 times per week and my neb about 4 times a week–much more meds are needed than ever before.  I’ve been tested and tested for allergies,  but I’m really not allergic to anything.  My doctor says my asthma’s no worse than before.  What’s causing this? -Lannieta

Response:

Last time I visited my doctor (6 days ago), he LOWERED my Azmacort (one of the older inhaled steroids).  I’m allergic to Pulmicort an Flovent (Flovent almost killed me), so I can’t take them. -Lannieta

Response:

Last time I visited my doctor (6 days ago), he LOWERED my Azmacort (one of the older inhaled steroids).  I’m allergic to Pulmicort an Flovent (Flovent almost killed me), so I can’t take them. -Lannieta

Azmacort is triamcinolone, a rather weak steroid inhaler. It seems to have more side effects than other steroids. I had facial edema from Azmacort, had to switch to Beclovent/Vanceril [beclomethasone]. What are your ‘allergic’ symptoms to Pulmicort and Flovent? Expecially Flovent? Ellis

Response:

Pulmicort reduced my peak flow to about 225 (my average then was about 375) and caused difficulty breathing enough to have an emergency visit to my regular asthma doc.  The Flovent caused me to stop breathing just after taking it–a friend had to call an ambulance and I stayed in the hospital for a day. -Lannieta

Response:

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.

Response:

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

Response:

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

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

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

Response:

Question:

 This is a re-post from a while ago. I think it answers your question. PEF = Peak expiratory flow; this is the fastest speed you can get air moving out of your lungs if you blow real hard. Back in the old days they used to have "the match test." The doctor would hold a lit match several inches in front of your face (I forget how many – we have PF’s now) and ask you to blow with your mouth open. If you couldn’t blow it out they knew you were in trouble. They could also quantitate things somewhat by describing how close they had to hold the match before you could blow it out. This test was more convenient back when everyone smoked. Somewhere along the line, someone decided to make a device that gave a number. There are several different brands out there. The numbers don’t compare exactly between different models and even between the same model in different conditions. It is the trend, and your own history that counts, so the differences don’t mean all that much. Basically, it is cheap and easy to use. It can give the doctor a number to follow, which is always helpful. You can say "250" rather than "pretty bad." It does have several limitations. The first is that everyone should establish their own "normal." In most ER’s they will have tables that tell them what "normal" for you should be. Trouble is that it varies greatly and these charts are worthless (IMO). Most of the people here probably never get anywhere near "normal." On a good day the chart would have you near death. Some, like myself, can do much more than "normal" and so if they believe the chart, and not me, they will miss a serious decrease in function. The second limitation is that it does not measure precisely the right thing. The PEF generally measures the airflow coming out of the large airways, such as the trachea and first few branches of the Bronchi. Asthma usually is more of a disease of small airways. That is why they make you blow into the PFT machine until you want to pass out. That last little bit of air is coming from the small airways. Usually the PEF correlates with disease severity in asthma, but you have to keep in mind that the PFM (Peak flow meter) is not measuring exactly the right thing and may read normal during a severe attack. The information it gives can be misleading. If you have one at home and use it regularly you will get to know what your best is, and at what levels you tend to get into trouble. This information, derived from your experience, and not a chart can be helpful. It allows you to have a precise way of communicating to your doctor how severe your attack is. The trend now is to develop an "action plan." The PF readings are usually divided up into three zones; green, yellow, and red. The green zone means continue as usual, or possibly taper meds down, depending on what you are doing. Yellow usually calls for some increase in therapy and possibly a call to the doctor. Red usually means call the doctor or 911. — Good Luck, CBI, M.D. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Can someone explain to me how one can have normal peak flow readings (over 100%) and still be short of breath.  Could there be a respiratory infection? Niasha

Response:

Hello! I really understand how frustrated you must be!  My peak flow is generally fairly constant, even if I feel tight in my chest.  My doc said he has some patients showing a high peak flow reading yet are sick enough to go to the ER!!  The only time my peak flow dips is when I am really, really sick. I’ve just had to learn through experience and calls to my doctor how to gauge my symptoms and the need for any additional meds.  I was relying heavily on my Pf readings but learned to listen to my body, also. Best of luck, Patrice – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – _That_ explains a few things!  I’d been wondering myself how I could still be having symptoms when my peak flow readings were so high… hmmmm some of this is beginning to make sense to me……Every summer I have the same problems, chest tightness, shortness of breath, panic and chest pain…and every summer i start on the same regime of drugs….ventolin and pulmicort and every summer I never feel any better than the last.  I am beginning to get very frustrated and I am beginning to doubt myself and wonder if it is all in my head. This summer my doctor asked me to start recording peak flow information.  I have been doing it for just over two weeks now (which I hear is a good preliminary period) but i feel just as confused as every.  My symptoms seem consistent with asthma, but not the peak flows.  My levels are high in the morning, dip in the afternoon and evening.  After taking ventolin my personal best is 525.  most days i come in around 425.  but some days at 425 i feel ok and other days i feel like I am suffocating.  and the difference between 450 and 425 feels like the difference between 450 and 200. i thought that this was supposed to take the guess work out of this whole mess and give me some "ammunition" when I go to my doctor? but i am still confused, frustrated and on the verge of a nervous breakdown and I fear that my doctor thinks I am nuts. ter Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Response:

A peak flow meter only measures the condition of the large airways. You could be having problems with the small airways causing such symptoms.

_That_ explains a few things!  I’d been wondering myself how I could still be having symptoms when my peak flow readings were so high…

Response:

_That_ explains a few things!  I’d been wondering myself how I could still be having symptoms when my peak flow readings were so high…

hmmmm some of this is beginning to make sense to me……Every summer I have the same problems, chest tightness, shortness of breath, panic and chest pain…and every summer i start on the same regime of drugs….ventolin and pulmicort and every summer I never feel any better than the last.  I am beginning to get very frustrated and I am beginning to doubt myself and wonder if it is all in my head. This summer my doctor asked me to start recording peak flow information.  I have been doing it for just over two weeks now (which I hear is a good preliminary period) but i feel just as confused as every.  My symptoms seem consistent with asthma, but not the peak flows.  My levels are high in the morning, dip in the afternoon and evening.  After taking ventolin my personal best is 525.  most days i come in around 425.  but some days at 425 i feel ok and other days i feel like I am suffocating.  and the difference between 450 and 425 feels like the difference between 450 and 200. i thought that this was supposed to take the guess work out of this whole mess and give me some "ammunition" when I go to my doctor? but i am still confused, frustrated and on the verge of a nervous breakdown and I fear that my doctor thinks I am nuts. ter Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

Response:

Oh, oh!  Thanks.  Niasha – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – If you are having trouble breathing, but your PFs are stable, then it is probably an infection.  If the PFs are dropping, but improve with albuterol, that is asthma. Chris Owens Earlier this month I was hospitalized for a week with pneumonia. During all that time, my peak flows were at 100%. Emily M.

Response:

Can someone explain to me how one can have normal peak flow readings (over 100%) and still be short of breath.  Could there be a respiratory infection? Niasha

A peak flow meter only measures the condition of the large airways. You could be having problems with the small airways causing such symptoms. It could be a respiratory infection; often a virus where antibiotics would probably not be prescribed. Usually an Action Plan calls for increasing meds when either Peak Flow drops into Yellow zone, OR symptoms increase. [eg double inhaled steroid, use Ventolin as needed] Ellis

Response:

Ellis you are tooo clever.  That’s what my doctor said on Friday.  She explained the difference and procedures for a viral vs a bacterial infection (which requires an anitbiotic).   I am on nebulizer treatments and increase steriods.  This is Sunday morning and I feel better already.  Thanks, Niasha Ellis  wrote…A peak flow meter only measures the condition of the large

airways. You could be having problems with the small airways causing such symptoms.  It could be a respiratory infection; often

a virus where  antibiotics would probably not be prescribed.  Usually an Action Plan calls for increasing meds when either Peak Flow drops into Yellow zone, OR symptoms increase.  [eg double inhaled steroid, use Ventolin as needed]

Response:

If you are having trouble breathing, but your PFs are stable, then it is probably an infection.  If the PFs are dropping, but improve with albuterol, that is asthma. Chris Owens

Earlier this month I was hospitalized for a week with pneumonia. During all that time, my peak flows were at 100%. Emily M.

Response:

Fooey, hooey!  Txs Niasha Can someone explain to me how one can have normal peak flow readings (over 100%) and still be short of breath.  Could there be a respiratory

infection? chris responded…Not only could there be, it’s very likely.  Doctor time.

Response:

PFR are accurate.  I put my average high (700) to be on the safe side.   I can usually go up to 850 at least once and an average bet.  650 and 750 2 out of 3 times.  I guess my question is more about when do you know it’s an asthma attack Vs a respiratory infection.  For asthma I go to the specialist and for infections to my GP (who, by the way, is extremely knowledgeable).

If you are having trouble breathing, but your PFs are stable, then it is probably an infection.  If the PFs are dropping, but improve with albuterol, that is asthma. Chris Owens

Response:

PFR are accurate.  I put my average high (700) to be on the safe side.   I can usually go up to 850 at least once and an average bet.  650 and 750 2 out of 3 times.  I guess my question is more about when do you know it’s an asthma attack Vs a respiratory infection.  For asthma I go to the specialist and for infections to my GP (who, by the way, is extremely knowledgeable). – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -nancy wrote… I would suggest going to your pulmonologist and making sure that your numbers are correct.  Are you sure that your "normal" zone isnt too high?  We had a bit of trouble pinpointing my correct range, but once we did, my numbers/breathing were right on the money.

Response:

Can someone explain to me how one can have normal peak flow readings (over 100%) and still be short of breath.  Could there be a respiratory infection? Niasha

Response:

Can someone explain to me how one can have normal peak flow readings (over 100%) and still be short of breath.  Could there be a respiratory infection?

Not only could there be, it’s very likely.  Doctor time. Chris Owens

Response:

Can someone explain to me how one can have normal peak flow readings (over 100%) and still be short of breath.  Could there be a respiratory infection? Niasha

I would suggest going to your pulmonologist and making sure that your numbers are correct.  Are you sure that your "normal" zone isnt too high?  We had a bit of trouble pinpointing my correct range, but once we did, my numbers/breathing were right on the money. Life is uncertain – eat dessert first. Nancy 8=: )

Response:

Question:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m a 30 year old male already suffering from hairloss. I was thinking of starting to take antidepressants, but I don’t want to take a drug that will accelerate my already natural hairloss. Has anyone experienced hairloss using the following drugs: 1. Fluvoxamine (Luvox) 2. Fluoxetine (Prozac) 3. Sertraline (Zoloft) 4. Paroxetine (Paxil) 5. Citalopram (Celexa) 6. Clomipramine (Anafranil) 7. Venlafaxine (Effexor) Try Wellbutrin. It causes a larger output of…er…you know. The intensity  will make you forget about hair loss. Do a google search on ASD-med  using words hair and Wellbutrin. Posters have repeatedly reported hair loss,  and or courser hair from WB. .

My hair is growing faster. I think everything is being produced faster. I just started Rispardol and it put a slight damper on everythiung feelings-wise. (.5 mg)

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m a 30 year old male already suffering from hairloss. I was thinking of starting to take antidepressants, but I don’t want to take a drug that will accelerate my already natural hairloss. Has anyone experienced hairloss using the following drugs: 1. Fluvoxamine (Luvox) 2. Fluoxetine (Prozac) 3. Sertraline (Zoloft) 4. Paroxetine (Paxil) 5. Citalopram (Celexa) 6. Clomipramine (Anafranil) 7. Venlafaxine (Effexor) Try Wellbutrin. It causes a larger output of…er…you know. The intensity  will make you forget about hair loss.

Do a google search on ASD-med  using words hair and Wellbutrin. Posters have repeatedly reported hair loss,  and or courser hair from WB. .

Response:

I’m a 30 year old male already suffering from hairloss. I was thinking of starting to take antidepressants, but I don’t want to take a drug that will accelerate my already natural hairloss. Has anyone experienced hairloss using the following drugs:

LOL. Don’t worry about the hairloss. I’ve never heard of SSRIs causing hairloss. Of the ones you listed I would pick fluoxetine because (I’m assuming you’re in the U.S.), it’s the cheapest – you can get generic fluoxetine now because Eli Lilly’s patent has run out. None of them are necessarily better than any other, but they have slightly different side-effect profiles. Zoloft was very friendly side-effects wise for me, so you may want to consider that. However because it has a short half-life, you may get withdrawals (I did). I don’t think anyone has got withdrawals from fluoxetine because of its very long half life. I would leave Effexor as a second option if the SSRI stops working, or doesn’t work at all. It has very bad withdrawals from what I’ve read. And it seems it’s extremely expensive over there (correct me if I’m wrong). — Regards, .

Response:

stimulants like wellbutrin will only make it worse in the long run and wellbutrin is even more likely to give you tardive dyskinesia than the ssris’s – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m a 30 year old male already suffering from hairloss. I was thinking of starting to take antidepressants, but I don’t want to take a drug that will accelerate my already natural hairloss. Has anyone experienced hairloss using the following drugs: 1. Fluvoxamine (Luvox) 2. Fluoxetine (Prozac) 3. Sertraline (Zoloft) 4. Paroxetine (Paxil) 5. Citalopram (Celexa) 6. Clomipramine (Anafranil) 7. Venlafaxine (Effexor) Try Wellbutrin. It causes a larger output of…er…you know. The intensity  will make you forget about hair loss.

– Steroids caused my depression, infertility, breast development and shrunken testicles …prednisone should be used conservatively Eric

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m a 30 year old male already suffering from hairloss. I was thinking of starting to take antidepressants, but I don’t want to take a drug that will accelerate my already natural hairloss. Has anyone experienced hairloss using the following drugs: 1. Fluvoxamine (Luvox) 2. Fluoxetine (Prozac) 3. Sertraline (Zoloft) 4. Paroxetine (Paxil) 5. Citalopram (Celexa) 6. Clomipramine (Anafranil) 7. Venlafaxine (Effexor)

Try Wellbutrin. It causes a larger output of…er…you know. The intensity  will make you forget about hair loss.

Response:

Why not try mirtazapine? I can’t believe how fast my hair has been growing since i started it. My barber has even commented on it.

Response:

Sorry, too depressed to care about hair loss. — Teilhard Knight The Extraterrestrial Who ate my sandwich? – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m a 30 year old male already suffering from hairloss. I was thinking of starting to take antidepressants, but I don’t want to take a drug that will accelerate my already natural hairloss. Has anyone experienced hairloss using the following drugs: 1. Fluvoxamine (Luvox) 2. Fluoxetine (Prozac) 3. Sertraline (Zoloft) 4. Paroxetine (Paxil) 5. Citalopram (Celexa) 6. Clomipramine (Anafranil) 7. Venlafaxine (Effexor)

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m a 30 year old male already suffering from hairloss. I was thinking of starting to take antidepressants, but I don’t want to take a drug that will accelerate my already natural hairloss. Has anyone experienced hairloss using the following drugs: 1. Fluvoxamine (Luvox) 2. Fluoxetine (Prozac) 3. Sertraline (Zoloft) 4. Paroxetine (Paxil) 5. Citalopram (Celexa) 6. Clomipramine (Anafranil) 7. Venlafaxine (Effexor)

Shave your head. It’s the *in* thing to do anyway. Lots of girls are liking the "Mr. Clean" look nowadays.

Response:

I’m a 30 year old male already suffering from hairloss. I was thinking of starting to take antidepressants, but I don’t want to take a drug that will accelerate my already natural hairloss. Has anyone experienced hairloss using the following drugs: 3. Sertraline (Zoloft)

No 4. Paroxetine (Paxil)

No 7. Venlafaxine (Effexor)

No Don’t know about the others (yet) Monkeyboy ***risk all, go extreme***

Response:

I’m a 30 year old male already suffering from hairloss. I was thinking of starting to take antidepressants, but I don’t want to take a drug that will accelerate my already natural hairloss. Has anyone experienced hairloss using the following drugs: 1. Fluvoxamine (Luvox) 2. Fluoxetine (Prozac) 3. Sertraline (Zoloft) 4. Paroxetine (Paxil) 5. Citalopram (Celexa) 6. Clomipramine (Anafranil) 7. Venlafaxine (Effexor)

Response:

Question:

    Uh, just a thought. How high a dose of thyroid hormones are you on? T3 ? T4? Both maybe? The reason I ask is that if you are on too high a dose you can get shaky BUT when I was extremely hypo I shook pretty bad too. I never took Xanax, I take Valium. I think it is gentler on the system than Xanax. Do you take in much caffeine in the course of a day? Caffeine will make your hands tremble too. The adrenals can cause problems and often go hand in hand with thyroid problems, just another thing to consider.     Being a guy, I can’t vouch for if menopause would cause this but I can tell you I’ve never heard of it, even though it can do some strange things so I don’t discount that either ( I told you I might not have a good answer for you ).     Did you by chance have a recent copy of any tests you had done? Posting them here will get you replies that might be a bit more revealing or at least tell you a bit more about what is going on. "PowerPoster" <powerpos…@nospam.com

wrote in message

news:tNOu6.104188$tP3.1638117@news1.rdc1.bc.home.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

Hi, my main questions were: – is constant tremor ever experienced by any of you on thyroid

replacement,

or who took xanax – do any of the women reading this have menopausal symptoms at the same

time > and have any of your doctors figured out which is menopause and which is > thyroid related. If so, has estrogen helped? > John Riggs <johnri32…@yahoo.com

wrote in message

> news:99ebgv$qa94$1@ID-41632.news.dfncis.de… > >     You don’t want junk mail? Gosh, and I was so looking forward to > sending > > mine off to some underprivileged soul > >     I’m sorry, I read your post but I lost track of what it was you were > > asking. Could you post a short, eentsy, version just for me? Pretty > please? > > I promise to give an answer, even if it’s wrong. > >     Thanks > >             John > > "PowerPoster" <powerpos…@nospam.com

wrote in message

> > news:Aoxu6.96934$tP3.1557994@news1.rdc1.bc.home.com… > > > Sorry, i forgot to give my address for those who can reply, it is > > > suz…@yahoo.com. Although I also will read the newsgroup. Thanks. I > > didn’t > > > have it in my preferences to avoid masses of unwanted junk mail.

Response:

    You don’t want junk mail? Gosh, and I was so looking forward to sending mine off to some underprivileged soul     I’m sorry, I read your post but I lost track of what it was you were asking. Could you post a short, eentsy, version just for me? Pretty please? I promise to give an answer, even if it’s wrong.     Thanks             John "PowerPoster" <powerpos…@nospam.com

wrote in message

news:Aoxu6.96934$tP3.1557994@news1.rdc1.bc.home.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

Sorry, i forgot to give my address for those who can reply, it is suz…@yahoo.com. Although I also will read the newsgroup. Thanks. I

didn’t

have it in my preferences to avoid masses of unwanted junk mail.

Response:

Hi, my main questions were: – is constant tremor ever experienced by any of you on thyroid replacement, or who took xanax – do any of the women reading this have menopausal symptoms at the same time and have any of your doctors figured out which is menopause and which is thyroid related. If so, has estrogen helped? John Riggs <johnri32…@yahoo.com

wrote in message

news:99ebgv$qa94$1@ID-41632.news.dfncis.de… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -

    You don’t want junk mail? Gosh, and I was so looking forward to

sending

mine off to some underprivileged soul     I’m sorry, I read your post but I lost track of what it was you were asking. Could you post a short, eentsy, version just for me? Pretty

please? > I promise to give an answer, even if it’s wrong. >     Thanks >             John > "PowerPoster" <powerpos…@nospam.com

wrote in message

> news:Aoxu6.96934$tP3.1557994@news1.rdc1.bc.home.com… > > Sorry, i forgot to give my address for those who can reply, it is > > suz…@yahoo.com. Although I also will read the newsgroup. Thanks. I > didn’t > > have it in my preferences to avoid masses of unwanted junk mail.

Response:

Sorry, i forgot to give my address for those who can reply, it is suz…@yahoo.com. Although I also will read the newsgroup. Thanks. I didn’t have it in my preferences to avoid masses of unwanted junk mail.

Response:

HI Suze, I better leave someone who knows more about thyroid to answer your post but I thought I would let the US readers know that the  CES you mention is a plant based conjugated estrogen similiar to Cenestin sold in the US. I’ve also removed the other newsgroup for this reply. Kathryn kathr…@telus.net On Thu, 22 Mar 2001 22:07:46 GMT, "PowerPoster" – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -<powerpos…@nospam.com

wrote: I went to my dr. today to get the results of my blood test last week. He won’t give them on the phone. It was very hard driving there, I have constant tremors and they are worsening. However, he dismissed them as well as my shivering and arm and leg weakness, these all have been with me only since early Feb, for no known reason. For the first time he chose not to order a TSH – only a free T4. So, it was 20.8. Normal range is 10.5 to 20.0, so it is just slightly high, but that then might explain why I have felt attacks of hyper adrenaline? And yet, I have felt ill and almost comatose on a lower dose, previously, and was attempting not to be hypothyroid. But he says that 100 mcg is too high and 75 would be too low, so I must now take .88. My last test a few months ago, the free t4 was 18 or high normal, and I was taking 100 then too, and told to stay on 100. Then I was switched by my endocrinologist to a combo of T4 and T3, which was excessive and made me have more heart pounding than usual, and I stopped the T3. I also felt hypo on the divided dose .50-T4, .12-T3 regimen, but more T3 seemed to make me have more sudden bursts of heart pounding. Even with the combined dose, the equivalent I tried to get was 100 mcg a day as it seemed to make me feel less ill and less hypo than other doses. I have years of journals to analyze for symptoms and doses; it has not helped me find an answer. It is always either too high or too low, with a euthyroid feeling appearing so rarely that maybe 2 or 3 times in ten years I have felt it and diarized it as a massively red letter day, virtually a feeling of euphoria. This euthyroid is the way I felt for the rest of my life  the first 45 years until the diseases started. Just able to function and feeling well. So my T4 is slightly high, and I should therefore not have hypo symptoms, which I do still have – feeling suddenly sleepy at any time and falling asleep for an hour or two. (Yet I have insomnia late at night, and spells of hyper, surging, too much unuseable adrenaline coursing through me). Swelling feet and legs, no appetite, hair falling out in my brush and when I wash it in huge clumps, trouble with digestion when I do eat, but the number one hypo symptom I have day and night is freezing cold, shivering, every day, unrelated to the temperature, that nothing will warm up until it passes. It’s an internal thing.  The constant tremors are not always shivering from cold…sometimes I have them together. These are NOT hyper symptoms so why would I think the dose was too high? My basal temperataure, when I get up, has ranged from 97.3 to 98.2, which I believe is normal according to Dr. Broda Barnes. One would think my dose was good. In the past the temperature was in the 96 range, and yet I felt better then, at a lower dose, though I had the hypo symptoms. Someone posted the query, which would you rather be – hypo or hyper? Choosing between them is something I have always had to do, and each one becomes horrific, causing me to go the other way for a time. Can this constant seesawing be causing the new problems? If one has to choose, hypo is less debilitating and life-destroying. One gets fat with painful joints, and slow, and placid, and confused, but there is a calm. And yet, then one is wistful for the energetic bursts, relative fit body and occasional clear thinking one did have even with the accompanying high anxiety, nervous state. As I am trying to explain, now I seem to be both hyper and hypo, but the test says slightly hyper. Besides the T4 test I had an FSH test. A year or so ago it was still normal, 22, now it is 47, which is out of range. Though I have had perimenopausal symptoms – severe ones, and all of them, for 6 years now, my tests were always in the normal range until now. So he gave me estrogen – CES, a ‘natural’ plant based one. He said more women were against Premarin now (which I used to be, but now I don’t care – I just want relief). I will take them, what else can I do? Hoping it will help. I studied this 3 or 4 years ago and was even given both Premarin and CES by doctors at the time of my hot flashes but I did not have good results and stopped them. Now that the hormone levels have changed maybe this is the answer. Does anyone have experience with CES? I have become a querulous, middle aged woman whom no one wants to know about, I suddenly realized in his office when facing his contempt and his lack of sympathy for me as a person, and his dismissing my complete worsening in the last 2 months…..his restating what he always states: "We’ll have to see if this gets the thyroid in range…" In ten years nothing has worked, and currently I am worse than ever before. My health has deteriorated drastically since around last October. The pains, weakness, unsteadiness, tremor are considered ‘essential tremor’ by a neurologist, and fibromyalgia by a rheumatologist, but there is NO treatment for these…until I take the .88 T4 for a while and if I don’t improve then my g.p. will give me a form of propanolol. This is the same thing I took when I first got Graves’ disease in 1989 and before the radiation. Why is this happening? If the T4 level is so  high then why not just stop the thyroid and become completely hypothyroid, that will calm me and make me placid like a cow, and overweight….which is what happened last year, i basically had ONLY intense muscle pain and hot flashes most of the time. No anxiety or heart pounding attacks, tremors or shivering. I don’t MIND hot flashes. I wish that was all I did have again. I learned to accept and deal with them. I cannot deal with a head tremor and weak muscles. Even my jaw feels sprained after chewing; I cannot hold a cup with one hand. If 100 was such a massive dose that it makes me hyper, then why the combined symptoms which include hypo items like hair loss, cold, confusion, cognitive problems with words and memory, and the rest? My God, I am at the end of my rope, and other than an expensive holistic doctor or naturopath, who might have an insight and might just be a quack, there is nowhere else to turn. It is not a simple matter to change doctors. I can barely stand to go to the ones I do have, that already know my complicated case. It is an ordeal, as everything is such an effort now. But my mind objects, wanting a way out of this nightmare. There surely is a first cause somewhere….the only one I know of is the Graves’ disease, the hyperthyroid suddenly in 1989. Everything else followed. I’ve said this before, I was an energetic, smart, normal looking and successful working mother with many friends and a full life and unbounded energy. And after the treatment I still functioned until 1996 when my body just began to be unable to function. The menopausal stuff began in 1994 and yes I did get worse after that, but nothing helped, and by 1996 I was too disabled to work. Four years now have been lost from my life because of iatrogenic disease. My psychiatrist says it is iatrogenic – doctor-caused. Wrong treatment, wrong pills. I no longer have a thyroid, and nothing replaces it correctly. He just listens to me – he cannot help the physical things and the doctors will not. He gives me Xanax, but i worry that it only makes it worse in the long run, causing rebound anxiety when not taken, as it messes up the GABA receptors in the brain. Yet, I guess I will still rely on it for the worst of the spells I have. Without any thyroid of course I cannot survive, but no combination or amount has worked for long, and these other worse conditions have happened one after another including 3 root canals needed for abcesses in the last year, and continued tooth pain. Despite no sugar in my diet for a year. I read in a doctor’s waiting room once that estrogen is used for every part of the body including the teeth. If that is the case could my tooth problems, nerve problems and the rest all be part of the menopause? I was once an expert on this, I wrote a paper on it that was published to high praise, and now I am too confused to figure it out, as nothing makes sense anymore, and my case does not fit any I read about. I don’t even have hot flashes most of the time and they were not a serious problem for me, in retrospect. I do periodically for a few months and then none. The cold spells and shivering are the thing now. And that totally indicates more thyroid needed, and yet the test shows no, I have even excess T4 in the blood. Any ideas, please, would be welcome. I also have fibromyalgia, and iGa nephropathy, both considered nothing by the medical profession, but those were the diagnoses. I live with constant back pain, but that does not affect my life the way the lack of stable hormones does. I lost 35 pounds since last May, when I deliberately lowered my food intake and did yoga. I continue at the lower weight, but do not lose more as I eat everything I feel like now since I so seldom have any appetite and since food causes indigestion. I felt better when I was obese, but I didn’t like the way I looked. Was it a mistake to diet? I no longer have knee problems, as my doctor promised when the weight came off, and my heel spur also went away. If being obese would restore my stable constitution though I’d do it again, except I am now unable to overeat to the required extent, my digestion won’t allow it. I was told to take Xanax, in November, for the attacks of heart pounding and surging which started

… read more »

Response:

I went to my dr. today to get the results of my blood test last week. He won’t give them on the phone. It was very hard driving there, I have constant tremors and they are worsening. However, he dismissed them as well as my shivering and arm and leg weakness, these all have been with me only since early Feb, for no known reason. For the first time he chose not to order a TSH – only a free T4. So, it was 20.8. Normal range is 10.5 to 20.0, so it is just slightly high, but that then might explain why I have felt attacks of hyper adrenaline? And yet, I have felt ill and almost comatose on a lower dose, previously, and was attempting not to be hypothyroid. But he says that 100 mcg is too high and 75 would be too low, so I must now take .88. My last test a few months ago, the free t4 was 18 or high normal, and I was taking 100 then too, and told to stay on 100. Then I was switched by my endocrinologist to a combo of T4 and T3, which was excessive and made me have more heart pounding than usual, and I stopped the T3. I also felt hypo on the divided dose .50-T4, .12-T3 regimen, but more T3 seemed to make me have more sudden bursts of heart pounding. Even with the combined dose, the equivalent I tried to get was 100 mcg a day as it seemed to make me feel less ill and less hypo than other doses. I have years of journals to analyze for symptoms and doses; it has not helped me find an answer. It is always either too high or too low, with a euthyroid feeling appearing so rarely that maybe 2 or 3 times in ten years I have felt it and diarized it as a massively red letter day, virtually a feeling of euphoria. This euthyroid is the way I felt for the rest of my life  the first 45 years until the diseases started. Just able to function and feeling well. So my T4 is slightly high, and I should therefore not have hypo symptoms, which I do still have – feeling suddenly sleepy at any time and falling asleep for an hour or two. (Yet I have insomnia late at night, and spells of hyper, surging, too much unuseable adrenaline coursing through me). Swelling feet and legs, no appetite, hair falling out in my brush and when I wash it in huge clumps, trouble with digestion when I do eat, but the number one hypo symptom I have day and night is freezing cold, shivering, every day, unrelated to the temperature, that nothing will warm up until it passes. It’s an internal thing.  The constant tremors are not always shivering from cold…sometimes I have them together. These are NOT hyper symptoms so why would I think the dose was too high? My basal temperataure, when I get up, has ranged from 97.3 to 98.2, which I believe is normal according to Dr. Broda Barnes. One would think my dose was good. In the past the temperature was in the 96 range, and yet I felt better then, at a lower dose, though I had the hypo symptoms. Someone posted the query, which would you rather be – hypo or hyper? Choosing between them is something I have always had to do, and each one becomes horrific, causing me to go the other way for a time. Can this constant seesawing be causing the new problems? If one has to choose, hypo is less debilitating and life-destroying. One gets fat with painful joints, and slow, and placid, and confused, but there is a calm. And yet, then one is wistful for the energetic bursts, relative fit body and occasional clear thinking one did have even with the accompanying high anxiety, nervous state. As I am trying to explain, now I seem to be both hyper and hypo, but the test says slightly hyper. Besides the T4 test I had an FSH test. A year or so ago it was still normal, 22, now it is 47, which is out of range. Though I have had perimenopausal symptoms – severe ones, and all of them, for 6 years now, my tests were always in the normal range until now. So he gave me estrogen – CES, a ‘natural’ plant based one. He said more women were against Premarin now (which I used to be, but now I don’t care – I just want relief). I will take them, what else can I do? Hoping it will help. I studied this 3 or 4 years ago and was even given both Premarin and CES by doctors at the time of my hot flashes but I did not have good results and stopped them. Now that the hormone levels have changed maybe this is the answer. Does anyone have experience with CES? I have become a querulous, middle aged woman whom no one wants to know about, I suddenly realized in his office when facing his contempt and his lack of sympathy for me as a person, and his dismissing my complete worsening in the last 2 months…..his restating what he always states: "We’ll have to see if this gets the thyroid in range…" In ten years nothing has worked, and currently I am worse than ever before. My health has deteriorated drastically since around last October. The pains, weakness, unsteadiness, tremor are considered ‘essential tremor’ by a neurologist, and fibromyalgia by a rheumatologist, but there is NO treatment for these…until I take the .88 T4 for a while and if I don’t improve then my g.p. will give me a form of propanolol. This is the same thing I took when I first got Graves’ disease in 1989 and before the radiation. Why is this happening? If the T4 level is so  high then why not just stop the thyroid and become completely hypothyroid, that will calm me and make me placid like a cow, and overweight….which is what happened last year, i basically had ONLY intense muscle pain and hot flashes most of the time. No anxiety or heart pounding attacks, tremors or shivering. I don’t MIND hot flashes. I wish that was all I did have again. I learned to accept and deal with them. I cannot deal with a head tremor and weak muscles. Even my jaw feels sprained after chewing; I cannot hold a cup with one hand. If 100 was such a massive dose that it makes me hyper, then why the combined symptoms which include hypo items like hair loss, cold, confusion, cognitive problems with words and memory, and the rest? My God, I am at the end of my rope, and other than an expensive holistic doctor or naturopath, who might have an insight and might just be a quack, there is nowhere else to turn. It is not a simple matter to change doctors. I can barely stand to go to the ones I do have, that already know my complicated case. It is an ordeal, as everything is such an effort now. But my mind objects, wanting a way out of this nightmare. There surely is a first cause somewhere….the only one I know of is the Graves’ disease, the hyperthyroid suddenly in 1989. Everything else followed. I’ve said this before, I was an energetic, smart, normal looking and successful working mother with many friends and a full life and unbounded energy. And after the treatment I still functioned until 1996 when my body just began to be unable to function. The menopausal stuff began in 1994 and yes I did get worse after that, but nothing helped, and by 1996 I was too disabled to work. Four years now have been lost from my life because of iatrogenic disease. My psychiatrist says it is iatrogenic – doctor-caused. Wrong treatment, wrong pills. I no longer have a thyroid, and nothing replaces it correctly. He just listens to me – he cannot help the physical things and the doctors will not. He gives me Xanax, but i worry that it only makes it worse in the long run, causing rebound anxiety when not taken, as it messes up the GABA receptors in the brain. Yet, I guess I will still rely on it for the worst of the spells I have. Without any thyroid of course I cannot survive, but no combination or amount has worked for long, and these other worse conditions have happened one after another including 3 root canals needed for abcesses in the last year, and continued tooth pain. Despite no sugar in my diet for a year. I read in a doctor’s waiting room once that estrogen is used for every part of the body including the teeth. If that is the case could my tooth problems, nerve problems and the rest all be part of the menopause? I was once an expert on this, I wrote a paper on it that was published to high praise, and now I am too confused to figure it out, as nothing makes sense anymore, and my case does not fit any I read about. I don’t even have hot flashes most of the time and they were not a serious problem for me, in retrospect. I do periodically for a few months and then none. The cold spells and shivering are the thing now. And that totally indicates more thyroid needed, and yet the test shows no, I have even excess T4 in the blood. Any ideas, please, would be welcome. I also have fibromyalgia, and iGa nephropathy, both considered nothing by the medical profession, but those were the diagnoses. I live with constant back pain, but that does not affect my life the way the lack of stable hormones does. I lost 35 pounds since last May, when I deliberately lowered my food intake and did yoga. I continue at the lower weight, but do not lose more as I eat everything I feel like now since I so seldom have any appetite and since food causes indigestion. I felt better when I was obese, but I didn’t like the way I looked. Was it a mistake to diet? I no longer have knee problems, as my doctor promised when the weight came off, and my heel spur also went away. If being obese would restore my stable constitution though I’d do it again, except I am now unable to overeat to the required extent, my digestion won’t allow it. I was told to take Xanax, in November, for the attacks of heart pounding and surging which started in October out of the blue. I took it only sporadically as needed for the worst, then was told to take it every day once the tremors became a daily problem, no matter how I felt, but that did not eliminate the tremors. It just makes me apathetic and totally cut off from the world, mentally it shuts down the brain, which no longer cares. As I don’t like that feeling, I don’t take it in big doses as recommended. I wondered if any of this new stuff was really xanax withdrawal or reaction, as it is known to be highly addictive even … read more »

Response:

Question:

Hi Charla, Thanks for the response.  Gradual is ok with me, so just getting past some of the things that would otherwise stress me out even while on xanax is an indication the Zoloft may be doing some good? I’m glad you didn’t mind my ‘oh so detailed’ rambling.  I was a great student in creative writing in highschool. little bear–who is feeling better just from writing that post last night; theraputic, it was  to get all my ducks in a row….especially after all of the crap about Zoloft hitting this board recently. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi Little Bear, I can not translate sorry. But I find your spirit and strength unbeatable in the face of adversary. IME with Zoloft being the first and only AD Ive taken..I could evaluate it helping me in times of trouble..because I did not react as intensly to the stressors. eg. My husband gets layed off,we were living at my moms,a five month old at the time..Snow piling up outside as high as the fence it dawns on me something is working. I was  relaxed and accepting of the circumstance.. I think when you have found the right mg range with the right AD you gradually see results. For me it did not just happen it was a gradual.I did not know when it started working..I just started feeling better. BTW I like your detailed post..:-) Hope all gets better soon Charla — Being safe is about being seen and heard and allowed to be who you are and to speak your truth.                                    —Rachel Naomi Remen,M.D. Hi Everyone! I have been ready to post this for a couple of days now but with all the b*llshit that’s been going on here (of which I admit to being a part of) along with some personal stuff, I just haven’t gotten around to it. I want to let you know how my meds are doing compared to before and just give you my updated condition, and hope to hear from many of you telling me I’m healed  LOL. No, really, just let me know how you think I’m doing as I am a first timer on the AD thing and a long time xanax friend, as well as pain meds which tend also to produce a false sense of well-being. If it were one or the other, I know it would be much simpler to evaluate my progress so please bear with me. (PUN CERTAINLY INTENDED.  ALL RIGHTY THEN, LET’S GET STARTED <g) As you may remember my problems started about 3yrs ago with horrible back pain. I was temporarily living in a town of about 10,000 after being transferred from a mega-city on the west coast.  I saw any and all available docs but I believe I was clearly out of thier league and a bit of a mystery to boot. I had two kids and was a stay at home mom for the first time in my life. (And I’m old <VBG, more than 20 but less than 42). Eventually, after MRI’s and xrays, and limited bloodwork including thyroid, I was told I had no strength in my back and was sent to PT.  This was a joke indeed.  I might as well have been in a 4th grade P.E. class–no hands on, no direction etc.I had no improvement with my back pain but within about 3mos, I had the first of three consecutive PA’s.  Of course, I had no Idea what was happening to me but the ER diagnosed them and a visit to a GP the next day confirmed it. So, that was that; I was given .25mgs xanax twice daily.  I was given very little info about benzos but I assure you, I was miserable enough with the accompaning symptoms (GAD in a nutshell )-) that I would have gladly taken them anyway.  I would have done anything to escape that awful panic/nervousness I was racked with.  And they did the trick. After a year we moved back to the big city.  I became close to a neighbor whos husband had eerily similar symptoms as mine (back and anxiety) and she recommended a doc that was supposedly the finest in his field so I called.  I was desperate by then with my back pain and the panic escalated accordingly.  I was told he was not taking new patients and I quite literally would not hang up, and I cried on the phone basically begging for an appt. until they set me up for 3mos later.  So, I had something to look forward to finally!  This was the time that I thought I could wean off of the xanax (I had learned more about the dependance issue by this time) and I weaned very slowly-or so I thought but I was hit with a series of PA’s almost exactly like the ones a year earlier. A quick call to the doc in the little town on the prairie got me scolded for going off of them with no direction or support and I was back on them but this time at .5mgs 3/day to get the GAD back under control.  I have since (stupidly) tried to stop them again, but I always had other things going on and the GAD was always present so I don’t know what I was thinking except that I wanted to know that I was in control of my own body (I don’t even want to go there). IOW, it was always a huge mistake. In the year since I started seeing this back specialist (he found 3 buldging dics in my back–two in my neck and one in my upper back. He showed me the MRI I had taken in the little town and even I could see them. So, I have endured about 10 cortisone/lidocaine injections either epidural or facet joint injections and have regained full range of motion in my neck and back but the "knife in the back" pain was still there, as painful as ever. When it was clear the injections had done all they could, I was sent on to PT. BTW, this doc is very particular and insists on specific specialists when he refers me, and I go because he obviously knows what he is doing.  I have been seeing a PT doc for about 2mos now and she is marvelous! (So was the shot guy TTTT) My back has been getting better…so much so that I no longer fear some terminal illness the way I constantly used to.  Between the three of these specialists I was finally finding answers to the pain in the back and even relief!   Now, keep in mind, and you might remember I went on Wellbutrin to quit smoking (when hubby had pneumonia in July) and though I did quit smoking (HOORAY FOR ME!!!) the Wellbutrin just about did me in. I was a screaming, sweaty, panicky mess–24hrs a day for about 9wks I think. To be fair, for those of you who are new to this group, I was warned by some of our veterans about Wellbutrin and that it would not be a good choice for someone already suffering anxiety. But for a few reasons, I took it anyway, quit smoking and proved our experts to be experts.  I reacted word for word the way I was warned I would. It was awful but YMMV when it comes to meds. It just wasn’t right for me.  I was then put on Zoloft 50mgs daily and was still getting better in the back pain department.  I had no bad side effects from the Zoloft (some sweating and a little irritablity at first but was immediately better when I put down the Wellbutrin so it’s difficult to say whether it was getting off the W and on the Z or both.  Anyway, out of the blue during PT, it was discovered I have an internal impingement on my right shoulder.  Off to another specialist who says no more PT until he fixes my shoulder either with cortisone injections or simple surgery. H gave me a shot in the bursa? and my elbow was stuck to my waistline for a week. Right arm too….bummer.  The problem is that while I am away from ‘hands on’ PT, my back muscles go back into spasms and my neck tightens up and all of the progress I’ve made is fading quickly.  I am having a bit more difficulty getting in touch with the shoulder doc so no MRI has been scheduled yet and I’m hanging in limbo.  My PT is frustrated for obvious reasons–things were going so well. Let me be clear on something here: when I say my back got so much better, it is to say that the pain went from unbearable to bearable and I was able to move again and because of that progress, I was mentally more at ease (and I always believed the pain caused the anxiety since I could think of nothing else).  Anyway, during the Wellbutrin phase, I was up to the max xanax dose for me 2.5-3mgs daily. It was awful. With the Zoloft, so far 5-6wks? I am down to .25mgs 3/day. But I can feel the urge to take more while I go through the return of the back pain and watching all that progress go down the drain. I may need to go up another .25 each day–either that or chew my lips off, grit my teeth (Oh yeah, I had 3 crowns done last month-I consider dental work a setback just for existing!) or get angry all the time, etc.  See, I was so looking forward to the AD taking over for the xanax–I just knew that Zoloft was the answer.  I feel sorta good on it; I am cautiously optimistic. Now I don’t know what to expect or how I should proceed. I know I have bored you silly—-I don’t know why my posts are always so long.  I guess I don’t want to miss anything and then I read your posts that are so clear and concise and to the point……But I had so many points <BG I look forward to your observations regarding the Zoloft, how much better do you think I should expect to get. How do I know if it’s the right one for me, and isn’t it a bitch that just when I might be able to pull everything together, half of it falls apart. I’m not going to know if the Zoloft helps my anxiety until I have a normal, calm, regular period of time in my life to evaluate it. What I mean is, the thought of the back pain returning in it’s original form is enough to scare the crap out of me. And then there’s the holidays….OMG, don’t know if I am going to make it. Thanks everyone who took the time to read this in it’s entirety.  I look forward to any responses at all. little bear–who

… read more »

Response:

Hi Cheryl, I  have responded in length to other’s posts to this thread and I guess I’ve said all that can be said (hopefully, ASAP is secretely thinking). But thanks for sharing your coffee with me this morning and for your kind words. The "Jim Carrey on Acid:" cracked me up.  See, I can be cracked up. That hasn’t been true for months and months.  Thank you for your prayers, I believe they help–I really do. little bear-who needs a nap now (see you in 6mo) NOT :0} – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Little Bear,   I wish I could help you with the Zoloft issue…but I am on Remeron and I have been on Wellbutrin and it made me nuts!  Jim Carrey on Acid so to speak!  Anyway, your story brought tears to my eyes.  I can identify, being chronically ill myself.  I know the vicious vicious cycles it produces, the one illness festering into another into another.  I am on pain meds myself and the "false sense of well being" really hit me.  When I take them it’s the ONLY time I feel "normal."  Little Bear, you have been through so much and I think you have maintained your sense of self, humor and faith. Just know you are not alone…and I am here and we are all here for you. And I love long posts, I kick back with the old cup of coffee and feel like you are right in my living room.  God bless you, friend.  I will keep you in my prayers and mostly in my thoughts. Hi Everyone! I have been ready to post this for a couple of days now but with all the b*llshit that’s been going on here (of which I admit to being a part of) along with some personal stuff, I just haven’t gotten around to it. I want to let you know how my meds are doing compared to before and just give you my updated condition, and hope to hear from many of you telling me I’m healed  LOL. No, really, just let me know how you think I’m doing as I am a first timer on the AD thing and a long time xanax friend, as well as pain meds which tend also to produce a false sense of well-being. If it were one or the other, I know it would be much simpler to evaluate my progress so please bear with me. (PUN CERTAINLY INTENDED.  ALL RIGHTY THEN, LET’S GET STARTED <g) As you may remember my problems started about 3yrs ago with horrible back pain. I was temporarily living in a town of about 10,000 after being transferred from a mega-city on the west coast.  I saw any and all available docs but I believe I was clearly out of thier league and a bit of a mystery to boot. I had two kids and was a stay at home mom for the first time in my life. (And I’m old <VBG, more than 20 but less than 42). Eventually, after MRI’s and xrays, and limited bloodwork including thyroid, I was told I had no strength in my back and was sent to PT.  This was a joke indeed.  I might as well have been in a 4th grade P.E. class–no hands on, no direction etc.I had no improvement with my back pain but within about 3mos, I had the first of three consecutive PA’s.  Of course, I had no Idea what was happening to me but the ER diagnosed them and a visit to a GP the next day confirmed it. So, that was that; I was given .25mgs xanax twice daily.  I was given very little info about benzos but I assure you, I was miserable enough with the accompaning symptoms (GAD in a nutshell )-) that I would have gladly taken them anyway.  I would have done anything to escape that awful panic/nervousness I was racked with.  And they did the trick. After a year we moved back to the big city.  I became close to a neighbor whos husband had eerily similar symptoms as mine (back and anxiety) and she recommended a doc that was supposedly the finest in his field so I called.  I was desperate by then with my back pain and the panic escalated accordingly.  I was told he was not taking new patients and I quite literally would not hang up, and I cried on the phone basically begging for an appt. until they set me up for 3mos later.  So, I had something to look forward to finally!  This was the time that I thought I could wean off of the xanax (I had learned more about the dependance issue by this time) and I weaned very slowly-or so I thought but I was hit with a series of PA’s almost exactly like the ones a year earlier. A quick call to the doc in the little town on the prairie got me scolded for going off of them with no direction or support and I was back on them but this time at .5mgs 3/day to get the GAD back under control.  I have since (stupidly) tried to stop them again, but I always had other things going on and the GAD was always present so I don’t know what I was thinking except that I wanted to know that I was in control of my own body (I don’t even want to go there). IOW, it was always a huge mistake. In the year since I started seeing this back specialist (he found 3 buldging dics in my back–two in my neck and one in my upper back. He showed me the MRI I had taken in the little town and even I could see them. So, I have endured about 10 cortisone/lidocaine injections either epidural or facet joint injections and have regained full range of motion in my neck and back but the "knife in the back" pain was still there, as painful as ever. When it was clear the injections had done all they could, I was sent on to PT. BTW, this doc is very particular and insists on specific specialists when he refers me, and I go because he obviously knows what he is doing.  I have been seeing a PT doc for about 2mos now and she is marvelous! (So was the shot guy TTTT) My back has been getting better…so much so that I no longer fear some terminal illness the way I constantly used to.  Between the three of these specialists I was finally finding answers to the pain in the back and even relief!   Now, keep in mind, and you might remember I went on Wellbutrin to quit smoking (when hubby had pneumonia in July) and though I did quit smoking (HOORAY FOR ME!!!) the Wellbutrin just about did me in. I was a screaming, sweaty, panicky mess–24hrs a day for about 9wks I think. To be fair, for those of you who are new to this group, I was warned by some of our veterans about Wellbutrin and that it would not be a good choice for someone already suffering anxiety. But for a few reasons, I took it anyway, quit smoking and proved our experts to be experts.  I reacted word for word the way I was warned I would. It was awful but YMMV when it comes to meds. It just wasn’t right for me.  I was then put on Zoloft 50mgs daily and was still getting better in the back pain department.  I had no bad side effects from the Zoloft (some sweating and a little irritablity at first but was immediately better when I put down the Wellbutrin so it’s difficult to say whether it was getting off the W and on the Z or both.  Anyway, out of the blue during PT, it was discovered I have an internal impingement on my right shoulder.  Off to another specialist who says no more PT until he fixes my shoulder either with cortisone injections or simple surgery. H gave me a shot in the bursa? and my elbow was stuck to my waistline for a week. Right arm too….bummer.  The problem is that while I am away from ‘hands on’ PT, my back muscles go back into spasms and my neck tightens up and all of the progress I’ve made is fading quickly.  I am having a bit more difficulty getting in touch with the shoulder doc so no MRI has been scheduled yet and I’m hanging in limbo.  My PT is frustrated for obvious reasons–things were going so well. Let me be clear on something here: when I say my back got so much better, it is to say that the pain went from unbearable to bearable and I was able to move again and because of that progress, I was mentally more at ease (and I always believed the pain caused the anxiety since I could think of nothing else).  Anyway, during the Wellbutrin phase, I was up to the max xanax dose for me 2.5-3mgs daily.  It was awful. With the Zoloft, so far 5-6wks? I am down to .25mgs 3/day. But I can feel the urge to take more while I go through the return of the back pain and watching all that progress go down the drain. I may need to go up another .25 each day–either that or chew my lips off, grit my teeth (Oh yeah, I had 3 crowns done last month-I consider dental work a setback just for existing!) or get angry all the time, etc.  See, I was so looking forward to the AD taking over for the xanax–I just knew that Zoloft was the answer.  I feel sorta good on it; I am cautiously optimistic. Now I don’t know what to expect or how I should proceed. I know I have bored you silly—-I don’t know why my posts are always so long.  I guess I don’t want to miss anything and then I read your posts that are so clear and concise and to the point……But I had so many points <BG I look forward to your observations regarding the Zoloft, how much better do you think I should expect to get. How do I know if it’s the right one for me, and isn’t it a bitch that just when I might be able to pull everything together, half of it falls apart. I’m not going to know if the Zoloft helps my anxiety until I have a normal, calm, regular period of time in my life to evaluate it. What I mean is, the thought of the back pain returning in it’s original form is enough to scare the crap out of me. And then there’s the holidays….OMG, don’t know if I am going to make it. Thanks everyone who took the time to read this in it’s entirety.  I look forward to any

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Response:

Hi Chip, Good to hear from you!  First of all, don’t I know how complicated my situation is.  That is why it is so difficult to get a handle on any progress made and being terrified to let any of it go (the back thing). Let me itemize a bit. Smoking-easy as could be to stop, never had an urge since. Can take it or leave it for friends and family–would never preach. I always take my meds as prescribed. Never one for the other or vice versa. I do not drink alcohol at all anymore. I used to love it. Problem is, I take pain meds and xanax from the time I get up in the AM every four hours. I am on a pain mgt program so I don’t wait for the pain.  And I just happen to take the xanax at the same time. So if I were to lack one or the other, it would feel the same I’ve been living with the back and shoulder thing for 3yrs, it is better than it has ever been–and I’m mentally better for it, but I also fear a huge setback if this shoulder thing isn’t taken care of soon. I’m comfortable with all of my docs–no added anxiety there, though the shoulder guy could use a better bedside manner and might have warned me about the shoulder pain that resulted from the injection. Also, I would be less stressed if he would call back so we can get going on this. Ironically, my old insurance runs out end of Nov. and is currently paying 100% due I have met max out of pocket for year (boy, that says something doesn’t it?) Holiday season? Can’t avoid it, can I.  So I’ll just blow them away with gourmet stuffings and mouth watering desserts.  Nothing traditional–I need to occupy my mind and feed my ego <VBG.  I got through my husbands near fatal illness this summer without a scratch. You were all a tremendous help (for the 40th time). My husband is the kind of man who takes me as I am. The other morning (the shoulder morning) I walked into the bathroom when he was showering and said, "you know, I think you may want to trade me in on a newer model with a good warranty program, as it seems I’m falling apart a little more each day".  He said, "yeah, but if I recall, I got a lifetime guarantee when I married you". I bitch about him sometimes but he is head and shoulders above any other man I (personally know). And I love him dearly with never a doubt he feels the same way.  How do I rate my recovery?  Well, I feel real happiness for the first time in a long time. I get through situations normally considered difficult, with much more ease. I can go a bit longer between xanax doses. Yesterday I went 7 1/2 hrs (and though you may think they would, pain meds do not control anxiety at all!) And I no longer feel euphoria when taking my pain meds–that pleasant effect lasted a very short time……so I take them on the theory that if I don’t and my back flares up, we can undo much of what we have accomplished.  Much like the situation I face with the shoulder.  My PT is so upset–she could probably use about .25mgs Well Chip, you said all comments were welcome and I handed you a few to get started with but if I had to grade myself it would probably look something like this:  1996-F   1997-F  1998-F 1999 C+ / B- depending on the day–now that is just for my mental state and anxiety. Unfortunately, since my mental outlook depends so much on my physical health, it’s like a yo-yo.  Oh, yeah, nearly forgot–before the Zoloft, I had constant fears of having cancer or any one of 20 different horrible diseases. I tortured myself with thoughts of ‘who will take care of my family when I go’. That seems silly to me now, but it was very real believe me.  I also think the Zoloft has given me the gift of GAB as it works to control the gift of GAD. little bear Little Bear, I know for my recurrant depression and panic anxiety (with agoraphobia) I need a "cocktail" of meds including Klonopin 2 mg/day, Zoloft 150 mg/day, desipramine 50 mg/day, and p.r.n.  Xanax ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 mg/day. It can take time to find the right mixture of meds to make you feel better. And that mixture can change from time to time as your body adjusts to the chronic administration of your meds. You have the additional problems of back and shoulder pain which makes your situation even more complex than mine. I would advise taking pain meds for pain, and anti-anxiety meds for anxiety. I.E. don’t take more Xanax because you have increased back or shoulder pain! (take pain meds) It’s difficult for me to judge how you are doing because you have introduded so many variables into your equation (panic anxiety, cig smoking, back and shoulder pain, fear of "terminal" illness, stress over husband’s illness this past summer,  multiple care providers, upcoming holiday season, etc). Plus, you are married to a man and I know how difficult we can be to live with sometimes! How would you translate your progress? How are you feeling these days? How do you think you are doing? All comments and observations are welcome!! You seem to be in good spirits. Chip my progress? Hi Everyone! I have been ready to post this for a couple of days now but with all the b*llshit that’s been going on here (of which I admit to being a part of) along with some personal stuff, I just haven’t gotten around to it. I want to let you know how my meds are doing compared to before and just give you my updated condition, and hope to hear from many of you telling me I’m healed LOL. No, really, just let me know how you think I’m doing as I am a first timer on the AD thing and a long time xanax friend, as well as pain meds which tend also to produce a false sense of well-being. If it were one or the other, I know it would be much simpler to evaluate my progress so please bear with me. (PUN CERTAINLY INTENDED. ALL RIGHTY THEN, LET’S GET STARTED <g) As you may remember my problems started about 3yrs ago with horrible back pain. I was temporarily living in a town of about 10,000 after being transferred from a mega-city on the west coast. I saw any and all available docs but I believe I was clearly out of thier league and a bit of a mystery to boot. I had two kids and was a stay at home mom for the first time in my life. (And I’m old <VBG, more than 20 but less than 42). Eventually, after MRI’s and xrays, and limited bloodwork including thyroid, I was told I had no strength in my back and was sent to PT. This was a joke indeed. I might as well have been in a 4th grade P.E. class–no hands on, no direction etc.I had no improvement with my back pain but within about 3mos, I had the first of three consecutive PA’s. Of course, I had no Idea what was happening to me but the ER diagnosed them and a visit to a GP the next day confirmed it. So, that was that; I was given .25mgs xanax twice daily. I was given very little info about benzos but I assure you, I was miserable enough with the accompaning symptoms (GAD in a nutshell )-) that I would have gladly taken them anyway. I would have done anything to escape that awful panic/nervousness I was racked with. And they did the trick. After a year we moved back to the big city. I became close to a neighbor whos husband had eerily similar symptoms as mine (back and anxiety) and she recommended a doc that was supposedly the finest in his field so I called. I was desperate by then with my back pain and the panic escalated accordingly. I was told he was not taking new patients and I quite literally would not hang up, and I cried on the phone basically begging for an appt. until they set me up for 3mos later. So, I had something to look forward to finally! This was the time that I thought I could wean off of the xanax (I had learned more about the dependance issue by this time) and I weaned very slowly-or so I thought but I was hit with a series of PA’s almost exactly like the ones a year earlier. A quick call to the doc in the little town on the prairie got me scolded for going off of them with no direction or support and I was back on them but this time at .5mgs 3/day to get the GAD back under control. I have since (stupidly) tried to stop them again, but I always had other things going on and the GAD was always present so I don’t know what I was thinking except that I wanted to know that I was in control of my own body (I don’t even want to go there). IOW, it was always a huge mistake. In the year since I started seeing this back specialist (he found 3 buldging dics in my back–two in my neck and one in my upper back. He showed me the MRI I had taken in the little town and even I could see them. So, I have endured about 10 cortisone/lidocaine injections either epidural or facet joint injections and have regained full range of motion in my neck and back but the "knife in the back" pain was still there, as painful as ever. When it was clear the injections had done all they could, I was sent on to PT. BTW, this doc is very particular and insists on specific specialists when he refers me, and I go because he obviously knows what he is doing. I have been seeing a PT doc for about 2mos now and she is marvelous! (So was the shot guy TTTT) My back has been getting better…so much so that I no longer fear some terminal illness the way I constantly used to. Between the three of these specialists I was finally finding answers to the pain in the back and even relief!

Question:

HELP! I just got an email on Zoloft not warning public about depression being a side effect and the Phil Hartman family is suing cuz his wife was on Zoloft….course she was also on cocaine and alcohol when she shot him. Anyway my breathing symptom has made me depressed and yesterday I had some pretty hard thoughts about my depression. I not a depressed person I dont think and I even posted this. I know the media likes to exagerate any meds sometimes like they say prozac causes violence (probably Littleton teen were on meds).Anyway would like feedback. Hey if it block my pa’s its a great drug for me. Take care Brenda in her fourth week of Zoloft.

Typical, she was stoned out of her brain on coke and booze, but the And in the high school shooting the guys involved were taunted etc for years, but because one was on Luvox, naturally the med was And for a long time Prozac was the "demon" med from hell because some of it’s users commited suicide, totally ignoring the fact that about 20% of those with emotional disorders try this, thats why many were on BULLSHIT!!! Ian

Response:

thnaks for reminding me how hypersensitive we are to news. Listen to this news flash….. (since we are so hypersensitive to suggestion) SSRI are making people well again….drug companies will probably lower the costs Society accredite psych drugs  to helping people get along…no more wars Studies show after year of the stigma of pschologically challenged people find out they had all the answers…. The PDOC were more informed (due to med that gives you PD for one year before you can become a PDOC) prayer brought back into school road ragers given tickets and script for Prozac and Cowboys actually had a better season…..welll maybe not that one

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -thnaks for reminding me how hypersensitive we are to news. Listen to this news flash….. (since we are so hypersensitive to suggestion) SSRI are making people well again….drug companies will probably lower the costs Society accredite psych drugs  to helping people get along…no more wars Studies show after year of the stigma of pschologically challenged people find out they had all the answers…. The PDOC were more informed (due to med that gives you PD for one year before you can become a PDOC) prayer brought back into school road ragers given tickets and script for Prozac and Cowboys actually had a better season…..welll maybe not that one

LOL. But this could happen if a certain "herb" is legalised!!!! But, maybe not, IME most journos are already supplementing their alcohol intake with one or other of the "feel good"  *meds* not normally available at you friendly neighbourhood pharmacy. Ian

Response:

HELP! I just got an email on Zoloft not warning public about depression being a side effect and the Phil Hartman family is suing cuz his wife was on Zoloft….course she was also on cocaine and alcohol when she shot him. Anyway my breathing symptom has made me depressed and yesterday I had some pretty hard thoughts about my depression. I not a depressed person I dont think and I even posted this. I know the media likes to exagerate any meds sometimes like they say prozac causes violence (probably Littleton teen were on meds).Anyway would like feedback. Hey if it block my pa’s its a great drug for me. Take care Brenda in her fourth week of Zoloft.

Response:

Hi Brenda…I also, read this is in the paper(about HArtman’s wife) but as you already mentioned…she was on cocaine as well….i would more than likely blame the coke.  I’ve been on Zoloft for 5 years, and it did not alter me a a person. Kerrie

Response:

If you suddenly start collecting firearms and have a desire for black trench coats then you should stop the meds.  Imo anybody who commits acts of violence is predisposed to the meds are an excuse.  If the dose of an ad is too high people can get hypomanic or a little uncaring a little too spontaneous a little too too-but most people with anxiety could use that little too too so don’t sweat the se of these drugs liten up stop reading this shit and try and relax–if the med isn’t working for you in a few more weeks try another or give it up.  Everybody looks for real stupid excuses for peoples stupid behavior this woem killed a man she’s nuts-period- the kids in co. were off the fn wall there is no excuse just real sick minds.  These meds are scary but taking asprin is scary too no?  Watching the news and reading this stuff when highly sensitized makes you feel ill–so don’t do it for a while LM

Response:

I’ve been on Zoloft for 6 years and I haven’t killed anyone (yet).  :-) My, we’re a suggestable lot. And we have so many side effects to pick from. Sometimes I just read the PDR and wonder if I have the symptoms listed. Sometime I do. But other times I’m not  sure (but I  never eliminate the possibility that I might!). I also do the "what if" thing. That’s when I don’t have the symptom, but I start wondering "what if"   if I did get the symptom. (Just because I don’t have it now is no guarantee I won’t have it in the future!). And there’s another part of that "what if" thing: that’s when I read the side effects, and don’t have them, but I say "what if" I DO HAVE them, but I just don’t realize I have them. Well, I better go now. I feel like I need to throw up.  Also I’ve been thinking about the woman on Zoloft who killed her husband. What was her dose? I’m on a pretty low dose, I hope. I don’t have any guns in the house, but I keep a baseball bat under the bed in case of burglars. I’ve never heard of anyone killing himself with a baseball bat, BUT, "what if" it’s possible? Sometimes I think I worry too much. But, other times I say "what if" I never worried. Now thats got me worried. Are they sure it was the Zoloft that did it? Even if they don’t know for sure, it could have been. Probably was.  : – )

Response:

HELP! I just got an email on Zoloft not warning public about depression being a side effect and the Phil Hartman family is suing cuz his wife was on Zoloft….course she was also on cocaine and alcohol when she shot him. Anyway my breathing symptom has made me depressed and yesterday I had some pretty hard thoughts about my depression. I not a depressed person I dont think and I even posted this. I know the media likes to exagerate any meds sometimes like they say prozac causes violence (probably Littleton teen were on meds).Anyway would like feedback. Hey if it block my pa’s its a great drug for me. Take care Brenda in her fourth week of Zoloft.

I would continue with the Zoloft if I were you. It’s still early days. Zoloft is an *antidepressant* so it’s more likely to counteract than to cause depression although it possibly can occur as a very are adverse effect. If depression was a documented side effect of Zoloft, the manufacturer would have mentioned it in the insert were it only to be legally covered just in case. The media hype around SSRI’s and violence can safely be ignored IMO. Let them change education and the school system and a few other things about contemporary society g, that’s where the real problems are. People do all kinds of things while being on meds or not – any causality is highly unlikely. You are, like most of us, a sensitive soul and a med phobic but please give Zoloft time – after another four weeks you will either feel *much* better or know for sure that Zoloft is not the med for you. My money is on success. Philip

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Question:

Anyone have good ways of dealing with sexual dysfunction as a side effect from meds? Thanks, Rick Wagner You haven’t mentioned the meds you are on.  If youwant an informed answer please provide adequate information. Roy 46, still bipolar, and tried EVERY med you ever even heard of.

Presently on Depakote and Effexor. Didn’t mention particular med because so many seem to have this effect. I know I had the problem on at least Paxil and Triavil in combo with various others. Rick

Response:

Roy 46, still bipolar, and tried EVERY med you ever even heard of.

Um, two things:   How about carbamide peroxide? (No fair looking in your Merck or PDR.)   Roy, you wrote a rather contradictory signature in another recent message.   You wrote "still bipolar, but getting very depressed" — the "but" implies   that you somehow make a distinction between depression and one of the   poles that make up "bipolar".  Now, this distinction might make no   difference whatsoever to you, however if you replace "but" with "and",   well, I reckon you know what is most effective for you. Zoz

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Anyone have good ways of dealing with sexual dysfunction as a side effect from meds? Thanks, Rick Wagner Rick: I had the same problem on anti-depressants such as Prozac,Effexor, Zolloft etc. I switched to Serzone and found that the problem is nearly non-existent( after 2 years of dysfunction I do believe that I have some residual psychologcal dysfunction at times). Also the nurses at my PDoc’s office said that there is a drug to help this…ask your Doc. Good Luck Joe I was like both of you,sexual dysfunction,my doc put me on Wellbutrin and  no more dysfunction!….Bill

Wellbutrin, effexor and zoloft increased my sexual feelings greatly. Unfortunately they made me cycle about every hour! Too bad! julie – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Anyone have good ways of dealing with sexual dysfunction as a side effect from meds? Thanks, Rick Wagner I was like both of you,sexual dysfunction,my doc put me on Wellbutrin and  no more dysfunction!….Bill Wellbutrin, effexor and zoloft increased my sexual feelings greatly. Unfortunately they made me cycle about every hour! Too bad! julie

Wellbutrin kicked my sex drive into overdrive, too – my husband loves it! I also heard recently that a new drug, Wellbutrin SR, is being submitted to the FDA for approval. It is not supposed to have the sexual side effects that Wellbutrin has. My question is, why would anyone want to take it? But seriously, has anyone out there ever experienced _adverse_ sexual side effects on Wellbutrin? nancy

Response:

Nancy, I too have had very positive reaction on Wellbutrin. I had been on a "sexual desert" with Effexor and Zoloft. Effexor stopped my monthly cycle for the 5 months that I took it also…. Good Luck,  Sally – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – says… Anyone have good ways of dealing with sexual dysfunction as a side effect from meds? Thanks, Rick Wagner I was like both of you,sexual dysfunction,my doc put me on Wellbutrin and  no more dysfunction!….Bill Wellbutrin, effexor and zoloft increased my sexual feelings greatly. Unfortunately they made me cycle about every hour! Too bad! julie Wellbutrin kicked my sex drive into overdrive, too – my husband loves it! I also heard recently that a new drug, Wellbutrin SR, is being submitted to the FDA for approval. It is not supposed to have the sexual side effects that Wellbutrin has. My question is, why would anyone want to take it? But seriously, has anyone out there ever experienced _adverse_ sexual side effects on Wellbutrin? nancy

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Anyone have good ways of dealing with sexual dysfunction as a side effect from meds? Thanks, Rick Wagner Rick: I had the same problem on anti-depressants such as Prozac,Effexor, Zolloft etc. I switched to Serzone and found that the problem is nearly non-existent( after 2 years of dysfunction I do believe that I have some residual psychologcal dysfunction at times). Also the nurses at my PDoc’s office said that there is a drug to help this…ask your Doc. Good Luck Joe

I was like both of you,sexual dysfunction,my doc put me on Wellbutrin and  no more dysfunction!….Bill

Response:

Anyone have good ways of dealing with sexual dysfunction as a side effect from meds? Several of our standard meds cause various problems. Between my wife’s meds and mine, we have managed to (sort of) have sex twice in the past year. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks, Rick Wagner

Response:

Anyone have good ways of dealing with sexual dysfunction as a side effect from meds? Thanks, Rick Wagner

Rick: I had the same problem on anti-depressants such as Prozac,Effexor, Zolloft etc. I switched to Serzone and found that the problem is nearly non-existent( after 2 years of dysfunction I do believe that I have some residual psychologcal dysfunction at times). Also the nurses at my PDoc’s office said that there is a drug to help this…ask your Doc. Good Luck Joe

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