Question:

Hi Relating to Medic Alert bracelets:  Does anyone else wear them?  I have moderate to severe asthma, and am on periodic bursts of prednisone, but not on any maintainance doses.  I also use flovent 220 4 puffs a day. Does anyone think this would be a situation requiring one – and if so what would it say?  Asthma, corticosteroid use?  I don’t have a clue, although some friends have suggested I should wear one. Thanks for any help. Sherry

Response:

Hi Relating to Medic Alert bracelets:  Does anyone else wear them?  I have moderate to severe asthma, and am on periodic bursts of prednisone, but not on any maintainance doses.  I also use flovent 220 4 puffs a day. Does anyone think this would be a situation requiring one – and if so what would it say?  Asthma, corticosteroid use?  I don’t have a clue, although some friends have suggested I should wear one. Thanks for any help. Sherry

I wear a Medic Alert necklace, with the medallion hanging in back. The engraving just says ‘asthma’ plus an ID # plus a phone # to call for more info. My personal info and drug useage is on file with Medic Alert. I am on Low dose inhaled steroids (6 pf Vanceril/day). Your dose of Flovent 220 is in the High dose category (3 pf Flovent 220/day) so I would be inclined to add ’steroid dependent’. You are also considered steroid dependent if you have used oral steroids in the last 6-12 mo. The tag could be very useful to emergency personnel if you were in an accident. Ellis

Response:

I’ve got one.  My asthma isn’t all that bad, but my parents would prefer that if I end up in an emergency situation, the doctors know that I have asthma and to be aware of that fact.  Of course, I’m also allergic to any form of penicillian and any sulfa-type antibiotics, so that’s on there too.  I guess all of these are pretty important, so that was my Christmas present last year.   When you fill out their paperwork, they ask what medications you take and who your doctors are, along with who to contact.  Personally, being away at college (for the next 2 years, anyway) and not having family close, I kind of appreciate the thouroghness of the system.  If I were in an accident, or needed emergency care, the bracelet knows more than my friends, and probably more than my parents would remember janet

Response:

Question:

My left ear has been ringing off and on for the last couple of weeks.  There also seems to be pressure and slight pain around my ear.  I’ve had a sinus infection in the past on my left side that caused my jaw to hurt.  Is it possible that the ringing in my ear is caused by a sinus infection?  I’ve read up on Tinnitus and I am very worried about what I’ve read.  The folks who have gotten it still have it and there is no cure.  I have an appt. with an ENT in 10 days but am concerned that a sinus infection may cause permanent damage if not treated immediately.  Anyone have any experience with ear problems related to a sinus infection?

Response:

Yes- I have it. I thought I was the only one. On certain days, my ears ring off the hook and make me crazier than I already am. I find that if I take a hot shower, it relieves it somewhat. I keep trying to tell the doctors that I can "hear" all the fluid in my head but they just ignore me.

Response:

Andy, in my case, the ringing in my left ear is directly related to my sinus condition, also on the left side. On "good" sinus days, the ringing is low, on "bad" sinus days (heavy pressure and headaches) the ringing is very loud.  If you’ve had a recent sinus infection, do research to find out how you can return them to a healthy state.  Sinus problems are complicated and it seems  they’re very unique to each of us so the same cure is not the same for everyone. Good luck Brad

Response:

yes…i hear what your saying..i have been getting this horrible pain and ringing in my right ear for days now.. it comes and goes.. most of the probs with the ear canal is post nasal drip… i also get the numbing of the neck and stiff neck from it.. any one else out there get a stiff neck and numbing of the neck area off and on?.. but yeah man i hear you on the ear thing..no doubt about it..                Nate   (jersey)

Response:

when you "hear the fluid in your head, does it sound like a "squeaking" type sound or like someone is rubbing something in your ears.. almost like the sound of someone rubbing a balloon? it may sound crazy but thats what i experience…                please let me know a.s.a.p…!!!                nate  (jersey)

Response:

The noise I hear is a high pitched hiss

Response:

In article <s4fngl8tgs…@corp.supernews.com

,

  "Andy Alshouse" <aalsho…@opticalsolutions.com

wrote: My left ear has been ringing off and on for the last couple of

weeks.  There

also seems to be pressure and slight pain around my ear.  I’ve had a

sinus

infection in the past on my left side that caused my jaw to hurt.  Is

it

possible that the ringing in my ear is caused by a sinus infection?

I’ve

read up on Tinnitus and I am very worried about what I’ve read.  The

folks

who have gotten it still have it and there is no cure.  I have an

ay cause

permanent damage if not treated immediately.  Anyone have any

I am just getting over a bad sinus infection with ear infection and I also have the hissing noise in the ears now.  I don’t think it will ever go away it is something one will have to live with.  I bought a nature sounds machine and listen to that to cover the noise works well.  There is no cure for tinnitus, my husband has it too.  Just another thing to live with.  Luc…@aol.com

with ear problems related to a sinus infection?

— Re:  Serevent and Flovent.  My biggest problem is not being permitted to Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/ Before you buy.

Response:

Question:

Hi Everyone,     Has anyone contacted Influenza while taking Singulair?  I had influenza for around 6 days and looking for others to correspond with. Sincerely, Sandy

Response:

Hi Everyone,     Has anyone contacted Influenza while taking Singulair?  I had influenza for around 6 days and looking for others to correspond with.

Yep, pretty sure I’ve got the flu now.  It’s wreaking havoc with my asthma and I almost ended up in the ER yesterday.  Once I took all my meds and doubled my inhaled steroid, I got my peak flows *UP* to 80% of normal. This is still not as bad as the last time I got the flu when I wasn’t taking Singulair.    I’m only on my third day though. Loki

Response:

I started taking Singulaire in Aug./98, also had the flu shot, did not catch the flu this year. I don’t think Singulaire should have any bearing on catching the flu at all.  Singulaire is to stop the process which causes inflamation and the flu is of course a virus that enters the system.

Response:

Hi Everyone,     Has anyone contacted Influenza while taking Singulair?  I had influenza for around 6 days and looking for others to correspond with. Sincerely, Sandy

Hi,I have been on singular for about 10months and had the flu 2 times on it.I was real sick with the flu but,my asthma thank God was not affected by it.In fact, I did peak flow readings and had the best readings I have ever had.Go figure huh?This last flu I had a cough and it is still there the cough but,I understand it hangs for about 2weeks.I thought Oh,no,I wondered if it was congestion but,each time I coughed it was clear breathing.Then the peak flows were very good. I feel like stronger in my breathing since I have been on singular.I know it is doing something good for me.I guess some people dont feel it did anything for them.I hope you have had success on the singular and stay well.Leona

Response:

Question:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – X-No-archive: yes Hi, I posted here almost 2 years ago after suffering a series of panic attacks and extreme anxiety for abt 6 months. Months later, the anxiety is still around, though not as severe. I never had any treatment and it seemed to subside, although my eating habits have remained permanently screwed up. I’ve also had to deal with chronic severe endometriosis, which I finally had treatment for this year, so it has been fairly tough!! My problem is that I am due to begin my Honours year in psychology (ironic? I think so) next year and, to put it frankly, I am terrified that the anxiety is going to come back a lot worse. I already feel sick and shaky thinking about it, and I feel myself getting more and more agitated as the end of the year draws closer. This time, I want to take some kind of medication to help me through it, but I’m unsure when I should see a doctor and request it — since the university year runs from March – November here, I’m thinking early January, so I’ll have the chance to find something that will work hopefully and give it a chance to kick in? I want medication because, looking back, I can remember instances of extreme anxiety dating back to when I was 5 years old, which kinda suggests to me that it might be some kind of neurotransmitter imbalance as opposed to something learnt or directly environmentally triggered. I’ve had this all of my life, and it’s only now that it’s really starting to drive me crazy. I’m so scared I won’t find a med that will work for me. My fingers are just crossed that I will! Any advice on the kind of medication to take? I know that it varies, but I have friends who have taken Zoloft for anxiety and found it very effective, and I’m a little wary of Aropax (Paxil) due to the withdrawal symptoms I have heard about. Any comments/advice would most appreciated. Take care xxxxxxxx

I just started taking klonopin.  It is a benzo.  I like the ideas of benzo because if you have side effects or do not like them you simply stop and they are not in your system forever.  Like SSRI like Prozac Zoloft Celexa paxil all take at least 2 to 3 weeks of nasty side effects and making anxiety worse before you feel any relief  then if you feel you cannot stand the side effects and stop they stay in your system for like 2 or more weeks still!  Benzo is just a fancy term for tranquilizer.  I take .25 Klonopin once in the morning and once at night.  I have only been on it a week but like it so far. Also Benzo family work instantly like the very first pill you take it reduces anxiety.  The only thing is the firs day or so you may feel a little tired while you body adjusts.  Then the sleepiness for me went away but the anti anxiety calm feeling is staying so far! Good Luck! Dustin

Response:

Cool Dustin, I am glad it is working for you.  Good luck when you put the dosage up again. If it is working now, it will continue to work for you when you add a bit more, then you can concentrate on your "baby steps" getting out in that big wide world again! Take care Imogen

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – X-No-archive: yes Hi, I posted here almost 2 years ago after suffering a series of panic attacks and extreme anxiety for abt 6 months. Months later, the anxiety is still around, though not as severe. I never had any treatment and it seemed to subside, although my eating habits have remained permanently screwed up. I’ve also had to deal with chronic severe endometriosis, which I finally had treatment for this year, so it has been fairly tough!! My problem is that I am due to begin my Honours year in psychology (ironic? I think so) next year and, to put it frankly, I am terrified that the anxiety is going to come back a lot worse. I already feel sick and shaky thinking about it, and I feel myself getting more and more agitated as the end of the year draws closer. This time, I want to take some kind of medication to help me through it, but I’m unsure when I should see a doctor and request it — since the university year runs from March – November here, I’m thinking early January, so I’ll have the chance to find something that will work hopefully and give it a chance to kick in? I want medication because, looking back, I can remember instances of extreme anxiety dating back to when I was 5 years old, which kinda suggests to me that it might be some kind of neurotransmitter imbalance as opposed to something learnt or directly environmentally triggered. I’ve had this all of my life, and it’s only now that it’s really starting to drive me crazy. I’m so scared I won’t find a med that will work for me. My fingers are just crossed that I will! Any advice on the kind of medication to take? I know that it varies, but I have friends who have taken Zoloft for anxiety and found it very effective, and I’m a little wary of Aropax (Paxil) due to the withdrawal symptoms I have heard about. Any comments/advice would most appreciated. Take care xxxxxxxx I just started taking klonopin.  It is a benzo.  I like the ideas of benzo because if you have side effects or do not like them you simply stop and they are not in your system forever.  Like SSRI like Prozac Zoloft Celexa paxil all take at least 2 to 3 weeks of nasty side effects and making anxiety worse before you feel any relief  then if you feel you cannot stand the side effects and stop they stay in your system for like 2 or more weeks still!  Benzo is just a fancy term for tranquilizer.  I take .25 Klonopin once in the morning and once at night.  I have only been on it a week but like it so far. Also Benzo family work instantly like the very first pill you take it reduces anxiety.  The only thing is the firs day or so you may feel a little tired while you body adjusts.  Then the sleepiness for me went away but the anti anxiety calm feeling is staying so far! Good Luck! Dustin

Response:

Hello, I don’t see any reason for waiting. Why not see a specialist now. You may not need medication. Therapy may help but if you need medication as well it would be helpful to sort it out during your break, rather than worrying about it until next year. Sorry about the endometriosis but I’m pleased you have had treatment. I have been taking medication for years. A combination of Xanax and Efexor XR works for me but we are all different. Welcome to another Aussie. Take care, Meryl (Melbourne)

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – X-No-archive: yes Hi, I posted here almost 2 years ago after suffering a series of panic attacks and extreme anxiety for abt 6 months. Months later, the anxiety is still around, though not as severe. I never had any treatment and it seemed to subside, although my eating habits have remained permanently screwed up. I’ve also had to deal with chronic severe endometriosis, which I finally had treatment for this year, so it has been fairly tough!! My problem is that I am due to begin my Honours year in psychology (ironic? I think so) next year and, to put it frankly, I am terrified that the anxiety is going to come back a lot worse. I already feel sick and shaky thinking about it, and I feel myself getting more and more agitated as the end of the year draws closer. This time, I want to take some kind of medication to help me through it, but I’m unsure when I should see a doctor and request it — since the university year runs from March – November here, I’m thinking early January, so I’ll have the chance to find something that will work hopefully and give it a chance to kick in? I want medication because, looking back, I can remember instances of extreme anxiety dating back to when I was 5 years old, which kinda suggests to me that it might be some kind of neurotransmitter imbalance as opposed to something learnt or directly environmentally triggered. I’ve had this all of my life, and it’s only now that it’s really starting to drive me crazy. I’m so scared I won’t find a med that will work for me. My fingers are just crossed that I will! Any advice on the kind of medication to take? I know that it varies, but I have friends who have taken Zoloft for anxiety and found it very effective, and I’m a little wary of Aropax (Paxil) due to the withdrawal symptoms I have heard about. Any comments/advice would most appreciated. Take care xxxxxxxx

Response:

Question:

Since I’ve been reading this forum and posting and everyone else is re-introducing themselves, I thought I’d be a good sport and join in. 8+) Lorraine, mom, twelve year old son with learning disabilities, worked myself silly and to the point of exhaustion and had a mini-breakdown six months ago.  Until that point I hadn’t seen a doctor in ten years (scared of docs), at first diagnosed with asthma, treated for that, then when many things were not improving treated for depression and panic/anxiety. After taking a couple of months off work to get myself straightened out, my boss was nice enough to hire me back part-time during the day shift (I had previously worked graveyard shift) and we have slowly built up my hours working up to thirty per week.  Some of my more recent accomplishments…started driving on the interstate again this week and I went to an art gallery during a big crowded event. My current meds include Zoloft for anxiety/depression, Vanceril and Albuterol for asthma.  Well, I hope this explains myself a little bit, and I’ll try to come to this group when I have time and hopefully eventually I’ll have progressed enough to be as much as a help to other people as reading the posts in here has been for me. (How’s that for a run-on sentence LOL). ~Lorraine~ Before you buy.

Response:

(How’s that for a run-on sentence

stick around you haven’t seen real run on sentences yet. LM

Response:

Lorraine, LM isn’t kidding! Lorri "it’s not my fault, it’s yours" (How’s that for a run-on sentence stick around you haven’t seen real run on sentences yet. LM

Lorri http://hometown.aol.com/lorr1/myhomepage5indexhtlm.html http://hometown.aol.com/lorr1/myhomepage4index.html

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Since I’ve been reading this forum and posting and everyone else is re-introducing themselves, I thought I’d be a good sport and join in. 8+) Lorraine, mom, twelve year old son with learning disabilities, worked myself silly and to the point of exhaustion and had a mini-breakdown six months ago. Until that point I hadn’t seen a doctor in ten years (scared of docs), at first diagnosed with asthma, treated for that, then when many things were not improving treated for depression and panic/anxiety. After taking a couple of months off work to get myself straightened out, my boss was nice enough to hire me back part-time during the day shift (I had previously worked graveyard shift) and we have slowly built up my hours working up to thirty per week.  Some of my more recent accomplishments…started driving on the interstate again this week and I went to an art gallery during a big crowded event. My current meds include Zoloft for anxiety/depression, Vanceril and Albuterol for asthma.  Well, I hope this explains myself a little bit, and I’ll try to come to this group when I have time and hopefully eventually I’ll have progressed enough to be as much as a help to other people as reading the posts in here has been for me. (How’s that for a run-on sentence LOL). ~Lorraine~

Hi Lorraine! It sounds to me like you have made progress.  Good for you! Hugs, Di

Response:

Question:

The worst time of day for my crying and upset begin shortly after waking and continues through shaving and breakfast, and lasts until about noon, often very severe crying.  Somewhere in mid-day I usually stop crying and can function.  Occasionally the crying will spill over into the afternoon, but not normally.  This general pattern has been present for some months and with various medications. My medications at present are: Welbutrin    200 mg in morning Zyprexa      10 mg at night Nortriptyline  75 mg at night I also had 14 electro-shock treatments in June/July. My question for this post is to ask whether others have a ‘bad morning’ experience. Thank you. John

Response:

Thanks jai for your suggestions.  Yes my pdoc is well aware of the continued failure of various medications over the past several months; I have used a variety of medications both singly and in combination over the past year: prozac, zoloft, effexor, remeron, etc. none of which brought me out of the pit. I will keep on searching as where I am now is not a life I want to lead. John – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m sorry you’re having so much trouble John. I don’t know what Nortriptyline is for. My worst times for anxiety are in the mornings. I don’t want to wake up some days because that means I have a whole day to get through.This sometimes actually leads to me waking up earlier and earlier in anticipation of the fear and anxiety. It’s worse in the winter. It sounds like perhaps this med combo isn’t working for you. Have you been on it very long? There is no magic pill or med of course, but some of us do find different meds/combos to be of help. Have you told your pdoc about this? Take care. Jai — For more information about this posting service, contact: If you want an anonymous account, visit our sign-up page: http://asarian-host.org/emailform.html

Response:

says… My question for this post is to ask whether others have a ‘bad morning’ experience.

Mine’s usually late afternoon. Mornings are reserved for that wonderful "severe fatigue". So tired I can hardly focus. — Amelia

Response:

says… I will keep on searching as where I am now is not a life I want to lead. John

I’m sorry you’re having a hard time, John. But at least you’ve got lots of company in this dark hole. When just 1 of us gets a few inches up out of that hole we need to yell back down and make sure the others know that we see light. Deal? — Amelia

Response:

I’m sorry you’re having a hard time, John. But at least you’ve got lots of company in this dark hole. When just 1 of us gets a few inches up out of that hole we need to yell back down and make sure the others know that we see light. Deal?

Yes ma’am that is a deal.  Thanks for the encouragement. John [age 63]

Response:

what and when are you eating?

Usually breakfast around 9 or 10 a.m., I simply ‘can’t’ get myself up earlier — I used to but not this year.  Lunch around 1 or 2 p.m.  Dinner at about 7 p.m.  I consider the food I eat to be plain ordinary meals. if you are not eating before these times you could be experiencing low blood sugar which could cause/contribute to depression.

At one time in my life I did have a problem with ’sugar dips’ [ hypoglycemia] and the resulting feeling faint….what I have now doesn’t seem at all like the old sugar dip problem [which has been gone for several years]. since you experience these feelings even while taking meds, have you considered other factors?

Good point — my pdoc did have an MRI done of my head to rule out something physical there…she says she checked my thyroid, but I have no record of it, and plan to raise that question again next visit [which is next Tuesday]. Thanks for the input. John [age 63]

Response:

says… I’m sorry you’re having a hard time, John. But at least you’ve got lots of company in this dark hole. When just 1 of us gets a few inches up out of that hole we need to yell back down and make sure the others know that we see light. Deal? Yes ma’am that is a deal.  Thanks for the encouragement. John [age 63]

63! Look at the smarts and common sense you’ve got on me! I’m only 40! And for all you 20 yr olds with your mouths hanging open at the thought of "only 40" all I got to say is, "Yea, just you wait…." — Amelia

Response:

<< My question for this post is to ask whether others have a ‘bad morning’ experience. My worst anxiety also is in the morning. THis has been happeing for the last seven months of this depression/anxiety illness. I am not currently taking anti’s as I have tried them and they only made me worse. The anxiety and panic attacks are getting better and some of the detachment syptoms, however the depression is still very bad. I have been praying and trusting God for the rest of the healing with proper nutrition, excercise and rest. Yvonne

Response:

Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have used valerian, esp. before I finally broke down, admitted I had a mood disorder, and was put on depakote, then lamictal (another mood stabilizer with fewer side effects — for me — than the depakote).  The valerian made me sleepy consistently, and I felt physically tired and mentally vague, which perhaps mitigated my mood disorder by making me too sleepy to notice how depressed I was.  It didn’t do anything when I was manic, however.  The mania was far stronger than the relatively mild effects of the valerian (I never took a high dose of it).  On the other hand, I’ve never tried it with effexor or wellbutrin, both of which I now take and both of which are fairly activating so I suppose they would offset the dullness factor.  I see no reason why you shouldn’t try it if your pdoc won’t give you a mood stabilizer and you feel you need one.  Why won’t your pdoc give you one?  or an anti-psychotic?  Does he/she not trust your reporting of symptoms that would indicate a need for them?  Maybe you just need a new, and hopefully better-informed, pdoc.  I’ve had five pdocs since beginning medication and not one of them has ever had any problems with prescribing anti-convulsants as mood stabilizers.  What about lithium?  No question that it’s a mood stabilizer, and nothing else.  Don’t overdose on the valerian, though. Start low and see how it goes.  But if I were in your place I’d find another pdoc. Let us know how it goes for you.  Luck. –Allegra

Thanks for the info Allegra… I was thinking of trying Valerian… since my pdoc thinks that i don’t need any kind of medicataion im kinda on my own… wanted to see if ti would help. Tried a veyr low dose for sleep, but it din’t have any effect – wonder if a much larger one would help… Don’t know about Jame’s pdoc, but mine says that there’s nothing biochemically wrong with me… so theres nothing for a pill to fix… how’s that? a pdoc who DOESN’T want to shove medication down your throat!!! last year I wouild have been thinking WOW, but now i’m not so sure… i mean, this guy saw me on Tuesday when i was about readuy to cut my wrists, and told me that my issues would deal with themselves gfiven time! — Kaji/Karenji – dragon/human Shifter depending on mood… *New Dragon Code COMING (one blue moon or another) *ICQ 55339701 – feel free to message me to chat *http://www.labyrinth.net.au/~gsj/Index.html *Wingsister to Viriatha, Tanith, Hespa and Caitlin/Amberynth *Lover of Chocolate, and Occasional Giver of Chocolate Points *Self-Appointed Guardian of the Southern Spring *Keeper of the Sunnydale Lost and Found

Response:

Hey folks: Well, since my pdoc won’t give me some good mood stabalizers or low dose antopsychotic, I am gonna try my 150mg Effexor XR, with a benzo, and Vallerian Root which I HOPE acts in SOME kind of mood stabalizing way. Ya, I know…far from being anything "medically" correct, but it’s much better than the previous cocktail of benzos and codiene I was taking. One thing I noticed with Effexor though is that it can really mess up your memory and alertness all day long. What I may try and do is beg, beg, beg my family doc to take on my psch meds for now, and ask to give a shot at another mood stabalizer or antipsychotic with Effexor or Welbutrin. My family doc was much more enthusiastic about using a mood stabalizer, he started me on depakote, than using benzos. The pdocs don’t seem to want to use ANYTHING not stricly "labled", as I see there is that whole controversy over using different meds for bp. (I guess even if the anticonvulsants are officially "labled" for use in bp, many pdocs still won’t use them.) Yes, there must be a bit of caution in mix and match pharmacy, but we are only here for a limited time, and I want to live as healthy, happy life like everybody does. I think even pdocs (some..not all) don’t realize how painful a mental disorder is. Yes, it’s "different" than physical pain, put the intensity is just as bad. James

Response:

I have used valerian, esp. before I finally broke down, admitted I had a mood disorder, and was put on depakote, then lamictal (another mood stabilizer with fewer side effects — for me — than the depakote).  The valerian made me sleepy consistently, and I felt physically tired and mentally vague, which perhaps mitigated my mood disorder by making me too sleepy to notice how depressed I was.  It didn’t do anything when I was manic, however.  The mania was far stronger than the relatively mild effects of the valerian (I never took a high dose of it).  On the other hand, I’ve never tried it with effexor or wellbutrin, both of which I now take and both of which are fairly activating so I suppose they would offset the dullness factor.  I see no reason why you shouldn’t try it if your pdoc won’t give you a mood stabilizer and you feel you need one.  Why won’t your pdoc give you one?  or an anti-psychotic?  Does he/she not trust your reporting of symptoms that would indicate a need for them?  Maybe you just need a new, and hopefully better-informed, pdoc.  I’ve had five pdocs since beginning medication and not one of them has ever had any problems with prescribing anti-convulsants as mood stabilizers.  What about lithium?  No question that it’s a mood stabilizer, and nothing else.  Don’t overdose on the valerian, though. Start low and see how it goes.  But if I were in your place I’d find another pdoc. Let us know how it goes for you.  Luck. –Allegra

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hey folks: Well, since my pdoc won’t give me some good mood stabalizers or low dose antopsychotic, I am gonna try my 150mg Effexor XR, with a benzo, and Vallerian Root which I HOPE acts in SOME kind of mood stabalizing way. Ya, I know…far from being anything "medically" correct, but it’s much better than the previous cocktail of benzos and codiene I was taking. One thing I noticed with Effexor though is that it can really mess up your memory and alertness all day long. What I may try and do is beg, beg, beg my family doc to take on my psch meds for now, and ask to give a shot at another mood stabalizer or antipsychotic with Effexor or Welbutrin. My family doc was much more enthusiastic about using a mood stabalizer, he started me on depakote, than using benzos. The pdocs don’t seem to want to use ANYTHING not stricly "labled", as I see there is that whole controversy over using different meds for bp. (I guess even if the anticonvulsants are officially "labled" for use in bp, many pdocs still won’t use them.) Yes, there must be a bit of caution in mix and match pharmacy, but we are only here for a limited time, and I want to live as healthy, happy life like everybody does. I think even pdocs (some..not all) don’t realize how painful a mental disorder is. Yes, it’s "different" than physical pain, put the intensity is just as bad. James

Response:

Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Some short-term memory impairment is a well known and common Xanax side effect. This has caused the term *benzo brain* to come into being. Most of the time it’s nothing spectacular, forgetting a name (hm…see…here we have it…what’s your name, Mike? ), having difficulty finding a word (which you might have mislaid in your desk drawer ), not remembering something somebody just told you. Apparently some people have it worse than others. It disappears when you stop taking Xanax. There’s no lasting brain damage, no brain damage at all for that matter. Philip (I don’t mind this side effect so much as long as I have a good time here with you, my colleauges, at alt.support.accoutancy ) Philip, this is me you described!!! I have always been like this, and I don`t take benzo`s. I drive my kids nuts by asking them over and over about things, such as did you do your homework, did you take the garbage out, and what is your name again?<VBG Jackie nothing right in my left brain…nothing left in my right brain Great! You’re *natural*, you’re really *gifted*. I have two children and never could tell one from the other ) Philip (*left?* you mean there *was* something?) I can understand where you might have a problem with telling your two children apart if they are very close in age. But not if one is a boy and one is a girl. Karen But it’s the other way around: one is a girl and the other is a boy ) Philip Well then. There’s the confusion right there. Karen

I told you so. I confuse easily. Philip

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– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Some short-term memory impairment is a well known and common Xanax side effect. This has caused the term *benzo brain* to come into being. Most of the time it’s nothing spectacular, forgetting a name (hm…see…here we have it…what’s your name, Mike? ), having difficulty finding a word (which you might have mislaid in your desk drawer ), not remembering something somebody just told you. Apparently some people have it worse than others. It disappears when you stop taking Xanax. There’s no lasting brain damage, no brain damage at all for that matter. Philip (I don’t mind this side effect so much as long as I have a good time here with you, my colleauges, at alt.support.accoutancy ) Philip, this is me you described!!! I have always been like this, and I don`t take benzo`s. I drive my kids nuts by asking them over and over about things, such as did you do your homework, did you take the garbage out, and what is your name again?<VBG Jackie nothing right in my left brain…nothing left in my right brain Great! You’re *natural*, you’re really *gifted*. I have two children and never could tell one from the other ) Philip (*left?* you mean there *was* something?) I can understand where you might have a problem with telling your two children apart if they are very close in age. But not if one is a boy and one is a girl. Karen But it’s the other way around: one is a girl and the other is a boy ) Philip Well then. There’s the confusion right there. Karen I told you so. I confuse easily. Philip

*Confuse-a-cashier* seems to be the favorite pass time for some of my more inebriated customers. Karen  :D – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Some short-term memory impairment is a well known and common Xanax side effect. This has caused the term *benzo brain* to come into being. Most of the time it’s nothing spectacular, forgetting a name (hm…see…here we have it…what’s your name, Mike? ), having difficulty finding a word (which you might have mislaid in your desk drawer ), not remembering something somebody just told you. Apparently some people have it worse than others. It disappears when you stop taking Xanax. There’s no lasting brain damage, no brain damage at all for that matter. Philip (I don’t mind this side effect so much as long as I have a good time here with you, my colleauges, at alt.support.accoutancy ) Philip, this is me you described!!! I have always been like this, and I don`t take benzo`s. I drive my kids nuts by asking them over and over about things, such as did you do your homework, did you take the garbage out, and what is your name again?<VBG Jackie nothing right in my left brain…nothing left in my right brain Great! You’re *natural*, you’re really *gifted*. I have two children and never could tell one from the other ) Philip (*left?* you mean there *was* something?) I can understand where you might have a problem with telling your two children apart if they are very close in age. But not if one is a boy and one is a girl. Karen But it’s the other way around: one is a girl and the other is a boy ) Philip Well then. There’s the confusion right there. Karen OK..let me get this right. One is a boy…the other is a girl..or is it one is a girl, and THE OTHER a boy?? So that means you have four kids? Or..no..sorry..you have one that is a cross-dresser?? Or am I just one drawer short of a dresser? Aww darn it..I am really confused now. I better go take some Zantac now. Actually…my stomach is a bit upset..maybe I wil try that 75 mg’s of Xanax. That is the correct dose, right?? Better make that 150mg’s. If I take a "little" extra..that won’t hurt, right?? Funny, but I don’t even remember what happened the last time I took Xanax. Zantac is the same as Zoloft, right?? They both start with "Z", so they must be the same. Well..the bottle says take 400mg’s per hour as needed. Ok…I’ll take the Zoloft and Xanax. So, 150mg’s of Xanax….and..well….maybe I’ll make up for the lost hours of the day by multiplying my Zoloft dose per hour..so…say 3000 mg’s of Zoloft. Ok. Glad these thingy sheets that the pharmacies give you really help. Ohh..and since we are on the topic..Vallium MUST be the same as Viagara, because they both start with "V", right? 100mg’s of Vallium…100mg’s of Viagara…Cool. I should have a nice productive day then. Cheers…here’s to better living through chemistry.. James

before I had my hourly allowance of caffeine. It actually made sense to me. Karen

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Some short-term memory impairment is a well known and common Xanax side effect. This has caused the term *benzo brain* to come into being. Most of the time it’s nothing spectacular, forgetting a name (hm…see…here we have it…what’s your name, Mike? ), having difficulty finding a word (which you might have mislaid in your desk drawer ), not remembering something somebody just told you. Apparently some people have it worse than others. It disappears when you stop taking Xanax. There’s no lasting brain damage, no brain damage at all for that matter. Philip (I don’t mind this side effect so much as long as I have a good time here with you, my colleauges, at alt.support.accoutancy ) Philip, this is me you described!!! I have always been like this, and I don`t take benzo`s. I drive my kids nuts by asking them over and over about things, such as did you do your homework, did you take the garbage out, and what is your name again?<VBG Jackie nothing right in my left brain…nothing left in my right brain Great! You’re *natural*, you’re really *gifted*. I have two children and never could tell one from the other ) Philip (*left?* you mean there *was* something?) I can understand where you might have a problem with telling your two children apart if they are very close in age. But not if one is a boy and one is a girl. Karen But it’s the other way around: one is a girl and the other is a boy ) Philip Well then. There’s the confusion right there. Karen

OK..let me get this right. One is a boy…the other is a girl..or is it one is a girl, and THE OTHER a boy?? So that means you have four kids? Or..no..sorry..you have one that is a cross-dresser?? Or am I just one drawer short of a dresser? Aww darn it..I am really confused now. I better go take some Zantac now. Actually…my stomach is a bit upset..maybe I wil try that 75 mg’s of Xanax. That is the correct dose, right?? Better make that 150mg’s. If I take a "little" extra..that won’t hurt, right?? Funny, but I don’t even remember what happened the last time I took Xanax. Zantac is the same as Zoloft, right?? They both start with "Z", so they must be the same. Well..the bottle says take 400mg’s per hour as needed. Ok…I’ll take the Zoloft and Xanax. So, 150mg’s of Xanax….and..well….maybe I’ll make up for the lost hours of the day by multiplying my Zoloft dose per hour..so…say 3000 mg’s of Zoloft. Ok. Glad these thingy sheets that the pharmacies give you really help. Ohh..and since we are on the topic..Vallium MUST be the same as Viagara, because they both start with "V", right? 100mg’s of Vallium…100mg’s of Viagara…Cool. I should have a nice productive day then. Cheers…here’s to better living through chemistry.. James

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Some short-term memory impairment is a well known and common Xanax side effect. This has caused the term *benzo brain* to come into being. Most of the time it’s nothing spectacular, forgetting a name (hm…see…here we have it…what’s your name, Mike? ), having difficulty finding a word (which you might have mislaid in your desk drawer ), not remembering something somebody just told you. Apparently some people have it worse than others. It disappears when you stop taking Xanax. There’s no lasting brain damage, no brain damage at all for that matter. Philip (I don’t mind this side effect so much as long as I have a good time here with you, my colleauges, at alt.support.accoutancy ) Philip, this is me you described!!! I have always been like this, and I don`t take benzo`s. I drive my kids nuts by asking them over and over about things, such as did you do your homework, did you take the garbage out, and what is your name again?<VBG Jackie nothing right in my left brain…nothing left in my right brain Great! You’re *natural*, you’re really *gifted*. I have two children and never could tell one from the other ) Philip (*left?* you mean there *was* something?) I can understand where you might have a problem with telling your two children apart if they are very close in age. But not if one is a boy and one is a girl. Karen

But it’s the other way around: one is a girl and the other is a boy ) Philip – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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Great! You’re *natural*, you’re really *gifted*. I have two children and never could tell one from the other ) Yup, I am *naturally* absent-minded!! Philip (*left?* you mean there *was* something?) Hey, don`t you start picking on me<VBG. Honey, I have a heck of alot more *left* than you do. Jackie

Really? Oh well, have it your way. You have more *left* but I’m always *right*. Philip (hehe) – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Some short-term memory impairment is a well known and common Xanax side effect. This has caused the term *benzo brain* to come into being. Most of the time it’s nothing spectacular, forgetting a name (hm…see…here we have it…what’s your name, Mike? ), having difficulty finding a word (which you might have mislaid in your desk drawer ), not remembering something somebody just told you. Apparently some people have it worse than others. It disappears when you stop taking Xanax. There’s no lasting brain damage, no brain damage at all for that matter. Philip (I don’t mind this side effect so much as long as I have a good time here with you, my colleauges, at alt.support.accoutancy ) Philip, this is me you described!!! I have always been like this, and I don`t take benzo`s. I drive my kids nuts by asking them over and over about things, such as did you do your homework, did you take the garbage out, and what is your name again?<VBG Jackie nothing right in my left brain…nothing left in my right brain Great! You’re *natural*, you’re really *gifted*. I have two children and never could tell one from the other ) Philip (*left?* you mean there *was* something?) I can understand where you might have a problem with telling your two children apart if they are very close in age. But not if one is a boy and one is a girl. Karen But it’s the other way around: one is a girl and the other is a boy ) Philip

Well then. There’s the confusion right there. Karen

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Some short-term memory impairment is a well known and common Xanax side effect. This has caused the term *benzo brain* to come into being. Most of the time it’s nothing spectacular, forgetting a name (hm…see…here we have it…what’s your name, Mike? ), having difficulty finding a word (which you might have mislaid in your desk drawer ), not remembering something somebody just told you. Apparently some people have it worse than others. It disappears when you stop taking Xanax. There’s no lasting brain damage, no brain damage at all for that matter. Philip (I don’t mind this side effect so much as long as I have a good time here with you, my colleauges, at alt.support.accoutancy ) Philip, this is me you described!!! I have always been like this, and I don`t take benzo`s. I drive my kids nuts by asking them over and over about things, such as did you do your homework, did you take the garbage out, and what is your name again?<VBG Jackie nothing right in my left brain…nothing left in my right brain Great! You’re *natural*, you’re really *gifted*. I have two children and never could tell one from the other ) Philip (*left?* you mean there *was* something?)

I can understand where you might have a problem with telling your two children apart if they are very close in age. But not if one is a boy and one is a girl. Karen – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –

Response:

Although I am not tapering off of Xanax as yet I will have to eventually.

Why?  As long as the med. is working for you and the doc won`t cut you off?   Different story if one is abusing the drug. Dan

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Although I am not tapering off of Xanax as yet I will have to eventually. Why?  As long as the med. is working for you and the doc won`t cut you off?  Different story if one is abusing the drug. Dan

Dan, I am into my 6th week on Zoloft and can take up to 3 .25mg Xanax a day.  If the Zoloft works for anxiety/depression I want to get off of the Xanax even though I know I am on a very low dosage, if not I will stay on them.  The less pills I take the better I feel about it. Gene in New Jersey if not I will stay on it.  

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Great! You’re *natural*, you’re really *gifted*. I have two children and never could tell one from the other )

Yup, I am *naturally* absent-minded!! Philip (*left?* you mean there *was* something?)

Hey, don`t you start picking on me<VBG. Honey, I have a heck of alot more *left* than you do. Jackie "The male brain is like a railroad freight car…. guaranteed to have a certain capacity but often running empty."

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I am new to xanax I do forget things alot and tend to forget what I was talking about right in the middle of a discussion but, I can handle that part just not the dizziness! I am alot better on the medicine then off      Melissa

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- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Some short-term memory impairment is a well known and common Xanax side effect. This has caused the term *benzo brain* to come into being. Most of the time it’s nothing spectacular, forgetting a name (hm…see…here we have it…what’s your name, Mike? ), having difficulty finding a word (which you might have mislaid in your desk drawer ), not remembering something somebody just told you. Apparently some people have it worse than others. It disappears when you stop taking Xanax. There’s no lasting brain damage, no brain damage at all for that matter. Philip (I don’t mind this side effect so much as long as I have a good time here with you, my colleauges, at alt.support.accoutancy ) Philip, this is me you described!!! I have always been like this, and I don`t take benzo`s. I drive my kids nuts by asking them over and over about things, such as did you do your homework, did you take the garbage out, and what is your name again?<VBG Jackie nothing right in my left brain…nothing left in my right brain

Great! You’re *natural*, you’re really *gifted*. I have two children and never could tell one from the other ) Philip (*left?* you mean there *was* something?)

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Some short-term memory impairment is a well known and common Xanax side effect. This has caused the term *benzo brain* to come into being. Most of the time it’s nothing spectacular, forgetting a name (hm…see…here we have it…what’s your name, Mike? ), having difficulty finding a word (which you might have mislaid in your desk drawer ), not remembering something somebody just told you. Apparently some people have it worse than others. It disappears when you stop taking Xanax. There’s no lasting brain damage, no brain damage at all for that matter. Philip (I don’t mind this side effect so much as long as I have a good time here with you, my colleauges, at alt.support.accoutancy ) Philip, this is me you described!!! I have always been like this, and I don`t take benzo`s. I drive my kids nuts by asking them over and over about things, such as did you do your homework, did you take the garbage out, and what is your name again?<VBG Jackie nothing right in my left brain…nothing left in my right brain

I’ve got a benzo brain.  It can be a bother sometime, but it beats an anxiety attack any day; besides, I’m a bit absent minded anyway. God bless,   Mark Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

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Some short-term memory impairment is a well known and common Xanax side effect. This has caused the term *benzo brain* to come into being. Most of the time it’s nothing spectacular, forgetting a name (hm…see…here we have it…what’s your name, Mike? ), having difficulty finding a word (which you might have mislaid in your desk drawer ), not remembering something somebody just told you. Apparently some people have it worse than others. It disappears when you stop taking Xanax. There’s no lasting brain damage, no brain damage at all for that matter. Philip (I don’t mind this side effect so much as long as I have a good time here with you, my colleauges, at alt.support.accoutancy )

Philip, this is me you described!!! I have always been like this, and I don`t take benzo`s. I drive my kids nuts by asking them over and over about things, such as did you do your homework, did you take the garbage out, and what is your name again?<VBG Jackie nothing right in my left brain…nothing left in my right brain

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I never heard of losing memory and xanax..Whats that all about?

Some short-term memory impairment is a well known and common Xanax side effect. This has caused the term *benzo brain* to come into being. Most of the time it’s nothing spectacular, forgetting a name (hm…see…here we have it…what’s your name, Mike? ), having difficulty finding a word (which you might have mislaid in your desk drawer ), not remembering something somebody just told you. Apparently some people have it worse than others. It disappears when you stop taking Xanax. There’s no lasting brain damage, no brain damage at all for that matter. Philip (I don’t mind this side effect so much as long as I have a good time here with you, my colleauges, at alt.support.accoutancy )

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I never heard of losing memory and xanax..Whats that all about?

Response:

Although I am not tapering off of Xanax as yet I will have to eventually.  I bought a pill cutter at a drug store ($3.29) and I broke in half at the score mark a .25mg Xanax and then split one half of a half with the pill cutter and got a .0625mg dosage.  The pill cutter worked great and split it in half almost perfectly.  I did not try to split the .0625mg.  Just passing this along to all of you that will or want to wean off of drugs. Gene in New Jersey

 I bought a pill cutter once, and the blade was bent.  Cmat

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Hi all, Although I am not tapering off of Xanax as yet I will have to eventually.  I bought a pill cutter at a drug store ($3.29) and I broke in half at the score mark a .25mg Xanax and then split one half of a half with the pill cutter and got a .0625mg dosage.  The pill cutter worked great and split it in half almost perfectly.  I did not try to split the .0625mg.  Just passing this along to all of you that will or want to wean off of drugs. Gene in New Jersey

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It would be normal to feel some anxiety like symptoms when tapering Xanax, and in my opinion it is difficult to distinguish between withdrawal symptoms and the return of the anxiety symptoms. It’s takes mental will and physical will to taper off of a substance that your body has developed a dependence to. I don’t think it would be out of the question to have both withdrawal symptoms and the return of some anxiety symptoms at the same time. Cmat

Cmat, Where did this come from?  Just go get the damn xanax.  :o) You know I’m just kidding, I go through the same thought processes over and over again.  I find it funny to see it in others as well.  As I said before, I don’t think the withdrawl has to be so painful if you let your doctor know the trouble that you had before.  Plus, you said he didn’t really taper you… (but, I’ll let you know firsthand if I ever have to taper off of this klonopin) <G. I know… I talk like this now, but in a few days I’ll be sending question after question to the group about the new AD I start on Thursday. Maria

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It would be normal to feel some anxiety like symptoms when tapering Xanax, and in my opinion it is difficult to distinguish between withdrawal symptoms and the return of the anxiety symptoms. It’s takes mental will and physical will to taper off of a substance that your body has developed a dependence to. I don’t think it would be out of the question to have both withdrawal symptoms and the return of some anxiety symptoms at the same time. Cmat

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It would be normal to feel some anxiety like symptoms when tapering Xanax, and in my opinion it is difficult to distinguish between withdrawal symptoms and the return of the anxiety symptoms. It’s takes mental will and physical will to taper off of a substance that your body has developed a dependence to. I don’t think it would be out of the question to have both withdrawal symptoms and the return of some anxiety symptoms at the same time. Cmat

Absolutely. And there also is such a thing as *psychological dependence*. Many moons ago I weaned off of Valium without a problem until I took only 1 mg which is virtually *nothing* and surely wouldn’t work for PA’s with anyone. It took me a lot of time to stop taking that last half pill! And later I always still carried a bottle of Valium with me without taking any, but just in case, as a security blanket. I also remember that, whatever my medication was, when I realized I had missed a dose (or had forgotten to take the pill bottle along) that would send me into an immediate PA while in *reality* nothing had changed. Now that I’m at it, to reply to your other post: if you can get the Xanax in every possible dose IMO it would indeed be easier to stop as you can do it more gradually and take more time for it. Philip

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Oh Mark, You sound like I feel.  I did all that you said…once when the only narcotic I was taking was xanax, and once when I was also taking heavy pain meds together with the xanax.  It is a vicious circle.  My memory is all but gone.  Cause a lot of arguments around here, "you did NOT tell me that"…."I most certainly did TOO!" etc.  I am weary. My anxiety creeps back in sometimes and sometimes dives in.  You see, I have tried several times to not be dependant on this med and as much as I hate to admit it, I function better with it than without it.  My one great hope is that one day, the underlying need for it will disapear and I will return to normalcy.  I to was able to wean back without discomfort, but like you said, the anxiety returns. I wish I knew if the new effects you describe are derived from long term usage or were in line to come on anyway due to this disorder. good luck little bear – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – OK, after a year and 1/2 of Xanax at very low dosages (0.5 – 1 mg every day), with discrete results (no panic, still some anxiety in particular situations) and some recent problems (loss of memory and concentration, feeling sleep when I tried to concentrate), I decided to try to discontinue it, very gradually. I decreased the dosage, and I’m now at 0.15 mg/day, no big drawback symptoms, but I feel anxiety slowly returning. I don’t want to give out, I hate that sensation of being without memory and that impossibility to concentrate, but I hate much more anxiety. I think that the negative effects I was feeling derive from long-term usage, because I hadn’t them some time ago. I’d prefer to take Xanax only occasionally, but I’m not sure what I’ll do now. I also dislike the need to take your pills every day, in every situation, you know, it’s complicated to disappear and take them when you don’t want other people see you and know your problems. What a mess! Thanx for listening                           Mark Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

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OK, after a year and 1/2 of Xanax at very low dosages (0.5 – 1 mg every day), with discrete results (no panic, still some anxiety in particular situations) and some recent problems (loss of memory and concentration, feeling sleep when I tried to concentrate), I decided to try to discontinue it, very gradually. I decreased the dosage, and I’m now at 0.15 mg/day, no big drawback symptoms, but I feel anxiety slowly returning. I don’t want to give out, I hate that sensation of being without memory and that impossibility to concentrate, but I hate much more anxiety. I think that the negative effects I was feeling derive from long-term usage, because I hadn’t them some time ago. I’d prefer to take Xanax only occasionally, but I’m not sure what I’ll do now. I also dislike the need to take your pills every day, in every situation, you know, it’s complicated to disappear and take them when you don’t want other people see you and know your problems. What a mess! Thanx for listening                           Mark Share what you know. Learn what you don’t.

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Question:

Well excuseeee me for having a fucking rotten life.

Aw Lee…..you ain’t alone!  If you don’t like them, don’t read them.

The wisest philosophy – seems a bit too complex for some. This is a support group for gods sake.  WE ARE TRYING TO FEEL NORMAL!!!

YEAH YEAH!!!  Well, as best we can! Lee ::kicks the damn computer::

Ooooo..don’t do THAT…we might lose ya for another week!  :) Gwen

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anyone else have a web tv . other than this group what do you look at anne in sf

Hi Anne, You might want to go into TALK City, there are alot of support chat groups and other topics. But watch out there are some chat rooms that you really don’t want to venture into. John

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reading all these messages is depressing.  I here a lot of pain and grief

and I hope there’s more people out there who are actually feeling

normal. Well excuseeee me for having a fucking rotten life.  If you don’t like them, don’t read them.  This is a support group for gods sake.  WE ARE TRYING TO FEEL NORMAL!!! Lee ::kicks the damn computer:: "Life sucks and then you die" but in the mean time, "shit happens" so "deal with it" and "go with the flow" because "life is too important to be taken seriously".

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I’m 19 years old and found myself the other day talking to a psychiatrist. The next thing I know, I’m popping in Zoloft pills.

What was your diagnosis to be put on Zoloft?     The very next day, walking to class, I felt so weird.  My hands were more     ultra clammy, my feet were clammy, my pits were sweating, and I     didn’t have a nauseaous attack luckily, but I had a nausea sensation all that    morning just enough to tick me off.

Sounds like normal side effects when starting an SRI, tho normal seems an odd word to use in this case. mmmm.  reading all these messages is depressing.  I here a lot of pain and grief and I hope there’s more people out there who are actually feeling normal.

I see many positive posts here.  Hope you are seeing those as well. How long are the Zoloft side effects suppose to remain?  I feel like I’m wired up, but tired.

Typically….2 – 6 weeks, but they should lessen dramatically in 2 if the med is going to work for you.  There is no one answer for every person.  Do talk to your doc if you need some reassurance or something to help with the increased anxiety Zoloft sometimes causes in the beginning. Gwen

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anyone else have a web tv . other than this group what do you look at anne in sf

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im using my real name now , i dont know why lady told me to use coded name sfannie

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this is anne . i know i have the web and  am relitavely new. where do other people go to check about  anxiety .  please give  on line address in blue. i dont know if you know what i mean by blue but that means i can click it on without having to type an address . i have a hard time getting around  on line  thanks

My web page is listed below, and might be "in blue" to you… I guess it depends on your mail reader and its set-up.  In any case, I have a references page that lists some other web pages I have found useful, and books, etc.  Let me know if you find it useful. Snit Snit’s Anxiety Suggestions: http://www.azstarnet.com/~snit/anxiety.html Ramblings about my journey toward recovery.  

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(lynn) writes: anyone else have a web tv . other than this group what do you look at anne in sf

No, I don’t. It sounds cool. i’m a tv addict, anne. So i watch lots of different shows. my favorites include: Ally McBeal, Seinfeld, Rosie O’Donnell, Oprah, NYPD Blue, Homicide: Life on the Streets, ER, Law and Order, Larry Sanders, Dennis Miller. I could go on but it’s embarrassing how addicted I am. These tv people are often characters who’s company I prefer to Real people. Not healthy, I know. But I rationalize it that it’s a healthier addiction than alcohol or cocaine. Maybe not. It keeps me isolated. Helps keep me isolated. But now I’m dating and getting out more. Tell us about Web tv. Is it really great? do you have picture in picture? WRITER/CATCH MY TRAIN OF THOUGHT "You can’t have everything. Where would you put it?" (Steven Wright)

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I’m 19 years old and found myself the other day talking to a psychiatrist. The next thing I know, I’m popping in Zoloft pills.      The very next day, walking to class, I felt so weird.  My hands were more      ultra clammy, my feet were clammy, my pits were sweating, and I      didn’t have a nauseaous attack luckily, but I had a nausea sensation all that     morning just enough to tick me off. mmmm.  reading all these messages is depressing.  I here a lot of pain and grief and I hope there’s more people out there who are actually feeling normal. How long are the Zoloft side effects suppose to remain?  I feel like I’m wired up, but tired.

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this is anne . i know i have the web and  am relitavely new. where do other people go to check about  anxiety .  please give  on line address in blue. i dont know if you know what i mean by blue but that means i can click it on without having to type an address . i have a hard time getting around  on line  thanks

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Wanted to let you know what Debra thought of the NSTA symposium.  She sent this to me and I wanted to share it with all of you, since I posted her first call for help, on asd, asking if anyone else was going, since she was going alone.  She enjoyed meeting Elf, Katie and Sondra.  I thank all of you, too, for looking her up. Deb’s message: First of all, thanks to all of you who responded to my inquiry regarding who was attending.  Since it was my first symposium and my spouse could not attend, it was a little intimidating going alone.  However, as suggested through your e-mails, everyone was very kind and helpful. The symposium was great!  If you have never been to one, I would highly recommend it – next year is in San Diego – also a great vacation spot! I found one of the major benefits in attending is sharing the stories, symptoms, concerns with other ST’rs and having someone finally relate to the same set of feelings.  An extra special thanks and "hello" to three wonderful women found through the net, Romona (Elf) from Tennessee, Katie Stehr from Georgia, and Sondra from Ohio.  I also found many members of the NSTA team to be great including Jan Richter, Patricia Murray, Carol Frank, David Stein, and Don Roblee.  Time just flew and attendance was excellent making the sad part the inability to meet and spend time talking with everyone. Carol Frank, President of NSTA, shared that in 1980, there were 22 members of NSTA – today, there are over 3,000.  I’m certain most of you now know about the Botox A shortage.  Allergan is completely out of the product awaiting FDA approval hopefully by the end of November.  You can reach a local sales rep for updates at 1-800-639-7914. After the "Taco Neck" syndrome, Jerry West of the L.A. Lakers has cut two public service announcements.  It was also announced that Dixie Carter and Hal Holbrook will help to sponsor a Casino Night in L.A. next year.  We are still looking for our "famous affected spokesperson". The educational piece of the session began with Dr. Paul Cullis and Dr. Christopher O’Brien discussing Botox.   Most of you know that the body uses acetylcholine from the nerve transmission to the muscle causing it to contract.  Botox stops the release of this action.  There are three proteins that release acetylcholine and Botox A works on one protein (SNAP-25) while Botox B works on Synaptobrevin or VAMP.  One good idea to help counter the antibody situation many have experienced, is to alternate Botox A and Botox B once it has been approved.  It is estimated that the timeframe for Botox B approval is about 12 months.  Another key point from O’Brien is that administration of Botox is an art form and the success on a patient is very technique dependent.   This takes time and experience.  There are 56 muscles in the neck and proper administration of Botox is not in any textbook.   The stats from Cullis and O’Brien were an 80-85% good response rate for Botox for cervical dystonia.  Although to some of us, it has seemed like a miracle, it is not.  Botox typically responds in 1-10 days and peaks between 2-6 weeks. Average time between treatment is 3-4 months; Botox itself actually lasts 12 months but the brain makes new connections to new muscles causing the dystonia symptoms to reoccur.  Botox has been used on some patients for 15 years still receiving good results.  Dystonia does get worse with time and it does get harder to treat.  Antibodies tend to develop faster in younger people, higher doses (300 units+) and more frequent use.  Botox B is supposed to be a cleaner toxin.  Although there is a lot of research going on in many areas for dystonia – genetics, surgeries etc., O’Brien felt Botox will probably be the dystonia treatment of choice for the next five years. The next presentation was by Deborah DeLeon M.S. on the study of genetics of dystonia.  The first issue here is resources.  It is only herself and one other person (now on maternity leave) doing the research so it is taking much longer.  Genetics are showing that dystonia does carry on chromosomes but different ones for different family groups.  There are 2-3 times as many women with cervical dystonia compared to men.  It is showing up a lot in individuals with German backgrounds. Dr. Drake Duane spoke next on "Is ST an autoimmune disease?  He has studied about 300 patients between 1987-1997.  He has discovered the average age of onset is 43.5 yrs and the ratio is 65% female/35%male.  About 90% of ST’rs get relief when laying down.  One key point new to me was the number of patients that develop scoliosis.  Physical therapy can be helpful here as arthritis sets into the neck and back.  Dr. Duane reiterated that the ST brain does not degenerate, it simply has a quirk.   It was never really answered if ST is an autoimmune disease, cause is still unknown. Dr. Mitchell Brin spoke next on Deep Brain Stimulation for ST.  Surgical options are normally left for those that do not respond to medications or Botox.  However, different surgical options are being investigated since there are still limited solutions.  Deep brain stimulation is where electrodes are implanted into one of two areas of the brain and "wires" run down the inside of the neck to the chest with an implant of a pacemaker device.  Videos were shown with Parkinson’s patients where they had virtually no control and when the electrical stimulation was supplied they could move almost normally.  The FDA has approved this process for Parkinson’s and essential tremor.  Dr. Brin will be trialing it on two dystonia patients in December. The next presentation was by Dr. Dennis Dykstra on Doxorubicin Chemomyectomy for the treatment of ST.  Doxorubicin is an anti-cancer drug.  It has been experimented on 18 blepharospasm patients with 9 patients "cured" for one year and 60% of those not receiving any other treatment.  Doxorubicin actually destroys muscle cells which then fills in with connective tissue.   Doxorubicin does not diffuse throughout the muscle like Botox and it can destroy other cells.  It can injure your heart, liver and is toxic to the skin.  It is irreversible.  There are three ST patients trialing this right now.   Since it is in such early stages, very conservative doses are being used and going after only one or two muscles at a time.  Results have thus shown minor improvement.  The benefits are it is much cheaper than Botox ($15 for 10 mg, using 60 mg doses) and it would be permanent.  Overall opinion on this is possible potential but too early to tell.  Next came the presentation from Paul Cullis on ITX (Immunotoxin).  Dr. Cullis pointed out the limitations of Botox are: 1)Duration 3-4 mos. 2) Very expensive 3) certain % of non-responders 4) not specific to the exact area. The goal of ITX is to develop an immunotoxin for treatment of focal muscle spasms utilizing an immunoglobulin that attacks a problem in the body and a toxin with a type of "cruise Missile" that destroys the affected muscle on contact  permanently.  The toxin being used for this study is Ricin (plant based) and it zeroes in on just the affected muscle cells. Unfortunately, I had to make some calls for work at this point so I missed the majority of the denervation surgery presentation.   After a long day filled with information we broke for socializing and sharing of more experiences. The next morning, we had two interesting gentlemen from England share an epidemiology study from the northeast of England and a new program where a Nurse Practitioner is providing Botox treatments in people’s homes.  Out of about 766 patients, 566 have focal dystonia and of those 351 are cervical. They are doing extensive education in England on dystonia and show about 1 in every 10,450 people has cervical dystonia.  The nurse practitioner program has been very successful as patients feel the nurse spends more time with them, really listens to where the pain is and frees the doctor up for more consultation time.  They also expressed that ST is not only a physical movement disorder but it moves people socially and economically as well.  In England, average onset was at 39.4 years and diagnosis at 47 years thus the push for education.  From an employment standpoint for ST, 30.8% were available for work of  which 13.5% were in full-time employment, 8.2% in part-time employment, 7.7% unemployed and 1.4% self-employed.  However, an additional 25.6% were on long-term sick leave or retired early.  Similar employment results were found in a study in Germany.  The treatment of choice in England is Botox rather than drugs that also affect other areas of the body.  Although they also stated that 25% of all patients are dopa responsive so they try Sinebid prior to Botox. From a social perspective, 59.8% of ST’rs had moderate anxiety or depression compared to 19.1% of the general population.  8.8% of ST’rs had severe anxiety or depression compared to 1% of the general population.  60.4% experienced pain or discomfort compared to 29% of the general population and 21.8% had severe pain compared to 3.8% of the general population.  Social functioning for ST’rs was also 23.7 points below the general population. Next came Lee Dreyfus, former Governor of Wisconsin to discuss "Coping as a Family Member".  His wife, Joyce, developed ST seven years ago after a fall at their cottage.   Mr. Dreyfus was quite humorous and while I did not personally agree with everything he said or the comments he made about  and to his wife, he had a few key points from my perspective.  ST is not an individual affliction, it affects all family members.  He felt the key to a successful marriage was a male vs. a shared leadership and that each partner’s #1 concern should be the other person.  He encouraged ST’rs not to "use" the ST as an excuse and not to play wolf with "can’t" vs. "won’t".  He said family members must … read more »

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Thank You Tommye, I thought Deb did a superb job and posted this information, since she sent it to me.  I have received mail from England asking for more info, which I forwarded to him, after I emailed to Deb to get it.    Love Ya too, ….Anna – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thanks Anna and Deb!!!  This is so very interesting-thank you so very much for posting it!! Love Ya, Tommye

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