Question:

                        Stokes                         P.O. Box 548                         Buffalo, NY  14240-0548                         Tel (716) 695-6980

Response:

Sounds good!  Can someone give me a phone or fax number or address so I can request a catalog? I absolutely agree about Stokes.  The catalog is so good it is like a reference book.  The variety is unbeatable, and quality is excellent.  Is their new catalog out yet??

–         http://www.rtis.com/reg/bryan/communit/facility/ @

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:

Can anyone tell me if Pulmicort is as effective as I have heard from people? Side effects?  I am currently on intal, becloforte and singulair but my asthma is not completly controlled. Thanks Scott

Response:

Dear Scott, Pulmicort is approximately the same potency as Becloforte.  The most significant difference between them is that Becloforte is a traditional spray inhaler and Pulmicort is a dry powder inhaler without aerosol propellant.  Some people find that dry powder inhalers are much easier to use than an aerosol.  Many people find it difficult to inhale from spray front moving at more than 100 kilometers per hour.  For such people, switching to Pulmicort (or a comparable dry powder inhaler like Flovent Diskus) can improve asthma control.  If patients can use an aerosol inhaler and a dry powder inhaler with equal ease, Becloforte and Pulmicort will generally produce similar clinical benefit.  Has your doctor, pharmacist or other caregiver watched you using your inhaler to be sure that you can use it adequately? Your treatment regimen seems a bit confused.  Most asthma experts find that there is little benefit from adding Intal to a high concentration inhaled steroid like Becloforte.  Is your asthma being monitored by a specialist? Good luck. — Kenneth Chapman Director Asthma Centre of The Toronto Hospital Professor of Medicine University of Toronto

Response:

I have moderate asthma and have been on Pulmicort since 2/98.  I used to take Flovent 220mcg.  I was switched to Pulmicort as it did not have the systemic steroid side effects as Flovent. I have found Pulmicort to be very effective in controlling my asthma.  It has been used in europe for years prior to being approved for use here in the States.

Response:

One thing that is important is the way you take the medication. Do not tip the inhaler upward when delivering a dose.  It is easier to tip you head back slightly to open the airway and inhale the medication. It take a little time to get used to using this inhaler versus the propellant type inhaler we where all used to taking.  Good Luck!  

Response:

Can anyone tell me if Pulmicort is as effective as I have heard from people? Side effects?  I am currently on intal, becloforte and singulair but my asthma is not completly controlled. Thanks Scott If you would like current and past scientific research material, then I

suggest you refer to the internet site http://www.nlm.nih.gov/databases/freemedl.html and then click on INTERNET GRATEFUL MED and enter in the Query Terms: pulmicort, side effects, and efficacy, which should result in 17 articles you can look up in your nearest health science library or you can get an overview of the information by reading the abstracts. Budesonide, generic for Pulmicort,  is the first corticosteroid dry powder inhaler for the maintenance treatment of asthma that is used in prophylactic drug therapy. The usual dosage is 2-3 puffs per day in which there is 200mcg/puff. The drug should improve nighttime symptoms and reduce the dependence on direct beta-2-agonist bronchodilators such as albuterol sulfate. The most common associated side effects are respiratory infection, headache, orad candidiasis, dysphonia, and pharyngitis, but inhaled corticosteroids are relatively safe and effective anti-inflammatory medications. However, as with any medication, your doctor should monitor your drug therapy and any switches/add-ons to your current medications. Also, a common consumer complaint is that the drug is very fine so you might not see the drug inhalation. Intal, a mast cell stabilizer, and Singulair, a leukotriene modifier, act on different steps of the body’s reaction asthmatic attacks. There are other internet sites available to consumer such as http://www.rxmed.com and http://www.fda.gov that provide helpful new and past drug information, including clinical trial information, dosage available, drug interactions, and contraindications. If you click on http://www.pslgroup.com/ASTMA.HTM, there are over 50 internet sites that are linked including the American Lung Association and more discussion groups available. Also, http//www.publinet.it/pol/cmol/steroids/htm has individual drug monographs available on other asthma drug medications. Finally, Pulmicort should be more effective then your current medications, and if you use it chromically, it should help you to control the asthma to improve your quality of life.                                                         Bly I hope the information I suggested will be helpful to you, but I cannot make any guarantees as to its accuracy, completeness, usefulness, or relevance to your particular situation. There is no substitute for having an ongoing, two-way dialogue with a licensed health professional whom you know and trust. Good luck.

Response:

Can anyone tell me if Pulmicort is as effective as I have heard from people? Side effects?  I am currently on intal, becloforte and singulair but my asthma is not completly controlled. Thanks Scott If you would like current and past scientific research material, then I

suggest you refer to the internet site www.nlm..nih.gov./databases/freemedl.html  then click on INTERNET GRATEFUL MED and enter in the Query Terms: pulmicort, side effects, and efficacy, which should result in 17 articles you can look up in your nearest health science library or you can get an overview of the information by reading the abstracts. Budesonide, generic for If you would like current and past scientific research material, then I suggest you refer to the internet site Pulmicort,  is the first corticosteroid dry powder inhaler for the maintenance treatment of asthma that is used in prophylactic drug therapy. The usual dosage is 2-3 puffs per day in which there is 200mcg/puff. The drug should improve nighttime symptoms and reduce the dependence on direct beta-2-agonist bronchodilators such as albuterol sulfate. The most common associated side effects are respiratory infection, headache, orad candidiasis, dysphonia, and pharyngitis, but inhaled corticosteroids are relatively safe and effective anti-inflammatory medications. However, as with any medication, your doctor should monitor your drug therapy and any switches/add-ons to your current medications. Also, a common consumer complaint is that the drug is very fine so you might not see the drug inhalation. Intal, a mast cell stabilizer, and Singulair, a leukotriene modifier, act on different steps of the body

Question:

Michelle: I also have chronic sinus problems and allergy problems. I am taking 3 different allergy meds a day and 2 sinus sprays also a day. Lately my sinuses and allergies are driving me nuts because of our current Marine layer we have here in San Diego and also my mom was cleaning the bathroom with Clorox and that is driving my sinuses and allergies nuts!!! Barbara Booth

Response:

I wonder…did you ever find any way to deal with the rhinitis?  I’ve had that problem for about four years now…drives me crazy.  Nasal sprays make me really ill, so for now I just carry lots of Kleenex. Michelle

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Thanks folks.  I’m having problems with the Remeron, and I have split the 15 mg tab into halves; I’m trying 7.5mg at night; I’ll give it another 3 to 4 days before I probably quit it.  The Remeron in low dosage is causing an almost constant aura (pre-migraine feeling), and it is really causing me to feel very groggy (a very heavy – almost sinus congested feeling- balloon head)too much of the time.  I may even try a quarter tablet for the sleep relief.  I will mention the things you all have suggested (esp. the Lexapro).  I’ve suffered major depression with migraines now for a minimum of 6 years— if one isn’t bad enough!  All my life I suffered Rhinitis and Sinusitis; so, for several years the migraines were mistaken for terrible sinus headaches.   When I saw an article that maybe 45% of all so called sinus headaches were really migraines, I finally told the doctors to treat me for migraines with Imitrex.  Damn, if I wasn’t right.  I had visited the best ENT doctors in my state, and non of them even mentioned or suggested I might be having migraines.  The link between the antidepressants was found by me; not the doctors.  It shows you that ignorance certainly is not bliss in the case of health — most  probably anything.  Years ago I insisted I had a herniated spinal disk; the doctors wouldn’t listen.  I finally insisted on a mylogram (? sp); yep, I had surgery the next week or so. I’m sure some of the folks who have suffered excruciating migraines with out relief have  developed depression because of so much trauma.  Treat your depression early if you think you might have it.  After the 4th major episode you’ll be on meds the rest of your life if you can tolerate them. I believe mine was expressed early (after Vietnam), but I stayed in denial until chronic pain(my back from later injury and Repetitive Use Syndrome) caught up with me later in life.  God bless and good luck to you all. Sincerely — Randy — "the Randyman" I’m particularly interested in what migraine relief medication can be used safely with Remeron.  Antidepressants do trigger my migraines, but I’m trying a small dosage of Remeron to help with sleep problems; also, I’m hoping for some partial relief from my pathological condition.  All antidepressant medicines seem to trigger migraines when I take enough of the med to actually provide clinical relief; this strange phenomena happened after an Effexor trial. I’ve tried all the ammo out there.   I’m damned if I do or don’t take antidepressants now.  Oh— I can’t take NSAIDs either; they trigger migraines also.   Acetametaphen and oxycodone are my only relief now; it is very little relief most of the time.  Thanks for reading, and if you have any suggestions what I should do to get relief for my migraines, please post it. Sincerely — Randyman

Response:

Yes I finally have found relief with many trials of meds, but like I said in my last post " All my life I suffered Rhinitis and Sinusitis; so, for several years the migraines were mistaken for terrible sinus headaches."  The odd thing was the pain I felt across the face( mainly between and around the eyes – also deep inside the nasal passages).  I mistook the pain for sinus related when it was not; the same pain producing nerves deep in the nose also are involved with migraines in many folks.  The migration of pain was the telltale symptom which made me understand what was really going on; it was migraines (maybe with or without sinus problems).  I suffer severely from vaso-motor rhinitis; if I go into a smoky environment without a filtering mask (I use charcoal impregnated 3M paper masks -3M 8247, and they really help me)  I might suffer for 1-3 days.  I use the nasal spray Nasacort and the anti-histamine nasal spray Astelin.  I recently discovered that taking Allegra tabs (60 mg fexafenadine) really relieved the facial migraines, but not the migraines as a whole.  My eyes and nasal areas were not involved nearly as much after I took fexafenadine after a week.  I gave up on the fexafenadine about a year ago after a few days use, but this time(late this summer and early fall) I tried for over a week; I finally started to get relief from my facial migraine involvement.  Now when I get a migraine they just migrate around the head without as much eye nose involvement.  I’ve tried all the saline irrigation stuff; it never helped. I have not had a sinus infection since March 2003.  I suggest saline nasal spray and saline gel (brand "Ayr") to keep the nasal membranes from drying out;  I especially moisten inside my nose before I go to bed at night.  The antidepressants Nortriptyline, Trazadone, Prozac, Effexor XR, Remeron, Wellbutrin, Ritalin, Serzone, Paxil, Celexa, Luvox, Zoloft, and Amytriptyline have caused  my migraines.  I have tried some several times (esp. this year), and before I get to a medicating dose I usually suffer migraine symptoms.  Amytriptyline made me ill for over a week with migraines even after stopping the drug — truly a hellish experience of migraines. Back to the sinus problems,  I try to avoid situations I know will cause me problems.  Late summer and fall are usually bad times for me; so, I try to stay indoors as much as possible—-really a screwing because the weather is so nice.  I was tested several times for allergies (the 25 most common allergens), and all was negative.  There is some allergen involved because this period of time has always been my period for the worst sinus problem with frequent infections.  My sinus problems [esp. vaso-motor rhinitis reactors (ex. smoke, and petroleum smells)], most all antidepressants, NSAIDs (aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti inflammatory  drugs), and diazepam are migraine triggers to me.  I’m very lucky that the VA is helping me now (I couldn’t get help in the late 70’s or 80’s). The health care in the USA is our country’s largest disgrace; it must be changed for the better.  43 million people without health insurance is horrendous; it is even more so when we consider our country as the leading world power.  84 billion dollars sure could help some sick folks here.  Our country should be brought up on charges of cruelty and inhuman treatments in some world court.  We seem to be generous except with our own people.  Our social service system is overwhelmed by the influx of legal and illegal aliens; our country is NO longer a vast wilderness needing pioneers to settle it.  Look at our country from a satellite view at night, and see our consumption of power.  See how rich we were, and how debt ridden we are getting.  Now, right wing gung ho capitalists and impractical liberals alike want the cheap labor the hordes of immigrants can bring.  Remember when we talked about population control in the world (late sixties), and we discussed aiming for zero population growth.  I guess over population of the world will happen because of politics and religion; the world is doomed because of this.  Look at what’s happening with the polar ice cap and read about the effects of all that fresh water pouring into the upper Atlantic. I’m glad I live now instead of 100 years in the future.  I guess I have too much time to think——gee  I wonder why we talk about Arnold instead of something or someone of substance.  Back to sinuses — *<];o)) Sincerely — Randymann

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Michelle: I also have chronic sinus problems and allergy problems. I am taking 3 different allergy meds a day and 2 sinus sprays also a day. Lately my sinuses and allergies are driving me nuts because of our current Marine layer we have here in San Diego and also my mom was cleaning the bathroom with Clorox and that is driving my sinuses and allergies nuts!!! Barbara Booth

Response:

the same pain producing nerves deep in the nose also are involved with migraines in many folks.

That’s very interesting to hear you say that, because many time when I have a migraine, it hurts to breath on the right side (my migraines are usually on the right) of my nostril- the air going up my nose actually causes pain. I hope I explained this coherently- my doctor looks at me like I’m nuts when I tell him this! SueS

Response:

Thanks folks.  I’m having problems with the Remeron, and I have split the 15 mg tab into halves; I’m trying 7.5mg at night; I’ll give it another 3 to 4 days before I probably quit it.  The Remeron in low dosage is causing an almost constant aura (pre-migraine feeling), and it is really causing me to feel very groggy (a very heavy – almost sinus congested feeling- balloon head)too much of the time.  I may even try a quarter tablet for the sleep relief.  I will mention the things you all have suggested (esp. the Lexapro).  I’ve suffered major depression with migraines now for a minimum of 6 years— if one isn’t bad enough!  All my life I suffered Rhinitis and Sinusitis; so, for several years the migraines were mistaken for terrible sinus headaches.   When I saw an article that maybe 45% of all so called sinus headaches were really migraines, I finally told the doctors to treat me for migraines with Imitrex.  Damn, if I wasn’t right.  I had visited the best ENT doctors in my state, and non of them even mentioned or suggested I might be having migraines.  The link between the antidepressants was found by me; not the doctors.  It shows you that ignorance certainly is not bliss in the case of health — most  probably anything.  Years ago I insisted I had a herniated spinal disk; the doctors wouldn’t listen.  I finally insisted on a mylogram (? sp); yep, I had surgery the next week or so.  I’m sure some of the folks who have suffered excruciating migraines with out relief have  developed depression because of so much trauma.  Treat your depression early if you think you might have it.  After the 4th major episode you’ll be on meds the rest of your life if you can tolerate them.  I believe mine was expressed early (after Vietnam), but I stayed in denial until chronic pain(my back from later injury and Repetitive Use Syndrome) caught up with me later in life.  God bless and good luck to you all. Sincerely — Randy — "the Randyman"

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m particularly interested in what migraine relief medication can be used safely with Remeron.  Antidepressants do trigger my migraines, but I’m trying a small dosage of Remeron to help with sleep problems; also, I’m hoping for some partial relief from my pathological condition.  All antidepressant medicines seem to trigger migraines when I take enough of the med to actually provide clinical relief; this strange phenomena happened after an Effexor trial. I’ve tried all the ammo out there.   I’m damned if I do or don’t take antidepressants now.  Oh— I can’t take NSAIDs either; they trigger migraines also.   Acetametaphen and oxycodone are my only relief now; it is very little relief most of the time.  Thanks for reading, and if you have any suggestions what I should do to get relief for my migraines, please post it. Sincerely — Randyman

Response:

Interesting and worth remembering.  Thanks for sharing the info. Michelle

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I have the same problem with SSRI’s.  They give me Chronic Daily Headaches (CDH) and make me more prone to migraines. I finally hit on Seroquel based on some input in this group and it works very well.  I’ve also been able to wean onto Lexapro which has done wonders for my depression and a minor feat in it’s own right.  Seroquel is an atypical anti-psychotic, but also perscribed for mood stabilization and helps stablize andrenergic charges which often results in CDH.  For the first time in my 30+ years, I have a perfect sleep pattern.  Worth a try if all else fails. Erik I’m particularly interested in what migraine relief medication can be used safely with Remeron.  Antidepressants do trigger my migraines, but I’m trying a small dosage of Remeron to help with sleep problems; also, I’m hoping for some partial relief from my pathological condition.  All antidepressant medicines seem to trigger migraines when I take enough of the med to actually provide clinical relief; this strange phenomena happened after an Effexor trial. I’ve tried all the ammo out there.   I’m damned if I do or don’t take antidepressants now.  Oh— I can’t take NSAIDs either; they trigger migraines also.   Acetametaphen and oxycodone are my only relief now; it is very little relief most of the time.  Thanks for reading, and if you have any suggestions what I should do to get relief for my migraines, please post it. Sincerely — Randyman

Response:

I have the same problem with SSRI’s.  They give me Chronic Daily Headaches (CDH) and make me more prone to migraines. I finally hit on Seroquel based on some input in this group and it works very well.  I’ve also been able to wean onto Lexapro which has done wonders for my depression and a minor feat in it’s own right.  Seroquel is an atypical anti-psychotic, but also perscribed for mood stabilization and helps stablize andrenergic charges which often results in CDH.  For the first time in my 30+ years, I have a perfect sleep pattern.  Worth a try if all else fails. Erik – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m particularly interested in what migraine relief medication can be used safely with Remeron.  Antidepressants do trigger my migraines, but I’m trying a small dosage of Remeron to help with sleep problems; also, I’m hoping for some partial relief from my pathological condition.  All antidepressant medicines seem to trigger migraines when I take enough of the med to actually provide clinical relief; this strange phenomena happened after an Effexor trial. I’ve tried all the ammo out there.   I’m damned if I do or don’t take antidepressants now.  Oh— I can’t take NSAIDs either; they trigger migraines also.   Acetametaphen and oxycodone are my only relief now; it is very little relief most of the time.  Thanks for reading, and if you have any suggestions what I should do to get relief for my migraines, please post it. Sincerely — Randyman

Response:

Have you tried the triptans like Imitrex, Zomig, Maxalt, Frova, Relpax, Amerge, Axert?  Also, have you tried Lexapro as an antidepressant. It’s supposed to be a newer, better med. Just some thoughts. Michelle

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’m particularly interested in what migraine relief medication can be used safely with Remeron.  Antidepressants do trigger my migraines, but I’m trying a small dosage of Remeron to help with sleep problems; also, I’m hoping for some partial relief from my pathological condition.  All antidepressant medicines seem to trigger migraines when I take enough of the med to actually provide clinical relief; this strange phenomena happened after an Effexor trial. I’ve tried all the ammo out there.   I’m damned if I do or don’t take antidepressants now.  Oh— I can’t take NSAIDs either; they trigger migraines also.   Acetametaphen and oxycodone are my only relief now; it is very little relief most of the time.  Thanks for reading, and if you have any suggestions what I should do to get relief for my migraines, please post it. Sincerely — Randyman

Response:

I’m particularly interested in what migraine relief medication can be used safely with Remeron.  Antidepressants do trigger my migraines, but I’m trying a small dosage of Remeron to help with sleep problems; also, I’m hoping for some partial relief from my pathological condition.  All antidepressant medicines seem to trigger migraines when I take enough of the med to actually provide clinical relief; this strange phenomena happened after an Effexor trial. I’ve tried all the ammo out there.   I’m damned if I do or don’t take antidepressants now.  Oh— I can’t take NSAIDs either; they trigger migraines also.   Acetametaphen and oxycodone are my only relief now; it is very little relief most of the time.  Thanks for reading, and if you have any suggestions what I should do to get relief for my migraines, please post it. Sincerely — Randyman

Response:

Question:

BPD is known to be "incurable". so is cancer, cardiac disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and everything else except the common cold. If you get screwed by the insurance company call the board of insurance regulators in your state and file a complaint contact a lawyer and the newspapers-put some heat on them and they will pay-guaranteed

Thanks to everyone who replied.  All good advice. A few comments: I think that I got screwed by my employer rather than the insurance company. It was my employer who  CHOSE to switch from a better plan to one that reimburses psych drugs at 50%.   There were other plans to choose from and they chose this one. I used to pay 8 bucks for Zoloft while employed by these people under the old plan.  Isn’t that kind of like docking people’s salaries? One theory from another employee is that they wanted to cut costs and figured that this plan would screw the least amount of people.   PMS method? – I’m pretty sure that the drug is reimbursed at 50 percent no matter what the need is for it. But, I’m not certain about that. Boy am I confused. Generic Prozac? – I wonder why the psych doctor didn’t prescribe that for me. If it does the same thing and is exactly the same, what gives? Another question – is Prozac effective in helping to combat the tendency to get soooo freaking mad and disgusted that your entire body feels like it’s going to go through the roof?  That’s  one of my symptoms and I don’t mean road rage and stuff like that cuz that’s not what I get upset over. I get upset over nitwits like the people I work for.   – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -the major affective disorders like bp require an ongoing course of medication which changes frequently and costs money-they take the risk of insuring you ergo they take the liability of paying as well as the asset of receiving premiums LM

Response:

effective in helping to combat the tendency to get soooo freaking mad and disgusted that your entire body feels like it’s going to go through the roof?  That’s  one of my symptoms and I don’t mean road rage and stuff like that cuz that’s not what I get upset over. I get upset over nitwits like the people I work for.  

no not really in fact ity may alow you the pleasure of releasing this anger with less concern for your ramifications for doing so-a better plan is to stop demanding that those who do indeed act nitwitlike stop doing so since it won’t happen-you cannot change their nitwitdom but you can change your thoughts about how horrible their behavior is. This is cognitive therapy and it may allow you to stop reacting to others who push your buttons log on to www.rebt.org and get the book how to live with a neurotic by ellis it may be helpful LM

Response:

Christine wrote……

<snipped Here’s the real disheartening part of the story – I go to the drug store and find out that my company has switched insurance plans and that I have to pay aprox. $138.00 for a 30-day supply and will get only 50% of that back because it is a psychiatric drug.

insurance and with this plan I have to pay alot more out of  pocket if I am prescribed a brand name med when there is a generic available. You might want to inquire about how much they would cover if you were prescribed generic Prozac. Take care!! Jackie ~*~Beyond myself…….somewhere   I wait for my arrival~*~

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Christine wrote…… <snipped Here’s the real disheartening part of the story – I go to the drug store and find out that my company has switched insurance plans and that I have to pay aprox. $138.00 for a 30-day supply and will get only 50% of that back because it is a psychiatric drug. health insurance and with this plan I have to pay alot more out of  pocket if I am prescribed a brand name med when there is a generic available. You might want to inquire about how much they would cover if you were prescribed generic Prozac. Take care!! Jackie ~*~Beyond myself…….somewhere  I wait for my arrival~*~

all good responses but will only add that any doc who claims prozac is really the best drug for this or for you is talking outa paper butt if you catch my drift. Prozac is typically more stimulating then zoloft and if you had severe side effects to zoloft you may not tolerate prozac any better. They both do similar things slightly differently in ones brain. If you have gad the best treatment is a combination of a benzo and an ad med and I prefer the more sedating ad meds for this not the more stimulating ones-if he is so hell bent on the ssri class ask for some samples for paxil as for insurance reimbursement: consider it a terrorist attack on ones well being and medical health-managed care sucks LM ps. don’t let him give you the crapola about using buspar and an ad instead of a benzo-although it can work for those lucky few the benzo alone will help the generalized sensation of anxiety

Response:

BPD is known to be "incurable".

so is cancer, cardiac disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and everything else except the common cold. If you get screwed by the insurance company call the board of insurance regulators in your state and file a complaint contact a lawyer and the newspapers-put some heat on them and they will pay-guaranteed the major affective disorders like bp require an ongoing course of medication which changes frequently and costs money-they take the risk of insuring you ergo they take the liability of paying as well as the asset of receiving premiums LM

Response:

forgot to mention this… while asking my company’s benefits coordinator what the story was with reimbursement, she asked, "Well, what kind of drug is it – is it a psychiatric drug or is it medically necessary? to which I responded – "IT’S BOTH". Boy, does that make me MADDDD!!!!!<

Well said! P.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Yesterday, I met with the ole psych doctor to figure out what med I should start taking for GAD.  I had been using Zoloft in the past but didn’t get past 50 mg and stopped taking it because I thought it was causing me to wake up in the middle of the night.  While discussing my options with the doc, I asked him (like a always do), "Why is Zoloft your drug of choice for me?" He said that the reason he had prescribed Zoloft in the past was because it has a better track record for people actually getting through the initial side effects than Prozac has AND it has helped to ease many different kinds of anxiety situations (OCD, GAD, panic, etc..)  However, his opinion was that thee BEST drug for me to TRY would actually be Prozac.  He stated that although Prozac is a tough one to use at first (because of the jitteryness and anxiety inital side effects), in the long run it is VERY effective in treating GAD once it really kicks in. The plan was for me to very slowly ween (sp?) myself on it by starting with five (5) mg. then 10, then 15 and then 20 eventually over the course of 2 months (if that’s what it takes).  He said that although not gaurenteed, the chances are high that if I get through the side effects that the drug will do its job well.  Anyone agree? I’m kind of scared to death to take this stuff and can imagine freaking out from anxiety.

Prozac is the most stimulating of the SSRI

Question:

Why, oh why, must I be different?  I have taken Effexor XR, 150 mg., along with Xanax daily, and both together have changed my life, but no appetite and losing weight?   No sir, not me!!  I am also a plumb Grandmom who would LOVE to lose 40 lbs.  I had heard that Effexor effects a lot of people this way, but of course, I have to be different.  This is the only AD that I have had success with (no side effects from day one) so I guess I just have to accept it. But Mr. Anon. Male, Effexor has a pretty good success rate with low or none side-effects.  The only side-effect I heard of that stops people from staying on it is nausea.  It seems if you get that side effect  it’s almost immediately and doesn’t go away.   But I never had it and most don’t.  I say, give it a try.   I am/was very drug sensitive, and if it worked for me, it can work for anyone. — ~*Rita*~ I’ve learned… that sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Have been taking it for couple of months now… really have been helped… the first week or so I was soooooo sleepy all the time but that is gone now…. I feel great… no highs or lows… just even keel and that is great….. am sort of plump grandmother… and have noticed that I am not hungry… have lost about 4 lb. but I need to… so that was a plus…. started on 75 mg and now am at 150 per day… still a low dosage… but It works for me…. bpw

Response:

When it comes to panic, why do you think it

Question:

Thank you for the ideas. I’ll be working on them tomorrow and will post the newer version. I appreciate all the suggestions. When this is finished I’ll have said what I want to say and be able to walk away knowing he understands. I couldn’t have made these improvements without all of your help. Thank you! Theresa

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Jan 2001 Dec 2000 etc tends to learn on "topics" rather than as a general melee of info — k t1 13 yr What about this? Still too long? Diabetes dx 1996 Panic disorder/depression/PTSD dx 1985. (I see Dr. Strgar for this). A history of the treatment for my diabetes is as follows: 1984 dx gestational diabetes controlled with diet and exercise. Every year after that I was checked for diabetes during the yearly lab work. I’m not exactly sure of the year, but in approximately 1996, my medications for depression were not working well and my psychiatrist (Irwin Noparstak at the time) told me to have a check up with my GP and to have lab work done. The lab work came back with the news I was diabetic. 1996-1997 semi-controlled with diet 1997-1998 uncontrolled. 1998-1999 tried Gluophage then switched to gluotrol semi-controlled August 1999 70/30 insulin therapy began About 6 weeks ago Leslie, the diabetic counselor, left the doctors office due to health issues. I had been going through Leslie in regards to my diabetes. She would explain things to me and if I had a concern she would listen and if warranted would talk to the doctor. If I had a concern Leslie would explain things to me so that I knew how to manage. The relationship I had with Leslie was very important to my getting healthy. I consider this the point at which I made a turn-a-round in my therapy with the diabetes. It has been about 6 months that I have been getting the treatment I need. With Leslie’s leaving I tried to deal with the doctor, but was unable to and have made a change to your office. January 2000 switched to Humalog and NPH The way that I take my insulin is I use carb-counting. I base my Humalog on how many carbs I eat at a meal. I use the ratio of 1u to 8 Carbs for breakfast and 1u to 10 for lunch and dinner. If I my numbers are high, I have used the ratio of 1u to 50 mg/dl to lower the high. I have not done this much since I can lower my bgs 15 mg/dl by walking 15 minutes, which is much faster than I can lower it with the insulin. My diet is a "low-income" carb-counting diet. I exercise by walking on a treadmill 15-30 minutes daily. (.5 miles to 1 mile). It is important to me that we work together in my treatment. I have to live with the decisions that we make. If you want me to do something that it isn’ t working then we need to discuss what is happening. I will question decisions. This is not to be taken as a question of your expertise but as a discussion so that I understand how to follow the treatment plan or make adjustments that help me to be healthy. You have the education and training to help me make the right decisions; I will provide you with my logbook and anything else you may need. In the end, I want to be able to function as well as is possible. I need you to assist me in that endeavor. I need to be monitored. I need to have someone who will answer questions; I need to have someone watch over my treatment so that I don’t get into trouble. I’m hoping you will be this kind of doctor.

Response:

Thank you for the ideas. I’ll be working on them tomorrow and will post the newer version. I appreciate all the suggestions. When this is finished I’ll have said what I want to say and be able to walk away knowing he understands. I couldn’t have made these improvements without all of your help. Thank you!

I don’t think the Dr. will read it. I would suggest taking a list of your concerns and questions with you and use them as a reference during the consultation. — pianoguy return email disabled

Response:

I don’t think the Dr. will read it. I would suggest taking a list of your concerns and questions with you and use them as a reference during the consultation.

there is a very high risk that the Dr won’t read……. that’s why i over….. the expectations may be, but who knows……. the medical history will be important and read……. Theresa can quickly read the expectations part to her Dr during their visit to ensure it will be heard your suggestion of a list of concerns/questions to reference is critical to any well-spent Dr’s visit (at least it is for myself ’cause i forget what i wanted to ask, and i forget my symptoms in the Dr’s office) — k t1 13 yr

Response:

It’s a good thing I’ve done this. I called past doctors and got the dates right. I am just going to memorize the expactations and say them. The thank you will be said and I don’t need to memorize it. So this, and the 3 lab reports I have, will be what I take in. Diabetes dx March 1998 Panic disorder/depression/PTSD dx 1985. (I see Dr. Strgar for this). A history of the treatment for my diabetes is as follows: January 2001 switched to Humalog and NPH .            Humalog: ratio of 1u to 8 breakfast/1u to 10 lunch and dinner .            1u to 50 mg/dl when above 140 NPH 10u bedtime August 2000 70/30 insulin therapy began January 2000 tried Gluophage then switched to Gluotrol 1999 semi-controlled with diet March 1998 untreated/uncontrolled 1984 dx gestational diabetes controlled with diet and exercise Medications Daily: Effexor XR 150 mg bedtime Risperdal 1 mg bedtime Alesse 28 bedtime/Estradiol 1mg (when not taking the Alesse) Humalog 1u to 8 carbs Breakfast 1u to 10 carbs Lunch/Dinner NPH 10u bedtime As Needed: Propo-N/APAP 100-650 Xanax Diphenox/Atropine Albuterol, USP Zomig 5 mg (new: have never used this one) — Theresa dx ‘98 t2 humalog & N, diet & exercise Being happy doesn’t mean everything’s perfect, it just means you’ve decided to see beyond the imperfections.

Response:

a Dr usually wants only the salient details……. try a bullet format on a time line (if necessary)……. avoid any details that aren’t applicable in todays terms (or shorten them to….. history of glucophage, glycet, yada meds as just a point) i do hope you repost your next version so that further critique can be done an aside……. put the Thank you letter separate from the "salient details" letter……. two different messages you want to send, so make it easier for the Dr to sort out the messages — k t1 13 yr – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Theresa, too long.  Most people lose interest after a few paragraphs. If you can condense all the important stuff into less paragraphs then you have more chance of the whole letter being read. This is very true. If this was me writing it or reading it I would cut the first paragraph to the first sentence. paragraph 2 is fine, I would scrap para 3. I can cut the first paragraph. The third paragraph is very important to me and so I want to at least say working is very important because if I don’t feel well, than I can’t work. Maybe there is a more consise way to say this. The diabetes stuff is way too long and flowery. At this point I would do a sort of time line. Diagnosed GD 19XX – diet and exercise controlled. Diabetes dx 19XX – Glucotrol fair results. 19XX insulin regimen begun. This is very good! I can do this easily and it will cut tons of fluff! Thanks! The aim is for the doctor to read the lot plus get an overview of your history. Hope I haven’t offended. Not at all, I wanted brutal for a purpose. This is going to be the most important visit. He’ll need to get to know me and I’ll need to get to know him. I don’t want him spending the whole time reading. : ) I want to have him talk so I can judge him as well.  Thank you for the suggestions. Theresa

Response:

Lot better hope the visit works out for you Theresa.

Thanks for the imput, Ozgirl. : ) Much appreciated. Theresa

Response:

Jan 2001 Dec 2000 etc tends to learn on "topics" rather than as a general melee of info — k t1 13 yr – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What about this? Still too long? Diabetes dx 1996 Panic disorder/depression/PTSD dx 1985. (I see Dr. Strgar for this). A history of the treatment for my diabetes is as follows: 1984 dx gestational diabetes controlled with diet and exercise. Every year after that I was checked for diabetes during the yearly lab work. I’m not exactly sure of the year, but in approximately 1996, my medications for depression were not working well and my psychiatrist (Irwin Noparstak at the time) told me to have a check up with my GP and to have lab work done. The lab work came back with the news I was diabetic. 1996-1997 semi-controlled with diet 1997-1998 uncontrolled. 1998-1999 tried Gluophage then switched to gluotrol semi-controlled August 1999 70/30 insulin therapy began About 6 weeks ago Leslie, the diabetic counselor, left the doctors office due to health issues. I had been going through Leslie in regards to my diabetes. She would explain things to me and if I had a concern she would listen and if warranted would talk to the doctor. If I had a concern Leslie would explain things to me so that I knew how to manage. The relationship I had with Leslie was very important to my getting healthy. I consider this the point at which I made a turn-a-round in my therapy with the diabetes. It has been about 6 months that I have been getting the treatment I need. With Leslie’s leaving I tried to deal with the doctor, but was unable to and have made a change to your office. January 2000 switched to Humalog and NPH The way that I take my insulin is I use carb-counting. I base my Humalog on how many carbs I eat at a meal. I use the ratio of 1u to 8 Carbs for breakfast and 1u to 10 for lunch and dinner. If I my numbers are high, I have used the ratio of 1u to 50 mg/dl to lower the high. I have not done this much since I can lower my bgs 15 mg/dl by walking 15 minutes, which is much faster than I can lower it with the insulin. My diet is a "low-income" carb-counting diet. I exercise by walking on a treadmill 15-30 minutes daily. (.5 miles to 1 mile). It is important to me that we work together in my treatment. I have to live with the decisions that we make. If you want me to do something that it isn’ t working then we need to discuss what is happening. I will question decisions. This is not to be taken as a question of your expertise but as a discussion so that I understand how to follow the treatment plan or make adjustments that help me to be healthy. You have the education and training to help me make the right decisions; I will provide you with my logbook and anything else you may need. In the end, I want to be able to function as well as is possible. I need you to assist me in that endeavor. I need to be monitored. I need to have someone who will answer questions; I need to have someone watch over my treatment so that I don’t get into trouble. I’m hoping you will be this kind of doctor.

Response:

Theresa, Heres some more feedback that I hope to be useful. My wife has multiple medical issues that has required that we seek out various new doctors. We had a list of her medical history and prescriptions and began handing these to the doctors, and found they simply didn’t use it. In fact one doctor told us they were taught in medical school to ignore this type of thing. Their are two reasons they do this, one is to ask the patient the questions you need answers to in order to better analyze the patients current condition. The other reason is they suspect the patient to be a hypochondriac. The thing that works for us is to bring the list as a reminder, give the doctor the information as they ask for it, and fill them in on the rest when they are done asking questions. Just some ideas….. — John M.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Theresa, too long.  Most people lose interest after a few paragraphs. If you can condense all the important stuff into less paragraphs then you have more chance of the whole letter being read. This is very true. If this was me writing it or reading it I would cut the first paragraph to the first sentence. paragraph 2 is fine, I would scrap para 3. I can cut the first paragraph. The third paragraph is very important to me and so I want to at least say working is very important because if I don’t feel well, than I can’t work. Maybe there is a more consise way to say this. The diabetes stuff is way too long and flowery. At this point I would do a sort of time line. Diagnosed GD 19XX – diet and exercise controlled. Diabetes dx 19XX – Glucotrol fair results. 19XX insulin regimen begun. This is very good! I can do this easily and it will cut tons of fluff! Thanks! The aim is for the doctor to read the lot plus get an overview of your history. Hope I haven’t offended. Not at all, I wanted brutal for a purpose. This is going to be the most important visit. He’ll need to get to know me and I’ll need to get to know him. I don’t want him spending the whole time reading. : ) I want to have him talk so I can judge him as well.  Thank you for the suggestions. Theresa

Response:

Lot better hope the visit works out for you Theresa.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What about this? Still too long? Diabetes dx 1996 Panic disorder/depression/PTSD dx 1985. (I see Dr. Strgar for this). A history of the treatment for my diabetes is as follows: 1984 dx gestational diabetes controlled with diet and exercise. Every year after that I was checked for diabetes during the yearly lab work. I’m not exactly sure of the year, but in approximately 1996, my medications for depression were not working well and my psychiatrist (Irwin Noparstak at the time) told me to have a check up with my GP and to have lab work done. The lab work came back with the news I was diabetic. 1996-1997 semi-controlled with diet 1997-1998 uncontrolled. 1998-1999 tried Gluophage then switched to gluotrol semi-controlled August 1999 70/30 insulin therapy began About 6 weeks ago Leslie, the diabetic counselor, left the doctors office due to health issues. I had been going through Leslie in regards to my diabetes. She would explain things to me and if I had a concern she would listen and if warranted would talk to the doctor. If I had a concern Leslie would explain things to me so that I knew how to manage. The relationship I had with Leslie was very important to my getting healthy. I consider this the point at which I made a turn-a-round in my therapy with the diabetes. It has been about 6 months that I have been getting the treatment I need. With Leslie’s leaving I tried to deal with the doctor, but was unable to and have made a change to your office. January 2000 switched to Humalog and NPH The way that I take my insulin is I use carb-counting. I base my Humalog on how many carbs I eat at a meal. I use the ratio of 1u to 8 Carbs for breakfast and 1u to 10 for lunch and dinner. If I my numbers are high, I have used the ratio of 1u to 50 mg/dl to lower the high. I have not done this much since I can lower my bgs 15 mg/dl by walking 15 minutes, which is much faster than I can lower it with the insulin. My diet is a "low-income" carb-counting diet. I exercise by walking on a treadmill 15-30 minutes daily. (.5 miles to 1 mile). It is important to me that we work together in my treatment. I have to live with the decisions that we make. If you want me to do something that it isn’ t working then we need to discuss what is happening. I will question decisions. This is not to be taken as a question of your expertise but as a discussion so that I understand how to follow the treatment plan or make adjustments that help me to be healthy. You have the education and training to help me make the right decisions; I will provide you with my logbook and anything else you may need. In the end, I want to be able to function as well as is possible. I need you to assist me in that endeavor. I need to be monitored. I need to have someone who will answer questions; I need to have someone watch over my treatment so that I don’t get into trouble. I’m hoping you will be this kind of doctor.

Response:

Theresa, too long.  Most people lose interest after a few paragraphs. If you can condense all the important stuff into less paragraphs then you have more chance of the whole letter being read.

This is very true. If this was me writing it or reading it I would cut the first paragraph to the first sentence. paragraph 2 is fine, I would scrap para 3.

I can cut the first paragraph. The third paragraph is very important to me and so I want to at least say working is very important because if I don’t feel well, than I can’t work. Maybe there is a more consise way to say this. The diabetes stuff is way too long and flowery. At this point I would do a sort of time line. Diagnosed GD 19XX – diet and exercise controlled. Diabetes dx 19XX – Glucotrol fair results. 19XX insulin regimen begun.

This is very good! I can do this easily and it will cut tons of fluff! Thanks! The aim is for the doctor to read the lot plus get an overview of your history. Hope I haven’t offended.

Not at all, I wanted brutal for a purpose. This is going to be the most important visit. He’ll need to get to know me and I’ll need to get to know him. I don’t want him spending the whole time reading. : ) I want to have him talk so I can judge him as well.  Thank you for the suggestions. Theresa

Response:

What about this? Still too long? Diabetes dx 1996 Panic disorder/depression/PTSD dx 1985. (I see Dr. Strgar for this). A history of the treatment for my diabetes is as follows: 1984 dx gestational diabetes controlled with diet and exercise. Every year after that I was checked for diabetes during the yearly lab work. I’m not exactly sure of the year, but in approximately 1996, my medications for depression were not working well and my psychiatrist (Irwin Noparstak at the time) told me to have a check up with my GP and to have lab work done. The lab work came back with the news I was diabetic. 1996-1997 semi-controlled with diet 1997-1998 uncontrolled. 1998-1999 tried Gluophage then switched to gluotrol semi-controlled August 1999 70/30 insulin therapy began About 6 weeks ago Leslie, the diabetic counselor, left the doctors office due to health issues. I had been going through Leslie in regards to my diabetes. She would explain things to me and if I had a concern she would listen and if warranted would talk to the doctor. If I had a concern Leslie would explain things to me so that I knew how to manage. The relationship I had with Leslie was very important to my getting healthy. I consider this the point at which I made a turn-a-round in my therapy with the diabetes. It has been about 6 months that I have been getting the treatment I need. With Leslie’s leaving I tried to deal with the doctor, but was unable to and have made a change to your office. January 2000 switched to Humalog and NPH The way that I take my insulin is I use carb-counting. I base my Humalog on how many carbs I eat at a meal. I use the ratio of 1u to 8 Carbs for breakfast and 1u to 10 for lunch and dinner. If I my numbers are high, I have used the ratio of 1u to 50 mg/dl to lower the high. I have not done this much since I can lower my bgs 15 mg/dl by walking 15 minutes, which is much faster than I can lower it with the insulin. My diet is a "low-income" carb-counting diet. I exercise by walking on a treadmill 15-30 minutes daily. (.5 miles to 1 mile). It is important to me that we work together in my treatment. I have to live with the decisions that we make. If you want me to do something that it isn’ t working then we need to discuss what is happening. I will question decisions. This is not to be taken as a question of your expertise but as a discussion so that I understand how to follow the treatment plan or make adjustments that help me to be healthy. You have the education and training to help me make the right decisions; I will provide you with my logbook and anything else you may need. In the end, I want to be able to function as well as is possible. I need you to assist me in that endeavor. I need to be monitored. I need to have someone who will answer questions; I need to have someone watch over my treatment so that I don’t get into trouble. I’m hoping you will be this kind of doctor.

Response:

Theresa, too long.  Most people lose interest after a few paragraphs. If you can condense all the important stuff into less paragraphs then you have more chance of the whole letter being read. If this was me writing it or reading it I would cut the first paragraph to the first sentence. paragraph 2 is fine, I would scrap para 3. The diabetes stuff is way too long and flowery. At this point I would do a sort of time line. Diagnosed GD 19XX – diet and exercise controlled. Diabetes dx 19XX – Glucotrol fair results. 19XX insulin regimen begun. The aim is for the doctor to read the lot plus get an overview of your history. Hope I haven’t offended.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Because this appointment will be our first I need advice in getting my letter fine-tuned. Any help would be appreciated. Help me get rid of the fluff and be as concise as possible as well as state my needs with clarity. tia Dr. **** Thank you for accepting me as a patient. I sought referrals and followed up on them trying to find an Internist, but was unable to locate any that would accept my insurance. This was very frustrating. When I finally got to your number I was overjoyed to find someone who cares about people more than their insurance. So this is a heartfelt thank you! Though I don’t know you I do want to introduce myself. The appointment will go fast so I am going to put things in writing so you’ll get a good picture of who I am and the sort of care I’ll need. I have diabetes, which is the primary care I’ll need from you. I also have panic disorder/depression/PTSD. I see Dr. Strgar for the latter. All of these conditions are under control with the use of medications, exercise, education, and determination. I own a small desktop publishing business. I work few hours but would like to work more. I struggle with my business. I sometimes have difficulty concentrating and tire quickly. Working is very important to me and as such has "pushed" me to get my medical conditions under control. I want to work. I’d like it if I could work full-time. For now I do what I can and strive to improve my condition. I have a teenaged daughter who is a delight. She is very helpful and a good student. I love being her mother and we get along very well. She also suffers from depression; it is also under control with medications. A history of the treatment for my diabetes is as follows: In 1984 I had gestational diabetes. I controlled it with diet and exercise. My daughter was born and weighed 7′10. She was healthy and bright. Every year after that I was checked for diabetes during the yearly lab work. I’m not exactly sure of the year, but in approximately 1996, my medications for depression were not working well and my psychiatrist (Irwin Noparstak at the time) told me to have a check up with my GP and to have lab work done. The lab work came back with the news I was diabetic. Although I had had gestational diabetes and knew the diet/exercise regimen I was unable to get my bgs under control. With the help of Leslie Rohr-diabetic counselor-I was able to regain my control. This lasted for about a year. (diet and exercise only). My doctor had me fax her my logbook readings once a week, because my bgs were out of control. It didn’t seem to matter what I did. I was frustrated. I faxed the logbook but with nothing changing it seemed pointless. I finally gave up on testing. My numbers were not good. This went on for approximately another year. I felt terrible. I didn’t think about going back to Leslie. I don’t know why. Finally, after complaining and being in the office sick all the time the doctor started me on gluophage. I took this medication for 3 weeks, at a very low dose. It made me very ill, did not improve my numbers, nor did it seem as if the queasy feeling were going to dissipate with time. I finally called the nurse and asked to be switched to something else. The doctor prescribed gluotrol. I took glucotrol for approximately 9 months with fair results (readings under 160, but still feeling crummy). At one point I got the flu and the medication stopped working altogether, so the doctor increased it. This caused me to have what I experienced as panic attacks. I was having them 2-3 times a week. (Whereas before the increase in dosage I was having 2-3 panics a month). I say "experienced" these as panics because my symptoms were: shaking, sweating, inability to concentrate, feeling like I was going to die, feeling faint, etc. After much heated discussion, none of which contained hypos as the cause, my doctor suggested insulin. In August I started Insulin. With the change to insulin I saw Leslie Rohr again. Leslie got me started on the 70/30 insulin from Lilly. During a time when I was feeling panicy it was also time to test my bgs. Low and behold, I was near 50. This is when I realized the panics and hypos were similar. Since then before I assume I am having a panic I check my bgs. Because of the hypos I had while taking the 70/30 I checked my bgs before I would drive. I was having hypos partly because I was skipping snacks. I was eating 6 small meals a day, and at the end of the month I was having difficulty keeping enough snacks in the house. Sometimes my budget did not stretch far enough. About 6 weeks ago Leslie left the doctors office due to health issues of her own. I had been going through Leslie in regards to my diabetes. She would explain things to me and if I had a concern she would listen and if warranted would talk to the doctor. This reduced the stress I felt when working with the doctor. I found that the doctor did not listen to me, but she would listen to Leslie. If I had a concern Leslie would explain things to me so that I knew how to manage. The relationship I had with Leslie was very important to my getting healthy. I consider this the point at which I made a turn-a-round in my therapy with the diabetes. It has been about 6 months that I have been getting the treatment I need. With Leslie’s leaving I tried to deal with the doctor, but was unable to and have made a change to your office. I read up on using insulin that was not pre-mixed and talked to my doctor several times about changing to the regular insulin. She wanted to wait until the Lantus came out on the market and then change me to the regular insulin. She wanted me to "play" with the "R" I used for highs. This was difficult with the pre-mix. I finally convinced her to let me use Humalog and Humilin N. I have been taking this for a month. In that time I have not had a single hypo. My numbers have been excellent and I feel great. This change has me very excited. The way that I take my insulin now is I use carb-counting. I base my Humalog on how many carbs I eat at a meal. I use the ratio of 1u to 8 Carbs for breakfast and 1u to 10 for lunch and dinner. If I my numbers are high, I have used the ratio of 1 U to 50 mg/dl to lower the high. I have not done this much since I can lower my bgs 15 mg/dl by walking 15 minutes, which is much faster than I can lower it with the insulin. My diet is a "low-income" carb-counting diet. I would like to stay with the exchange diet, however I can’t always afford to eat as nutritiously as it recommends. I would also like to eat more of the lower glycemic foods, but the cost is prohibitive. I control portion size and hope for the best. I exercise by walking on a treadmill 15-30 minutes daily. (.5 miles to 1 mile). I know this is not much, but I am working on increasing it. It is important to me that we work together in my treatment. I have to live with the decisions that we make. If you want me to do something that it isn’ t working then we need to discuss what is happening. I will question decisions. This is not to be taken as a question of your expertise but as a discussion so that I understand how to follow the treatment plan or make adjustments that help me to be healthy. You have the education and training to make the right decisions; I will provide you with my logbook and anything else you may need. In the end, I want to be able to function as well as is possible. I need you to assist me in that endeavor. I need to be monitored. I need to have someone who will answer questions; I need to have someone watch over my treatment so that I don’t get into trouble. I’m hoping you will be this kind of doctor. Again, thank you for accepting me as your patient.

Response:

Because this appointment will be our first I need advice in getting my letter fine-tuned. Any help would be appreciated. Help me get rid of the fluff and be as concise as possible as well as state my needs with clarity. tia Dr. **** Thank you for accepting me as a patient. I sought referrals and followed up on them trying to find an Internist, but was unable to locate any that would accept my insurance. This was very frustrating. When I finally got to your number I was overjoyed to find someone who cares about people more than their insurance. So this is a heartfelt thank you! Though I don’t know you I do want to introduce myself. The appointment will go fast so I am going to put things in writing so you’ll get a good picture of who I am and the sort of care I’ll need. I have diabetes, which is the primary care I’ll need from you. I also have panic disorder/depression/PTSD. I see Dr. Strgar for the latter. All of these conditions are under control with the use of medications, exercise, education, and determination. I own a small desktop publishing business. I work few hours but would like to work more. I struggle with my business. I sometimes have difficulty concentrating and tire quickly. Working is very important to me and as such has "pushed" me to get my medical conditions under control. I want to work. I’d like it if I could work full-time. For now I do what I can and strive to improve my condition. I have a teenaged daughter who is a delight. She is very helpful and a good student. I love being her mother and we get along very well. She also suffers from depression; it is also under control with medications. A history of the treatment for my diabetes is as follows: In 1984 I had gestational diabetes. I controlled it with diet and exercise. My daughter was born and weighed 7′10. She was healthy and bright. Every year after that I was checked for diabetes during the yearly lab work. I’m not exactly sure of the year, but in approximately 1996, my medications for depression were not working well and my psychiatrist (Irwin Noparstak at the time) told me to have a check up with my GP and to have lab work done. The lab work came back with the news I was diabetic. Although I had had gestational diabetes and knew the diet/exercise regimen I was unable to get my bgs under control. With the help of Leslie Rohr-diabetic counselor-I was able to regain my control. This lasted for about a year. (diet and exercise only). My doctor had me fax her my logbook readings once a week, because my bgs were out of control. It didn’t seem to matter what I did. I was frustrated. I faxed the logbook but with nothing changing it seemed pointless. I finally gave up on testing. My numbers were not good. This went on for approximately another year. I felt terrible. I didn’t think about going back to Leslie. I don’t know why. Finally, after complaining and being in the office sick all the time the doctor started me on gluophage. I took this medication for 3 weeks, at a very low dose. It made me very ill, did not improve my numbers, nor did it seem as if the queasy feeling were going to dissipate with time. I finally called the nurse and asked to be switched to something else. The doctor prescribed gluotrol. I took glucotrol for approximately 9 months with fair results (readings under 160, but still feeling crummy). At one point I got the flu and the medication stopped working altogether, so the doctor increased it. This caused me to have what I experienced as panic attacks. I was having them 2-3 times a week. (Whereas before the increase in dosage I was having 2-3 panics a month). I say "experienced" these as panics because my symptoms were: shaking, sweating, inability to concentrate, feeling like I was going to die, feeling faint, etc. After much heated discussion, none of which contained hypos as the cause, my doctor suggested insulin. In August I started Insulin. With the change to insulin I saw Leslie Rohr again. Leslie got me started on the 70/30 insulin from Lilly. During a time when I was feeling panicy it was also time to test my bgs. Low and behold, I was near 50. This is when I realized the panics and hypos were similar. Since then before I assume I am having a panic I check my bgs. Because of the hypos I had while taking the 70/30 I checked my bgs before I would drive. I was having hypos partly because I was skipping snacks. I was eating 6 small meals a day, and at the end of the month I was having difficulty keeping enough snacks in the house. Sometimes my budget did not stretch far enough. About 6 weeks ago Leslie left the doctors office due to health issues of her own. I had been going through Leslie in regards to my diabetes. She would explain things to me and if I had a concern she would listen and if warranted would talk to the doctor. This reduced the stress I felt when working with the doctor. I found that the doctor did not listen to me, but she would listen to Leslie. If I had a concern Leslie would explain things to me so that I knew how to manage. The relationship I had with Leslie was very important to my getting healthy. I consider this the point at which I made a turn-a-round in my therapy with the diabetes. It has been about 6 months that I have been getting the treatment I need. With Leslie’s leaving I tried to deal with the doctor, but was unable to and have made a change to your office. I read up on using insulin that was not pre-mixed and talked to my doctor several times about changing to the regular insulin. She wanted to wait until the Lantus came out on the market and then change me to the regular insulin. She wanted me to "play" with the "R" I used for highs. This was difficult with the pre-mix. I finally convinced her to let me use Humalog and Humilin N. I have been taking this for a month. In that time I have not had a single hypo. My numbers have been excellent and I feel great. This change has me very excited. The way that I take my insulin now is I use carb-counting. I base my Humalog on how many carbs I eat at a meal. I use the ratio of 1u to 8 Carbs for breakfast and 1u to 10 for lunch and dinner. If I my numbers are high, I have used the ratio of 1 U to 50 mg/dl to lower the high. I have not done this much since I can lower my bgs 15 mg/dl by walking 15 minutes, which is much faster than I can lower it with the insulin. My diet is a "low-income" carb-counting diet. I would like to stay with the exchange diet, however I can’t always afford to eat as nutritiously as it recommends. I would also like to eat more of the lower glycemic foods, but the cost is prohibitive. I control portion size and hope for the best. I exercise by walking on a treadmill 15-30 minutes daily. (.5 miles to 1 mile). I know this is not much, but I am working on increasing it. It is important to me that we work together in my treatment. I have to live with the decisions that we make. If you want me to do something that it isn’ t working then we need to discuss what is happening. I will question decisions. This is not to be taken as a question of your expertise but as a discussion so that I understand how to follow the treatment plan or make adjustments that help me to be healthy. You have the education and training to make the right decisions; I will provide you with my logbook and anything else you may need. In the end, I want to be able to function as well as is possible. I need you to assist me in that endeavor. I need to be monitored. I need to have someone who will answer questions; I need to have someone watch over my treatment so that I don’t get into trouble. I’m hoping you will be this kind of doctor. Again, thank you for accepting me as your patient.

Response:

Question:

Does anyone think taking 300 mg wellbutrin and 225 mg effexor per day (as prescribed) then taking handfuls of klonopin on the weekend to calm down (not prescribed) is a problem?  I have felt better that ever on the effexor and the wellbutrin and viagra takes care of the sexual problems for me, but weekends are still rough.  I just want to be alone and be numbed. Can anyone relate? I feel like I should be so very grateful, cause I feel better than I ever have before, but I like to play with pills. I’d just like to know I’m not alone in this. Thanks… — I can’t think of a single movie that couldn’t be improved by a lesbian sex scene.

Response:

Does anyone think taking 300 mg wellbutrin and 225 mg effexor per day (as prescribed) then taking handfuls of klonopin on the weekend to calm down (not prescribed) is a problem?  I have felt better that ever on the effexor and the wellbutrin and viagra takes care of the sexual problems for me, but weekends are still rough.  I just want to be alone and be numbed. Can anyone relate? I feel like I should be so very grateful, cause I feel better than I ever have before, but I like to play with pills. I’d just like to know I’m not alone in this. Thanks…

When I was taking 300 mg Effexor and 150 mg Wellbutrin, I had to take Klonopin quite often.  I just got so tense and anxious and sometimes I was really irritable or angry.  Lots of Klonopin helped.  I’m not on the Wellbutrin anymore, and I haven’t had to take the Klonopin recently either. No, you’re not alone. Deb

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Does anyone think taking 300 mg wellbutrin and 225 mg effexor per day (as prescribed) then taking handfuls of klonopin on the weekend to calm down (not prescribed) is a problem?  I have felt better that ever on the effexor and the wellbutrin and viagra takes care of the sexual problems for me, but weekends are still rough.  I just want to be alone and be numbed. Can anyone relate? I feel like I should be so very grateful, cause I feel better than I ever have before, but I like to play with pills. I’d just like to know I’m not alone in this. Thanks… When I was taking 300 mg Effexor and 150 mg Wellbutrin, I had to take Klonopin quite often.  I just got so tense and anxious and sometimes I was really irritable or angry.  Lots of Klonopin helped.  I’m not on the Wellbutrin anymore, and I haven’t had to take the Klonopin recently either. No, you’re not alone. Deb

I just don’t like benzo’s.  I want to take the whole bottle sometimes. I like the tense and anxious feeling better.  I really do. — I can’t think of a single movie that couldn’t be improved by a lesbian sex scene.

Response:

Question:

–                             Rational Negativism:                A Divergent Theory of Emotional Disorder Objective: To account for self-worth related emotion (i.e., needs for    love, acceptance, moral integrity, recognition, achievement,    purpose, meaning, etc.) and emotional disorder (e.g., depression,    suicide, etc.) within the context of an evolutionary scenario; i.e., to    synthesize natural science and the humanities; i.e., to answer the    question:  ’Why is there a species of naturally selected organism    expending huge quantities of effort and energy on the survivalistically    bizarre non-physical objective of  maximizing self-worth?’ Observation: The species in which rationality is most developed is    also the one in which individuals have the greatest difficulty in    maintaining an adequate sense of self-worth, often going to    extraordinary lengths in doing so (e.g., Evel Knievel, celibate monks,    self-endangering Greenpeacers, etc.). Hypothesis: Rationality is antagonistic to psychocentric stability (i.e.,    maintaining an adequate sense of self-worth). Synopsis: In much the manner reasoning allows for the subordination    of lower emotional concerns and values (pain, fear, anger, sex, etc.)    to more global concerns (concern for the self as a whole), so too,    these more global concerns and values can themselves become    reevaluated and subordinated to other more global, more objective    considerations. And if this is so, and assuming that emotional    disorder emanates from a deficiency in self-worth resulting from    precisely this sort of experiencially based reevaluation, then it can    reasonably be construed as a natural malfunction resulting from    one’s rational faculties functioning a tad too well. Normalcy and Disorder: Assuming this is correct, then some    explanation for the relative "normalcy" of most individuals would    seem necessary. This is accomplished simply by postulating    different levels or degrees of consciousness.  From this perspective,    emotional disorder would then be construed as a valuative affliction    resulting from an increase in semantic content in the engram indexed    by the linguistic expression, "I am insignificant", which all persons of    common sense "know" to be true, but which the "emotionally    disturbed" have come to "realize", through abstract thought,    devaluing experience, etc. Implications: So-called "free will" and the incessant activity presumed    to emanate from it is simply the insatiable appetite we all have for    self-significating experience which, in turn, is simply nature’s way of    attempting to counter the objectifying influences of our rational    faculties. This also implies that the engine in the first "free-thinking"    artifact is probably going to be a diesel.    "Another simile would be an atomic pile of less than critical size: an    injected idea is to correspond to a neutron entering the pile from    without. Each such neutron will cause a certain disturbance which    eventually dies away. If, however, the size of the pile is sufficiently    increased, the disturbance caused by such an incoming neutron will    very likely go on and on increasing until the whole pile is destroyed.    Is there a corresponding phenomenon for minds?" (A. M. Turing). Additional Implications: Since the explanation I have proposed    amounts to the contention that the most rational species    (presumably) is beginning to exhibit signs of transcending the    formalism of nature’s fixed objective (accomplished in man via    intentional self-concern, i.e., the prudence program) it can reasonably    be construed as providing evidence and argumentation in support of    Lucas/Godel. Not only does this imply that the aforementioned    artifact probably won’t be a computer, but it would also explain why a    question such as "Can Human Irrationality Be Experimentally    Demonstrated?" (Cohen, 1981) has led to controversy, in that it    presupposes the possibility of a discrete (formalizable) answer to a    question which can only be addressed in comparative    (non-formalizable) terms (e.g. X is more rational than Y, the norm, etc.).      Along these same lines, the theory can also be construed as an    endorsement or metajustification for comparative approaches in    epistemology (explanationism, plausiblism, etc.)    "The short answer [to Lucas/Godel and more recently, Penrose]     is that, although it is established that there are limitations to the    powers of any particular machine, it has only been stated, without    any sort of proof, that no such limitations apply to human intellect "    (A. M. Turing).    "So even if mathematicians are superb cognizers of mathematical    truth, and even if there is no algorithm, practical or otherwise,    for cognizing mathematical truth, it does not follow that the power    of mathematicians to cognize mathematical truth is not entirely    explicable in terms of their brain’s executing an algorithm.  Not    an algorhithm for intuiting mathematical truth —  we can suppose that    Penrose [via Godel] has proved that there could be no such thing.      What would the algorithm be for, then?  Most plausibly it would be an    algorithm — one of very many — for trying to stay alive … " (D. C.    Dennett). Oops!  Sorry!  Wrong again, old bean.      "My ruling passion is the love of literary fame" (David Hume).    "I have often felt as though I had inherited all the defiance and all the    passions with which our ancestors defended their Temple and could    gladly sacrifice my life for one great moment in history" (Sigmund    Freud).    "He, too [Ludwig Wittgenstein], suffered from depressions and for long    periods considered killing himself because he considered his life    worthless, but the stubbornness inherited from his father may have    helped him to survive" (Hans Sluga).    "The inquest [Alan Turing's] established that it was suicide.  The    evidence was perfunctory, not for any irregular reason, but because    it was so transparently clear a case" (Andrew Hodges) —                Phil Roberts, Jr. Feelings of Worthlessness and So-Called Cognitive Science         http://www.geocities.com/Athens/5476

Response:

Perhaps we could start with defining self-worth, and considering evolutionary roots leading to it, or how it is seen (or not seen) in lower animals. Below is a suggestion of the meaning of "self worth."  There are needs for certain aspects of belonginness.  Perhaps self-worth would include an assessment of the probability of their being met.  Perhaps this would also include an assessment of one’s "deservingness" of their being met, or in other words, an absence of shame or guilt. We might also consider that there may be brain based templates for such things as shame or guilt, such that if they are stimulated, or their conditions met, an unpleasant feeling is generated, which has the effect of modifying behavior. (more)

 :–  :                            Rational Negativism:  :               A Divergent Theory of Emotional Disorder  :  :Objective: To account for self-worth related emotion (i.e., needs for  :   love, acceptance, moral integrity, recognition, achievement,  :   purpose, meaning, etc.) and emotional disorder (e.g., depression,  :   suicide, etc.) within the context of an evolutionary scenario; i.e.,  :to  :   synthesize natural science and the humanities; i.e., to answer the  :   question:  ’Why is there a species of naturally selected organism  :   expending huge quantities of effort and energy on the  :survivalistically  :   bizarre non-physical objective of  maximizing self-worth?’  : If we view nature films of animals which live in groups, we find the existence of a heirarchy in many of them.  Often that heirarchy is constantly shifting, and is frequently re-ordered.  Sometimes, an individual is on the low end so often, he becomes a permanently low-status member.  He is fearful, and doesn’t even dare to challenge a higher-status member. Since the capacity for this behavior is species-wide, there must be templates for those behaviors involved.  Certainly, one can not impose them on reptiles, or solitary animals like certain cats.  Coincidentally, those seem to be the same animals which are prone to domestication. What are those templates?  How about feelings, such as shame, guilt, fear, a feeling of "less than," of being impressed with another who is "more than." In other words, feelings of a lack of self-worth.  And why do some individuals strive to change the pecking order?  Because those feelings are unpleasant, and they wish for them to be lost.  The way to lose those feelings is to increase one’s status, and with an absence of shame and fear, one has a greater feeling of self-worth. Viewing this in an evolutionary way, why would it happen?  For one thing, a group is more efficient in meeting its needs if it is organized.  For another, lower status enhances cooperation.  And it may be that the higher status individuals breed more often, passing along the genes of the stronger members of the group more frequently than those of the weaker ones. Thus, it is advantageous that the lower ones should strive for higher status, as a test of their potential for ancestry of a future group.  And it may be advantageous if the bolder ones lead the group in defending against intruders. Consequently, we have negative feelings and if not opposite feelings, then at least the absence of the negative ones. There is also an element of confidence.  With confidence, one feels that his behavior is likely to produce a desired result.  And he feels that he has the personal ability to carry out the behaviors.   Consequently, he is more likely to act when he is unable to know the outcome, than would a less confident individual.  Feelings of self-worth seem to be necessary for one to have confidence, and energy to carry out a plan. With the problem of bipolar disorder, this mechanism seems to go astray. The person attains such high confidence, he gambles on high risk propositions.  He has the energy to do a lot of work, and may be aggressive without purpose, as if he were at the top of a pack. Then he swings toward the opposite end, and lacks all confidence, lacks all energy, as if he were at the very bottom.  Is it possible that bipolar disorder means that existing templates for feelings and behavior are being triggered without environmental information which generally does that?  :Observation: The species in which rationality is most developed is  :   also the one in which individuals have the greatest difficulty in  :   maintaining an adequate sense of self-worth, often going to  :   extraordinary lengths in doing so (e.g., Evel Knievel, celibate  :monks,  self-endangering Greenpeacers, etc.).  : We have imposed culture upon our biological nature.  Where other creatures might be satisfied to find a place within a small pack, humans overlay their learning on this impulse, and seek through displays of wealth or education to gain the esteem of others, to bolster their self-esteem.  They may be holier than thou, humbler than thou, stronger or more beautiful, wherever they might find their niche.  Their learning may communicate to them that better means more powerful or more envied, or that better means more right.  :Hypothesis: Rationality is antagonistic to psychocentric stability  :(i.e.,  :   maintaining an adequate sense of self-worth).  :  :Synopsis: In much the manner reasoning allows for the subordination  :   of lower emotional concerns and values (pain, fear, anger, sex, etc.)  :   to more global concerns (concern for the self as a whole), so too,  :   these more global concerns and values can themselves become  :   reevaluated and subordinated to other more global, more objective  :   considerations. And if this is so, and assuming that emotional  :   disorder emanates from a deficiency in self-worth resulting from  :   precisely this sort of experiencially based reevaluation, then it can  :   reasonably be construed as a natural malfunction resulting from  :   one’s rational faculties functioning a tad too well.  : Negative information can cause negative feelings, but negative feelings can also cause all information to seem negative.  There is also a theory that depression has an evolutionary survival function. There was an observation of I think, some perigrene falcons, which mate for life.  The female did not return to the nest, and the male waited for her until he starved to death.  It was concluded that this was not helpful to the species, and therefore, depression was a fluke of nature. However, what would have happened if he had eventually concluded that she was not returning, and he was hungry and needed to find a meal?  Possibly the behavior of mating for life would have been weakened, which is connected to the survival of that species.  So if that happened a lot, and such birds passed along their genes and increased in number, the behavior may have diminished or disappeared, together with its survival function. So a very strong motivation to be loyal to the partner to the very end, possibly contributes to the survival of that species.  Consequently, depression is not without its function there (assuming the bird was depressed, of course.)  :Normalcy and Disorder: Assuming this is correct, then some  :   explanation for the relative "normalcy" of most individuals would  :   seem necessary. This is accomplished simply by postulating  :   different levels or degrees of consciousness.  From this perspective,  :   emotional disorder would then be construed as a valuative affliction  :   resulting from an increase in semantic content in the engram indexed  :   by the linguistic expression, "I am insignificant", which all persons  :of  :   common sense "know" to be true, but which the "emotionally  :   disturbed" have come to "realize", through abstract thought,  :   devaluing experience, etc.  :  :Implications: So-called "free will" and the incessant activity presumed  :   to emanate from it is simply the insatiable appetite we all have for  :   self-significating experience which, in turn, is simply nature’s way  :of  :   attempting to counter the objectifying influences of our rational  :   faculties. This also implies that the engine in the first  :"free-thinking"  :   artifact is probably going to be a diesel.  : Huh?  :  :   "Another simile would be an atomic pile of less than critical size:  :an  :   injected idea is to correspond to a neutron entering the pile from  :   without. Each such neutron will cause a certain disturbance which  :   eventually dies away. If, however, the size of the pile is  :sufficiently  :   increased, the disturbance caused by such an incoming neutron will  :   very likely go on and on increasing until the whole pile is  :destroyed.  :   Is there a corresponding phenomenon for minds?" (A. M. Turing).  :  :  :Additional Implications: Since the explanation I have proposed  :   amounts to the contention that the most rational species  :   (presumably) is beginning to exhibit signs of transcending the  :   formalism of nature’s fixed objective (accomplished in man via  :   intentional self-concern, i.e., the prudence program) it can  :reasonably  :   be construed as providing evidence and argumentation in support of  :   Lucas/Godel. Not only does this imply that the aforementioned  :   artifact probably won’t be a computer, but it would also explain why  :a  :   question such as "Can Human Irrationality Be Experimentally  :   Demonstrated?" (Cohen, 1981) has led to controversy, in that it  :   presupposes the possibility of a discrete (formalizable) answer to a  :   question which can only be addressed in comparative  :   (non-formalizable) terms (e.g. X is more rational than Y, the norm,  :etc.).  : There are some games, including the prisoner’s dilemma, which generally result in irrationality.  There is also a bird which has a behavior of tearing down its neighbor’s nest.  The bird has several choices.  1.) Spend all his time guarding what part of his nest is built, 2.) Look for new … read more »

Response:

Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -bm…@haven.ios.com wrote:

In <01bb6ec9.66374280$5de5d3c6@#glang, "Lori Lang" <70471.1…@compuserve.com writes: I need some help from anyone who can give it.  I’m 36 years old and I’ve been an insomniac my whole life.  I have trouble getting to sleep and if I get to sleep I can’t stay asleep.  I get 2-3 hours of sleep a night.  When I was young, I started taking antihistamines at night (I had allergies) and although I didn’t feel great the next day, I slept.  Any time I didn’t take them, no sleep.  I’ve gone more than a week with no sleep at different times in my life.  I could take antihistamines until last year, when they started irritating my stomach.  I had to get some help. I follow all of the rules:  no eating after dinner, turn down the lights at night, meditate, stress reduction, blah blah blah.  I’m convinced that whoever came up with the list has never had a sleepless night, because those things don’t seem to matter.  I’ve tried melatonin, homeopathic remedies, acupuncture, herbs.  I finally went to the doctor and had a sleep study done.  It came back that my sleep is severely abnormal, I’m not getting to stage 3 or 4, and that I should take antidepressants. I’ve tried 4 different antidepressants.  I had allergic reactions to 2 of them (Prozac, Effexor), and two made me sick (Pamelor, Serzone).  The only thing that has helped is Ambien, but that’s nothing that anyone will prescribe for me on an ongoing basis.  But it’s heaven.  It’s the only thing that works. Unfortunately, I’m not someone who feels okay without sleep.  I’ve been told by three doctors now just to live with it because that’s the way I am.  I’d almost rather be dead than live like this.  It’s a nightmare (so to speak). Nobody feels okay without sleep.  Almost everyone on this newsgroup knows how devistating sleep deprivation can be.  It’s a shame you found three separate doctors who merely told you to "live with it".  Are these general practitioners? Have you seen a sleep specialist?  It seems to me that you need the help of someone who specializes in sleep problems and can understand the severity of your problems when you don’t sleep.  I don’t know too much about Ambien but I have seen postings here from people who have taken it regularly – one person for a couple years, I believe. Please, see a doctor who is both willing and capable of understanding your sleep problems.  Too many doctors know very little about sleep disorders and don’t understand their seriousness. –BillM

http://www.micronet.fr/~mondor

Response:

"Lori Lang" <70471.1…@compuserve.com

wrote: I finally went to the doctor and had a sleep study done.  It came back that my sleep is severely abnormal, I’m not getting to stage 3 or 4, and that I should take antidepressants.   I’ve tried 4 different antidepressants.  I had allergic reactions to 2 of them (Prozac, Effexor), and two made me sick (Pamelor, Serzone).  The only thing that has helped is Ambien, but that’s nothing that anyone will prescribe for me on an ongoing basis.  But it’s heaven.  It’s the only thing that works.

First, let me say I sympathize with you.  Don’t give up hope!  Myself I have had a very bizarre sleep schedule my whole life, but I feel better since I recently figured out I have Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome (with a non-regular pattern and bouts of sleep-deprivation…but anyway…) I might not have any advice for you, but I have a question because I am very curious about sleep disorders.  This question is for anyone who happens to know:     Why/when are anti-depressants prescribed for sleeplessness?  Are they only used in cases like hers where the sleep is very abnormal? When I complained to my physician of frequent insomnia, I was first told to take benadryl, and another time prescribed Xanax (only 10 of them.)  So, those would be more in the sedative category I guess (with benadryl actually an antihistamine and drowsiness being a side-effect?) I always hated the way those made me feel the next day–I don’t WANT to sleep for 9-10 hours and wake up feeling as though I have a brick on my forehead!  I love to be awake and doing stuff.  I tried melatonin too–it made me groggy but did not make me want to sleep, and when I finally went to sleep it was for 9-10 hours and I’d wake up a little groggy.   So, now I know that my natural sleep schedule is somewhere around sleeping from 9AM to 5PM, and I’d be comfortable doing that.  BUT in the mean time, I have in the past lost jobs for being late, been late for class, and I can’t guarantee I’ll ever make it to the bank, the post office, a dentist appointment, etc.  I’m almost impossible to wake up before that time–I sleep through all kinds of alarm clocks.   Now I have to get a job (I’m beyond broke from my summertime binge of sleeping when I want–but I ended up feeling like I was home with a disability), which means I have to get up at a decent hour to apply for a job, even to apply to work the night shift.  I have just recently tried taking 5mg of Valium, and am amazed that it has worked great for me!  I thought I would end up feeling groggy, but I have felt sleepy in a natural way in about 15 minutes after taking it, and wake up in the morning (ok well, it’s still the afternoon, but at least it’s early afternoon) feeling ALERT, moreso than I normally do. My alarm clock wakes me up!  (Still takes a few to get me out of bed, but at least I hear the alarms now.)  And I can do that after sleeping only 6-7 hours. So, can anyone tell me about problems taking Valium in order to sleep? Is my reaction similar to other people’s, and could I possibly use it to reset my circadian clock?  I have only tried it three times so far. I’d much rather sleep naturally, but it looks like that’s not going to happen. Thanks for listening, ~Moo * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Speak out against hatred and discrimination! Write your Senators TODAY and tell them to vote NO to the ridiculous "Defense of marriage act." * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * http://www.mindspring.com/~moomoo/index.html

Response:

In <01bb6ec9.66374280$5de5d3c6@#glang

, "Lori Lang" <70471.1…@compuserve.com writes:

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I need some help from anyone who can give it.  I’m 36 years old and I’ve been an insomniac my whole life.  I have trouble getting to sleep and if I get to sleep I can’t stay asleep.  I get 2-3 hours of sleep a night.  When I was young, I started taking antihistamines at night (I had allergies) and although I didn’t feel great the next day, I slept.  Any time I didn’t take them, no sleep.  I’ve gone more than a week with no sleep at different times in my life.  I could take antihistamines until last year, when they started irritating my stomach.  I had to get some help. I follow all of the rules:  no eating after dinner, turn down the lights at night, meditate, stress reduction, blah blah blah.  I’m convinced that whoever came up with the list has never had a sleepless night, because those things don’t seem to matter.  I’ve tried melatonin, homeopathic remedies, acupuncture, herbs.  I finally went to the doctor and had a sleep study done.  It came back that my sleep is severely abnormal, I’m not getting to stage 3 or 4, and that I should take antidepressants.   I’ve tried 4 different antidepressants.  I had allergic reactions to 2 of them (Prozac, Effexor), and two made me sick (Pamelor, Serzone).  The only thing that has helped is Ambien, but that’s nothing that anyone will prescribe for me on an ongoing basis.  But it’s heaven.  It’s the only thing that works. Unfortunately, I’m not someone who feels okay without sleep.  I’ve been told by three doctors now just to live with it because that’s the way I am.  I’d almost rather be dead than live like this.  It’s a nightmare (so to speak).

Nobody feels okay without sleep.  Almost everyone on this newsgroup knows how devistating sleep deprivation can be.  It’s a shame you found three separate doctors who merely told you to "live with it".  Are these general practitioners? Have you seen a sleep specialist?  It seems to me that you need the help of someone who specializes in sleep problems and can understand the severity of your problems when you don’t sleep.  I don’t know too much about Ambien but I have seen postings here from people who have taken it regularly – one person for a couple years, I believe. Please, see a doctor who is both willing and capable of understanding your sleep problems.  Too many doctors know very little about sleep disorders and don’t understand their seriousness. –BillM

Response:

I need some help from anyone who can give it.  I’m 36 years old and I’ve been an insomniac my whole life.  I have trouble getting to sleep and if I get to sleep I can’t stay asleep.  I get 2-3 hours of sleep a night.  When I was young, I started taking antihistamines at night (I had allergies) and although I didn’t feel great the next day, I slept.  Any time I didn’t take them, no sleep.  I’ve gone more than a week with no sleep at different times in my life.  I could take antihistamines until last year, when they started irritating my stomach.  I had to get some help. I follow all of the rules:  no eating after dinner, turn down the lights at night, meditate, stress reduction, blah blah blah.  I’m convinced that whoever came up with the list has never had a sleepless night, because those things don’t seem to matter.  I’ve tried melatonin, homeopathic remedies, acupuncture, herbs.  I finally went to the doctor and had a sleep study done.  It came back that my sleep is severely abnormal, I’m not getting to stage 3 or 4, and that I should take antidepressants.   I’ve tried 4 different antidepressants.  I had allergic reactions to 2 of them (Prozac, Effexor), and two made me sick (Pamelor, Serzone).  The only thing that has helped is Ambien, but that’s nothing that anyone will prescribe for me on an ongoing basis.  But it’s heaven.  It’s the only thing that works. Unfortunately, I’m not someone who feels okay without sleep.  I’ve been told by three doctors now just to live with it because that’s the way I am.  I’d almost rather be dead than live like this.  It’s a nightmare (so to speak). Does anyone have anything to offer that I haven’t tried? Thank you.  Sorry if I sound whiney, I’m just sort of desperate. Lori

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