Dear friends: My doctors visit went well. I was honest with him I think. They did more blood work and he up my dosage of iron. He wanted me back on anti-depressants, but I refused. I told him that they made me feel worse. He decided to try something else. He put me on BC pills. He said that even though there are other factors in play, the BC pills would help in balancing the hormonal level. This might give me some relief. He wouldn't give me sleeping pills because I took a few too many last night trying to get some sleep. (they were more like caffeine) Thank you so much my friends for your prayers, concern and hugs. I feel I have received them as I read your words and feel at peace right now. In fact, I am getting sleepy. Thank you

Sobeit,<P>I'm glad you updated us on your dr visit. Maybe the BC pills will help. If not, reconsider the anti-deps. He may be able to find something to help you since not all of them are the same. One type may not work but another kind might.<P>I'm glad you are feeling better.<P>more big ((((((((HUGS))))))))<P>Mitzi

Glad you checked back in!!<P>Love you,<P>Lori

Yeah Sobeit!<BR>Good job being honest with the dr, I hope the bc work.<P>Have you tried taking calium? 1200mg daily is suppose to help balance moods too, I take it daily and it does seem to help me.<P>If not anti-dep..how about xanax or a similar pill that you take on an as needed basis to relieve anxiety?<P>I am glad you went to the dr though!<BR>Maybe the bc will be the first step!!<P>(((sobeit!)))))<BR><P>------------------<BR>Cat<P>catfrommb@yahoo.com

I posted a letter to you in <P>BODY SHUT DOWN. Hope you read it.<P>What type of bad feelings do antidepressants give you?<P>There are many out there you may have to try afew.<BR>Did you try Wellbutren?(sp?)<BR>Just wondering.<BR>I really hope you get better and get it all under control, so it doesn't control you.<P>My 19 yr. old feels she needs to help me and be my partner and keep me up.<BR>I can't let her do all that because she will just suffer later in life because she didn't have a life, I try not to lay all my burdens on her shoulders but she always the one that's there for me!!!!<P>Love your children!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <P>------------------<BR>Peg

{{{Sobeit}}}<P>Not much to offer in the way of advice, just wanted you to know I was here, thinking of you and praying for you.<P>------------------<BR>Allen<BR>sparky_dog_mb@yahoo.com

{{{{{{{{{{<B>sobeit</B>}}}}}}}}}},<P>Prayers to someone we all care about... <P> from me.<P>If you can... find a little for yourself!<P>God loves you...<BR>so do we!<P>Jim

Glad to hear from you Sobeit.<P>Have you considered any herbal options?<BR>My mother-in-law swears by St. John's Wort and I have used Valerian as a sleep aid. It helped a bit I think.<P>Take care.

Thank you very much for everyone's support and caring. Hanora: Yes, I had started on St. Johns Wort, but the doctors took me off because of medication conflict. I may take a look at that direction again. Cat: A friend of mine told me about xanax. I will research more on it. I hope you all have a great day and thank you again.

Sobeit,<P> If you ever get the feeling that your heart is going to beat right out of your chest, it's panic/anxiety. If find it hard to bearth like someone is standing on your chest it's panic/anxiety. If you ever feel like Oh my god here we go again and have fear it could be panic/anxiety. XANAX is a good drug for this. Most doctor's don't like to give Xanax because it is very addictive. I keep hearing things from you that remind me of panic disorder but like I said voices are a part of that. Xanax is not very addictive to someone with panic because "THEY DON'T LIKE TO TAKE DRUGS !!!!!" sound familiar, it's you and the 3 others I know who have panic disorder. Some of the anti-deps like the others said can do some wild things. My wife talked about seeing a trail of shapes that followed things, yet she found Paxil help her. I am on Wellburin and fine it does have any negative effects on me (this is not usual though).<P> Sobeit, if it takes a little pill to return you to a fully functional person who once again can enjoy life WHAT IS THE HARM.<P> Don't forget what I said about doctors and there understanding of these subjects. Was your doctor the family GP or someone who deals with these things ???<BR>

Getting Better,<P>Please continue to go easy on Sobeit. She is very fragile right now and has been for a while now. Please do a search on her name and read some of her posts from last month and then you will better understand what she is going thru. Believe it or not, she has really come a long way. She is a lot stronger than her posts sound.<P>(((((((Hugs))))))) to you Sobeit!!!<P> <P>Mitzi

Sobeit and Mitiz,<P> I don't mean to come on so strong. I just have strong feelings for those who suffer from panic (which I do wonder about). I know the pain my wife had. I know how she thought she was going crazy. I saw the problems in finding the right doctor.<P> I'm sorry if I have come on to strong I only want to help. Their are times I have had to push my wife in the right direction due to her fears and I guess I've jumped right into that role.<P>

Hi Sobeit<P>I take Xanax only on nights when I can't "shut my head off". You know, when you are dead tired but your brain won't stop thinking and let you get to sleep. Xanax is good for shutting it off. It isn't something you can use on a regular basis tho. I wasn't told it was addictive, only that your body gets used to it and it won't work if used more than 2-3 days in a row. Other than that, I have had no other side effects with it.<P>I tried an anti-depressant, Zoloft, one half pill, one time - and I was woken up startled in the middle of the night for 2 nights by "loud screams in my ear" which sounded as if someone were there right in the room. The first time was a woman's voice, nothing specific. The second night it was a man screaming "JEFF!" right in my ear (or so it seemed). To say the least, I STOPPED TAKING IT.<P>I have a family member with severe mental disorders (depression, manic, borderline schizzo, etc.), who has to be cautious also with what she takes (an anti-depressant actually was the catalyst to her more severe problems - like hearing voices - that she ended up with). She swears by fish oil pills. Not just any fish oil, she says they're Carlton Omega-3 (it's expensive, about $22 a bottle), and SHE takes quite a few daily. But this is a girl who has been on everything for mental illness, and says it is the best thing she has ever taken and keeps her mind functioning really well. I guess you would have to know her and know what she's been thru to see she's telling the truth. You'd never know she has a mental condition to talk to her now, she's very normal! The added bonus is your hair will be really healthy and shiny!<P>I on the other hand have never had a day of depression in my whole life til my H's infidelity. But I sure didn't like what that anti-depressant did to me, so I'm about to try the Omega-3's.<P><p>[This message has been edited by weirded out (edited March 21, 2000).]

Weirded out<P> The one thing I have put a lot of effort into is trying to understand my wife's panic disorder which comes with learning about the drugs. Xanax is a class A narcotic, IT IS VERY ADDICTIVE !!!. This is true for the average person. A point I use making earlier was that for someone with Panic Disorder they just don't get addicted very easily.<P> My wife has taken Xanax every day for the last two years. It is what keeps her normal. When she first started her theory the doctor had her on about 4-6mg a day (if my memory is working). The reason for this was to elimnate the fear of Panic attacks till she was ready to take them on. When the time came (about 5 months) to cut back all she was told was to do it slowly and NOT ONE PERSON EVER HELD HER TO SOME MAX LEVEL. I have had fights with the pharmist about this and they are the ones who inform me that this is a majorly addictive drug. <P> For People suffer from this I know of 3. They each see different doctors and have different approaches. My former boss is on Colapin which is a total joke, he is always shaking has trouble sleeping and dealing with some things. Another is on low doses of Xanax but adjusts as needed and he is doing very good. My wife takes about 2mg a day at night and when ever it is needed.<P> Panic can control and put your life in hell, BUT with the right meds you can control it. NOW, with panic comes depression and what to take for that seems to be different from one person to the next. <P> Sobeit, I have been reading your pass posts and I do feel bad for what you are going though. I think I can honestly say I know and understand some of the trouble you are facing. Xanax will help for the panic and the anxiety. You show a strong desire to not take any meds which as I pointed out is another clue for me. I don't know why but it seems that until the person who is suffering with this sees how this can return some of you life they resist it's help. Today my wife controls her dosage without a problem. I watch her like a hawk but have never had to say a word. Xanax is her security blanket, she always has some within arms reach. It has done wonders to restore her life.<P> Before I talked about how a doctor views Xanax, Valium and Transine as being the same with just slightly different effects. In the beginning we were working with the family doctor and found Xanax seems to help (it was a low dosage) so the doctor suggested Transine because to help a more constant level in the blood. So the wife stopped the Xanax and moved on to Transine. In just a matter of hours my wife went from starting to become normal again to a complete basket case. This is what caused the doctor to set her up with the shrink who now takes care of her. It was the shrink that knew the differences between these drugs because they are so much a part of what he does from day to day. My point here is be careful of the doctor you choose.<BR>

Dear friends: Finally someone out there knows somewhat how I am feeling. Weirded out: You hit the nail on the head when you mentioned your relative whose experience with anti-depressants was not good. Believe me when I say that I truly appreciate everyone's help and advice. I couldn't have come this far without you. I know in my heart that my wellness was your concern and I am sincerely grateful and honored that you care. It's seems that I have come a long way since February, but I know those days will return. My goal is to overcome those days in positive ways instead of a bullet to my head. I have passed the final day to pick up the gun permit without much stress(thanks to you) and I pray that I won't get any other stupid ideas. Because, as some of you may know, those days can get deep, so deep, you feel there's no other way out. Yes, I still think about that permit, that gun and what other devices are available for me to use, but I put on my favorite song from "Sister Act II" track 6 or say the "Our Father" or pray and ride my motorcycle. Anything to get away from the feeling or thoughts. On the weekdays, I come here for your inspiration and distraction to let me know that there are other people out there who are hurting and I might be of some help to them. I am no good to anyone if I am not here. Someone asked me awhile back for a recipe and for that moment, I felt needed. Tears are swelling up in my eyes now because I want desperately to survive and I know that you are there for me. Please understand that there are some medications that yes I do resist because they made my suicidal tendancies even more pronounced. I was so stoned and out of it that I could not function anywhere. My daughter had to drive me to work. So I have my reasons for not wanting to try that route again, new meds or not. I will definitely give the fish oil a try. In fact, I have taken flax seed oil(is that the same thing?). I plan to visit the local "Wild Oats" natural food store to find ways to balance my diet. So you see, I am not giving up on me because you all didn't give up on me. I am honored to have you all as my dearest friends and even though I cannot see you, I can feel you in my heart. When I get those days, I do ask myself, what would Mitzi say, or Cat, or Sparkydog or Lonelymom or any of my other dearest friends tell me to get me out that darkness. My love and prayers to you all. And my name is Rose

<BR>Just a card for Rose <BR> <A HREF="http://www.egreetings.com/v/epyzuHK3uZ" TARGET=_blank>http://www.egreetings.com/v/epyzuHK3uZ</A> <P>

Hey Rose! <P>I agree, much easier then sobeit.<P>Hope you are able to enjoy this beautiful day! I am hoping for many many more sunny warm days..LOL of course until we can all sit and b!tch about how hot and sticky it is!<P>((((((Rose))))))<P>------------------<BR>Cat<P>catfrommb@yahoo.com

Rose,<P>A beautiful name for a beautiful person!<P>Each new post from you shows me that you are truly getting stronger. You are needed!! And I'm so glad you are finally seeing that! <P>Each person on this board truly cares about you and if we can make you feel better, then we are the ones who should feel honored!<P>((((((((ROSE))))))))<P>Getting Better,<P>I didn't think you were coming on strong. I know that you probably know more about panic disorder than I do since you have personally dealt with it. I just wanted you to read Rose's earlier post and maybe you would get more of an understanding of what she is feeling. Then maybe you could help more! I wanted you to continue to be compassionate. Thanks for the advice you've given her! <P>Mitzi<p>[This message has been edited by Mitzi (edited March 23, 2000).]

Rose:<P>First of all let me say I love your name.<BR>Second let me say I really admire you.<BR>You are strong and you will make it.<P>I didn't mean to push Meds. when I didn't know the whole story, I sure would be unwilling to try another medicine if it affected me adversly.<P>Flax seed oil is an Omega 3 but is some different, some fish oils can make you burp up a fishy taste ukie so I take the Flax.<P>I think your strong will to live will get you through as well as your family.<P>------------------<BR>Peg