Hi Charlotte,

I saw on a thread you are now on day 5 (day 6 today) of the meds. It sounds like a positive thing happening that you are not noticing side effects from the med and your nauseau is improving?!? That is great as I have noticed the people who get side effects from the meds usually happens pretty quickly and they end up feeling worse at first so this all sounds pretty positive for you.

Good luck....;)

Gloria...you angel, thanks.

I often think of you, and think wow..that boy of yours..I bet he is a dear one. Yes, no side effects...and I don't think any are coming. Not even tired on this med. I have noticed the nausea going, and I have noticed moments when I say to myself...could I be getting better? I think that is a good sign. My lows are better, my highs are better...and my hubby says that dry wit is back (said this with a cute grin last night)...made me smile.

Thanks for your well wishes, you are a dear.

All the best...

Fantastic Charlotte. I've been trying to compile some information on AD myself as after three years some times I find even my better days I feel really down. I tried zoloft back in Dec. 2005, one year into this for myself and after 4 days I stopped it. My thyroid gland swelled up to the point I was having trouble swallowing. 6 months after I had my son I was diagnosed with post partum thyroiditis which I never recovered from and it turned into hypothyroidism. After taking a low dose of synthroid, I never had any problems with it and actually the problems I had in the beginning were not life altering. I became frightened from the zoloft experience and it made me feel worse on it so I stopped it. It is crazy how someone like Howie can have such great success with it while others like myself had such a horrible experience. I suppose kind of like yourself and woweeee who had her symptoms clear up but had horrible side effects from it.

It is positive for yourself so far as well as others like myself that want to take this route. I see my neurologist on Tuesday so I am going to approach this topic with him again.

Thanks for the kind words about my son. I just wish we both could enjoy them without this head monster. It makes it harder to deal with these health issues.

By the way, I'll be in touch.

:angel:

Hi Gloria,

Zoloft was brutal for me too. I felt crazy on that stuff - out of my skull for a solid week. But Cipramil was the exact oppposite and cleared everything up.

I realise you are worried about meds and SEs but what if the thyroid thing was a coincidence? Given your mood is not good and you deserve to feel much better, I'd consider giving either cipramil or lexapro a shot. Start and stay on a half dose. Who knows ... it might even clear up your dizzies!

What are your symptoms like now? Still doing the biofeedback?

Best ... Scott :cool:

Gloria:

You know my opinion..I had the worst reaction ever to Paxil and Lexapro ended up in the Emergency Room.So everyone has different chemistry that works and Dont work for them. Even the Zoloft was a little rough for me this 2nd time. i stuck it out. I am like 85%. However like HBEP I think I may need an increased dosage this time. But it is way to early to tell.. Only 7 weeks on the max dosage I was on last time. I feel better but I am at a little stand still. I am stuck at the 85% with some off moments. I will go up if needed as 50 Mg's is the lowest theraputic dosage one can take..

I think you deserve to feel better and give it a shot....

Thanks guys. I remember speaking with you about the zoloft before and your reaction to it Scott. I was reading up on the Nortriptyline and listed under adverse symptoms was a reaction for individuals who have hyperthyroidism (I'm hypo) but it said it reacts to synthetic hormone therapy so perhaps that is what the zoloft did with my synthroid. Howie don't you take synthroid? I don't even know what to think.

My neurologist gave me a script back in April for prozac in liquid form as he was working with me on a very low doseage so my system would adjust slowly. He had wanted me to put drops of it in so many cc's of cranberry juice. I ended up not getting the script filled as I had been feeling so much better coming off the klonopin and finally finding a doctor who seemed knowledgeable.


What are your symptoms like now?

Most of the problems I am having now seem to stem from the tinnitus. I go back to Philadelphia the end of the month for my TRT. I'm not so sure this is helping but I am trying to remain positive and moving forward.

I also have this constant heaviness in my head with a feeling like my brain is constantly shaking. Kind of like a person with parkinson's how their head shakes except I only feel it. I don't physically shake.

My headaches continue to improve. The stuffiness I use to get went away this year coinciding with coming off the klonopin. The severity of the headaches are nothing compaired to how they use to be. Some days I only feel the shakiness and the buzzing feeling my tinnitus makes.

Dizziness seems to be improved;however, up in Niagara Falls over the weekend was horrible. I was really upset I couldn't enjoy myself out with my husband. By New Years Eve, I was feeling better and was able to enjoy the Winter Classic in Buffalo on New Years day with hardly any symptoms. However, even with improvement in symptoms my mood just stinks. I feel achy all the time too.

My vision seems to be really improving and pretty much back to normal although I haven't attempted to try putting my contacts back in. I don't want to rock the boat.


Still doing the biofeedback?

This has been the best therapy for my condition so far and I highly recommend it if you can find a good knowlegeable doctor for it. It has really helped with anxiety and keeping my system steady. He has experience with migraine patients and use to work for UPMC's headache institute. He specializes in migraine management and sleep disorders. I have sat down during a painful headache, practiced the biofeedback and then my headache was pretty much gone. It is amazing what your body can do. He is probably one of the best therapist I have seen throughout this whole ordeal. He has gentle bedside manners which makes me feel good.

I had the worst reaction ever to Paxil and Lexapro ended up in the Emergency Room

Ok, you're freaking me out a bit Howie. However, I suppose this just goes to show you how we all react differently to meds; Scott and myself with the zoloft versuses yourself and look at JB who is doing really well after taking the Paxil where as you could not tolerate it.

I think I am at the point I want to give something another go. It will be 1 year February 1st that I am klonopin free (I sound like a drug addict).

Thanks again for your input. I'll post on Tuesday as to what path the neurologist and I decide to go.

Best,
Gloria


PS - Funny story.....I came down with a stomach bug (hubby had it last week so I know it is a virus). I am so nausous and feel so dehydrated. I picked my son up from school and told him to hurry up in the car as I was feeling really ill. We got home and I dropped down on the sofa and he was getting into something in the kitchen. I asked him what he was doing and he said it is a surprise. He made me a peanut butter and jelly sandwhich with dried cranberries on it (yuck). He brought it in to me with a bottle of water and said mommy you need to eat. Needless to say I did not want that sandwhich or water but had to take a bite as not to hurt his little feelings. (See what you get to look forward to Howie and Charlotte). Talk about migraine triggers. I haven't had peanut butter in a year since I read the Heal Your Headache book. (lol) And to add dried cranberries on it; what a whopper.

Those head symptoms that you described Gloria are just spot on to what I feel and how I always describe the shaking in my head.....like I have parkinsons but I don't physically shake on the outside.
I having been having such a tough time lately now that I have entered my 3rd year with this stuff (as everyone knows from my posts lately) and I have to say that reading that about your son fixing that sandwhich was the first time I have laughed in a while! ahahhahah too funny. Thank you for that. ;) Sometimes with this junk you just forget to laugh!