14_14
07-05-2003, 08:13 AM
hi everyone.
i am new to this site and am so thankful that i've FINALLY found one like it.
i have been suffering from what i think is ocd since childhood but only became familiar with the actual term "ocd" within the last few years.
looking back at my childhood, i have memories of doing things like
-counting the number of steps i took within a certain distance and trying to make them even-numbered (i have, as far as i can remember, always favoured even numbers)
-making sure that i sit in every seat in a room, i guess to feel "satisfied" and to be able to say that i sat on EVERY seat.
-worrying about watching every part of a movie so that i would be able to accurately say that i've seen it.
-washed my hands frequently to be clean.
-had a problem with little kids sitting on my lap (ie. my little sister or baby cousins). i was always worried that i would have a feeling/sensation that is wrong while they were on my lap.
-felt the need to confess to my mom things that i thought i had done wrong (like swearing)
as i got older, i continued to have weird thoughts/habits (ie. continuing of the frequent washing of the hands, having to further explain and break down what i've just said to people so as to make sure that i was accurate and telling the truth), but i didn't know that there was something "medically" wrong with me and just endured the "torture". it was when i was around 18 yrs old that i hit the peak of my ocd and depression. my disturbing thoughts (mostly of a sexual nature)were tormenting me and i was crying all the time, losing weight, not able to sleep, and thinking of not wanting to live anymore. i had just broken up with my boyfriend and suffered a miscarriage not too long from this time so i think my mom thought that i was just going through a "rough" time and that i wasn't dealing with it well. my parents have gone through separation so she knew how hard it was to lose someone. what she didn't know was that my thoughts were killing me inside. anyways, she referred me to a psychologist who helped me for a few years. she was really nice and really tried to reassure me that i was not psycho or a bad, sick person for thinking the thoughts i did but we didn't really talk too much about ocd. i did some research on ocd and from what i can remember sort of diagnosed myself with it.
paying for the sessions of therapy were getting hard and she was already giving me a big discount so she referred me to a psychatrist that she knew but being my dumb self i let the opportunity to meet him slip. i don't really remember what happened but assume that i was procrastinating. in the meantime, i was in a serious relationship with someone that i had met sometime in this chaotic timeline. i became pregnant and we got married.
to make a long story short, i never got to meet this psychiatrist whom i was referred to (i tried to contact him later but left a message and never received a call back). My husband has been VERY supportive but, of course, he has gone through a lot as he does not fully understand what i am going through. he has helped to motivate me to seek more help which brings me to whom i am seeing now.
my gp referred me to this psychiatrist who is very eager to start me on SEROQUEL (she decided that i should take it after meeting with me for about forty-five minutes). i have always been willing to take medication (God knows that i've been on a few already), but have been hesitant to take this one as i have been informed that there is no definitive evidence that proves that the medication is not harmful to a breastfed baby (i now have a second child). the doctor knows that i have reservations about taking the medication now and tells me that the counselling/cognitive therapy i have requested while i continue to breastfeed will not make a difference.
can someone please give me some advice on whether or not taking this medication is okay. if i do decide to take it, i will stop breastfeeding first (that's for sure) but i've done some research on the internet about seroquel and have read some bad side effects. plus it's used to treat schizophrenia...i haven't read anywhere that it's used to treat ocd. i am presently taking 60mg of paxil/day...
........i can go on forever explaining the thoughts/obsessions/worries i have....please help!
i am new to this site and am so thankful that i've FINALLY found one like it.
i have been suffering from what i think is ocd since childhood but only became familiar with the actual term "ocd" within the last few years.
looking back at my childhood, i have memories of doing things like
-counting the number of steps i took within a certain distance and trying to make them even-numbered (i have, as far as i can remember, always favoured even numbers)
-making sure that i sit in every seat in a room, i guess to feel "satisfied" and to be able to say that i sat on EVERY seat.
-worrying about watching every part of a movie so that i would be able to accurately say that i've seen it.
-washed my hands frequently to be clean.
-had a problem with little kids sitting on my lap (ie. my little sister or baby cousins). i was always worried that i would have a feeling/sensation that is wrong while they were on my lap.
-felt the need to confess to my mom things that i thought i had done wrong (like swearing)
as i got older, i continued to have weird thoughts/habits (ie. continuing of the frequent washing of the hands, having to further explain and break down what i've just said to people so as to make sure that i was accurate and telling the truth), but i didn't know that there was something "medically" wrong with me and just endured the "torture". it was when i was around 18 yrs old that i hit the peak of my ocd and depression. my disturbing thoughts (mostly of a sexual nature)were tormenting me and i was crying all the time, losing weight, not able to sleep, and thinking of not wanting to live anymore. i had just broken up with my boyfriend and suffered a miscarriage not too long from this time so i think my mom thought that i was just going through a "rough" time and that i wasn't dealing with it well. my parents have gone through separation so she knew how hard it was to lose someone. what she didn't know was that my thoughts were killing me inside. anyways, she referred me to a psychologist who helped me for a few years. she was really nice and really tried to reassure me that i was not psycho or a bad, sick person for thinking the thoughts i did but we didn't really talk too much about ocd. i did some research on ocd and from what i can remember sort of diagnosed myself with it.
paying for the sessions of therapy were getting hard and she was already giving me a big discount so she referred me to a psychatrist that she knew but being my dumb self i let the opportunity to meet him slip. i don't really remember what happened but assume that i was procrastinating. in the meantime, i was in a serious relationship with someone that i had met sometime in this chaotic timeline. i became pregnant and we got married.
to make a long story short, i never got to meet this psychiatrist whom i was referred to (i tried to contact him later but left a message and never received a call back). My husband has been VERY supportive but, of course, he has gone through a lot as he does not fully understand what i am going through. he has helped to motivate me to seek more help which brings me to whom i am seeing now.
my gp referred me to this psychiatrist who is very eager to start me on SEROQUEL (she decided that i should take it after meeting with me for about forty-five minutes). i have always been willing to take medication (God knows that i've been on a few already), but have been hesitant to take this one as i have been informed that there is no definitive evidence that proves that the medication is not harmful to a breastfed baby (i now have a second child). the doctor knows that i have reservations about taking the medication now and tells me that the counselling/cognitive therapy i have requested while i continue to breastfeed will not make a difference.
can someone please give me some advice on whether or not taking this medication is okay. if i do decide to take it, i will stop breastfeeding first (that's for sure) but i've done some research on the internet about seroquel and have read some bad side effects. plus it's used to treat schizophrenia...i haven't read anywhere that it's used to treat ocd. i am presently taking 60mg of paxil/day...
........i can go on forever explaining the thoughts/obsessions/worries i have....please help!
Sponsor
hangtenvetter
07-05-2003, 11:18 AM
Hi 14. Welcome. Sorry that I don't have any good advice for you. I just wanted to say thanks for posting, and good luck finding a solution to your problems. There are several people on this board who have similar experiences, I think they might be able to give you some good advice.
I suppose the only advice I might give is reading a couple of books like "Brain Lock" and maybe enrolling in some therapy. From what I've gleaned from the threads here, people are on all sorts of drugs. I can't say that I've seen anyone on seroquel. I have read that seroquel is used primarily for sz. Of course that doesn't mean much since I'm no expert.
Anyways. I sure hope you get better. It was good to read your post. Thanks.
I suppose the only advice I might give is reading a couple of books like "Brain Lock" and maybe enrolling in some therapy. From what I've gleaned from the threads here, people are on all sorts of drugs. I can't say that I've seen anyone on seroquel. I have read that seroquel is used primarily for sz. Of course that doesn't mean much since I'm no expert.
Anyways. I sure hope you get better. It was good to read your post. Thanks.
Delphi373
07-07-2003, 04:58 PM
Hi there,
I'd be a bit wary if I were you of taking seroquel for OCD...I have never heard of it prescribed for this. I know it is usually prescribed for schizophrenia or sometimes bi-polar disorder...but these anti-psychotics can have strong side effects when used over time, (tardive dyskenisa for one). Anyway, I would also be wary of being prescribed such a drug after just one 45 minute consult, and also a doc who swears off cognitive therapy before even trying...just my own opinion though. Don't fret too much though, you aren't alone and you will get better! Keep posting! :)
I'd be a bit wary if I were you of taking seroquel for OCD...I have never heard of it prescribed for this. I know it is usually prescribed for schizophrenia or sometimes bi-polar disorder...but these anti-psychotics can have strong side effects when used over time, (tardive dyskenisa for one). Anyway, I would also be wary of being prescribed such a drug after just one 45 minute consult, and also a doc who swears off cognitive therapy before even trying...just my own opinion though. Don't fret too much though, you aren't alone and you will get better! Keep posting! :)
14_14
07-08-2003, 08:34 PM
thank you, Delphi373, for your reply. i can't begin to tell you how this this site (and the support i get from people like you on it)has helped me. it gives me some comfort that i am not alone.
thank you again....
...by the way, i should have said in my original post that the doctor mentioned that the cognitive therapy may help once i have started the medication (so she didn't swear it off completely, but said it would only work with the medication). ...
i don't know what to do. can you give me a little bit of a description as to what that side effect you mentioned was? do you think that it's possible that i may get dependent/addicted to it?
again, thank you so much!!!
thank you again....
...by the way, i should have said in my original post that the doctor mentioned that the cognitive therapy may help once i have started the medication (so she didn't swear it off completely, but said it would only work with the medication). ...
i don't know what to do. can you give me a little bit of a description as to what that side effect you mentioned was? do you think that it's possible that i may get dependent/addicted to it?
again, thank you so much!!!
14_14
07-08-2003, 08:35 PM
thank you, hangtenvetter, for your reply!
ShannonKay
07-09-2003, 12:33 AM
Hey 14, welcome.
You've had a really rough time, and I completely feel your pain. You have what sounds like a classic, full- blown case of OCD, as many other people on this board do.
I don't know much about medication, but I do think that you should definitely get a second (professional) opinion on the issue. I know that with SSRI'S breast-feeding is a no-no, but I'm not sure about your particular meds. Please update us on how everything goes.
We're all here for you!
------------------
Shannon
You've had a really rough time, and I completely feel your pain. You have what sounds like a classic, full- blown case of OCD, as many other people on this board do.
I don't know much about medication, but I do think that you should definitely get a second (professional) opinion on the issue. I know that with SSRI'S breast-feeding is a no-no, but I'm not sure about your particular meds. Please update us on how everything goes.
We're all here for you!
------------------
Shannon
Delphi373
07-09-2003, 10:20 AM
Hi 14_14
Tardive Dyskenisia is a permanant side effect from taking anti-psychotics for at least 3 months or more. I think the possiblity of developing it is fairly high...about 15% on average. I beleive it is more prevalant among women and the elderly. It results in developing oral-facial tics, like lip-smacking, blowing air through one's cheeks, grimacing, eye-brow raising, etc. Sometimes it effects one's trunk by causing a rocking motion...and occassionaly the extremeties and the person with TD looks like they are trying to play an "air piano." Basically, it is a result of taking these drugs which I think end up over time effecting one's nervous system. I would look it up on the internet...just do a search for Seroquel+Tardive Dyskinisia or something like that. I am not saying you would develop it, but I think it's good to know about the drug you're taking and its possible side-effects...and as this side-effect has no cure and isn't really treatable as well, it's good to know.
HTH!
Tardive Dyskenisia is a permanant side effect from taking anti-psychotics for at least 3 months or more. I think the possiblity of developing it is fairly high...about 15% on average. I beleive it is more prevalant among women and the elderly. It results in developing oral-facial tics, like lip-smacking, blowing air through one's cheeks, grimacing, eye-brow raising, etc. Sometimes it effects one's trunk by causing a rocking motion...and occassionaly the extremeties and the person with TD looks like they are trying to play an "air piano." Basically, it is a result of taking these drugs which I think end up over time effecting one's nervous system. I would look it up on the internet...just do a search for Seroquel+Tardive Dyskinisia or something like that. I am not saying you would develop it, but I think it's good to know about the drug you're taking and its possible side-effects...and as this side-effect has no cure and isn't really treatable as well, it's good to know.
HTH!
Delphi373
07-09-2003, 01:48 PM
Hi...just one more thing...I don't mean to sound like I am against Seroquel or medications; when I think about my last post I think it could be irresponsible on my part to not say this too:
I said I'd be wary 'cause that's just me, and of course I am biased as it's my opinion. I, personally, am a bit wary of medicine at times; I don't know if that's wrong or not...I don't assume doctors to know EVERYTHING. But I did take Luvox for my OCD and it helped immensely - you could almost say it saved my life! So maybe this Seroquel could be what you're looking for...I dunno...but again, I've never personally heard of it prescribed for OCD, and it's good to know all you can about the drug you're taking! Maybe you should speak with another professional and get a second opinion? Couldn't hurt right? And then if they agree that it's best for you it could alleviate your reservations? Dunno...just an idea!
Take care! :)
I said I'd be wary 'cause that's just me, and of course I am biased as it's my opinion. I, personally, am a bit wary of medicine at times; I don't know if that's wrong or not...I don't assume doctors to know EVERYTHING. But I did take Luvox for my OCD and it helped immensely - you could almost say it saved my life! So maybe this Seroquel could be what you're looking for...I dunno...but again, I've never personally heard of it prescribed for OCD, and it's good to know all you can about the drug you're taking! Maybe you should speak with another professional and get a second opinion? Couldn't hurt right? And then if they agree that it's best for you it could alleviate your reservations? Dunno...just an idea!
Take care! :)
Kathrin74
07-10-2003, 12:14 AM
Hello,
parts of your story remind me very much of mine: The early childhood manifestations, hitting a peak in early adulthood, long-term therapy that didn't really help much.
What kind of therapy did you do?What really works for OCD is cognitive-behavioral therapy. That is, NOT analyzing your feelings, but working on changing your thoughts and behaviors.
I must say that I got a very good response from medication (Prozac, in my case). I got to feeling so free again like I never thought would be possible for me again after so many years. it took me a long time to decide to take a medication though, and I only took it after I was totally convinced that THIS was going to help me... (after hitting another real bad low at age 26 or so) ..so maybe my attitude helped a lot too.
If you're weary of taking meds, studies really show that cognitive-behavioral therapy works very well too! Actually, I did both, but only a very short term therapy. I guess the Prozac helped me be able to do the exercses.. :-) So sometimes meds make it easier to be able to go through with the therapy.
Kathrin
parts of your story remind me very much of mine: The early childhood manifestations, hitting a peak in early adulthood, long-term therapy that didn't really help much.
What kind of therapy did you do?What really works for OCD is cognitive-behavioral therapy. That is, NOT analyzing your feelings, but working on changing your thoughts and behaviors.
I must say that I got a very good response from medication (Prozac, in my case). I got to feeling so free again like I never thought would be possible for me again after so many years. it took me a long time to decide to take a medication though, and I only took it after I was totally convinced that THIS was going to help me... (after hitting another real bad low at age 26 or so) ..so maybe my attitude helped a lot too.
If you're weary of taking meds, studies really show that cognitive-behavioral therapy works very well too! Actually, I did both, but only a very short term therapy. I guess the Prozac helped me be able to do the exercses.. :-) So sometimes meds make it easier to be able to go through with the therapy.
Kathrin