New Psychiatrist a true super star

[Guest guest]

I had an appointment with a new psychiatrist. Had to drive about

an hour to get there, so my wife and I escaped for the holiday to a

motel nearby.

The psychiatrist seems to have a lot of experience with chronic

pain patients. She totally agreed that my doctors were quite wrong

to stop the Klonopin this past summer, especially without

discussing that decision with me. She agreed that my increased

anxiety and panic attacks are most likely due to the lack of

Klonopin, as well as increased trouble with spasms and pain.

She also wants me to begin Effexor, an antidepressant that she says

has a good track record with her chronic pain patients, both in

helping with pain, in lifting associated depression, and reducing

anxiety and panic.

She also will take over the prescribing of Ambien from the pain

clinic doctor and made some suggestions for improving its

effectiveness. Since her experience with chronic pain patients has

been that they wake up after 3 hours or so whether they take 5 or

10 mg, she suggests taking 5 only at bedtime, then taking the other

5 if you wake up later and can't go back to sleep, or take the

other 5 if you haven't fallen asleep withing an appropriate amount

of time. I've been taking 10 mg, waking up in 2 to 3 hours,

getting up and working at computer or reading, then after an hour

to two hours going back to bed.

The Effexor must be taken in the AM since it can interfer with

sleep if taken at bedtime.

In any respect, I feel very good about this new doctor. Perhaps

she can get my other doctors to work together, and if not, can fill

the gap in my care that their disagreements have caused.

The only bad spot in the two days away was coming down with stomach

flu just as we were dressing to go out to a restaruant for New

Year's Eve. It was the worst case of stomach flu I've ever had in

my entire life. My wife was understanding, she had the same thing

a few days ago, but I know she was disappointed that our plans to

escape and be alone were ruined.

Have a happy new year, everyone.

Ray

[Guest guest]

Hi Ray, Sounds like you have found someone that will help coordinate your

medications. I take Effexor. I tried it a few years ago and it really made me

sleepy. I stopped it after a few days. I asked to try it again after stopping

HRT. It is supposed to help with hot flashes. I take it at bedtime because of

the effect that it has on me. (Strange how we all react so differently to

medications). It has helped a little with hot flashes or at least I don't get

as stressed out by them. My rheumatologist has said it can also help with pain

control. Seems to be a good medication.

What is Klonopin? I'm assuming it is an anti-anxiety medication.

Also sorry to hear you had a bout with stomach flu. It seems to be going

around. My father spent the entire day in bed during our family get together

with the bug. My mom got it a few days later.

Glad you are back online. I go through withdrawal when I can't get online.

Take care.

Kay

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the encouragement, Dawn. I know how difficult it is to find a

medication that works for you without unwanted side effects. I'll keep you on

my prayer list. Too bad we have to do this in a hit-or-miss fashion to find a

medication that truly helps.

Ray

[Guest guest]

<<She also wants me to begin Effexor, an antidepressant that she says has a

good track record with her chronic pain patients, both in helping with pain,

in lifting associated depression, and reducing anxiety and panic.>>

Hi Ray,

I'm on 225 mg of Effexor for depression and it's not working for me, for

depression or pain, but that's ME. I seen a new psychiatrist and she put me

on Remeron to take with my Effexor and Ambien, but it's not working very

well. I will see a new psychiatrist the 10th and hopefully he can think of

something different for me.

I wish you luck with the Effexor. I've heard from friends that Effexor has

worked for them. I'm just weird when it comes to meds! I truly hope it works

for you.

Good luck & take care!

Love Dawn

[Guest guest]

Celexa is the only drug that has come close to helping my depression. I'm

on 50 mg of that. Effexor made me all weird-- overnight I TOTALLY lost

my ability to orgasm and also my eyes got huge and stary.. not the

pupils.. my whole eyes. (apparently it was caused by the same mech that

enlarges your pores on this med)

>

Hope it works ok for you Ray--like she said meds work so different on

different people and sometimes even in the same person from one time to th

next. I'd taken effexor previously and din'td have that affect at all.

Dawn said:

> I'm on 225 mg of Effexor for depression and it's not working for me, for

> depression or pain, but that's ME. I seen a new psychiatrist and she put me

> on Remeron to take with my Effexor and Ambien, but it's not working very

> well. I will see a new psychiatrist the 10th and hopefully he can think of

> something different for me.

Liz

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" I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget

what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. "

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