New and would like to ask a question.............

Welcome!

I have been on Elavil, Paxil, and Wellbuterin. I did the best on Paxil. However, everyone reacts to them differently.

Are you starting an anti-depressant?

No worries. I understand.

I was very against starting an anti-depressant, but my doctor convinced me to try them as they are also used as a pain management tool. She also, casually (sneakily?) gave me info on depression. It had a quiz on it and said if you had 3 of the 10 symptoms, you may be depressed and I answered yes to 9 out of 10.  I had been in massive chronic and debilitating pain for a good year (with multiple doctors saying I was crazy and nothing was physically wrong with me)  at that point, it was a wonder I survived that long w/o the help of an anti-depressant.

Wellbutrin is supposed to be a good one as well.

Good luck and Good to Meet you!

Hi new to site so my question may already have been posted, but here goes

my son is 22, has anklysourus spodolitis (sp?) back pain is so intense, he is taking Enbrel shots...anyone out there doing this also?  I have a concern about his "anger", talking about being better off dead and i think I need to try to find other forms of treatment...

appreciate anyones response or guidance?

 patsysue

 

 

Brenda - I most definitely agree with you......I had the pain first. I was happy as a clam prior the issues. In fact, I went MONTHS trying to stay positive even when I had all these so-called specialists telling me I needed to see a therapist and not them. It was getting harder and harder to stay positive and still not get any relief for the pain. Then, when the doc wanted to try prednisone.....forget it, I went crazy, immediately started gaining weight, was thrown in to a deep depression...and thus began the insanity - and it only took 2 weeks of steroids to do it to me. I must have been a time bomb and it was only a matter of time. The steroids just helped it along in a quicker manner.

Patsy - Welcome! There are quire a few here on HW who are taking Enbrel. If the Enbrel is not helping, you need to get him either on something else, or have some additional meds to help with the pain until the Enbrel takes effect. Many of us have to take multiple medications.

I figured I was "better off dead" for quite some time too (before I started the anti-depressants - which I've been off of for some time) my pain was so debilitating, this was in my mid-20's. HOw long has he had this? I know adjusting to the fact you have something like this that is out of your control is very hard to adjust to. That can't be helping.....but I strongly suggest you get him some help to manage his pain, wheather it is a therapist, a support group, or even medication.   You can't help but get depressed or angry at constant pain that bad. I learned that the hard way. Good luck.***

patsysue said...
Hi new to site so my question may already have been posted, but here goes

my son is 22, has anklysourus spodolitis (sp?) back pain is so intense, he is taking Enbrel shots...anyone out there doing this also?  I have a concern about his "anger", talking about being better off dead and i think I need to try to find other forms of treatment...

appreciate anyones response or guidance?

 patsysue

 

 Patsysue,

I have R.A., just diagnosed in January, BUT my older brother has ankylosing spondylitis and has had it for 25 years.  It turns out that the 2 conditions are possibly on the same genetic marker.  Anyway, after going through his condition with him, I would definitely say GET HIM DIFFERENT MEDICATION AND GET SOMEONE TO GET HIM ON ANTIDEPRESSANTS!    I've been taking Prozac for 10 years and I will never go off of it unless they tell me it will kill me!  My reaction to my diagnosis has definitely been helped by Prozac.  Instead of having the fear, anger, and constant anxiety that my brother had, especially during the early years of his illness when he was still trying to be the big jock and going at every sport full-blast and then sitting around with ice-packs all over his body in horrible pain, I AM  ABLE TO LIVE ONE DAY AT A TIME, HOPEFUL THAT I CAN FIGHT THIS DISEASE WITH WHATEVER I NEED TO USE.  Your son needs to know that things can get better and if Enbrel doesn't work, then other drugs are out there to try.

Good luck and this blog is just the best thing for all of us!

 magsmom 

Hi Brenda,

I started a low dose of Celexa last month. I was having trouble sleeping and was anxious a lot. This definitely had been picking up intensity since the RAish thing set in last summer. I've always been an anxious, slightly dark person though, and I have resisted the idea of meds for years. Anyway, took the plunge and LOVE it. Feel like a normal person. After 3 weeks I was driving to work on a Monday morning and thought, "Wow. Is this how regular people feel about going to work? Like just a mild jitter and some anticipation of what the week will bring? (as opposed to serious dread and worry!)." So, I recommend it and like this drug I'm on. 2 weeks of mild side effects and now I feel fine. Not happy all the time. Not spacey. Just well balanced. And it might be helping with pain. Can't tell. But I have enough energy now to work out and that started post pill, so it could be related. Good Luck!

Thank you Brenda, sometimes you forget that what you do has value, and other times you wonder why you keep putting up with )*)*....but he is my son and I want the best for him.

we are setting up an appointment with is doctor and I am PLANNING on going to tell her what I see and why she needs to spend more then 5 minutes with him....i will keep all up to date on what happnes..in the meantime maybe I can get some sleep and pray for his feeling better...

again thanks to all

patsysue