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Is this as good as it gets?

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Posted 1/19/2015 12:10 AM (GMT 0)
Hey all. I haven't posted much, but I do check in alot.
I've been struggling lately quite a bit with my med situation.
As some of you know, I've been back on effexor for 3 months now.
I had a good 3 weeks before Christmas and during and then the anxiety began to build again.
I increased my dose to 225mg last week and now I feel flat, bordering on sad and of course anxious.
I'm so frustrated and tired of feeling this way.
I have been very tired lately too and had some tests done.
All was good, except my hormones are off and the doctor told me I was entering peri menopause! I
I'm only 43 and my youngest is only 5!!
Anyway, we all ( women ) have to deal with that eventually!
I'm beginning to wonder if this is just how it's going to be?
I just want to feel some sense of joy and peace.
I'm tired of feeling tired.
Sorry to sound like such a downer, but I'm really concerned that I will never respond to a med like I did with my first one!
Just ranting and feeling sorry for myself! !
Love you all!
Posted 1/19/2015 1:22 AM (GMT 0)
I wish my Doctor would give me a test to see if I am pre-menopausal or peri-menopausal or what.

Sorry to hear you are going through this, I totally understand how you are feeling, last year was not the best year for me by far, but we made it through.

As far as the hormones, I am 47 will be 48 next month, my periods have always been like clock work, till a few months ago I missed a period for 3 months, saw my Doctor she didn't say much, had blood work done, went back to see her and had two periods in the mean time, so she said she believes I am pre-menopausal, so I asked her could the hormone change be causing my anxiety, and I can't recall if she said the anxiety could be causing the hormone change, or the hormone change could be causing me more anxiety...I seemed very A.D.D that appointment.

I've had the same concerns, that I won't respond to medication, because my body tends to reject a lot of things I take.

I hope you get to feeling better!
Posted 1/19/2015 2:37 AM (GMT 0)
CM,

Good to hear from you.:) Since you were feeling better just before your increase...have hope that in the next week or so, after adjusting, that you will feel good once again...

...and that you will have reached your theraputic level!

Hang on there , use your coping skills and know that we support you through this.:)

Talk soon ,

S.C.
Posted 1/19/2015 3:24 AM (GMT 0)
Mom,

I , too, thought hormones could be the culprit of my anxious bout that started in April of last year.

My doctor tested my thyroid and it was off. She tested it a couple more times over the summer and. By August it had fell back within the normal range. But I was still anxious, though not as bad as I was earlier.

That's when I asked about hormones. She said she would test me, but she does not like treating patients with hormone imbalances with hormones. She would rather treat the anxiety with an ssri (which I didn't want to do). So I was bummed about that, so I didn't even get tested.
Posted 1/19/2015 3:31 AM (GMT 0)
Are you on the BC pill?
It helped me thru menopause. Really only got the symptoms while on my off week. Anxiety levels and PMS were great at that time.
When I turned 51 my FSH level said I was post menopausal.
Dr. took me off BC at that time and I never had a period again.
The first year was rough but I am now pretty much OK. Stress causes hot flashes but I don't wake up in the middle of the night with them too much unless I am very stressed out. I'm 4 years post.
I was anxious before and I'm anxious after but it did calm down from when menopause was in the picture.

I wish you all the best
Posted 1/19/2015 1:29 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks all for your input!
I'm not on the birth control pill. My doc said I could but I'm worried that it will make me wonkier than I already am!!
I just would like an antidepressant that will work on the anxiety and depression.
I'm really concerned that I would t find one, and that this is how I'm going to be from now on.
I'm doing some cbt that I learned, but it's hard when this is how I feel day in and day out.
I know this doesn't last forever but it feels like it sometimes.
Hope you are all doing well??
Hugs, Lisa

Post Edited (coopsmom) : 1/19/2015 6:32:24 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/20/2015 12:12 AM (GMT 0)
Lisa-

This is NOT as good as it gets! I'm not trying to be a Pollyanna bc I too am in the same boat as you. I'm also 43 and until last year, my life, emotions & moods have always been "normal" (happy, sad, anger, anxiety)- those are normal & were never overwhelming, minus a couple of bouts of depression & anxiety that were remedied by Prozac and I didn't suffer for more than a month and went off of the med after 5 months? I have had anxiety off and on my whole adult life, but I dealt with it & it never spiraled.

In 2008 I had my 2nd bout (first was 1993), & Prozac (by then generic), didn't work. That's when I tried Cymbalta & it snapped me right out of it. I stayed on it bc I was afraid to wean off of it (my only experience had been w/Prozac which you don't have to wean).

Last year Cymbalta pooped out & I switched to Zoloft. They only tapered the Cymbalta one week (not uncommon when switching to another med) & crap hit the fan 3 weeks later. I'm certain it was discontinuation syndrome.

And here I am.... After trying several meds, I'm currently transitioning off of Pristiq & onto Viibryd. I'm ok but like you, still have random off days that are scary & upsetting.

My point is, & sorry for going off on my story, but this is NOT as good as it gets. There IS something that will work.

When do you see your psych next? Feeling flat or dull is not something to tolerate for too long. Like SC said, give it time to adjust but if it doesn't, get back into your psych bc flat or dull means it's not the right med/dose for you. That's actually quite a common side effect for many on AD's & some don't change meds/tell their docs. Maybe thinking that's as good as it gets?! Well that's not true so stay in contact with your Doc.

My niece is an OB/GYN & she said hormone testing isn't always reliable bc our hormones change all the time. My Dr told me unless I have a bleeding problem, female problem or infertility, they don't test hormones.

Im not saying we all aren't dealing with hormone issues, I have no doubt but in my gut, I feel a lot of my issues this past year were med induced & situational. Who knows for sure.

Girl, "normal" is out there. It seems elusive but it's there!

Ps: are you in therapy? That's realllly helping me now that I've found a good therapist.

Love ya!
Lisa
Posted 1/20/2015 3:27 PM (GMT 0)
First of all, thank you for your support. Your words really do help!
Lisa, you always seem to know what to say and I am so thankful for you!
The reason I had the hormone tests is because I had 2 periods in one month, which has never happened to me.
I'm not, nor never have been on the Bc pill because of a heart issue.
The hormone issue could explain why I had so many miscarriages before I conceived my last babe.
I'm not too concerned with that, but that makes sense.
Anyway, it has been over a week on this new dose and I'm still feeling anxious. I can handle it, but still wishing to be my old self again without obsessing about how I feel all the time.
I'm a tough cookie, so I know I will survive and look back at this time in my life and shudder, and move on.

I have alot to be grateful for. And that keeps me going, along with all you amazing people who give me hope!

Love you all, Lisa
Posted 1/20/2015 4:05 PM (GMT 0)
CM,

You ARE tough!

...and your postivie attitude and commitment to be well, even if it means some tough spots, will bring you through this.

Increases can even take a couple weeks of adjustment, so hang in there.

We are cheering you on! Update when you can.

S.C.
Posted 1/20/2015 4:08 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Scared! You're a sweetheart as always!!
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