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Posted 3/15/2014 2:39 PM (GMT 0)
Have a wonderful birthday party today!!!

Make lots of good wishes....(we moms get several!!)

...and enjoy an anxiety free, wonderful celebration!

Sending some Spring your way today!!

S.C.
Posted 3/20/2014 10:18 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you! :)

We really need some Spring. We're still getting over some snow we got at the beginning of this week. It has been so dreary outside!

I went to see the endocrinologist yesterday. First off, I'd like to say that my doctor is awesome! She listened to all of my symptoms and asked me lots of questions. After talking with her, she suspects that I do have an underlying thyroid disorder. I was sent for a full thyroid panel, plus A1C. I should get the results back by the first of next week. Please continue to keep me in your thoughts and prayers. I really hope this means that I'm finally going to find out what the problem is so I can be treated and start to feel better soon!
Posted 3/20/2014 2:40 PM (GMT 0)
Psych,

Great job on getting the answers that you need! You are circling in for sure.:)

An A1C...isn't that an average of BGL's? Do they suspect blood sugar issues? My husband has this test regularly and always eagerly awaits his 'score' ;)

I am wishing you good results and some sun and highter temps as well...let's get that snow to lots of good messy slush, lol!! ;p

Keep us posted...and wellness to you and yours!!

S.C.
Posted 3/22/2014 7:05 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you, S.C.! :)

I had a good appointment with my family doctor yesterday. My blood pressure was 112/82, which is so much better than it's been for quite some time. She was able to cut the dosage of one of my medications in half.

We had a good talk about my depression. I found out that a lot of the things I've been feeling, such as chronic head and ear pain, loss of focus, irritation, concentration problems, memory loss, lightheadedness, etc. are all symptoms of depression. She explained everything to me and switched my medication to a different one since the other depression meds were working, but not doing enough to make me feel totally better.

Yes, the A1C has to do with blood sugar. My mom has been a diabetic since she was 6 years old, so I think my endo is covering everything just to make sure. :)
Posted 3/23/2014 3:50 AM (GMT 0)
Sounds like you have great medical care professionals in your corner!! That is fantastic.;)

Congrats on your good BP reading...that is especially great for being at the dr.s office...as it tends to be higher for me anyway when I am there. (white coat syndrom)

I hope that your medication changes are all helpful and easy!

Have a great rest of the weekend...and come on SPRING! ;p

S.C.
Posted 3/23/2014 11:28 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you! :)

Unfortunately, Spring is going to have to wait a little longer. We had such a nice day yesterday with temps in the upper 60s. Today we're supposed to get a little snow, but then Tuesday they're calling for another big snow. :(
Posted 3/24/2014 2:24 PM (GMT 0)
The endocrinologist called back with my thyroid blood test results. Everything was normal. However, because of the enlargement of my thyroid and the symptoms that I've been having, she has started me on a low dose of thyroid medication. I go back to see her in June, so she'll check to see how I'm doing then and go from there.

Thankfully, the big snow that we were supposed to get is now a lot smaller. They're only calling for 1-2 inches. :)
Posted 3/29/2014 12:25 PM (GMT 0)
Just wanted to give you all a small update. I've been feeling pretty good lately with only a bad day here and there. With the combination of thyroid and depression meds that my doctors currently have me on, I think we're finally headed in the right direction. My doctor should also be able to ween me more off my blood pressure medication...I hope! I go back on April 16, so we'll see what happens then. I'm very optimistic. :)
Posted 3/30/2014 1:09 AM (GMT 0)
tongue   turn cool

That sounds like a really good improvement from where things were just a few weeks ago!

I too hope that things continue in a postive direction for you...I am sure that they will:)

Thanks for updating...and hoping you guys are seeing some signs of Spring!

S.C.

Posted 3/31/2014 10:29 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you, S.C.! :)

After a cold, dreary day of rain and snow yesterday, we are finally going to see some spring. It's supposed to be in the 60s and 70s this week. Hooray!

Except for being tired, I'm still feeling well. Definitely a lot better than I was a couple months ago. smilewinkgrin
Posted 4/1/2014 10:54 AM (GMT 0)
I can definitely tell that my new depression medication is doing the trick. I have not been as lightheaded or anxious when driving. Also, I used to go to bed at around 10:00pm and always wake up at 5:00am or earlier and be wide awake, even on the weekends. It wouldn't matter if I went to bed at 3:00am. I'd still wake up early. Now, I've been sleeping until 8:00am on the weekends (or whenever the kids get up) and pressing the snooze button over and over during the week because I don't want to get up! Not having the lightheadedness and negative thoughts most days is what I'm so grateful for too. I'm also not as forgetful. :)
Posted 4/1/2014 4:29 PM (GMT 0)
yeah   :-) tongue cool Doing the happy dance with you!!

That is great news! 

...and it perpetuates a positive cycle!  The meds allow you to sleep...the restorative sleep allows you to manage the A/D better...

Good stuff all around.:)

Keep up the great work!

S.C.

Posted 4/2/2014 11:10 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks S.C.! smilewinkgrin cool
Posted 4/16/2014 4:06 PM (GMT 0)
I had a good appointment with my doctor this morning. My B12 and cholesterol are normal. Blood pressure was 110/82, so she was able to cut one of my meds in half again. I have developed a cough though, so she made a slight change to my other BP meds. Unfortunately, she had to double my anxiety/depression meds though. I'm still having a tough time. Praying that we're getting closer.
Posted 4/16/2014 4:45 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Psy, I was just thinking about you yesterday as we had not heard from you in a bit.:)

So good and so-so news...

Good that your B.P. and blood work were spot on.:) Maybe the dialing back of your B.P. med could give you a little lift. If you find that it was making you fatigued, that may have been contributing to the depressive feelings? (my sister struggled with this problem)

I hope that the new A/D Rx regimine will work for you. Keep up the coping skills as well of course.:)

Are you and the family planning anything fun for Easter? My daughter and I have our Spring Break next week...and I am very much looking forward to that! ;p

Talk to you soon,

S.C.
Posted 4/17/2014 12:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hi S.C.! :)

I had a couple of weeks where I was feeling much better, but I was very tired all the time. That got better, but then some of my depression symptoms came back. They were not as bad as before though. I was very encouraged yesterday that I could possibly stop taking one of my blood pressure medications since it has improved and is staying within normal range. I think the main thing now is to get my depression and anxiety under control. We're getting there, it's just taking a while. I think that maybe the thyroid medication was what was making me so tired. I'm starting to take more of the depression meds though, so I should be able to tell if that was the culprit.

My boys are on Spring Break this week. Besides going to the doctor and baseball games, we've been pretty much lazy and non-productive! I hope you and your daughter have a wonderful time next week. :)
Posted 4/28/2014 10:36 AM (GMT 0)
I just wanted to check in and let you all know that I'm doing great. The new depression medication that I'm on now is making me feel so much better. It's so wonderful to feel excited about life again!

I hope everyone is doing well. :)
Posted 4/28/2014 5:03 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Psy! :)

I am so glad to hear that you are doing so well!!

It is wonderful to hear postive updates, and I am so happy for you!

You did a lot to get to this place of healing, so feel good about the work that you did to feel better as an individual, wife and mom!!

Proud of you! ;)

S.C.
Posted 4/29/2014 10:14 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much, S.C.! You have helped me through my healing process too and I appreciate it more than you will ever know. Thank you! :)
Posted 4/29/2014 4:09 PM (GMT 0)
cool   tongue turn yeah smilewinkgrin cool :-) tongue yeah smilewinkgrin

TTY soon! 

S.C.

Posted 9/30/2014 6:08 PM (GMT 0)
I'm sorry it has taken me so long to get back and update you all on how I've been doing. We've been busy with school, baseball and everything else that 4 boys can get into!

I had been going to my doctor on a regular basis, about every 4 weeks. In June, after lots of changes to my medication, my blood pressure was holding steady in the normal range and my depression and anxiety was better than it had been for quite a while. So she could see how my meds did during an extended time frame, she gave me 3 months off. Unfortunately, I had another UTI that wouldn't go away. I went to my endocrinologist close to that time for my regular thyroid checkup, so they took care of getting me the meds that helped take away the infection. During that time, all of my bad memories came back that I had had when my depression was at its worst. I powered through though and my meds finally did their job. I still have some bad depression days. I also cannot go shopping or drive very much because my anxiety kicks in full force. I'm just happy in my "safe place", which is on the sofa with my fleece blanket wrapped around me. When I do go out, I can't wait to get home. The lightheadedness is gone for the most part, but I do feel it when I'm anxious. My memory has gotten better too, so that's good. Not so much forgetfulness.

I can always tell when my blood pressure is up because I feel horrible and I'm very depressed. I went back to my doctor about 2 weeks ago and it was 146/98, so she put me on another medication. Since I am still having bad days, she also referred me to a psychiatrist. I was supposed to have my first appointment yesterday, but it was moved to next Thursday because the doctor was sick. I think this will be a good thing for me. It's the same psychiatrist that my mom sees. Depression runs in my family (my mom and my brother), so it's good that I'm going to a doctor that is familiar with us. Praying that she can help me finally break through the wall that seems to keep getting in the way of me feeling better.

I had an appointment with my endocrinologist last week. My blood pressure was 118/78 and I was feeling pretty good. She took me off the 75 MCG of Synthroid I was on to see how my thyroid would react during the next month. If it goes back to hypothyroidism, they will then know that the dosage I was on was perfect. With that, my thyroid levels are in the normal range. I have another ultrasound in January 2015.

I hope you all are doing well. Take care. :)
Posted 9/30/2014 7:08 PM (GMT 0)
Hello and welcome back!!

I am glad to hear that things in general have been well (if busy) for you.;) Four boys...I can't imagine! I've only one girl still at home, and I think I am busy.;p

Good to see that you are pro-activley taking care of your health concerns. Sounds like you are manging the BP and thryroid well...so that it great news both in terms of general helath and anxiety management.:)

Keep us posted on how it goes going off of the Synthroid....it will be intersting to see what happens, hugh?

Keep posting as your schedule allows. We like to hear from you!

Take care friend.:)

S.C.
Posted 10/15/2014 3:43 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much, S.C.! :)

I had my appointment with the therapist. She is awesome! We had a nice long talk about everything that has happened since I started having problems with the anxiety, depression and hypertension. She helped me feel so much better about so many things. We also talked about adding some medication to help me have even more good days. My mom has had depression since 1998 and the only medication that has helped her is Prozac. My doctor has started me on 20 mg a day to go along with the 225 mg of Venlafaxine that I am currently taking. The goal is to "clean" out my system and eventually ween me completely off the Venlafaxine, which has contributed to me gaining 60 lbs. :( They would also like to slowly reduce the amount of blood pressure medication I am taking (currently 3 different types). I go back to see both my regular doctor and my therapist on November 3rd. Praying that we're starting to get on the right track!

I have also gotten a job at our local Target distribution center where I will be working as a packer from 6am-4pm, Tuesday-Friday. It's seasonal right now, so I can only work a maximum of 120 days, but I'm hoping I'll be offered something permanent. It will help me to be out of the house and around adults, not to mention earning money to help with our expenses. I'm excited about it!

I hope everyone is doing well! Take care. :)
Posted 11/8/2014 7:30 PM (GMT 0)
I went to see my therapist and regular doctor last Monday. I am now on 40 mg of Prozac and 150 mg of Venlafaxine. Next week, I will be on 60 mg of Prozac and 75 mg of Venlafaxine. So far it's working well and I will hopefully only be on Prozac after my next appointment at the end of November. My therapist also gave me Xanax to take when I need it. My blood pressure was at 122/90, which is a lot better than it was last time. My doctor increased one of my meds though so we can get the bottom number down a bit more.

On October 30th, I started a new job. I work four 10-hour days during the week at a distribution center. It has been quite an adjustment and requires me to unpack, pack and lift boxes that are up to 20 lbs. as fast as I can. I've been using muscles I never even knew I had, so I have been very sore and worn out. I like being out of the house and working, but I have had some anxiety with it. Praying that my blood pressure and anxiety do not get out of control so I can hopefully stay on if they decide to offer me a full-time position after the holidays.

I hope everyone is doing well. Take care :)
Posted 11/8/2014 10:37 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Psych!

Thanks for the update! All in all things sound good.:)


Congrats on your job. It sounds tiring, but I bet you are getting some good muscle toning...kind of like getting paid to go to sculpting (body sculpting) class! ;p

Wishing you continued success in all things...health, job and anxiety management!

Keep us posted when you can.:)

S.C.
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