I Need Advice

[jadedreflection]

Help? I'm on fluextine (prozac) and was recently put on birth control by my doctor (yasmine).  My hormones are all a mess, my body is always aching and tired and my mind is always out of whack. I am seventeen, i smoked for a little over a year and this month decided to quit. This is messing with my body aswell. Usually i am a lightwieght with everything, my body is fragle and even too much water sometimes makes me feel ill. Now with this mess of chemicals and hormones it doesn't know what to do. My mom wont let me stop the birth control, my doctor wont let me stop the fluxotine, and i'm afraid if i dont quit cigartettes now i never will be able to. i just dont know what to do anymore. talking and councilling does not work, as well as nartural herbal remedies. i have severe mood swings no matter what i try, i gat violent and hard to put up with. i'm was diagnosed with depression as well as showing signs of ADD, manic depressiive/bipolar and OCD. I just want some advice, i'm so scared.

[birdie0907]

I read that 30 year issue in my kid's Math text. The 30 years part should be pasted all over every ciggy box because not knowing about it gives smokers a false sense of security. They think stopping smoking someday will stop the problem, so they put it off.
You will never regret a minute of it if you stop smoking. Think about my friend; he regrets every minute he smoked. Pretend he did it all for you.

Don't hold anything you do against yourself. i.e. don't beat yourself up over the freak out. It has passed and you intended no harm, so keep living your life and accept the depression. Trying is all that matters.
I see you stopped your mood tracker a few days ago. It might be useful to take to your next doc's appointment, so consider keeping it up. Since your dose hasn't changed for 4 months and your mood is down, perhaps you should have another appointment, or have you seen doc recently?

[jadedreflection]

what you said on smoking really inspired me, im so sorry to hear about your friend! i didnt realize it would hang around for up to 30 years, thats really scary.

i had another freak out today- just over the fact that my boyfriend didnt clean his house before i visted. i was crying like a child- he knows that im a bit moody and didnt hold it against me, but i feel terrible.

i started with 10mg, then worked up to 40mg and have been on that for about four months.

[birdie0907]

I think you should keep up the stop smoking program if you can. If you only had 1 in a week, that is more than a good start, so you might as well reap the benefits and stop altogether. I know it is very hard to do, but it doesn't help with your depression one little bit, so you should give it up if you can. Since you live in Canada, you have seen all those yuchy warnings on the cigarette packs. Maybe collect out the whole collection and put on a page for inspiration.

Did you know that a smoke can stay latent in your system for up to 30 years before it is activated and develops into a cancer?
My neighbour always joked that he would quit before anything happened. Guess what? He can't even mow his lawn now, and his doctor said within 5 years he will have to use an oxygen tank - forever. Imagine how restrictive that will be to his life, sucking on an air-tube forever.

Back to the depression. - When did you have your last Prozac increase and what is your dosage?

[jadedreflection]

ive been smoking for over a year, i havent had one for almost a week i'd say; i tried to quit cold turkey- just stoping you know? recently ive tried those herbal cigarettes, just so i have the habit with something in my hand, but they drive e absolutly bats.

ive been on prozac for just under a year now. i talked about all my symtoms to my doctor but she kept just making my dose higher and telling me to 'wait it out'. my pshyciatrist prescribed them, i talked to her about it too- she said the same thing.

i was seeing a social worker for a while and she thought: "wouldnt it be a fun little experiment if you stopped taking them? i mean i you think theyre not helping and then you can tell your mom 'see, i told you im the same person'"  i thought it was horrible advice and stopped seeing her. this was one of many things that happened.

i havent tried herbal remedies, ive thought about it- but i wasnt sure if it was a good sustitute for the prescription meds.

thank you two so much; your responding means alot.

[birdie0907]

Your site mentions that you are in Ontario, and have had bad experiences with the healthcare system and you don't want to try counseling anymore. Based on the major depression diagnosis that you list, you might find the counseling to be of benefit if the Proxac starts to help you.
In your state, it can be very hard to enjoy talking to anyone, so I sympathize with you, however the medication works better if you are trying to work toward positivity or peace.

A psychiatrist is best at determining solutions for your situation, if you have major dep. Who prescribed your meds?

[LeftCoastChick]

Are you taking any herbal remedies now ? some can be dangerous when you are taking any psychiatric meds. I wouldn't be so hard on yourself about the smoking, but I agree stop before you are really addicted, I used to smoke lightly for years until I had a bad bought of depression last year.

Have you talked about your other symptoms and worries with your psychiatrist?   BP and other mood disorders can make you feel anxious and disjointed. If you've only been on prozac less then a month, sometimes the meds can mimic flu like symptoms I would speak with your pdoc or your family doctor as soon as you can, in the mean time you are going to have to find ways to calm yourself down, read a book, hot bubble baths.. mellow things.

Keep in touch,
LCC.

[birdie0907]

How long have you been on Prozac?

Quitting smoking is very tough, but do not give up just because of the "messing with your body" problems. That is a nasty habit and you sill never be sorry after you quit. What method did you use to quit, and how long has it been since your last cigarette?

Write back.