This forum is for hepatitis patients, family members, loved ones, friends or anyone with an interest in hepatitis, to have open social conversations about any topic they choose, with the exception of religion and politics. Please note that our standard “Rules for Posting in Public Areas”, which are found in our
Terms of Use , also apply in this community.
If you are newly diagnosed with Hepatitis or you have questions or information to share about current treatments, research studies, clinical trials, or other medical issues pertaining to Hepatitis, please post it in one of our Hepatitis Communities (
Hep A ,
Hep B ,
Hep C or
Hep-autoimmune ).
I found that my recent trip to Maine where I could spend time in a low stress environment (for me) was a great help. The lack of external stress made a huge difference for me and I calmed down more than I did taking anti depressants . Is there any external stress that is new in your life that coincides with the start of these symptoms?
It is a serious problem for me. I have damaged relationships with people I care about and pick on my wife who is the most wonderful person in my life. Luckily for me, she knows how much I love her and can forgive me.
I am not sure that I could manage a trip like that; I'm pretty tired. but i will mention it to my husband.
Nothing new on the external stress thing. It seems to me that this is all mitigated by the ifn/riba, and possible recent changes in my hormones, i.e., now HYPERthyroid after many years of being HYPO. I have also had a "cold" for the last ten days or so.
I just know came to the forefront last week.
xo
deb
jasper
If the latter, some of what you describe could be from the Prozac itself, especially when you doubled the dose. Yes, interferon is known to cause psychological issues, but so can some of the anti-depressive drugs. I'd tried to go on ADs a couple of times during treatment, but they just made me anxious and I had to stop.
If the former -- you used Prozac prior to treatment -- maybe you need to add a second drug to the mix to bring down the racing thoughts. My doctor mentioned a second drug -- forgot which -- when I got anxious from Wellbutrin, but I decided just to go off the Wellbutrin.
Hope you feel better soon,
-- Jim
I find looking at water so soothing that on this trip, where I could not take walks, all I did was sit on a deck and look at it for long periods of time. Whatever does it for you, be it mountains, water or the desert, give it a try. Even if you sit on the balcony of a hotel room and just look, it can help.
Good luck - I will be thinking of you - Eric
That would be the last thing to tell someone on prozac.
Started taking an AD just prior to beginning treatment for prophylaxis, started with Lex and shifted to Prozac for the effect on appetite it has. I've not taken ADs at all until now - 47 years. I guess I didn't think that doubling the dose would have that effect on me when i was on such a baby dose to begin with but I am pretty sure the doctor felt it was important or else he wouldn't have doubled it. That really helps, though, Jim, I didn't even think of that doubling being a problem. As always, you seem to know how to address how my mind works, James. Thanks and I'll keep ya posted. Deb
Jasper:
I remember those conversations with you. I remember thinking you were zooming at that time but wasn't sure if it was upsetting you or not. I guess we know what happened, huh? The only problem with what you said about thyroid is that I'm not HYPO (low) like I used to be, I'm now HYPER and haven't stopped taking synthroid because the doc says stay on it because it might reverse again. So I prolly don't need MORE right now, I prolly need less. But thank you for your "chiming"...I always welcome it from you, Jasper.
I wish we'd talk more about how nuts this **** makes us, if it does. Who I am and how I feel is the most important thing to me, not hair, not fat, not any of that and this is the scariest part for me.
Deb
Deb
------------------
Hope all of you on tx just keep hanging in there, because one day it will be over and your mind will return to normal, whatever normal is.
Seemed every time I got in my car I ended up screaming at someone out the window, not to mention how many times I hung up the phone on relatives, friends, etc.
But all that stopped when the meds left my house, so no more screaming in the car, and no more hanging up on the few friends I have left :) Depression after treatment is another story though, so better close that balcony door :)
-- Jim
As for the meds sx - I agree - Prozac is terribly bad news.
Take care, girl, keep us "updated", and I will keep you in my prayers.
Geri
Don't know a lot about ADs, but what research I did suggests that you have to be very flexible making adjustments, like upping the dose, lowering the dose, or changing meds. In your case, since you didn't need it to start with, one adjustment might be just stopping the meds.
At this point, I really wouldn't wait but would call your doctor today to discuss exactly how you're feeling and the idea that it might be Prozac related.
All the best,
-- Jim
Geri:
Well, I WAS a shrink and am good at compartmentalizing so my "nice" posts don't show it. Besides, doing for others sure helps me feel better about life in general, no sh!t. Being on the board is a give and take as far as I'm concerned so I try not to post about me unless it's "something". Thanks for the compliment and your prayers. Everyone here is always in mine as well.
deb
I've been suffering depression and anxiety for years, and hypnosis tapes really help too. There are good ones really cheap, like 7 dollars a piece, on hypnosisdownloads. dot com. Listening to help with anxiety and obsessional thinking from there have really helped. Perhaps this doesn't apply to your case, but I thought I'd throw a few things out there, that have really helped me out, cause believe me, I can relate. Hope you feel better soon.
Grandma, thanks for the advice; I've called the doc and talked with my liver nurse. We'll also take care of the thyroid again in that appt. I appreciate it.
Forsee: Anything that helps I will try.
FullOHope: Same thing! I had a pain in my back this morning and thought i was going to grow a hump when I looked! I'm not practicing now, I was a forensic therapist years ago. Burnt out on it (capital crimes).
I'll keep everyone posted and thanks for your concern. If it was not so troublesome i wouldn't even mention it.
deb
LOL, sorry...
jasper
:)
Too funny, but worth remembering as whatever it is we will survive and likely be the better for it...
Took me an hour to think that one up, and 30 seconds to get it busted, dang.
jasper
Deb, we got your back, be good!
I feel better now that I am off effexor. Not normal by any means, but better. I hope the same happens to you.
Today is my 42nd wedding anniversary, so I just got back from taking my wife to dinner. She managed to put up with me for 35 regular years and 7 on interferon!! Now that I am on it again, I spent the evening thinking about all we have been through together and how much stronger we are from the suffering. The good years are fun, but they don't teach you much. the bad years teach you how to enjoy the good years. I am sure you have many good years ahead of you.
Unfortunately, it left me with HCV which I am still dealing with. But I can't complain. I had an interesting career and I am much stronger from the therapy. I found developing software to be much like meditating. It helped me relax and concentrate on things outside of my own experience.
Now that I am about to beat the dragon, I dream about what I will do with my renewed energy and mental clarity. One thing I can guarantee, I will never waste another minute of my life on any drug that diminishes my awareness of life.
Geri
However - ABOUT PANIC ATTACKS: after TX - I feel much more ADHD than ever before - scattered... A couple panic attacks - every once in awhile.
I use Lorazepam for massive ones --- maybe once a month - usually right before my period --- I get GROSSLY uncomfortable in my skin... Like I can't sit right... like I can't get comfy... will I blow up... If I push too hard to pass gas - will my intestines fall out... My chest walls feel constricting like I've got a corsette on --- I get itchy all over -- I can't find a comfortable position to lay in --- will my heart get squished if I lay on that side too long... Did I leave the iron on... If I plug something in will the current run up my arm and kill me, do I have boogers hanging out my nose ---- I mean REALLY WEIRD stuff. LOL!
I think they are hormonally related - most of them. The racing thoughts --- the can't get it together. They seem to be aggravated by my menstrual cycle - when it's normal or not - I can usually tell 2 days in advance when I'm going to start --- just by the way I'm feeling in my own skin... Sounds weird... but YOU outed yourself first.... LOL!
And they only last for a little while --- but I bring myself down with Ativan - and then I'm fine for the rest of the month. They didn't happen prior to TX --- but hey --- well - Yanno --- that's just the way life tosses you into the salad mixture. LOL!
It sounds like you're going through something similar - but with the "saddies" the "blues" tossed in.
I've never been a blue kind of person - so maybe that's it.
But heck deb --- in your shoes --- I might just have had quite a few blues attacks. Seriously - I mean you've had some hard core stuff to deal with....
And TXing - certainly doesn't help doodley squat.
Meki
ROFLMAO --- just kidding... Happy Anniversary kiddos!
Make sure you celebrate in some special private way.
Meki
The treatment was a nightmare, and I thought that prozac was adding to this.
Now, in the last 2 months, I am on Prozac again, and my experience with it is totally different from when I took it on treatment.
I blamed the excess brain fog partly on the prozac, the scalp issues, the excessive depressive issues, and cognitive. I know that interferon does all this but I though the prozac added to it.
I was wrong, I am alright in every sense taking prozac at this time, the only side effect is my sex drive which has diminished.
Anyway this is just my take on this issue and my experience with prozac during treatment and many years later.
We all react different to anti depressants, you may just not have found the right one for you yet, also remember that you dont have to take a full dose of them, people with liver disease should only take half a dose, I am actually down to a quarter of a dose, just to take the edge off the depression and anxiety. You can experiment yourself how much you need, sometimes we follow doctors instructions but from my experience not all of those instructions apply to everyone as we are all different.
The best to you.
Linda
Sheesh - maybe I need to take some prozac.
ROFLMAO!
Meki
Jeez did I say 30 day's post tx ? It seems like it's been YEARS.
Meki, yeah she is nuts. Most people wouldn't put up with me for a week.
Thank you for your description of it.
Seriously - you have a lot to offer the world. It is time you believe in your own self worth.
We all have bad days, weeks, months... It is the cumulative that makes us all that we are.
It is the way our inner core truly is...
And your wife knows that you have a beautiful inner core -- and that is the radiance that she thrives on... For 42 years ... That means you gots a lot of inner radiance...
Ahem.... or elephantitis.... (Just kidding - LOL!)
Meki
oh Deb PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You have NOTHING to do with this - there is nothing you could handle better this is a physiological problem that is coming from the interferon...we were ALL warned it could happen to us easily enough (which is why I went on Paxill a month BEFORE I started treatment at my doctors recomendation).
There is nothing for you to handle!!! This is not just some weakness that you can't control please oh please get that out of your head.
Take the meds, be honest with your doctor and do everything he says. Call him and talk to him. Don't mess around with your life - you are too special and important to take any chances.
This IS a common problem and it has nothing to do with YOU yourself. It's the damn meds, please try and remember that. You can't control it anymore than I could control my rash or anemia. It's the exact SAME THING AS THAT.
Deb
PS If you need someone to talk to i can get you my contact info - I won't post it unless I know you are looking for it (just cause I'm a chicken enough) but plenty of people in here have my email address anyway and I can send you my phone number that way.
it is debfromca
and the place that it goes to is hotmail dot com
I find that my mood cycles over the week. I take my shot on Monday and feel my worst by Tuesday. By Thursday, I am starting to feel better and by Monday morning I am ok.
I hope you get some good days every week. I know we all will be talking about this when our treatments are over and our good health has returned.
To use a hackneyed old phrase that many of us used in the old days, "right on to that!" Hey, when I'm anxiety and depression free, and enjoying life as it comes, the last thing I want to do is cloud up my mind with a lot of stuff to alter my mood. Having a great day is all the altering I need!
Happy Anniversary to you, that's really great, soul mates for sure, so nice that youre getting together with NYgirl!
Geri
FORSEEGOOD:
are you just not too jealous of andiamo and NYG? i am!
(seriously I'm happy that one of us can hang with her right now)
Blame it all on my roots
as I showed up in boots
And ruined your black tie affair
The last one to know
The last one to show
I was the last one
You thought you’d see there
And I saw the surprise
And the fear in her eyes
When I took the riba with a glass of champagne
And I toasted you as I usually do and
Said, memory, we may be through
But you’ll never hear me complaaain
‘Cause I’ve got friends in low lit places
Where the interferon drowns
And the Riba Light chases my blues away
And I’ll be okay, sniff, sniff :-((
I’m not big on social graces
Think I’ll slip on down to the ole oasis
Oh I’ve got friends… in low lit places
Well, I guess I was wrong
I just don’t belong
But then, I’ve been there before
Everything’s all right
I’ll just say goodnight
And show myself to the door
Hey, I didn’t mean
To cause a big scene
Just give me another riba and then
cuz” I got friends in low lit places
Down at the ole oasis and I’ll be ok
I know, I know, I'm trying to keep a lid on it
jasper
ROTFLMAO
i guess you've never read the sweet potato queens book of love.
a girl needs at least five men in her life.
longingly,
deb
jasper
The mood swings seemed to have evened out a little but i am still followng up on it. Like you I have tricks I use to negate bad thoughts but they were not working either. and what's weird is that i didn't have those feelings in the toughest first 12.
but i have to agree. if i were not so aware of blips in my radar because of my background, i'd just attribute this differently. The old adage is true!! :-)
I really appreciate you ringing in and I'll keep you posted...when is your next marathon?
Deb
We are having dinner with nygirl next Wednesday. Very excited about that.