Aa
Sedatives/Anti-Depressants
Looking for some collective wisdom here.
As you probably know if you've been reading my posts, one of my worst side effects on treatment is reflux. The traditional medicines (PPI's, H2's, Antacids) are only helping marginally. Same with diet changes (lived on rice gruel and boiled chicken for a month. UGGGH! and still only a little relief)
A few days ago I decided to approach the problem differently. Like many, the riba puts me under a lot of physical and mental stress. When I'm alone (most of the time these days LOL) it's really not so bad. But most real life interactions are magnified. If I'm talking on the phone with a friend or relative that I don't quite get along with, things are like 100 per cent worse than they used to be pre-treatment.)
Anyway, my new approach is to try to reduce my stress level which hopefully will help reduce the reflux. This is not a novel approach as many have linked stress and reflux.
After trying meditation, Alexander technique, breathing exercises, massage, etc, I've come to the conclusion that for now MS Riba is stronger mistress than I can handle on my own. So...I've turned to some drugs for help.
(RAN OUT OF ROOM SO I'LL CONTINUE BY ANSWERING MY OWN POST)
(ran o
As you probably know if you've been reading my posts, one of my worst side effects on treatment is reflux. The traditional medicines (PPI's, H2's, Antacids) are only helping marginally. Same with diet changes (lived on rice gruel and boiled chicken for a month. UGGGH! and still only a little relief)
A few days ago I decided to approach the problem differently. Like many, the riba puts me under a lot of physical and mental stress. When I'm alone (most of the time these days LOL) it's really not so bad. But most real life interactions are magnified. If I'm talking on the phone with a friend or relative that I don't quite get along with, things are like 100 per cent worse than they used to be pre-treatment.)
Anyway, my new approach is to try to reduce my stress level which hopefully will help reduce the reflux. This is not a novel approach as many have linked stress and reflux.
After trying meditation, Alexander technique, breathing exercises, massage, etc, I've come to the conclusion that for now MS Riba is stronger mistress than I can handle on my own. So...I've turned to some drugs for help.
(RAN OUT OF ROOM SO I'LL CONTINUE BY ANSWERING MY OWN POST)
(ran o
WOW! you are starting TX? What motivated you? I know you were not too sure about it, but your biopsy was showing some disturbing stuff if my memory(which I don't trust much) serves me right. Nothing has gotten worse, I hope?
good luck to you
good luck to you
Hi, just reading your post and I thought I'd throw this in re the reflux. Firstly, haven't been on tx, going to start in the fall. I had a few flares up on the hep which were pretty awful. One of the most awful components to these flare ups was the reflux, or intense indigestion for lack of a better description. I'd never experienced it before. It was sometimes accompanied with a little nausea. I did a search on the natural remedies for reflux as I am wont to do, and I came up with Betaine Hydrochloride or tmg. They supposedly have been using it in Europe for years - for this purpose. Then my chiropractor recommended it. It's made from sugar beets for the most part so I figured what the hay, can't be that bad. I take other supplements, but this one worked right away. Feel no indigestion at all with stuff, at all. FYI, that's all. Not recommended for ulcers though, on the bottle. I did a brief search on betaine and treatment and I didn't come up with much. So of course you'd have to ask your doctor about it, most likely he won't know much about it which usually translates to him/her nixing it which is fair enough. Don't know if it agrees with treatment. Oh, and I take the occasional zanax if I need to. Will on tx as well I predict. Good luck to you.
Hi, thanks for the tips!, now just working on the pre-treatment jitters. When you say cardiac work-up, do you happen to know what that entails? for you at least? I know some cardiac tests are kind of knarly. I'm wondering if you just mean just say, an ekg and a echocardiagram. Sould I do any others? I know that that would probably depend on the results of those two, when I did those last july they were okay, though I know they don't pick up everything heartwise. It's probably good for a woman in her early 50's to get these done anyway, one should think. I know you know more about the rigors and procedural facets of hep c than many. I'd appreciate any input from anybody, though I feel bad asking questions on someone elses threat, is that okay?. thanks!
Hi Cutie. Well one good thing in my favor is bx, which is 1.1
but I am symptomatic, though that's not as bad now. Up and down. Just think it's time, never ruled it out. Don't want to be doing this when I'm 54. I'd figured I'd at least give it a try, might be surprised that it won't be that bad, at least I'm hoping. Trying out a few different anti-ds before I start. That remeron sounds good, if it helps sleep. I have lots of anxiety issues, menopause roars it's head. Trying to deal with those in various ways.. Anyway, this is a good board for gathering info, for sure. In fact, if any of you reading this have some suggestions as to all the different medical tests I should take before starting, and any info about dental issues, I'd appreciate it. I was told that I should maybe get more extensive tests on thyroid, which i'm gonna do. Thanks beforehand for any help. I'm 51 and in relatively good health (except for my teeth, which concerns me) Good to see you!
but I am symptomatic, though that's not as bad now. Up and down. Just think it's time, never ruled it out. Don't want to be doing this when I'm 54. I'd figured I'd at least give it a try, might be surprised that it won't be that bad, at least I'm hoping. Trying out a few different anti-ds before I start. That remeron sounds good, if it helps sleep. I have lots of anxiety issues, menopause roars it's head. Trying to deal with those in various ways.. Anyway, this is a good board for gathering info, for sure. In fact, if any of you reading this have some suggestions as to all the different medical tests I should take before starting, and any info about dental issues, I'd appreciate it. I was told that I should maybe get more extensive tests on thyroid, which i'm gonna do. Thanks beforehand for any help. I'm 51 and in relatively good health (except for my teeth, which concerns me) Good to see you!
The Lexapro I have is 10 mg. I cut them in half because taking whole ones for the first 3 days knocked me on my ass--taking half returned me to a place that could be considered "normal" for being on treatment! Others don't have this experience...you know, we are all individual in our responses to these meds. I believe most people are less sensitive to meds than I am.
Anti-depressants aren't just anti-depressants. There has been some talk lately in the news that low dose anti-depressants work better than most meds that are prescribed for sleep. It seems to work that way for me. I think they are less addictive than Xanax/Valium, although I don't have enough experience taking them to really know. I didn't get addicted to Xanax because I liked the way it made me feel (didn't)--I ended up taking more and more to sleep because they become less and less effective over time. That's the complaint with other sleep meds I hear about too.
Anyway--I think the Lexapro improves your ability to deal with the stress of treatment without the side effect of impairing your functionality.
That said, I agree with Rev and others who say "take whatever you need to get thru this that is not going to hurt your liver or interfere with your treatment." For myself, I've taken meds for anxiety, for pain and for itching and had relief. The most unrelenting symptoms for me are fatigue and fog. For me, Xanax and Valium would only make that worse.
It's just one more thing to try, to see if it works for you.
Good luck,
Laika
Anti-depressants aren't just anti-depressants. There has been some talk lately in the news that low dose anti-depressants work better than most meds that are prescribed for sleep. It seems to work that way for me. I think they are less addictive than Xanax/Valium, although I don't have enough experience taking them to really know. I didn't get addicted to Xanax because I liked the way it made me feel (didn't)--I ended up taking more and more to sleep because they become less and less effective over time. That's the complaint with other sleep meds I hear about too.
Anyway--I think the Lexapro improves your ability to deal with the stress of treatment without the side effect of impairing your functionality.
That said, I agree with Rev and others who say "take whatever you need to get thru this that is not going to hurt your liver or interfere with your treatment." For myself, I've taken meds for anxiety, for pain and for itching and had relief. The most unrelenting symptoms for me are fatigue and fog. For me, Xanax and Valium would only make that worse.
It's just one more thing to try, to see if it works for you.
Good luck,
Laika
I have to totally agree with Willing's post. You need to make your life as simple as possible for the duration of your tx. And I can relate so well to someone calling whether family member or not that kinda sorta even before tx,,,,hit a nerve,,,,and then tx seems to intensify our feelings and seems like at that point agitation can hit many a raw nerve. Honestly,,,I didn't always get my phone. Answer machines work great and if it is someone needing something,,,,they will usually leave a message and then you can mull it over and on your own sweet time....decide when you want to return the call. Alot of people said that I didn't call as much and acted kinda weird at times,,,,haha I wonder why??? Hey,,,that is fine,,,I kept my life as stress free as possible and didn't use ads. Now,,,I'm not saying not using them is the answer but tone down what is going on first as far as the stress and then you could maybe work on not using a AD everyday. Because it is true,,,when getting off tx,,,,you will be working on any extra meds you accumulated so make it light. Coming here and bitching can also be a great stress relief when your days on tx are not the greatest! Best Wishes to many a stress free day!
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