Another med change - how do I cope?

So my pdoc is changing my antidepressants again cos my old ones are not working well enough. I feel like crap. I don't know how I'm going to get through the next few days let alone the weeks it takes for the new med to work if it decides to work. I feel sick from it all.
How do I get through the days ahead?
How do I make things better?

I hear ya..... Sending you big hugs!!!!.....Keep thinking positive thoughts and know that this too will pass....

You find a buddy who is doing the same thing and commiserate. I'm almost off my lamictal because of a reaction, and we're going to try an OTC instead. Now I just have to survive 7 to 14 days while I wait to see if it works. I'm already a mess - crying easily, mood crashing, want to hide in my bed and zone out - and praying that this otc works well enough to keep me from rooming with Elmer Fudd and the rest of the Looney Tunes gang.

Is that about how you feel, too?

As for how to get thru it, we "act as if". That is, act like our meds are working in hopes of helping us feel like they are. Act as if we are doing normally, so that we will feel normally, at least until we get thru this and really begin to feel normal again. Sounds stupid, works pretty well.

Blackpup

Remember all the times you've had your meds changed, and you made it through? You will make it through again. I know it really sucks, I don't think there is anything I like doing less. You gotta try to focus on the hope tho, hope that the new med will be the change you need and that things might very well improve.

Is your husband away right now? I know you said you didn't have many friends where you are, or I think I'm remembering corectly. Perhaps you and Buggs can team up, or someone here who is also going through a med change. Just an idea, to get through the hump. Plus you've always got us here. I usually try to distract myself with things like knitting or something, that doesn't use too much brain power but enough that my mind is preoccupied. Puzzles even.

I hope this med work out this time, and that you won't need another change for a long time to come.

I feel that I will be making yet another change in my medication pretty soon .. my latest med is causes my fibro to flare up something awful .. I cant handle a level 10 pain daily .. days I refuse to take the medication my pain isnt as bad .. Im tired of bothering my pdoc as i have tried over 8 medications ,,, I hate the thought of telling my pdoc yet again i cant take another medication... UGH ... I really hate that .. I dont want my pdoc to get tired of me and my issues with meds

Hang in there with your med change you will get thru it !!!!! ((( HUGS)))

Hi Buggs,
By OTC, do you mean an over-the-counter medicine? If so, I'm curious what you will be taking. I'm sorry you are feeling so poorly. I hope the change works soon!
Bluemountains

Yes, I do mean Over the counter. It's called SAM-e and my pdoc suggested it to supplement the a-d i'm already on with some added serotonin. I'm 2 days in and counting. It says 7-14 days before a noticeable change. Only 5-12 days to go.

How are you doing tonight, BlackPup? I'm keeping your med change in mind and hoping for good things for you!

Bugs,
Hope you are doing ok in your med change. What you describe is pretty accurate for me... Hoping that I can get through it without a major upset. I'm still tapering my old a-d and start my new a-d in a couple of days. then I have to increase to the required dose and wait for the 4-6 weeks before we know if it will work at all...
Today I have been very anxious but I managed to survive the day at work.

Anika,
Yep your memory is great, my hubby is still away with work but will be back for part of the easter weekend. My best friend around here is away for the weekend but one of my other friends will be around. I don't have many friends here so that makes things hard.

Christina,
thanks for your hugs hope you find a med that helps without the side effects

Today I was really anxious and felt terrible BUT I SURVIVED!!!!!
Feeling better this evening because I managed to get through the day even though it was really hard.
A bit lonely because hubby is away until tomorrow night.

Congrats on your survival !!! One day at a time is the best way to manage it. You got thru yesterday, so lets get you through today. Keep looking forward to your honey being home for part of Easter weekend. That will help a lot.

I'm doing okay today, a little steroid "super woman" feeling from yesterday's steroid shots into my hips to lessen the pain there. (Was NOT doing so good yesterday...those suckers Hurt!) My hip pain has eased some, so my mood is a little lighter, too. So I'm going to make it through today, and I will look forward to the Easter Bunny's arrival on Sunday. (I always love it when my bunny relatives visit.)

Keep checking in, and I will keep you in my thoughts.

Thanks Bugs,
Glad you are doing ok. Hope you had a great easter and that some of the bunnys were chocolate!!!!!
My moods was down all weekend but hubby was home so it was ok. I'm alone today so not feeling so great. Hoping that this med kicks in really soon.

Hugs........

This just came to me the other day and I thought I would give it a try: remember a time when you were in an incredibly positive mood and trick yourself in to duplicating it. I know it sounds so simplistic or silly, but it has worked for me. As I am writing this I am wondering if I actually read it somewhere...

Good Luck!

Hey BlackPup,
No chocolate bunnies this year, but I did win a $25 dollar gift certificate to a local grocery store in an Easter egg hunt. The other adults moved so fast, it was the only thing I was able to pick up, but I'd say it was worth hobbling through it. Also the first Adult egg hunt I've every seen!
Easter was pretty painful, but I seem to be doing better today. I can't tell if it's just from the let up of the physical pain, or drug related, but I'll keep you posted.

I'm sorry you were down over the holiday. Keep counting the days until you can watch for a change, and I'm sending a few warm fuzzies your way .

Thanks for the hugs triciadrich - hope you had a great easter.
Thanks for the tip johnf2281, I will try to remember something positive, It seems so long ago that I was ever really positive about anything.
Yay for the $25 voucher BugsBunny!!!!! sorry you have to deal with physical pain as well as mental pain.... but glad its been letting up. Hope the meds start to work soon for you.
I'm almost at the correct dose but it takes a bit of time for the new meds to kick in so I'm not sure when I will start feeling better. (If they even work) Had a bit better time this afternoon cos I went out for coffee with a friend. She always manages to cheer me up a bit. Now I'm back home for an evening alone cos my hubby is away for work again. Trying to hold onto that good feeling from the afternoon coffee....

How long is your hubby going to be away?

I'm glad you are almost at the right dose. That is good progress. Something to celebrate, when you get to the full dose.

It sounds like you had a good time with your friend today. Getting out is usually a spirit lifter. Keep doing things that make you feel good, like going out, and try to do one thing each day.

Hang in there!
~Buggs

Hubby is away for another 3 months but sometimes gets to come back for the weekend.
At work today which at least keeps me busy. But is somewhat stress ful at times.
How are you going with your med change? Hope your hips are behaving.

Bugs: how are you doing????

Hi Pup,
Med changes aren't exactly med changes - they are more med trials.
Med trials are testing to see if a particular drug alleviates symptoms better than other drugs trialled.
Med trials are tough because we usually have to do them when we feel at our worst.
It is possible to go through med trials alone, keeping in close contact with the prescribing doctors. We don't need friends and family, even though they can help distract us while we go through really uncomfy symptoms or side effects. There are a whole lot of things we can do to distract ourselves like, go for a walk, watch tv, have a bubble bath with candles, cook a delicious homecooked meal, meditate, do yoga, visit the pound, go for a walk around the shops, garden. Med trials give us so much info about what works and doesn't work for us. There is no such thing as a trial not working out because we get so much info from them.
Best of Luck Pup, you will get through this, one moment at a time.

Thanks living well, I'll try to keep busy and get through this. You make some good suggestions. Thank you. I see you are from Australia too! Is it pouring rain where you are at the moment!!!!

Hi Pup, I'm in Brisbane, so obviously a long way away from you atm. You know "Qld - beautiful one day, perfect the next" (ignoring the floods of course :P).

Where are you in this long, broad country of ours?

Jade

I was out of town for a few days, doing pretty good. Came home and physically crashed. Just now feeling like getting up and around. Honestly can't tell if the medicine is making any difference or not. I think it needs another few days. The fact that I haven't emotionally crashed, nor spiraled down, despite having good reason to, is a good sign though.

How are you doing? Any changes?

Jade: I'm in Newcastle
Bugs: glad you didn't crash emotionally. Sounds like a change for the positive.

Struggling tonight. Not sure where things are at. Will keep on going with meds and see if things improve.