Beth's Keeping Track Post

I took an extra Gabapentin this morning, so a total of 1,500 in a 24 hour period. That extra Gaba helped a great deal. I think 1,800 minimum would be extremely beneficial. I'll take the extra a.m. Gaba again tomorrow. On Monday I'll contact my pdoc's nurse and tell her I'm taking the extra amount. If she doesn't like it she can shove it up. I am ready to rattle cages if need be. Go to county mental health, or whatever it takes. No one should have to suffer with dread and anxiety every moment of the day. I am angry that I have to fear my psychiatrist's lack of empathy.

Extra 300mg Gaba for the third day. It seems to be helping, at least to an extent. I really believe I need an extra 600mg./day. But I'll give the 300 a chance until I have my pdoc appt. next week.

I completely get what you mean when you say

''I am angry that I have to fear my psychiatrist's lack of empathy''..

This is exactly how I feel about (too many) providers I've consulted. Including a psychiatrist (or two)

I feel much dread and anxiety too. I HATE it. It's by far my worst symptom

You have my empathy, dear BethRags (for what it's worth)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuzzybear I completely get what you mean when you say ''I am angry that I have to fear my psychiatrist's lack of empathy''.. This is exactly how I feel about (too many) providers I've consulted. Including a psychiatrist (or two) I feel much dread and anxiety too. I HATE it. It's by far my worst symptom You have my empathy, dear BethRags (for what it's worth)

Your empathy is golden! Thank you, my dear Fuzzy

Final appt. (which was a huge, horrible confrontation) with that psychiatrist on 4/5/22. Complaint filed.
Done.
---------------------------

I met my new med provider today and he's terrific. He was fine with increasing the Gabapentin to 1,800mg/day. (3/3/3)

The new clinic is great. Friendly receptionists, a pleasant environment. Comprehensive care - weight, blood pressure check, pulse check, urinalysis, and an order for a full blood panel including vitamins. Plus, it's only 2 miles from my home.

All other meds remain the same for now.

Thanks wonderful Beth! So happy this doctor is going to work for you! Do they have therapy too and if so are you going to switch there for that as well?

I'm so happy for you.

Thank you both, so, so much. Wow. Just...thank you.

I've given a full update on our check-in thread.

I hope the higher dose of gabapentin helps. Like I told you increasing my dose by just 300 mg/ day really made a hug difference in sleep during this stressful time in my life. I hope it does for you too.

This makes me so happy for YOU

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I'm also very happy for you dear Beth

This sounds wonderful!
are you doing telemeds or in face to face?
I am still doing telemad because it is easier for me to stay at home and wait until her call then wait at the pdoc office.She said we can do tele med face time visits as long as I wanted to.
bizi

How did you do on the new dose? Did you finally feel less anxious?

No, no telemed. I hope to never have to do that again. I hate it.

I know the 1,500mg dose was extremely helpful. Today was only the second day of the 1,800mg dose...I should know by tomorrow at this time if it has an effect.

Drive by Hugging

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so what do you think?
bizi

Hugs to you Beth!

THANK YOU, each of you, for your friendship and support!

The 1,800mg of Gabapentin definitely helps that awful anxiety. It's like it puts an extra boost on the 1,500mg. Also, a big bonus, at this dose I'm in less physical pain than usual. I've mentioned before that I'm pretty sure I've had fibromyalgia for many years. I've never brought it up with a doctor because I just don't want to be blown off. So I'm definitely calling the 1,800mg a success!

About 3 weeks after former post.

I have my next appointment with the new med provider this coming week. No change in meds. During these past 3 weeks I had a serious breakdown due to an enormous trigger from that f*c*i*n* D.O./fake psychiatrist writing crap about me on my medical record - which she then sent to me so I'd see it. Gah, it's been a whole mess.

But - the good part of it is that I have finally, finally had a true breakthrough in therapy. Such a thing sounds trite to speak about or write about, so I won't even try. But the feeling is immense.

I'm going to start titrating down on Lamictal Monday. I'm at 150mg, not very high, so going off of it should take about a month or five weeks.

That will leave
Gabapentin 1800 mg/day
Zoloft 200 mg/day
Klonopin 2 mg/day

Oh- the Gaba is definitely helping with that chronic pain I've had since I was a kid (legs, arms). It does cause some stomach upset that's not fab.

That's my update.

I'm so glad your new Dr. and your therapist is working out.

Just catching up with your thread. glad that you are in a better place now!

I saw my (new) med provider today. He's a P.A. What a sweetheart of a guy he is. Listens, hears, considers. No rush. He absolutely works with me, not over me. I feel incredibly fortunate - he's a 180 from that prior monster. So, we agreed on:

Gabapentin 1800mg/day
Zoloft 200mg/day
Lamictal 100mg/day
Klonopin 2mg/day

The one huge issue that remains is sleep. It takes me 1 to 2 hours to fall asleep. Not anxiety, not racing thoughts. I simply don't fall asleep. When I finally do, I stay asleep okay. But as it is I am absolutely exhausted all the time. Running on empty.

Med dude prescribed Clonidine, I took one tonight with zero effect. I really have a problem and I really don't have an answer. Tonight I finally became so annoyed at just lying there that I got out of bed. It's 2:20 a.m. and I feel rotten. Tomorrow I'll feel like hell. In a bit I'll take Tylenol PM and hope it gives me at least a nudge toward sleep.

I hope you got some sleep last night.

Beth I hope you were able to eventually sleep. As a life long insomniac the only thing that helped was I went to bed with the mindset I’ll sleep if I’m unable but if not so what. I made myself lay in bed at least 4 hours to rest my body at least.

Just accepting the fact that I might not sleep has been helpful. Maybe you could try that ?? Often I fall asleep out of sheer boredom lol

I’m so glad you found an excellent Doctor ! That will make life much easier

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Quote:

Originally Posted by ~Christina Beth I hope you were able to eventually sleep. As a life long insomniac the only thing that helped was I went to bed with the mindset I’ll sleep if I’m unable but if not so what. I made myself lay in bed at least 4 hours to rest my body at least. Just accepting the fact that I might not sleep has been helpful. Maybe you could try that ?? Often I fall asleep out of sheer boredom lol I’m so glad you found an excellent Doctor ! That will make life much easier Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Your perspective about sleep is wise and yes, I am beginning to adopt that mindset. Just lying down truly is a rest, and it lowers blood pressure. If I sleep, fab-fab-fab! If I don't, well, I won't drop down dead. I'm really feeling myself shift to that perspective. I'm too old to care much about "beauty sleep" anyway, hahaha.