Beth's Keeping Track Post

bizi · May 10, 2022 at 10:30 PM

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

*Beth* · May 12, 2022 at 04:21 AM

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.

Victoria'smom · May 12, 2022 at 11:00 AM

I hope you got some sleep last night.

~Christina · May 12, 2022 at 03:55 PM

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

*Beth* · May 12, 2022 at 05:40 PM

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.

Nammu · May 12, 2022 at 05:45 PM

That mind shift helped me a lot too. I don’t remember when it happened, it was sort of gradual. No flip of a switch for me.

downandlonely · May 12, 2022 at 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Beth*

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.

Have you ever tried trazodone? It's technically an anti-depressant, but used mainly for sleep now. It helps me sleep.

*Beth* · May 13, 2022 at 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by downandlonely

Have you ever tried trazodone? It's technically an anti-depressant, but used mainly for sleep now. It helps me sleep.

Thank you for the suggestion, and actually, I have. It did help me sleep. But on the 4th night of taking it I had a truly terrifying experience. Although I had taken the traz exactly as prescribed my body reacted as if I had overdosed. I first felt dizzy, then saw bright, flashing colored lights even while my eyes were open. I was having trouble taking breaths, although I was working to keep myself calm and not panic. Then I started to black out. I forced myself to sit on the edge of my bed and just talked, out loud. And kept doing my best to maintain even breaths. The talking was kind-of instinctual. It helped to keep me grounded. I kept assuring myself that I was breathing and that I must not pass out. And man, was I ever fighting not to.

Anyway, that continued for I suppose 12 minutes. It was, like I say, terrifying. It finally passed over and I was able to stand up and move around before going to sleep. Since then (about 5 years ago) I tell prescribers that I don't want to try trazodone ever again and of course, they agree. An unfortunate reaction.

bizi · May 18, 2022 at 10:04 PM

I was not able to tolerate trazodone? it dried me up and stopped up my nose so I had to mouth breath and keep me awake the whole night. never again.

I am sorry beth that you had that terrible side effects from it.

yikes
((((HUGS)))))
bizi

*Beth* · May 19, 2022 at 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bizi

I was not able to tolerate trazodone? it dried me up and stopped up my nose so I had to mouth breath and keep me awake the whole night. never again.

I am sorry beth that you had that terrible side effects from it.

yikes
((((HUGS)))))
bizi

Yuck, I hate meds that dry me out. Thank you, bizi

*Beth* · May 19, 2022 at 01:55 PM

I'm waiting for Unisom to be delivered. It's actually an otc sleep med I've never tried.

I've taken (back up to) 200mg Lamictal for the past 3 nights. Trying to slow my thoughts down and calm my mind. So far, it's not doing anything. I'll try it through the week-end.

~Christina · May 20, 2022 at 05:20 PM

Did you get it ? Did it help?!!!

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*Beth* · May 20, 2022 at 05:53 PM

I did get it and took it as the directions said...1 pill. It didn't do anything. I think my neurons are burned out or something. Anyway, I looked online & found out that I can take 2 pills. So that's what I'll try tonight.

Victoria'smom · May 20, 2022 at 08:27 PM

Good luck, hopefully you get some rest.

*Beth* · May 21, 2022 at 03:16 PM

Thanks to each of you for your support. I truly appreciate it.

I took Unisom (2 pills) last night and it didn't do anything. After lying in bed for hours I finally got up and took 25mg. Seroquel. That knocked me out fast and I slept hard, but for not enough hours. I have such hangover though I can barely keep my eyes open. I'm so done with this sleep shyte.

The Lamictal, however, is definitely helping to quiet my mind. I see the med dude either Tuesday or Wednesday, I hope he's not the type to get all pissy because I raised Lamictal on my own. I don't think he is, he's a kinda hippie type musician. Wish I could have Joe Walsh for my med manager, now that would be really good

bizi · May 22, 2022 at 10:15 PM

just wanted to throw this out there to you beth.
Tylenol pm is a sleep aid that the pm part is just benadryl.
you dont need to take the tylenol just take generic benadryl.
some times it is called allergy pills look at the ingrediants. unless you are in pain then take the extra tylenol but if not in pain then don't take the extra tylenol as it can hurt your kidneys.
just concerned.
bizi

*Beth* · May 23, 2022 at 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bizi

just wanted to throw this out there to you beth.
Tylenol pm is a sleep aid that the pm part is just benadryl.
you dont need to take the tylenol just take generic benadryl.
some times it is called allergy pills look at the ingrediants. unless you are in pain then take the extra tylenol but if not in pain then don't take the extra tylenol as it can hurt your kidneys.
just concerned.
bizi

Yes. Unfortunately, I am often in pain. Body pain and I almost always have a headache that will turn into a migraine if I don't take Advil, or at least Tylenol. I worry a lot about my kidneys and liver because I take Advil (or Tylenol) fairly frequently, for many, many years. I don't drink alcohol, so that offsets some of the potential damage from the pain meds. Still...it concerns me. But migraines are intolerable and sometimes I have to lessen body pain just to get chores done.

CANDC · May 23, 2022 at 04:35 PM

Hi @*Beth* - sorry you are in pain so much.

I don't know about the effects of meds over the long term, but I heard that carrots are good for the liver. In any case eating veggies was always a good thing when I was growing up.

On a more serious note, this article talks about how to prevent liver damage from taking too much tylenol acetaminophen. Protect Your Liver from Acetaminophen

@CANDC

*Beth* · May 23, 2022 at 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CANDC

Hi @*Beth* - sorry you are in pain so much.

I don't know about the effects of meds over the long term, but I heard that carrots are good for the liver. In any case eating veggies was always a good thing when I was growing up.

On a more serious note, this article talks about how to prevent liver damage from taking too much tylenol acetaminophen. Protect Your Liver from Acetaminophen

@CANDC

Well, I really like carrots Thank you, CANDC

bizi · May 23, 2022 at 05:34 PM

I believe that advil makes a PM also.
so sorry to hear that you are in pain.
(((((gentle hugs)))))))
bizi

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bizi Bizi is bizi Member Since Nov 2005 Location: cajun country Posts: 10,849 18 43.8k hugs given	May 10, 2022 at 10:30 PM #521 Just catching up with your thread. glad that you are in a better place now! __________________ 150mg of lamictal 2x a day haldol 5mg 2x a day 1mg of cogentin 2x a day klonipin , 1mg at night, 4-5 peri-colace for chronic constipation multi vit,, vit c, at noon, tumeric, caffeine at noon PRN Remeron 15mg at night, zyprexa10mg under tongue, requip2mg.
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Victoria'smom Legendary Member Since Apr 2012 Location: Earth Posts: 14,904 (SuperPoster!) 12 5,436 hugs given	May 12, 2022 at 11:00 AM #523 I hope you got some sleep last night. __________________ Dx: Me- SzA Husband- Bipolar 1 Daughter- mood disorder+ Comfortable broken and happy "So I don't know why I'm tongue tied At the wrong time when I need this."- P!nk My blog
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Nammu Crone Member Since May 2010 Location: Some where between my inner mind and the solar system. Posts: 71,346 (SuperPoster!) 13 53.6k hugs given	May 12, 2022 at 05:45 PM #526 That mind shift helped me a lot too. I don’t remember when it happened, it was sort of gradual. No flip of a switch for me. __________________ *Nammu* …Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. …... Desiderata Max Ehrmann
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Beth catches the flowers Member Since Jul 2019 Location: Downtown Vibes, California Posts: 15,701 (SuperPoster!) 4 23.7k hugs given	May 19, 2022 at 01:55 PM #531 I'm waiting for Unisom to be delivered. It's actually an otc sleep med I've never tried. I've taken (back up to) 200mg Lamictal for the past 3 nights. Trying to slow my thoughts down and calm my mind. So far, it's not doing anything. I'll try it through the week-end. __________________
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~Christina Legendary Wise Elder Community Liaison Member Since Jul 2011 Location: Tennessee Posts: 22,450 (SuperPoster!) 12 12.7k hugs given	May 20, 2022 at 05:20 PM #532 Did you get it ? Did it help?!!! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Helping others gets me out of my own head ~
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Beth catches the flowers Member Since Jul 2019 Location: Downtown Vibes, California Posts: 15,701 (SuperPoster!) 4 23.7k hugs given	May 20, 2022 at 05:53 PM #533 I did get it and took it as the directions said...1 pill. It didn't do anything. I think my neurons are burned out or something. Anyway, I looked online & found out that I can take 2 pills. So that's what I'll try tonight. __________________
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Victoria'smom Legendary Member Since Apr 2012 Location: Earth Posts: 14,904 (SuperPoster!) 12 5,436 hugs given	May 20, 2022 at 08:27 PM #534 Good luck, hopefully you get some rest. __________________ Dx: Me- SzA Husband- Bipolar 1 Daughter- mood disorder+ Comfortable broken and happy "So I don't know why I'm tongue tied At the wrong time when I need this."- P!nk My blog
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