Beth's Keeping Track Post #2

*Beth* · Dec 08, 2022 at 11:49 PM

Nah, it's, like..."Dude! That is SO cool!"

BeyondtheRainbow · Dec 08, 2022 at 11:57 PM

I thought you were calling him a good guy when you came up with med dude. Med jerk would be insulting but dude is just cute and light and funny.

*Beth* · Dec 09, 2022 at 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeyondtheRainbow

I thought you were calling him a good guy when you came up with med dude. Med jerk would be insulting but dude is just cute and light and funny.

Yes, that's how I intend it.

Pleeezze forgive me @bizi

bizi · Dec 10, 2022 at 11:54 PM

hey there,
nothing wrong or needs to be forgiven.
Dude is masculine in my mind and only to be called to another guy.
let me say that I did not mean to sound critical and lets let it drop off your thread.
((((((HUGS)))))
bizi

*Beth* · Dec 12, 2022 at 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bizi

hey there,
nothing wrong or needs to be forgiven.
Dude is masculine in my mind and only to be called to another guy.
let me say that I did not mean to sound critical and lets let it drop off your thread.
((((((HUGS)))))
bizi

It is absolutely 100% all good, bizi. I never took any of it seriously, never hurt, just smiling and thought it all light-hearted. (My med dude is a guy, though.) Big hugs and, as always, thank you for your kindness, input, and friendship
-Beth

Tart Cherry Jam · Dec 20, 2022 at 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Beth*

bizi, I wanted to raise the Gaba. med dude was reluctant. Said 1800mg is ceiling dose for anxiety. No, it is not.

I take Gaba to ameliorate akathisia otherwise caused by APs and it also turned out to act as an AD in me even though I did not begin using it for that purpose. I am currently on 900 mg but I have been at 1800 mg. And I have a neurologist who manages my migraines and who uses Gaba in his patients with other neuro conditions. He told me he prescribes as much as 4500 mg without any ill effects (and the FDA-approved max is 3600 mg). Gaba is really a unique medication that does not get metabolized, that does not interact much with anything else. It is a godsend. If it helps you, take more of it.

Tart Cherry Jam · Dec 20, 2022 at 06:02 AM

Beth,

I take Metforming 500 mg three times a day, not two. I think you can increase it. It is currently a super popular med, at that very dosage, in the community of people looking to extend lifespan and "health span" (not how long in chronological years you live, but how long you remain active and well). While I believe, based on what I have read, that they might be misguided and overly optimistic, the safety profile of metformin has been proven and it is one of the oldest meds on the market. I am not super disciplined about three times a day, but if I stay home and have three meals next to my bottles with meds, I do take it 3X. It has not caused any side effects in me and I take the ER version.

Nammu · Dec 20, 2022 at 08:35 PM

@Beth ;Hey how’s it going?

*Beth* · Dec 21, 2022 at 06:09 PM

Oh, wow. Thanks Cherry and Nammu! I haven't even updated this thread and I very much need to.

The med increases have been miracles for me. Miracles. Next year, right about October 1st I am going to have a serious sit down with med dude or whoever I am seeing for medication management and be absolutely sure that the person understands the seriousness of the effect this season has on my mood. It is predictable and, apparently, inevitable. This is the 12th year and the worst one.

Thank you @Nammuso much for nudging me. I'm going to post the actual dosage amount in a separate post so I can easily reference it. @Tart Cherry Jam, sounds intriguing about the Metformin. I don't know how to get my GP to prescribe a higher dose, though. My glucose isn't high enough to require more Metformin than he's prescribing. What is your AC...blood glucose reading?

*Beth* · Dec 21, 2022 at 06:32 PM

12/21/2022
---------------

Medication Doses
Topamax 200mg twice/day (400 total)
Gabapentin 2700mg/day
Lamictal 200mg/day
Klonopin 3/4mg. a.m./1mg. p.m.
Metformin 1000mg/day
Amlodipine
Seroquel 25mg (sleep)

otc sleep options: ZzzQuil, melatonin, TylenolPM

Side effects:

Topamax - "dopamax" Feels like I'm high, basically. Cognitive distortion, cannot make sense of spelling, adding, I'm zoned out. It's frustrating, but I really don't care because the depression is... see? I can't think of the word. Just, I'm much better. Sad to have to be this way. But it is what it is. I'm having vision problems. Can't see well. Have to go to doctor because lights at the edges of my vision. Don't know what's going on, med? Not?
No other side effects I notice. Yay!

bizi · Dec 21, 2022 at 09:36 PM

I could hardly read you note after your meds list. something about topamax? and it affecting your eye sight?
go to the eye doctor immediately. sorry if I misunderstood you.

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

Tart Cherry Jam · Dec 21, 2022 at 10:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Beth*

I don't know how to get my GP to prescribe a higher dose, though. My glucose isn't high enough to require more Metformin than he's prescribing. What is your AC...blood glucose reading?

My A1C is normal now that I am on Ozempic and have lost weight. It was in a mild prediabetic range. But my Metformin is prescribed by my psychiatrist as a safety measure against weight-gaining psych drugs. So he will continue to prescribe it even though my A1C is now normal. I gave him the dosage and he obliged.

*Beth* · Dec 22, 2022 at 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bizi

I could hardly read you note after your meds list. something about topamax? and it affecting your eye sight?
go to the eye doctor immediately. sorry if I misunderstood you.

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

Thank you, bizi I'm just keeping those notes so I can refer back to them if I need to. I put them in bright colors so I can find them easily if I need to. But yes, you read it correctly. I am trying not to be scared about my vision but I AM!

I spoke with the eye clinic of a major medical university nearby, a not very friendly woman told me I need a referral from my primary care doctor to be seen at the clinic. So I made an appointment with him for Thursday. Hopefully, I'm not blind by then. My fear is that the weird lights are not from the medication, but that I'm having some other type of vision problem. Of course, doctors don't rush. If it gets worse I'll have to go to the ER.

*Beth* · Dec 22, 2022 at 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tart Cherry Jam

My A1C is normal now that I am on Ozempic and have lost weight. It was in a mild prediabetic range. But my Metformin is prescribed by my psychiatrist as a safety measure against weight-gaining psych drugs. So he will continue to prescribe it even though my A1C is now normal. I gave him the dosage and he obliged.

Smart pdoc.

Nammu · Dec 22, 2022 at 12:43 PM

Ooo vision problems are very scary

*Beth* · Dec 29, 2022 at 04:29 PM

Side effect

Forgot - Topomax also causes tingling fingers, toes, sometimes tingling palate. Not a big deal.

Gaba - unsteadiness, feeling of being off balance.

Going to my GP today (12/29/22) for a referral to eye clinic.

*Beth* · Jan 01, 2023 at 10:45 AM

Referral update
12/29/2022

Stop Topamax

My GP (Dr. B.) put in an urgent referral to UCD Opthamology so I can be seen for the lights at the periphery of my vision. It's all holiday hours, of course, so I've not yet heard from them. Dr. B. checked my eyes with his light (some kind of tool) and said that it's good because he doesn't seen any bruising on my retinas. He told me that I have to rapidly decrease the Topamax, however, then stop taking it.

I am extremely concerned about the severe depression returning and how med dude will handle it. I've done a lot of research on Emsam and will ask him to please review what I'll write down for him. He's very stuck on "not causing a mania" and I really don't believe that's the primary issue at this time in my life; I believe the severe depression is a much more urgent matter.

Random 503 · Jan 01, 2023 at 02:02 PM

I really hope you get what you need,

They’re terrified to give me anything for depression and anxiety as well. I guess my happiness and ability to live in my skin is less important than potentially having a raving lunatic on their hands. 🙄

Happy new year, Beth.

*Beth* · Jan 01, 2023 at 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Random 503

I really hope you get what you need,

They’re terrified to give me anything for depression and anxiety as well. I guess my happiness and ability to live in my skin is less important than potentially having a raving lunatic on their hands. 🙄

Happy new year, Beth.

Thank you, Random. As often you do, you've given me a good giggle - my first one of this new year! You bring up a valid point: what exactly is the fear of hypo/mania? (For me, I've never reached higher than the top edge of "hypo"). The severe depression is so much more threatening. Odd, how many providers take mania much more seriously, when it's depression that we need to view as a potentially terminal illness.

A happy, healthy new year to you, too, my friend.

Random 503 · Jan 01, 2023 at 04:44 PM

Exactly. I don’t understand it either. Hypomania is manageable, severe depression is not…

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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	Dec 08, 2022 at 11:49 PM #41 Nah, it's, like..."Dude! That is SO cool!" __________________
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BeyondtheRainbow Wise Elder Member Since Apr 2015 Location: US Posts: 9,230 (SuperPoster!) 9 9,385 hugs given	Dec 08, 2022 at 11:57 PM #42 I thought you were calling him a good guy when you came up with med dude. Med jerk would be insulting but dude is just cute and light and funny. __________________ Bipolar 1, PTSD, GAD, OCD. Clozapine 250 mg, Emsam 12 mg/day patch, topamax 25 mg, ,Gabapentin 1700 mg & 100-2 PRN,. 1.5 mg clonazepam., 50 mg Seroquel
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Nammu Crone Member Since May 2010 Location: Some where between my inner mind and the solar system. Posts: 71,352 (SuperPoster!) 13 53.6k hugs given	Dec 20, 2022 at 08:35 PM #48 @Beth ;Hey how’s it going? __________________ *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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Nammu Crone Member Since May 2010 Location: Some where between my inner mind and the solar system. Posts: 71,352 (SuperPoster!) 13 53.6k hugs given	Dec 22, 2022 at 12:43 PM #55 Ooo vision problems are very scary __________________ *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	Dec 29, 2022 at 04:29 PM #56 Side effect Forgot - Topomax also causes tingling fingers, toes, sometimes tingling palate. Not a big deal. Gaba - unsteadiness, feeling of being off balance. Going to my GP today (12/29/22) for a referral to eye clinic. __________________
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Random 503 Member Member Since Feb 2022 Location: PNW USA Posts: 59 2 46 hugs given	Jan 01, 2023 at 02:02 PM #58 I really hope you get what you need, They’re terrified to give me anything for depression and anxiety as well. I guess my happiness and ability to live in my skin is less important than potentially having a raving lunatic on their hands. 🙄 Happy new year, Beth.
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Random 503 Member Member Since Feb 2022 Location: PNW USA Posts: 59 2 46 hugs given	Jan 01, 2023 at 04:44 PM #60 Exactly. I don’t understand it either. Hypomania is manageable, severe depression is not…
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