[deliquesce]

as above.

my big crash & burns happen around xmas usually. actually, they start quite a bit earlier (usually around end of october?) so i'm actually pretty thankful to have made it this far without too much distress.

of course, i have to go about stuffing this up by going off my meds because of my trip to japan. i'm still happy with that decision, but i am starting to feel the first tiny bits of depression pulling at me again. bit grouchy about that. more grouchy about withdrawal though.

which takes me to withdrawal. ugh, i don't recommend anyone ever comes off Parnate, it has been the crappiest past 2 weeks of my life. i tried to get in touch with pdoc, but did say only call if you're free. of course, he didn't call and i went to my GP instead, who doesn't know much about the meds i'm on. withdrawal is subsiding (and i had my first taste of soy sauce again today, YUM!!) but i'm worried i'm still going to be dealing with this on my trip. my friends are a bit upset that i'm going off meds (but they would have been equally upset if i had stayed on them) so i'm hesitant to let them know about the withdrawal stuff, just because i dont want to rock the boat. of course, if i dont let them know, they could be left wondering wtf is going on. since we're all sharing a room, it's not like i'm gonna have much privacy.

just a bit worried. not sure what to do. if pdoc was around i would make him fix me (he's on hols now though). austin-t is a psychologist and doesn't really get the meds thing. GP freaks out when i mention side effects, because some of them really are quite serious.

i dont know. i feel like ****. just wanted to whinge somewhere, really.

[deliquesce]

oh, i will just add that i am majorly not stringing sentences together properly, so apologies if above makes no sense/is repetitive/has words in the wrong order. GP said confusion should go in another week or so.

[pachyderm]

Originally Posted by deliquesce

just wanted to whinge somewhere, really.

Whinge away!

[BlueMoon6]

Deli- dumb question...why can you stay on your meds in Japan?

But feel free to winge here anytime....

[googley]

(((((Deli)))))
I'm sorry you are having to go through withdrawl. It sucks! I would suggest letting your friends know about the withdrawl before you leave so they can be prepared. They may be able to gently let you know if your behavior starts to be peculiar. That way also they wont get as worried when you are in a foreign country. I hope your trip goes well and these symptoms resolve themselves. Last question: Is there someone covering for pdoc while he is gone that you could talk to?

[deliquesce]

thanks for letting me whinge!

blue - i have to be on a strict diet when i'm on these pills, because if you eat those foods (i have a 16 page list of prohibited foods) it can lead to death/serious brain injury. i've had a few 'mistakes' over here, but it'll be so much more difficult to manage when there is a language barrier (what type of cheese are you using? is that sauce fermented? how was that cake prepared? etc), so it was easier just to go off them instead.

googley - yeah, i probably should let them know . i'm just scared they're gonna resent me becaus they might see it as having to take responsibility if things go wrong. and no, no one is covering for pdoc because the whole centre shuts down for a 2 week period. i think the hospital is managed by a skeleton staff of nurses, and they page the drs as required. i have pdoc's mobile but obviously that isn't a reliable way of getting in touch.

((((((deli))))))

i can so understand withdrawal problems. i've just gone thru them and boy are they not fun! btw, i took nardil, the other MAO inhibitor, years ago but had no problems going off it. the food restrictions were a pain--no cheese?! that just about killed me. i loooove cheese.

i'm glad you will be in a room wit all your friends while in japan. i'm guessing just being around friends will help a lot with any depression. i think it's best to prepare them ahead of time for any foreseeable problems. that way, they'll know how to help you better.

it would probably be a good idea to have pdoc or whoever is on call paged. i don't know what your side effects are but if they are serious then you need to check in with a doc so you don't end up in the hospital and miss your trip! can't have that. oh, but i just might volunteer to go in your place if that happens. aaaah, i will now commence my evil plan to go in your place to japan.

[deliquesce]

lol, exotic. i have never had problems going off any other medication, so pdoc didn't think it would be a problem for parnate either. i'm fine during the day, but my blood pressure is sky rocketing whenever i lie down, so i've taken to propping myself up with pillows and sleeping half sitting up instead.

i dont think it'll interfere in japan, but because of the blood pressure thingy i am getting very confused at night time and a part of me wonders if i am talking in my sleep or something. kind of annoying for the others since we're sharing a room!!

i think the paging thing is for more 'emergency' type situations. i've already gone to my GP who thinks this will probably just come to its own conclusion soon enough, so i dont want to bother a pdoc on their holiday. i'm just a bit upset about it, i guess. it's a really weird and freaky sensation (pins and needles in my face?) but no one seems to think it's a concern because 'physically' everything is ok (even though my bp is high for me, it's still in the normal population 'low' range).

[jexa]

ugh this sucks! Did pdoc warn you about what the withdrawal would be like? Did he tell you how long it would take to go away?

((((deli))))

Hope this goes away soon.

[googley]

(((((Deli))))
I just thought of something. I don't know how these things work in Aus, but could you contact a pharmacist to find out if your symptoms are normal and how long it might take for them to go away. Here in the US the pharmacists often know more about psych drugs than PCPs. They may be able to tell you what to expect, how long, for example.

I wouldn't worry about your friends. They are your friends for a reason. If you address it with them like, this is what is going on, and this is what is usual, and this is what I need you to help me watch for, X, Y, Z. If those happen this is what you should do. This is how likely it is that it might happen. Then they will be prepared to help you. If you are worried about sleep talking just let them know that. I totally used to sleep talk at slumber parties. If you are worried about the contents of what you might say, that is another issue. Do you know if anyone can understand what you say when you sleep talk? I've been told I mumble and make no sense. I can say from being a camp counselor that more often than not, our campers made no sense.

Also if you write out a list of all your medications (if you are on any others), including the one you are coming off of and the contact information in an emergency, Pdoc etc. That would help in case anything does go wrong. (Not saying it will, but I really think anyone who is traveling should have this information on them especially if they are going out of the country.)

Have fun on your trip. You have to bring back stories.

[imapatient]

Deli, I'm really worried. This is a serious medical matter.

I think you need to let your friends know what is going on in case something happens to you. If it's a medical situation, they need to give accurate info about you, and if personal behavior stuff, they should know that you're at risk for not being quite normal if your drug situation throws your body chemistry too far off.

If you think it's tough getting help from pdoc or other MD right now about this stuff, imagine what it'll be like in a foreign country where you don't speak the language, have family, etc. I think you should get thru to pdoc given the gravity of the multiple issues.

[deliquesce]

it's christmas day tomorrow (15mins!) and then i leave the morning after. early morning. i don't want to disturb pdoc on xmas day .

like my GP said, it does seem to be dying out a bit. last week i kept falling asleep/waking up feeling funny multiple times (before i actually did sleep), but now it only happens maybe only once.

i will let my friends know what is happening. i did go out and eat dinner with one of them last night and had some cheese (!!!!!) and nothing bad happened, even at night, so i don't think i'm quite so "at risk" anymore. googley's idea of giving them contact details is good, but i think i will just let them know it's in my wallet rather than give them an actual list. my friends get a bit funny with that sort of thing. i've tried being responsible in the past and saying "oy, this is the deal" but they prefer to cover their ears & sing at top of voice.

my GP did say she thinks it's ok. even though my blood pressure is high for me, it's still in the "low" range for the normal population. and she checked my heart and said it was up to compensate for the increased pressure or something, so that everything was working the way it was meant to.

i am carrying my meds with me just in case. i have ativan for emergency situations, which will keep me ok until my normal med kicks in (usually 48hrs). the time difference is only an hour forward, so it's not like i'll be trying to get at pdoc/austin-t at crazy times of the night. i have travel insurance, and numbers for english-speaking med services there. i think things will be ok. it's only two weeks. if things go pear shaped i can always fly home early.

edit: thank you impy for remembering my hugs!!!

[BlueMoon6]

Deli- It sounds like you have everything under control and all bases covered. Have a wonderful trip.

I get it now with the meds....I did know that (I think) that you were on an MAOI. Do you think that you will go back on when you come back? Or maybe you will try something that allows cheese?

I hope you can keep us posted while you are away! Lots of love and hugs and peaceful traveling to you