When things just don't get better

Posted by daphne47 @daphne47, Dec 30, 2020

I have depression and anxiety that stem from ptsd, abuse/neglect. I've fought my entire life for my sanity, making good steps with my mental health. Then boom, chronic illness. Fought this too. But I haven't had much relief or answers for 15 years. I'm burnt out pretty good right now and really hopeless. Not sure if my situation can change. Just feel I'm losing myself. I take medication and see a great therapist. This is not just a one time low...just tired of fighting for nothing. Can anyone relate? I'm not trying to get anyone down, everyone's situation is different, I guess I just want to express myself cause I don't have a lot of people to say this to. I understand accepting things, but it just seems like my life is stuck, whatever I do. I'm not afraid to live with disabilities, but, physically, my body is kicking my own arse. Feeling alone, defeated, and defective.

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@woogie

I have been on Cymbalta a long time ago. Let's say several year ago, I was on it. Well, at first, I felt wonderful! I even told my doctor I hadn't felt better in years. Then, the longer I was on it, I was having suicidal thoughts. I quit taking it myself--no tapering, just cold turkey. I told my doctor about it and she said she didn't blame me for quitting cold turkey! I would love to have the feeling I had in the beginning of taking it! I haven't had it since!

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I was hoping Cymbalta would be the magic cure for my pain. I took 30
Mg for 2 weeks then went to 60. I then felt like I was having small
Panic attacks all day and the back of my eyes hurt. My fingers were jittery all the time. My dr cut it back to 30 but am curious to know how many mg’s some take and for How long before they feel pain relief. Please help! Do these symptoms subside over time?

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@bustrbrwn22

I was hoping Cymbalta would be the magic cure for my pain. I took 30
Mg for 2 weeks then went to 60. I then felt like I was having small
Panic attacks all day and the back of my eyes hurt. My fingers were jittery all the time. My dr cut it back to 30 but am curious to know how many mg’s some take and for How long before they feel pain relief. Please help! Do these symptoms subside over time?

Jump to this post

Hello bustrbrwn22... sorry to interject but 2018 I was diagnosed by super Specialist in Toronto that I had narrow-angle Glaucoma and not to take any meds that raised my eye pressure....recommended an Iridotomy which puts laser tiny holes in eyes to basically relieve pressure (keep short explanation).
Anyway, I put off having the Iridotomy due to illness and depression and didnt have it til March 2020 What caught my attention in your post is the painful eyes.... and up to you if you want to check out of course - but I was warned at that time not to take Cymbalta because it raises eye pressure... also Zoloft, which I took myself off and thats another story what happened.
Actually my family dr. prescribed Cymbalta 2019 and after I read warning I didnt even get it from pharmacy. (Long story short, my GP dismissed me from his practice). I thought after the Iridotomy I could then use any meds that raise eye pressure but it is not so!!! Even Visine get the red out drops say do not use if have Glaucoma and I verified with manufacturer!
Am disappointed. When I have a chance I do mention to people to have their eye pressure checked - its so simple - a little hand-held measuring "gun" type thing and instant reading, or puffer machine, at your optometrist. Also, annual exam should include a "field of vision" test... the Specialist told me this is very very important but even my daughter's optometrist doesn't do it!
Surely dont want to worry you but I didnt even know the Clonazepam I still stayed on can raise eye pressure and no one - no one, no doctor, no pharmacist told me abut this: I felt entirely on my own , me and Dr.Google - so I would feel remiss if I didn't mention "my" experience in case it helps someone else. Hope this is OK. J.

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@lacy2

Hello bustrbrwn22... sorry to interject but 2018 I was diagnosed by super Specialist in Toronto that I had narrow-angle Glaucoma and not to take any meds that raised my eye pressure....recommended an Iridotomy which puts laser tiny holes in eyes to basically relieve pressure (keep short explanation).
Anyway, I put off having the Iridotomy due to illness and depression and didnt have it til March 2020 What caught my attention in your post is the painful eyes.... and up to you if you want to check out of course - but I was warned at that time not to take Cymbalta because it raises eye pressure... also Zoloft, which I took myself off and thats another story what happened.
Actually my family dr. prescribed Cymbalta 2019 and after I read warning I didnt even get it from pharmacy. (Long story short, my GP dismissed me from his practice). I thought after the Iridotomy I could then use any meds that raise eye pressure but it is not so!!! Even Visine get the red out drops say do not use if have Glaucoma and I verified with manufacturer!
Am disappointed. When I have a chance I do mention to people to have their eye pressure checked - its so simple - a little hand-held measuring "gun" type thing and instant reading, or puffer machine, at your optometrist. Also, annual exam should include a "field of vision" test... the Specialist told me this is very very important but even my daughter's optometrist doesn't do it!
Surely dont want to worry you but I didnt even know the Clonazepam I still stayed on can raise eye pressure and no one - no one, no doctor, no pharmacist told me abut this: I felt entirely on my own , me and Dr.Google - so I would feel remiss if I didn't mention "my" experience in case it helps someone else. Hope this is OK. J.

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OMG. Thanks so much for telling me! I will stop immediately. I can’t thank you enough for speaking up.

REPLY
@bustrbrwn22

OMG. Thanks so much for telling me! I will stop immediately. I can’t thank you enough for speaking up.

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@bustrbrwn22 Hello. I am often hesitant to put in my two cents, but I went through a LOT of fear after seeing the specialist (head of department at out of town hospital) and I scrutinized every prescription and over the counter meds I was given or was going to purchase after that. All I can say is the above actually happened to me. Feb.2019 a psychiatrist put me back on Zoloft after I took myself off and I told him I was not supposed to be on it cos of narrow angles: he checked and came back into room and said "only 5% of people may get glaucoma from Zoloft" .. I tried to tell him I ALREADY had it, and had "narrow angles" but he still put me on it and another time I will tell the story of what happened to "me"...side effects. Another time very nice psychiatrist I saw once put me on another anti-depressant and my pharmacist actually faxed the Specialist to see if I could take it and he responded in handwring: no, no no - she cannot take it. (So thats when I decided to have the Iridotomy, only to find out I still have to be cautious.

Honestly, I do appreciate what drs are trying to do for us and realize meds have saved lives in more ways than one, but sometimes we might want to check what we are taking and politely discuss with the prescriber...especially with a "super specialist dr." has given us advice: however, for me, to date, only a few drs. have listened and in fact one doctor over clinic internet said about something I had been given ,,, "don't give it to her, she has Glaucoma.!"

Again, everyone is different, my spouse takes 15 or so meds a day with his glass of wine..doesn't even read the information sheets..... lucky him, unlucky me! Glad you are going to check into and I would be interested in hearing what your Dr. thinks. Hopefully, you will have many other options for meds that will help you. (Also, if you keep a written list of meds you are on, don't forget to list over the counter meds you buy; eyedrops whether prescribed or not; and even natural remedies) 🙂 J.

REPLY
@lacy2

@bustrbrwn22 Hello. I am often hesitant to put in my two cents, but I went through a LOT of fear after seeing the specialist (head of department at out of town hospital) and I scrutinized every prescription and over the counter meds I was given or was going to purchase after that. All I can say is the above actually happened to me. Feb.2019 a psychiatrist put me back on Zoloft after I took myself off and I told him I was not supposed to be on it cos of narrow angles: he checked and came back into room and said "only 5% of people may get glaucoma from Zoloft" .. I tried to tell him I ALREADY had it, and had "narrow angles" but he still put me on it and another time I will tell the story of what happened to "me"...side effects. Another time very nice psychiatrist I saw once put me on another anti-depressant and my pharmacist actually faxed the Specialist to see if I could take it and he responded in handwring: no, no no - she cannot take it. (So thats when I decided to have the Iridotomy, only to find out I still have to be cautious.

Honestly, I do appreciate what drs are trying to do for us and realize meds have saved lives in more ways than one, but sometimes we might want to check what we are taking and politely discuss with the prescriber...especially with a "super specialist dr." has given us advice: however, for me, to date, only a few drs. have listened and in fact one doctor over clinic internet said about something I had been given ,,, "don't give it to her, she has Glaucoma.!"

Again, everyone is different, my spouse takes 15 or so meds a day with his glass of wine..doesn't even read the information sheets..... lucky him, unlucky me! Glad you are going to check into and I would be interested in hearing what your Dr. thinks. Hopefully, you will have many other options for meds that will help you. (Also, if you keep a written list of meds you are on, don't forget to list over the counter meds you buy; eyedrops whether prescribed or not; and even natural remedies) 🙂 J.

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@lacy2. Thanks so much!

REPLY
@lacy2

Hello bustrbrwn22... sorry to interject but 2018 I was diagnosed by super Specialist in Toronto that I had narrow-angle Glaucoma and not to take any meds that raised my eye pressure....recommended an Iridotomy which puts laser tiny holes in eyes to basically relieve pressure (keep short explanation).
Anyway, I put off having the Iridotomy due to illness and depression and didnt have it til March 2020 What caught my attention in your post is the painful eyes.... and up to you if you want to check out of course - but I was warned at that time not to take Cymbalta because it raises eye pressure... also Zoloft, which I took myself off and thats another story what happened.
Actually my family dr. prescribed Cymbalta 2019 and after I read warning I didnt even get it from pharmacy. (Long story short, my GP dismissed me from his practice). I thought after the Iridotomy I could then use any meds that raise eye pressure but it is not so!!! Even Visine get the red out drops say do not use if have Glaucoma and I verified with manufacturer!
Am disappointed. When I have a chance I do mention to people to have their eye pressure checked - its so simple - a little hand-held measuring "gun" type thing and instant reading, or puffer machine, at your optometrist. Also, annual exam should include a "field of vision" test... the Specialist told me this is very very important but even my daughter's optometrist doesn't do it!
Surely dont want to worry you but I didnt even know the Clonazepam I still stayed on can raise eye pressure and no one - no one, no doctor, no pharmacist told me abut this: I felt entirely on my own , me and Dr.Google - so I would feel remiss if I didn't mention "my" experience in case it helps someone else. Hope this is OK. J.

Jump to this post

@bustrbrwn22 Thank you for such helpful information!

REPLY
@lacy2

@bustrbrwn22 Hello. I am often hesitant to put in my two cents, but I went through a LOT of fear after seeing the specialist (head of department at out of town hospital) and I scrutinized every prescription and over the counter meds I was given or was going to purchase after that. All I can say is the above actually happened to me. Feb.2019 a psychiatrist put me back on Zoloft after I took myself off and I told him I was not supposed to be on it cos of narrow angles: he checked and came back into room and said "only 5% of people may get glaucoma from Zoloft" .. I tried to tell him I ALREADY had it, and had "narrow angles" but he still put me on it and another time I will tell the story of what happened to "me"...side effects. Another time very nice psychiatrist I saw once put me on another anti-depressant and my pharmacist actually faxed the Specialist to see if I could take it and he responded in handwring: no, no no - she cannot take it. (So thats when I decided to have the Iridotomy, only to find out I still have to be cautious.

Honestly, I do appreciate what drs are trying to do for us and realize meds have saved lives in more ways than one, but sometimes we might want to check what we are taking and politely discuss with the prescriber...especially with a "super specialist dr." has given us advice: however, for me, to date, only a few drs. have listened and in fact one doctor over clinic internet said about something I had been given ,,, "don't give it to her, she has Glaucoma.!"

Again, everyone is different, my spouse takes 15 or so meds a day with his glass of wine..doesn't even read the information sheets..... lucky him, unlucky me! Glad you are going to check into and I would be interested in hearing what your Dr. thinks. Hopefully, you will have many other options for meds that will help you. (Also, if you keep a written list of meds you are on, don't forget to list over the counter meds you buy; eyedrops whether prescribed or not; and even natural remedies) 🙂 J.

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@bustrbrwn22 @lacy2 Why is it when we try to be an advocate for our health we get such resistance or dismissed as a patient versus working together as a team??

REPLY
@marjou

@bustrbrwn22 @lacy2 Why is it when we try to be an advocate for our health we get such resistance or dismissed as a patient versus working together as a team??

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Hi marjou.... that is a good question. I am never rude or pushy with drs., usually quite the contrary, but I have several instances where some teamwork would have been appreciated... not sure what the reason is that it is such an uphill battle for some patients these days. J.

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@marjou

@bustrbrwn22 @lacy2 Why is it when we try to be an advocate for our health we get such resistance or dismissed as a patient versus working together as a team??

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Good question. Celebrities have no issues getting anything so maybe they think I’m poor and stupid.

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Hi Kim here, I think you are so right. I use to be very shy about my symptoms but now when I get a new Dr. I politely tell them that I am very honest about how I feel and my symptoms should not get dismissed. That they have no idea what turmoil my body is going through and that I would like the common curtesy of respect and to listen to me. For me as long as I say it with respect and I am polite they cannot get mad at me. I like my dr’s at the Mayo because even though my symptoms my not fit my disease they do not dismiss me are willing to find out why this is going on. So please do not ever stop being an advocate on you health you will find a honest and caring doctor who will listen. 🤞🤞

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