Hi Phil, sorry didn't see your reply. Yes hoping it will be successful. Good to hear you're starting to feel better and the nausea/ lack of appetite is going. Feeling unsure about my feelings today but I will keep battling on! All the best.
Hey Joanne, it's probably the fluo causing the fatigue, it's got me again this morning even though I've been quite active lately! This stuff is very strong, but it's working, I'm sure it is. Feeling a bit sort of flat this morning, not up or down, just a strange and slightly unnerving calm, a lurking sensation of dread trying to push into my thoughts, very weird. Well you're 3 weeks into it, brilliant!! First month just around the corner in time for Xmas, I'm sure by then you'll be feeling much better about the progress even if still going through it side effects wise, keep on going and you'll feel better again this evening, best wishes to you and your family.
feeling low today. no energy. I came home from work yesterday afternoon around 1pm and just slept until now 11am. I'm hoping I've come down with something. Fingers crossed x
Day 23. Very anxious this morning. I threw myself into work early this morning. I have 2 parts to my job. The office part and the physical side of things, where I like to help out. Today I did the physical side so kept really busy all morning. I think it does our minds good to distract it from our mental health problems because by 10am the anxiety had gone. I must go to work every day as its good for my mind instead of stating at home. Hope everyone has a good day. Keep fighting. x
Hi again, you're getting closer to the best Xmas present ever getting past these side effects. They are almost certainly causing all your symptoms now. They will go. I'm starting to feel very different right now, and suddenly today, and have done gradually since last week, much more energy and the anxiety is almost gone, in fact as I write I realize I don't have any, omg!! I know that we can get these blips, and had one a few weeks ago, but now I know what's going on and can deal with it knowing it'll pass off. I even did a 500 mile return drive in 2 days, and even getting kicked off the M4 twice last night didn't bother me, bit of fun getting lost in the Cotswolds! The body produces a lot of cortisol (the fight or flight hormone like adrenaline) in the mornings which can feed the anxiety and make you nauseous, mine was exactly the same, and usually gone by 11am ish. I think you're nearly there if you've had a few glimpses of better things already, just keep on toughing it out. I wouldn't have believed I'd feel like this today if anyone had told me last Monday even!! And it's a Sunday and pouring down outside, but I just went out for a walk and could actually smell and really feel the rain, omg I so hope this is the way it's supposed to be, I've been missing out on so much life for so long, this is a wonder drug when you get there. Keep on going Joanne, you've got to, you've come so far along the journey now it'll be mad to give up now! All the best wishes to you, dig deep.
Day 26, I have no side effects anymore, the nausea and lack of appetite has gone thank god. Ha da few issues at work over the weekend so I have been so busy, I even did a 13 hour shift on Saturday. Had the best sleep Saturday night. I've noticed my energy levels increase, especially this morning. I've been into town to do a few jobs and thought about starting the Christmas shopping and looking forward to it. Good to hear you're doing well Phil.
morning all. How is everyone doing. The forum seems to have gone quiet. Im not jumping for joy yet. Seems a slow process but I'm not having negative thoughts or having doom and gloom.Im going to try another month then increase if need be.
I'm.mid way through my 7th week. This weekend has been a good weekend. yesterday was a very good day and I was super productive and full of energy and for the first time I was happy. I've started to take my medication on a morning now instead of lunch. I feel better on a morning too. I'm still having muscle twitches though. I also bought a light box. I get really low in the winter, so I was thinking the slow process could be the time of year. I will try anything. hope everyone is doing ok.
Happy New Year Joanne, it's working at last isn't it!? after only 7 weeks, that's very good news. I'm so very pleased for you, a new life starting in a way I guess. I'm now in week 14 I think, and almost one month at 40mgs. The increase from 20 mg was ok, just a few days of mild stomach ache and sweating at night mostly, but nothing like the initial effects, so don't worry about increasing if you have to. I'm glad I did go to 40 as it seemed to kickstart the effectiveness, and could always reduce it if the doc agrees. I'm feeling so much better, putting weight back on, looking better according to friends. Still getting a few moments of fatigue, and a bit of twitching and shaky hands, but it's a small price to pay compared to the huge benefits! I'm starting to feel a bit happier, but not as much as I had expected, although I know I'm not at the full benefit stage just yet, but on the whole it's changed my life, in fact I'd say it's saved it. I'm going back to work next week so that's going to be interesting after 6 months, but I'm feeling quicker physically and mentally and more rational than in years. Just a bit low today but the grey gloominess and post Xmas blues don't help much either, but spring is just around the corner, it's going to be very different for all of us this year after the hell we've been in, and for some just starting the journey, don't forget by March you're going to be over the worst of it, just keep on going, dig deep x
hi Phil ive just replied to your other thread. I'm so happy for you. getting back to work will give you a boost and a purpose. keep in touch with your progress.
feeling really good for the 4th day in a row. I am actually scared. i dont want this feeling to end. I'm so productive and high on life. Hoping it's not mania. I've ofter thought I'm bipolar. my Dr says I would have obvious behaviours. He said it's just me being 'normal' if this is normal I am so envious that people get to experience normality day in day out.
Hiya Joanne, well it's working ok by the sound of it! I'm still just a bit down today but I'm sure it's just a "blip" after Xmas and all that. I know they can come suddenly and it's pretty disappointing after feeling really good for a few weeks or so. My first was a few weeks ago after I'd been doing well on 20 mgs, but it only lasted a week or so, then after feeling flat and unemotional it suddenly passed and back on track, but it worried me that it was stopping working after all that time. It was still working in the background though, it's just that fear of the unknown. I'm pretty sure your doctor is correct, he'd know if you were bipolar! Welcome to the world, it's a remarkable drug, and you've broken through, it's something to be very proud of!! Ok, you might have a few ups and downs, but the meds are clearly working because you're better than before! You're still relatively early in the treatment, it'll keep on getting better and it does take a while to get used to the new feelings of being a different person. The meds are really only stimulating the production of serotonin in the brain, which is what it should normally do anyway, so it's not changing you into someone else, just making us work the way we should, similar to the way insulin would help a diabetic person or anti histamines help people with allergies etc. It's just that mental health has still got such a negative stigma. Just be you!!