been a while since I posted on here to be honest but ive noticed less and less posts each day.....I hope everyone is ok :?:
Talking from my perspective, im on week 16 now and was hoping id be back on the right path and contemplating reducing my intake of Flu - but adversely I am considering the opposite Ive felt a significant drop in my mood recently and have no real idea why - could be a number of small things but i dont know. :? I may have to take another visit to the doc before i cash in my most recent prescription as I may need to up the dosage for a while to get better. Has anyone else platteau'd on 20mg of Flu?
Would be great to hear from you all and how you are getting on with your recovery.
I think i'm the same as you been taking flu for about 14 weeks now and to be honest havent felt it working for the last 10 weeks. This last month has been really bad!
I've noticed that people arent talking much on here and Melbi has gone and i miss her!
I think i'm going to have to change my antidepressant completely. bum!
Sorry to hear your not feeling well at the moment.
Isnt it a kick in teh head when you are taking these things religiously to find they arent really doing you much good at all?! I do, i just wanted to get back to being my usual self and have confidence, self esteem and love my life......I am gonna go see if changing AD completely is a good idea for me as these pills arent doing much anymore and im not sure if 40mg will fix the problem.
I have no idea why people arent talking anymore - its a shame cos we're all here to support one another and if no one chats, we all suffer in silence.
Sounds like discussing things again with your GP would be a good idea. Do you see a psychiatrist as well, or have any other support such as counselling or CBT? I took fluoxetine for a while last year and had the dose increased to 40mg but it didn't really help very much. I found it hard to ask about changing AD as it had been such a big decision to go on them at all, that I had it in my head that they must work and it was my fault that they weren't.
hi. im quite new to this, only found this site a few weeks ago while researching flu on google. reading peoples experiences has been good therapy knowing im not alone. ive only been taking 20mg of flu for 3 weeks. obviously im not expecting miracles as its far too early. got another appointment next week so dont know whether i will continue with 20mg for another month or up it to 40mg. i must admit i have combined my flu with a couple of nights out on the bevvy which i know wont help at all and will probably set me back again!! good luck.
I think id book an appointment and see teh GP sooner rather than later.....just hate talking about it tho cos i guess im kinda in denial still.
I see a counsellor once a week and have read a book on CBT and Depressive illness - both were great helps but i keep dropping off the ladder still.
Thanks for your advice.
Richieboy,
I was the same when i first found this site - it was like a breath of fresh air finding others who shared my thoughts and feelings. Now i guess im just leveling out and need a new pick me up.
I will certainly say that mixing booze and Flu is a BAD IDEA in the first 3-4weeks....i did it on the 27th Dec and woke up with thoughts of jumping thru my bedroom window on my mind.....but fought them off and gave up beers for 6 weeks which helped loads. Now i just have a few here and there but no heavy sessions.
I hope both you guys get thru this and we all get to live normally once again.
thanks hightower, i appreciate your advice. i went out on saturday and had a skinful having been off the beer for a few weeks. ive felt suicidal and had some horrible thoughts since then, only now being on this site and trying to pick myself up and doing some exercise am i feeling better. i missed taking a day of flu as well. so the combination of missing my flu and drinking far too much was a seriously bad idea and one i wont be repeating in a hurry again. 1 step forward and 2 steps back it seems. thanks again.
No worries, always glad to help anyone on here as we all need it.
I have no real idea where these thoughts and feelings come from - thats what really gets my goat. I wouldnt mind if i was at the edge of a cliffe or in the worst place on earth but i was having them while i was at home in my bed!! Its mad.
I am reading books and having counselling to try and get myself back to normal but im so scared it wont happen - i have been so positive til recently cos i hoped that thinking positive would make me feel good and it did for a while but now i feel like i did in the first place.
Mayeb I need more books and more research AND some new ADs!!
I must admit i'm still drinking :shock: I know its wrong and wont help me in anyway but i cant help it. Although i'm not physically addicted, i am mental. I've used alcohol for so long as a coping mechnanism that i cant seem to break the habit! i also self harm which increases when i dont drink so feel like catch 22 really! Which is worse?
I'm seeing a pyschatrist tomorrow so i'll ask about my AD's and anything that can help me stop drinking! i also see a pyschcologist once a week, which is working. Its going to take along time because i keep skirting round issues and making jokes about them! But we'll get there!lol
Everyone keep in touch, i will let you know if my meds change.
I kinda been following your posts Orb and have seen you are fond of a drink or two. I would say that if you dont feel any better or worse for still drinking while on Flu then no real need to stop unless you think its a massive contributor to the problems.
Alcohol is a great coping mechanism as you mention, makes you feel high when ur low, brings your emotions to the surface and can potentially help the cause......but in the same breath can add to it.
I thought alcohol would have no significance when I started Flu but now know it has done nothing but make my condition worse as it allowed me to think everything was fine until I had a massive come down and then felt suicidal. I never wanna feel that way again so havent drank any serious amounts since.
I believe the Psychiatrist will help you understand the underlying problems and give you ways to cope with them better and try avoiding using alcohol.
Im pretty sure most of us will have skirted around issues with our psychologist/counsellor as its hard admitting things...even if it is to a complete stranger. But do as best you can to be open and honest, its all going to aid the recovery process.
We'll all get there in the end, just no idea where that end it!!
HT babe whats up your normally my becon of strength on here and always full of usefull advice!
Sorry to hear your down i think everyone goes through these bad weeks every now and again and it sucks but you know that it will pass and things will be better another week soon x
I noticed that it had gone quiet on here too. My internet broke all last weekend and i only got on recently again.
I hope everyone keeps posting as it all helps us to read each others feelings etc
Well hope today has been a better day for everyone
Im ok, just some weird things happening upstairs that i cant explain so I made the boldest of moves today.........
When i first started Flu i was taking it just b4 bed and then didnt sleep, so i changed it to the mornings b4 brekkie and it helped so much......now im sleeping almost perfectly but when I wake up and take it i get a fuzzy head, dizziness and all sorts going on so havent taken one yet today and gonna transfer back to taking it before bed. Hopefully it will work and ill sleep well and the effect will be ill get better thru the nights....theres my theory lets see what happens.
If it gets worse ill be back down the docs, if it works ill let u all no - fingers crossed peeps.
I will say one thing tho - i felt better this morning not having my tab than i would when id usually take it but im starting to feel as though my head is stuffed with cotton wool and im all bunged up upstairs!! Could be Flu withdrawl or something?!
Im not being very quiet atm.....im making as much noise as I can on here so that others join us and share their experiences and get better.
We're all in this one together guys....lets get thru this annoying thing.
I admit i was wounded when you made the statement that i like a drink or two, but it's a fair statement! I dont like the fact i need a drink to take the edge off things. I'm trying a herbal remedy called kudzu, it's supposed to reduce cravings and the amount you can tolarate! worth giving a go!
When i starting taking flu i used to take it first thing in the morning but it used to make me feel fuzzy :? , not good when you have the morning run to school, so started taking it bout 10.30 with something to eat and that made it a whole lot better.
Unfortunately the underlining causes are far to many to mention, the biggest one being guilt. To talk thru each and every one of them is going to take time but we'll get there in the end!
my meds have been changed tho to mirtazapine which i'm supposed to take at bedtime, it will make me drowsy but it might help me sleep!
Can i still post on here tho, even if i'm not taking flu?
You said you were in denial still - I can relate to that! It's about a year since I started on fluoxetine (after a couple of months of going to GP but not wanting to start on ADs) - since then I've been on various meds, am seeing psychologist, psychiatrist and CPN regularly, and have been in hospital for a month - and I've only recently managed to admit that I have depression! I'm not very quick on the uptake!
I don't know about withdrawal from fluoxetine - I replaced it with another AD without any tapering off and didn't have any problems - but I'm not sure it would have an impact so quickly as it has a long half-life. Hope you get on ok with changing the time of day you take it.
Forgot to mention in my PM to you HT, you shouldn't notice a great difference taking your tab in the evening. You may remember last week i forgot to take mine in the morning. Was waiting for any weird effects but had none. I've been told that flu stays in the system up to six months after you stop so 12 hours won't make a difference mate.
Hi Orb Fairy
Of course you can still contribute to the flu forum. You have experienced the effects for some time after all. I dabble in the citilopram forum with someone that used to be on flu. I hope you have more success with Mirtazapine. Best wishes my dear. x
MP, thanks for the heads up re pill transition.....much appreciated.
Orb,
It is great that you still post on here even though you arent on Flu anymore....means you have a kind nature and want to pass on any info you can.
Hey Gretchel,
I kinda was in denial.....wish i was in Egypt tho!! (Sorry, poor pun!)
I didnt want to admit I had an illness that i associated with people who have real worries in their life and cant cope.....turned out it was me that couldnt cope even tho i tried my hardest. Fuse blew and i plunged into darkness - fighting my way to the light with the hep of you all.
Out of the psychologist, psychiatrist and CPN which is most helpful do you think?
Im on a mission to get some information to help me (and others) get thru this poxy illness!!
Orb,
When i first started Flu i drank as though nothing was wrong, wont make that mistake again.
Any remedy you can take that will replace the need for a baseball bat to the head to induce sleep is great. I felt like head-butting a wall at the beginning but now im into a good pattern.
Im hoping my transition to evenings will make it better and reduce the fuzzy head....worked last night so finegrs crossed.
Im sure the underlying causes of your depression will get sorted, just talk your heart out to the counsellor(s) and offload everything - better out than in.
It will be my first night taking my new meds tonight and abit scared to be honest! I havent taken my flu today but they have a long life and scared about mixing them!
Also had to have a blood test yesterday!!bummer. Checking for diabetes and a liver function test, which just makes me feel really bad!
I have to see a pyschartrist and a pyschologist once a fortnight now! :shock:
For sleep sake i've been told to exercise :shock: i smoke so i don't have to do any of that :D So have been out walking for a couple of hours a day. Seems to be helping alittle bit. I don't stay awake for hours at a time, but my sleep still broken. Going to have a day off today tho as my legs are really sore! :D
As for the talking, just tiptoeing about the edge at the minute, can't seem to let it all out. Don't like crying in front of people it always makes me feel weak. My biggest obstacle is myself, need to sort her out first!!
Hope the new med taking goes well, im sure it will. Dont be afraid, will just make you think negatively and then worse things happen.
I imagine its scary having tests for diabetes and liver function as you kinda always assume you havent got it/it functions properly.....better safe than sorry tho hun right?
Pyschartrist and a pyschologist once a fortnight hey, i would like to see a psychiatrist and see what they say....but arent they really expensive?
A nice long walk is always good i find, gives you a chance to think things thru and make plans. Plus it wears you out so you can hopefully sleep easier. Ive gone from exercising 3/4 times per week to once if im lucky....motivations is going out the window but ill have a little slump about then get back on the fitness train :wink:
Orb,
I would love nothing more than to cry at a therapy session but from the minute i walk in i just cant find any emotion. I asked my counsellor to TRY AND MAKE ME CRY but she couldnt!! Just couldnt get over that barrier even tho i wanted to.....DAMN IT!! lol
If you can break the emotional boundary i believe you would benefit from iut so much, dont be afraid to feel vulnerable witha stranger as they are trained to deal with it and can help you.
Like you, my biggest obsticle is myself - i am slowly beginning to realise that the only thing holding me back from doing anything is ME. :roll:
So ive arranged a fight - Maddison Square Garden, 100,000 screaming spectators, 12 rounds - Me versus Me........TO THE DEATH!!! :twisted:
I have decided to do WHAT I WANT TO DO for a change and stop making comprimises and stop doing things for my friends/family who take me for granted as these people will consume you until there is nothing left.
Fight for what you want and hold no prisonners - its for the greater good dude......time to lose a battle but with the war. :idea:
You said \"Out of the psychologist, psychiatrist and CPN which is most helpful do you think?\" - not sure really, I guess they all have their different bits to do. I've seen the CPN for the longest and I find it useful to have someone to offload to without feeling that she's trying to get me better - I mean, I'm sure she does want to help me get better but it's good to feel there's no pressure or time limit - and she liaises with the others who are involved in my care. I think with the psychologist I haven't really got started yet - it's more been about damage limitation and crisis management since I started seeing her a few months ago (hence stay in hospital) but will hopefully be of long term benefit. And my psychiatrist is just really nice, easy to talk to and involves me in decisions about med changes etc. I've been really lucky with the care I've had, I think. I notice you'd said about it being expensive - this is all NHS, though it does seem from talking on other forums that MH provision can be patchy throughout the country. I guess you can ask your GP to refer you to psychiatry? The way it happened with me was that I went to my GP and came clean about some of the things that were happening, and was sent to the hospital for assessment, after which I was assigned a CPN.
Actually from what I remember about fluoxetine, it made it quite difficult to cry, I think - the emotions were there but not that easy to access - so maybe that's the same for you.
I dont like the fact i need a drink to take the edge off things. I'm trying a herbal remedy called kudzu, it's supposed to reduce cravings and the amount you can tolarate! worth giving a go!