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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 25 of 36. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by floatingbridge on May 4, 2011, at 13:11:44
O.K. After showering I placed half a 6mg patch on my upper arm.
I've read a study suggesting low dose emsam helps kids with adhd (pubmed/Isreal). It could potentiate norco (I take 10mgdaily). It could provide some neuroprotection.
I've read and posted and read and talked and let the box sit for two days.
Wish me luck. If it doesn't help, so be it. Let's just hope for no untoward reactions :-/
If I give it a fair trial, it's a two week wash out, right? I'm getting to be a tough old bird. This will be fine.
Thanks for the information given, the hand holding, and the good company.
fb
Posted by Phillipa on May 4, 2011, at 13:36:45
In reply to emsam is on the arm, posted by floatingbridge on May 4, 2011, at 13:11:44
FB congrats you did it Yeah!!!!!!! Keep posting 24/7 okay? Phillipa
Posted by floatingbridge on May 5, 2011, at 17:06:48
In reply to emsam is on the arm, posted by floatingbridge on May 4, 2011, at 13:11:44
Into day two of trial at half dose.
No rash (yet). Tomorrow full 6mg.
Coincides with two high pain/fatigue days. There are personal stressors to account for this. However, I'm still alert for signs that emsam increases fibromyalgia symptoms.
Go team.
fb
Posted by Phillipa on May 5, 2011, at 20:50:26
In reply to Re: emsam is on the arm, update » floatingbridge, posted by floatingbridge on May 5, 2011, at 17:06:48
FB stop watching and waiting it isn't going to happen. You are doing great!!!!
Posted by floatingbridge on May 5, 2011, at 21:19:46
In reply to Re: emsam is on the arm, update » floatingbridge, posted by Phillipa on May 5, 2011, at 20:50:26
Umm. I feel weird. Not ER weird. Headache ears ringing and no benefits weird. I think I'll just stay at the half patch. Maybe take it off tonight. Maybe now.
I can understand the insomnia often mentioned. But hasn't changed my fatigue level. O.K. Day Two. Remain calm, yes?
This seems absolutely pointless. Ridiculous.
Posted by Phillipa on May 5, 2011, at 21:23:15
In reply to Re: emsam is on the arm, update » Phillipa, posted by floatingbridge on May 5, 2011, at 21:19:46
FB it's a very strong med maybe that is why the doc really didn't think a good idea? Wishing you luck. And you know where I am. Love Phillipa
Posted by floatingbridge on May 5, 2011, at 21:57:21
In reply to Re: emsam is on the arm, update » floatingbridge, posted by Phillipa on May 5, 2011, at 21:23:15
It's off. Doc out for two weeks. I just f*cking quit. I can't take meds, can't live without them. I have no idea if this feeling just fades the way weirdness faded when I took first antidepressant and I became an almost fearless snri user.
I feel like everything is f*cked. Go meditate! Yes, if someone will hold my hand if I have a panic attack. Exercise! When I can stand up. You know I'm not yelling at you PJ. Right? I'm just shocked. Absolutely shocked.
Do you think this will fade into the background?
I'm beginning to think, what's wrong with xanax, with norco. When you're f*ck*d you're f*ck*d and some of us are f*ck*d. Auto asterisk do your job cause I ain't.
Posted by floatingbridge on May 5, 2011, at 22:25:32
In reply to Re: emsam is on the arm, update » Phillipa, posted by floatingbridge on May 5, 2011, at 21:57:21
Well, I went the entire day without xanax. Over 24 hours. What a ditz. I didn't pack my pill pack. I don't think it helped my symptoms, that and cutting back on norco.
So, I showered, took my 0.5mg xanax xr and 0.5mg regular xanax and my 2.5 mg norco. Am I still a member of the human race?
I could cry right now.
Do you think I should give up? It seems so unfair that the edge is closer to some than others.
Posted by Phillipa on May 5, 2011, at 23:34:47
In reply to tilt » floatingbridge, posted by floatingbridge on May 5, 2011, at 22:25:32
FB no wonder you felt so horrible you were in double withdrawal with a new med that can be stimulating. Hope now that things calm down a bit. Write down you meds and the times so this doesn't happen again. It's going to be okay. Love Phillipa
Posted by floatingbridge on May 6, 2011, at 0:12:49
In reply to Re: tilt » floatingbridge, posted by Phillipa on May 5, 2011, at 23:34:47
Phillipa, you are very kind. I neglected my med journal for two days. Also, I've cut back so much that I'd also not packed my daily pill pack. It's a small, clear plastic with four little compartments. Less than half the size of your palm.
Tonight it's all packed up for tomorrow, no cutting back. In fact, I've decided to
request my dosage norco be upped until I am seen either by a fibro-friendly doctor or ff pain clinic. I was kinda' cruising alright at 20mg per day. I was enjoying the lower dose, being able to
sense my pain but not be overwhelmed by it. 10mg is difficult. Too much white-knuckling lately. Wears me down.I'm sure I'm your basic nightmare for any provider. I didn't wake up and decide to be. I am trying the best I can.
Believe it or not, I slapped another half
patch on. If I get freaky again, I know what to do.Thanks for being a sensible friend.
Hugs.
Posted by floatingbridge on May 6, 2011, at 13:28:28
In reply to Re: tilt » floatingbridge, posted by Phillipa on May 5, 2011, at 23:34:47
> FB no wonder you felt so horrible you were in double withdrawal with a new med that can be stimulating. Hope now that things calm down a bit. Write down you meds and the times so this doesn't happen again. It's going to be okay. Love Phillipa
Phillipa, thanks again for your calmness. The half patch is back on. I actually feel
alright (relatively, you understand). I am also speaking to my gp about re-upping my norco dose back into a comfortable low of 20mg max until there is another plan in place, like an experienced
fibromyalgia doctor or a pain clinic that will work with me on the sum factors that
affect pain. Not just a taper for the heck of it. But I'm responsible for allowing the taper and going along with it (too far).You're a gem. I hope your day is going alright.
Hugs.
Posted by Phillipa on May 6, 2011, at 13:36:28
In reply to Re: tilt, and correction. better today » Phillipa, posted by floatingbridge on May 6, 2011, at 13:28:28
FB I've been worried about you relieved to know things are better now you are the calm one. Love Phillipa good game plan!!!
Posted by henryo on May 9, 2011, at 5:25:35
In reply to Re: tilt, and correction. better today » floatingbridge, posted by Phillipa on May 6, 2011, at 13:36:28
keep posting. we are listening.
Posted by floatingbridge on May 9, 2011, at 9:58:56
In reply to Re: tilt, and correction. better today, posted by henryo on May 9, 2011, at 5:25:35
Hi henryo,
O.K. thanks :-)
Yesterday I cut my patch and an hour or so later, put the other half on. Did alright, no more odd episodes, and being mindful to count out my xanax and take the minimum dose.
My mood is better, and that is good, because there is yet to be any effect on pain (that was/is a long shot, but I do not suspect the emsam of making it worse, or making me feel 'blocked' the way doxepin did).
I did call my gp and said to raise my norco to 20mg until something better comes along. I think the emsam *might*
be helping my focus (like being able to decide and follow through on the above) and with the exception of the one episode posted about, no abnormal insomnia(!).This is all very interesting. I think I just
need medication. Had I had early therapeutic intervention and maybe select medication to deal with stress, I might not have developed MDD and had ptsd kick in. But here I am. So far, emsam has a very benign sx profile. No rash.Time to scrub up for today's patch.
henryo, how is your seasonal reset going? I find that fascinating.
fb
Posted by Phillipa on May 9, 2011, at 20:37:56
In reply to Re: better today » henryo, posted by floatingbridge on May 9, 2011, at 9:58:56
FB another emsam success? Wonderful wow is all I can say!!!! Love Phillipa
Posted by floatingbridge on May 11, 2011, at 10:56:48
In reply to Re: better today » floatingbridge, posted by Phillipa on May 9, 2011, at 20:37:56
Well, I guess it is working. I haven't become ill, and I had a realatively normal day yesterday. I was able to remain in good humor and muster when that flagged, visit a school with my son, and not feel like a complete secret agent--meaning acting normal while feeling nuts inside.
I'm at 6mg and hope, hope, hope to stay at this dose.
An abstract came to my mailbox on
tardive dysphoria. That deflated me a bit. But if I look back, my bouts of dysphoria predate any medication.So a pill or patch can only do so much
for me. Hopefully this emsam will prove a reliable helper. Maybe I can avoid the sx of ssri's and snri's that, I suspect, induced more intense mood shifting. Plus, as of week one, I still have a pretty good range of emotions, with the
exception of being less anxious and raw, and well, depressed. I folded laundry mountain yesterday, too.But this is the honeymoon.
Methinks the experiment can be concluded successful. Thanks to anyone reading along or listening. This board has walked me through things (and talked me down) many times. Thank you.
signing off for now, and with respect and gratitude,
fb
Posted by henryo on May 13, 2011, at 5:37:19
In reply to one week in, posted by floatingbridge on May 11, 2011, at 10:56:48
watching you, listening. Just taking it in. rooting for you.
Posted by floatingbridge on May 13, 2011, at 7:55:38
In reply to Re: one week in, posted by henryo on May 13, 2011, at 5:37:19
henryo, that's the nicest message to find. Thank you :-)
But you haven't mentioned your reset? Has it gone through alright?
You know I've got another piece that I'm working on. More of a health piece. Flat out crazy in bed fatigue, pain (fibromyalgic). The fatigue really gets me down. If it were just pain, I'd finally (and am about ready to) just say uncle and move to more serious medicine for that. I want to live without needing to achieve Buddhist sainthood first. (I'm still working the meditation/mindful part--it's good.)
I think the emsam is helping and not hurting. I do have better energy in the
morning. If I can continue this, and slowly push my energy envelope gently, because inactivity creates inactivity.My husband is worried (ongoing, of course). When I asked him how I was doing, he said good, but that the negative effects of AD's are cumulative and just sneak up, and that I have been more lucid off snri's. I know what he means, but so far, and at this dose, I haven't felt that.
Unless one counts more serious, but in a good way.
I see my pdoc in a week. More threshing This all out then.
Thanks for asking, henryo.
fb
Posted by poser938 on May 14, 2011, at 22:28:27
In reply to one week in, posted by floatingbridge on May 11, 2011, at 10:56:48
well its good to see that emsam is working right for you. my mom tried it before too. she said itmade her feel a bit numb yet stimulated.
i started the risperdal 3 days ago and am feeling a bit more numb and out of it, but iexpected it to make me feel like this. i plan on feeling worse before i feel better.
Posted by henryo on May 15, 2011, at 0:14:43
In reply to Re: one week in » henryo, posted by floatingbridge on May 13, 2011, at 7:55:38
Reset is up and down but my mood or more precisely "mental anguish" is very good so the sleep schedule is not a big concern at the moment. It becomes one when painful emotions are overwhelming and weeks slip by- but I don't think about that lately, cause I don't need to.
So, are you into Eckhart Tolle at all? I am.
Posted by floatingbridge on May 15, 2011, at 9:51:57
In reply to Re: one week in, posted by poser938 on May 14, 2011, at 22:28:27
Hi poser,
I haven't felt numb yet, at 6mg, but I think numbness creeps up--on me, speaking of being on ssnr's, etc., and a round of abilify. Yet I didn't and don't see any recourse. So far, other than waking up in the middle of the night :( it's pretty transparent. I do forget to change the patch on time. Because I lollygag in the morning, and I either need to shower or wash a spot, usually my arm for best adhesion.
So the risperdal, it is feeling how you expected? Is your plan to take it short term, and is that your pdoc's strategy, too?
I hope you send updates--thanks for this one. And the for good wishes!
Posted by floatingbridge on May 15, 2011, at 10:20:24
In reply to Re: one week in, posted by henryo on May 15, 2011, at 0:14:43
> Reset is up and down but my mood or more precisely "mental anguish" is very good so the sleep schedule is not a big concern at the moment. It becomes one when painful emotions are overwhelming and weeks slip by- but I don't think about that lately, cause I don't need to.
That's good to hear! You have bouts of mental anguish? Like existential despair? That term makes me sound way more intellectual than I am, but I do know that type of despair. I hope your reset strategy works because good sleep is a wonderful ally.
>
> So, are you into Eckhart Tolle at all? I
am.Not really. I read one of his books, I think The Power of Now, but there was something, I can't recall, that I finally rejected. Maybe that it expected I should be all-powerful for my life, and yet I was suffering. I went back to my on and off again Buddhist reading. I like
Pema Chondron and Sharon Salzburg. I
am less utopian and more like 'sh*t happens so let's be good to each other.' It's better for my mental health :PWhat resonates for you with Tolle's writings? It's not that I absolutely disagree with him....
Posted by poser938 on May 16, 2011, at 20:43:30
In reply to Re: one week inch » poser938, posted by floatingbridge on May 15, 2011, at 9:51:57
to tell you thetruth, im not sure what my doctors startegy is exactly. i i never asked about her plan exactly and havent called her. i just have a theory on her strategy. taking it short term is probably the plan, untile my dopamine receptors upregulate, and when that happens hopefully i'll be feeling less numb. im for tolerance to the risperidone.
but you might not really get a numb feeling from the emsam, in one way it works is by raising dopamine and that should help keep you from getting numb. my mom got numb right away on it. but im pretty sure most people are less likely to get numb from taking the emsam.
Posted by floatingbridge on May 16, 2011, at 22:12:23
In reply to Re: one week inch, posted by poser938 on May 16, 2011, at 20:43:30
poser, how have you been doing with your start up? It's good to hear from you.
Emsam is good except for insomnia.
(Thanks for the encouragement.)
Posted by floatingbridge on May 16, 2011, at 22:35:48
In reply to Re: one week in, posted by henryo on May 13, 2011, at 5:37:19
henryo, do you work with regulating the light and dark in your day while working with the emsam
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