![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 770 to 794 of 1838. Go back in thread:
Posted by Stressed on October 12, 2004, at 15:36:34
In reply to Re: topomax » stressed, posted by headachequeen on October 12, 2004, at 13:19:34
Hello everyone, I was reading some of the other message boards and found that there is another "Stressed", out there. I should have been a little more in tune before I made up my name. I think I am going to change it to "Stressee", or try. If you see that screen name, it's me, Stressed. You see, I really am the Stressee, or that's how I see it. Haaaa Ok, I'm going to try this. -L
Posted by Stressee on October 12, 2004, at 15:50:23
In reply to Re: topomax » stressed, posted by headachequeen on October 12, 2004, at 13:19:34
Ok, I'm putting these messages everywhere, because unlike all of you, I still don't know how to correctly use these boards. I don't want to lose your wonderful support. I did change my name, so now there won't be any confusion. Thanks for your patience. -L
Posted by NeNe on October 12, 2004, at 16:55:01
In reply to Re: topomax » NeNe, posted by Weenie on October 12, 2004, at 7:35:58
> How much topamax were you taking that made you lose so much weight so quickly?
Wennie, seems to me that the Dr. keep increasing the dosage up due to depression as my job at that time was extremely stressful, basically they were setting me up for failure, so to my knowledge I believe 400 mg every day-- a bit too much along with working over 50 hours a week !
Posted by Dr. Bob on October 12, 2004, at 16:57:31
In reply to Re:dogs and Clomipramine/Calmiclam, posted by headachequeen on October 11, 2004, at 13:53:28
> as I mentioned earlier I breed dogs...
Sorry to interrupt, but I'd like to redirect follow-ups concerning the breeding of dogs to Psycho-Babble Social. Here's a link:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20041010/msgs/402251.html
Thanks,
Bob
Posted by Dr. Bob on October 12, 2004, at 16:59:29
In reply to I'm the second person names Stressed on here, posted by Stressed on October 12, 2004, at 15:36:34
> Hello everyone, I was reading some of the other message boards and found that there is another "Stressed", out there. I should have been a little more in tune before I made up my name. I think I am going to change it to "Stressee"
That's fine, but for the record, it was probably a similar but different name, posting names should only be able to be registered once.
Bob
Posted by NeNe on October 12, 2004, at 17:20:35
In reply to Re: topomax » NeNe, posted by headachequeen on October 12, 2004, at 13:17:16
> > I have to let you all know that I was on topomax for quite a while, and for the first time in my life I felt like I fit in ! It was the only medication that I was on that did not make me feel like my mind was racing, and I actually felt "like a normal person" whatever that is !
> > But something went wrong--and of course it's never the Dr's fault (I should know being a former nurse)I rapidly started losing weight and not in a good way! To this day I am still confused as to the dosage I was taking, but I was down to a skelton, and I will be the first to admit it. It was the only medication that kept me from migraine's and that's a miracle. But I want to make a long story short, my father passed away recently and I had been off topomax for over a year. I just did go back to topomax by myself as it is the only medication that keeps me in a normal realm !!!! I have done this on my own slowly but I do not remember how much to gradually go up to ? I want to say about
> > 300mg to stabilize. My Psych had me on klonopin 2mg 4x a day-- remerom-resperidal-lamital-trazadone-----Is it any wonder why I am playing Dr now !!!! My body got soooo strung out !!!!
> > You would of thought I would of been a walking zombie, but oh no-- not my boby chemistry !!!
> > Help me out friends! Oh and btw headachelady I hope you are the one who is the dog trainer. I just got a 12 wk old male yellow lab (it keeps me alive) any tips? He is the only thing that that brings a smile to my face.
> >
>
> I am so sorry about your father... with time you will come to remember the fun times and waken with a smile more often than not.. I promise... been there so I know...
>
> as for your dog, it you want tips, I can give you my email address and we can take it off the message board so as not to drive Dr Bob out of his mind <g> I would love to help as I know how much a dog can bring life into a life that needs it...
>
> and the recommended increases are 25 mg with a couple of weeks minimum between increases....
> and 300 mg should be a good stabilising dose...
> I am at 300 mg twice a day right now and it seems to be working for the migraines and to balance my tegretol problems...
> but the breakthrough seizures are still breaking through... of course the teensy primary doses of tegretol are not helping :( and I hope this new guy will deal with that when I see him in a couple of hours...
>
> together we can get through anything, Ellen... and we will....
>
> that is a definite... strength in numbers and all those other bromides...
> and some times they really mean what they say...
>
> again my thoughts are with you
> kat
Sounds as if you also have lost a loved one, I to am very sorry, I myself am still in denial.
Thank you for offering your help with my new lab love I guess you could say to keep my life going.
I would apppreciate your e-mail addie and I will also give you mine. I noticed you are taking tegretol is this for manic-depression or for seizures, and are you taking topomax along with tegretol...Kat I have been on and off so many meds that its no wonder one can get depressed, and to know that for the rest of there life they will continue to be on them...thank you so much for being there , and I thank God for stumbling onto this thread ! My e-mail is riverlover911@earthlink.net
Posted by headachequeen on October 13, 2004, at 13:25:53
In reply to Redirect:dogs, posted by Dr. Bob on October 12, 2004, at 16:57:31
> > as I mentioned earlier I breed dogs...
>
> Sorry to interrupt, but I'd like to redirect follow-ups concerning the breeding of dogs to Psycho-Babble Social. Here's a link:
>
> http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20041010/msgs/402251.html
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bob
We had already taken it from here to private... just so as not to upset the apple cart it really does not fit into the babble social eitherkat
Posted by headachequeen on October 13, 2004, at 13:57:27
In reply to Re: topomax, posted by NeNe on October 12, 2004, at 17:20:35
> Sounds as if you also have lost a loved one, I to am very sorry, I myself am still in denial.I am still at the anger stage... at times I cannot believe that my grandfather who died in 1974 would be so cruel as to die and leave me... I still come home with things I want to tell him or share with him or ask him , and suddenly realise that he is not here any more, then feel totally abandoned... time to grow up, I know... is it any wonder I had a breakdown over my dog????
> Thank you for offering your help with my new lab love I guess you could say to keep my life going.
> I would apppreciate your e-mail addie and I will also give you mine.
I have already been in touch with you and we shall start working together with him... now Dr. Bob does not have to worry... as I said it is not something that fits the social thing either... so we shall not discuss it any more here ....
as I said in a previous post, we shall take it private so as not to bother him...
anyone else who wants my help can let me know and I am always available but it must be on private email...>I noticed you are taking tegretol is this for >manic-depression or for seizures, and are you >taking topomax along with tegretol...
I am taking them for seizures as I am an epileptic...
The topomax was prescribed to boost the tegretol and deal with migraine... but according to the neurologist I saw yesterday the dosage of both is enough for a child, a small child...
so my dosages are increasing...
and maybe now there will be some peace and tranquility in my life...
today I woke up feeling less stress .... I felt as if I could enjoy the day... look forward to things because I did not have to wonder when I would suddenly lose control of the world around me, have no idea what was happening to me, where I was, and what I was doing...
this doctor is actually working with me...
he is intent on finding what causes the epilepsy;
says the meds do a good job of masking or controlling the symptoms which does improve the quality of life, but that it is better to find the cause and deal with that...
now to me, that makes sense, although I wonder if it is possible...so he asked a number of questions as he believes I have had it since childhood based on his tests and on my files...
and based on the answers to his questions yesterday, it would seem that he is right...
then I come to talk to my mother...
was I a premature baby? well, only three weeks or so...
did I have any high fevers with hallucinations or the like... that I did remember actually...
and both these things could have an effect on the situation...in the tests that were done and that he has interpreted, there is indication of significant scarring or focii on my brain, the left side, apparently... around the temple if I remember rightly...
then my mother went on to tell me that as a child I would waken in the night crying and confused and would settle down only after she had washed my face and hands and talked to me, told me who I was ... then I would tell her that was what I had needed and go back to sleep...
hello, mother, why not tell me this before I went to the first neurologist??? or at least to this one????
Perhaps some of it was significant???? (she is semi-invalid following two strokes and living with us so she knows that we are trying to solve this riddle and knew I have been seeing a neurologist and was about to see another -- it has been no secret that I have been having times of total confusion and times when I was unconscious for lack of a better description for up to 45 minutes and then groggy and unable to focus or read or function for a day or two afterward and on it goes...)So now I have the info that he needed yesterday...
duh... but it may be another piece or two in the puzzle...
>Kat I have been on and off so many meds that its >no wonder one can get depressed, and to know >that for the rest of there life they will >continue to be on them...thank you so much for >being there , and I thank God for stumbling onto ?this thread !Some of the meds are frustrating and frightening...
and when I see the ads on television that seem to indicate that one should tell the doctor that this is the medication one needs so prescribe it right now or else...
and then the side effects that are possible...
I start to wonder why a doctor needs to go to med school for all those years... all one seems to need to do is watch television and decide for one's self...
it's a smorgasbord...
scary stuff...
when we know from experience and others' experiences what can happen when stuff is prescribed with care and understanding and knowledge and then these companies are allowed to advertised to the untrained unskilled public...
I really wonder...take two aspiring and call me in the morning is no longer a joke... they say that if aspirin were discovered today it would not be sold off the shelf but be a prescription drug because of the power of it...
food for thought there I think...
but I still think that together, we as a group will get through anything...
I know that this bunch of people gets me through a lot that they don't even know about...
told the neuro about you yesterday and he was impressed and pleased...
told me how fortunate I was as he increased the dose LOL
kat
Posted by Stressee on October 13, 2004, at 14:13:18
In reply to Re: topomax » NeNe, posted by headachequeen on October 13, 2004, at 13:57:27
I went to talk with M's PHD yesterday, and he did call today to tell us to increase her dose up to 75mg am, and 75mg pm. I hope she can start to get feel the effects and not want to binge at all. She is really a moody person, and I really think it has helped her level off a bit. Could this be the answer, after two years of trying everything? I don't want to think so, it seems to good to be true. Cross your fingers for her. I know 150mg seems to be where several of you said you started to feel the effects. -L
Posted by headachequeen on October 13, 2004, at 14:56:18
In reply to Re: topomax, posted by Stressee on October 13, 2004, at 14:13:18
> I went to talk with M's PHD yesterday, and he did call today to tell us to increase her dose up to 75mg am, and 75mg pm. I hope she can start to get feel the effects and not want to binge at all. She is really a moody person, and I really think it has helped her level off a bit. Could this be the answer, after two years of trying everything? I don't want to think so, it seems to good to be true. Cross your fingers for her. I know 150mg seems to be where several of you said you started to feel the effects. -L
AAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!That is me screaming and I hope you hear it all the way from Northern Ontario ....
do not let her start at 75 mg in the evening... or morning or whatever....
let her reach the max dose for the time she is presently on...
I would HHHHOOOPPPPEEEE that it is the evening that he started her on...
then let her start at 25 mg in the mornings....
for two I REPEAT TWO, that is 2, weeks, then go up to 50 for two weeks then up to 75...
not 75 off the bat...I am already on 300 mg twice daily and am being increased but at 25 mg increments and slowly...
this by the guy who did a lot of the studies regarding the weight lossin fact he is the guy who discovered the weight loss involvement...
the fast track causes SO MANY PROBLEMS....
please slowly....
kat
Posted by Stressee on October 13, 2004, at 20:43:37
In reply to Re: topomax » Stressee, posted by headachequeen on October 13, 2004, at 14:56:18
I do hear you screaming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Right now she is on 50mg both am and pm, (100mg total) so I am assuming that I should have her take the next 25mg in the evening? Wait two weeks, then finally ad the other 25mg? I am wondering why he didn't tell me to do that, because I repeatedly asked him about it. This is what gets me really worked up, because I worry quite a bit. I do know his wife took it for Migraines, and she did very well on it.....Thanks for responding as quickly as you did. -L
Posted by bridgey1128 on October 14, 2004, at 8:48:33
In reply to Re: topomax » headachequeen, posted by Stressee on October 13, 2004, at 20:43:37
What on earth is up with that DR!!! He is like a freaking speeding train out of control. He has taken your daughter up on her meds WAAAAYYY too fast. I am REAAALLLY surprised, and you should be VERY thankful that she hasn't had any very bad side effects from this kind of wrecklessness. It took me 6 months to get to 150mg. It has seemed to take her 4 weeks or less. She seems to be going up every other day. This is ridiculous. I am wondering if this Dr knows anything at all!! I take 150mg and I don't take 75 and 75. I take 100 at night and 50 in the morning. It's not usually an even split I do believe. You can always tell your Dr that you refuse to move your daughter up any sooner than 2 to 3 weeks out of concern for her health and the risk of side effects. Screw what he thinks! Has he ever taken it? I almost messed up my eyes at 50mg!!! 50! I say chill while you are blessed and she is not having any adverse side effects to the Dr's stupidity of rapidly dosing her up at a breakneck speed. Patience is a virture, not wrecklessness and impatience because you want sudden results. It's hard to wait, and especially for a 16 year old but if this is the right med for her then it will show itself in due time. PLEASE don't let her go up too soon. You don't HAVE to listen to what he says. When I listened to my Dr I lost my eyesight for a few days and that was scary enough to say NO MORE!! Dr's are wonderful and they went to years of med school for thousands of dollars but they still do not know everything!
Posted by Stressee on October 14, 2004, at 13:06:25
In reply to Re: topomax, posted by bridgey1128 on October 14, 2004, at 8:48:33
I am going to take it slower with the increase. I don't feel right going so fast, even though she hasn't really had side effects. I told my husband our concerns and he said take it slower, there's no hurry. I may have done the wrong thing though, because I gave her 75mg in the am instead of pm today. You see, I was thinking they would give her a prescription for 100mg. and one for 50mg., but when I picked up the medication, it was 25mg. (It would be easier than three pills 2x per day) I guess I need to inform him what I want. I always assume the Dr. knows what he is doing, but people make errors and everyone is different. -L
Posted by headachequeen on October 14, 2004, at 15:33:48
In reply to Re: topomax » headachequeen, posted by Stressee on October 13, 2004, at 20:43:37
> I do hear you screaming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
> Right now she is on 50mg both am and pm, (100mg total) so I am assuming that I should have her take the next 25mg in the evening? Wait two weeks, then finally ad the other 25mg? I am wondering why he didn't tell me to do that, because I repeatedly asked him about it. This is what gets me really worked up, because I worry quite a bit. I do know his wife took it for Migraines, and she did very well on it.....Thanks for responding as quickly as you did. -L
So many people have negative effects and results on topomax so they quit before they find out if it can help... often it is because the dosage was too high and too fast...
we want things to work for her... we want her to be helped and to be happy...
she doesn't know it but she is one of us <GG>give her the 25 in the evenings for two weeks then add the next 25 until the evening dosage is at maximum then start the morning increases...
you have it figured out perfectly....
what a great and supportive mother...
kat
Posted by bridgey1128 on October 14, 2004, at 15:34:05
In reply to Re: topomax, posted by Stressee on October 14, 2004, at 13:06:25
I hope your insurance does it differently than mine does. My Dr wrote mine out for a 100mg pill and 25mg pills. That means I would have had to pay 2 different copays. Be careful what you wish for. Two different kinds of pills are two different prescriptions with two different copays depending on your insurance. I told the pharmacy that was stupid and I was not going to pay $70 a month for ONE prescription. They changed it to all 25mg pills so I could spend half the cost and just take more pills. Convenience is more expensive, depending on how your insurance views it. I told them I would take 50 pills a day if it saved me half the $ per month! :) Check it out before you make the switch to the bigger pills. Dr may have done that on purpose to keep you from having to pay two separate copays for the same drug. Wish mine had thought of that! DUR! :)
Posted by headachequeen on October 14, 2004, at 15:38:52
In reply to Re: topomax, posted by Stressee on October 14, 2004, at 13:06:25
> I am going to take it slower with the increase. I don't feel right going so fast, even though she hasn't really had side effects. I told my husband our concerns and he said take it slower, there's no hurry. I may have done the wrong thing though, because I gave her 75mg in the am instead of pm today. You see, I was thinking they would give her a prescription for 100mg. and one for 50mg., but when I picked up the medication, it was 25mg. (It would be easier than three pills 2x per day) I guess I need to inform him what I want. I always assume the Dr. knows what he is doing, but people make errors and everyone is different. -L
No this is the great way to do it...
if there are problems, then you can cut back...
at this point you have the 25 mg to increase the dosage a little at a time and the 25 mg to use for the present dosage... the pharmacist is on the ball... clever pharmacist should get a cookie...or two maybe...
stick to the 25 as long as you can as this means you can go back if you need to...I asked mine if I could drop to 25 even fifty and she said that as the prescription was for 300 mg twice a day then it had to be in the 200 and 100 mg dosage and blah blah blah... I should ask my doctor for the smaller pills...
I see the man every three or four months and for three minutes a time if I am lucky....
this new man gave me a prescription to increase the dosage but in 25 mg pills...
and changed the old dosage to 25 mg....
I still take the same dosage but in 25 mg...
just in case...
he is in touch with reality....
kat
Posted by Stressee on October 14, 2004, at 16:09:22
In reply to Re: topomax, posted by bridgey1128 on October 14, 2004, at 15:34:05
I hope you all realize how much I do value your advice, and appreciate you. You're right again, 25mg is the best way to go, I wasn't thinking about those things both of you mentioned. So, I'll just wait and give her the extra 25mg tomorrow night? Whew! I wonder what it's like to be normal? Is there a normal? I wondering about a medication for people who are addicted to Dr. Bob's Babble? I have NEVER ever been much of a computer person, and I feel the pull to get on-line and check this site way too many times per day!!! I have told several of my friends about these boards, a few of them need to check it out. It's a great support system, and I really thank Dr. Bob. for bringing you to me!!! -L
Posted by headachequeen on October 14, 2004, at 16:12:03
In reply to Re: topomax, posted by Stressee on October 14, 2004, at 16:09:22
> I hope you all realize how much I do value your advice, and appreciate you. You're right again, 25mg is the best way to go, I wasn't thinking about those things both of you mentioned. So, I'll just wait and give her the extra 25mg tomorrow night? Whew! I wonder what it's like to be normal? Is there a normal? I wondering about a medication for people who are addicted to Dr. Bob's Babble? I have NEVER ever been much of a computer person, and I feel the pull to get on-line and check this site way too many times per day!!! I have told several of my friends about these boards, a few of them need to check it out. It's a great support system, and I really thank Dr. Bob. for bringing you to me!!! -L
According to my psychologist 'normal' is a meaningless word and means something different as applied to each individual... what is normal for me is abnormal for you and totally disfunctional for the next person...
so we do not try for normal we try for... dear heaven I forget what it is we try for...
a wasted session that was !!!a seizure day... sigh...
kat
Posted by bridgey1128 on October 14, 2004, at 16:20:44
In reply to Re: topomax » Stressee, posted by headachequeen on October 14, 2004, at 16:12:03
besides..normal is no fun anyway.. :)
Posted by Stressee on October 14, 2004, at 19:13:53
In reply to Re: topomax, posted by bridgey1128 on October 14, 2004, at 16:20:44
Continue to inform me of that over and over -L
Posted by headachequeen on October 14, 2004, at 19:22:01
In reply to Re: topomax, posted by Stressee on October 14, 2004, at 19:13:53
> Continue to inform me of that over and over -L
When I had sessions with the psychologist I would say that I wanted to be normal and he would ask what normal was or what it meant...
and I could never define it or explain it...
He would tell me that it was hardly worth trying to achieve something that could not be defined or explained...
Some days I would be so angry with him and ask him why I was there; one day he told me I was there to learn that normal was not a state of mind worth pursuing...
that is one thing I have not forgotten; may not remember the concept I am supposed to pursue, but I have remembered that <g>
kat
Posted by Shadowplayers721 on October 15, 2004, at 0:44:06
In reply to Re: topomax » Stressee, posted by headachequeen on October 14, 2004, at 19:22:01
do any of you take it for tremors? if so, how much do you take of it? I am on 30 mgs trying to go up to 50mgs. The med really effects my eyes. They hurt. I can't figure if it's a sensitivity to light, dryness or pressure. I am going really slow with the increase. This med also makes me feel really sick and more depressed in the beginning of increasing it. It's a tough drug.
Posted by Stressee on October 15, 2004, at 8:07:55
In reply to Re: topomax and tremor tx, posted by Shadowplayers721 on October 15, 2004, at 0:44:06
My daughter is taking topamax for binge eating disorder, and is on her 4th week (125mg). I can't answer many of your questions, because I am still asking the group myself. To my knowledge, she has not had any eye pain, but for the first week she said it made her feel like she had the flu. I asked her repeadedly about side-effects, and thank goodnes she hasn't had some of the more severe yet. As she goes up in dosage, there may be some, but she is going slowely.(Thanks to the advice of the group, once again!!!) I hope I helped you out? -L
Posted by bridgey1128 on October 15, 2004, at 8:41:03
In reply to Re: topomax and tremor tx, posted by Shadowplayers721 on October 15, 2004, at 0:44:06
If it affects your eyes I don't believe you should be taking it. It will probably do permanant damage to your eyes. If you are going up very very slowly and it STILL is making your eyes hurt, THAT, my friend is a VERY VERY big problem. Does your Dr know about this? How about your opthamologist? When I was going from the 25mg to the 50mg dosage, I went up too soon and it made me lose my eye sight. It made them ACHE. It actually elongated them. I could feel them in their socket poking outward. They were blood red and I couldn't open them because the light hurt so badly. When I backed down off the Topomax, this went away but that was only because I had gone up on the meds too soon. This went away, or started to, as soon as I backed down and I have not had this problem ever since. I have never heard of Topomax being prescribed for tremors but nothing would surprise me at this point. It's a fairly new drug as drugs go. If they are causing your eyes to hurt, I would IMMEDIATELY go to your Dr. If he won't help I would seek another opinion. I have also never heard of 30mg and I don't believe you can take 30mg. They only come in 25mg, 50mg and 100mg tablets. THey may come in higher. Are we talking about the same medication? If the 25mg(which I am assuming is what you are taking) is bothering you this much, this may not be the drug for you. THere is a whole host of other drugs available. I never had any side effects other than tingling ON a dose. Only going up too soon, or not going up soon enough.(hallucinations) IF you are having this many problems this early on, you may want to ask your Dr if this is really the right drug for you. And the eye thing really bothers me. Too long of that and it can permanantly damage your sight, from the research I have done on it. Hope this helps.
Posted by headachequeen on October 15, 2004, at 9:43:28
In reply to Re: topomax and tremor tx, posted by Stressee on October 15, 2004, at 8:07:55
> My daughter is taking topamax for binge eating disorder, and is on her 4th week (125mg). I can't answer many of your questions, because I am still asking the group myself. To my knowledge, she has not had any eye pain, but for the first week she said it made her feel like she had the flu. I asked her repeadedly about side-effects, and thank goodnes she hasn't had some of the more severe yet. As she goes up in dosage, there may be some, but she is going slowely.(Thanks to the advice of the group, once again!!!) I hope I helped you out? -L
The first week it made me feel like I had the flu but I was told to take it in the evening and somehow missed that destruction and started taking in the morning with other meds...
when I started it in the evening I was fine...
then when I started to take it in the morning having completed the evening build-up so to speak there were no flu-like problems...
and here I am always telling my students to follow directions....
kat
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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