Posted by Ilene on February 6, 2004, at 13:20:33
In reply to last night in the Emergency Room (long), posted by socialdeviantjeff on February 6, 2004, at 1:24:58
Being depressed and anxious can cause you to feel like utter physical crap. That's one explanation. Another is that you have a disorder that's medically unexplained, such as chronic fatigue syndrome. I have it, and when it flares up I can hardly get out of bed. ("Chronic fatigue" is a misnomer, but at least it's English, unlike "myalgic encephaloymyelitis", which is what I think it's called in some other countries.) A third is that you have a "physical" problem that hasn't been detected yet. I think that is least likely because you are 25--or is that 26? ;-) --and haven't mentioned any unusual symptoms.
The nasty stuff that gets mentioned in drug monographs or journal articles is there because those incidents are worst-case scenarios that physicians ought to be aware of. Most of these side effects never happen. You are obviously one of the few who has a hard time tolerating drugs. I don't think it's unreasonable to worry about your liver.
Yeah, what you did was stupid, but in the annals of stupidity it merits hardly a footnote. Other than speeding through school zones you didn't endanger anyone. As far as the ER bill--you can probably negotiate a reasonable payment schedule. After all, what are they going to do--repossess your liver?
Stupid question alert: have you tried benzos or Neurontin? I do okay on Klonopin, most of the time. Neurontin at more than 200 mg makes me too zoned for comfort. Yoga is sometimes helpful; ironically, only when I'm not too anxious to begin with. You get to breathe deeply and unclench your jaw.
Of course you are convinced there is something seriously wrong with you! There is! Healthy people don't do what you do. The mind/body split is a bunch of crap. Because your (our) illness is behavioral and emotional doesn't make it any less physical.
I've been giving myself anxiety attacks lately, too, over starting MAOIs. I feel like it's my last chance. I know this is not entirely reasonable, but I'm having a hard time getting a grip, so I would feel hypocritical trying to convince you to stop worrying about your liver.
Good luck,
I.
poster:Ilene
thread:310065
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20040131/msgs/310189.html