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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by JasonL on September 30, 2000, at 0:32:40
John,
I was looking through the archives and and I came across one of your posts in the middle of August last year. It was about your guitar sitting in the corner.
God, can I relate to that. Anhedonia is a dreadful experience. I don't play guitar but my love is for aviation. Since becoming very depressed steadily over the past five years since graduating college, I have flown less and less each year. Today I went to the airport in St. Louis and sat up on a hill and watched the jets on approach. I used to be so excited to go to the airport, to do anything with airplanes. I even used to love airplane food, because, hey, you're on an airplane! and you get these little packeages of food with super cold silverware...
Anyway, John, reading about your trial of medicines and your continued support for other people on this board has been an inspiration.
Thanks for your great heart, tremdous perserverence, and insightful posts.
Finally, and most important...Have you picked up that guitar, yet?
Kindly,
JasonL
Posted by JohnL on September 30, 2000, at 4:35:41
In reply to JohnL, have you picked up the guitar lately?, posted by JasonL on September 30, 2000, at 0:32:40
Jason,
I was quite surprised to see anyone had remembered about my guitar! Wow. You must have been searching WAY back in the archives to find that. Seems like an eternity since then.
My med trials continue, though I've had considerable progress this year. I've learned that anhedonia can be a stand-alone condition all its own, with or without accompanying depression, and that it can be treated. Whatever chemistry causes anhedonia, my experience so far seems to point to the dopamine/norepinephrine circuitry. With me anyway. So at least I can narrow down my med choices to things that work on those chemistries. Thus far the best of all was Amisulpride+Adrafinil.
I don't pick up the guitar as much as I wish I would. But when I do, it's fun. My guitar no longer gently weeps. It just sleeps a little more often than I would like. But I have come a long way. New interests and other hobbies seem to have stolen the spotlight. But I'm still trying different meds, so who knows where this thing will settle.
I love to fly too. Sometimes I go out to a small country airfield and have a pilot take me up at $45 an hour in his little two-seater prop plane. On a jet I always ask for a window seat. I like take-off and landing the best. I prefer small prop commuter planes rather than jets. I just like to fly. But I do remember all too clearly what it was like to have no interest whatsoever...in flying, guitar, or anything.
You know what? We gotta figure out how to get you back on track! We gotta kick this anhedonia outta the ballpark. Anything I can do to help, please let me know.
John
Posted by dj on September 30, 2000, at 9:57:45
In reply to Re: JohnL, have you picked up the guitar lately?, posted by JohnL on September 30, 2000, at 4:35:41
> My med trials continue, though I've had considerable progress this year. I've learned that anhedonia can be a stand-alone condition all its own, with or without accompanying depression, and that it can be treated. Whatever chemistry causes anhedonia, my experience so far seems to point to the dopamine/norepinephrine circuitry. With me anyway. So at least I can narrow down my med choices to things that work on those chemistries. Thus far the best of all was >Amisulpride+Adrafinil.
JohnL,
I've been looking at a few of your postings from the last while and found myself pondering a few things, as I struggle with possibly going back on ADs or...???
Are you still pursuing the Dr. Jensen approach? If so how long have you been at it, now and what success are you having? What combo of meds are you taking all together these days and how many others have you tried out? Quite a few from what I recall were there not?
How long has it been for you now, expermenting with diffrent meds and how do you keep yourself going, despite the anhedonia, etc? Still having those early morning awakenings by the look of times on this posting and a couple of others...How do you keep yourself together and a sense of faith in moving through the pharm-miasma?? Just thinking about it tires me out...
I trust this finds you well!
Sante!
dj
Posted by Seamus2 on September 30, 2000, at 13:12:07
In reply to Re: JohnL, have you picked up the guitar lately?, posted by JohnL on September 30, 2000, at 4:35:41
> >I love to fly too. Sometimes I go out to a small country airfield and have a pilot take me up at $45 an hour in his little two-seater prop plane.< <
John,
Wow, I do that too! Assuming your country airfield is big enough, here's a trick for you: hang outside looking for student pilots with their instructors. Offer to buy them some gas for a ride. (they can't take passengers for money; it's against the law). It helps them out and it's cheaper for you.
Seamus
Posted by Billb on September 30, 2000, at 16:14:36
In reply to Re: JohnL, have you picked up the guitar lately?, posted by JohnL on September 30, 2000, at 4:35:41
John, I also enjoy playing the guitar and am gettng back into it. You should be proud of yourself in that you have helped countless people, including me, some people you have never heard of, by posting your experiences and giving your honest suggestions for improving peoples lifes. Your contributions are truely something special.
Posted by JohnL on October 1, 2000, at 7:04:06
In reply to Re: JohnL's med trials?, posted by dj on September 30, 2000, at 9:57:45
>
> I've been looking at a few of your postings from the last while and found myself pondering a few things, as I struggle with possibly going back on ADs or...???
>
> Are you still pursuing the Dr. Jensen approach? If so how long have you been at it, now and what success are you having? What combo of meds are you taking all together these days and how many others have you tried out? Quite a few from what I recall were there not?
>
> How long has it been for you now, expermenting with diffrent meds and how do you keep yourself going, despite the anhedonia, etc? Still having those early morning awakenings by the look of times on this posting and a couple of others...How do you keep yourself together and a sense of faith in moving through the pharm-miasma?? Just thinking about it tires me out...
>
> I trust this finds you well!
>
> Sante!
>
> djDJ,
You ask some good questions. I'll try to answer them.
1) I firmly believe in the Jensen approach, except I believe at least a 2 week trial is needed, not the 5 day trial he pursues. I do agree however that when the perfect med is found, it will work in 5 days usually. But something about Jensen that is understated is that he uses his own method AND conventional psychiatry. If one isn't working, he reverts to the other. Both he and I do not claim anyone will be cured in a short period, but rather superior meds can be identified in short periods and then given longer trials after they are identified. If a med is a superior one for the patient, there will be noticeable improvement in a short time. Other meds could work if given longer time, but they are the inferior ones...not the best match for the patient. The idea of shorter trials is to pinpoint superior matches and to gather clues about the patient's chemistry.
2) Right now my meds include 7.5mgRemeron evening, 25mg Amisulpride a.m., and 5mgProzac. I'm actually doing OK. Anytime Amisulpride is in the mix, I am in pretty good shape.
3) I've been experimenting most of year 2000. Before that it was the usual 8 week trial of this or that. Admittedly I have had some real tough times when me trials went lousy. How do I keep myself going? Well, I think all of us who suffer are stronger than normal. We learn how to endure. Probably the best crutch I have had is my job. I have just enough alone time, and just enough people time, to not be overwhelmed by either.
4) The reason I have early morning awakenings is because I go to bed real early. I usually go to bed between 7:00 or 8:00. So even if I'm awake at 3:00a.m., I've actually had a full night's sleep.I've felt what it's like to be 'normal'. It's wonderful. It's my goal. It's what keeps me going. It's not an elusive dream, but rather something real that I have experienced. It's there. Finding it is the tricky part. I'm not one to give up or settle for second best. I could end my search right now by staying with Amisulpride+Adrafinil. Then my primary concern would be dealing with the impotence I experience. There are a few other avenues I want to explore first.
Posted by JohnL on October 1, 2000, at 7:49:09
In reply to Re: JohnL, have you picked up the guitar lately?, posted by Billb on September 30, 2000, at 16:14:36
> John, I also enjoy playing the guitar and am gettng back into it. You should be proud of yourself in that you have helped countless people, including me, some people you have never heard of, by posting your experiences and giving your honest suggestions for improving peoples lifes. Your contributions are truely something special.
Bill,
Thank you very much for the kind words. You are very kind.I don't like to suffer. What I hate even worse is to see someone else suffer.
John
This is the end of the thread.
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