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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 Greg A. on November 3, 2001, at 22:14:36
You still speaking to me Julie?? Let me know how it's going. Okay?
Greg
Posted by juliedealer on November 4, 2001, at 8:50:00
In reply to Julie??, posted by Greg A. on November 3, 2001, at 22:14:36
things are still about the same. I'm still drinking too much. I go see my pdoc tomorrow afternoon. Effexor has thus far been ineffective for depression. Boy I'm getting tired of this. I'll check back after the docs visit.
you don't know how good it makes me feel that you check in on me.
julie
Posted by Greg A. on November 5, 2001, at 0:20:15
In reply to hi greg A, posted by juliedealer on November 4, 2001, at 8:50:00
That's all I wanted to hear. As long as it's okay with you I will keep checking. I know what it's like when things aren't going to well, to have someone who understands keep an eye on you. You'd do it for me - right?
Anyway, it's good to hear from you. When you feel like it, I have some more intrusive questions for you. So you've got that to look forward to!Greg
Posted by juliedealer on November 5, 2001, at 17:05:11
In reply to Re: hi greg A, posted by Greg A. on November 5, 2001, at 0:20:15
Hi greg
the doc switched me from effexor to serzone. we discussed drinking a bit more. I asked him about naltrexone (sp?)(brand name Revia). He didn't have alot of faith in it, and I like this guy, so i dropped it. Since my appt was at 2:15 I didn't drink before and I haven't drank since I got home. So we will see. I did find a chat room at about.com for alcoholism. But I don't really think I'm mentally ready to go to one of those AA meetings.julie
Posted by Greg A. on November 5, 2001, at 17:23:01
In reply to well, went to the pdoc today, posted by juliedealer on November 5, 2001, at 17:05:11
Hi Julie. I’m with your doc on Naltrexone. I took it to try and jump start my ADs at one point and had no trouble continuing to drink while taking it. It also didn’t work for me for the intended purpose.
Julie – I know that you are being treated for depression, and I also know that you have similar issues with alcohol as I do (isn’t that a nice way of saying we drink too damn much!), but what else can you tell me in the way of history or how you are (or have been) affected by depression. Is anxiety a big part of the picture for you? How long have you experienced problems? I don’t mean to pry – but you did get to ask me how old I was! I will not be judgmental. Maybe I can help in some way other than just checking on you.Greg
Posted by juliedealer on November 5, 2001, at 18:18:36
In reply to Naltrexone makes a nice snack with beer, posted by Greg A. on November 5, 2001, at 17:23:01
>well I have been using some sort of antidepressant for probably the past 8 years. I personally have diagnosed myself with dysthmia (sp). I always seem to feel tired, no interest in doing anything, and periodicaly ( like the past month) lots of anxiety. it seems i have always had some level of anxiety, but I always attributed it to having lived with a really mean drunk (we in the family call her MOM). I thought that I was jusst oh poop.. what is the term...oh, when you are always trying to anticipate another persons needs, and you are constantly on the look out for it... damn it know it has a name but I can't think of it. any way alcohol has been in my life a long time, I used to have a great time when drinking. But now, I just feel better when I drink than when I don't. Frequently when I drink, I get the desire or drive to do something, like clean the house or cook or something. So it seems the two affects I like about alcohol, is it releives my anxiety and for a short period of time it actually gives me energy.
I have had at least 2 really bad episodes of severe depression. you know the kind where you feel like you are going down and black hole, and seriously contemplate suicide, sleep 18 hours a day, lose 30 lbs in 6 weeks. that kind..clinical?? But ever since the last bad one, I've never really come out of this continual depression.
I have a brother that was bipolar, lost his law practice, family, the whole thing. I can see that 2 of my other brothers have depression also. One brother is very similar to me, in terms of drinking and the depth andlength of depression. I had a sister who died in her mid 30's she drank like me and had depression also. My grandfather was the depression poster child, he drank alot too. In my family I am the only one that even acknowledges it.
I remember realizing that my mother had been prescribed one of the really old antideprssants, but she always called them her "nerve" pills. Only problem was she only took them once in a while, never as prescribed. So I guess what I'm saying is the family is full of depressed drunks!
Anyway, here is my theory on depression and drinking in my family... ( i;m sure you'll at least get a laugh out of it) My grandparents both came from Poland, this is a really cold northern european country, they got long winters and not alot of food. So i figure my ancestors, got thru the winters best BECAUSE they drank and were depressed. If you think about it whats a better way to survive the cold short days, than drink the alcohol you made in summer(cause there ain't alot of food and it keeps you warm) and sleep 18 hours a day. Stay drunk and sleep thru the winter.
So if you beleive that depression is inherited, my ancestors actually perpetuated this trait or gene, cause it helped the species to survive. So low and behold here I am... maybe I should move to Poland?
julie
Posted by Greg A. on November 6, 2001, at 0:20:56
In reply to lol.. on that last subject line, posted by juliedealer on November 5, 2001, at 18:18:36
Thanks Julie. You seem to have a lot of insight into what might be part or a cause of your depression. (Also into how to get through a Polish winter)
Seriously, I used to think 'anxious' was my normal state of being. Like you describe,it seemed I always felt some level of anxiety, followed by periods of even greater anxiety. Strangely - I never had outright panic attacks. That would be unmanly! I discovered Xanax about 15 years ago. I could not believe that it killed my anxiety in minutes. But of course I then entered the vicious circle of more and more xanax, and rebound anxiety. I related in one of my posts how my pdoc convinced me to give ADs a real try and slowly eliminate the xanax. I was amazed that as the AD relieved my depression, the anxiety became much less. Even without the tranqilizers.
I would be very suspicious that your anxiety is depression related from what you say. I suppose you must have been through lots of ADs over the years. Has anything worked for you? Even with lots of alcohol, I still found most of the ADs helped my depression -for awhile, and then I'd have to switch to another one. My current cocktail (pun intended) of ADs has lasted the longest of anything.
There's something that will work for you Julie. It's a matter of being persistent in searching for the right thing(s) and getting the best hep possible. And being honest with yourself - something you seem to do quite well.Greg
This is the end of the thread.
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