Cate's Diary

Had a lovely day today! We took both mothers for a drive and morning tea & have spent the rest of the day at home. I'm feeling better mentally today, now that I am determined to get off this medication. I had gained another .5kg this morning!(85kg!!)
It's the first day of Spring & I do feel good. I won't be 80kg before we go away, obviously, but I'll cope with that. I will get rid of it! It may just take some time. Bye for now xo Cate
 
Love that Egyptian song *starts chair dancing*

Medications..... If you can go natural it's better I think.
I know some people need medications for certain things, headaches to depression but they never tell us what's in them really, some side effects are shocking and really not worth it.
I'm happy you are cutting down and trying to avoid it. Make sure you speak with the doctor also.
Maybe see a natural doctor who could help?

The only things I take are paracetamol if I have a bad headache, the contraceptive pill, and cough medicine if I have a bad cough. I never take antibiotics if the doctor gives them for the flu.
You go to the doctor here for the flu and you end up with 5 boxes of paracetamol. It's shocking really....
 
I am sure that you will have read this on discontinuing pristiq:



I always believe in research before seeing a doctor to be sure you are comfortable with the way things go...
 
Hi Suz & Margaret & thanks for your input. I wish I had read more about Pristiq before I had taken it for months. :( I have a feeling this won't be at all easy. I may consider changing medications to a 4 times a day 25mg Effexor so that I can gradually reduce the dose. I have insomnia tonight & that is why I'm back in my living room. I feel wide awake! I think it's because I took the pill at 10pm tonight!
Tomorrow I am going to have a much more active day!
I'm going to go take a look at diaries to distract myself.
Bye for now xo Cate
 
Hope you get a good sleep,

I'm jealous, you will be heading into summer and me into winter brrrr! The winters here are cold for me.
 
Hi Suz, sorry sweets. I am so glad that Winter is over-mainly because it was so wet this year. when it's cold you can still get out & do things, but the constant rain was very limiting. I went back to bed at about 1.30am & got to sleep eventually. Had about 6 hours sleep in the end I think, because we were able to sleep in.
You know I had been kidding myself with being on pristiq. When I read about the side effects I have had so many of them. I have not felt really depressed, so was saying to myself that was an improvement, but really I have felt flat & unenthusiastic about most things. I have hardly done anything since our trip, compared to how I usually am & I'm amazed that it didn't twig that it was probably the AD's. Doh!

I weighed this morning & I was 85.5!! :( Unbelievable! It doesn't seem to matter what I do my weight is just going up and up!!

I am going to have to move my focus off these bloody pills but I will keep note of how I feel & what times I take them as I gradually take myself off them. The urge to stop is great, but the knowledge of what might happen if I go cold turkey is scary, so I'll be sensible.

It is a beautiful sunny day, here in Tasmania & the birds are madly chirping. I do love Spring.
Love to all xoxo Cate
 
Love that you are going into Spring...and here in China,mwe're heading into Fall. The weather is beautiful here now...trying to enjoy it while it lasts...before the cold deep freeze hits us!
Good plan on getting off the pills! I think there are some studies out there that say the effectiveness of anti depressants for people who are mildly depressed is no better than placebo, and plus you get the side-effects!
Go Cate go !
Sarah
 
Thanks Sarah. I have an appointment tomorrow to see my doctor as I thought I should have medical supervision while I withdraw. It will be interesting to hear how she thinks I should do it. I have a double ap't to give her time to look it up. I must make some notes so I can tell her what I have done already.
As of today I have stopped taking Panadol Osteo.
Pristiq is the main one, but I have 2 more in line as well. One at a time, both with medical supervision. I hope I don't frighten her!
Thanks for being so supportive Sarah! xoxo Cate
 
Cate, you might ask your doc if there is another class of med's that she can recommend in case of problems in the future. From what I understand, not all drugs have the same side effects. Also ask her about alternative medicine a(vitamin supplements,or herbs like St Johns's wart, or vitamin B, or some pro-biotics to improve your gut 's ability to make seratonin) .I've just told you all I think I know (not really sure i know anything, just what i've read and heard on various nutrition podcasts) about the alternative medicine and food for good moods, but I'm sure there is more to it than what I mentioned!
Keeping you in my prayers,
Sarah
 
Hi Sarah, I think we went through most of them before coming up with this one. I won't be taking any more. I will find some other way of dealing with depression if it happens again. I can get access to some counselling (limited for free, on our health system)as my lovely doctor from a few years back, put me on a health care plan.
I will check out ways to boost serotonin (other than exercise) when I go to Launceston next. There is a great health food shop there & they are very helpful & knowledgeable.

Heading off to town today for the day. Have my doc's ap't at 11.45. Hope she's ok with it all. I'm doing it anyway but want her support.

Bye for now xoxo Cate
 
One of my friends swears by the positive results from cognitive behavioural therapy. It may be worth asking your doctor whether that could be of any help for you as part of the counselling on offer.

Loads of foods contain good levels of tryptophan which gets converted into serotonin.
 
I've had my go rounds with anti-depressants, one of them responsible for adding about 40 pounds to me. Still on one but the side effects from this one all seem to be good things so far, for me anyway.

I've battled depression my whole life and will almost certainly be battling it for the rest of my life. But hey, the way I see it it's the price of being me, and since I more or less like me, it's hard to complain too much.
 
Just a question, did you suffer depression before you had glandular fever? The tiredness from that can last up to 6 months after you had it.
This played a big part in my depression as a teenager.

It's a good idea to be followed by the doctor coming of any regular meds.

For mr vee as well as cate....
Remember "happiness is a way of life, not a destination" read that on a fortune cookie once and it has stuck with me.

Sometimes I still feel depressed but I know I'm not really, my problem is the split milk syndrome. Something tiny happens and all of a sudden I'm awash with everything that has and is upsetting me, therefore the world hates me in those moments.

I don't know your history with depression but you seem like a great, strong person and I think you can come of those meds and be happy if this is what you want (I'm sure it is).
 
Hi Margaret, I have had cognitive therapy & it is very helpful. The reason I went on the AD's this time as I had a day, about a year ago, where I felt REALLY down & it frightened me. My doctor reminded me of the pressures I had been under when I saw her today. She actually remembers these things, i.e. really takes notice & cares. I think she seemed a bit worried about me coming off them, but I have assured her if I get really down again I will come see her & let her know.
I will look into Tryptopan in foods & which can get converted to serotonin. I do feel that a very healthy diet is important to both mental & physical well-being.
Out of interest I looked it up & found this article.
It's very long-winded but the part pertaining to foods is this-
" Although purified tryptophan increases brain serotonin, foods containing tryptophan do not. This is because tryptophan is transported into the brain by a transport system that is active toward all the large neutral amino acids and tryptophan is the least abundant amino acid in protein. There is competition between the various amino acids for the transport system, so after the ingestion of a meal containing protein, the rise in the plasma level of the other large neutral amino acids will prevent the rise in plasma tryptophan from increasing brain tryptophan. The idea, common in popular culture, that a high-protein food such as turkey will raise brain tryptophan and serotonin is, unfortunately, false. Another popular myth that is widespread on the Internet is that bananas improve mood because of their serotonin content. Although it is true that bananas contain serotonin, it does not cross the blood–brain barrier."
I like the idea of eating certain foods to raise Serotonin levels so hope that it's possible. I'll keep looking online for any info. If anyone has a link to the foods that help with Setotonin levels I would appreciate knowing. Thanks for your visit Margaret!

Mr Vee- There is a family history of depression & I know I will always be susceptible. My younger brother committed suicide at the age of 26. My older sister was on AD's forever. I'm like you in that I know I will always battle it & I also like myself & who I am. I do miss feeling more. I have felt flat & lacking in energy for ages. I force myself to move, but have struggled over Winter, even with taking medication! Medications knock me around & I hate being on them! Which one are you on? Love your new Avatar pic btw, especially the smile!

Suz- Today I found out that I had tested positive for glandular fever 2 years ago. My doctor back then had not mentioned it! There are 2 strains & I have had both & one is permanent. I think I have had flare-ups over the years. Whenever other people get the flu or bad colds, I almost always get swollen glands & a sore throat.
Thank you for saying I seem like a strong person. I think I am. I will not go on AD's again. I miss feeling more- the ups & downs of life are normal.
I will do a lot more research & will get outside more & exercise. Hopefully getting off the meds will give me some more energy & enthusiasm.

Thanks everyone for your input!! I really appreciate the support & friendship I get in the forum. Cheers, xoxo Cate
 
That's an interesting link Cate.

I know that I hadnt researched the subject personally - but a close friend did at the time that they had problems (resolved by CBT after a scare when prozac messed up their liver function tests) and told me about it all.

Its a shame that it looks like the food maybe doesnt help.

I cannot speak for the veracity of this article - but it does appear to be well referenced.


After reading it I ended up feeling that
1/ I should start taking my basic multivitamin again to make sure that I am getting my thiamine
2/ I wish that I could eat nuts in these tiny handfuls that do not eat a heap of calories (but know that I cannot).

We all benefit from a healthy food plan.
It would be great if it could help the way we feel as well as things like our weight and general health.
 
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Hi Margaret, I have started adding some walnuts to my diet, at Sarah's suggestion, as they are not more'ish & I am not tempted to keep eating them. I'm off to have blood tests today for Thyroid function, iron etc. One major thing I did yesterday was-
I played 18 holes of golf!!!
It was actually cold & very heavy going on the course & only my 3rd game since April, but I did it!!!!!! I enjoyed being out there actually playing golf again, but boy it was hard work. I haven't totally lost all my skills(?) but had a big score. I wasn't the only one though. BTW I fell asleep in my chair & stayed that way for most of the evening. I didn't eat enough or drink enough water while playing. Must make sure that doesn't happen again. Had a headache & a raging thirst during the night.

We are taking the dogs for their annual check-up today, vaccinations etc & a hair cut. It's almost time to get moving.
Bye for now xoxo Cate
 
Well done on the nuts (I'm jealous of your control).
Also very well done on the golf. Feel proud of the achievement - but if you can manage it - let the score challenge you to do it more often to improve your score...
 
I really need to get back to golf every Wednesday, instead of once in a blue moon. I feel so much better for having played yesterday. I have had blood taken today & hope that something shows up to explain why I am having so much trouble with my weight. Our dogs have been at the vets for most of the day & our poor older dog is quite traumatised this afternoon. I don't think she's long for this world. Apparently she has a heart problem! I really feel for her. I'm going to go give her a big pat now. poor old thing. She's 16! xoxo Cate
 
If you can manage to play golf every Wednesday - you do not need me to tell you how good that will be for you. It would force you to do a heap of walking and that will not only help your weight control but I'm sure that it will also help you feel better... You probably remember how I used to suffer with peaks and troughs of happiness / despair (caused by my hormones being screwed up) before I started walking and swear that regular walking made me feel more tranquil. I'm sure that it is the steady rhythmic nature of the walking (and time aside from life to think) that really helped me...

As for your old dog - lots of hugs is the way to go... She has had a good long life if you translate it into our years - and we all have a certain life expectancy... At our age - we face it with our parents too (mine are coming up to their 91st and 96th birthdays)... All that we can do is value the time that we have left and ensure that quality of life is as good as possible... I wouldn't worry too much about the heart problem at this stage - health issues are bound to arise in later life for us all... If she is still traumatised - maybe a more restful day would help her get things back to normal. Take some nice photos on the good days while you have her.
 
Thanks Margaret, You're right on all counts. I used to walk a lot & I think it's a great way of lifting my mood & burning calories. I am going to get out there & play golf each week. I missed it. Our poor old dog is limping badly (nails cut) but is eating again. She was not good last night, but had a big sleep-in (I thought she had died.)I will be sad when she goes, but I also think it's almost time. I won't let her suffer. She's a sweet old thing!

Time to move I think! Cheers to anyone reading my diary, xoxo Cate
 
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