Posts by Jason Vaughn482

Nicholas Myers said:No, melloworca6, that’s not quite right.

A referral with Code A currently refers to a specialist visit. On the updated paperwork, it will be renamed a "consultation review," but the function remains nearly identical—visiting a specialist's clinic for an initial exam or follow-up. The main change is that certain tests previously categorized under Code C will now be bundled under this code.

Nothing fundamental is shifting here.

Don't walk into your appointment expecting a full board of doctors.

Which specific tests are being included? I’ve gathered that specialists won't be allowed to issue internal referrals anymore—which has always been standard practice—nor will they be able to order follow-ups. Instead, everything will be decided by primary care physicians. It makes zero sense; it's as if we're suddenly pretending that family doctors possess an encyclopedic mastery of every niche medical specialty when, in reality, they often lack that specific depth...
I am living through a perfect, albeit frustrating, illustration of this madness right now. For months, I've been breaking out in these skin lesions on my arms and legs; they flare up, itch incessantly, and leave me feeling miserable, yet they eventually subside. Regardless, I have a fundamental right to know what is happening to my own body. My doctor refuses to give me a referral, dismissively telling me, "Oh, don't even bother applying anything, it'll pass on its own." When I explicitly ask for a dermatologist referral, he insists it isn't necessary. Now, I'm sitting here waiting for Monday, wondering: what happens if he still refuses? If this becomes the universal standard, we are all well and truly doomed. This is just one trivial, everyday example, but it serves as a grim harbinger of how much control we are losing.

Paul Newman5 said:It’s not like nothing is happening, I just expected more progress after six weeks. Morning anxiety? I get up around 7:30, take my meds, and by 9 or 9:30, I feel like I'm going to snap. Like a total nervous breakdown. Then it settles down and I'm just exhausted. It triggers those fears—that I'll collapse, lose it, and end up in the ER. That's it. It isn't every day; yesterday and the day before were actually fine, but today has been rough. Tomorrow I have to head to the local hospital (25 miles to get my thyroid checked), and whenever I have an early appointment, the whole day before it turns into a mess. We've talked about this before in private messages. It's not the tests or being sick that scares me—it's the leaving the house part. We'll see about the Citra at my follow-up with the doctor in ten days.

A close friend of mine found Seroquel to be quite effective for her agoraphobia; it helped immensely with both sleep and that specific type of paralyzing fear. She reached a point where she couldn't even drive a car or step foot outside, but now she’s functioning normally. My own experience with morning anxiety is somewhat different; for me, it manifests as butterflies in my stomach and a crushing sense of dread that makes me want to just stay under the covers and sleep indefinitely. I find it impossible to get out of bed, so I eventually force myself to move, grab a coffee, and somehow manage to pull myself together. Once the day gets moving, if my physical health is holding up, I usually hold steady, though even something as minor as a breakout on my skin can throw me completely off balance.🙂

restlesstrucker15 said:Oh, you poor thing, you've really been through the wringer. Good luck with the new medication; remember that it takes some time for these things to actually kick in, so please don't be alarmed if a panic attack strikes in the meantime. It's just part of the process, unfortunately.

Yes, definitely mention to your primary care physician that you want to try Zane since Samuel isn't working for you anymore; they certainly have the authority to switch your prescription. Then, once your psychiatrist is back in the office, follow up with them directly. Wishing you the best—please let us know how it goes. 🙂

As for me, I only experience panic when it involves my actual health; for anything else, I stay calm, though even that is becoming a struggle... It seems like these local GPs have taken those new Department of Health mandates way too seriously, acting like they can handle everything instead of referring us to specialists. For instance, an ER doctor told me to come back for a follow-up in seven days, yet he flat-out refused to give me the referral. It’s as if he expects me to call him personally just to check in! On top of that, I’ve been dealing with these skin eruptions—blooms the size of a cigarette—that flare up periodically. They've been bothering me for years; they appear, linger, and then vanish, which is incredibly uncomfortable. Yet, the doctor wouldn't even write a referral for a dermatologist, claiming it wasn't "urgent" enough and that they'd just clear up on their own. He insisted it was likely an allergic reaction to some medication, but I am certain it isn't, because my regimen hasn't changed in ages. This all actually started a few years ago after a kitten scratched me, and ever since those spots appeared, I've spent months bouncing between various dermatologists. They flare up every single year, subside, and then return. I desperately need to see a specialist, but apparently, getting referrals is becoming a thing of the past. Things are looking grim for us, especially for those of us who tend to worry about our health a bit too much.

Oh, and just to clarify regarding what I mentioned earlier about visiting the emergency room three times—I wasn't at the medical ER every time. I went to the dental clinic twice and the psychiatric ward once. I was trying to get a prescription for Ad because I simply cannot wait ten months for my current one; I truly can't stand sitting around waiting for Calixtu any longer.

Paul Newman5 said:Good luck with the Coaxil. Hope it works out. What dose did they put you on—was it 12.5 three times a day right off the bat? I've got a follow-up in about ten days. Citram isn't really doing it for me either. Two good days, two bad ones. It’s like it isn't touching the anxiety at all, and I've been on it for six weeks now. Honestly, sometimes I feel like the meds only work depending on how we feel that day. I don't even know what to think anymore. Yesterday was great, but today the anxiety started first thing this morning... I'll see what my doctor says.

It's such a shame, because I was just thinking about how well the Citram seemed to suit you; seeing it fail like this makes me quite skeptical about medication in general. While they might hold their own against depression, when it comes to managing pure fear and panic... well, I'm not so sure. How does that morning anxiety manifest for you?
My doctor prescribed Coaxil three times a day, but you know me—I'll probably cap it at two doses max before deciding how to proceed. I think I'll skip the evening dose tonight, mostly because I'm terrified I won't be able to catch any sleep at all.

restlesstrucker15 said:Yes, that's likely the case. When I was dealing with this, my doctor told me to try it for five days, and if the hangover effect didn't subside, we would discontinue the treatment entirely. At the time, I was taking 15 mg. It might be worth asking for advice on cutting your dose in half.

As for my own experience, my physician has kept me on Lexapro for two years now; I feel absolutely lethargic from the 15 mg dose, though the 7.5 mg felt significantly more manageable. However, things took a turn today when I found myself rushing to the ER. I never imagined I'd be prone to panic attacks, but a sudden toothache sent me spiraling. Then, after a bit of bleeding gums a couple of days later, I was gripped by such intense anxiety that I had myself packed and ready to head back to the emergency room within two minutes flat. I ended up requesting a referral to the psychiatric emergency unit, where I was seen by a specialist—and frankly, I've never been particularly fond of those types.
It wasn't anything groundbreaking, really, except that she was actually quite accommodating and prescribed the Coaxil I was looking for. When it comes to sleep aids, they don't seem to offer much beyond Ambien or Seroquel... oh goodness, it just slipped my mind that I should have asked about Xanax; I haven't ventured down that path yet. I'm feeling quite scattered right now... I wonder if a local pharmacy would even dispense Xanax in place of something like Ambien?

Chris Kim7 said:I take 30 mg of Calixta right before bed, and it's not just the waking up part that sucks, I feel groggy and wiped out all damn day...

Exactly, and that is precisely the point I was trying to drive home to you earlier.

Chris Kim7 said:You can find noise-canceling earplugs at any local pharmacy, or even just head over to Walmart...

Hey, where have you been hiding? Are you finally back in the land of the living? And more importantly, how on earth are you holding up with Calixt? Give me a shout when you can.😉

Brandon Lopez6 said:I deal with some mild insomnia myself, but I try to stay away from meds as much as possible. Most of them just leave me feeling like my brain isn't even plugged in anymore. Even if I take Xanax—which works okay during the day—if I take it less than two hours before bed, I wake up feeling totally out of it. Dizzyness, depersonalization, the whole bit. Look, sleeping is great and all, but it's way better when you actually wake up and can function through the day. It sucks when you're just counting down the minutes until you can crawl back into bed because you spent the whole afternoon staring at a wall.😁

Oh, tell me about it. That is pretty much how I spend my days too—just idling away the hours, waiting for evening so I can finally drift off. For the last week, I’ve stopped adding Calixta to my routine and have managed to fall asleep using Sanval instead. Usually, I’ll wake up around 5:00 AM, take another 0.25 Xanax, and then snooze my way back to 9:00 AM. I honestly don't know how other people manage; I wake up feeling incredibly anxious, with this constant, gnawing knot in my stomach. Most days, I’d rather stay under the covers forever, but eventually, I have to force myself to get up and try to pull myself together.

restlesstrucker15 said:It really comes down to the individual. Even now, Sanval can occasionally knock me out, but Zan never worked for me, not even the very first time I took it. It's the same story with Cerson and Fluzapam...

Then you have those people who sleep like babies after taking just one tablet or 10 mg of diazepam.

In any case, my psychiatrist tells me to start with sleep hypnotics rather than anxiolytics, since that isn't their primary purpose. He suggests rotating through different hypnotics every three weeks if they are used long-term, and if things go truly south—meaning the insomnia becomes the primary issue—then we move toward sedative antidepressants or antipsychotics.

Personally, I just lack that "click" needed to drift off. It doesn't matter if I stayed up all night previously or if I was physically exhausted that day; even after taking Normabel, the result is the same: I lie there half-dead in bed, but falling asleep? There is absolutely no chance. I can shut my brain off, sure, but I can't sleep.

Autogenic training doesn't help me at all, at least not right before bed, because I find myself having to concentrate too hard on the process, which prevents me from relaxing.

The issue isn't actually about whether I'm physically active enough; it's all in my head. I've found that being more active helped me fall asleep easier for maybe three or four days, but then my body simply adjusted to the increased activity, and I found myself right back at square one.

You and I are cut from remarkably similar cloth. Neither Cerson nor 30 mg of Fluzapam can induce sleep in me, though Sanval still works occasionally—sometimes hitting faster than others. My only real grievance is the need to stand up about thirty minutes after taking it, because I absolutely have to get up to eat... and similarly, I can feel utterly exhausted and drop into bed like a heavy log, yet sleep simply refuses to come to my eyes. It's funny you mention it, because just a few years ago, I used to sleep like a baby on a single Praxitena; then health anxiety set in, and that's when the cycle of Xanax and Sanval began.

Brandon Lopez6 said:Well, because someone handed them a prescription, I guess? In my experience, you don't exactly walk into a psychiatrist's office and get to pick which meds you want to burn through. 🤷

Personally, I’ve never touched hypnotics, but antipsychotics absolutely killed my drive for everything, just as much as antidepressants did. It wasn't even sleeping, really... I was just passed out, which (honestly) isn't really what anyone's actually aiming for.

I couldn't agree more... I would also prefer nothing more than to just sleep through the effects.
In my case, both my primary doctor and my psychiatrist actually listen when I request a specific medication—it doesn't happen every single time, but it does. Just recently, I asked for Prazin instead of Sanval, and while they granted it, it didn't do a thing for me, so I reverted back to Sanval. I might give Zan a shot eventually; perhaps a change of pace would be beneficial, as I find it increasingly difficult to drift off even with the Sanval.

restlesstrucker15 said:The compositions aren't identical, though they do belong to the same class of medication. In practice, however, the difference is negligible; both are essentially intended for the short-term management of insomnia.

So, should I give it a shot? Would it actually be effective once the Sanval wears off?

redcrane22 said:Oh, it just hit me—I used to take Zan a long time ago. I'm not even sure if they still carry it anymore. It’s really more of a long-term solution for sleep issues. If I remember correctly, it takes a little while to fully kick in, though I can't say for certain.

Hold on a second, are you telling me Zan doesn't have the exact same formula as Sanval? Because if I recall correctly, it does.

Kenneth Scott41 said:Vegg 😁 well, they're just high-quality earplugs. They're typically used by people working around extremely loud machinery to prevent permanent hearing damage.😉 That’s really all there is to it.

I personally use the original Stihl ones, which are actually quite decent; they fit perfectly into the ear canal—you can push them in as deep as feels comfortable. You get two pairs in a little case. Once you get them seated properly, everything around you just fades away into total silence; you might hear your own heartbeat, but it's so faint that it doesn't really bother me.

Honestly, I highly doubt anything would actually help me. Every single night, I have to set my radio to a sleep timer because while I can't stand the dead silence—noises tend to grate on my nerves—I find the steady hum of the radio soothing. Yet, despite the background noise, sleep remains elusive because my mind simply refuses to stop racing.

restlesstrucker15 said:Well, well. If I didn't know you from the forums... 🙂
I am genuinely glad to hear you managed to resolve your insomnia that way.
As for me, I will certainly give it a shot. Currently, I am taking a sedative antidepressant to sleep, but I don't feel like myself until midday.
Read or don't read, watch TV or don't watch TV, relax or don't relax, tire yourself out or don't... none of it seems to work anymore. So, I am more than ready to try the earplugs.

Remind me, which sedative antidepressant are you taking? I can never seem to find my footing in the morning—I'm a wreck until midday, and honestly, even the afternoons are a struggle. I wake up gripped by anxiety and just feeling... off. For instance, right now, I'm feeling pretty miserable. Just one of those heavy, low days.

Kenneth Scott41 said:@restlesstrucker15 I read your post about how you've been worrying because the Halcion just isn't doing its job anymore. I suppose I'm in the exact same boat... I've only got ten tablets left of that Halcion, and I have to shell out nearly $13 for it using a private prescription from my doctor that’s only good for six months. Honestly, the price is just ridiculous!
I found myself wondering, what now? There aren't any stronger sleeping pills out there. At least, that's what the pharmacists tell me every single time. And frankly, I can't bring myself to consider jumping onto an Antipsychotic!
To make matters worse, my psychiatrist actually prescribed one or two Halcion tablets before bed. Well, I tried taking two, and it felt exactly the same as if I'd only taken one. 🙂
Then, it occurred to me—I stumbled upon a rather brilliant solution! Hehehe, but seriously, when I tell you what I started doing, I wake up feeling perfectly rested every single day.
What's the secret? 😁 Stihl earplugs! 😂😂
Yes! I used to work with a trimmer, but I never bothered using these plugs. One night, I happened to spot a new little box of Stihl gear, containing two pairs of those yellow ones—they're a bit longer and thicker, sort of like a tiny finger, or even smaller. I turned everything off, popped the plugs in, and went straight to bed without taking a single bit of Halcion. And just like that, I woke up feeling great, fully rested... full of energy, and all I had to do was pull the plugs out. 😁

You all should give it a shot, especially if you're in that position where even the Halcion isn't helping anymore! 😉

I don't follow? What kind of earplugs are these, what exactly do they do, and where on earth do you buy them? I've actually avoided Halcion specifically because of what you mentioned, yet I'm still struggling miserably with insomnia...

redcrane22 said:I totally get where Jason Vaughn482 is coming from. He wants to ditch Calixt because it’s turned him into a complete zombie—he just has zero motivation for anything, especially first thing in the morning.

As for you, Jason Vaughn482, I get the feeling that "sleeping" to you means dragging yourself out of bed at 10 or 11 AM. But if you happen to wake up around 6 or 7, suddenly you’re claiming you can’t sleep. Honestly, what if you just wake up once or twice during the night? That’s just life; even regular folks deal with that sometimes.😁

What's the harm in getting up at 6 AM and maybe going for a stroll, a quick jog, or even just catching some TV or getting lost in a good book?

To clarify, that is precisely the crux of the issue—I don't *want* to be sleeping until 10 or 11... but if I drift off at 1 AM, my body simply refuses to function at 6 AM; that is just how my biology is wired. Or, if I find myself wide awake at 3 AM and can't drift back off until 5... especially when all those hallucinations and the effects of Calixt start weighing on me, pinning me to the mattress like I've lost all control over my own soul... I just hope things improve, I truly do...

I find myself thinking it is finally time to bid farewell to this digital corner of the internet and head out to catch some waves... I wish you all a swift recovery, provided such a thing is even within the realm of possibility.

restlesstrucker15 said:Insomnia is truly brutal. I have mentioned before that hypnotics aren't a permanent fix, but if you find yourself needing them, the general strategy is to rotate them—take one for a week or two, then switch to another, and perhaps return to the first later. Over time, you really should look into changing your hypnotic medication.
I am honestly at a loss for what to tell you. 😢 You need to sit down with your psychiatrist, describe your experience clearly, and let them know you want to move away from Calixta. I remember feeling a genuine sense of panic myself when I realized my Halcion wasn't doing much at all; it felt like the rug had been pulled right out from under me.

Prozac and Calixta can be taken together, provided the latter is used at night for sleep, though I've lost my train of thought for a moment. Are you planning to request a serotonin-based medication for your anxiety, such as Prozac, or are you already currently prescribed it?

I’m not taking it yet; I have it sitting right here at home, but once I start taking those small doses of Calixt, I get this creeping fear about combining it with Prozac. My doctor is incredibly vague, which is frustrating; she hasn't given me a straight answer on whether they can be mixed, even though I have the Prozac on hand because my GP prescribed it. I asked her, but nothing. And tonight was just another repeat of the struggle. Tell me, if I simply skip the sedative tonight, what am I supposed to do? I have Calixt and I have Prazine, but 25 mg of Prazine doesn't touch it, and I'm terrified that 50 mg might be overkill. I just want to sleep through the night without these interruptions. Right now, everything feels chaotic; I end up taking the sedative in the morning and sleeping until 10:00 AM... anyway, I have been tapering my Xanax, dropping from three 0.5 mg pills a day down to three 0.25 mg pills... perhaps that shift is part of why things feel so unsettled, since I've been doing that for the last eight days.

urbanskipper4 said:I totally get that feeling where you feel like you can't even close your eyes without Sanval. I used to take 15 mg, then tried dropping down to 10 mg and man, it was a struggle. But eventually, you do get used to it.

What do you mean by "breaking the cycle"? You think you can just walk away from Sanval? Or are you suggesting you can somehow just switch off that dependency through sheer willpower? Honestly... that sounds like a pipe dream.

Bluzara said:
I’m not entirely sure how long you’ve been on Sanval, but let’s be honest—eventually, it just loses its edge. If your primary goal is actually getting some sleep, you aren't taking nearly enough Calixte. I’m not suggesting you go cranking up the dosage on your own, of course, but a dose like that (I’m guessing about half of 15 mg?) is practically useless if that’s what you’re aiming for.
I’m currently at 45 mg and I have absolutely no intention of scaling back, because, quite frankly, it’s the only reason I can actually sleep. I don't know the exact cost of Calixte, but if it plays even a minor part in making that happen, then it's worth it.🙂

No, the standard recommendation is 30 mg. I spent a whole year stuck on 15 mg, but it did absolutely nothing for my anxiety. Instead of bumping it up, though, I actually lowered it—mostly because I feel like it’s causing weight gain and leaving me feeling completely hungover, even though people claim higher doses don't do that... How have you found the weight situation, and are you actually satisfied with it overall? How long has this been your routine?
Yeah, I've been on Sanval for ages and it doesn't do much for me anymore, so I always supplement it with a bit of Calixta.