Posts by Edward Long4

Melissa Phillips4 said:When I woke up from my surgery, I didn't even have a breathing tube. Guess it just depends on what kind of procedure you're getting done.

Well, I'm having aortic valve replacement surgery, so yeah, I'm definitely going under general anesthesia and keeping the tube.

Hey everyone,
So, I’ve had 4 general anesthesias (heart surgery stuff)
plus about 15 local ones. No issues there, nothing
felt off, but that tube...
that damn tube is absolutely killing me..
Last time, I was stuck with it for like 3 hours while awake
and I was losing my mind. I was fully conscious, literally peeing on paper just begging them to pull it out
Like, "No, you aren't breathing on your own," and it was pure hell
That's what's freaking me out so much right now
I'm terrified they'll keep me in that semi-conscious state for that long again
My anesthesiologist promised he’d do everything he could
to make this less traumatic, but apparently
he still has to pull the tube out while I'm conscious
I'm otherwise healthy, an athlete and all, but a heart condition means 4 generals and I’ve got more coming
Maybe one or two more down the road
My question is: is there any way they can just pull that tube while I'm half-asleep? Thanks

Hey everyone, both the regulars and the new faces :P . So, basically, like I mentioned before, I was on Zoloft for about 6 months paired with Xanax. Honestly? I have no clue if it actually did anything because now I’m not taking any of that stuff except for my heart meds. Seriously though, if you can find any kind of alternative, please try. All that heavy chemical stuff just burns you out. My doctors here in the States were basically just throwing everything at me—telling me my arrhythmias were "psychosomatic" or whatever, until I ended up needing a pacemaker. Reading some of these posts makes me laugh; people are so clueless. Sure, every drug fixes one thing, but they wreck ten other things in the process. I did a ton of digging into this because of my nightmares, but God, I am never touching that stuff again. If you can ditch those pills, just do it. Not trying to act like a genius here, but I know enough. When I was 20, I cycled through Prozac, Sulpiride, Ativan... then later Praxiten, then Xanax, then Zoloft, until I finally just said, "Enough is enough." All those drugs mess with your heart rhythm. My cardiologist is actually shocked I haven't lost my mind yet. So yeah, that's the deal with our mental health professionals. Peace out, hang in there, and don't mind me.

Scott Allen10 said:That shouldn't have anything to do with the anesthesia. Honestly, in medical circles, it’s always such a trend to blame everything on the anesthetic procedure—whether it actually makes sense or not. 🙂

Thanks, Scott Allen10. So I guess it stays a "mystery" then! 🙂

Hey, quick question—anyone know about the aftermath of anesthesia? Specifically, can heavy doses or general anesthesia mess with your equilibrium long-term? Because honestly, I feel like I’m walking around drunk today.

urbanskipper4 said:Just had my follow-up appointment. I told the doctor that 10 mg of Ambien just isn't cutting it anymore—I can't sleep for anything. So, she told me to bump it up to 15 mg. Honestly, I was kind of shocked because I thought you weren't supposed to go over 10 mg. At least, that’s what the instructions on the bottle say. Anyway, I’m finally sleeping through the night again... at least until this dose stops working and the next disaster hits.😛
Man, it really doesn't take long to get hooked on this stuff. Work has been a total nightmare lately too—they're basically bullying me at the office, so I guess that's why I can't shut my brain off.

And honestly, maybe it's because you can't just get the job done. My therapist once asked me, "Why don't you just stand up for yourself against those coworkers who won't stop messing with you?" You know, I actually did it, and it helped. Afterward, I felt like I'd just won a gold medal at the World Cup.😍😂

Finallyyy 🙂 I’m officially checking in as a new member here. Honestly, I slept like someone actually knocked me unconscious. 😁 I feel amazing. It's pretty obvious that when I'm sleep-deprived, I turn into this total wreck—super cranky, nervous, just constantly on edge. But once I get a solid 8 hours? Well, today I pulled a full 10 😁 😁 and I feel like a freaking lightning bolt. Even my anxiety is chilling out a bit, which helps settle the rest of my nerves too. 😁 P.S. I’ve got a follow-up appointment with my psychiatrist next week, so we’ll see what happens. Who knows if they're gonna put me back on Zoloft or not!

Kenneth Scott41 said:I’ve been hanging around this forum for quite a while now, and I think most of you recognize me, right, General Hospital?😉

Maybe rejo has more experience with this kind of thing and might know something, though it doesn't really matter... I just need some advice.

Basically, ever since I started taking Zoloft and Zeldox—though lately, I'm starting to suspect it might not even be the latter—I've been experiencing these tiny little hallucinations. To be honest, I can't even tell if I actually heard or saw anything; it all happens at lightning speed. Last night, I was jolted awake by the sound of a phone ringing at 3:00 AM. My first thought was, "Wait, what the hell?" because I'm certain I turned my phone off long before heading to bed. Then I remembered maybe I left my cordless phone in the other room, and when I checked... there it was, sitting on the charger in the kitchen. So, now I'm left wondering... did something actually ring, or am I just losing my mind?🙂

Well, that was me calling you while you were sleeping like a log!😍

Probably just a dream. You know how it is when dreams and reality just blur together suddenly.
And hey, maybe the battery on the cordless just hit 100% and gave you a notification. (At least that's what my phone does when it's fully charged.)🙂

Timothy Wood38 said:Just a heads up, if you're on AD, you really shouldn't be taking Percocet. Just something to keep in mind for the future.🙂

I don't take them. My psychiatrist took me off the ADs. And yeah, I used to take it back when I was on Zoloft for pain. Basically, I'm not allowed to touch anything except Tramadol or Tylenol. But let’s be real, Tylenol is absolute garbage for pain, so I end up taking Percocet. Just rarely though. Like, seriously rarely.

Morning, everyone. Honestly, I’m walking around like a total zombie today—I think I managed maybe two hours of sleep all night? I’m losing my mind.

My head is absolutely killing me today, too. 😢 Just popped some Tramadol, so let's see if my brain actually explodes or not. Once I finish lunch, though, I'm heading out for a walk to clear my head.

redranger2 said:Honey, when you find yourself facing these kinds of high-tension situations at the vet, just take a Xanax—it’ll steady your nerves.
Personally, I don't permit myself to exist in that state of stress; why bother trembling and letting my heart race? I just take a shot of whiskey and call it a day. 😂 I refuse to suffer through this nonsense any longer; I've already dealt with enough in my life. 😍
Look, veterinarians don't understand people like us who spiral into panic attacks; they simply don't get what it's like when we lose it. 😂
The pup will be fine; she’s been through the trauma of surgery, so she won't bounce back instantly.
And don't assume you're heading straight back to Prozac; you're just spiraling because of the current chaos, but it will pass. 🙂

Honestly, nobody truly knows what they're capable of once that panic sets in. 😂

Man, I’d love a drink, but I’m trying to save my heart, dammit. If my only diagnosis was "anxiety," I’d be singing in the streets. 😍

I mean, it'll probably be okay. It's just... sometimes I’m actually scared of myself and how I react. It’s like some demons are poking me in the ass the second something goes wrong. 😍 I start shaking like a leaf, just like the very first time I ever had sex. 😂 😂

shadowfox75 said:I completely understand. I felt the exact same way about Paxil at first, but after nine years, it’s becoming too much for me. I really want to get off it eventually.
🤷

We all know how anxiety goes—that's my diagnosis, along with the panic attacks... (my therapist was basically like, "No wonder you're going through this.") For instance, whenever my heart starts racing out of nowhere, my brain immediately goes straight to: Oh crap, my pacemaker just died, or my aorta is rupturing, or some other total nonsense... then the choking sensation hits and my doctor put me on Zoloft. But man, today with that whole thing involving the puppy, everything just went sideways... I practically fainted ten times. What a nightmare of a day... seriously, screw stress... 🙂🙂

Hopefully everyone is getting some sleep tonight... the weather forecast said it might rain...

redranger2 said:It clearly shook you up, which explains why you are reacting this way. It is a perfectly normal response, so there is no need to panic.
The dog survived the surgery, and now she's going to be just fine. You have to realize, she is alive, and that is
the most important thing. The hardest part is behind her. She will recover and get back to herself, you'll see. :-)
Tomorrow, I am taking my cat in for surgery—full dental extraction—so we have to run all the
tests first to make sure she can handle the anesthesia. I trust it will all go smoothly.

P.S. Did you call the vet about those cramps? What did they say?

Ugh, don't even ask. I completely lost it. 😂
She had four freaking seizures—cramping up and screaming—and honestly, "screaming" is an understatement. My blood turned to ice. I went into a full-blown panic attack immediately, then finally managed to calm her down and stepped outside for a second. 🙂

I called him four times, I was practically screaming at him the last time, and he just goes: "Why the panic? It's just the anesthesia, it'll pass..." Seriously, I felt like shooting him. 🙂

She's okay now, thank God. She walks a little, then lies down... she isn't controlling her bladder, but honestly, my brain is complete mush right now.... if I can actually fall asleep without needing some Xanax, I might actually win a dance competition. 😍

I have this nagging feeling I'm going to have to go back on Prozac. It felt like someone grabbed me by the throat again—not super intense, but still... uuuuuuugh... not again.

I really hope your kitty turns out alright. Just stay by her side, give her tons of love, talk to her, and watch her closely. 🙂

Kenneth Scott41 said:Victoria, if you haven't noticed—and I'm fairly certain you have—there is always a subtle layer of humor or sarcasm woven into my posts. You seem to be cut from the same cloth.
Man... I really wish I had been born earlier... 😍

Don't fret. There will come a day when I post something stating that I am finally doing well and feeling happy. 😉

Ho, ho, ho... you'd certainly be happier if you were 😍

But honestly, I am a total wreck today. 😢 My dog just had surgery and she's been crying all day; she's having cramps from the anesthesia and I am just completely losing it.😢

I even felt this weird sensation, like someone was choking me, but I just stepped out onto the balcony and told myself I was being an idiot and that everything would be fine. Ugh, I can't wait for tomorrow... I am just straight up 🤷😢

Brandon Lopez6 said:here you go 🙂🙂 from me too. It's just digital, but at least it counts for something 🙂

I totally get it. I know I’d be losing my mind too if I knew what was coming, especially since everything bad I read just sticks with me 🙄

But hey, it crossed my mind to ask—do you girls take birth control, and does it mess with your head? Mine is absolutely wrecking me. I'm honestly worried it might even dial back how well my antidepressants work, and maybe things feel worse because of them rather than without them. Should I stop taking them? (I only take them because I have to, for my health, specifically my 😛 issues) or not? I'm feeling more unhinged than ever, both literally and figuratively 🙂

Well, I’ve been on Diane, and I'm still taking them. I wouldn't stop even if the world was ending😂

Honestly, I haven't had any issues. I used to take the 7g version and Yasmin, but I switched over to Diane because my skin was a total disaster. (Seriously, I felt like a freaking teenager again😍)

The only thing they say not to do is smoke while on them. I don't smoke, so that's not an issue for me... check with your OBGYN, but generally, antidepressants shouldn't interfere with birth control. At least, that's what my doctors told me—my psychiatrist and my OB🙂

Though, honestly? I'd much rather just get my ovaries removed and call it a day. Peace and quiet at last😍😂

redranger2 said:Those head twitches could very well be a side effect of antipsychotics. Are you starting any new medications lately?
Personally, taking Abilify gives me restless legs and this strange skin tingling. We really are in a tough spot with these drugs.😂

Hahaha redranger2, hahaha... man, I guess this is just our karma. Honestly though, I’d love to just beat up Kenneth Scott41, 😂 just to give him a little something 🙂
(okay, I'm joking—just like you told me, I'm just boosting your ego... since there's nothing else left to do 😂)
Kenneth Scott41, come on, brighten my day for once. Just write back one day saying everything is wonderful and you're feeling great. 🙂

It’s gonna be fine. You'll get through this. 🙂 But seriously, don't sweat it. 🙂

shadowfox75 said:You all are wonderful. I suspect I will be relying on this community once I begin tapering off this Paxil...🙂

Well, that's literally why we're here—to help you out whenever things get rough.🙂 Plus, a little humor makes the whole mess a bit easier to stomach. Just make sure you strip down completely 😍—wait, I meant tapering off the Paxil, obviously (not that kind of stripping!) 🙂

redranger2 said:Listen, I really hope you aren't all planning on quitting your medication cold turkey, because that’s a recipe for
triggering a massive shock to your brain, which has become entirely dependent on that chemical support.
When tapering off SSRIs, you have to go slow, and frankly, that process can be quite a marathon. Once you finally reach the point where you're down to just a 1/4 dose, you should
continue taking those tiny amounts for a while—maybe every other day, then every third day—until you eventually
wean yourself off completely. Your brain simply needs enough time to relearn how to manage its own neurotransmitters without outside help.

Honestly, my brain has been shocked way too many times over the last 35 years, so I highly doubt it can handle much more. 😍😂 Jokes aside, though, you're totally right!

redranger2 said:It’s obvious there is no universal rule here; some people seem to walk away from it without any issues at all.
I managed to step off the AP without feeling a thing, leaving only the AD,
but unfortunately, about a month later, I suffered such a devastating relapse (I actually checked myself into the hospital three separate times, though I had to pull out both times because of work commitments and looking after my elderly mother) that I barely survived the ordeal.
In the end, I had to go back on the AP. Life is just relentless like that.🙂

Oh, and yeah, once your mental health goes totally south, you need an insane amount of willpower and strength just to feel human again.

But hey, I guess that's just how it goes. It'll get better eventually. 🙂

Just to jump back in here—I’m actually not drinking anything at all these days. Well, except for when my heart starts doing that weird irregular thing and I have to grab some Xanax... 5 mg should do it. So, yeah... that's where I'm at with all those meds