Jose Ramirez2...and everyone else who reached out to me...thank you all from the bottom of my heart...my girlfriend sent over 30 tablets of Daflon and they're already in the mail...they should arrive at the post office the day after tomorrow according to them...thanks to all you good people for the help and the offers to assist...
Daflon has always been my go-to... but now I’m in a real bind. I’ve been staying in Germany for a while and I've completely run out of Daflon... and you just can't find it here! I looked at the ingredients on other brands and picked up something similar... but it just isn't doing anything. I'm honestly losing my mind because I have two external hemorrhoids inflamed, and one of them is so massive that I haven't been able to walk properly for three days now... and I just can't get a hold of my medicine. What am I supposed to do??? If anyone happens to have even a few tablets of Daflon they could send my way, I would gladly pay for them, because I have no idea how to track down Daflon over here... I can't believe the pharmacist actually told me the closest supply is all the way in the Czech Republic! Usually, these things only flare up maybe once a year... but when they do, the inflammation is so intense that I'm stuck in bed... needing the Daflon... then it clears up and everything is fine... so I never really worry about it... because the medicine always works for me... but what now?! If someone has some... you would be a lifesaver right now...
I’m no lawyer... just a banker... but here’s a little tip: at Citibank, they don't focus nearly as much on how long you've been in arrears as they do on the actual dollar amount you owe. Basically, once you miss two payments, the account gets kicked over to the collections department. If you can, I'd really suggest trying to pay at least a portion of the installment and keeping the total overdue amount to under two missed payments if there's any way possible. You also mentioned that loan at JPMorgan Chase... they look strictly at the duration of the delinquency... so if you fall behind by $5.00 after about two months, they’ll go straight to filing for a writ of execution... I know any bit of advice helps... so there you go.
I'm going to try asking here.... A guy I know is moving to Europe... he landed a job there... but what happens to his debt that’s already in collections? Specifically... can the US government, through the Federal Reserve and the court system, actually garnish his wages in an EU member state? And how likely is that to happen quickly? Our long-term plan is to settle everything by handing over some real estate back home... but that process takes forever. I'm just wondering if collections can actually be enforced and collected within EU countries... specifically Germany... and if so, how soon could that start?
Haha, they really come up with everything...props to them...
I was actually going to write that I'm looking for a boyfriend...but apparently, that's against the rules here...so fine, let's change it up: I'm looking for a guy friend to chat with...or maybe someone from Seattle who'd want to hit up a movie theater...grab a drink...go for walks...catch some live music downtown...and stuff like that. He doesn't have to join me on shopping trips—I've already got my girlfriends for that, and honestly, they're my favorites...He doesn't need any specific qualities, though being a decent human is definitely a plus, hahaha...just kidding...but seriously, I'd love some fun, upbeat male company to hang out with and enjoy life...and it would be great if he's at least 33 or 34 years old...
Anyway, I can't believe I'm even typing this post...I guess I'm just bored...no clue why...
restlesstiger49 said:I’ve been on it for about four weeks now. I haven't dealt with any side effects, but honestly, I don't feel like it's doing anything yet—though I suppose it should be helping with my anxiety... The only thing is, I feel pretty wired in the evenings (I take my 50mg dose around lunchtime), which makes falling asleep a real struggle. A quick question for the group: Along with the Zoloft, I'm also prescribed Zyprexa at night. To be honest, I'm not even sure why. Sometimes it knocks me out, and other times it does nothing at all. But the next morning, I feel even more lethargic than usual—it feels like it just drains whatever dopamine I have left. My diagnosis is F60.3. Does anyone have an idea what that medication is for? I don't experience any psychotic episodes that would require that kind of sedation. I totally forgot to ask my therapist about this during our last session, so maybe someone here has some insight. I'll definitely make sure to bring it up at my next appointment.
Thanks!
F-150 refers to BPD, or Borderline Personality Disorder... we actually have a thread for that right here. Psychotropic meds used to stabilize that kind of condition usually include anxiolytics... and very often a combination of antidepressants and antipsychotics. With this specific disorder, you don't necessarily have psychotic breaks, but antipsychotics are prescribed to help manage those intense emotional outbursts. Keep a close eye on how the Zyprexa affects you and watch out for side effects... if you notice them getting worse, make sure to contact your psychiatrist right away. Usually, Zyprexa can really spike your appetite... be careful that it doesn't end up pulling you down further instead of lifting you up. Also, watch out for tremors or twitching in your hands and legs; I dealt with that myself and had to use Akineton to manage it. It's generally a good medication, but there are plenty of side effects... the key is to react quickly. Good luck.
Here’s my take based on personal experience... nothing beats Ambien when it comes to getting some actual sleep. They give it to you pre-op right before you head into the OR, too. If you're taking it at home, you absolutely, positively have to go straight to bed the moment you swallow the pill. Otherwise, you end up in this state where you aren't even aware of what you're doing. It kicks in within about ten minutes, and it's the only medication that guarantees I'll sleep and wake up without any lingering hangover, because the effect is sudden and short-lived... it doesn't have that long, lingering release. I haven't taken it in quite a while, but it really pulled me through during my worst bouts of insomnia. My borderline symptoms were mostly stabilized once the Prozac boosted my dopamine levels. Of course, every antidepressant works differently for everyone, but for me, it was clear I needed that dopamine boost alongside the serotonin. There was some talk about melatonin, but unfortunately, my experience with it was terrible. I was actually one of the early patients in the US to try Agomelatine... and it was a nightmare. No help with sleep at all, just horrific headaches, like there was fluid building up in my brain... just awful. I was on Elicea, which is Lexapro, for a year and a half, and I didn't really have any major side effects. They eventually discontinued it for me because it felt too mild and I wasn't seeing enough progress. On a positive note, I'm currently on an increased dose of Prozac ahead of an upcoming surgery because I need to lose some weight... then three days before the procedure, I'm tapering off the Prozac. Sure, it stays in your system, but my psychiatrist thinks I'll be fine without it. Given the nature of the surgery, if I need to, I'll switch over to Prozac liquid later... but I'm weaning myself off now.... yup....
Zyprexa has this incredibly frustrating side effect where it just ramps up your appetite. In my case, it actually led to a 30-pound weight gain. It was awful. I felt like I was sinking even deeper into a hole during that time. My doctor switched me over to Zelnorm, but unfortunately, I just couldn't tolerate that one either. I honestly feel like almost all antipsychotics trigger cravings... sadly. Thank God I'm not taking any of them anymore. The portal was mentioned... it’s essentially the same thing as Prozac. That medication was my saving grace. It was the only antidepressant that actually managed to get me moving again... maybe because of the dopamine levels... I don't know... but I am so grateful to my psychiatrist for working with me and agreeing to make the switch... prescribing me Prozac. I've been through the ringer with medications—Zyprexa, Seroquel, Xanax, Zelnorm, Paxil, Lexapro, Trintellix, even Dormex... but today, I can finally say I am an okay person. I'm still taking Prozac, though I've tapered down to a very low dose since I'm currently weaning myself off of it. Good for me. I just want to tell you all to never lose hope... because it really is possible...
Scott Allen10 said:I don't feel like playing the expert here; I'd rather just wait and see what the doctor tells you. If they say it's okay... then it's okay. If they say better not... then better not. Since we're talking about a cold procedure, there's really no point in forcing anything...
By the way, looking at this whole situation with your elevated CRP and white blood cell counts... the part that bothers me most is that you spent some time in the hospital undergoing tests...
Thanks... the anesthesiologist is all sorted out.
But now there's a new headache... first, because of that strike, I had to wait two and a half months just to get seen by a specialist to find out if that pancreatic tumor was benign or malignant... fine, it's benign... but now... just imagine... due to shift changes, they aren't even accepting my specific type of surgery anymore... the nurse actually told me, "Ma'am, only the stars know when you'll finally get operated on!"... I'd love to know who's going to pay for my psychotherapy after all this, considering the 2.5 months of pure anxiety I already went through the first time, and now God knows how much more...
At the end of the month, I’m scheduled for gastric sleeve surgery under general anesthesia. I have an appointment this Monday with the anesthesiologist to go over everything once more after all my preliminary exams—which I've been doing since July (everything from endocrinology and gastro to psychology... you name it). My chest X-ray came back perfect, EKG was great, endocrine tests were fine... everything seemed on track until my latest blood and urine work, where they found elevated CRP and white blood cell counts. My doctor thinks it's just a urinary tract infection, so she put me on a week of antibiotics. I'm wondering if this will cause any issues with the anesthesiologist's clearance? Up until now, through all these months of testing—including a stint in the hospital where they monitored my blood and urine constantly—I've never had a single sign of infection. Everything has always been perfectly normal until this moment. Do you think the anesthesiologist will still give me the green light? I know it seems strange to see the anesthesiologist so far in advance of the actual procedure, but it's to sign the consent forms for a surgery like this... after that, I'll meet with a different anesthesiologist at the hospital once I'm put on a zero-calorie diet right before surgery.
My parents aren't planning on leaving me a single cent... my old man has already handed over everything he owns to his girlfriend while he's still walking this earth... I've been living there like a tenant for ten years, and meanwhile, he just gifted her both the house and the property... so what? What am I supposed to do, go run my head against a wall? I've got my own two hands, and whatever I manage to build for myself will be mine... and that's that. No one has ever handed me anything in my life... from as far back as I can remember, it's just been me looking out for myself and fighting my own battles... I don't expect a thing from anyone.
Jack Johnson47 said:It was a few years back... Yeah, yeah, I know, I really should've reached out for help way sooner, but honestly? I just thought I could handle it all on my own...
Anyway, getting back to what we were actually talking about... Can blurry vision be a side effect? And like, staring blankly at one spot without even blinking?
Honey, everything you’ve been through sounds like pure triggers. Every single one of those things likely warranted a visit to a psychiatric ward or trauma counseling... because let's be real, those are genuine life traumas. But like most people... you probably thought you could white-knuckle it until things finally boiled over. Honestly, admitting you need help is actually a great thing... that's exactly why professional support exists in the first place. Now, regarding side effects... dizziness... personally, I dealt with that from some SSRIs, but never once from Prozac... blurred vision... in my experience, I've had dullness in my gaze and trouble concentrating, and I've even hit heavy sedation, but that was strictly from antipsychotics. Like I mentioned before... I think today might just be a bad day where the most common side effect of antidepressants kicks in, which is an increase in panic during the initial stages of treatment. Using Prazina for Xanax. But just keep monitoring it... for me, in the end, I couldn't sleep with anything except Ambien... that stuff they usually give you right before anesthesia... but now... I managed to taper off it in two weeks and I'm sleeping great... the key is finding your own sense of peace... not surrendering to thoughts that trigger emotional escalations... anyway, use Prazina while you need it to maintain your sleep cycle and rhythm... but otherwise... if they aren't absolutely necessary, I'm not a fan of antipsychotics... I truly believe that if a person has enough strength... if there isn't psychosis involved... you can manage with antidepressants and anxiolytics alone.. personally, I refuse to take antipsychotics... and I actually managed to convince my psychiatrist that I was right... I successfully tapered off Ambien and Lamictal after a few years... refused Seroquel... and stayed on just Prozac and Xanax... and today he told me how impressed he is with me and my progress. I'm facing a serious situation right now... waiting on some tests for a tumor... but I'm hanging in there... sometimes I really wonder just how strong I actually am, being able to work and function through all of this... I have to give myself credit...
For me, this is the second time I’ve faced this exact situation in just three years... the first time, I simply did everything I physically could bear... and then I eventually sought out a psychiatrist... it turned out to be melanoma. Now, it's esophageal cancer. It feels like so much to carry in such a short span of time. But I refuse to give up... I am still trying... I am still fighting.
Does anyone know where I can find a thread about how to handle the agonizing wait for test results? I’ve been searching everywhere but coming up empty... I'm currently sitting here waiting on my own results, and honestly, everything is still such a massive question mark. It’s driving me absolutely crazy...
Kevin Bailey2 said:I eat most of my calories at night. I skip breakfast entirely, which is why I'm 128 lbs at 5'11". Now I've even dropped down to 127.
Personally, I wouldn't touch a medication that causes a 65-pound weight gain. Why wreck your organs and your entire cardiovascular system just to drop dead by 40? What's the point of treating depression if you don't survive the cure? It makes zero sense.
Exactly. It’s not like when a doctor hands you an antipsychotic and you think, "Oh, I know exactly what this is and I know I'm going to pack on weight"... hello? This isn't an aspirin. You're dealing with mental states where you don't even know who you are or where you are anymore... and everyone, just like George Allen71 mentioned, talks about priorities... In my experience, I lost a lot of weight right before my crisis... I felt wonderful and really happy with myself... then after a few years of total mental collapse, I was put on Zyprexa. When I first got it, I was terrified and asked my psychiatrist if it would make me gain weight, and she told me these things... "No medication causes weight gain, it can only slightly increase your appetite." Well, after six months on it, my appetite increased so much that I gained nearly 80 pounds. At that moment, though, I was more worried about the fact that my arms and legs were shaking so violently from the meds that I had to start taking Aketon just to function. It's only after your mental state finally stabilizes that you realize what happened to you. And I wasn't prescribed an antipsychotic because I was having psychoses, but rather as support while treating BPD... So what am I supposed to do now? I have BPD... severe depression... excess weight... I'm on six different medications... and I can't even fall asleep without Dormicum... So what am I supposed to do, blame the doctors? I won't find anyone to complain to; I have to find my own ways to tackle this one thing at a time... I have to, because I don't have any other choice.
redranger2 said:There is. Apparently, Zoloft doesn't cause weight gain.
It’s true that Zoloft won't make you gain weight, but it makes you so incredibly drowsy... when I was on it, I felt forced to sleep for 18 hours a day.... it just completely drains the life out of you... at least, that was my experience...
Kevin Nguyen3 said:Your liver isn't going to be happy about that, unfortunately. In any case, one really ought to aim to lower the dosage of these meds as much as possible while still maintaining the same effect. Is that always easy to achieve? No, certainly not. But when people are experimenting this much, shouldn't they at least try to taper down where they can? When a person is healthy, obsessing over weight feels like a perfectly normal thing to do, but once you fall ill, priorities shift, don't they? Being overweight isn't some abnormal or ugly thing; it's just a matter of accepting that for some people, other problems simply take precedence.
Exactly. And then, right when they finally take you off the antipsychotics and scale back the antidepressants—the very meds that caused you to gain 30 pounds because mental stability was the priority—you suddenly realize how much of a mess you are physically. It’s such a vicious cycle; you start spiraling into depression because of your weight... God, I know that feeling all too well. As most of you know, Zyprexa absolutely wrecked me with weight gain... For the last nine months, I've been on Prozac instead, mostly because they say it won't make you gain weight—apparently, some people even lose weight on it, and it doesn't spike your appetite, which makes it better for bulimia or other eating disorders. But for me? Nothing. Not even a single pound lost. And then those moments hit... where I feel so alone and unloved... and I just turn to food. Food is the only thing that won't let me down. Emotional eating... I am just so exhausted by this endless loop. I'm going to break out of it drastically... but I really need to find a way to stop myself from falling right back into the same trap.
I'm really hoping they finally grant it to me at 9... right now, we're just stuck waiting on whether they'll approve it through an appeal, since everything is supposedly changing. Honestly, it actually terrified me... I had this gut feeling she just didn't want to give it to me, which is something I've truly never experienced from her before. Regardless, I made it clear to her: I am going to fight to get everything I'm entitled to and push this through... not just the referral, but the surgery itself. I just don't understand why she refused to give me the referral today, or what on earth I could have possibly done differently to make her comply. It's not like I can go in there and try to teach a doctor how to do their job. How is a patient even supposed to carry themselves in a situation like this?
I have a question... I'm based out of the NYC area, and I need to undergo a surgical procedure that can only be performed at the Mayo Clinic. When I tried to get my preliminary testing done locally in the city, they basically told me no... because they want everything handled within their own hospital system. I've been scheduled for an outpatient appointment at 9:00 AM to get all my tests completed. Today, I went to see my primary care physician to ask for the referral... she told me to just come back at the beginning of September when the actual procedure date rolls around, because who knows what will happen by then?! She refused to give me the referral now, even though any referral she issued would likely be valid for about 30 days anyway. What is the deal here? Was she allowed to act that way? I called the Mayo Clinic and the head nurse confirmed that I am indeed on the schedule for outpatient services for that date at 9:00. Does my doctor have the right to refuse to give me the referral right now... or perhaps even later in September if four different specialists from the Mayo Clinic insist on performing the tests themselves because the procedure is so specialized and only their specific team handles it?
So, when we're talking about psychiatrists... and those mandatory checkups... do you guys honestly think they'll scrap them? I mean, there's a massive difference between managing high blood pressure and dealing with mental health issues...