Posts by Justin Rogers5

~Scarlett~ said:
It’s an SNRI, so the mechanism is different. Just Google the differences. Honestly, a psychiatrist should be the one making these calls, not just guessing.🤣 😕

Yeah, I agree. A doctor should be deciding this, not me.😕I get the feeling he picked up on how much I don't trust doctors in his field, so now he's just testing me. Not exactly inspiring confidence.☕

Effexor? A psychiatrist over at the Mayo Clinic mentioned a few different options, so I guess I'll just pick one and see.🤷

driftinggull21 said:Psychotherapy can still be sought privately after work hours.

But I asked her if I could use insurance and she said no. She knows damn well I don't have any $100 money left—spent it all this summer, and honestly, she made a killing off me over the last few years. 🙂Then she has the nerve to act insulted because I didn't call to cancel. Like, sorry, I forgot, she works 15 hours a day. I know this is the wrong thread. OT: What's Lexapro? People say taking it at night helps with sleep.

So, I went to my primary care doctor today to get a referral for a psychiatrist, just in case this stomach issue is actually all in my head. She told me that the psychiatrist I called a couple of weeks ago—the one who wanted to charge me $100 for an hour session—is actually working under a referral. Which means I shouldn't have to pay $100 out of pocket. Honestly, she should've mentioned that when I asked. Since her office is at the local community health center and she’s contracted with them to handle outpatient cases, they basically cover her just for seeing 20 patients a day.

restlesstiger102 said:Yeah, right. Everything affects me. My libido drops, headaches, depression... basically whenever my period shows up.

Not sure which part sucks the most. If I switch to a fourth type of pill, who knows if they'll even work? Maybe I should just suck it up for a few more months on these and see if it clears up on its own?🤔

It’s not going away on its own, and you're just making things worse for yourself. Take it from me—I've been telling myself for four months now that the anxiety, the crying spells, the mood swings, the light periods, and don't even get me started on the breast pain will eventually pass.
Depression is super common with Claire too; plenty of my friends take them and almost all of them complain about feeling depressed or having their periods practically disappear.☕

Took some Zonadin to try and catch some Z's before my night shift. It’s like drinking nothing at all... even with 10 mg, I can forget about getting 7 or 8 hours of sleep.🙂

I'm stuck working night shifts constantly. I get maybe seven hours to eat and crash before I have to head right back into work.🤷Basically, I need something that knocks me out instantly, but if I walked into my doctor's office asking for that, they’d laugh me out the door. I just need sleep. I'm on edge, irritable, and honestly, a danger to everyone around me.🤣I don't know what's wrong with me. I spend all afternoon working, then when I finally sit down to watch some soap opera, I'll pass out for an hour and that's it—then I'm just tossing and turning all night when I really need to be solid.🤷I was going to pick up some Xanax at the pharmacy today (the ladies there always look out for me, usually letting me leave with $100 less than the full price)

Looks like I'll have to pick up some Ambien this winter. Can't seem to drift off before 4 AM, and being unemployed just makes everything feel heavier.🙂

Hannah Foster6 said:Does anyone happen to know how many hours I should wait after having a couple of drinks—maybe two glasses of wine or two beers—before it’s safe to take a Sanval dose, like 5mg or even just half of that?

Honestly, you're better off not drinking anything at all with Sanval. But if you have to, maybe wait half a day. If you finish those drinks around 4 PM, you might be okay by 11.

restlesstrucker15 said:What kind of medication do you currently have on hand? You might try taking two Zonadin, but please, do not exceed that amount under any circumstances. Since you don't have a physician overseeing your care right now, you won't be able to access anything more potent, though I believe Dormicum is no longer covered by insurance in the US. I am just uncertain whether a general practitioner would actually write you a prescription for it.

Right now I just have some herbal stuff I bought $33.Tried two 5mg Zonadin, but no luck. Maybe Praxiten.😕

Anyone got any sleep recs? Zonadin isn't doing squat, and neither is Zan. No clue why. Haven't touched sleeping pills in two years, so I'm definitely not hooked or anything.🤷The GP won't even write a script without a referral from a psychiatrist. Tried seeing a social worker, but there were 20 people ahead of me and I didn't even get a turn before he had to bail because his ferry was leaving.🙂

George Allen71 said:I honestly don't trust doctors anymore
My psychiatrist kept trying to convince me that Zyprexa wouldn't cause weight gain... yeah, right. No chance.
Back then, I wasn't even in any state to be digging around online or checking in on the forums; I was doing incredibly poorly. Now that I can finally manage it, I'm asking.
To be honest, I just don't believe anyone anymore, especially not medical professionals.

Don't even get me started. Just listen to your body. My psych wrecked me—literally destroyed me—and then had the nerve to claim antipsychotics don't cause weight gain. Some might not, but after mine, I was eating like there was no tomorrow. Breakfast, snacks, lunch, more snacks, then dinner. It was all pancakes, eggs with mayo, corndogs, burgers, fries... usually washed down with two liters of Coke or beer. And I was just sleeping constantly. I'd drive to work, come home, hit the gym, walk the dog, ride my bike through 12 miles every day... I was eating high-calorie stuff, sure, but in reasonable amounts, and I worked out like crazy. But after that treatment, I was just dead inside. Not that I cared at the time. I was having suicidal thoughts. And she thought that was fine, still charging me $100 for the sessions. If it makes you gain weight, stop taking it and find a second opinion. For me, AT&T didn't cause weight gain. But after a while, it stopped working and flipped the switch toward suicide. That never happened to me, though. I was just nervous, crying, hopeless, lost my job, got arrested for a self-defense fight... basically, I was in a coma.

Jason Vaughn482 said:Look, my experience with Sanval hasn't been quite that cinematic or terrifying, though I suppose the most intense part is when the effects actually kick in. I'll suddenly find myself stumbling into the kitchen, searching for anything to eat; I'll even go as far as whipping up a batch of pancakes, something I wouldn't dream of doing during the day because I simply can't be bothered. And yes, that's exactly why I want to kick the habit, but the problem remains: I don't have a single alternative to turn to.🤷

You think that's normal? Sanval is supposed to knock you out, not leave you running around like a manic squirrel.🤷That drug is basically designed for someone to slip it to you and walk away. If you're flipping pancakes, you could probably burn the whole house down for all you know. Better to stick with Normabell or Xanax. Even then, it's hit or miss. Personally, I'd rather stay up half the night watching Edward Westwick in every movie possible than have my neighbor asking me why I look like a total wreck the next morning.🤣And the dog is inside.🤣

Hannah Foster6 said:I’ve been sitting here thinking about why people struggling with insomnia get so incredibly worked up about trying newer sleep aids, like Sanval, or even the classic calming meds like Normabel... I mean, isn't the constant tossing and turning way more brutal on your nerves and your mental health than just taking a pill if you aren't feeling any side effects?
I really wonder if addiction is the "only" thing making people hesitant, or if there's actually some underlying danger when you're using these kinds of medications over a long period of time.

Did you actually read the side effects for Sanval or Praxiten ???! I've told you before—the midnight wandering, people ending up in doghouses, some guy walking straight through a door, or my friend who thought she was part of an African tribe and tried to dance on a third-story balcony railing. These things are dangerous because if you leave them within reach and wake up in the middle of the night, you're going for another hit (maybe in a doghouse). That stuff should only be handled by a doctor or a responsible adult, which clearly I'm not, nor am I half the people on this subforum.☕Addiction is a separate issue. You're asking how you'd even fall asleep on a half dose? You wouldn't.☕

Jason Vaughn482 said:That’s precisely why I’m suggesting you go to the Cleveland Clinic for the initial consultation first, and then if you decide you want the actual gastroscopy done privately... but wait, who even referred you for a gastroscopy if you haven't even had an exam yet? Just get a referral from your doctor and book an appointment at the hospital; paying $75 for a basic checkup is an absolute rip-off...

I'm heading to the appointment; my doctor gave me a referral, but honestly, I'll probably just end up getting the endoscopy anyway. We're pretty far off right now and I really don't want another medical file on my record.🤣

Jason Vaughn482 said:But why on earth would you pay $183 just for an exam? You could easily get that done at a major hospital, and then if you actually need the gastroscopy, you can schedule it through a specialized Medical Center or perhaps somewhere in Chicago under sedation. Because what you're describing here, $200 sounds like it's being done without anesthesia—at least, that's my impression, you should really double-check... a friend of mine had hers done in Chicago in Tagora with Dr. Mavrinac, and it was all done under anesthesia... 1 $167...who is your gastroenterologist in Cleveland?

I don't have one. I went to the Mayo Clinic because they're the only ones I know with a specialist. I called Sun City, but they don't do it, and the Mayo Clinic is pricey. I just assumed $200 included sedation.🤷So you mean just the endoscopy $500 under anesthesia? Dammit.

fadedbear92 said:Don't go telling me I'm being an alarmist, BUT, you're only going to get real, accurate results by getting an esophagogastroduodenoscopy: an endoscopic exam of the esophagus, stomach, and the start of the duodenum. You have to show up fasting for this. During the procedure, they can perform a biopsy of the stomach lining, and they can even do therapeutic work—like sclerotherapy for bleeding vessels/ulcers, esophageal or stomach varices, and/or a polypectomy.

If you're already prepared to drop a grand, you might as well save yourself the hassle and just do it under general anesthesia😉

We'll see how this exam goes. If it turns out to be a nightmare, I'll just say "no thanks" and head to a private clinic.
🤷

I think I’ll just stick to private clinics. At the Mayo Clinic in Cleveland, it’s $55 for an exam, plus maybe another $600 if they need to do a gastro endoscopy. Once, at a different place, they tried to do a throat swab—they shoved a swab down my throat and I started choking, my whole throat just tightened up. Then the nurse had the nerve to tell me I was being dramatic. I told her exactly where she could shove that swab.😉So I went to a private specialist instead. They actually kept me calm, and the whole thing was over in a heartbeat.😍

fadedbear92 said:I’ve said it more than once before, and I’ll say it again—hats off to anyone who can actually swallow those pills without them getting stuck. Honestly, I tried twice myself and my gag reflex just took over and spat the pill right back out! It wouldn't even get past my tongue. And then, while I was sitting there in total discomfort, some "brilliant" medical professional had the nerve to ask me, "Well, how do you manage to eat, then?" Seriously?🙂🙂🙂🙄

Give me a break. I'm already having a rough day and now I have to read this.🙂I was thinking about seeing a private specialist to just do it under general anesthesia, or at least have them numb my reflexes. Honestly, I'm terrified.😢 😢 😢

Matthew White4 said:Both Ambien and ZzzQuil hit me exactly the same way. I end up raiding the entire pantry, sending those incredibly stupid texts you regret later, misspelling everything, and then waking up with absolutely zero memory of the night before. As far as I can tell, Ambien isn't even a tiny bit stronger than the ZzzQuil stuff
just take one
or maybe half
My doctor told me they last longer so you deal with fewer periods of b

waking up in the middle of the night. But honestly, that hasn't worked for me at all...

Dormicum absolutely terrifies me. I was just reading in the news about how many people have had bad reactions or even died from it. Apparently, they still use it for surgeries and stuff. Thanks to BP, I didn't raid the fridge, but I did try to launch these massive business ventures via text to my boyfriend. He realized something was wrong pretty fast because I'm usually not that intense.🤣