William: 35 years of fighting diseases, medications, and therapies

Here are the topics I’ve posted about on Health:

Asbestosis.

Does anyone here know much about Sleep Apnea?

Men's health issues.

Jamie Clark74: I'm dealing with quite a few health issues... but I'm certainly no "lost cause."

Lower back pain, disc protrusion, and herniated discs.

Intrathecal Morphine Pain Pump!

Health... Doctors... and... MONEY????

A vaccine against Cervical cancer is currently in production.

What does a man actually know about menopause, hysterectomies, HRT, osteoporosis, and all the other issues that come with it?

Everything about sexuality... her... him... her and him... and then some!!!

Let’s talk about killing off all the elderly and sick... what do you guys think?

Psychiatry and Me: A topic for Forum members who are serious about these Diseases!

Psychiatry and Me // Replies, Correspondence, and Podrzak !!!

Jamie Clark74: This can't be happening to me, especially with my Type 2 Diabetes!

Jamie Clark74: 100 ways to live long enough to see 100!

The diet that actually works: THE AMISH DIET!

List of Diseases and Medications
4/02/2006

William Kov……………………………….. QEH UR No:603835
Date of Birth: 11/11/1941
Current medications:
Conditions:……………………………… Medications:

Medications : major Depressive Disorder …… Lexapro 20 mg x 1 per day Anxiety
Anxiety / Panic Disorder…………..Klonopin ½ mg X 5 per day
Hypertension........................ Norvasc 10mg x 1 per day
Monopril 20 mg x 2 per day Irritable Bowel Symptoms ………

Irritable Bowel Symptoms………. Monopril 20 mg x 2 per day Irritable Bowel Symptoms ………
Somac………………………………………40 mg x 1 per day
Mylanta liquid Diarrhea
Taking Imodium 5mg as needed for diarrhea.
Prochlorperazine 5 mg Chronic
Dealing with chronic UTIs... currently on Xiprex 1G twice a day.

Just waiting on a cystoscopy. QEH.

QEH stop All “ NARCOTICS in All forms & antiseizure & Tricyclic antidepressants

Chronic Back pain medication : Vicodin 2 x3 per day Acetaminophen 500 mg x 6
Vicodin 2 x3 per day
Acetaminophen 500 mg x 6-8 per day
February 15, 2006... started using a Buprenorphine transdermal patch for seven days. This follows my Laminectomy ………………………… at L5-S1 back in 1972.
Laminectomy / stenosis... L5-L4, L4-L3... (2004)
Just a quick note: both surgeries were unsuccessful, leaving the nerve roots at L4 and S1 still causing issues.

Gout / Osteoarthritis………………… Progaut 100mg x 1 per day
Arachnoiditis
Valium 5mg x 1 per day
Quinate 300 mg x 1 per day
Voltaren Emulgel …………………………………………………
Celebrex Cap 200mg, once a day.
or
Voltaren suppositories 100mg
Dealing with fluid buildup in my legs... currently taking Hydroton 25 mg 1/2 per day for veins.
Hydroton 25mg 1/2 per day Veins... Panadol forte 250mg, twice a day as needed.

Borderline Diabetic................................ Metformin 500 mg 1 tab. 2x per day

==================

================== Also : Sleep Apnea

Always during sleeping “ Asbestosis ” 1997 Pleural plaque calcified….2004 onset of asbestosis. Routine visits twice a year to a Pulmonologist for follow-ups, CT scans, and testing.

Lack of testosterone:…………Sustanon 250, 1ml injections every 2 weeks.

==================================================
Notes for QEH outpatient Orthopedics; QEH UR No:603835

Complaints/ please refer to> X-ray clinic scans, ultrasounds, and the log of steroid injections from the last 18 months.

a/ Right wrist
b/ Right and left elbows
c/ Both shoulders
d/ Knees/ same as above/
e/ Bilateral plantar fascia (Right side for 37 years)…(Left side for about 20 years)
Lots of work involving ladders and kneeling

Pins and needles in both arms and fingers; see medical reports
Cervical degeneration at C5/6 and C6/7
02/14/06
MRI results for right shoulder: Severe degenerative osteoarthritis and musculoskeletal tendon "tear."
Cervical spine conclusion: C4/5 and C5/6 show moderate-to-severe disk protrusion and moderate stenosis.
C6/7 shows severe disk protrusion and moderate stenosis; the left and right nerve exits at C7 are "irritated."
C7/T1 shows moderate disk protrusion.

Jamie Clark74 said:In today's high-pressure world, it feels like more and more people are struggling with stress, depression, anxiety, and all sorts of personal issues.[/B]

As for me—honestly, I don't have any health issues at all. 🙂

Justin Ramos2 said:I don't have any health issues. 🙂

Bravo 😉 ,you're lucky!

Statistically, one in four people deals with stress, depression, panic attacks, or personality disorders.
A lot of people don't even realize they're struggling...

👋 👋

You know what I’m thinking? If someone isn't feeling any side effects from their antidepressants, then maybe they aren't even working for them. It’s basically been proven that antidepressants are only slightly more effective than a placebo... so it feels like you almost *have* to "feel" something for them to kick in, and usually, that happens through the side effects. 😉 BTW, my anxiety actually spiked big time because of my Faverin! 😁 Just some friendly advice—try adding yoga to your routine (and seriously, go play a sport) instead of just complaining about antidepressant side effects. 😉

Jamie Clark74 said:In today's high-stress world, more and more people are struggling with stress, depression, anxiety, and various personal issues.

I've cycled through about 20 different medications, and every single one caused issues. It's always the same story....

ANTIDEPRESSANTS

I deal with depression too, but I suspect your situation is something else—maybe even worse. Man, you've tried 20 different meds and say every one was a struggle. That number alone suggests you need a new psychiatrist, not just a new pill.🤣

Good grief... this is enough to make you weep. 😲 😲 😲 😲 😲

dustycanyon6 said:You want to know what I think? If someone isn't feeling any side effects from their antidepressants, then there’s a good chance the meds aren't actually doing anything for them. It’s been proven that antidepressants are only marginally more effective than a placebo—so, it’s almost a requirement that you "feel" the drugs working somehow, and usually, that happens through the side effects. 😉 BTW, Faverin absolutely sent my anxiety through the roof! 😁 Here’s some unsolicited advice: try supplementing your "therapy" with yoga and make sure you’re actually staying active instead of just complaining about the side effects. 😉

I personally never dealt with any side effects, but for God's sake, I didn't feel any actual effect either...😕
Am I just immune to this crap?😕

For example, they put me on that Faverin too, but they might as well have just handed me a box of baking soda!😬

I feel like I'm being a total pain in the neck by bringing this up again (and honestly, I've probably said it a million times already) 😵

Have you actually tried hitting the gym? Or even just some cardio, like running or maybe hiking or something?
Did you end up getting any weights?

For me, if I hit the gym every single day, I swear I feel ten times better after less than a month. 😁

I’ve been dealing with constant anxiety and panic attacks for over a year now—just a non-stop cycle. I tried various medications, but honestly? They didn't do much for me. What actually turned things around was finding a specialist who focuses specifically on anxiety. I only saw them four times, but man, it made all the difference. I feel like a completely different person now. No more panic attacks. 👍

Andrew Wells44 Jamie Clark74 said:I deal with depression too, but I think what you're going through might be something else—maybe even worse. You've cycled through 20 different medications and say every single one caused issues. Honestly, that number alone suggests you should probably be looking for a new psychiatrist rather than just switching meds. 🤣

It really depends on the specific disease and how long it lasts. Some people deal with acute issues and recover within 12 to 24 months. Others struggle for years—in my case, it’s been a very long road. For some, these problems become chronic and lifelong. The goal of treatment is to help the patient reintegrate into society, regain their independence, and learn how to live with their condition.

Things are a bit complicated on my end. I’m dealing with some significant psychiatric challenges alongside several other serious health issues. The toughest part has been managing chronic pain for 35 years, following two unsuccessful spinal surgeries, plus dealing with asbestosis and sleep apnea.

As for the doctor, she's actually one of the top experts in the field, both here in the States and globally.
I've been spending an hour and a half with her every six weeks... and that's been going on since 1992.
For the first four years, I was traveling here regularly. 497 milesWe see her every two weeks, so scheduling with the specialist isn't an issue. She’s truly gifted—a primary care physician, psychiatrist, and psychologist all rolled into one. She spends whatever amount of time is necessary with both me and my husband.
Could you send over the link for the specialist?

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...=Google Search

A lot of times, these issues start back in childhood and just follow you all the way through life.
It’s only a matter of time before someone snaps. The real question is what finally pushes them over the edge—whether it's the people around them or the circumstances they're facing. In my case, it was a lifetime of crushing responsibility and constant anxiety. I was a total workaholic. I spent my entire life pouring everything into my job, working way too many hours for far too long. I always had this mindset that everything had to be perfect; whether it was the company or the client, I just had to make sure everyone was satisfied.
😎

Jamie Clark74, why start a topic about antidepressants just to bring everything back to you and your own illnesses? 😵

I suggest we start a dedicated thread—maybe even pin it to the top. We could call it something like "Jamie Clark74: Life, Illness, and Treatment Experiences," giving him a space to post as much as he wants. 🙂

That way, both he and everyone else following the Health board will be satisfied.

If twenty different meds haven't done the trick, have you even considered ECT?

Gary Jones10 said:I suggest we start a dedicated thread—maybe even pin it as a top topic—called something like "Jamie Clark74: Life, Illness, & Treatment Experiences," where he can post as much as he wants. 🙂

That way, both he and everyone else participating in the Health forum will be happy.

Are you bored? Come join your friend!
We just need to quote Gary Jones10 everywhere, and everything should be fine.

Do you have any idea how many people send me private messages or emails about the topics I write about? I write because of people like that, not for those who just want to brag.
Here is just one recent example regarding these kinds of topics;

2/2/2006
Depression and Anxiety
Respect to you!
My name is D....y and I am 29 years old. I’ve been struggling with depression and anxiety for 10 years, but I’ve only been in treatment for 14 months. Aside from the illness itself, my main issue is treatment resistance (the meds just don't work for me). In these 14 months, I've tried 10–15 different medications (antidepressants, antipsychotics, and anticonvulsants)—modern, high-quality stuff. I've had all sorts of testing done—MRIs, EEGs, psychological testing, neurological exams, etc. The result? The medication helped with the anxiety, which was intense (I couldn't leave the house for four years), but did almost nothing for the depression. Zyprexa and Solian helped a little, but the side effects were brutal (weight gain, impotence, sleeping 16 hours a day). Ultimately, I decided to get rid of most of them because they made me miserable and I was worried about the toll on my liver, and since they weren't working anyway, I stuck with just 1mg/day of Risperidone because without it, the anxiety kills me. Beyond that, I'm currently trying homeopathic remedies because traditional meds seem to bother my system, so we'll see how it goes. I also wanted to say that your posts helped me immensely in getting a diagnosis; for eight years, I didn't even realize I was ill (I thought my condition was just the aftermath of some trauma I went through). Finally, I have a few requests for you: (CONTINUED IN SECOND MESSAGE)

I won't go on further because the person already got a reply via PM... if I kept going tomorrow, I'd run out of things to say just to prove my point!

Believe me or not (it doesn't really matter to me what people like you think anymore)... but plenty of people read this and are interested in what I write.

It's very rare that people lately—like Kokica... not to mention two or three others—immediately lose their cool and start writing nonsense!
Besides, what are five people compared to hundreds? You can't please everyone.I only post on the diaspora and Health forums myself.

😎

Jamie Clark74, let's give this a shot!

You guys have 35 years of experience fighting through some seriously heavy stuff—and honestly, it wouldn't be a bad idea to take all those lessons and tips you've picked up and put them all in one spot. I’m going to rename this thread right now and pin it as a TOP topic. That way, you can talk about what you're dealing with and help out everyone else on the forum who could really use your perspective... I truly believe people will be reading this, and we can pull something really meaningful from it!

What do you guys think?

I’m sorry you took my suggestion as an attack when it was purely well-intentioned.

Besides, if you have so many people reaching out for help, wouldn't this give them a single place to read about your experiences? I suspect they would still be contacting you regardless. It could function like a dedicated advice column and easily become a top-tier thread.

The idea seems solid to me. 🙂

MangoAnanas said:If twenty different medications haven't done the trick, have you looked into electrostimulation therapy?

Before I post anything, I make sure I actually understand what’s going on and get a feel for what someone is saying about their own situation. You clearly aren't doing that.
If people actually paid attention to what they were reading, we wouldn't be having these kinds of conversations.
Take a look at the post above—not even counting the others.

Jamie Clark74 said:Before I write anything, I take the time to understand the context and what the person is actually saying about themselves or their situation. You clearly don't do that.
If people actually paid attention to what they were reading, we wouldn't be having this conversation.
Read the post above—let alone the others.

Honestly, Jamie Clark74, I have to wonder: have you looked into EST?
I know someone who struggled with depression for years, cycling through endless therapies and medications, but nothing really moved the needle until she tried EST. 😕

kemik said:Jamie Clark74, let's give it a shot!

You all have 35 years of experience fighting serious illnesses. It wouldn't be a bad idea to gather all those experiences and pieces of advice you can offer others into one single place. I'm going to rename this thread and set it as a TOP topic. There, you'll be able to write about your struggles and help all the other forum members who value your insight. I believe this thread will get a lot of reads and lead to some truly good things!

What do you think?

Sunday 6/5/2006
03:35 AM in Australia.

To be honest, after all this typing and copying/pasting info, I'm not sure how I'd handle such an
offer, or if I'd even want to deal with it... it makes me feel a bit
uncomfortable.

I'm the kind of person who will tell you right away, "I've dealt with anxiety since I was a kid." I had a very strict upbringing, and growing up in the aftermath of World War II meant things were tough—there were some things near the end of the war that left marks I won't even go into... they left their own consequences.

I know for a fact that back in the old USA /not getting into politics or blame here/...so many people were left behind after the conflicts started in the early 1990s, especially in certain areas. People were essentially "psychologically killed" in more ways than one.

Everyone reacts differently. Some people lash out at others, while some just shut down and keep it all inside until they become very ill... until one day, something finally snaps.
Many probably took their own lives... and many lost any ability to communicate or solve problems.

The issue is that people—especially given our background and how we were raised—don't realize that psychiatric conditions are just like any other illness. They need time, often much more time than a broken leg or a complicated fracture.

Patients get mocked, they aren't understood, and everyone who has dealt with something minor thinks we are all the same.
Unfortunately, every person is different. Every person has unique symptoms, and even psychiatrists have charts to determine how far gone a patient actually is.

I've read accounts of people seeing specialists for just a few minutes, getting a prescription, and leaving with almost no conversation—which is supposed to be the psychologist's job. Because of that, many aren't actually cured... some recover on their own after a while because the case wasn't that severe, but let's not forget the patient's mindset: "MY illness is the worst and the hardest."

I'll wrap this up by saying I was very lucky to find my current psychiatrist. She actually came to me when she was just twelve—from a prominent family, someone who dedicated her entire life to medicine, specifically psychiatry and psychology.

Best,😎