Robin- you're the best!
From: Emme (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Tue, 22 Aug 2000 15:16:03 -0500 (CDT)
Robin-
Of course I don't mind your advice! It has been very helpful. I wish I
could take you with us, b/c then you could answer my questions and calm
my anxieties, and my boyfriend wouldn't want to murder me. I think he's
a little frustrated with my constant sickness over the past few months.
BTW, my doctor told me that I should STAY ON THE ELAVIL! (I write in all
caps, b/c he sounded irked). He said my symptoms will only return if I
stop taking it- especially since I will not be off the pill for a little
while yet and I think that is causing it. He said that it was a very
lose dose with close to no side effects, and very well tolerated and
that a time change in taking it shouldn't affect my body. Let's hope
so! Guess it's back to the meds :(
At Tue, 22 Aug 2000, Robin wrote:
>
>At Tue, 22 Aug 2000, Emme wrote:
>>
>>Apparently I haven't been sending my posts correctly (2 out of 4 showed
>>up), so you guys have been spared!
>>
>>Just quickly, I saw my regular doctor (he is my primary care dr. and my
>>gastroenterologist) and after examining me and listening to me desribe
>>my UTI-symptoms, feelings of fatigue, moodiness and depression, and ill
>>health woes, he decided that I was most probably depressed and
>>prescribed a 10mg dose of Elavil (amitryptlin) to be taken at bedtime.
>
>Who wouldn't be when they have chronic health problems!!! I know, I've
>been there.
>
>>At this point in time, I have come to be afraid of prescription
>>medicines. I have taken penicillen, compazine, cipro, bactrim,
>>augmentin, prednisone, zyrtec, and macrobid over the last few months for
>>the flu, UTIs, and other problems and was allergic to three of them. I
>>don't like the idea of something that inhibits your body's or brain's
>>natural function. Aren't anti-depressants addictive and reported to
>>have serious side effects?
>
>As you know, I'm not a Dr., but have taken antidepressants over the
>years. I personally have not heard of them being addictive, but, that
>isn't to say it can't happen. I am a firm believer that if one has an
>addictive personality, you can get addicted to most everything. Also
>know, addiction is different than dependance. Addiction is a craving
>for something, be it medication, food or sex, to name a few. Dependance
>is where you take something because you require it to function properly
>(antidepressants for depression or for pain relief, pain medications for
>pain relief so you can function daily as opposed to being bedridden due
>to the pain). Dependance is when you take, say pain medication, not for
>the feeling of a "high", but because it relieves or greatly reduces your
>pain, so that you can go on with your daily activities.....have I made
>sense?? I tried ;o).
>
>Elavil and the other tricyclic antidepressants are also used in the
>treatment of pain, so you might find if you take the low dose of Elavil,
>that your pain is better. Elavil is used widely in the treatment of
>chronic pain conditions. 10mg is a low dose, and is usually what the
>Drs. will start a patient on....at least from what I have learned in my
>research and talks with my Dr.
>
>>- or would a dose this low not really do
>>anything?
>
>It may very well help.
>
>>I think the pill might be a major cause of my
>>depression/moodiness and UTI symptoms (which happen around the same time
>>every month) and I am going off of it on September 3.
>
>Some pills will do that. Ortho Tri-cyclen is a big one. Both my cousin
>and I were downright hateful on OTC. Thankfully though, we weren't on
>it at the same time!!! Now, wouldn't that make for a fun family
>reunion?!?!? ;o)
>
>>I was thinking of
>>seeing if things got better then, and then thinking about Elavil if my
>>symptoms hadn't gone away. But, I discussed this with my dr. and he
>>pretty much chewed me out and told me that over the next few weeks the
>>symptoms will come back if I don't stay on the Elavil.
>
>Remember, this is your body, and you have to do what you feel is right
>(unless of course your safety, or the safety of others is at risk...not
>saying it is, just adding that). I personally don't see anything wrong
>with waiting from what you have said, but I evidentally don't know
>everything about you and your problems to say. If your Dr. is
>insistent that you stay on the Elavil, and you don't feel comfortable
>with that, you might want to seek out another opinion.
>
>>Also, I am going
>>away to Europe for the next two weeks and was concerned that my body
>>will be affected because my "bedtime" will change by 6 hours. Dizziness,
>>weakness, nausea are also listed on the monograph, (and alcohol
>>consumption is forbidden) but I suspect the monograph is writtten for
>>all doses (up to 150 mg or more). Would I be able to have a glass of
>>wine or two, or some beer while in Paris? What advice do you have on
>>Elavil?
>>
>>Also, is it bad to take pyridium for an extended period of time/. It
>>decreases urinary frequency, and since I will be on vacation and not
>>able to run to the restroom every hour or so I plan on taking some with
>>me...
>>
>>Thanks!
>>I will be away for two weeks starting this Thursday, so then you all
>>will get a break from me! Thanks for your kindness, compassion, concern
>>and advice!
>
>Have a wonderful vacation!!!!! I'm jealous...need someone to carry your
>luggage?? ;o)
>
>Feel better. I know I'm not a Dr., and hope you don't mind me helping
>out a little.
>
>--
>Robin
>
>--
>~Robin~
>
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