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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Little Monkey on October 13, 2003, at 13:59:34
I was diagnosed with dysthymic disorder earlier this year by a psychotherapist whom I now see regularly. I have been through trial periods of Zoloft, Lexapro and Wellbutrin this year each with side effects and/or didn't work. I have been on Effexor XR 75 for about 4 months with some progress. I also have sleeping difficulties which were further enhanced (apparently) by the Effexor so I am also taking Ambien 10 mg nightly. (3 months so far)
After two months or so of feeling that Effexor was helping me, I started to periodically fall back into depressive type of episodes - oversensitivity of feelings, mood swings, anger, crying, etc. - normally well hidden but painful none the less. I am gaining weight because I can't stop feeling hungry. I have once again gone back to personality swings from being very passive and childlike to very judgemental and agressive. Then, two weeks ago, I quit my job of over two years on the spot because of a comment my immediate boss said to me and came home.
To make a long story somewhat shorter, I think that my Effexor may not been working as well as it used to, especially with the added stress of now being unemployed. My prescription bills are through the roof and doctor's visits are the same. Over the past week or so I have occasionally forgotten to take my medicine (which I have never done in the past) and have been experiencing increasing mood swings, crying spells, extreme dizziness and no energy. I seem to be "slowing down" in nearly everything I do. My motivation level is less than normal, further decreasing my ability to push myself to find a new job.
The added problem is that I have no money and my insurance switch-over means that I will have to pay out of my pocket for a month or so until they reimburse me. I don't have the $250 for my meds (which are now running out), the $260 insurance payment and the $125 doctor visit fee to even get me through this month.
I feel like I am in a never ending cycle. I am only 27 years old and I am having difficulty finding anything that makes me happy anymore. I can't seem to escape long enough to catch my breath. I find myself more and more wishing I could just be thrown in a hospital so that I can find some kind of help in stabilizing my mind. I think the recently added stress load is contributing to me seeing things (such as things moving, images of people in my house, etc.) and vivid, disturbing dreams. I have also had more than one occasion of hearing people whisper to me when there was no one there.
My question is this: Where do I go from here? With no money, no close friends/family to talk to (except my fiance), and my emotional status spiraling down faster than I can handle, what do I do? Do I have any options left before things get any worse?
I appreciate all of your help and have (unfortunately) found comfort in reading posts of others because it helps me know that I am not alone.
Posted by stjames on October 13, 2003, at 15:12:09
In reply to Overwhelmed, posted by Little Monkey on October 13, 2003, at 13:59:34
You are on a low dose of Effexor, you should try raising it. You can get your meds for free
http://www.needymeds.com/
Posted by ratgrrl on October 13, 2003, at 21:08:47
In reply to Overwhelmed, posted by Little Monkey on October 13, 2003, at 13:59:34
You can get meds from drug companies if your income is low enough (as stjames suggests), however it can take anywhere from 2-6 weeks for the meds to come in (I know because I've gotten them this way before) and it sounds like you don't have that kind of time.
When my drug coverage ran out this year (much to my surprise) and I was left stranded, my doc gave me samples to get me through. Not all meds are liberally sampled by the drug companies, but many psychiatric meds are. Let your dr know your situation. It sounds like its temporary (until new insurance kicks in if I'm understanding you right). He/She may well be able to get you enough meds for the next few months. Be persistent and be clear about the seriousness of your situation. If a doctor knows the choice is either finding you meds or you going off of them cold turkey when you run out, they will often find meds for you. But they can't help if they don't know the situation. Even if your doc doesn't have the meds on hand, chances are, he/she knows someone who does.
My next suggestion may or may not be particularly helpful. I am rapid cycling bipolar and this fall has been particularly difficult for me. I've been going through a lot of med changes and the result is a delightful mix of withdrawal and untreated bp symptoms. It sounds like your primary support is your fiance. Same is true for me. My poor girlfriend was having to deal with work, school, and research in addition to a partner who was a drain of time and energy. She loves me, but there's only so much a person can take. To top it off, we both work and go to school in the same graduate department, so it's hard for her to talk to any of our friends about the situation because they know me and she didn't want to make me look bad.
It was in a mixed state of exhaustion and loneliness that we finally broke down and went to a support group for people with bipolar disorder or depression and their friends/family/partners. We thought we could do this ourselves, but we can't. It has been an unbelievable relief to talk to real people in the same boat. The group we went to is an affiliate of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) and they are a national organization. Some chapters are better than others, but it may be worth a try to find a local one. This group is for people with depression as well as bp, so I think it would be a fine place for you to go with a diognosis of Dysthymia. Their website is http://www.dbsalliance.org/
Hope this helps a little,
ratgrrl
Posted by Little Monkey on October 14, 2003, at 10:22:54
In reply to Re: Overwhelmed, posted by ratgrrl on October 13, 2003, at 21:08:47
Thank you for your suggestions of both alternative sources of medication and the support group. I was surprised just moments ago to find that a DBSA support group meets not far from me and I am on my way to call them now.
Thank you so much for listening.
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