by Marcia Purse
Last time I wrote I had a lot to share:
- The failure of the combination of Celexa and Trazodone to combat depression after I suffered through an illness followed by an injury;
- The delightful hypomania that began almost immediately after my doctor added a low dose of Serzone to the mix on June 2; and
- The significant improvement in coping skills I achieved by using techniques from an online seminar at OnHealth.
July 9: Altogether, the upbeat mood lasted about five weeks - until my next menstrual period started. This was also shortly before a major birthday for me - one of those that ends in a Zero. A definite slide toward the depressive began around this time, triggered perhaps by my period and/or my birthday; another possible cause is that my body was becoming accustomed to Serzone.
July 20: I badly mishandled today's appointment with my psychiatrist, Dr. Meyer. Feeling better than usual that day, I minimized the degree of the negative change in my mood. BAD idea.
Based on my inaccurate report, his recommendation was to cut the dose of Celexa in half (from 20 mg to 10) while doubling Serzone (from 50 mg/twice a day to 100). Our goal, he told me, is to get me off Celexa altogether, since Celexa, like all the SSRIs, has the potential to cause weight gain and/or block weight loss.
This med change was disastrous.
July 22: Within two days I was back in a dark and grumbling depression. Nasty. Cross. Sleeping badly. Terrible problems with racing thoughts at night. And paralyzed. Didn't want to do anything.
July 24: I went back to 20 mg of Celexa on my own. My mood began to improve again right away, so I called Dr. Meyer to tell him what had happened and what I had done about it. "That's fine," he said. "It's not like we're on a timetable here."
Though probably there was no connection, my back decided to go out that day, too, and a few days later I developed a condition called costochondritis, which is a painful inflammation of the cartilage which attaches the lower ribs to the sternum (breastbone).
Because of persistent back problems and now costochondritis, I have been advised by my chiropractor to withdraw from The Sergeant's Program exercise class. It's a GREAT program, don't get me wrong - but it is too strenuous for someone with fibromyalgia.
July 29: In spite of having pulled out of the worst depression, I was still struggling to take care of necessary tasks. Then I realized what else had happened during the downswing in mood that began around July 9. My "Things To Do" list had gotten so big that it was a depressant all by itself. So, mindful of the lessons I learned about not letting a list overwhelm you, I started over with a clean list. Oh, I have the old one and check it for reminders, but don't have the big list staring me in the face daily. ONLY today's jobs go on today's list. It helps, but I'm finding I need to put a few more things on each day's list to keep from developing a backlog.
August 16: Last night I did not take the medication, Naproxen (prescription-strength Aleve), prescribed for costochondritis. And I had trouble with racing thoughts in the night. This made me realize that for many nights, racing thoughts had been absent. An anti-inflammatory medication eases racing thoughts? I'll have to check this out.
Also, my "Things To Do" list has exploded again. This is bad.
Current meds and supplements:
- Celexa 20 mg, morning
- Serzone 200 mg, 100 morning, 100 bedtime
- Trazodone 25 mg, bedtime
- Multiple vitamin
- Fish oil concentrate (for Omega-3 fatty acids) 2-3 times daily (I have trouble remembering after the morning pill)
- Glucosamine Chondroitin - recommended by some for costochondritis, long term
- Other meds: Zocor for high cholesterol, Naproxen for costochondritis - tapering this off
Next: 17 Months
Resources:
Need A Stretch? - Three shareware programs that will remind you periodically to get up from your computer and stretch or move around. I have found this reminder to be a godsend. Be cautious with the programs' back exercises, though, if you have back problems.
Costochondritis - Clinical information.
Fibromyalgia at About.com - About Chronic Fatigue/Fibromyalgia.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids - Information about how fish oil is good for bipolar disorder.
Medications - Links to all our medication-related pages, including the Side Effects Library.
