bubbles Posted July 21, 2012 Share Posted July 21, 2012 Barb, have been thinking of you... B 2005 St John's Wort / 2006-2012 Lexapro 20mg, 2 failed attempts to stop, tapered over 4.5 months in early 2012 January 2013 started Sertraline, over time worked up to 100mg July 2014 Sertraline dropped from 100mg to 75mg, held for six months, slower tapering until 2019 22 Dec 3.2mg 2020 Sertraline 19 Jan 3.1mg, 26 Jan 3.0mg; 1 Mar 2.9, 7 Mar 2.8, May (some drops here) 24 May 2.5, May 29 2.4, June 21 2.3, June 28 2.2mg, July 4 2.1mg, July 24 (or maybe a bit before) 2mg, early Nov switched to home made suspension; 29 Nov 1.8mg; approx 25 Dec 1.6mg) 2021 Some time in about Jan/Feb realised probably on more like 1.8mg and poss mixing error in making suspension; doses after 10 Feb accurate; 10 Feb 1.6mg; 7 Mar 1.4, continued monthly 10% drops until 1mg, then dropped 0.1mg monthly. May 2022,0.1mg, now dropping 0.01mg per week 29 August 2022 - first day of zero! My thread here at SA: https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/1775-bubbles/page/21/ Current: Armour Thyroid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barbarannamated Posted July 22, 2012 Author Share Posted July 22, 2012 Barb, have been thinking of you... B Bubbles, thank you. That means so much to me. This hospital thing set me back. It felt like an opportunity to get something done but all i got was sleep anxiety. I feel more hopeless than ever. Pristiq tapered over 8 months ending Spring 2011 after 18 years of polydrugging that began w/Zoloft for fatigue/general malaise (not mood). CURRENT: 1mg Klonopin qhs (SSRI bruxism), 75mg trazodone qhs, various hormonesLitigation for 11 years for Work-related injury, settled 2004. Involuntary medical retirement in 2001 (age 39). 2012 - brain MRI showing diffuse, chronic cerebrovascular damage/demyelination possibly vasculitis/cerebritis. Dx w/autoimmune polyendocrine failure.<p>2013 - Dx w/CNS Sjogren's Lupus (FANA antibodies first appeared in 1997 but missed by doc). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 They blamed my condition on endocrine but never called an endocrinologist in. Although I would never go to an ER for endocrine issues. I know my echocardiogram was ok. I know why thinking seems impossible. Trying to find the positive of that very expensive circus. So sorry about that frustration, Barb. I guess maybe the positive is that you got a lot of things ruled out at once that would probably have taken multiple visits to different specialists and labs, and would have taken a lot more time. (Especially to get the test results!) I can't imagine why they didn't call in an endocrinologist. But at least now you can see the one of your choice, and maybe get a second opinion if needed. I replied about my home BP monitor in the benzo thread http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/2671-clonazepam-question-how-and-whether-to-do-bid-dosing/#entry27617 (In a nutshell - I'm a night owl! - but maybe the info I gave about my home monitor will be helpful to you or others). In my post, I mentioned about how you're on two meds known to cause decreased BP. Maybe that combined with thyroid and possibly an adrenal issue altogether are collectively causing this??? If you're not satisfied with the endocrinologist you see, absolutely get a second (or more) opinion! Now that they're ruled out so many other things, maybe they'll buckle down and delve deeper into the endocrine issues. I was "TryingToGetWell" (aka TTGW) on paxilprogress. I also was one of the original members here on Surviving Antidepressants I had horrific and protracted withdrawal from paxil, but now am back to enjoying life with enthusiasm to the max, some residual physical symptoms continued but largely improve. The horror, severe derealization, anhedonia, akathisia, and so much more, are long over. My signature is a temporary scribble from year 2013. I'll rewrite it when I can. If you want to read it, click on http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/209-brandy-anyone/?p=110343 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nikki Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 Barb I hate throwing out "illnesses". It can be frightening more than helpful. You have so much knowledge on your body and the symptoms you have in addition to the various tests available. Sooooo, you really seem to like your Endo. Can the two of you put your thoughts together and let her Rx for tests. Has she seen the Thyroid results? We have got to be our own best advocates....Open your mouth and make requests if you feel you need them. We'll give your the courage to do it...... hugs and more hugs Intro: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1902-nikki-hi-my-rundown-with-ads/ Paxil 1997-2004 Crossed over to Lexapro Paxil not available at Pharmacies GSK halted deliveries Lexapro 40mgs Lexapro taper (2years) Imipramine Imipramine and Celexa Now Nefazadone/Imipramine 50mgs. each 45mgs. Serzone 50mgs. Imipramine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barbarannamated Posted July 24, 2012 Author Share Posted July 24, 2012 Saw endocrinologist today. Hospital wasnt able to get med records to him, but based on cortisol level pr-challenge (2), he said my adrenals are NOT OK (as Karma predicted) despite what the hospital said. Dx: JFK's disease- Addisons. Also Schmitt's, Raynaud's, polyendocrine failure as before. Ordered brain MRI to see extent of damage and pituitary involvement. All of which hospital said was ok. Rx: Cortef (steroid). I really shouldn't have to pay for that hospital fiasco. Pristiq tapered over 8 months ending Spring 2011 after 18 years of polydrugging that began w/Zoloft for fatigue/general malaise (not mood). CURRENT: 1mg Klonopin qhs (SSRI bruxism), 75mg trazodone qhs, various hormonesLitigation for 11 years for Work-related injury, settled 2004. Involuntary medical retirement in 2001 (age 39). 2012 - brain MRI showing diffuse, chronic cerebrovascular damage/demyelination possibly vasculitis/cerebritis. Dx w/autoimmune polyendocrine failure.<p>2013 - Dx w/CNS Sjogren's Lupus (FANA antibodies first appeared in 1997 but missed by doc). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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