Sertraline and any other AD's Support Thread Part 2

[PackItInNow]

Just a continuation from the original thread, which is due to finish soon. Anyone and everyone needing some kind words, and hand-holding, are more than welcome .

[Barkyboots]

vicar I totally understand your worry about how much to disclose... Although I guess nothing about your work situation is going to change unless you tell them what's causing you the problem. At that point I think they're legally obliged to demonstrate that they're doing all that can be deemed 'reasonable' to support you... Do you have a contact in HR you could approach? They would know the legal requirements and might be more responsive. No organisation wants a claim made against them for being found to be liable for your mental health problems. Think the law treats mental health the same as physical health in that the employer can be liable for causing you 'injury'.

[PackItInNow]

Morning Vicar and Barky. Welcome to the thread Barky. I hope you find it a realease to come on here and rant/cry/whatever. We're here to help each other and try to support everyone .

Anyway, I'll be back on at some point today, but got to go. Take care ladies.

[somewherebecomingrain]

Hi Barky yes i went through something similar. i clung on when i should have got the hell out of there and it got so bad i don't think i've ever got over it. it's complex and everyone's experience is slightly different - sometimes it's the right thing to complain/fight but sometimes it's better just to leave that to someone stronger to do at some other time and put yourself first. But maybe the situation isn't as bad as mine was i don't know.
xxx

[somewherebecomingrain]

ps vicar re side effects i was on fluoxetine and there were a few days when i was a bit sleepy then suddenly i was full of energy. i never stopped wanting to have a nap in the middle of the day if it was at all possible, but if it wasn't possible i was fine, i just slept well at night. if you hang in there it will pass i'm sure.

xx

[susiedaisy]

Hi thinking of everyone today x

[Barkyboots]

Thank you for the welcome packitin - suddenly starting to experience the amazing power of MN for myself, strangers sharing experiences and offering support... how brilliant is that?!
and thank you somewhere - that's awful to hear that you 'clung on when you should have got the hell out of there'. I suppose for me the 'clinging on' is partly about a sense of justice and fairness (why should I be forced out of the job I've had for 13 years?), and partly out of wonky confidence: (could I really start a business of my own using the skills I use at work and make it fly?) Overall though, other aspects of my life are very good: kind caring husband, two fantastic teenage DSs, it's crazy that I am allowing this situation to make me so stressed and unhappy. Ugghh, I need to get a grip. Perhaps the return to work will clarify once and for all what I'm feeling and what I need to do. Really appreciate you sharing though. Sorry I haven't read all of the preceding thread to this one, what's your situation and how are you doing? Feel you're making progress?
Good to meet you all - warm wishes on a cold day...

[VicarInaTutuDrankSantasSherry]

afternoon everyone.

thanks somewhere im on sertraline, not fluoxetene, but its not just making me a bit sleepy, im completely wiped out. fatigue beyond anything ive ever experienced before, and the problem for me is that i work shifts so im not even sure when i should take it when i go back to work - the shift pattern i do is earlies, then lates, then nights, (2 days of each so its hard to adjust) and at present i cant stay awake at night....im going to give it another week or so but then if im still this fatigued its just going to cause me more problems than the pills are solving i think.

i was up early today for dentist and hair dresser but i found myself very sleepy on the way home and while driving.

i feel better for getting up early though. Im just knackered now.

[jazzyl]

Hi all, can anyone answer my question please? I have been taking setraline for about 4 months now (150mg) and the dry mouth bit is really gettin me down so doc changing me to Mirtazapine. Does anyone know how long it takes for the dry mouth to recover? Have had week on 100mg, then week on 50mg and just started M. thanx

[VicarInaTutuDrankSantasSherry]

sorry jazzy i have no idea - have you asked your doctor? my dose of sertraline is much smaller than yours so im not finding the dry mouth the biggest problem, i would ask the doc, hope you find the mirtazapine better.

[jazzyl]

Cheers Vicar, I have apt with doc in a couple of weeks to see how M is suiting me, just fed up of biting inside of lips as they keep sticking to my teeth, aargh. Bad enough feelin like crap without people thinkin I pullin faces all the time, lol

[Autumnalis]

What time are you taking the sertraline? I've changed to evenings around 7 pm. It seems marginally better, the feeling of dread is in the middle of the night rather than on the way to work. Taking them for a week now.

[turnedupsidedown]

Hello. Really hard day today. just about keeping the house going (I have 4 children).....supposed to be going out later to help with tea and coffee at a small event, but just sat fretting about it so have said I am not going. Anxiety seems worse at the moment.....struggling and tearful today.
Managed parents evening at a secondary school on Monday for my eldest which was really good. HAve Christmas play in the juniors next Monday which I just cannot face- hot hall, long play with 60 kids in....but feel guilty about not going to watch ds.....all a bit much.
Have cut back on lots of things that I normally do -trying to pace myself, but it doesn't seem to be working.....only 2 weeks on sertraline 50mg. Seeing Dr next week-do you think they will increase dose?

[VicarInaTutuDrankSantasSherry]

autumn i take mine at about tea time so around 5pm - i find taking it with food helps with the nausea. The trouble is when i start shifts again ive no idea when to take it - when im on nights should i take it in the early hours when i eat? or before i go to bed? will i ever wake up again if i do that? it seems to have totally made my body grind to a halt, however some of the side effects seem to be easing a bit.

ive been taking it for one week and 2 days.....

turnedup from reading up it seems that it can take a good few weeks to start to feel any benefit. Im ploughing on with mine, even though the side effects seem to be outweighing the benefit at the minute....im hoping that within another few weeks i may be feeling more like myself. (or at least less whingy, miserable and lethargic)

[VicarInaTutuDrankSantasSherry]

autumn i take mine at about tea time so around 5pm - i find taking it with food helps with the nausea. The trouble is when i start shifts again ive no idea when to take it - when im on nights should i take it in the early hours when i eat? or before i go to bed? will i ever wake up again if i do that? it seems to have totally made my body grind to a halt, however some of the side effects seem to be easing a bit.

ive been taking it for one week and 2 days.....

turnedup from reading up it seems that it can take a good few weeks to start to feel any benefit. Im ploughing on with mine, even though the side effects seem to be outweighing the benefit at the minute....im hoping that within another few weeks i may be feeling more like myself. (or at least less whingy, miserable and lethargic)

[VicarInaTutuDrankSantasSherry]

aaarrrggghhhh!! no idea why that posted twice.....sorry! MN is playing up for me at min....

[Autumnalis]

Tricky with shifts starting so soon when you haven't yet established a pattern to the side effects. The worst for me is insomnia, if I could shift this awakeness to be during daytime ( IYSWIM). Also the panic attacks, the feeling of dread as I drive to work. The nausea and jaw thing aren't too troubling. OTOH I can almost convince myself that something is already changing for the better.

[jazzyl]

Always took my sertraline 1st thing in the morning turnedup, also started at 100mg then went to 150mg, so yes doc will prob increase it.

[WorldOfMeh]

Hello, folks.

Looks like there's a different crowd on here now- I've not been checking in for a while. In general, have been trying to spend a bit less time online/on forums etc, but actually, it's nice to have somewhere to come back to when things aren't going so well. And.. they kind of aren't.

Sorry, I feel a bit whingy and maybe it's taking the p*ss to come on here just to moan, but perhaps I could just say 'ADVISORY, SELF PITYING WHINGING AHEAD' and people could just opt out- deal?

Right, now that's sorted... have really been very lucky in that I had a good GP who informed me about various local services as well as giving me drugs. I've been attending a counselling/creche service, even started doing yoga and stuff like that, to get stronger properly.

Trouble is, my brain keeps throwing up things I don't want to think about- like all the ways I've screwed up in my life, and how it's too late to fix it, too late to get a decent career with a proper income. I don't work, at the moment- don't know where to begin with it. I am dependent on my partner, and it rankles. He doesn't deliberately hold it over me, but I feel there are power shifts going on in our relationship that worry me.

Anyway. I started getting flashes in my head of running a razor blade along my veins, like that's pretty much the only option left. A fairly abstract feeling, not a strong urge, but not good either. I try to push it out of my head, but it keeps coming back.

Then yesterday, I had one of those bloody mornings. Trying to get out of the house on time to get to the shrink, and my toddler did something at the last moment that stuffed it all up, and I was wheeling around the house trying to still make it all come together, and I totally lost it- and smashed my foot into a heavy piece of furniture, full force. Only I wasn't wearing my usual armoured boots, because I had decided to make an effort. Ha ha.

By evening the pain was bad enough I had to accept it might be broken, so had to go to A&E to get it x-rayed. Hours of fun.

No bones broken, but I am now on crutches. Not sure how long for. Sigh. And now I am even more dependent on my partner than before, and everything is a million times harder, and I just wish I could go back and stop myself, do something less damaging instead even, but I can't. There is no 'control Z' in real life, is there? Duh.

[somewherebecomingrain]

Hey worldofmeh it is a different crowd but a lively one. So sorry to hear about your awful morning. I am also not really earning and nor is my partner - I wish we had that power game for him to play! Your foot will get better - it's nothing irrevocable. But I see that your state of mind is not so good and these thoughts are probably not gonna change that. Glad u have a shrink you are doing all the right things - people like us who try so hard on all fronts who are forced to dig deep get to know life better than anyone I think. Can you think of this time as something that will pass - there will be better days ahead? Xx

[VicarInaTutuDrankSantasSherry]

sorry you had such a shitty day worldofmeh dont dwell on your foot - its done and it will mend and dont feel bad for offloading on this thread - i think its what its here for.

hope you feel better tomorrow.

[turnedupsidedown]

Morning.....supposed to be going to something this morning but cannot face going.....do I make myself go or stay in the warm and chill out? I can't face it....putting on a 'happy head' and making polite conversation with people. I hate being like this......I hate letting people down.....but just now I need to stop! Help....

[susiedaisy]

World- I've just recovered from breaking my toe it will heal but I understand your frustration especially at this time of year.

[susiedaisy]

turned did you go? Don't worry if you didn't, be kind to yourself and give yourself a break, put yourself first, there will always be more social events to go to, this time of year can be manic I used to feel it more when the kids were younger as primary schools are so busy with Xmas stuff but as they start seniors it drops right off thank goodness!

Hope everyone is ok x

[VicarInaTutuDrankSantasSherry]

morning everyone.

turned i hope you managed to make a decision and your ok.
Im still fretting over work and seeing gp on monday....i wish i could wake up without a worry in my head occasionally.

[turnedupsidedown]

Thank you lovely people. I went and survived. It is a group that I help run and it was the Christmas party so.......took a deep breath and went. Going to have a nap now.
I look forward to the day when the bleakness lifts....I hope it is soon.Hibernating seems like a very good idea-I should be a polar bear maybe.....