***Citalopram Buddies... ;o)***

[ShinyHappyPurpleSeveredHeads]

Well.. jumping in on the act of the other "buddy threads", there seem to a shed load of us on citalopram.

How many of us are there exactly?

What dosage are you all on? Is it working?

I'm on 10mg for anxiety. It certainly takes the edge off the panic feelings and stops me waking up with that dreadful, crippling anxious feeling, as if my stomach's in a vice. But being as things are a bit crap at the moment, I do feel generally down even though I've never been technically considered depressed (just suffering from lifestyle induced anxiety!)

DH is on 20mg. Similar reasons, slightly different symptoms.

We have been on it since June.

I came off mine (sensibly) a month of so ago but the horrid panic came back and I just couldn't face all that again. It makes life "un-do-able" and I have a lot of stuff that I have to get done everyday/responsibilities etc. So not sure what the answer is but I certainly don't want to stay on anti depressants forever and GP originally mentioned a 6 month time slot.

What are other's experiences?

PS I hate the "no orgasm" side effect of citalopram!! It really really bothers me.. main reason I wanted to come off it.. but I hate the anxiety more! Anyone else on it suffer in that way?

have been on cital for approx 2.5 years with dosage decreased and increased throughout.thought things were fine, until mental health guru decided to put her child in the playcentre where i work.my boss doesnt know of my mental health history, i am fully qualified and experienced in my choice of career. do i tell my boss, or hope the parent doesnt breach confidentiality to my boss help!!

Hi girls, hope you're all well today!
Hi madlizzie.
Only tell your boss if that's what YOU want to do! The guru cannot say anything as it breaches patient confidentiality and you could make sure they get their ass fired if they tell anyone! Besides if your depression is controlled (with or without medication) then it doesn't affect your ability to do your job well. In most lines of work it probably wouldn't be as much of an issue but when you are working with children and you confess to mental health problems then you worry that people will judge you as unfit to care for the kids. I am speaking from experience!

thanks for your comments, chubbymummy!! having a pretty good day today, am going to keep my issues to myself at work, and carry on being a bloody good practitioner!! hope everyone else is having a good day-keep smiling (smile)

Welcome madlizzi,Glad everyone seems to be good at the minute.

Ive had a pretty bad cold and forgot to take my pils on two occasions last week so have been a bit manic!! Havent had the courage to start on the 20mg but my 40mgs are running out so will have to!! Hubby been away so think i'll do it when he comes back during the week.

Yes chin up madlizzi and dont talk about you AD unless you really want to.

Chubby, how are you feeling now?

Squirdle are you ok?

Spring enjoy your biscuits in bed, i've got mine for tonight!!!

KK are you back to work tomorrow? Good luck

Hi Girls

I'm not starting back today, although I might be meeting my boss for a coffee so that she can update me on whats happening.
Because the GP put on my sick note which runs until this Friday that I could return earlier if I felt well, Occ Health have said that I would need to get a note from GP saying I was fit, I think you have to do this for legal reasons. Anyway I have had itchy skin and sore throat and headache etc. so GP said leave it this week, don't go back until feel tip top

Twigy I would wait until your Hubby was back to reduce just in case, I'm sure it will be fine but always reassuring to have someone on hand.

Spring Sunshine you sound really positive and I hope work is ok.

Hi all,
I have been feeling a lot more positive about being home with DS. DP even started a temp job, full-time, last week and I have actually anjoyed being home with the little man! It's so different to when I was on maternity leave and I wish I had got help then.

Last night was a bit hairy though. DP decided to get the bus to work this morning so I would have the car to get some shopping in. I normally love shopping but I was having panic attacks thinking about going shopping on my own. What an idiot, eh?

Well anyway so far I have dropped DS off at childminders and taken DP to bus stop and walked the dog. It's going well so far...

Hi girls. GGGGGGRRRRRRRRRR Father-in-laws are arses!!!!!!!

Oh feel better for that.

Kk make the most of this week and you have a sympathy. Have as much rest as you can this week.

Itsa you can do this looking after DS lark, ive seen you and you are brilliant.

aw shucks, Twigy! I am enjoying it now. Although I am also enjoying today while he is at the childminders
It's much easier to go to the Post Office / Pet Shop / walk the dog without the little man in tow.
I got a parcel of super clothes in the post from a fellow MNer this morning and that has really cheered me up

Not doing too bad thanks Twigy. Still getting the dizziness but not constantly and not too severely either. I can still carry on what I'm doing when it happens now, it just feels like my vision has gone wonky and it's difficult to focus for a minute. I seem to be constantly hungry and can't stop eating though - not a good sign when I have weight watchers on Thursday!!!!!!!!
Why is your father-in-law an arse? It's the mother-in-law in my case, evil,evil woman! She told me AGAIN this week that it's my fault my son has asthma as I let him down by not bothering to breastfeed (in actual fact I fed him for a week but couldn't get him to latch on properly and then gave up when I got mastitis)

Oh poor you, my mother outlaw is ok, we will never be friends but the father outlaw is doing my headin over childcare. With this new job my hubby wanted his dad to look after LO,(i really dont) I gave in and he is now making things really complicated.

Twigy, stick the little man in with a childminder and then you don't have to worry. My son loves his childminder now, although she is his second - the first one didn't work out.

Chubby, I know you have said before, but how long have you been on the tablets now? The dizziness should go away I think after a while.
Don't let your MIL make you feel guilty. Oldies can be so thoughtless. My parents were here this weekend with my niece. My neice told me that my mum was saying how she thought it was so wrong to let the little man walk around when he was eating a biscuit. God forbid!! It gets worse though - it was a rusk! (sorry Twigy!)

where is everyone?

poor Hardknock had a bad night and has woken up with a headache

Ah poor you, try to get some fresh air for a bit Itsa.

yeah I am going to take doggy out in a bit.

I'm here - should be in bed but what the heck

Feeling / doing well; kicked some serious ass at work today and got the required result - yeah!!!

House is a tip with dh away and me back to work 'full time' but never mind! Dd wants to vacuum the dining room floor (covered with rice crispies from unsupervised breakfasts whilst I get ready ) so we can do that next week - away for the weekend joining dh in Portsmouth

Interviewing some potential babysitters next week so hopefully that will solve my going out problem - have / will miss 3 meetings these 2 weeks

Also managed to deal sucesfully with 'worst case scenario' with dc school collection - mother could not collect them as has an infection (not helped by low immunity due to the chemo) and I had an important meeting I could not really miss. Managed to get home at lunchtime and make them a snack, go to school to tell them and get them booked into after school club. Even collected them on time despite meeting running over (thankfully not much traffic!) so now feeling very relaxed about things.

Itsa - sorry you woke with a headache, hope the fresh air with doggie helped.

Twigy - how are the chocolate biscuits - I have definitley had too much chocolate and not enough exercise

Chubby - glad you are doing reasonably well, long may it last!

kk - hope meeting your boss went OK; good idea not to overdo things if you are not feeling fully fit. I am feeling Ok now but I cannot beleive how tired I was the first few days back at woirk.

Welcome madlizzie - hope all is going well, and agree with the rest about your work /parent situation. Most people in a work situation are very good at respecting confidentiality

Phew - sorry, marathon post!

Spring, you have a lot to deal with You must be far more organised than me!

Hi Girls,

gosh Spring you seem so much better now and are dealing with things so confidently, WELL DONE . Hope you enjoy your weekend with DH.

Hubby had been home midweek thankfully it was the night of the earthquake, when my bed shook I was terrified and thankful he was there.

I have had a week like yours regarding organising childcare but thankfully Itsa was at hand to help with a solution!!!

KK How did your coffee meeting with your boss?

Squirdle are you ok, hope your not being around is a sign you are feeling better?

Chubby how are you feeling now?

these tablets have made my periods come every three weeks

Glad you said that Itsa, I thought something was wrong with me and DH thinks I have made it up so I can get out of a bit of loving with him!!!!!!

Hi Girls

Glad Twigy,Spring and Itsa you are all doing well.

Twigy when do you start your new job?
Itsa have you been out walking your doggie? I wish I had one to take for a walk, I feel silly just walking about by myself.

I met my boss today, my DS2 was sick at school on Weds pm so he has had to stay at home yesterday and today, but I left him for an hour to go and meet her for coffee at Sainsburys. She has been really brilliant and she was the one I was having trouble with, think now that because she is young, I was feeling a bit bitter and twisted as I had not gone for promotion while the kids were small and to be honest I know I could do the job but don't really want it, and have convinced myself now especially with Dad being ill to just go back make a fresh start and get on with it, I like the work anyway, I know what I am doing and don't have any staff, so its a doddle really. Anyway I am going to be more relaxed, as I beat myself up about the work home balance

Springsunshine, how did you cope when you went back, I'm only going to do 3 hours on my 3 days at work for the first week, and plan to rest up on my days off

Hi ladies.
Spring you sound like you could handle anything, well done!
Itsa and Twigy, sorry about the 3 weekly cycle - that's pants (big granny ones ha,ha!)!
kkgirl you sound a lot happier too, work is such a pain in the ass isn't it?!

Well my dizziness isn't completly gone but I'm so, so much better than I was. I'm handling thing fairly well without the tablets especially since I seem to be facing all manner of trials. My m-i-l is a psycho (and I'm ment to be the one with mental health issues ), the new teacher I have to work with is a monster, dh is at the pub and I'm alone with mumsnet AGAIN on a Friday night, and worst of all I have to take my cat to be put to sleep on Monday (I've had her for 12 years and I'm gutted ) she's sitting on my lap as I type and I feel so sad.
All this would normally send me running for the duvet but I'm holding it together and determined not to let myself slide back, I've worked so hard to come off the ad's and I need to make sure I stay off them now we're trying for a second child. I'm not due on for another week so fingers crossed I'm back here with a great big soon!!!!!

Chubby I am so sorry to hear about your cat. Don't hide under the duvet this weekend - spend the time with your cat.

I was wondering if anyone knows anything about the charity Mind? I saw a link and had a quick look at my local branch. You can get an hour of counselling for £4. I am considering it. I see my Occ Health on Weds, but my doc hasn't mentioned actually talking to someone. I don't know if it'd even help.

I just feel a bit trapped and like things are going in a downward spiral. We are in dire straights financially and DP, although not angry, is hardly talking to me because he is so worried about it all. My pay has halved this month and I was the wage-earner. He is now working but it's not enough money to survive. I'm also worried about DP's mental health - he is bipolar and I can see him slipping downwards too.

Twigy, I know you are probably tucked up in bed now, but good luck with the new job tomorrow x x