Re: a - I need your sage advice or links.

[Guest guest]

i always wonder when they stop one and start another, how do you know what is

from what. can you just stop wellbutrin? i still haven't tried the trazadone

yet. i picked it up last night, saw that dizziness on the label and just put

it down and slept with nothing. no pms or anything. kathy in il

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/1/2002 4:15:24 PM Central Daylight Time,

kringlemom@... writes:

> i always wonder when they stop one and start another, how do you know what

> is

> from what. can you just stop wellbutrin? i still haven't tried the

> trazadone

> yet. i picked it up last night, saw that dizziness on the label and just

> put

> it down and slept with nothing. no pms or anything. kathy in il

>

>

Kathy, When I first started using Trazadone in Nov.of 98, I was on 400mg per

night. I had been on a mild tranquilizer for about a week, due to our house

having burned down. I had already had sleep problems before this. The

tranquilizers were turning me into a zombie (can't even remember a lot of

what happened that particular week). The doc decided to put me on Trazadone,

both for sleep and as an antidepressant. 400mg is a lot of Trazadone. I was

dizzy for about the first week and with that large a dose would be falling

asleep before I made it to the bed. The dizziness went away quickly and the

dosage was tapered down to 200mg. I had no problems waking up in the morning

or even in the middle of the night (I would be drowsy, but not completely out

of it). I have stopped taking it a few times since and had no side effects,

other than the fact that I go right back to not sleeping for more than an

hour at a time. I am prescribed 200mg per night at this time, but usually

only take 100mg. My doctor leaves that option up to me, in case I am having

a particularly hard time sleeping. I have seen several people respond on

this list that is hasn't worked for or had side effects, as for me it's kind

of my little miracle drug. My entire maternal side of the family has sleep

problems, including all three of my children (ages 21,19, and 12). I tried

tylenol pm, but had stomach problems. Anyway, sorry this is long,

Alice

in Texas

[Guest guest]

thanks alice. i just really have a hard time with side effects. they always

make me nervous. probably because i watched my dad have reactions to

everything. i just never know how long to stop one before taking the other.

kathy in il

[Guest guest]

Hi Jan:

Glad to hear that you found a doctor who was

sympathetic and a good listener! My doctor is really

great - they are hard to find - and always takes

whatever extra time is needed to talk things out with

me. I don't know if you should tell anyone of your

diagnosis or not - it might do more harm than good as

far as your work is concerned. But I don't know your

employer or your work situation - maybe you have a

more understanding boss. I don't know if that would

be something I would let be known if I were working -

I would be afraid that they would find someway to get

rid of me fearing increased medical costs and time off

of work. Maybe some others have a different view on

this.

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Jan and Kathe - I was fired four hours after I told my

supervisor of my diagnosis. My previous job was

wonderful about it as several people in the department

had similar health issues. So, I guess you would know

best what kind of employer you have and how they would

react to your health problems. Iris

--- Kathe Sabetzadeh <lv2ryd@...> wrote:

> Hi Jan:

>

> Glad to hear that you found a doctor who was

> sympathetic and a good listener! My doctor is

> really

> great - they are hard to find - and always takes

> whatever extra time is needed to talk things out

> with

> me. I don't know if you should tell anyone of your

> diagnosis or not - it might do more harm than good

> as

> far as your work is concerned. But I don't know

> your

> employer or your work situation - maybe you have a

> more understanding boss. I don't know if that would

> be something I would let be known if I were working

> -

> I would be afraid that they would find someway to

> get

> rid of me fearing increased medical costs and time

> off

> of work. Maybe some others have a different view on

> this.

>

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

Jan,

I'm glad you found a doctor that you like and listens to you. Sorry about

the FM diagnosis, but at least you know what you are dealing with.

What dose are you taking of trazadone and how often? When I was prescribed

it, I only took it at night, an hour before bedtime. I never experienced

any side effects, or if I did I slept through them. I slept like a log

while on the trazadone. But everyone is different. By the sounds of what

you wrote, you may be taking them in the daytime? I can't say that the

trazadone gave pain relief, but the great quality of sleep I got made me

feel much better, so yes to some extent they gave me pain relief. Pain is

amplified when I'm sleep deprived.

Wellbutrin was prescribed to my husband to help him quit smoking. When he

read the pamphlet of side effects, he decided to quit without the

wellbutrin. To say there is virtually no side effects is something I don't

agree with. There are side effects with all of the antidepressants, but

serious side effects are minimal. Seizures are the most serious. Just like

all the meds we take, we have to weigh the pros and cons, and decide if the

benefit outweighs the risks. Why did the doctor take you off elavil if it

was helping? It is know to cause weight gain. Did you gain weight on

elavil?

As far as your job, I'm not sure what to tell you. I think it depends on

your employer. If it doesn't interfere with your job performance, I don't

think I'd tell them. If it interferes, it would be better to let them know

that you have a medical reason for not doing your job rather than them think

you're a slacker.

Some info:

Wellbutrin (Bupropion) Effective For Weight Loss in Women

http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/20601a.htm

Bupropion Wellbutrin. What are the real side effects. Find them here.

http://www.prozactruth.com/bupropion.htm

Bupropion ( Wellbutrin ) versus Trazodone ( Desyrel )

http://www.biopsychiatry.com/bupovtraz.htm

Medications for Fibromyalgia & Myofascial Pain Syndromes

http://cfidspittsburgh.homestead.com/files/Medications_for_Fibromyalgia.htm

a

a:

The doctor I saw last Tuesday was just great! She took the time to listen to

me and go over all my medical history. I also took a clue from everyone here

and wrote down my life events and all the medical history as I remembered

it.

She was very attentive and asked many questions. By the time we were

through,

she had diagnosed me with FMS. At last a doctor that didn't tell me it was

in

my head. She immediately took me off the Elavil and put me on Trazadone. For

the weight situation, she put me on Wellbutrin SR and told me that it helps

with appetite control and weight loss. Since I've been on the Wellbutrin, I

have begun to notice a decrease in the number of times a day that I need to

eat. But, the Trazdone is another story. I thought at first it was just the

transition from the Elavil and that my body just needed to adjust to the

change. Along about Friday, I started getting more stiff and more pain plus

not being able to sleep well. By Tuesday, I thought I was just in a flare,

however, a book arrived yesterday from the Fybromyalgia Network on

medicines.

In there, it stated that Trazadone should help somewhat with the sleep but

that

it did not offer any pain relief. Last night was one the worst nights I have

had in a long, long time. I was almost in a stupor from all the pain and

went

to bed. I was so out of it that I forgot to take any tylenol or the

Trazadone

before I went to sleep. Fortunately, I have an inner clock that woke me up

at

6:30 with just enough time to get my grandson up to go to the neighbors and

to

get ready to go to work. I am very stiff and hurt today but am better than

yesterday except for a light head. Are there many links to information on

the

Wellbutrin and the Trazadone? I won't see the doctor again until the end of

August. She told me there were virtually no side affects with either

medication. After learning about the weight gain and the rapid pulse all the

time from the Elavil(and possible bust increase), certainly do not want to

let

these go to long if there are side affects. Also, now that I have a real

diagnosis, should I let my human resource department or my director know

about

it. I have kinda kept the pain to myself and haven't let anyone know before

now. Is this to my advantage down the road or not? Anyone have any

experience

with this? Thank you for the support. Sorry about my postings, I think it is

the frustrated writer in me. Jan in CA :=)

[Guest guest]

I was told several years ago I had Arthritis. But plodded along anyway.

I moved here about 7 years ago, and did not need to work at this time,

but wanted to (kids grown and gone syndrome). So I got a job at a local

business (which was a big business, local owned). It was fun and a lot

of lifting was done, but my job description did not have but very little

lifting that I COULD handle.... I was in charge of sales and accounts

which allowed me to " travel " around the county. I mentioned to one of

the girls I worked with that I had been going to a chiropractor (she

complained to me of her back hurting) and that I had been given long

ago, the diagnosis of " unstable spine " along with arthritis... well, the

girl wanted the job I had because it allowed traveling and out of office

environment daily. She had even told me once that SHE had wanted that

job but they would not let her.

So.... she went to the Owner! When I got back that day I was told I was

being " let go because you are too much of a liability. " I know I could

have fought it, and that by law you can't " fire " someone if they are

disabled, blah, blah, blah...yea sure. But I didn't. I would now, if I

needed to work, keep my " illnesses " to myself. And then IF it caused a

problem in certain areas of my job description, I would then go to the

supervisor. But by no means " think " that you can tell a " co worker " or

anyone else something on a job. By the way...the co worker who went to

the boss, still has MY JOB to this day!

Susie

Iris Nosker wrote:

> Jan and Kathe - I was fired four hours after I told my

> supervisor of my diagnosis. My previous job was

> wonderful about it as several people in the department

> had similar health issues. So, I guess you would know

> best what kind of employer you have and how they would

> react to your health problems. Iris

>

> --- Kathe Sabetzadeh <lv2ryd@...> wrote:

> > Hi Jan:

> >

> > Glad to hear that you found a doctor who was

> > sympathetic and a good listener! My doctor is

> > really

> > great - they are hard to find - and always takes

> > whatever extra time is needed to talk things out

> > with

> > me. I don't know if you should tell anyone of your

> > diagnosis or not - it might do more harm than good

> > as

> > far as your work is concerned. But I don't know

> > your

> > employer or your work situation - maybe you have a

> > more understanding boss. I don't know if that would

> > be something I would let be known if I were working

> > -

> > I would be afraid that they would find someway to

> > get

> > rid of me fearing increased medical costs and time

> > off

> > of work. Maybe some others have a different view on

> > this.

> >

> >

> >

> > __________________________________________________

> >