Re: Anti-depressants and other meds

January 24, 2007

coleen hi i read your post about anti depressants and i have to recommend

Zoloft. Another you could ask about is cymbalta since you have so much pain...

its supposed to help pain and depresson as well. Not sure if yourrheumy can

prescribe that or not. Ask to be sure my PCP prescribed mine. HUGS hope all

goes well.

January 24, 2007

I had a similar problem. Food allergies caused it. When I started eating a diet

of meat, fruit and vegs with no processed food, my energy came back, inflamation

was vastly improved, and I stopped needing antibiotics for sinus infections all

the time. Those were caused by wheat allergy. I'm allergic to wheat, rye,

millet, yeast, dairy, eggs, pinto and kidney beans, sunflower and shrimp. My Dr.

sent my blood to Immuno Laboratories in Ft. Lauderdale for this. They tested me

for 115 different foods and sent me a list of what's safe and what's not.

Good Luck,

Colleen <cmcpherson@...> wrote:

I have an appointment next Tues. with my Rheumy. I haven't seen him

for 4 months, should have been three, but I was gone over Christmas.

I've lived in Florence, S.C. since late May and have had new doctors

as well. My new Rheumy took me off of Methotrexate because I'm on

Asacol for an auto immune Colitis and he felt that Asacol should help

with the RA and the combination of both of them may well damage my

liver. I am on Humira for the RA and I have been on Prosaic for

probably 30 years. I'm having a hard time now. I think I'm depressed,

can sleep all day and night if I don't make myself get up. My

mornings are very hard. It can take until afternoon for my hands to

stop hurting, even after a long hot shower I am stiff for hours. I

would like to try another antidepressant such as Zoluff and even

another bilogical like Embrel. Does your Rheumy prescribe your anti

deppressant or do you have to go to another doctor, such as a

psycologist? Do you think I should bring all this up at my next

visit? I got a job preparing taxes that lasted 2 1/2 weeks, I just

couldn't do it. It took me a long time to get ready and get to work,

then when I got home I ate something, watched TV for a while or read

and I was asleep for the night. I was going in 6 days a week. After

work on Sat. I came home, went to bed and basically stayed there

until Mon. morning. I am becoming a recluse and I have always been

very social. Any advice will be appricated.

I bought the Memory mattress from Costco 3 years ago, I think it is

2 " thick. I love it. I have a good friend that hates hers because she

sleeps on her stomach and it is uncomfortable for her.

Colleen

January 25, 2007

Colleen, please do tell your rheumatologist everything you told us here. He

is there to help you.

Let us know what happens at your appointment.

Not an MD

[ ] Anti-depressants and other meds

>I have an appointment next Tues. with my Rheumy. I haven't seen him

> for 4 months, should have been three, but I was gone over Christmas.

> I've lived in Florence, S.C. since late May and have had new doctors

> as well. My new Rheumy took me off of Methotrexate because I'm on

> Asacol for an auto immune Colitis and he felt that Asacol should help

> with the RA and the combination of both of them may well damage my

> liver. I am on Humira for the RA and I have been on Prosaic for

> probably 30 years. I'm having a hard time now. I think I'm depressed,

> can sleep all day and night if I don't make myself get up. My

> mornings are very hard. It can take until afternoon for my hands to

> stop hurting, even after a long hot shower I am stiff for hours. I

> would like to try another antidepressant such as Zoluff and even

> another bilogical like Embrel. Does your Rheumy prescribe your anti

> deppressant or do you have to go to another doctor, such as a

> psycologist? Do you think I should bring all this up at my next

> visit? I got a job preparing taxes that lasted 2 1/2 weeks, I just

> couldn't do it. It took me a long time to get ready and get to work,

> then when I got home I ate something, watched TV for a while or read

> and I was asleep for the night. I was going in 6 days a week. After

> work on Sat. I came home, went to bed and basically stayed there

> until Mon. morning. I am becoming a recluse and I have always been

> very social. Any advice will be appricated.

> I bought the Memory mattress from Costco 3 years ago, I think it is

> 2 " thick. I love it. I have a good friend that hates hers because she

> sleeps on her stomach and it is uncomfortable for her.

> Colleen

January 25, 2007

Hi Colleen,

I am taking Zoloft and Wellbutrin XL. These were prescribed by my Rheumy.

He started me on them because of my excessive sleeping. I've tried to stop

each one, but it was noticeably different, more fatigue, depressed about the

future, present, etc., so I'm still taking them. It's been a couple of

years and he hasn't sent me to a psychologist yet...

Joanne

----- Original Message -----

.... Does your Rheumy prescribe your anti

> deppressant or do you have to go to another doctor, such as a

> psycologist?

January 25, 2007

Thank you, Joanne and for your impute. I will discuss all with my Rheumy

and get back to you. I don't know why, but I feel like I'm whining when I tell a

doctor about depression, pain and my inability to do some things. I think I'll

write down what I wrote to the group and just give it to him.

Colleen

January 26, 2007

Colleen,

No, you aren't whining. The more accurate a picture of your daily life your

physician has, the better the odds he can help you. If you feel more

comfortable writing it down, then do that. You'll also be less likely to

forget something that way.

Good luck!

Not an MD

[ ] Re: Anti-depressants and other meds

> Thank you, Joanne and for your impute. I will discuss all with my

> Rheumy and get back to you. I don't know why, but I feel like I'm whining

> when I tell a doctor about depression, pain and my inability to do some

> things. I think I'll write down what I wrote to the group and just give it

> to him.

> Colleen

January 26, 2007

<Matsumura_Clan@...> wrote: Colleen,

I would ask your rheumie about the antidepressant. It couldn't hurt.

Mine will not prescribe it or pain meds. I have to get them from my

GP. I first got my prozac from my neuralogist and after I stopped seeing

him had no trouble with getting it from my GP. Maybe you need your

dosage changed or to try a different med but I sure hope they can help you

get back to your social life. I know sometimes are worse than others too

and winter is usually worse for a lot of people.

Take care,

Joy