side effects

lamictal, "painful rash on her body. When she went to the hospital, the doctors diagnosed her with Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS)...scariest part is that it burned me from the inside out – so all the burns on the outside were because my insides were so burned that it started to manifest on the outside of my skin. The rash had started to take over my body. It was like my arm had been cooked...blisters pop up in my eyes." https://www.financialexpress.com/healthcare/pharma-healthcare/woman-gets-burned-from-the-inside-after-taking-depression-medicine-know-all-about-this-bizarre-side-effect/3480746/
“The side effects were overwhelming...Beyond weight gain...paroxetine, fluoxetine, and fluvoxamine can cause irreversible damage to the kidney, while atypical antidepressants such as nefazodone, trazodone, duloxetine, bupropion, and sertraline may harm the liver. These medications have also proved to be fatal." https://www.nationthailand.com/health-wellness/40037855

psychologists

"Commentary: Letting psychologists prescribe meds is not the way to expand mental health services...Enhancing access to psychotherapy and other psychological services would better address mental health needs than letting psychologists prescribe...New York has many prescribers already: 4,090 psychiatrists, 58,680 non-psychiatric physicians, 20,150 nurse practitioners and other APRNs, and 14,790 physician assistants. All 97,710 of them can prescribe...Serious consequences can result from prescribing errors and medication side effects." https://www.timesunion.com/opinion/article/letting-psychologists-prescribe-wrong-approach-19442129.php

TV

X-Men '97 season 1 episode 9 "Not a lunatic. Merely a man trying to survive in a world that has proven his worst fears true." https://youtu.be/mp1Pax-QHlA

seizures

deadly "magnetic seizure therapy" requires "general anesthesia."

forensic

"in the criminal justice system across the state, essentially bringing Assisted Outpatient Treatment-type services that exist in Albuquerque to the rest of New Mexico." July it will become texas-ico. https://www.yahoo.com/news/mexico-considering-system-dealing-mentally-210816801.html

check your sources

"journalistic malpractice to not term STARD findings as—at the very least—controversial. Even psychiatrists within establishment psychiatry are questioning STARD’s validity, with some psychiatrists demanding its retraction. Other researchers have called STAR*D scientific misconduct, and one investigative journalist has termed it as fraud." https://www.counterpunch.org/2024/05/08/new-york-times-sinks-to-new-low-in-its-psychiatric-drug-coverage/

overcrowding

Kyrgyzstan "National Center for the Prevention of Torture visits Republican Center for Psychiatry and Narcology." https://m.akipress.com/news:772609:National_Center_for_the_Prevention_of_Torture_visits_Republican_Center_for_Psychiatry_and_Narcology/

whistleblowing

"Why whistleblowers in medicine are so few and justice for the harmed so elusive." https://archive.is/NrNcz

Islamophobia, racism

"Minority Fellowship Program – $15.4 million – This program aims to reduce health disparities and improve behavioral health care outcomes for racial and ethnic populations. The program also seeks to train and better prepare behavioral health practitioners to more effectively treat and serve people of different cultural and ethnic backgrounds." https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2024/05/08/biden-harris-administration-announces-46-8-million-behavioral-health-funding-opportunities-advance-president-bidens-unity-agenda-may-mental-health-awareness-month.html Muslims never believed in mental intoxicants.

guardianship

"Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05) today joined Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, in introducing the Alternatives to Guardianship Education Act to improve the awareness of" supported decision making. https://scanlon.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=658

34F, 5’8, 165 lbs
Medical Conditions: PTSD, IBS, & Epilepsy
Daily Medications: Sertaline for PTSD, Lamictal for epilepsy, Multivitamin, Probiotic
Hello, I am having a laparoscopic hysterectomy under general anesthesia on Thursday May 2nd. They are taking my uterus, tubes, and cervix and leaving my ovaries. I’m very nervous for the procedure as I’ve never been under general anesthesia before, and I’ve been dealing with my nervousness by completely not thinking about the surgery at all and pretending that it’s not happening. So, I didn’t think about it yesterday (Saturday, April 27th), when I had a headache and took 400 mg of ibuprofen, or today when I was having allergies and took Allegra and Flonase. I feel so stupid for forgetting not to take these things. I’m asking if you think my surgery will get canceled because I took these medications? Thank you for any feedback you can give.
Edit: who downvoted my comments on here? Lol. It seems like people get downvoted for anything around here.

I couldn’t afford my meds so I went 3 weeks without lamictal and lurasidone and I was wondering if anyone else has experienced severe physical symptoms? I spoke to a nurse practitioner who said that my withdrawal symptoms shouldn’t be as bad as they were and that it’s only bad if you go over a month without— she made me feel like I was being dramatic but it really did feel THAT bad. Within 4 days of being off my meds I experienced BAD dizziness, light headedness, and feeling like I was going to pass out periodically. It got worse and worse the longer time went on. It started with only happening when I stood up but escalated into happening randomly when I was standing, sitting, or even laying down without having moved. I collapsed multiple times, not fully losing consciousness but close. On top of this I had extreme fatigue to the point of not being able to get out of bed unless it was for work. Overall my body felt so so heavy, I would compare it to when I woke up from anesthesia after surgery. And I had really bad heart palpitations during this time, major confusion too. Has anyone else had this happen?

I'm about 36 hours post surgery. I had a tumor on my parotid gland and they had to remove the gland and the lymph nodes on one side of my neck. Has anyone had issues with anesthesia reducing your seizure threshold? How long was it an issue, if so? I keep getting waves of dizziness and intense nausea. This wasn't an issue after my gall bladder removal in 2012.
I've got a prescription for oxycodone but I'm taking it less than prescribed because it seems to make that worse. I'm trying to determine how much of what I'm feeling is side effects of that and how much is epilepsy being irritated by the anesthetic. I can contact my doc if it doesn't clear up, but, if it's a side effect, that seems pointless. I have surgery for a brain tumor (left frontal lobe) that may be the root of my seizures in May so if I figure this out now, it'll save me trouble then, too. I'm sure that one will be worse.
Info that may be helpful: I'm on Lamictal and zonisamide for my epilepsy, I have a video eeg scheduled for before brain surgery to determine if the brain tumor is the only source (I doubt it. The tumor is newer than the seizures), I'm 33 male, surgery was Thursday around 3. No complications except I took a long time to wake up after.

Hi, I (39/AFAB enby) have been suffering from the hiccups for at least 1.5 years. That's when I first noticed it; it happened to coincide with recovery from a knee surgery that involved general anesthesia. I have no idea if the two are at all related or if I just had a lot of free time on my hands after the surgery to realize I had the hiccups all the time.
Anyway, for 1.5 years, I've had the hiccups 12-15 times a day, each episode lasting 5-15 minutes. Sometimes I could get rid of them using various methods people have taught me over the years, but at other times I couldn't get rid of them & just had to wait for them to stop.
I don't have GERD (I've been tested) or drink to excess, no chewing gum, no eating too fast, no spicy foods, no indigestion. Anything that every site (medical or otherwise) says causes hiccups just doesn't apply to me. At this point, I don't care why I get them & just want them gone. They disrupt my life.
Finally, about 7 weeks ago, I went to my PCP and told him about my issue for the first time. He looked at all the meds I was taking (see below) and said that methotrexate could cause hiccups. I can't stop my MTX since it treats my lupus, so treating the hiccups was the only option. He said the way to stop them was a low dose of thorazine; he prescribed 10mg thorazine nightly (and 40 mg famotidine). It took about two weeks, but the thorazine finally did its job & for the last 5 weeks, I've only had a single hiccup here or there very occasionally.
However, as was to be expected, I've gained weight, about 8-10 lbs in less than two months. Since 2019, I've worked extremely hard through diet and exercise to lose 80 lbs & it's exceedingly important to me that I don't gain any of it back, not even 10 lbs, for my own mental and emotional well-being and self-worth (as sad as that may sound).
I decided to stop taking the thorazine about 3 days ago, hoping that maybe it was something I wouldn't have to be on forever to keep them at bay and maybe those almost two months on the med were enough to break the cycle (🤞). No such luck. The hiccups are back.
Do you know of any other treatments for chronic hiccups that don't require taking an antipsychotic? I'm going to schedule another appointment with my PCP, but I'm having knee surgery on Friday and have way too much to get done at work before then in order to make an appointment this week.
Meds I'm taking (leaving out the thorazine): - Levothyroxine 50 mcg daily; hypothyroidism; started 2015 - Wellbutrin xl 150mg daily; depression; started 2017 (just decreased from 300mg 2-3 weeks ago) - Hydroxychloroquine 300mg daily; lupus; started 2018 - Methotrexate 20mg weekly; lupus; started 2021 or 2022 - Aimovig 140mg/ml weekly; migraines; started 2018 - Famotidine 40mg daily; hiccups; started 7 weeks ago - Topamax 50mg nightly; neuropathy in inner ear; started 2023 - Trazodone 300mg nightly; insomnia; started 2018? - Lamictal 50mg daily; mood stabilizer; started 2024 (decreased from 100mg 2-3 weeks ago) - Alprazolam 0.5mg PRN; severe anxiety or panic attack; started 2024 - Folic acid 1mg daily; MTX use; started 2021 or 2022 - Hydrocodone 7.5mg/325mg PRN; knee pain (upcoming knee surgery on 3/29/24) - Ipratropium bromide .06% nasal spray 2-3x daily; non-allergic rhinitis - Docusate sodium 100mg to 200mg daily; chronic constipation/IBS - Fiber gummies 2.5mg every other day; chronic constipation/IBS - Miralax 17g packet PRN; chronic constipation/IBS - Bisacodyl suppositories PRN; chronic constipation/IBS

White, 26F 155lbs, smoke cannabis but not tobacco, no other drug use. Dxed hypermobile ehlers-danlos, CPTSD, systemic nickel and cobalt allergy, GERD, and dysautonomia (well managed-primarily present as low blood pressure and digestion difficulties). Used to have sleep apnea- went away after I lost weight.
I take 5mg lamictal/day and restaisis eye drops. Primary issue for this post is what seems to be a hypersensitivity to general anesthesia or maybe just propofol?
​
I have trauma from general anesthesia- every time I have been put under general anesthesia It causes extreme anxiety as I go under. Even with IV midazolam it's an excruciating feeling. Like I'm drowning and having a panic attack. I also wake up either overly emotional, combative, or feeling like I'm drowning and can't breathe.
​
I was told that I should get an upper endoscopy due to the severity of my GERD symptoms in December of 2022. Due to my anxiety about going under- I delayed it and instead focused on improving my diet and (successfully) quitting drinking and then had symptoms of GERD only rarely.
​
But due to stress my symptoms have gotten worse again and I know I need to get that scope done that I put off.
​
Are there alternatives to propofol for general anesthesia? I really don't think I could be ok with only sedation for an upper endoscopy- but maybe if it's the only option. This info would be helpful information for any other operations in the future too.
BIB
​

I don't normally use Reddit, but a good friend of mine suggested I come here to ask about all kinds of new health problems that developed within the last two years. I had a surgery that I am wondering could be the cause of some or all of the issues, or if anyone can see any other correlation at all. I just don't understand how I went from fairly healthy and active to having all of these new issues. I apologize that it's so long, I just don't want to leave anything out that would be helpful and I've had a lot of testing.
In May 2022, I had a bilateral salpingectomy for birth control purposes. During the surgery, they found a, "grapefruit sized ovarian cyst." It was not there in September 2020 per my C-section notes. The surgery took much longer than anticipated. After the surgery, they had a lot of trouble getting me up and then I spent over an hour unable to even move before they let my husband back. I wasn't able to leave for hours after I was able to move again because I could not stop vomiting and my blood pressure was very, very low. I have never had any issues with general anesthesia or any anesthesia for that matter. The pain the first couple of days was worse than the two C-sections I had from a different doctor. The OBGYN also told me that they weren't able to remove all of it because some of it was stuck to the ovary. The sample sent to the lab was fine.
At this time, the only medications I was on were daily Valtrex, Claritin, Nasacort, and a prenatal vitamin. I was also obese at around 170lb and 5'2. I vape nicotine. I am 35.
Fast forward, in October 2022, after having been sick for 6 weeks and having lost over 30 pounds, I made an appointment with my PCP. I had developed new heartburn, new early satiety, new stomach pain, loss of appetite, couldn't stop burping all of the time. I was referred to GI where I went through multiple tests over the next several months. I also had been having an ongoing issue with daily diarrhea that we had checked out at that time. Colonoscopy was fine, stool studies were fine, blood work was fine. EGD showed gastritis, medium hiatal hernia, and biopsy showed gastropathy. Fluoroscopic upper GI including esophogram showed GERD (notes say: Gastroesophageal reflux of a full column of barium to the cervicothoracic junction.) 4 hour nuclear gastric emptying study showed delay with 29% retention at 4 hours. At this time, I was now on Prozac, Klonopin, Protonix, and Pepcid. I didn't take anything the day of the test. I'm now doing another emptying study next week to confirm gastroparesis before treatment. They want me to take it without being on the Klonopin, sleeping medicines, and any anti-cholinergic drugs. I went from having had daily diarrhea for years to suddenly being chronically constipated. Abdominal CT with contrast showed constipation, non-obstructing renal stone I already knew about, and mild physiologic free fluid in the pelvis.
Now the gastritis is considered chronic and I have flare-ups where the early satiety is much worse and I also have developed vomiting as a new symptom during these flare-ups. I'm now under 120 pounds for the first time since high school, probably middle school.
My heart rate has always run a little high and I've had issues with occasional faintness from orthostatic hypotension. May 2023, I began to have issues where I would almost faint and have to sit down with my head between my legs almost every single time I stood up. I began having occasional chest pain and fluttering. My PCP sent me for testing to see if I had, "a touch of POTS." 12 lead EKG showed nonspecific T-wave abnormality and sinus rhythm with short PR. 72 hour holter (cupid only) showed primary rhythm of sinus tachycardia, average heart rate 104 bpm, max rate 183 and min rate 66. The "episodes" I was having correlated to increase of heart rate. There was one event ventricular tachycardia, longest event 3 beats, fastest rate 252 bpm. Echocardiogram was normal. Tilt table test was unremarkable, except for baseline low blood pressure. Eventually, many of these symptoms mostly subsided.
I also developed (mostly) new psychiatric symptoms. In September 2022, I began to have psychotic symptoms (paranoid delusions) and developed hypomania which turned into a months long manic episode that was worsened by misdiagnosis and SSRI prescriptions. At the time, I had no idea what was going on. I had had similar symptoms--though nowhere near as pronounced--many years ago, but was also on drugs at the time. Between getting sober in 2014 and September 2022, my psychiatric diagnoses were only chronic PTSD and GAD. At the time of the surgery, I'd been off of all psychiatric medications for a year and a half with no issue. I'd previously been discharged from therapy after many years because my PTSD had improved. I've now been diagnosed bipolar 1 and am back in therapy and psychiatry.
I also developed more frequent tension headaches which I'm now on medications for.
December 2023, COVID finally got me for the first time. I've since been diagnosed with long COVID/"post COVID shortness of breath." Now my heart rate is right back to all over the place, going up to 130+ when I just do housework. I have to stop and take breaks. I can't even shower without a chair between that and almost vomiting when I bend over. I'm having chest pains more often, sometimes waking in the night with chest pain.
For 8 years I led a fairly healthy, happy life with no significant health issues. I was told the surgery I had was, "Too low to have caused the gastroparesis," but the Internet is telling me the vagus nerve goes all the way to the ovaries. I used to have a nice vegetable garden that I worked in daily, I cooked every night, I would stand for hours in the kitchen canning the vegetables from my garden and making jellies. I did light exercise, cared for 3 children, maintained a very clean home, etc. Now I can't even wash all the dishes without stopping to sit. Food has always been a big deal for me and I suddenly can't enjoy anything I used to eat, and I used to eat a varied vegetarian diet. I ate fatty foods, high fiber foods, nightshade vegetables, beans, etc with no issue. Now I'm on a low fiber, low fat, low residue diet. I am miserable.
I am now on all kinds of medications: Protonix 40mg 2x a day, Zofran 4mg PRN up to 3x a day, Linzess 145mcg, Miralax 1/2 "cup," Pepcid 20mg PRN up to 2x a day, Reglan 5mg 3x a day, Carafate 1g 4x a day, Maxalt 5mg PRN for migraines, Chlorzoxazone 500mg PRN for neck and head pain with tension headaches, 500mg Valtrex daily suppressive therapy, Lamictal 200mg, Wellbutrin 300mg, Ambien 5-10mg (depending on how hard it is to sleep), and Klonopin 1mg 1-2x a day.
Please, help me with something more than, "You're mentally ill." I've just been suddenly disabled and I don't understand. I want my life back.

I am sorry this post is long but I am so sad and frantic to figure out what is wrong with me.
I have always been a bit of an anxious person but it would only appear during stressful situations like class presentations and my anxiety would always have a reason behind it. This was normal until this year. In February 2023 I took a math test and did good, but later that night at around 10 PM I had flu-like symptoms like chills, a slight fever, and racing anxiety. This went away by the next morning and everything continued normally for another month.
On March 9th, 2023, I had another math test but this time I was incredibly nauseous going into the test, and I believe I had my first panic attack ever inside the testing room. I began to get extremely anxious that day but it was gone again that night, so I masturbated and did my normal routine. The next morning my anxiety skyrocketed with no target, and I became nauseous, had hot flashes on the back of my neck, and my brain felt like it was on fire. I lost all of my interests during this period because my anxiety refused to let me enjoy anything, so I don't know if I was depressed as well or if my anxiety was making me depressed.
The anxiety I was experiencing was not focused on anything, as my life is amazing and just days before I was having a good time, but this anxiety lasted for 3 weeks. I cried so much during this period of time and I legitimately told myself that I could not survive this for 30 days. I had more sporadic panic attacks throughout this period as well. I am an introvert and I love to be alone, but I was unable to be left alone during this time or I would spiral out of control even more. These were the worst 3 weeks of my life. I was prescribed Citalopram during these 3 weeks for anxiety and my anxiety and interests went back to normal within 1-2 months, and I was so relieved it was over. I started therapy just to be more social but I never hated myself or anything, and I loved my life even before therapy.
I joined karate and went to group therapy as well, and I wanted to join a club in college, so I set my sights on one. On September 29th, 2023, I went to the club but I was a bit too afraid to get involved with the group, so I went home. I was a bit disappointed in myself but I was on the club website page right when I got home trying to find another club for me, so I wasn't discouraged or depressed or another. The night went on normally and I masturbated at around 9-10, and at 11-12 PM, the anxiety came back instantly.
One minute I was eating lucky charms and feeling good, and the next minute I was unable to finish the lucky charms because I felt too nauseous. My racing thoughts came back like the flip of a switch and my interests instantly disappeared once more. The next few days were filled with more nausea and anxiety, but I knew that it would go away this time, so I was going to wait it out. Unfortunately, that didn't happen, and throughout the next 10 days, the anxiety lessened a little but I began feeling depressed. I started thinking about jumping in front of a car or a bus, and I was crying so much more than usual.
I would describe the feeling like I was uneasy, and that my will to live was taken from me. My interests had not returned and I had experienced no joy, and on October 10th, 2023, I was admitted to the ER for suicidal thoughts. I was kept the next day but I was let go with some new meds, like upping the citalopram to 30mg and starting wellbutrin. I have never ever been depressed or suicidal before, and my whole life I have always been terrified of death, so to actively be so hopeless that it seemed like a good idea scared me so much.
The pain I felt from October 3rd to November was the worst pain I had ever felt. I was crying all the time and I prayed to God every night to please help me, because it was pure torture. I would literally rather have my arm or leg cut off without any anesthesia than go through these feelings, because my mind is literally against me. The meds didn't work and they gave me side effects so I had to go back down to 20mg of citalopram and I got rid of the wellbutrin around November. My condition didn't get better and on November 7th, I had blood tests done. All my previous blood tests from October came back normal, my testosterone was 494, but in November,
​
I did a prolactin test and it was 22.8 ng/ml. My general doctor referred me to a endocrinologist and they wanted to do an MRI, but I had a moderate movement problem and my endocrinologist said they couldn't get a good look at the pituitary, but there were no major tumors on the brain. I retested my prolactin in December and got a reading of 28.2 ng/ml, so now I don't know what to do.
​
I am still majorly depressed and anxious after almost 3 months of torture, and I beg for help, from either God or anybody on this forum. I have not felt happy in 3 months, I have stopped seeing all my friends, I cannot do any hobbies, and I have to keep telling myself that I don't want to die, even though it's excruciatingly painful to exist right now. I am afraid I will never get better, and I honestly can't live like this for years, I need help so badly.
​
Is it possible that a prolactin level of 22-28 could be bad for a 21 year old Male, and that it could be causing these symptoms. I know it's not too high but is it possible at all that my sudden anxiety and depression could be caused by this. I have had thorough bloodwork done on almost everything I can think of, like thyroid, vitamins, CBC panel, metabolic panel, cortisol, and so many more. I haven't done a estradiol blood test or progesterone blood test so that will be my next tests, but please help.
​
I can't live like this, and I just want to be me again. I have started taking Lamictal and Buspar recently to see if that will help, but I need opinions. Is it possible my prolactin could cause these symptoms even though they aren't in the 100s? I don't want to die, I don't want to be like this, and I am crying out for anybody to help me.
Thank you if you read this, if you have any suggestions, I need them!!!

I am sorry this post is long but I am so sad and frantic to figure out what is wrong with me.
​
I have always been a bit of an anxious person but it would only appear during stressful situations like class presentations and my anxiety would always have a reason behind it. This was normal until this year. In February 2023 I took a math test and did good, but later that night at around 10 PM I had flu-like symptoms like chills, a slight fever, and racing anxiety. This went away by the next morning and everything continued normally for another month.
​
On March 9th, 2023, I had another math test but this time I was incredibly nauseous going into the test, and I believe I had my first panic attack ever inside the testing room. I began to get extremely anxious that day but it was gone again that night, so I masturbated and did my normal routine. The next morning my anxiety skyrocketed with no target, and I became nauseous, had hot flashes on the back of my neck, and my brain felt like it was on fire. I lost all of my interests during this period because my anxiety refused to let me enjoy anything, so I don't know if I was depressed as well or if my anxiety was making me depressed.
​
The anxiety I was experiencing was not focused on anything, as my life is amazing and just days before I was having a good time, but this anxiety lasted for 3 weeks. I cried so much during this period of time and I legitimately told myself that I could not survive this for 30 days. I am an introvert and I love to be alone, but I was unable to be left alone during this time or I would spiral out of control even more. These were the worst 3 weeks of my life. I was prescribed Citalopram during these 3 weeks for anxiety and my anxiety and interests went back to normal within 1-2 months, and I was so relieved it was over. I started therapy just to be more social but I never hated myself or anything, and I loved my life even before therapy.
​
I joined karate and went to group therapy as well, and I wanted to join a club in college, so I set my sights on one. On September 29th, 2023, I went to the club but I was a bit too afraid to get involved with the group, so I went home. I was a bit disappointed in myself but I was on the club website page right when I got home trying to find another club for me, so I wasn't discouraged or depressed or another. The night went on normally and I masturbated at around 9-10, and at 11-12 PM, the anxiety came back instantly.
​
One minute I was eating lucky charms and feeling good, and the next minute I was unable to finish the lucky charms because I felt too nauseous. My racing thoughts came back like the flip of a switch and my interests instantly disappeared once more. The next few days were filled with more nausea and anxiety, but I knew that it would go away this time, so I was going to wait it out. Unfortunately, that didn't happen, and throughout the next 10 days, the anxiety lessened a little but I began feeling depressed. I started thinking about jumping in front of a car or a bus, and I was crying so much more than usual.
​
I would describe the feeling like I was uneasy, and that my will to live was taken from me. My interests had not returned and I had experienced no joy, and on October 10th, 2023, I was admitted to the ER for suicidal thoughts. I was kept the next day but I was let go with some new meds, like upping the citalopram to 30mg and starting wellbutrin. I have never ever been depressed or suicidal before, and my whole life I have always been terrified of death, so to actively be so hopeless that it seemed like a good idea scared me so much.
​
The pain I felt from October 3rd to November was the worst pain I had ever felt. I was crying all the time and I prayed to God every night to please help me, because it was pure torture. I would literally rather have my arm or leg cut off without any anesthesia than go through these feelings, because my mind is literally against me. The meds didn't work and they gave me side effects so I had to go back down to 20mg of citalopram and I got rid of the wellbutrin around November. My condition didn't get better and on November 7th, I had blood tests done. All my previous blood tests from October came back normal, my testosterone was 494, but in November,
I did a prolactin test and it was 22.8 ng/ml. My general doctor referred me to a endocrinologist and they wanted to do an MRI, but I had a moderate movement problem and my endocrinologist said they couldn't get a good look at the pituitary, but there were no major tumors on the brain. I retested my prolactin in December and got a reading of 28.2 ng/ml, so now I don't know what to do.
​
I am still majorly depressed and anxious after almost 3 months of torture, and I beg for help, from either God or anybody on this forum. I have not felt happy in 3 months, I have stopped seeing all my friends, I cannot do any hobbies, and I have to keep telling myself that I don't want to die, even though it's excruciatingly painful to exist right now. I am afraid I will never get better, and I honestly can't live like this for years, I need help so badly.
​
Is it possible that a prolactin level of 22-28 could be bad for a 21 year old Male, and that it could be causing these symptoms. I know it's not too high but is it possible at all that my sudden anxiety and depression could be caused by this. I have had thorough bloodwork done on almost everything I can think of, like thyroid, vitamins, CBC panel, metabolic panel, cortisol, and so many more. I haven't done a estradiol blood test or progesterone blood test so that will be my next tests, but please help.
​
I can't live like this, and I just want to be me again. I have started taking Lamictal and Buspar recently to see if that will help, but I need opinions. Is it possible my prolactin could cause these symptoms even though they aren't in the 100s? I don't want to die, I don't want to be like this, and I am crying out for anybody to help me.
​
Thank you if you read this, if you have any suggestions, I need them!!!

28/M, 12 cavities, 3 of them filled, extreme dental/medical phobia. It takes nearly maxed nitrous to get me through a cleaning. I was going to get Halcion+nitrous for fillings. Dr. saw I was on Clonazepam (as needed, don't see an "interaction" if I skipped it for a few days) and Lamictal. I called later and then they said ALL of my meds except Finasteride were interactions with Halcion. I also take Lexapro and Quetiapine daily. Went ahead a week or so later and did my top left with maxed out nitrous and 3 mg of my Klonopin and had a full blown panic attack, doing my version of "crying" where I totally have all the other sensations of crying but I physically can't actually cry for emotions. After a while I was hyperventilating shallowly which didn't help the nitrous get in my system at all. Totally ruined my day. I can't drive (yay anxiety) and nobody in town does IV or general anesthesia so the question I pose is this: if I have them send my records to another dentist will my med list be in there? Just in case I go to another dentist that offers sedation pills and I "forget" what meds I'm on.

I have tried every single SSRI (except Luvox), all the SNRI's, Wellbutrin, Viibryd, Trintellix and a two day trial of Lamictal. Every single drug has given me horrendous, intolerable side effects. Libido issues, genital anesthesia, profuse sweating, increased agitation, increased anxiety, facial flushing, headaches, blood pressure spikes, you name it.
Is there any chance at all that Remeron will work for me? I am basically at the end of my rope here. If Remeron doesn't work it seems I'll be taking Ativan every single day then.

I was intubated under general anesthesia for a deviated septum repair on Wednesday afternoon.
My uvula has been in significant pain since then and was swollen and white at the bottom but has now added some black spots.
I have called the ENT and left a message with the nurse but am wondering if the issue is serious enough to warrant an immediate trip to Instacare.
Demo info: 35 female 240 lbs 5’9”. Wellbutrin, Lamictal, Paxil, birth control.
I have been taking oxycodone every six hours since the surgery (about 40 hours ago).

30F, dysautonomia (IST + vasovagal syncope), hypothyroidism, treatment resistant major depressive disorder (with a history of catatonia), ptsd. No drinking smoking, sodas or drugs
Meds I take are levothyroxine, corlanor, Effexor ER, lamictal. I’m getting weekly ECT treatments which are the first things that’s ever fixed my depression in my whole life. And I go to cardiac rehab for my dysautonomia (had it since 16). I have never had any problems with general anesthesia- including when I get it once a week for ECT.
Super relevant info: In April 2021 I had double jaw surgery to fix my bone structure which was causing severe facial pain and migraines (which it did). Right after I developed an antibiotic resistant staph infection and osteomyelitis that went undiagnosed until august when I started IV antibiotics with picc line for six weeks, had all the hardware surgically removed in November and got better. Had months of surgical wound debridements so painful I was sobbing and hyperventilating, even under conscious IV sedation, squeezing a nurses hand and holding back screams of pain while even the nurses cried sometimes because it was traumatizing for everyone. I am not exaggerating here.
Earlier in 2022 my depression caused catatonia, which is why I started ECT. I wasn’t taking care of my teeth when I was catatonic. When I saw the dentist recently I had cavities. Some need deep drilling and probably crowns. He was gonna do a few of the small fillings and gave me a numbing shot- only to find that it didn’t work. Several more shots- nothing. Nerve damage from the jaw surgeries and osteomyelitis/ debridements. So he referred me to the university hospital which has a dental school that provides sedation dentistry.
If I can’t be numbed and need deep drilling- can they do this under general anesthesia? From my experience with the osteomyelitis- IV conscious sedation does nothing when the pain is too extreme.

29F, dysautonomia (IST + vasovagal syncope), hypothyroidism, treatment resistant major depressive disorder (with a history of catatonia), ptsd. No drinking smoking or drugs.
I made an unrelated post yesterday that did get answered- but the doctor that replied was in cardiology so said I should make another post here to have my question answered.
Meds I take are levothyroxine, corlanor, Effexor ER, lamictal. I’m getting weekly ECT treatments which are the first things that’s ever fixed my depression in my whole life. And I go to cardiac rehab for my dysautonomia (had it since 16).
In April 2021 I had double jaw surgery to fix my bone structure which was causing severe facial pain and migraines (which it did). Right after I developed an osteomyelitis infection that went undiagnosed until august when I started IV antibiotics with picc line for six weeks, had all the hardware surgically removed in November and got better. Had months of surgical wound debridements so painful I was sobbing and hyperventilating, even under conscious IV sedation, squeezing a nurses hand and holding back screams of pain while even the nurses cried sometimes because it was traumatizing for everyone.
Earlier in 2022 my depression caused catatonia, which is why I started ECT. I wasn’t taking care of my teeth when I was catatonic. When I saw the dentist recently I had cavities. Some need deep drilling and probably crowns. He was gonna do a few of the small fillings and gave me a numbing shot- only to find that it didn’t work. Several more shots- nothing. Nerve damage from the jaw surgeries and osteomyelitis/ debridements. So he referred me to the university hospital which has a dental school that provides sedation dentistry.
If I can’t be numbed and need deep drilling- can they do this under general anesthesia? From my experience with the osteomyelitis- IV sedation does nothing when the pain is too extreme.

I am 36 years old, make $55,000/year (joint $155,000) in Austin, and this week is a bummer where I spent an incredible amount of money. Warning: sad pet stuff
Section One: Assets and Debt Retirement Balance (and how you got there): Roth IRA - $5,272.97. We stopped contributing to this and are working towards maxing out my husband’s 401k. Husband’s 401K - $50,075.73. $22,713.56 in optional retirement through my job. At 65, I’ll have a pension worth 96% of the average of my three highest salaries. I believe the income discrepancy between my husband and I will even out with my retirement benefits. I expect we’ll move to a LCOL city. Also, I have more job security than him.
Equity if you're a homeowner (and how much you put down and how you accumulated that payment): $74,106. Put down $20k, gift from inlaws.
Account balance: $30,634.98 across our accounts. We both have our own, though we have access to both. We don’t treat savings and checking differently - is that bad? We don’t earn much interest from our savings accounts. Part of the total is a $1,037.25 CD that matures in 2025. We just transferred $5k into checking from WealthSimple to pay down our personal loan. I know we’ll have to pay taxes on it, but the loan has an 11% interest rate. Actually, I’m not sure if that works out in our favor? But, debt makes me anxious.
Credit card debt (and how you accumulated it): $5,452.36. We use credit for everything to accumulate points, plus it’s safer than using debit. At the end of the month, it averages somewhere between $3 and 4k, but this month it’s high because a lot of expensive things have happened. My husband is getting a holiday bonus, so it shouldn’t be a huge hit to pay it off.
Student loan debt (for what degree): $0, BA. I’m extremely privileged and my extended family invested money for me when I was born, plus I received a $15,000 inheritance. I used those funds to pay for my tuition and living expenses. Also, I had scholarships and my tuition was $1k a semester (small state liberal arts university, no prestige and affordable). My husband paid off his student loans about 10 years ago. I don’t know how much debt he had because we kept separate accounts then.
Anything else that's applicable to you: Some stocks that I need to sell and move to some other investment. They’re left over from my college fund and I think they’re worth 15k? And I have a CD from my hometown bank that I think is worth $1,500.
Section Two: Income
Income Progression: As a young teen, I worked for my parents for $5/hour doing manual farm labor. Avoided that after age 15 and didn’t work again until I was 18. In college, I worked a few part time jobs for minimum wage. Mostly, on campus.
After graduation, I worked several part time jobs for not much more than minimum wage. I got laid off from the one that was on my planned professional tract (librarian) and then abandoned the whole idea of getting an MSIS; that is a decision I do not regret. It took two years to find full time work. I don’t recommend graduating in 2008!
I’ve been at my job for 12 years and my starting salary was $35k. Salaries and raises are pathetic in the public sector. However, our benefits are amazing. I’ll get a pension, my health insurance is free, I get 16 days of vacation, 12 days of sick leave, and paid holidays (including the days between Christmas and New Year’s Day). The number of vacation days increases with longevity. Sometimes I wish I had more ambition to get a challenging and higher paying job, but I latch on to security due to entering the workforce in 2008, and my parents having extremely insecure income. They have no retirement plan and no safety net, so I get anxious about avoiding that situation. Plus, I have anxiety in general and my job is low stress. And I like everyone I work with. That’s valuable. I’m far from the only lifer in my department!
Main Job Monthly Take Home: $2,743.92 (household $8,481.06)
Section 3
Expenses:
Mortgage: $2,355.10. This includes homeowners’ insurance, taxes, and PMI. 30 year fixed rate, 3.5% interest.
Auto insurance: $70
Life insurance for my husband: $137.71
Life insurance for me: $131.46
Health insurance: $0 for me and uhhh I don’t know how much my husband gets taken out of his paycheck. I asked him and he doesn’t know either.
Dental insurance: $30 for me
Vision: $5
Parking permit: $57 So expensive! I think it would be fair if this was based on income instead of a flat rate for everyone.
Debt: $9,269.80 debt on a personal loan from my credit union to pay for our new AC this summer.
Retirement fund: I invest $500 into a 403b and $500 into a 457(b). My husband invests into a 401k. I don’t know the amount. A significant chunk but not maxing it out.
Debt payments (please break this down individually and specify if you're paying above the minimum): $261.59 on the loan. We put everything on our Chase Sapphire card ($95/year) and pay it off monthly.
Donations (please specify if monthly or annual): $50/month
Utilities, except gas: $240/month We do budget billing, so it’s the same amount every month based on our annual average usage.
Natural Gas: $39
Wifi: $100.55
Cellphone: $182.17
Subscriptions: About $90 for Hulu, Netflix, Disney Plus, Amazon, YouTube premium, Peacock, and Criterion. Too many in my opinion. If it were up to me, we’d have like two paid streaming services. We watch a lot of movies, but most are free on Tubi.
Car insurance: $76.10
Psychiatrist: $50
Family doctor fee: $26.50.
Toll pass: $20
Yoga pass: $108. This was a special for the holidays. It will go up to $135 when this one expires.
Google storage: $2.12
Patreon: $5
NYT: $6.40
MyFitnessPal: $80/year
Hello! I’m a 36 year old state worker in Texas, a state I have very mixed feelings about, mostly negative. But, I am shackled with golden handcuffs (well, gold-plated), so I don’t foresee leaving anytime soon. My husband and I have been together almost 20 years and living in Austin for 14. We became homeowners a few months before the pandemic and therefore homebodies because this city, that used to be relatively cheap, has gotten very expensive.
This week is a bummer.
Thursday
7:15am: Morning routine: Check my Fitbit sleep stats to see if I’ll be tired today. Let the dog out and prepare her breakfast of kibble, wet food, and medication for seizures and arthritis. Take my pills: Lamictal for mood, Propranolol for anxiety, Allegra for living in Texas, Doxy for rosacea, and Blood Builder for iron deficiency. Bring a caffeine water back to bed and work on the NYT Spelling Bee. Working from home so no rush.
8:00am: Husband wakes up. ::Scene missing::
8:30am: Shower and do morning skincare routine: removal of the Dark Haired Woman’s Complaint with dermaplane tool; Olehendriksen dark spot toner; Strata Liquid Gold; Clinique Moisture Surge lip moisturizer; Trader Joe’s eye moisturizer; and Paula’s Choice RESIST Anti-Aging Clear Skin Hydrator. Then workity work work. Have another caffeine water.
9:00am: Order my dog her expensive food for delivery today. $49.55 Husband says he’s getting a large (to us) Christmas bonus, if he understood the math correctly. This is great news. I mean, obviously. But, we just replaced our AC (see loan), had the owner shut-off replaced on our water meter ($500), and this week the dog has a dental cleaning ($$$). So, that money is pretty much gone.
10:45am: Have Tazo pumpkin spice chai latte concentrate with almond Malk and TJ instant boba. Tazo is the best pumpkin spice drink in the PSL game. Sponsor me, Tazo!
1:00pm: Leftover chicken burrito bowl from last night’s take-out.
1:45pm: Give my husband a hard time about not getting his car registered. It expired 2 years ago! He was pulled over last month and said he’d get it done ASAP. He has not! After pressuring him, I think there’s a 25% chance it will be done this week. 50% chance by next week. 25% chance he’ll wait until he gets a new car in a few years.
6:00pm: Yin flow yoga. This is my favorite class of the week. It’s so relaxing and rewarding. During Shavasana, I start TEARING UP. This is embarrassing. I do not want to be the type of person who cries to singing bowls. Next stage is attending seminars at Nature’s Treasures.
8:00pm: Make coconut curry shrimp with vegetables for dinner, plus a glass of wine. Husband took his car for inspection at the dealership and they found a bunch of stuff to repair (of course), so 💸$1,234.37 Why not go to the Sticker Shop where an inspection is like, $10? But, I’d feel bad if his brakes went out after I insisted on the cheap option.
9:00pm: Get ready for bed. Products: Clinique Take Off the Day; prescription sulfur face wash; Pre de Provence Rose Petal soap; R+Co shampoo and conditioner; Kiss My Face shaving lotion; a rotation of Tretinoin, glycolic acid, Youth to the People oil, and azelaic acid; Sephora face moisturizer; R+Co leave in conditioner; Kevin Murphy Easy Rider; First Aid Repair Cream; Cerave healing ointment; Hourglass eye cream.
It takes a lot of money to look this mediocre.
10:30pm: Order seamless underwear from Uniqlo to wear under leggings. $51.41 Exercise is expensive.
11:00pm: Take Eszopiclone and go to bed.
Total: $1,335.33
Friday
7:00am: Same routine and skincare as yesterday but with makeup because I’m going into the office. Additional products: Paula’s Choice RESIST mixed with Tarte BB cream and Cicapair color correction, Glossier blush, Bobby Brown concealer, Tarte lipstick, and a mascara sample. I can only use a mascara tube for a month before it starts to irritate my eyes, so I use samples from Sephora.
Get dressed. I simplify my life by having a sort of work uniform, wearing the same pants (I own 5 pairs) and flats every day with a rotation of 4 blouses. In the winter, I have warmer shoes and sweaters instead of blouses. It's a standard issue 30-something office lady look. I only wear these clothes to the office (except the pants), so it creates a boundary between work me and private me.
8:15am: Say goodbye to husband and dog. I have a 15 minute commute and a 5 minute walk after parking.
8:45am: In the office. A coworker brought in breakfast for everyone!
11:45am: Pick up Sweetgreen. $12.39 Bestie and I do this every Friday. Good for catching up with weekly personal news, even though we text a lot.
1:00pm: Vote in the mayoral runoff. Meet the candidate I’m voting for outside the polling place. That’s exciting! Eat a candy cane.
2:00pm: Cheeky afternoon almond milk latte because we’re going out tonight. $6.50 with tip. Jeez Louise.
6:00pm: I don’t feel like going to yoga because I’m irritable and bloated. But if I give in to excuses like that, it’s a short road to not going at all. I don’t regret going, of course. Probably no one regrets going to yoga when they don’t want to, unless they have norovirus and shit their mat.
7:15pm: Husband picked up dinner at a halal cart. $27.06 Chicken over rice for me. He got his car registered! Nagging works! $79.25 (I think he had to pay for two years.)
10:00pm: See a comedy show. This show is an annual tradition for us, but we haven’t gone since Covid, so it’s very exciting and special. $0
I do something cringey and try not to dwell on it. That’s fun to practice!
1:00am: Remove makeup with Clinique oil and skip everything else. Over caffeinated and struggling to go to bed.
3:00am: After tossing and turning, take Eszopiclone.
Total: $125.20
Saturday
8:00am: Typical morning routine. Ugh, still bloated. I want to drink 3 Ballerina Tea but this weekend is too busy. Unhand me, Satan!
10:30am: Annual wellness exam at GP. I like my doctor, but the billing is shady. A year ago they started charging a monthly fee if you have a controlled substance prescription. It started as “concierge medicine,” but I guess they couldn’t provide that level of service so they changed it to anyone with a controlled substance has to pay.
Otherwise, I am declared the healthiest woman in the world.
12:00pm: Walk 4 miles around Town Lake. Try to keep my shoulders straight, my core engaged, and my pelvis from arching. I have back pain, which explains the yoga and barre. Recently, my lower back started aching after a couple of miles, but it doesn’t today! Town Lake is the best place in Austin for people watching, dog watching, and eavesdropping.
1:20pm: Stop at my favorite Goodwill, but no luck.
2:45pm: TJ potatoes with green beans and mushrooms for lunch.
3:30pm: Sephora’s having a sale. Buy Clinique Take Off the Day, Melt liquid lipstick, and Sephora face moisturizer. $55
4:30pm: Buy liqueur, mixers and add-ins, and a bottle of Cava (for NYE) at Spec’s. $149.57
5:30pm: Buy Christmas gifts for family and a bra for me at Nordstrom Rack. $153
5:15pm: Trader Joe’s. I was just going to get chocolate croissants, but you know how it is. $71.87
7:00pm: Husband and I go to dinner at Lima Criolla. Get drinks, jalea, carapulcra, and tallarines a la huancaina. $101.83 After dinner, drive around and look at Christmas lights.
10:00pm: Get ready for bed and then read.
Total: $531.27
Sunday
7:20am: Usual morning routine. Put together this week’s meal schedule and place the HEB pick-up order.
9:00am: Sunday tradition: TJ croissants and Gogglebox.
9:15am: Suddenly feel motivated to unclog the bathroom sink. I’ve been avoiding this task for 2 months because it is disgusting. But, it’s not getting less disgusting. Motivation must be seized even if Gogglebox is interrupted. It’s clogged worse than usual, but I think I’ve fixed it and didn’t make it worse. I included this gross story because I am proud of myself.
1:00pm: Last night’s leftovers for lunch.
2:30pm: My husband and I attend a memorial service for one of my friends, though I haven’t seen them much in a few years. They were more like a friend of friends, so we weren’t close and I’m more there for support, but I knew them. (What I’m trying to explain is that it’s upsetting but condolences to me wouldn't be appropriate, if that makes sense.) Have one beer each. It’s mostly people mingling and catching up, but then the open mic eulogy part begins and the sadness of the whole situation is intense. $17.96
5:00pm: Get emotional support gelato, plus a present for my friend. $20.57
6:20pm: It’s a Money Diary miracle! Sell something on Poshmark for the first time in two months. Only $10 profit, but I’ll take it.
9:30pm: Get ready for bed then watch the last three episodes of White Lotus.
Total: $38.53
Monday
8:00am: Normal morning routine. Bloating gone! It (plus other symptoms) lines up to when my period tracking app predicts ovulation. I know it’s foolish to use a period tracking app, especially in Texas, but a few months ago, I quit continuous birth control pills after 10+ years. Lamictal decreases its effectiveness and vice versa. I’m getting used to the side effects of ovulations, PMS, and periods.
8:30am: Working from home.
10:00am: Better Oats protein oatmeal.
10:40am: Get the dreaded “some of your items were out of stock” email from HEB. Now I’ll have to go in the store to pick replacements.
12:00pm: Run some errands. Print the Poshmark mailing label at the library. 20¢ Pick up drycleaning. $128.98 I don’t know if anyone’s ever talked about this, but death is a bummer. Highly recommend driving to the grocery store in the rain, crying a little in the car, then shopping while it’s ultra crowded and Christmas music plays.
Get the things that were missing from my order and then pick up a few things to mail to my childhood best friend who isn’t lucky enough to have an HEB. Go kind of over the top, probably from sentimentality and sadness-induced impulsivity. $62.26 Pick up my curbside order. $84.99
2:00pm: HEB kale salad and rotisserie chicken salad for lunch.
3:30pm: Drop off the Poshmark order. It’s not the post office I usually go to and it’s jam packed with the elderly. You don’t usually see many truly Old People in Austin, just Boomers. I have discovered where Austin is hiding The Silent Generation.
6:00pm: Barre. Very humbling for someone with no coordination and who doesn’t know her left from her right. But, I’m improving. $7.40
7:30pm: I make ceviche and my husband makes margaritas. Watch Home Alone.
Total: $283.83
Tuesday
7:30am: Drop off dog at the vet because she’s getting a dental cleaning/extractions. She has gingival hyperplasia, so it’s very necessary. Nervous because anesthesia is dangerous for senior dogs and I signed a DNR consent form.
8:30am: Husband gets us breakfast tacos. $10.18 WFH today. It’s hard to concentrate.
11:30am: Take my friend’s package to UPS, but it will be $50something to get there by the 29th and $100something to arrive before Christmas. Drive to my post office, where there’s never much of a line, and it’s $51.25 with expected arrival on Saturday. Love you, bitch.
12:00pm: Chicken salad and kale for lunch.
2:00pm: The vet calls and says x-rays taken before the dental work revealed it’s oral melanoma in our dog’s jaw, not gingival hyperplasia. When the vet says she was fine during the anesthesia, I’m so relieved. But, then the bad news follows and is a gut punch. Lots of crying after I hang up. Merry Christmas! This has been a really fun money diary!
Euthanasia may be necessary in a week or in a month. The vet can’t estimate a more accurate timeframe, but it will be when she stops eating. This is unexpected but not a surprise because she’s 16.
4:00pm: Pick up the dog and pay the bill. $586.95 She’s stoned, but otherwise she seems normal and healthy. We wouldn’t have guessed she was sick so it’s hard to comprehend preparing for imminent euthanasia.
6:00pm: Yoga class, which is a helpful relief.
7:30pm: Of course, we aren’t cooking. Order pizza with a BOGO deal. $20.94
10:00pm: Well, the Doxy caused a yeast infection. That’s cool. Little cherry on top. Leave a message with my dermatologist to get some Diflucan. Now I have to quit Doxy, even though it’s cleared up my rosacea.
Total: $669.32
Wednesday 7:30am: Slept on the couch so I could be near the dog; about a year ago, she stopped wanting to sleep in the bedroom if the door was shut. It’s funny how dogs’ preferences change over time, just like people. I’m glad I slept out here because she needed to go out at 4:30am, but now my shoulder is killing me.
8:00am: Talk to my mom on the phone. My parents lost a dog over the summer, so she knows how I feel and gives me advice. I'm supposed to visit home next week for Christmas, but I won't be able to leave the dog. What if something happens while I'm gone? I sort of talk about this with my mom, but don't suggest I won't go home, even though I'm considering it.
8:30am: In the office. Husband messages that his bonus will be about $7k. Nice windfall during a rough financial and emotional time.
9:00am: We’re having a breakfast social hour, but I’m not in the mood so I abscond to my office with some pastries and eat alone. Haven’t heard from my derm, so I call my gynecologist and they send in a prescription for Diflucan. Doctor shopping for Diflucan!
12:00pm: Buy a sad salad from the nearby cafe. $9.18 :-(
2:00pm: Office holiday party. It’s actually really fun. I love work?
4:00pm: Meet up with some girlfriends for drinks at the nearby pub and have one beer. $5.40
6:00pm: Go to the hairdresser. $120, which is actually a pretty good price for my fine, curly hair. On the way home, stop a CVS for my prescription. $2.15 The derm got in touch and called theirs in too, but via delivery. I got two from them, so now I have a stockpile. $7.37
7:00pm: Home alone so I eat leftover cold pizza and watch Strangers with Candy. Hang out with the dog, but she’s still stoned so she just sleeps. We’re going to buy her a cheeseburger and fries this weekend. Maybe 10 of them. After she got home yesterday, it's been easy to distance our feelings from reality because she doesn't seem different. We talk a lot about how we want to handle it, but it still seems far away.
Food + Drink: $600.70
Health: $16.92
Clothes + Beauty: $226.41
Pet::$636.50
Car: $1,313.62
Other: $333.43
Total: $3,127.58 (I think I messed up adding this, but I’m not doing it again)
This has been a hell of a week! I spent way more on food than I thought I would. Also, I drink a lot?? I would have estimated 1 or 2 drinks a week.
Thanks for reading.

I’ve been breastfeeding my baby so I have been hesitant to start new meds, but my depression is consuming me. I have made the decision to stop breastfeeding and start taking lithium. I’m currently on a latuda/lamictal mix, and unsure how the lithium will affect me.
Will my memory loss get worse? Will it help with fatigue? Is it worth stopping nursing? My psych says my only other option is ECT, which includes anesthesia which means I’ll have to stop nursing anyway.
Insight from those on lithium or who have been on lithium is welcome!

Age - 45
Sex - F
Height - 5’5”
Weight -143lb
Race - Wht
Duration of complaint - Unk
Location - USA
Any existing relevant medical issues - IBS-C, PTSD, OCD
Current medications - align probiotic, Lamictal, Xanax, mirilax as needed
Include a photo if relevant - not relevant
My posts get rejected so often that I now copy and paste them into a note before publishing. I’ll post below exactly as I had it so maybe I can get some feedback re auto-moderator. So many posts get through with half as much info!
45yf 143lb Midwestern US Diagnoses - IBS-C, PTSD, OCD Meds - Lamictal, Xanax, probiotic, mirilax when needed Non drinker (yay!!) non-smoker
Question - I’m 45 and understand colon cancer screening is now recommended. I have a history of IBS-C (dx decades ago) and recently had a bout of left sided abdominal pain that was pretty bad, I posted here a few times, and that resolved in early June (started in early March, only known trigger was an incredibly intense panic attack and a period of very high stress). I did Low FODMAP for around 6 weeks, found no food triggers for that pain but don’t eat onions, garlic, or cherry tomatoes anymore.
Saw a GI in June and she was not concerned but ordered a scope to rule out anything rare, and bc I was turning 45. I emailed the GI and asked if I should keep the appointment bc the pain resolved, and the nurse said it’s fine to cancel if the pain resolved, because they were going in to assess for source. I was on the fence bc of my anxiety and kept the appointment, but had a cold at the time of the scope so they cancelled it anyway. It’s rescheduled for December. My primary ordered a CT of my abdomen prior to my GI appt, but said straight out that if I wasn’t so upset and anxious, she wouldn’t have been concerned enough to order one. Anxiety is a bitch!
I don’t love the idea of the scope (who does, right?), and I don’t want to go under anesthesia or take the risk of a scope of its unnecessary. I am going to go ahead and get the CT in September, no contrast due to a shortage.
Long story short - do you think a Cologuard screening would be okay

Lamictal has changed the way I react to certain other drugs. I'm bipolar I and before I found lamictal, I had over the top reactions to some drugs.
With caffeine, I would be literally bouncing off the walls with extreme euphoria with even a small amount. In large quantities, it would even trigger short lived hypomania episodes. After lamictal, with a cup of coffee I just feel mildly more alert, like how I assume normal people feel.
The most extreme case though is with hydroxyzine. Before lamictal I was taking it for a short period of time for sleeping. I was prescribed 25mg pills, but I would literally cut it into 1/4 or 1/8 because it would make me feel like I was going under anesthesia and I would sleep for like 10 hours straight and wake up super groggy. (yes even at 3-5mg). But now I can take the entire pill and feel basically nothing (???)
Soooo crazy. Anyone else experience this?

Age: 27
Sex: Female
Height: 5'4
Weight: 110
Race: White
Duration of complaint: 3 days
Location: United Kingdom
Any existing relevant medical issues:
Had a laryngoscopy under anesthesia on Tuesday, was better and could eat solid foods Wed. & then Thurs & Friday pain has worsened and am no longer eating solid foods (aside from ice cream, and even that hurts a bit) due to severe throat pain - uvula has white tip at end as the usual presentation of this. My question is: Does uvular necrosis get worse before it gets better? This has never once happened to me during a procedure, and I've had 2 endoscopies before, so a little disappointed in the surgeon, especially since I was eating fine prior to the procedure, no pain.
Eosinophilic esophagitis (Diagnosed via biopsy last month), history of infections [fungal/bacterial] and general weakened immune system. Severe issues swallowing to the point where liquid & food become an issue, but treatment for eosoinophilic esophagitis has allowed me to follow a normal diet (hard foods/soft foods, etc.). Do NOT smoke, drink, etc. Have esophageal dysmotility without the medications I am taking (Jorveza plus Nystatin). With those, I am fine. The pain from this uvular necrosis is super annoying though. I want to be able to go back to my solid food diet.
Current medications: citalopram (24 mg 1x/day), Jorveza (12 week course, 1 mg 2x/day), Nystatin (20 ML, 5 ml once/day), Lamictal (seizures - 100 mg 2x/day)
Include a photo if relevant

Hi! So I’m new to this sub and I thought it would be a good place to share my experience. Who knows it might even be therapeutic. I want to start by saying my experience has overall been very positive, but I realize that hasn’t been everyone’s experience. I was first referred for ECT treatment almost five years ago now. I am diagnosed with severe recurrent depression (now in remission…for the first time ever), PTSD, OCD, and ADHD. I have battling depression and mental illness overall since I was probably 10 or 11 (I’m in my early 30s now) and had tried countless psychotropic medications including SSRIs, SNRIs, atypical antipsychotics, Lithium, and even a few anticonvulsants such as lamictal and trileptal. I also paid a ton like 6 or 7 years ago to take that GeneSight genetic testing to determine which psychotropic medications would be most effective…yeah I won’t go there, but let’s just say it was kinda garbage in my humble opinion. Anyways, at 29 I finally decided I would give ECT a try. For reference, before starting ECT, I was very lethargic, slept all the time, didn’t put much effort into my appearance (yoga pants and a ratty tshirt was my definition of glamour), had close to zero hope, and isolated as much as possible from family and friends. I started ECT not expecting much but figured what could it hurt and I liked the idea of being put under general anesthesia and not having to fully exist even it was only for like 10-15 minutes. I also liked the idea of having an excuse to nap for the rest of the day after and not being able to drive for a few weeks sounded like the perfect way to continue my isolated lifestyle in peace and without people pestering me about “getting out and being social” Anywayyyss (sorry this is so long) I started treatment and by the fourth or fifth treatment I noticed I had started texting friends more and I actually began joking and laughing with the nurses and doctor at my treatments. By my 12th and final treatment I was laughing and smiling more, food had flavor again, and I was no longer sleeping the day away. I did notice some memory issues, mostly with random memories from my past, specifically my college years - random I know. I also experienced memory gaps around the time of the treatment that eventually came back. If I had to guess, I’d say 85-90 percent of memory loss I’ve experienced has been temporary and was eventually recovered. I should note, I get right unilateral ECT, which is said to cause less memory loss than bilateral.

Recently diagnosed and both my therapist and my psych have recommended getting my IUD removed. I was already intending to because it has caused weight gain/made it nearly impossible to lose weight, but I was wondering if anyone else has had a hormonal IUD removed while being treated for bipolar?
My therapist mentioned that the IUD can increase anxiety and aggravate mood swings. I’m taking 200mg of Lamictal (generic if it makes a difference but I can’t spell that), and, while it helped in the beginning, I’m feeling a bit like I’ve plateaued. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m getting used to it or if it’s just being diluted by the stress of having my Mirena removed. Unfortunately there have been some issues removing it, so I’ll have to go under anesthesia to have it taken out as it was waaaaay too painful to do awake.
Does anyone have any experience with this? I’ve reached out to my psych as well but haven’t heard back yet and I figured personal experience was a nice way to go in the meantime.
Thanks!!

I woke up early during one of my ECT sessions, as they didn't dose my anesthesia properly. I was still paralyzed from the paralytic medication, and couldn't breathe at all. It took them awhile to realize I was awake, and I was panicking the whole time.
They eventually gave me an oxygen mask and the anti-paralyzing medication, and told me I didn't have a seizure. My heart rate dropped to 28bpm, so I was kept in the recovery room for awhile as they tried to raise my hr back to normal. How serious was this event? Could I have died from suffocation or asystoloe if they didn't react fast enough?
21M, 6'0, 175lbs, White, American
Pristiq (100mg), Lamictal (100mg), Trazodone (150mg)
MDD, GAD, PTSD, Anorexia Nervosa
Non-smoker, non-drinker, no rec. drugs