Happy, Happy

[so lucky]

Anyone who has been on this forum for a while has seen me write about my DH having depression and anxiety to the point that he has withdrawn from friends and family, has chronic pain, the whole gamut of depression/anxiety symptoms. Medication and therapist hasn't helped much at all.
Well, recently he went to a gastroenterologist for some digestive issues. The doc didn't find anything that would be causing so much pain down there in the nether regions, so he put him on a low dose of nortriptylin, which is supposed to help with nerve pain. In order to take this, he had to stop taking the Zoloft.
With much trepidation, he started taking it. Within 5 days, he was feeling much more cheerful, energetic and hopeful. Now, about 3 weeks into it, he is almost his old self, working on his motorcycles, doing clean up around the yard, cheerfully, shopping for clothes, talking about the future! It is like a fog lifted, truly amazing.
I am so thankful and hope it continues.
He still has some anxiety, but even that is not getting him depressed.

So, I just wanted to let you all know that a change of medication can really work wonders. If you know someone in this situation, please let them know there is hope. (No telling how long his GP would have left him on the Zoloft had we not gone to the Gastro doc!)

 

[Smart Red]

That is certainly good news, so lucky!It is hard to know what side effects come from taking this med or that or what eliminating a med might do. It's good that the second doctor made this decision for your spouse.

 

[Nyboy]

I have been on Nortriptylin 75 mg for about 20 years. it is a life saver. I need it for head aches cause by not sleeping. My neurologist used me as early test case.

 

[Nyboy]

I used to average about 2 anxiety attacks a week. After being on Nortriptylin a year it dawned on me I had 2 attacks that YEAR. Looking back I think it is more like 25 years on it. I am not very organize with my meds and have run out a few times, I learned 3 days is longest i can go with out going into withdrawl. If you have any questions feel free to Pm me.

 

[ninnymary]

So happy for you so lucky! We will probably never know why some medicines seem to work and others don't. Glad you went to the gastro doc.

Mary

 

[so lucky]

Me too, Mary! Thanks, Nyboy, it's good to know how long before withdrawal starts.

 

[thistlebloom]

Great news So Lucky! Sounds like brighter days are in store for you.
I'm very happy for you and your husband.

 

[digitS']

I was just thinking about how doctors say, "going on." "There may be other things going on." "We can't be sure what is going on."

We are complex organisms. Some of us are busy letting others know that they are different organisms. We have to except that, as well. Just as we have different environments and cultural understandings of those environments and our neighbors. There are few broad truths. We have to look for them. Trying to make sense out of our world requires it. We can't rely entirely on auto-correct .

Getting locked in, assuming too much, including that everything stays the same, is risky. Risky to that olde dance of adjusting and adapting.

I have been reading a few things John Kennedy said about education. Not indoctrination, an opening of doors -- why are we paying for it, paying forward? A future not based on education? Not a future in any positive sense of the word that I can imagine. Pay some attention to those doctors, So Lucky.

She's going on 12. What's going on? Please, go on. Oh, go on!

Steve

 

[freedhardwoods]

That's great news.

45 years ago one doctor had my grandpa doped into a stupor over a 5 year period. The kids ( my aunts and uncles) quit that doctor and took him to another. That doc took away 3/4 of his medicine and he started acting 15 years younger.

 

[Nyboy]

make sure your husband drinks a lot, one of side effects is dry mouth.