SunCat

Open Depression
Type: Clinical (Major) Depression

I have suffered from major clinical depression for almost 30 years now (no, it's never gone away). I've tried almost every anti-depressant, mood stabilizer, talk therapy, CBT, etc. etc. that's out there. Currently on a cocktail of meds that's working (crossed fingers that it stays that way). I'm happy to chat with anyone.

Treatments

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Working / Worked

Helpful for anxiety.

Effexor Working / Worked

Very good at 600mg. Needs propping up by a few other meds, though.

Meditation Somewhat Helpful

Guided relaxation is sometimes helpful, sometimes makes things worse.

Prozac Somewhat Helpful

Worked for several years, then stopped working.

Psychotherapy Working / Worked

Helpful to a degree.

Seroquel Working / Worked

Works well.

Support from Friends & Family Working / Worked

The MOST helpful. My husband.

Open Hypothyroidism

I've been hypothyrodic for going on 30 years and have Hashimoto's disease now.

Treatments

Synthroid Working / Worked

Works in combination with Tertroxin.

Open Endometriosis

Treatments

Danazol Working / Worked

Took it for many years. It worked, but the side effects were rampant.

Extended-Cycle Birth Control Not Working

Caused depression to worsen

Laser Surgery Working / Worked

Many bouts of this. Works for a while..

Progesterone Not Working

Very bad. Couldn't tolerate progesterone AT ALL!

Surgery Working / Worked

Complete hysterectomy & oopherectomy at 29. No kids.

Synarel Working / Worked

Took for about a year. Worked but my sense of smell has never really come back.

Open Chronic Pain

I suffer from a cervical radiculopathy, from meralgia paresthetica, from arthritis and other nerve/spinal damage. Normal meds don't have any effect any more, nor do regular doses of "higher impact" meds.

Treatments

Acupressure Too Soon to Tell

Heat Somewhat Helpful

Sometimes can be helpful.

Hydrocodone Working / Worked

Helps some. Very hard to get doctors to prescribe doses high enough to help.

Lidoderm Not Working

Lidocaine has no effect on me.

Meditation Too Soon to Tell

Morphine Working / Worked

Works well for pain but can't function normally.

Naproxen Not Working

No effect

Nerve Blocks Not Working

Unable to have nerve blocks due to my weight

Neurontin Not Working

No effect

Oxycodone Working / Worked

Helps some. Need a better solution as docs don't like prescribing this.

TENS Somewhat Helpful

Somewhat helpful.

Topamax Not Working

REALLY bad reaction to this drug. Hospitalised for depression after 2 weeks of it.

Open Narcolepsy

I was diagnosed with narcolepsy about 7 years ago. Recently I fell asleep driving & hit a large truck, which crumpled my car all the way back to me (didn't even scratch the truck) so now my husband does 95% of the driving. I only drive short distances (e.g. around to the corner shop). I also lack physical paralysis while asleep in bed (my poor husband has to sleep with someone acting out her dreams), have perfectly coherent conversations in my sleep (which I don't ever remember), and sleep eat.

Treatments

Dexedrine Working / Worked

Keeps me awake (mostly) during the day, except while driving. A good drug overall, I think.

Open Vegetarians & Vegans
Type: Vegetarian

I haven't had any red meat for about 25 years now and will only eat fish in some kind of emergency where there's no other choice. Although I think it's healthier not to eat meat, that's not my reason for not eating it. I'm ethically opposed to eating animals, especially when there is no need to do so in 1st world countries where food is plentiful and there are so many other eating options.

Open Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

I have had OCD as far back as I can remember. I have memories from age 5 of doing all sorts of odd things (which I now recognise as compulsions) like blowing on the backs of my hands, humming, etc. I picked up pretty quickly that others react poorly to physical compulsions, & now the majority of my compulsions are in my head (mentally repeating patterns of names & numbers, etc.) My OCD is *always* present in my head. Drives me crazy sometimes; other times it's just passively "there".

Treatments

Anafranil Working / Worked

Take it 2x daily. It seems to help a little.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Somewhat Helpful

While in the class and actively thinking about it, it was somewhat helpful. Now I have trouble remembering the techniques. Probably should read them every day... I may try that.

Luvox Not Working

Took it years ago; no great results.

Remeron Not Working

No effect on my OCD.

Seroquel Somewhat Helpful

Helps, but makes me too loopy to get anything done. Maybe I'm taking too much!

Xanax Working / Worked

Helps in moments of intense anxiety which is when the OCD is also the worst. Reduces anxiety to more managable levels OCD reduces too.

Open Food Addiction

I would say I am definitely addicted to food. I do eat because of hunger, but more often I eat due to emotion. I use food as others would use a drug - for depression, for anxiety, for anger. Sugar is my main nemesis. I absolutely climb the walls without it.

Treatments

Meridia Not Working

Tried it. Didn't have any effect on me at all.

Topamax Not Working

Horrible! Increased my depression by 1000. Didnt help with the diet either.