Comments on: Fallow Sasha

By: thatLisa

thatLisa — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 13:11:47 +0000

OMG sasha, does your sleeping medicine make you eat like crazy at night?? Mine does. My roommate and I call it my night eating. Luckily (I guessss) I barely eat during the day, so there hasn’t been any weight increase. But seriously, a half hour before I go to bed, I’m like a 17 year-old stoner, eating anything I can. It’s ridiculous.

I’m going to try to start eating more normally during the day, and seeing if it helps at all.

Maybe it could be time to change your meds? Tweak them a bit? Don’t just jump off of them… for your own sake. When I started taking medicine again in like… June I think? I was SO TIRED ALL THE TIME. All I wanted to do was sleep. We kept changing when I would take them, and I finally figured out what how to stop it. I take one in the am, and one sometime in the evening. I’ve been getting up WAY earlier than I used to, since before all I wanted to do was sleep and stay in bed when I was depressed.

I’m rooting for you!!

By: Jessica

Jessica — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 04:57:38 +0000

Sasha, I can’t believe I’m commenting. I NEVER do this. I just want to pass along a piece of advice my doc gave me… She got sick of me going on/off blah, blah, blah. She said she gets patients that do this all the time. As soon as I/we feel better, we don’t think we need the meds. Thus starts the cycle all over again. At first, I was totally insulted, because, of course, at that moment in time, I was A-OK. I didn’t need them. Ha! I wish. Just because I don’t want to need them, doesn’t mean I don’t. Anyway, I’m a trusted reader of all your stuff (trust me that I’m not a “fan” of anyone, so this very conflicting). You make my days easier to bear. Thank you.

By: Cindy

Cindy — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 21:44:15 +0000

Wow, my post is below….same thing here with the ritilan. It’s been a lifesavor for me.

By: CLR

CLR — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:36:00 +0000

Please stay on your meds! I know what happens when ppl stop taking them! Maybe you could ask to lower the dose or try taking them at a different time each day. Just ask your doc 1st.

By: Cindy

Cindy — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:26:43 +0000

Sasha, I’ve been on different meds for over 15 years. It seems like they would work for awhile then bam, back to the beginning. I’ve also had breast cancer and chemo, so now the doctor’s don’t even want to touch me with a ten foot pole.

I have found a wonderful nurse practioner, who is wonderful. Dealing with severe depression and added problems from the chemo, my life at times was, well, no way to live. In fact, I didn’t want to live. My sleep schedule was quite like yours. Hard to function in the everyday world when you are on a completely different schedule.

What is working for me now believe it or not is just adding 20 milligrams of Ritilan each morning. My doctor first put me on it for 10 days to pull me out of a deep depression. I found though that every time I quit taking it, it was just a matter of a few days and I was back to nothingland. I now take it every morning and it has changed my life dramatically. Just sharing….

Plus, send out a shout to Big Daddy, 2 of his kids have the swine flue and he’s quite concerned. :)

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:46:20 +0000

I take anti-depressants that leave me with the same exhaustion you describe - only 4 hours after getting out of bed I’ll be ready for a nap. I know it’s never ideal to remedy the side-effects of one medicine with another, but after trying to cope with this problem in different ways (different meds, going off them completely) my doctor suggested I try taking a low dose of Ritolin when I wake up to combat the lethargy. It’s been infinitely helpful in giving me back my energy, and although I know everyone’s different, perhaps it (or another similar medication) would be something worthwhile to look into.

Good luck this weekend, hope it turns out to be a great experience! :)

By: Victoria

Victoria — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:59:08 +0000

Aww Sasha! I really hope you get better. You know, I think your mom is right. And I understanding how hard it is to just “be”, being an overacheiver myself, but I know you can do it. Ohhh and sticking to a schedule does wonders. Actually perhaps its not the schedule that does wonders, but making lists. I bought a day-by-day agenda where I write to do lists on every single day. Most of the time I don’t end up doing everything on my list, and sometimes i give up on certain things but it helps me stay focused on the mundane things of life.
Oh random, but I was listening to this beautiful haunting song by a Polish singer, I think you have Polish roots yourself, anyhow it’s an old song that I love listening to on rainy days. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mVggh9IMyQ I’m not sure if you’ll enjoy it but I guess I’ll give it a try :)

By: Chuck

Chuck — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:11:41 +0000

Glad you realize you need to stay in the meds. Good for you!

By: AnnyVianela

AnnyVianela — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:03:08 +0000

You know Sasha, perhaps TRYING to stick to a schedule might be beneficial. I know the meds mess you at times, but I noticed when I am forced to get up very early and the day is busy with activities I do end up falling asleep earlier than normal. I hate routines, and I HATE schedules so I can sympathize with you. Give it a try, what have you got too loose?