Question:
Ruth – (seeing your post through Sharon’s) – I’m in NY state. Valium didn’t used to be a triplicate/ controlled drug prescription here, either, but it sure is now. I don’t know when this took effect, except that it had to be more than 3 years ago. Everyone’s different – I took BC pills for quite a number of years, but felt *so* much better on them – no menstrual cramps!!!, no throwing up!!!, no diarrhea!!!, & periods smack on schedule, sometimes exactly every 4 weeks, to within a few hours. Cathy — "Staccato signals of constant information…" ("The Boy in the Bubble") Paul Simon Frankenmel <franken…@aol.comnospam> wrote in message
news:20010704170025.19339.00002407@ng-mq1.aol.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> >From: RuthJ rcjac…@pacbell.net > >Date: 7/4/01 11:20 AM Pacific Daylight Time > >Cathy, I’ve taken Valium for over 30 years (not every day!) for anxiety, > >and then accidentally discovered it worked on migraines. I know it has > >gotten bad press and can be addictive, which is why I "ration" myself, > >although I have no trouble getting it from my doctor. Where do you live > >that it’s a triplicate prescription? I live in California, and my > >prescriptions have *not* been triplicate. I had a bad reaction to Xanax > >(so long ago I can’t remember what). Sometimes I get a "rush" from > >Valium but I always attributed that to my tendency for paradoxical > >reactions to drugs. I am afraid of HRT and have tried a number of > >herbal remedies for menopause over the years but always ended up having > >some kind of bad reaction so right now am taking nothing for menopause > >symptoms. I have had anxiety / depression intermittently since college, > >when I was on birth control pills, which I now blame. RuthJ > Are you saying that the birth control pills you took in college set you up for > a lifetime of anxiety/depression? > Sharon…I live in Another Dimension, but I have a summer home in Reality
Response:
RuthJ writes:>I think the pills messed up my >hormones, and my hormones have some connection with anxiety and >depression.
Ruth, welcome to my world!! I like your theory! Martha
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Frankenmel wrote: > >From: RuthJ rcjac…@pacbell.net > >Date: 7/4/01 11:20 AM Pacific Daylight Time > >Cathy, I’ve taken Valium for over 30 years (not every day!) for anxiety, > >and then accidentally discovered it worked on migraines. I know it has > >gotten bad press and can be addictive, which is why I "ration" myself, > >although I have no trouble getting it from my doctor. Where do you live > >that it’s a triplicate prescription? I live in California, and my > >prescriptions have *not* been triplicate. I had a bad reaction to Xanax > >(so long ago I can’t remember what). Sometimes I get a "rush" from > >Valium but I always attributed that to my tendency for paradoxical > >reactions to drugs. I am afraid of HRT and have tried a number of > >herbal remedies for menopause over the years but always ended up having > >some kind of bad reaction so right now am taking nothing for menopause > >symptoms. I have had anxiety / depression intermittently since college, > >when I was on birth control pills, which I now blame. RuthJ > Are you saying that the birth control pills you took in college set you up for > a lifetime of anxiety/depression? > Sharon…I live in Another Dimension, but I have a summer home in Reality
Sharon, I think the birth control pills *triggered* an inherited tendency for anxiety and depression. The reason I think this now is that the same thing appears to have happened to the wife of a high school friend whose father was a doctor. I think the pills messed up my hormones, and my hormones have some connection with anxiety and depression. At one time I tried tracking this to my menstrual cycles but it did *not* appear to be PMS. I am extraordinarily drug-sensitive, as was my Mother (the anxiety / depression comes from her side of the family). RuthJ (posted and mailed due to server wierdness)
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Cathy Friedmann wrote: > MARIE10502 <marie10…@aol.com> wrote in message > news:20010627174007.06477.00002092@ng-ch1.aol.com… > > >Klonopin is really pretty heavy-duty stuff, as I understand it. > > >Cathy > > Klonopin is in the benzo family. It is addictive if used for long periods > of > > time or if abused. It can be taken as needed, like valium, (which by the > way > > is prescribed like candy for anything that ails you and from what I > understand, > > 2 to 1 for women patients) but unlike valium it doesn’t give you the > *rush* > > feeling that can be psychologically addicting as well as physically > addicting. > > A patient on klonopin, like most drugs in my opinion, should be closely > > monitored. > > As far as it being a heavy duty drug, I don’t know. For me, the hormones > were > > heavy duty. So much so that when I went off cold turkey I ended up in bed > for > > 4 weeks with withdrawal. > > Gina Marie > I’ve taken Valium (5mg) and have never, ever felt a "rush" of any sort. > Valium now needs a triplicate form, delivered to the pharmacy, to be > filled – no longer available as a regular prescription, so my *guess* is > that it may not be as widely prescribed as it once was. Plus, from what I > understand (via a pharmacist friend), doctors have latched onto Xanax more > lately, as the newer, therefore "better", drug de jour. > Yes, re: the monitoring while on Klonopin – I believe its main use is as an > anti-convulsive; I was on it for a shortish time several years ago, but for > the after-effects of some nerve damage. Needed to have bloodwork done while > taking it. Plenty of cautions/ warnings came w/ it in the accompanying > literature, as from the prescribing doctor, leading me to believe it wasn’t > exactly light-weight. > I agree that hormones are pretty heavy-duty (& all-encompassing) – hence why > I have zeroed in on what bothers me the most about my menopausal symptoms, & > used the Valium – aimed more directly at those specific symptoms, instead. > I feel it carries considerably less risk that taking HRT, w/ none of the > side-effects that may accompany HRT. > Cathy > — > "Staccato signals of constant information…" > ("The Boy in the Bubble") Paul Simon
Cathy, I’ve taken Valium for over 30 years (not every day!) for anxiety, and then accidentally discovered it worked on migraines. I know it has gotten bad press and can be addictive, which is why I "ration" myself, although I have no trouble getting it from my doctor. Where do you live that it’s a triplicate prescription? I live in California, and my prescriptions have *not* been triplicate. I had a bad reaction to Xanax (so long ago I can’t remember what). Sometimes I get a "rush" from Valium but I always attributed that to my tendency for paradoxical reactions to drugs. I am afraid of HRT and have tried a number of herbal remedies for menopause over the years but always ended up having some kind of bad reaction so right now am taking nothing for menopause symptoms. I have had anxiety / depression intermittently since college, when I was on birth control pills, which I now blame. RuthJ
Response:
>From: RuthJ rcjac…@pacbell.net >Date: 7/4/01 11:20 AM Pacific Daylight Time >Cathy, I’ve taken Valium for over 30 years (not every day!) for anxiety, >and then accidentally discovered it worked on migraines. I know it has >gotten bad press and can be addictive, which is why I "ration" myself, >although I have no trouble getting it from my doctor. Where do you live >that it’s a triplicate prescription? I live in California, and my >prescriptions have *not* been triplicate. I had a bad reaction to Xanax >(so long ago I can’t remember what). Sometimes I get a "rush" from >Valium but I always attributed that to my tendency for paradoxical >reactions to drugs. I am afraid of HRT and have tried a number of >herbal remedies for menopause over the years but always ended up having >some kind of bad reaction so right now am taking nothing for menopause >symptoms. I have had anxiety / depression intermittently since college, >when I was on birth control pills, which I now blame. RuthJ
Are you saying that the birth control pills you took in college set you up for a lifetime of anxiety/depression? Sharon…I live in Another Dimension, but I have a summer home in Reality
Response:
Nancy, During early perimenopause, about the same age as you are now, I had the same symptoms. I sometimes even became nauseous during s*x. I had to eliminate some foods from my diet for several years (especially Italian and Chinese), and I cut out all alcohol and caffeine (I went back to 1 cup of coffee a day several years later, but I’ve never started drinking alcohol again except maybe once every year or two — and I have bad headaches the next day even from one drink, so I must have an allergy). I was not given BC pills, but more recently I did take Alesse on 2 occasions for heavy bleeding, and they did not cause nausea in my case. It disappeared as mysteriously as it arrived, with a whole slew of tests showing nothing abnormal. I haven’t had any problems with Chinese or Italian food for years now, and I haven’t felt regularly nauseous since I was about 47. I still do occasionally have mild symptoms, but they seem to coincide with periods that stop for 4-6 months at a time. I spent a lot of time on Tishy’s and Laura’s Web sites the first year I posted here, and it was really a source of good information and comfort. I encourage you to take some serious time and read all of the links and stories that interest you. I hop over there occasionally, especially when the symptoms become challenging, and I always find something useful. And I also see my doctor and get things checked out regularly, just in case it *is* something serious that should be treated. Take care of yourself — Jane "Nancy Steinback" <stein…@coredcs.com> wrote in message
news:3b39e2a8$0$18886$272ea4a1@news.execpc.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Friends- > At the risk of coming across as a total whiner, I could use some support > and advice. I have found this group very informative and helpful since > I discovered it a couple of weeks ago. I am 43 and have been dealing > with peri stuff for a couple of years. Most of the stuff is minor, like > irregular periods, occasionally heavy periods (only one flood so far), > mid cycle pain. But the absolute worst is the 2-3 days of nausea and > fatigue that come on without warning. Stress definitely seems to > aggravate it, but is not solely the cause, because I have days at home > when it hits. The responses to my last post have been helpful. I > started Alesse about that time (10 days ago) in an effort to even things > out. I had taken a couple of other brands of BCP last fall, but felt > absolutely sick 24/7 and after three months I gave up. The last bout of > nausea hit a few weeks back a couple of days before I was to do a > colonoscopy prep. There was no way I could do the prep, so the > procedure was cancelled. No big deal, just a re-check. So…..I > started the Alesse and was doing fairly well for the first week which is > a big improvement over the last time I tried BCPs. I even had one day > where I felt great, better than I have in months. But yesterday the > nausea returned. I have a stressful and demanding job that requires me > to travel once or twice a week, and meet with people. I felt lousy > yesterday, but went to my appointment anyway, munching on soda crackers > and 7-up on the way. I also have IBS, which tends to flare under stress > and with hormonal flares. My personal life is also stressful right now > as I just became the guardian of my maiden aunt who has health problems > AND am parenting a 15 year old girl AND am engaged to be married this > winter after 14 years of singlehood. I am fortunate that my fiance is > understanding, but too many times I have had to cancel plans because I > felt lousy and didn’t want to go canoeing or skiing, etc. Finally, > today I’m more weepy than I’ve been in months. It’s probably just all > the stress coming down on me at once, but could also be hormonal, too. > I called my nurse practitioner (via her nurse) yesterday to ask about > temporary use of a mild tranquilzer, but she wanted me to start Zoloft. > I took antidepressants in grad school years ago (another really > stressful time), but hate the side effects and don’t want to go that > route again. > Here’s the question (thanks for indulging the whine): For those of you > who have tried low dose BCPs, do the side effects come and go? Do I > really have to feel like I’m going to barf for three whole months before > I know if this is working? > Any suggestions? > Thanks loads! > Nancy
Response:
Nancy Steinback (stein…@coredcs.com) wrote:
: I called my nurse practitioner (via her nurse) yesterday to ask about : temporary use of a mild tranquilzer, but she wanted me to start Zoloft. : I took antidepressants in grad school years ago (another really : stressful time), but hate the side effects and don’t want to go that : route again. If it was enough years ago, it might have been pre-SSRIs. SSRIs like Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa (which I take), and some others can have very different or much fewer side-effects than the tricyclics (like Elavil/amitryptaline) or MAO inhibitors do. I don’t know if Zoloft is the right choice for your situation, but I just wanted to add in my $.04 ($.02 doubled because I speak from experience). Priscilla — The problem with people who have no vices is that generally you can be pretty sure they’re going to have some pretty annoying virtues. — Elizabeth Taylor
Response:
MARIE10502 <marie10…@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20010627174007.06477.00002092@ng-ch1.aol.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> >Klonopin is really pretty heavy-duty stuff, as I understand it. > >Cathy > Klonopin is in the benzo family. It is addictive if used for long periods of > time or if abused. It can be taken as needed, like valium, (which by the way > is prescribed like candy for anything that ails you and from what I understand, > 2 to 1 for women patients) but unlike valium it doesn’t give you the *rush* > feeling that can be psychologically addicting as well as physically addicting. > A patient on klonopin, like most drugs in my opinion, should be closely > monitored. > As far as it being a heavy duty drug, I don’t know. For me, the hormones were > heavy duty. So much so that when I went off cold turkey I ended up in bed for > 4 weeks with withdrawal. > Gina Marie
I’ve taken Valium (5mg) and have never, ever felt a "rush" of any sort. Valium now needs a triplicate form, delivered to the pharmacy, to be filled – no longer available as a regular prescription, so my *guess* is that it may not be as widely prescribed as it once was. Plus, from what I understand (via a pharmacist friend), doctors have latched onto Xanax more lately, as the newer, therefore "better", drug de jour. Yes, re: the monitoring while on Klonopin – I believe its main use is as an anti-convulsive; I was on it for a shortish time several years ago, but for the after-effects of some nerve damage. Needed to have bloodwork done while taking it. Plenty of cautions/ warnings came w/ it in the accompanying literature, as from the prescribing doctor, leading me to believe it wasn’t exactly light-weight. I agree that hormones are pretty heavy-duty (& all-encompassing) – hence why I have zeroed in on what bothers me the most about my menopausal symptoms, & used the Valium – aimed more directly at those specific symptoms, instead. I feel it carries considerably less risk that taking HRT, w/ none of the side-effects that may accompany HRT. Cathy — "Staccato signals of constant information…" ("The Boy in the Bubble") Paul Simon
Response:
Nancy Steinback wrote: > Friends-
< [snipped] < Finally, – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> today I’m more weepy than I’ve been in months. It’s probably just all > the stress coming down on me at once, but could also be hormonal, too. > I called my nurse practitioner (via her nurse) yesterday to ask about > temporary use of a mild tranquilzer, but she wanted me to start Zoloft. > I took antidepressants in grad school years ago (another really > stressful time), but hate the side effects and don’t want to go that > route again. > Here’s the question (thanks for indulging the whine): For those of you > who have tried low dose BCPs, do the side effects come and go? Do I > really have to feel like I’m going to barf for three whole months before > I know if this is working? > Any suggestions? > Thanks loads! > Nancy
Hi, Nancy – I’ve snipped most of your post and am responding to the parts where I have some knowledge or experience. Hell sounds about right… I can’t help with the nausea, but a couple of the regulars have had that problem and may chime in. When I took low-dose BCPs several years ago, the only side effect I had worth mentioning was breast tenderness. The stress – yeah, it sounds like you have a lot more than your share on your plate right now, and feeling crappy doesn’t help! I just posted a belly-breathing relaxation technique in a different thread (Belly Breathing [Was: Re: New to Group]); you might find that helpful in getting some relief from your stress – and it’s drug-free. Re Zoloft – it’s an SSRI, a "newer" class of antidepressants that is quite different from the tricyclics and MAO inhibitors that were available "years ago". They are also not without side effects, but the side effects are different, too. You can read up on them on http://www.rxlist.com. Have you had a thorough check up? It would make sense to rule out anything other than perimenopause and your body trying to adapt to new hormonal levels as causes, before starting on any drugs. Hope this helps — good luck to you! FurPaw
Response:
>From: maenad mae…@vex.net.invalid >Date: 6/27/01 3:02 PM Pacific Daylight Time >Interesting. I’ve taken Valium and haven’t noticed any rush. (Darn!) I find >it has a calming effect – not sure whether that’s from actual calm, or just >not giving a shit. >The drug I personally have taken that seems most understandably addictive (to >me, anyway) is morphine, and that didn’t provide a rush, exactly, either. >More of a very *soothing* effect, kind of like I imagine a really happy cat >being stroked might feel.
Steroids did that for me. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->> And complete absence of pain, of course, which is >always nice when you’ve got a 12-inch incision. 
>It’s kind of interesting to see how a lot of people don’t have ‘typical’ >reactions to medications. >maenad (whose staple-marks are fading) >– >——————-> maenad <at> vex <dot> net <——————-
Sharon…I live in Another Dimension, but I have a summer home in Reality
Response:
Hi Nancy, Hope your feeling better today. I know all about those bouts of nausea! For a time there I took compazine, it’s an anti nausea drug. It has a tranquilizing effect. Maybe you should ask your doc about it. Take the smallest dose as needed. It gives you both the nausea relief and the tranqulizing effect. If you’re looking for an anti-anxiety you are correct to not go the anti-depresant route. You might want to try a little klonopin, or natural valarium root you can find in a health store. If the nausea isn’t that bad, some peppermint tea might help. Good luck. Gina Marie
Response:
Klonopin is really pretty heavy-duty stuff, as I understand it. Cathy — "Staccato signals of constant information…" ("The Boy in the Bubble") Paul Simon MARIE10502 <marie10…@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20010627115552.16890.00002414@ng-fo1.aol.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi Nancy, > Hope your feeling better today. I know all about those bouts of nausea! For > a time there I took compazine, it’s an anti nausea drug. It has a > tranquilizing effect. Maybe you should ask your doc about it. Take the > smallest dose as needed. It gives you both the nausea relief and the > tranqulizing effect. > If you’re looking for an anti-anxiety you are correct to not go the > anti-depresant route. > You might want to try a little klonopin, or natural valarium root you can find > in a health store. If the nausea isn’t that bad, some peppermint tea might > help. > Good luck. > Gina Marie
Response:
Cathy Friedmann <c…@adelphia.net> wrote in message
news:Nxr_6.346$sU1.111622@news1.news.adelphia.net… > Klonopin is really pretty heavy-duty stuff, as I understand it.
In very small doses it isn’t too bad. It’s a benzodiazopine often used as a seizure medication. My doctors have had me on it when they started me on Prozac, as Prozac can trigger panic attacks when you first start it if you’re susceptible to panic disorder. I still take it occasionally when I’m absolutely exhausted and the 3AM insomnia’s have hit for the 3rd day in a row. 6-7 blessed hours of uninterrupted sleep with no next morning hangover. Of course, this is my body’s reaction and YMMV.
Response:
>Klonopin is really pretty heavy-duty stuff, as I understand it. >Cathy
Klonopin is in the benzo family. It is addictive if used for long periods of time or if abused. It can be taken as needed, like valium, (which by the way is prescribed like candy for anything that ails you and from what I understand, 2 to 1 for women patients) but unlike valium it doesn’t give you the *rush* feeling that can be psychologically addicting as well as physically addicting. A patient on klonopin, like most drugs in my opinion, should be closely monitored. As far as it being a heavy duty drug, I don’t know. For me, the hormones were heavy duty. So much so that when I went off cold turkey I ended up in bed for 4 weeks with withdrawal. Gina Marie
Response:
MARIE10502 <marie10…@aol.com> wrote: > Klonopin is in the benzo family. It is addictive if used for long periods of > time or if abused. It can be taken as needed, like valium, (which by the way > is prescribed like candy for anything that ails you and from what I understand, > 2 to 1 for women patients) but unlike valium it doesn’t give you the *rush* > feeling that can be psychologically addicting as well as physically addicting.
Interesting. I’ve taken Valium and haven’t noticed any rush. (Darn!) I find it has a calming effect – not sure whether that’s from actual calm, or just not giving a shit. The drug I personally have taken that seems most understandably addictive (to me, anyway) is morphine, and that didn’t provide a rush, exactly, either. More of a very *soothing* effect, kind of like I imagine a really happy cat being stroked might feel. And complete absence of pain, of course, which is always nice when you’ve got a 12-inch incision. It’s kind of interesting to see how a lot of people don’t have ‘typical’ reactions to medications. maenad (whose staple-marks are fading) — ——————-> maenad <at> vex <dot> net <——————-
Response:
Hi Nancy, Your symptoms are identical to mine and, I have IBS too. I am not on BCP now, I was tired of the weight gain around my middle frgetting to take them(they were Alese, also). I do not remember having nausea as a side effect of BCP’s. I do usually get nausea and IBS flare up with PMS and on the first day. If IBS pain is really bad, I’ll throw up. IBS acts up when I am really bloated and have a hard time passing bm. For relief, Midol PMS usually helps. I start taking it as soon as bloating starts(if I’m alert enough to realize it). If cramping is really bad the first day of my period, I usually pop a Motrin about an hr. after the Midol and so far, I only have to do that in the morning of the first day. Later, the pain is manageable. I do get really exausted and weak feeling. I work at home so I can pretty much drop what I’m doing and rest. Try to find time to kick back and relax while working. Even if it’s for 5 or 10 minutes. I find that every little bit helps. Close your eyes and think about something relaxing to you. Do some stretching exercises. Drink plenty of water. Go for a massage. I got a prescription for Xanax. Very mild dose. I only take it if I am really irritable and wound up. I usually have to take it only once and then I seem to settle down enough to keep things under control for the rest of the day. If the nausea is too bad, try eating several light meals/snacks a day. Ginger snap cookies seem to help a bit with my nausea too(Archway coconut macaroons are good for IBS cramping). I munch on a couple of them slowly, maybe a couple times a day. Hope some of this helps. You can email me if you have any other questions. the5be…@advnet.net. Mary "Nancy Steinback" <stein…@coredcs.com> wrote in message
news:3b39e2a8$0$18886$272ea4a1@news.execpc.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Friends- > At the risk of coming across as a total whiner, I could use some support > and advice. I have found this group very informative and helpful since > I discovered it a couple of weeks ago. I am 43 and have been dealing > with peri stuff for a couple of years. Most of the stuff is minor, like > irregular periods, occasionally heavy periods (only one flood so far), > mid cycle pain. But the absolute worst is the 2-3 days of nausea and > fatigue that come on without warning. Stress definitely seems to > aggravate it, but is not solely the cause, because I have days at home > when it hits. The responses to my last post have been helpful. I > started Alesse about that time (10 days ago) in an effort to even things > out. I had taken a couple of other brands of BCP last fall, but felt > absolutely sick 24/7 and after three months I gave up. The last bout of > nausea hit a few weeks back a couple of days before I was to do a > colonoscopy prep. There was no way I could do the prep, so the > procedure was cancelled. No big deal, just a re-check. So…..I > started the Alesse and was doing fairly well for the first week which is > a big improvement over the last time I tried BCPs. I even had one day > where I felt great, better than I have in months. But yesterday the > nausea returned. I have a stressful and demanding job that requires me > to travel once or twice a week, and meet with people. I felt lousy > yesterday, but went to my appointment anyway, munching on soda crackers > and 7-up on the way. I also have IBS, which tends to flare under stress > and with hormonal flares. My personal life is also stressful right now > as I just became the guardian of my maiden aunt who has health problems > AND am parenting a 15 year old girl AND am engaged to be married this > winter after 14 years of singlehood. I am fortunate that my fiance is > understanding, but too many times I have had to cancel plans because I > felt lousy and didn’t want to go canoeing or skiing, etc. Finally, > today I’m more weepy than I’ve been in months. It’s probably just all > the stress coming down on me at once, but could also be hormonal, too. > I called my nurse practitioner (via her nurse) yesterday to ask about > temporary use of a mild tranquilzer, but she wanted me to start Zoloft. > I took antidepressants in grad school years ago (another really > stressful time), but hate the side effects and don’t want to go that > route again. > Here’s the question (thanks for indulging the whine): For those of you > who have tried low dose BCPs, do the side effects come and go? Do I > really have to feel like I’m going to barf for three whole months before > I know if this is working? > Any suggestions? > Thanks loads! > Nancy
Response:
Friends- At the risk of coming across as a total whiner, I could use some support and advice. I have found this group very informative and helpful since I discovered it a couple of weeks ago. I am 43 and have been dealing with peri stuff for a couple of years. Most of the stuff is minor, like irregular periods, occasionally heavy periods (only one flood so far), mid cycle pain. But the absolute worst is the 2-3 days of nausea and fatigue that come on without warning. Stress definitely seems to aggravate it, but is not solely the cause, because I have days at home when it hits. The responses to my last post have been helpful. I started Alesse about that time (10 days ago) in an effort to even things out. I had taken a couple of other brands of BCP last fall, but felt absolutely sick 24/7 and after three months I gave up. The last bout of nausea hit a few weeks back a couple of days before I was to do a colonoscopy prep. There was no way I could do the prep, so the procedure was cancelled. No big deal, just a re-check. So…..I started the Alesse and was doing fairly well for the first week which is a big improvement over the last time I tried BCPs. I even had one day where I felt great, better than I have in months. But yesterday the nausea returned. I have a stressful and demanding job that requires me to travel once or twice a week, and meet with people. I felt lousy yesterday, but went to my appointment anyway, munching on soda crackers and 7-up on the way. I also have IBS, which tends to flare under stress and with hormonal flares. My personal life is also stressful right now as I just became the guardian of my maiden aunt who has health problems AND am parenting a 15 year old girl AND am engaged to be married this winter after 14 years of singlehood. I am fortunate that my fiance is understanding, but too many times I have had to cancel plans because I felt lousy and didn’t want to go canoeing or skiing, etc. Finally, today I’m more weepy than I’ve been in months. It’s probably just all the stress coming down on me at once, but could also be hormonal, too. I called my nurse practitioner (via her nurse) yesterday to ask about temporary use of a mild tranquilzer, but she wanted me to start Zoloft. I took antidepressants in grad school years ago (another really stressful time), but hate the side effects and don’t want to go that route again. Here’s the question (thanks for indulging the whine): For those of you who have tried low dose BCPs, do the side effects come and go? Do I really have to feel like I’m going to barf for three whole months before I know if this is working? Any suggestions? Thanks loads! Nancy
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