Depression Community

AkM, sounds like a good plan - could just be going back on after being off.

hi a-mom, ride it through, it should be worth it.
We are here with you if and when you want to vent
hugs
Chez x

Thanks you two, probably best, the things we put up with in attempt to feel better, eh?

hello, A --

webMD info on wellbutrin/bupropion is at http://www.webmd.com/drugs/mono-155-BUPROPION - ORAL.aspx?drugid=13507&drugname=bupropion HCl Oral&source=2 .

the content under the "warnings" tab advises that if you notice "mental/mood changes," including new or worsening irritability and/or angry feelings, you should tell your dr immediately. i think you should call your dr tomorrow, first thing in the morning. you may need to have a different dosage or a different med, or s/he might just want you to try to cope with these symptoms for a few weeks to see if they disappear.

i send you caring thoughts and hope your moods will settle down in a short time.

-- susie margaret

Thank you, SusieMargaret,
I guess I'm not sure if I should go to my doc, because of finances. I made the decision to go off my meds originally and got her ok over the phone, since I couldn't afford to go in at the time. I went back on my meds without consulting her because, again, money. But I will talk to my DH about scheduling something and see if I can make an appt. Thanks for letting me know...I feel kinda sheepish for taking my meds into my own hands but I guess I didn't feel like I had any other options.

hello, A --

is it possible that you can just talk with your dr (or her nurse) over the phone again so that you don't have to pay for an office visit?

what meds are you taking besides the wellbutrin/bupropion?

finally, altho the timing is definitely suspicious, don't forget that your mood changes might be attributable to something other than the wellbutrin. this is something you need to bring up when you talk with your dr.

i send you caring thoughts.

-- susie margaret

Thank you, SM, that's true too about it being possibly something else. I started my Wellbutrin, Prozac, and some birth control pills I had on hand (Lo-Ovral) all at the same time. It could just as easily be the hormone pills...they're a kind I hadn't tried before. I got them Rx'ed awhile back but had changed my mind about using them. When I decided I was going back on the antidepressants I knew that the Wellbutrin was not safe for pregnancy, so I started the birth control to be careful.

Hey, I've been meaning to ask, what's your story? If you don't mind sharing. You're always so giving and encouraging here, many times I think, what are you doing in a depression forum? Unless it's just to be our guardian angel that is!

hello, A --

hmmm ... my story? well, so as not to keep everyone up all night reading, i'll just hit the high (maybe "low" would be more accurate!) spots in the road.

i've dealt with depression all of my life (i'm 65 now) and have been in therapy on and off since about age 23, halfway thru an unhappy first marriage to a very decent guy who never deserved one bit of the heartache i put him thru. i divorced him after four yrs. i spent roughly the next 20 yrs with another very decent guy who never deserved one bit of the heartache i put him thru. i divorced him too. despite the fact that it was obvious i wasn't very good at being married, i spent the next five years with my third husband, who broke my heart when he divorced me (that experience gave me a real appreciation for the hurt i had caused to my first two husbands).

i cracked up, or had a nervous breakdown, or had an emotional collapse, or whatever terminology we're supposed to use these days. my sister had to put her own life/family/work on hold and come rescue me, get me to a competent psychiatrist, and hospitalize me for two weeks. i would cut off my right arm for her and my aunt, who came to help on no notice and at considerable disruption to her life/family/work.

as soon as i could, i retired; i was emotionally and physically exhausted and couldn't give my incredibly compassionate boss of 16 yrs the quality of work i thought he deserved. indeed, i was barely functional, altho i was finally properly medicated and under the care of a psychiatrist and a therapist who knew what they were doing.

with my sister's loving encouragement, i moved to be near her. i could not adjust to this move, tho (or maybe it was the isolation of retirement or i still hadn't come to peace with my third divorce or i didn't try hard enough to meet people, or i don't really know what), and cracked up again within about two years. i was in and out of the hospital for approx four months (i had the distinction of being what my psychiatrist calls "the most depressed person he had ever seen"!), stayed with my sister for about a month, and finally felt safe enough to go home.

i am bipolar II and still go thru up/down periods. instead of full-blown swing-from-the-chandelier mania, tho, i have periods of extreme irritability that are recognizable to everyone but me (my sister alerts me when this has happened). my meds have to be switched around periodically, but generally i do pretty well unless i overschedule myself or take on too much at one time. when i feel myself going downhill emotionally, i drop everything that i can and just rest for several days (you can tell when i'm doing this because i drop out of sight on webMD until i'm feeling more stable).

lots of other things have taken place, of course, and i could describe my life in terms of the jobs i've had or the places i've lived or the people i've been close to -- rather than according to my emotional health -- but since my emotional health seems to be the factor that influences events the most for me, i've chosen to use it as the backbone for the outline of my autobiography so far.

i don't know if i would characterize myself as "happy," but i am content most of the time, and that's good enough. i have more good days than bad ones, and that's good enough too.

i send you caring thoughts and hope that tomorrow will be a good day for you.

-- susie margaret

Dear Susie-Margaret

Thank you so much for sharing your incredible story, since you have helped me so much during this past week (Deeply depressed-Downfall),

I don't know hou you came through all of it like you did as you are always so giving and encouraging and helpful and concerned about what everyone else is going through in their lifes, without ever asking from anyone else for your own needs.

You are always so positive and upbeat on this site that it is hard to believe that you can be that way given all that you went through in your life, makes my job situation seem so small incomparison.

One would never know that you had battled severe depression issues ever in your life.

Take care and God Bless.

Sue

Thanks for sharing Susiemargret. Nice to know a little something about you. It may sound strange to you but you are a rock around here frequently. That's a good thing.

SM,
Thanks so much for sharing your story, my but you've been to h*** and back, haven't you? Amazing how you are so strong and wise now, resilient too, it would seem. I'm so glad you are doing ok now, I can't imaging going through all that, and I'm glad your sister and aunt were able to be there for you.
Thanks for being there for us!

hello, all --

thanks for your kind and supportive comments. i am perpetually inspired by the strength and generosity of the people who post (and read) in this community.

actually, i don't consider my life to be any more extraordinary than the lives of practically everyone else here. mainly i'm just grateful to be alive.

-- susie margaret

Hi SM, thank you for sharing some of your story, for me it is a privilege to hear some of what you have been through and how you got to be here.
I have said it before but want to say it again, you have amazing insight, you put time and thought into all your responses and you continually show respect to each person that visits here.
You have been a god send to me in the past, now and more than likely again in the future and for that I want to thank you again
Take care of you
hugs x

SM,
I wanted to ask too, is there anything you need from us right now? Are you doing ok deep down? Seems you're always encouraging and advising us all, and I wonder if you are just in a good place right now, or just feel better helping others vs. sharing any difficulties you might be having. I know sometimes for me, my therapy is being a listening ear for someone else, when I might also be hurting and need some help too. Don't hesitate to share if there's anything you'd like us to hear.
--Joy