Virginia...I hate when I get the run around!!!!  Make sure that your irritablility is a normal reaction...and not the BiPolar.  Hard to differentiate at times....from what you explained, it would be my normal reaction!


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CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO~ http://tinyurl.com/69q52a

BiPAP Auto M 13/8 Mirage Nasal Swift. 20 years+ undx'd. RLS/PLMD, Hypersomnia & more.

Sorry Virginia57. It was from Vicki.  Apnea moment or Senior moment! HA!

Mrs. RVP, a little bi-polar, but hey, it helps get things done sometimes! My pdoc's office people called back, he was out for the day but he is requesting a second opinion from the other neuro.  I took a walk this afternoon , and my  balance is still a little off, but not nearly as bad as this weekend or yesterday even.  I'm not stressed over this, just determined not to let them string me along anymore.  Sleep apnea makes us so complacient, just do what ever the good doctor tells you to, take your meds like a good girl.  From now on, I'm not taking anything just because the doctor writes a prescription for it, everything is getting checked out first.  Virginia


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Resmed elite , 17, mirage quattro ff . 25 + years of untreated OSA

I found the Lexapro made me complacient...I was not always able to see the "light" on things.


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CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO~ http://tinyurl.com/69q52a

BiPAP Auto M 13/8 Mirage Nasal Swift. 20 years+ undx'd. RLS/PLMD, Hypersomnia & more.

By the way, for you people who don't know my history , a little disclaimer.  Do not take your selves off of your meds just because you get your cpap machine. It took me 20 months to get off of  the effexor, and about 12 to get my risperdahl to .5 mg instead of 3.5. Sudden withdrawel of pills can trigger a pretty bad episode, so work with your doc, and do it slow.  Virginia


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Resmed elite , 17, mirage quattro ff . 25 + years of untreated OSA

And to add....I went off cold turkey without knowing...and I had a miserable 7 or 8 months!


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CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO~ http://tinyurl.com/69q52a

BiPAP Auto M 13/8 Mirage Nasal Swift. 20 years+ undx'd. RLS/PLMD, Hypersomnia & more.

Mrs Rip Van Winkle wrote:

I found the Lexapro made me complacient...I was not always able to see the "light" on things.

I take lexapro, it doesn't make me that way.


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Respironics M Series BiPAP Plus with BiFlex, Heated Humidifier
Resmed Ultra Mirage II Nasal Mask with Headgear
Pressure @ 6/11

virginia57 wrote:

By the way, for you people who don't know my history , a little disclaimer.  Do not take your selves off of your meds just because you get your cpap machine. It took me 20 months to get off of  the effexor, and about 12 to get my risperdahl to .5 mg instead of 3.5. Sudden withdrawel of pills can trigger a pretty bad episode, so work with your doc, and do it slow.  Virginia

Tell me about it. I took myself off of risperdalh recently  cold turkey and boy did I go into withdrawl.


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Respironics M Series BiPAP Plus with BiFlex, Heated Humidifier
Resmed Ultra Mirage II Nasal Mask with Headgear
Pressure @ 6/11

virginia57 wrote:

By the way, for you people who don't know my history , a little disclaimer.  Do not take your selves off of your meds just because you get your cpap machine. It took me 20 months to get off of  the effexor, and about 12 to get my risperdahl to .5 mg instead of 3.5. Sudden withdrawel of pills can trigger a pretty bad episode, so work with your doc, and do it slow.  Virginia

I'm glad you folks are here and glad I found this thread.  I have a story about this.

About six or seven years ago, I was feeling "down".  Lost the job, broke up with girlfriend, turned 30 (OK - laugh...it was a big thing for me at the time), etc., etc.  So I went to my PCP and told her I was feeling depressed.  She put me on Effexor.  About 6 months later, I told her that it wasn't helping and that maybe I should see a P-Doc.  I called around town and most were not accepting new patients.  I was thrilled to finally find one.  To make a long story short, for the next three years I was told I was Bi-Polar and every three months, the P-Doc would change the drug combination I was on whether it was helping or not (you name it and I've probably been on it).  I remember her having me on ritalin and taking me off because she said "most kids take a break from it over the summer" - I wasn't a little kid.  I told her I was having trouble sleeping and was always tired.  She put me on ambien and after I spoke up, she insisted it is not something that you can be addicted to (I was an EMT for a while, I knew better).  It was always in combination with Effexor.  I felt COMPLETELY out of control of my life.  Gained a TON of weight (over 100lbs) because of the drugs (when they say they make you hungry, they aren't talking desert - they're talking about craving a side of beef).  Finally, three years ago I told my PCP I had enough.  I took myself off of everything, then I decided to quit the Effexor.  I know this drug has good effects on a lot of people but I stopped cold turkey (which you should never do) and it took me a week to get that stuff out of my system and get back to the point where I could function in a half way decent manner.  That stuff is wicked and I will never touch that drug again.

I don't know if the diagnosis from the P-Doc was valid or not.  I know apnea causes depression and I think (hope) I've learned to distinguish the difference between being depressed, and being so exhausted that I really don't want to do anything or even be around other people with more energy than I have.  I'm hoping that being able to breathe again at night will make the biggest difference in the world.

Mr. Ed, welcome, and you don't really have to be bi-polar to join in the conversation, a misdiagnosis will do. And being a little bi-polar is not a disabling thing, in fact it could be an asset. You just have to be careful that you get the proper sleep, and don't take meds that would push you over the edge. I am so happy for you that you were able to get off the Effexor without all of the evil side effects that I've heard about.  I really think it was contributing to my sleep apnea, now that I have been off of the stuff for 2 weeks, by apnea has been hovering around 2 every night.  6 months ago I was doing good to see 5.  It does take a little discipline to use the mask every single time you sleep, but it is so much better than being over medicated.  Good luck, Virginia


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Resmed elite , 17, mirage quattro ff . 25 + years of untreated OSA

Virginia, I do remember one New Year's weekend (I think 2001 or 2002) when I decided to go ice fishing.  I forget the medication at home.  After the second night, I felt dizzy and lightheaded and had a headache.  I decided to pack it in so I got in the camper and started driving home.  I honestly think I cried at least 2 of the 3 hours on the drive home and couldn't figure out why.  It was wild!  Imagine seeing a (at the time) 32 year old guy in a truck and camper with a full beard driving down the road bawling like a little kid.  Looking back it can be funny at times, but as you mention, the side effects and withdrawals can be rough.

I was a dutiful little girl and always took my meds as prescribed.  My husband always fills my weekly med container every friday night. I don't think I ever missed a full dose of the effexor. I removed myself off of it very, very slowly, waiting until I knew I was fully stabilized until cutting down again.  It took about 18 months, maybe I should have just toughed it out and got it over with faster, but after reading all of the horror stories on the web, I'm kind of happy I took my time.  Virginia


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Resmed elite , 17, mirage quattro ff . 25 + years of untreated OSA

Mr. Ed,

One positive side-effect is that Mrs. RVW and Virginia are going to come over and remodel and clean my place.

Virginia, have you ever tried Lamital?  That is what I take.  It was a miracle drug when my daughter first had these inconsolable, horrific symtoms and it has helped me a lot too.  My daughter doesn't seem to need it right now at this stage in her life.

Vicki


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That which does not kill you makes you stronger-Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich must of had apnea.

Vicki, My neoro tried me on lamictal, and when I got up to 50 mg. I thought I had a seizure or two. I woke up one morning in the middle of a seizure dream, but it could have been a sleep apnea event , my apnea wasn't under control very well at the time.  Now that the effexor is gone, I may be open to trying at is a replacement to the dilantin, since I can kill two birds with one stone.  Virginia


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Resmed elite , 17, mirage quattro ff . 25 + years of untreated OSA

Two birds..., yes, since it is an anti-seizure med.  We took my dd off of it so that we could have her evaluated for a seizure disorder (ongoing eval. still).  Zero side-effects, no weight gain, tiredness, etc.  You do have to increase the dose up to theraputic very, very slowly as it can cause a life-threatening serum sickness which is seen initially as a rash.  But my dd and I did not have any difficulty at all.

Vicki


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That which does not kill you makes you stronger-Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich must of had apnea.