[healthwork] meds log

[kaberett]

(Aside: Today's xkcd is incredibly relevant to my interests.)


[CN breathing, internalised ableism, discussion of auto-gaslighting]

I am getting on very well indeed with the new respiratory meds regime. I've spent most of the past week staying somewhere with (a) cats and (b) mosquitoes; my allergic reactions to both were minimal compared to previous exposures. And my resilience to cigarette smoke exposure has skyrocketed -- I was able to tolerate with mild discomfort levels of exposure that would previously have had me in uncontrollable coughing fits. This... is having a really massive impact on how possible it is for me to do everything outside the house; it's great.

The downside is, of course, that I'm trying to convince myself that this is entirely psychosomatic -- it's not that the medium-heavy-duty drugs prescribed me by tertiary care after years of fruitless investigation by specialist asthma nurses (some of which investigations put me on drugs that made me actively worse) have actually fixed the problem, it's just that I'm so pleased to have finally got the attention I crave that I'm willing to settle down for a bit -- but, well, I know where that impulse comes from, and quite frankly whatever the point is I can breathe better.


[CN gastric misc, disordered eating mention]

Relatedly (but only sort of and sideways), I ran out of Buscopan (an anti-spasmodic) a few weeks ago. I started it back in ~2012 and have been on a very low dose continuously basically ever since; discontinuation seems to have... not caused me any problems at all. Again, the easy and obvious-to-me explanation of this data is that I Was Attention-Seeking; however I think it on balance rather more likely that this is yet another artefact of how good A is for me, in that I started taking it when my eating patterns were highly and problematically irregular, and these days they're... not. By and large. I think it seems pretty likely that putting my digestive system under significantly less stress (while being overall much happier/better rested/etc) is the... actual probable cause here.

I think I'm going to keep some on hand anyway, so I've got it available for PRN use when my eating patterns do slip again (because they do, periodically, when highly stressed -- but mostly only over 24 hours or so, these days), but I... can actually formally discontinue its use as a daily, I think. WHICH IS CONVENIENT, because my dosette boxes are Rather Full on my current regimen, and also not taking the Buscopan seems to be making my stomach rather less unhappy about the morning fluoxetine dose...

Comments

[shewhostaples]

That sounds like generally good news - and whatever the reason or reasons, I'm glad you're doing better.

[sfred]

Hurray for breathing and digesting!

[jelazakazone]

Yay for improvements and feeling better!

I've been taking fluoxetine after I eat even though it claims it doesn't need to be taken with food. I think it helps.

There is a LOT to be said for a partner whose presence organizes the self. I am pretty sure hubby was sufficient as an antidepressent/anti-axiety for years and years. So, don't discount that. <3

[kaberett]

Yeah, definitely not discounting -- it is hilarious how much better my sleep has gotten, in a bleak sort of way.

I'm finding I have to take fluoxetine in the middle of breakfast, but cutting out the morning Buscopan has, I think, given me a bit more leeway on that.

[inoru_no_hoshi]

Hooray, these all sound excellent! :D

[cadenzamuse]

Huzzah for good meds news!

Also, oh man, partners who help reduce symptoms. T is in charge of food because a: he likes to cook and b: when we met I was having a hard time with the problematic eating patterns. It is significant that because of T, I can now a: mostly remember to eat, b: feel hunger at normal times, and c: do a small amount of cooking for myself even when hungry. (c) had previously eluded me for the entirety of my adult life. Plus he has been very good for my sleeping patterns during depressive episodes, as well.

[batdina]

breathing is good. I'm glad you found docs to help you figure it out. (FWIW, I always take anti-depressants with food. no one said to, I just did it.)

Me? I'm dealing with what I think is probably gastro-paresis. Finding someone who will believe it is becoming a full time job. (no no no, it's NOT IBS. Honest!)

[khronos_keeper]

<3 Getting the meds situation sorted one way or another is always a relief.

[wohali]

>>> The downside is, of course, that I'm trying to convince myself that this is entirely psychosomatic <<<

I am having this trouble in spades with my new medication regime. When I feel normal I feel...normal! And then I sometimes forget doses of my medication, which then leads me to feel bad again. It's a horrible cycle to get into. But I have been able to start shedding some meds I've been on - such as pinaverium bromide and prochlorperazine - and it's nice not to have to scoop an entire tablespoon full of pills into my mouth multiple times a day.

Interesting to see you're on omeprazole; I'm on rabeprazole presumably for similar reasons.

>>> By and large. I think it seems pretty likely that putting my digestive system under significantly less stress (while being overall much happier/better rested/etc) is the... actual probable cause here. <<

We are not each other (!!) but I found that even after 2 years of no job, little imposed stress and a regular diet, I still have GI issues. Yes, the lack of stress and regular schedule (and a loving partner who imposes regularity!) have helped reduce symptoms a lot but that's not been sufficient - with me still having needed extended bed rest before I found my "miracle" drug (piles and piles of sodium cromoglycate). I guess there must be a continuum along which we travel, and I'm so glad for you that you're closer to the "not needing medication" end of that spectrum. :D

[alatefeline]

<3 Can't think of a well-thought-out comment, but I'm glad things are working better for you.

[hairyears]

What respiratory meds are you on?

I may need to consult my GP about not-quite-so-mild asthma before the end of the year...

[kaberett]

My peak flow is very stable and consistent and roughly where it should be; I show way less than 20% variation in it (even when travelling between different cities and completely unmedicated). I'm completely non-responsive to inhalers, as best anyone can tell. What they're doing as a result is trying to control allergic response in my upper airways to give my lower airways a fighting chance; this seems to be doing the job admirably.

They've got me on mometasone, a nasal steroid spray, and on fexofenadine, a relatively new anti-histamine. They appear to, in concert, be working Actual Wonders.

Let us spray

[hairyears]

Ta.

I know Fexofenadine, was prescribed it a decade ago: I will ask for it again if my hay fever / dust / mild cat allergy becomes intolerable on over-the-counter antihistamines.

Steroidal nasal sprays have never worked for me, but the good ones are only prescribed after the ineffective ones have been shown to fail... And I never get that far with seasonal hay fever. It may be that mometasone is actually useful to mebut I see no prospect of ever getting any...

Re: Let us spray

[kaberett]

Huh. Have you tried asking your GP directly?

Re: Let us spray

[hairyears]

Not yet, no.