Need some advice
#37724 - 01/15/04 01:41 PM
|
|
|
|
|
sherr1
Reged: 10/07/03
Posts: 586
Loc: Southern, Calif
|
|
|
I've been quiet lately been going through some sorta rough times. I haven't had a flare up since September after I ate some Carrot cake. I've been eating according to Heather's diet but lost more weight. I have pretty normal bowel/m lately. I guess I'm having trouble trying new foods and the foods I'm eating are not letting me gain any weight. Today the Dr. decided they want me to try a lose dose of paxil and see my Gi Dr. again to help me with some tummy problems.
I'm very skeptical of Paxil, I don't feel I have anxiety nor depression. Finally my Dr. says you are having IBS..which I already new that. She says the paxil will help with seritonin to the tummy brain and calm down the anxiey of trying foods. In return it may help with the gassy tummy or bloating??? I don't get bloating and rarely gas. I have some trouble with b/m which I feel are normal. I don't go everyday. I do recall the article on seritonin and the gut brain. So in a way I new what she was talking about. I ask her about a fiber supplement and she said try paxil first and see how you do. I'm worried of a side affect DDDD.
Does anyone use paxil??and if soo are you d proned and to you have a problem with it? I know we are all different, but right now I'm confused  I thought I was doing better than ever, it's just the darn wieght issue. I ask her about probiotics and there was no reply. I have been considering this option over the paxil. All test are coming back clear from thryoid to hepatitis and now she is doing a sed panel. Oh another thing I ask several times about lactose intolerance and was told normal, but today a test was done and showed lactose intolerant. Go figure.
I'm going to continue using Heather's diet and all of your recipes. I'm trying rice milk today.. I find that soy milk is gassing me up, even though I can do the yogurt. Hey thanks for listening, you're all the best!!
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I'm not depressed either but take an antidepressant for IBS. Has something to do with blocking GI pain. I'm not sure about the Paxil, my GI said that the SSRIs are currently the best. If your Dr is looking to treat anxiety, I'm not sure Paxil is the best option as I am not aware that it helps with anxiety.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I have spoken with a couple people who took paxil and said that it has the worst side effects out of the SSRI's...I just started taking effexor today (which is only supposed to have minimal side effects by comparison)...maybe someone on the board who has taken this drug can give you more info on it?
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Paxil actually works very well for anxiety (my sister is a pharmacist and I ama med tech/pharmacy tech.) It does however have alot of side effects (diarhhea is one but it wears off after your body adjusts.) and the added draw back of strong withdrawl symptoms should you need to go off. Other SSRI's have less side effects and withdrawl. Coincidentally my MD has also given me samples of Effexor. It seems to have fewer GI side effects..but can raise your blood pressure slightly. I am waiting to talk to my GI Dr on Friday before I decide to take it. I wish I could find more informtion specifically about SSRI's and GI problems...I will let you know if I find anything. Please all let us know of you take anything and if it helps or not....
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I don't take any.....but hear effexor is the absolute best and without the side affects of paxil. In fact paxil is now "out" and effexor is "in" so your doc must be on top of things............However, from what I understand Paxil makes one put weight on so that may be why Sherr1 was put on it...
Kandee
--------------------
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I was on a low dose of amitryptiline, some anti-depressant (I had the generic kind) for my IBS for a long time and I thought it was great. I did gain weight, but it really helped with the nausea. The first two days I took it I was very spacy and felt like I was floating slightly to the left of my body, but after that I didn't really have any side effects.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Your absolutely right she put me on it to help gain weight.
I don't want to take anything, effexor has some side effects but, d is not one, but on the other hand anorexia is and thats probably why, I don't have these tendencies and never have. I have the prescription, but haven't filled it yet. Maybe I should she my GI doc first. Tell him about my upsets with certain foods and my bowel behavior since my getting over that terrible diahhrea strain, which they don't know what kind it was. He might not think a ssri is suitable. So many decisions to make.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Quote:
I was on a low dose of amitryptiline, some anti-depressant (I had the generic kind) for my IBS for a long time and I thought it was great. I did gain weight, but it really helped with the nausea. The first two days I took it I was very spacy and felt like I was floating slightly to the left of my body, but after that I didn't really have any side effects.
Hey thanks for the advice on this one. Are you on a low dose?
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Right now I'm not taking it at all... it's supposed to supress the false signals that your gut's brain sends out that says you're in pain. My new GI is trying to determine if those signals are false or not. I was taking 50 mg.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I was on Zoloft for a couple years (have been off of it for a couple years) for depression/anxiety. It really did help with the IBS-D, too. I read about Seretonin on the internet and found that brisk walking or and exercise also helps release seretonin naturally. So I started walking regularly and it really helped. I didn't want to take the Zoloft for the rest of my life and I was eventually able to get off it with therapy. Now I try to regulate things with exercise and diet. Although, with the cold weather it's hard to get out and walk. I was initially put on Paxil, but it didn't agree with me.....made me even more anxious, etc. So they put me on a very low dose of Zoloft. You may want to check into it. It may be a way to get things on an even keel and allow you to work things out so that you can eventually get off of it like I did. Hope this helps. 
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I weigh 114 right now I'm 5'8 and us to weigh 167 back in June 2003 the weight came off in july when the DD was bad and the docs were running test with no treatment. In September I weighed 126 and in just almost 4 months now 114.
Before I had my last child I weighed only 125 pounds and have been thin all my life until child bearing years. Before I was married and pregnant with my first child I weighed only 103lbs. I ate everything and anything and didn't gain a pound, before pregnancy. Even after each child except the last one I weighed 114 to 128. So thats why I think I'm ok with the weight.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
hI sherr; I have been on paxil for a couple of years now and have not had a problem with it at all. Of course, like any medicine,you have to give it time to get into your system. Before I found Heather's diet, I wss trying to up the dosage because I felt it wasn't working enough for me. My doc. said that upping the paxil dosage wouldn't make any difference. I found he was right about that. nOW, WITH diet and paxil i AM doing a lot better. Iam d prone, but it has been lot better in the last year. Do give paxil a go and see how you do with it. LET ME know.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Quote:
hI sherr; I have been on paxil for a couple of years now and have not had a problem with it at all. Of course, like any medicine,you have to give it time to get into your system. Before I found Heather's diet, I wss trying to up the dosage because I felt it wasn't working enough for me. My doc. said that upping the paxil dosage wouldn't make any difference. I found he was right about that. nOW, WITH diet and paxil i AM doing a lot better. Iam d prone, but it has been lot better in the last year. Do give paxil a go and see how you do with it. LET ME know.
Louise thanks for your honest answer, early I decided to give it a go. My biggest fear is Diahhrea and the public thing again. I been over the public thing for several months now and thats the only worry I have is D and finding a bathroom. I let ya know how I do. I know it takes 3 to 4 weeks to kick in. Besides I think I'll be ok. There been so much info on to handle the D and get it under control, my options are open. Thanks again!!
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
hi mm; i do not have anxiety problems but I have been on pazil for a couple of years now witH NO SISE EFFECTS AT ALL. i am not aware of sideeffects with paxil. what side effects do these people have.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
side effects? i HAD D Before I went on paxil not during being on it. My doc. said to go off gradually, if you go off all at once maybe you would have wd symtoms. I went off for a while GRADUAlly with absolutely no side effects at all. maybe it depends on a persons system.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Sherri, YOU, and only YOU have to go with what you feel is right for you, and not what a weight chart or doctor THINKS you should weigh. The REAL test is WHAT weight DO YOU feel the best at(?), whether it be 167, 128 or 114.
On the other hand do you have such a hectic life, and such IBS pain that the Paxil (or something else like it) just might help a bit and is worth the try, OR is your fear of taking an anti-depressant overshadowing all those other components to your life and health? You know, you may want to take a look at the IBS Audio 100 program (see the hypno boads). Believe me, it is well worth the money and has such a success rate that I don't know why ANYONE wouldn't at least give it a try. At the very most you give up 30 minutes a day and that's a small price to pay for feeling better. Plus, there are NO adverse side affects, only positive ones.
Just some thoughts here....I wish you well, as we all here do
Kandee
--------------------
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Hi there, I took Paxil for about 6 mos 2 years ago whe I started having panic attacks and anxiety over the possibility of getting a stomach attack while I was not at home. I eventually weened myself off of it and it was rough b/c I really felt the craving and addictiveness of it for the first few days after I quit. I think it did help with the anxiety but I found the side affects to be very annoying (sweaty hands, decreased sex drive). I found breathing exercises were much more helpful for me and still are when it comes to the anxiety.
I was thinking when I read your email that if you are doing pretty well and feeling well most of the time and you aren't comfortable adding Paxil to your life then I would go with your gut feeling(no pun intended!) and not take any Paxil.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Hey Loise...glad you didn't have any side effects. I had two friends that had taken it and caused them to be very drowsy and spacy to the point they would "zone" out. But these types of drugs affect everyone differently.
I have been feeling dizzy, nauseous and lost my appetite, but it seems to be getting better now.
cheers
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I took Paxil for about 9 months. It helped, but I hated the side effects: 25 pound weight gain, zero sex drive and constant sweating. Getting off it was the most horrible thing in the world. Two weeks of feeling sick, dizzy, paranoid (I dreamed every night that my children were trying to kill me!), shaking, and even worse D than ever. I would never, ever take Paxil again. I was literally stuck in bed the whole time. However, I hate to discourage someone from taking something that might help them even though it was a bad experience for me. Just be sure you withdraw extra slowly if you do take it. Good luck! Dawn
--------------------
"It is impossible to step into the same river twice." --Heraclitus.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Went to the GI MD today..He said to go ahead and try the Effexor..he has heard of it helping and 'it certainly wont hurt" in his opinion. He also said to cut out the eppermint tea but the caps are okay...the tea is a no no until my ulcer is healed, and then only in small amounts (and i was really enjoying the tea too...) As for the diet he said it seems fine as long as i incorporate some whole grains and fruits and veggies...And he never heard of Acacia so wouldnt recommend it. He wants me to take Citrucel daily. I may just do a comparison of dosages and stick with acacia...i already have it and it is the same as citrucel right??? He doesnt want to do a colonoscopy yet...but i am going to have a repeat endoscope in 3 weeks. Geez...I hope he is right about all this....
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Thanks everyone..I have considered the audio tapes, discussed with my hubby and he said I wouldn't waste my money and he wants me to take the paxil. I know alot of people thnk cures cme in a pill most of the time. I'm going to order the tapes and go with my gut instinct on this one.
Hold on to the prescription and if I see no results or get worse I fill it and take it.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I haven't piped in here yet because I didn't have any advice to give, sherr, but I want to wish you good luck with whatever you choose to do! I understand about the cost of the hypnosis tapes... I haven't been able to afford them yet either. But if your hubby mentions that again maybe you can remind him of how much the meds will cost over time! Anyway, I think you're smart to go with your instincts! You're the one who has to live with this, not anyone else.
--------------------
"Anyone can exercise, but this kind of lethargy takes real discipline." -Garfield
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Sherr - if you need help justifying the cost of the hypno, I always say the cost is less than $1 a day.  100 days at about $90. Hope you try them - they worked wonders for me! 
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
Sherr, I just want to say I applaud your decision. The
tapes are wonderful and you can always fill that prescription as you said.
My personal opinion on Paxil is that I would never
take it. I take Prozac and klonopin for panic dissorder
and depression and have several friends who took paxil as well
as a son who took it. All of my frinds did well on paxil until they they
tried to stop taking it. Then they
all experienced withdrawl side effects ranging from severe
dizzyness and headaches to attempted suicide. My son
had no problem getting off it at all however and he
had been on it for 2 or 3 years. I guess it all depends
on the person but I've known so many people to have
severe problems getting off of it that I personally
wouldn't take the chance. This is just my personal
opinion and everyone is different.
--------------------
A Safe Place
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
I tried paxil, gained 20 lbs. in 3 months, which depressed me. Also, made my anxiety worse. I have been on 1/2 dose of zoloft for 3 years, with no side effects. I found the hynotherapy tapes helped my anxiety the best. Trying to figure out what to take and what works for you is very exhausting and frustrating. Good luck to you.
--------------------
Everything somehow always works out for the best.
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
|
|
My husband was on paxil for...oh 6 years or longer. He had the hardest time getting off of that stuff!!! Also if he missed a dose or was a little late taking it he felt so sick. I wouldn't recommend paxil to anyone. Your body becomes addicted to it. Well that's my personal oppinion at least! He is now on Celexa and like's it a lot better than paxil. He has panic attacks. Someone said they had bad dreams tyring to get off...so did my husband. I would try the Audio tapes. I did and they helped a little. Not as much as I would have liked. I just ended them on the 1st of January. I'm think I will start listining to it again in a few months. I'm not giving up!! Good luck!
Steph
--------------------
Print
Remind Me
Notify Moderator
|
Posts
