Stupid virus thingie
Doctor appointment today to make sure nothing worse has developed, since my voice is STILL not back and it’s been a week since I first got sick. Result: nothing worse. It’s my sinuses, probably viral, and I have laryngitis from it. Fantastic. (I asked him what exactly laryngitis was, he said “irritation of the vocal chords.” Well duh, I could have told him I had that!) He gave me a script for a cough suppressant with codeine, so I could sleep, and some antibiotics just in case it’s not viral. Whatever, at this point… just whatever. I’ll take anything if it helps it go away.
I have discovered a pretty major problem, however: the “will make you drowsy, don’t take in the morning if you have to go to work” codeine stuff? DIDDLY-SQUAT. Oh for heaven’s sake, not again! Every medicine I’ve taken, over the counter or prescription, that was warned would make me drowsy has NOT done so. Sudafed? Cough medicine? Freakin’ codeine? Nada. Zip. Still awake. Apparently my body does not take hints very well. I do remember percocet made me drowsy… and very very loopy. I liked that stuff. (Had a couple pills after my laparoscopy.)
I also picked up my anti-depressant refill today, but didn’t get to take one until after work. End result: was starting to go into withdrawal. That’s always fun. My hands were trembling and I felt really… twitchy. Brain running a little fast. Thankfully it was mild and only lasted a couple hours until my dose kicked in. But the rest of my day before then? Giant disaster. It was one of those really annoying moods where I KNOW I’m being completely irrational, and yet I can’t help myself. It’s like I just can’t quite get in control of it, my moods just run off the cliff without me. I felt my head pounding in a minor freak-out when I couldn’t get a stuck door open. I came across a bush that was wilting because of weeds overtaking it and nearly burst into tears. I had many moments today where I would just see or think of something and set off the water works. That is NOT like me. I am a very emotional, passionate person, but I do not normally have a temper and weepiness like that. It was taxing.
That’s the thing with me and my meds. I’ve heard people talk about how they feel “numb” while taking SSRIs, and that’s totally not how it affects me at all. As you have all seen, I am still a very emotional person… I feel things very very deeply, good or bad. My pregnancy was so full of joy, my grief so full of sorrow. All of that while on the SSRIs. But when I’m off them it’s like something gets flicked past “normal” to “crazy.” Instead of having normal highs and lows it’s like I get a little manic-depressive with how hard I can crash. I just can’t explain it unless you’ve felt it, but it’s nasty. And that’s how I felt ALL the time before I got on the meds. I am just really thankful that they let me have normal emotions, let me stay in control. I would not be in a good spot without them.
When I was on all those pain killers last summer none of them did anything for me as far as making me feel nice and knocking me out. I am apparently immune to things that would make most people float off to happy land.
I’m glad your antidepressants really work for you w/o making you feel numb or like you don’t give a crap about anything. I had a big problem with them making me feel numb, I especially realized it when I didn’t take them..emotion would start to come back. I really started getting the point where I felt like I didn’t care about anything on them.
I have a friend who goes loopy and falls asleep with the non-drowsy cold medicine. Sorry you seem to be on the opposite extreme.
Summer sickies are extremely annoying. I was seriously sick twice last summer, and it blew. Hope you feel better soon.
natalie
it’s interesting to read about how you feel when NOT taking your antidepressant. without revealing too much info here let’s just say i have heard that a lot from others who were on them, especially the SSRIs. it’s the short half life…really can throw you for a loop. the SSNRIs (sometimes just called the SNRI’s) are much better about that…longer half life. anyway i’m glad you got back on the meds quickly–the abrupt withdraw is a b*tch.
i hope you feel better soon…sucks to be sick and try to function.
:)
Mr. Spit takes an antihistamine, even the non drowsy stuff, and he’s down for the count. FWIW, gravol always makes me sleepy.
I’m the same way – if it is supposed to make you drowsy, I am wide awake, even the Sudafed!
So sorry you are feeling so awful.
Codeine is also a pretty nifty cough suppressant and they add it to Robitussin for that. Codeine unfortunately causes me to vomit non-stop for 3-4 hours and I most definitely am NOT sleepy during that time!
Hope you get to feeling much better very soon!
Percocets were very good to me too. :0)
My mother has a similar response to meds like that. Anything that’s supposed to make you sleepy keeps her wide awake and anything that’s supposed to keep you awake knocks her out.
Sorry you’re feeling crappy and I hope you feel much better soon.
I just wanted to say that I have the same reaction to anti-depressants. I think the reason some people go loopy on them, as it were, is because those people don’t need them or are on the wrong anti-depressant.
Sorry you’re feeling worse for wear, and I hope you get some much needed sleep and get to feeling better.
All the best.
I wanted to tell you that I have the EXACT same issues when not on my SSRI’s, and I don’t feel numb when I am on them. I also do not fall asleep with normal ‘may cause drowsiness’ meds. But, a zanex and I am DONE. Thank you for sharing your story. It is touching and I have learned so much from your words. Thank you.
Natalie, sounds very not fun. I am glad, though, that your meds have the affect of allowing you to feel more in control. The thing KuKd made me realize is how very little control I really have over some things, which scared the crap out of me. I am still trying to grapple with the knowledge that bad things happen to good people and we don’t always get what we want.
Oh wow…I am SOOO glad i am not the only person who does this when I dont take my meds. I am on lexapro and before that I was on Prozac…been on meds for like 3 years now. If I miss a couple days, I go crazy, seriously! It sucks! Im glad you got your meds and are back in control…that feels good!
Am
where are you? thinking of you.