2006-08-16 02:11
I am listening to Jimmy Hendrix's "Manic Depression" right
now. Yay... WOW!Funny coincidence, because I am posting this letter I wrote with the
paypal donation I made to this incredible website, CrazyMeds.org. It is all
about the Good, the Bad, and the Funny of Neurological Medications-
your one-stop information portal for the mentally interesting.
Besides Prednisone, which I whined about in my previous post, I also
weaned myself off an antidepressant. The Western Medical Wizards at
the hospital put me on this stuff because they thought I was
depressed. I told them that I was OK with however things turned out-
whether I lived or died- because I had no "unfinished business". I
believe whatever happens is meant to be; if I died it would be the
beginning of the next great adventure. I have no regrets. I have no
unachieved desires. I believe in DIVINE ORDER. There are no mistakes-
just action and consequence, no "right and wrong".
Well, the Western Medical Wizards felt my spiritual view of things as
they were going up in ICU needed chemical correction. Coming off that
"potion" was soooo trippy. The hallucinations I had were not the
pretty trails and pulsing paisleys I thought of as hallucinations.
They were more like falling asleep sitting up, eyes open, and having
interactions with other people- then suddenly coming back to where
you're actually sitting, but the other people are not there. After
the first hallucination I was "lucid" for the other 4 or 5.
In the last one I had there were 2 girls I had never met in real life
sitting in my living room. We were getting ready to go out, and I had
the feeling they wanted to get stoned. I don't usually smoke with
people I don't know, but I really liked these gals.
So I said to them, "wait, I have to see if you are real".
When I pulled my conscious up and out of the hallucination they were
gone! Whew! That answered that question. This CrazyMeds website
prepared me for that strangeness more than my neurologist did. I
really appreciated that. Here's the letter I wrote with the donation...
Dear Jerod and Company,
I just want to thank you for being there when I needed some straight
info about the SSRI thing. I was very sick (near death) in the
hospital last November. When I was released from my week in intensive
care one of the many scripts given to me along with the prednisone
(that actually saved my life) was Lexapro.
As I started to come out of the fog at home and researched the pills
I was taking. The Lexapro did not fit in. I am not depressive. I was
diagnosed with CNS vasculitis- inflamed arteries in my brain.
Well, let me tell you, withdrawing from prednisone is a trip.
Weaning off Lexapro at the same time was, and still is, an even more
hectic ride. Of course the Dr.s took lots of bloodwork during the
whole process, but not one of them told me about the SSRI
discontinuation syndrome.
Today is day 14 off those 2 meds. YAY! If it wasn't for the info I
gleaned from your site I would have been unable to cope. Knowing what
to expect I was able to forewarn my hubby and mother and friends.
They thank you too!
Oh! I am a visionary surrealist, and a web designer as part of that
reality. I put a link to your site on my links page. I am so grateful
for your writing style and truth telling! Thanks much.
Ya'll will dig my personal site. Among my many artistic endeavors I
do lots of wacky animation. The third button from the left is the
links page if ya want to check the link to CrazyMeds out. Your site
is so well written and helpful I want to make this paypal donation
to you. Soon I'll get my Dr. bills paid, too. ARG! those bills are
nasty even with insurance.
I read aloud, to two of my friends who are involved with the same
bipolar person, your 12
Steps For Staying On Drugs. I was involved with a different
bipolar man years ago. I found such understanding of the dilemmas he
felt- and so did the friends who I read for. Thank You, Jerod, for
your honest view from that perspective- and the excellent advice you
share (Mileage may vary).
I found your site because of being put on Lexapro when I was in ICU
for a week in November. Not being depressive I wanted off. Your
information and the advice of my neurologist did the trick! The
hallucinations I had were no surprise. And they are long gone now.
I put a link to CrazyMeds.org on my site's links page a
couple weeks ago...
Http://LJMichel.com
Have a great day!