AlwaysTired’s Profile

Open Depression
Type: Clinical (Major) Depression

My husband suffers from BP depression, and has been unable to work since early 2005. He has recently qualified for SSD. Our adult daughter has suffered from depression since she was 13 or so.

Treatments

Ambien Somewhat Helpful

another sleep aid to help him sleep

Effexor Working / Worked

Both husband & daughter take this. Husband is on 375 mg (w/ ability to stabilize), and daughter takes 150 mg.

EMDR Working / Worked

Husband's therapist uses this with him - with limited success.

Psychotherapy Working / Worked

husband is in weekly talk therapy w/ LCSW, monthly w/psychiatrist. Daughter sees LCSW periodically, but plan to increase visits when she finds a therapist at school.

Support from Friends & Family Working / Worked

Close friends & family understand and are supportive

Wellbutrin Somewhat Helpful

Husband on for a while - didn't work as well as Effexor

Zoloft Somewhat Helpful

high dose when depression was crushing - kept him like a zombie for a while, but helped him get thru rough time.

Open Crohn's Disease & Ulcerative Colitis

I have UC - diagnosed in 1996, and in remission for about 4 years.

Treatments

Asacol Not Working

Allergic - too it for several years, and was taking 12 tabs a day. Ended up in the hospital for 3 weeks from acute allergic reaction w/ high fevers.

Prednisone Working / Worked

Took for several years - helped get it under control.

Purinethol Working / Worked

I take it every day - keeps me in remission. ONly thing that works for me, since I can't take Asacol.

Asacol Working / Worked

used it for first few years, along with asacol and prednisone. worked well. My cousin used it but she told me it's been taken off the market

Avoid Certain Foods / Chemicals Working / Worked

I avoid fried foods, and rich foods. When my UC acts up, I go back on the "white food" diet (chicken, bread, pasta, rice, baked potato)

Open Migraine Headaches

My husband and daughter suffer from migraines. They have not had them recently, as the BP meds seem to prevent them (probably the only positive side effect).

Treatments

Zomig Working / Worked

my husband and daughter both take zomig for migraines

Open TMJ

I'm joining this community because my daughter has severe TMJ and her experience may be helpful to others.

Treatments

Surgery Somewhat Helpful

My daughter has had surgery to repair a damaged disk in the TM joint. It has been moderately successful.

Open Hemophilia

I have Hemophila C, also known as Factor XI deficiency, also known as Rosenthal Syndrome. It is a genetic disorder that effects both genders, and is primarily found in those of ashkenazi (eastern European) jewish descent.

Treatments

Blood Transfusion Working / Worked

Fresh frozen plasma (FFP) - before any cutting procedure to replace factor XI

Open Asthma
Type: Cough Variant Asthma

Have had Asthma since I was in my early 20's. My daughter has had it since she was a baby.

Treatments

Advair Working / Worked

Inhaler Working / Worked

Proventil - have used this as a rescue inhaler for years.

Singulair Working / Worked

Open Pancreatic Cancer

My mom passed away at age 80 on Dec 16, 2007, after battling PC for 5 years. It was discovered VERY early, she had surgery, radiation & continued chemo until Jan '07. She had a wonderful attitude & refused to give up! She enjoyed life and all it had to offer. She deteriorated throughout 2007 & spent the last year in a nursing home. Her doctors were just amazed that she survived so long. My grandfather died from this 25 years ago after just 3 months.

Treatments

5-FU Somewhat Helpful

This was Mom's first infused med - they switched her to other meds when this one stopped working.

Gemcitabine Working / Worked

This worked very well for mom for the past few years. Unfortunately, she was taken off it this week because she developed a terrible rash.

Radiotherapy Somewhat Helpful

Mom started w/ radiation immediately after recovering from her surgery.

Tarceva Somewhat Helpful

Mom is taking this orally. She was taken off it a month ago because she developed a rash - but now they think the gemcitabine was the cause. She'll start it again soon.

Taxotere Somewhat Helpful

Mom gets this as an infusion.

Whipple Procedure Working / Worked

Surgery performed in 2003 - removed most of it, but tumor markers showed that some cells remained.

Open Physical & Emotional Abuse

I do volunteer work as a Domestic Violence Response Team member in my town. Two of my good friends were victims of violence (one female & one male) -- fortunately both of them were finally able to get out of their abusive marriages. So - I decided to help others who are victims.

Open Trichotillomania (Hair Pulling)
Type: Trichotillomania

I think I have trich - I tweeze my chin obessively - every day - and my chin is so scarred from it I can't go out without any make-up.

Open Menopause

Yup - I'm starting menopause... feel just like a teenager again!!!

Treatments

Estroven Working / Worked

Helps w/ night sweats

Open Self-Injury

My daughter has had a problem with SI, but fortunately she hasn't cut for a year.

Treatments

Psychotherapy Working / Worked

Open Eczema

I have excema on my face and my hands. It gets worse when I have a UC flare.

Treatments

Hydrocortisone Working / Worked

I use Locoid - works pretty well.

Open MRSA

My mom had MRSA during the last year of her life. Her immune system was compromised because of the chemo. She was placed in isolation in her nursing home for a month or so, but she improved after a time and was allowed out of her room again. We were told that residents of nursing homes all get it.....but Mom's was worse because of her immune system.

Treatments

Bactrim DS Working / Worked

Bactroban Working / Worked

Vancomycin Working / Worked

Open Anxiety

My niece suffers from anxiety, so I am here to support her.

Open Rosacea

I have rosacea on my face, along with excema.

Treatments

Tetracycline Working / Worked

I take 250 mg x2 a day, unless I have a flare and then I increase to 3x

Open Caregivers

Hmmm - where to start? My mom had pancreatic cancer, and my husband & daughter have BP. My mom passed away in Dec '07, so my energies will now focus on my husband and daughter.

Treatments

Psychotherapy Somewhat Helpful

Started seeing a therapist in January '07

Open Depression Supporters

My husband and daughter suffer from depression.

Open Family & Friends of Bipolar

My husband and daughter are both Bipolar.

Open Bereavement
Type: Loss of a Parent

My mother passed away on 12/16/07 from pancreatic cancer. She fought the good fight -- lived for 5 years. Miss her.

Treatments

Crying Too Soon to Tell

Remembering Working / Worked

Support from Friends & Family Working / Worked