Can a girl catch a break?
Posted by Kaycie and Charley at 12/2/2008 10:35 PM and is filed under uncategorized 
Seriously!
I had a check-up with the family doctor today on my anxiety/depression. It's primarily because of my Crohn's now, but I started it because of the grieving process. I felt like I was chasing my tail, so to speak, so back in April, my OB put me on Lexapro and it did the trick. Well, insurance decided they didn't want to cover that drug anymore, so my family doctor made the switch for me and also gave me Xanax because I had a rough patch around the time of the Girl's birthday. She's SUPER about checking up on you when you are on these drugs, so today was my 3 month check-up, and it wasn't good.
The steroids are wreaking havoc on my body, more then I really care to realize it seems....
I've gained 21 lbs in 3 months, and I swear it's all in my ankles and my face. It's steroid related, OBVIOUSLY.
My blood pressures are dangerously high. In the left arm it was 148/88 and in the right arm it was 150/110. Just so you know, NORMAL pressures for me around something like 100/60. I have NEVER EVER had blood pressure issues.
So, my family doc had me call the clinical people for the study to see about adding medication. She's nervous this is too high (as am I). So, I'm to track the pressures for a week and if no improvement, we are going to start blood pressure meds. She also now wants me taking DAILY Xanax, whereas it has been just as needed and I maybe take a 1/2 a pill once a week, at best. Now I'm taking 3 doses of 1/2 a pill/day
I will be returning to St. Louis for a 6 week check-up this Friday for the study. I'll see Dr. Stone at that time, so Caroline (my researcher) and I discussed it'd be wise to track the pressures with the Xanax adding and see where we are Friday. If Dr. Stone feels the steroids are the contributor and it's weighing AGAINST my health, then we will contact the pharmaceutical and start weaning off the steroids sooner then later, so long as it doesn't affect the study. My family doctor is pretty much in agreement that the blood pressure issue is because of the steroids. Then, we'll reassess the situation again on Tuesday next week, after I have a full week's worth of blood pressure measurements.
The Xanax KNOCKS me out, so that IS the downfall. I took my meds tonight at around 8pm once Addy was asleep, and I passed out for 2 hours and I do not think it'll take me long to fall back asleep...
I'm REALLY going to get nothing done now, but after resting tonight, my blood pressures went to 126/78....obviously better, but still on the high side for ME.
OH, the FRUSTRATION! Some days I want to scream, and today was DEFINITELY one of those days....
ON a good note, did you know my baby girl is 16 months old today? WOW!
I cannot believe it. She's a little pistol these days. Rotten to the core and funnier by the minute. I need to start getting some more pictures of her. She's got an array of Christmas outfits that she looks super cute in! Give me a few days. Like I said, overwhelmed and frustrated...and on the bad days, I just do good to get her and I both out the door.... we're making do..somehow, someway!
I had a check-up with the family doctor today on my anxiety/depression. It's primarily because of my Crohn's now, but I started it because of the grieving process. I felt like I was chasing my tail, so to speak, so back in April, my OB put me on Lexapro and it did the trick. Well, insurance decided they didn't want to cover that drug anymore, so my family doctor made the switch for me and also gave me Xanax because I had a rough patch around the time of the Girl's birthday. She's SUPER about checking up on you when you are on these drugs, so today was my 3 month check-up, and it wasn't good.
The steroids are wreaking havoc on my body, more then I really care to realize it seems....
I've gained 21 lbs in 3 months, and I swear it's all in my ankles and my face. It's steroid related, OBVIOUSLY.
My blood pressures are dangerously high. In the left arm it was 148/88 and in the right arm it was 150/110. Just so you know, NORMAL pressures for me around something like 100/60. I have NEVER EVER had blood pressure issues.
So, my family doc had me call the clinical people for the study to see about adding medication. She's nervous this is too high (as am I). So, I'm to track the pressures for a week and if no improvement, we are going to start blood pressure meds. She also now wants me taking DAILY Xanax, whereas it has been just as needed and I maybe take a 1/2 a pill once a week, at best. Now I'm taking 3 doses of 1/2 a pill/day
I will be returning to St. Louis for a 6 week check-up this Friday for the study. I'll see Dr. Stone at that time, so Caroline (my researcher) and I discussed it'd be wise to track the pressures with the Xanax adding and see where we are Friday. If Dr. Stone feels the steroids are the contributor and it's weighing AGAINST my health, then we will contact the pharmaceutical and start weaning off the steroids sooner then later, so long as it doesn't affect the study. My family doctor is pretty much in agreement that the blood pressure issue is because of the steroids. Then, we'll reassess the situation again on Tuesday next week, after I have a full week's worth of blood pressure measurements.
The Xanax KNOCKS me out, so that IS the downfall. I took my meds tonight at around 8pm once Addy was asleep, and I passed out for 2 hours and I do not think it'll take me long to fall back asleep...
I'm REALLY going to get nothing done now, but after resting tonight, my blood pressures went to 126/78....obviously better, but still on the high side for ME.
OH, the FRUSTRATION! Some days I want to scream, and today was DEFINITELY one of those days....
ON a good note, did you know my baby girl is 16 months old today? WOW!
I cannot believe it. She's a little pistol these days. Rotten to the core and funnier by the minute. I need to start getting some more pictures of her. She's got an array of Christmas outfits that she looks super cute in! Give me a few days. Like I said, overwhelmed and frustrated...and on the bad days, I just do good to get her and I both out the door.... we're making do..somehow, someway!
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