Hello from me for the first time...

Hi everyone, I am Rosie from the trademe board, very new to all this - and struggling might I add.
Last week I was put on fluox by my Dr as he was deeply concerned about my mental state. I seem to have become a bit worse since going on them to be honest, and woke up in tears this morning - not a great start to the day.
I guess it started back in Oct when I stopped sleeping, found out the real meaning of insomnia. Hour after hour after hour of staring at the wall, reading fb, talking to others who can't sleep, etc etc . It was about Dec when I lost the ability to watch tv completely or to read a book which was even earlier than that. I have since managed to get through a couple of books, well one full one. My pain increased from old injuries hugely and that is what drew me back to my Dr. He dared to suggest a couple of months ago I could be depressed. I told him, I was going away by myself without my husband or 3 teens to get away from it all in the middle of nowhere - I guess (understandably) it rang every alarm bell for him. He asked me if I had a plan to end it all. I tried to assure him I would not do that to my family - I just wanted peace and quiet - and most of all sleep!!!!
For the first time in 27 yrs I had a week to myself - at the end of it, I did not want to go home, at all, ever.
About a week after that, I went back to try and convince my Dr I was not suicidal and that I was safe to re- prescribe Tramadol for pain and sleeping pills for a couple of nights a sleep a week to help me cope better. He talked to me more about depression. I was so annoyed with him that I went home, did three online checklists and discovered that I was in the severely depressed category - told my husband they were all rigged!!! I read a brilliant book on sufferes of depression, and I guess it rang a few bells. I went back to my Dr and said I was open to his suggestion that I may be suffering depression after many months of 1 - 3,4 hrs sleep a night. He did a checklist and was a bit alarmed. Once again offered me an intervention team or someone to come and talk to me at his rooms to which once again I refused. My husband was there with me this time. So I agreed to go on fluox and DHC a long acting member of the opoid family and panadol constantly to try and get my pain under control as well.
So after a rather protracted ramble - that is me and my wee story so far, oh well a wee slice of me. Apart from that I am 47yrs young But I think that is more than enough for anyone to read so I will bring it to an end. I do feel worse than last week, which worries me a bit but I am still alive and kicking.

I gues sooner or later, someone might say hello back, I mean only eleven have read this so far

Hello back!! and hugs to you dear

Hi there Rosie and Welcome to TBBD - thanks for choosing to join us and also for introducing yourself to us.

Congratulations for empowering yourself to return to the doctor and to agree to a regime of meds which might well help.

I use Paroxetine as my anti-mad and I know DHC Codeine well - I take it morning and night. I had adverse reactions with Tramadol and a few others, but DHC certainly helps.

Alas these meds don't kick in straight away and with the anti-mads, there is often a 2-3 week before one starts to notice a difference. Have you seen the Medsafe Consumer Data Information Sheet for Fluox?

There are three versions available, two of which are more or less identical so share a Data Sheet, whilst the other, good ole Prozac is the second Link shown below.

http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/Consumers/cmi/f/fluox.pdf
http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/Consumers/cmi/p/prozac.pdf

In my experience these offer the most reliable information on meds available in NZ.

Thanks again and nice to meet you,

Paddy.

P.S. I don't often 'suggest' a medication because its not something I'm qualified to do - but - I have spinal cord and assorted other injuries decades old and I know a wee bit about pain and mobility and stuff.

One of my most useful meds is a muscle relaxant called Orphenadrine Citrate or in its generic form, Norflex. My body knows when I've forgotten those, by golly. Its Medsafe consumer info Link is http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/Consumers/cmi/n/Norflex.htm

wow Paddy you are amazing, oh and hello zin (all hugs gladly accepted). I will look at those medsafe sheets. I was talking to a nurse at the Drs today who was checking up on me and I tearfully told her I was feeling worse than last week, the Dr told her to pass on to me that he wants me to stay on fluox 20mg for another week. I feel worse actually, like sadder and more tearful - I hate feeling like this. I feel very bleak, especially when I forget to take my pain meds and the pain hits me again. I took 2 DHC today at once as I just wanted to feel life without any pain for a few hours. Paddy I am going t mention that med to my Dr as I found Tramadol really good but it can't be prescribed with fluox.
So I just need to be patient, and get through a day at a time aye - each day seems soooooo long.
Oh well, I think I have found a nice safe place to hang out here sometimes.
It was great to come and see some replies