It doesn't help

[pottywoman]

Been on the zoloft for 3 weeks now. Nothing has changed. Doubt that it can help. Has anyone gained with it? It says it isn't suppose to put weight on. I'm just not happy anymore. :(

[vm]

Maybe you should talk to your doctor about trying another med or a different dosage. It's not uncommon to have to play with the type of medication or the dosage when you are starting out. It sure is frustrating, huh? :(

[Kathi]

I had to try 3 different ones before I found what works for me. Hugs, Kathi

[Elle]

I'm sorry it's not working for you. You said that you're not happy anymore. Do you mean b/c of IC in general or is the Zoloft depressing you? I ask this b/c antideppressants tend to really make me sink to a dark and sad place. I would hate for you to feel like that b/c of taking something that's suppossed to help. I hope you find some relief soon. :kissing:

[pottywoman]

It isn't the zoloft making me sad. I feel like I've lost everything because of the IC. Nothing is fun anymore. Can't make plans of any kind and I just don't know anyone anymore. I doubt the zoloft can help any but I'm going to try.

[Elle]

I'm so sorry, pottywoman. I wish there was something that I could do to help you feel better. I understand what you mean about nothing being fun anymore. Even though I love my children with every ounce of my being, I feel like I can't really enjoy them the way that I know I would if I didn't have IC. To me, that's the hardest thing. Yeah, the pain and all of the rest of the stuff really stinks, but just the fact that my children have been robbed of the type of mother that I would have been - it just really makes me angry!
This board has been a lifesaver for me for the last few years (I just recently changed my ID). One other thing that I've been doing recently is a lot of reading. I've never really been someone who enjoys reading a lot, but since I can't really be active anymore, I've started reading more. It really helps to take my mind off of IC, and I almost feel like the characters are my friends (I know that sounds really dumb! But, I actually think about them like they're real people! I'm going :loco: ) Sidney Sheldon books are the best for me since they really make me think and try to figure out what's going to happen next.
Please e-mail me if you'd like to talk. I know how isolating and depressing this disease can be. I'll be thinking about you. :grouphug:

[charmedx3]

i just had zoloft prescribed today. i haven't started it yet. dr said it takes 3 weeks to start working. i was once again given a lot of samples.

[MarthaB]

hi, i have been on zoloft for 10 years now, 50 mg a day, my 22 year old daughter is also on zoloft 100mg a day, she used to get so impatient because she saw no improvement, and i had told her that zoloft can take up to 7 weeks to take effect, and now it has, she is her old happy self again, so please try to have patience, zoloft could well work on you, you just have to give it time.good luck, martha

[Julie B]

I would like to suggest a bit of counseling, maybe with someone who specializes in greif. What you are experiencing is totally normal for someone diagnosed with a chronic disease. You will likely go through many of the same stages as someone who has suffered the death of a loved one. Denial, anger, depression, bargaining, frustration, and finally acceptance. People don't always go through the stages in the same order, and they may bounce around the stages.

With a chronic disease you are feeling a loss as well. It is normal.........one thing that helped me was to remember that everyone gets something sometime..........people with diabetes have to watch their food and take medication, even shots.........people with arthritis can become disabled.......all of the above.......

What you are feeling is normal............but taking to your doctor and a counselor can help you work through the grief and saddness safely.............please give them a call....XOXOXOXOX Julie B

[ICNDonna]

I agree with Julie --- counseling can be a huge help in learning to deal with a chronic condition.

I also agree that you should contact your doctor about your medications. If what you're taking isn't helping, there are many others you can try. It might take a while, but once you find the right medication combination, you will begin to feel better.

Please do consider counseling. Most of us have been there.

Warm hugs,
Donna

[MarthaB]

hi, i wrote a post earlier, i do agree with the other girls that it would be helpful to get some counseling, but with me i definately had to be on anti depressants, because of a lot of childhood problems, sexual abuse by a uncle, and having a dad with a very bad temper, i could write a book about all this, also i lost my son when he was 10 months old, all this eventually gets to much to take, and it was either anti depressants or run under a bus, because i could not see the light at the end of the tunnel.what i mean to say is that not every one can cope with just counceling, some people just need extra help, but i do hope you get some help. all the best
martha

[christinaw]

Most antidepressants have weight gain as a potential side effect, and most often take several weeks before you may notice an improvement in depressive symptoms. There are several new ones on the market though that have less side effects. Lexapro is a fairly new one with minimal side effects. I tried Zoloft several years ago and it just made me such a zombie I couldn't continue it. You may have to "tweak" medicine to find right one for you. Try not to get discouraged--and look into other things that you can enjoy -- reading is a good escape for me too (as someone else has mentioned)
You are in my prayers,

[pottywoman]

Counseling wouldn't help any. Nothing will change it. It use to be I could "complain" to my Uro doc (he was good about it too) and that would help for a little while but I'm past that point now. I've gone through all the stages and hit bottom a little over a year ago. I tried to take 75 milligrams of the zoloft but it made the pain so bad I couldn't stand up. Pain from my ribs down and all the way around through my back. I've tried some others but I'm tired of being fat as well and most cause weight gain. I was happy on the Celexa but gained 50 pounds. I've lost a little but still have 30 to go. I just can't accept this and not being able to do the things I use to. This summer was another summer of nothing. Just like all the rest and the ones to come. I really shouldn't have bothered any of you with this since there is nothing anyone can do. I've been trying not to bother my uro about it anymore as well. I've probably been driving him insane too.

[dee5]

Hang in there. Zoloft may start working after a little while. I had to tried 4 different ones before finding one the worked. I finally found prozak and it is working well.

I was in remission for several years but IC is back. It felt like my whole life was over. Had remarried without IC and now he has to learn how to deal also. The prozak made a hugh difference for me.

I hope you find what works for you soon. I know it seems like nothing is ever going to help again, but trust all of us on this site, You will be happy again. It may be a different life, but it can be a happy one.

Deanne

[jen48446]

I have tried every one on the market, either too many negative side effects, or the med only worked for a couple to few months. I'm going the natural route and am having success with it and it's been over 2 months now. Atleast this way, I'm not constantly tired, or nauseous. I've lost 10 of the 20 pounds I gained over the last 2 years while taking anti depressants. If you'd like more information, please feel free to contact me directly:)

jencascic@charter.net

if you have AOL, please check your spam settings/ or add my e-mail address to your book before e-mailing me, thanks:)

Jen Cascaddan
Lapeer MI

[MarthaB]

my daughter is on 100 mg a day, is feeling much better, and no weight gain, she says her side effect is that she does not feel like eating ,she could do with putting on a couple of kilos though, she's not very big,she had quite a few health problems in the past year, including cervical cancer, and now she is dealing with endiomitriosis, reoccuring cysts, and she is only 22.

[pottywoman]

Guess I think different from everyone else. I know I'm not getting my life back. I'm to old now to have kids too. Plus I'm lonely which is stupid. I've never been lonely my whole life. The life I had before is gone and I have just lost all hopes of ever being happy again.

[Elle]

There is hope! Don't give up. If you don't fight to get your life back, no one else is going to fight for you. And as far as driving your uro insane, don't worry about that. You pay him for a service and that service is to try and help you feel better. If venting to him makes you feel better, then do it. You're right, this crap isn't going to go away. But, you can either chose to find a way to live with it and a way to cope, or you can chose to give up. I hope you decide to fight to get your life back. Find something to give you strength. Maybe it's posting on this board or praying or a support group of some kind. Whatever it may turn out to be, you've got to find it and do it for yourself. You are strong, Don't Give Up! :kissing:

[christinaw]

Do not despair, pottywoman!! We are here for you. But you must dig deep to your soul and pick yourself up by the bootstraps! We are here to support you-please feel free to personal message me anytime, or call-I understand how you feel, but the first step to healing is to reach out-you have done that. Keep going to step two, three, four..... we are here for you, but participating in your healing is vital to feeling better! :) Let's see what we can discover that helps you feel better. Putting heads together always helps when you can't see things for yourself. I've been where you are, and I understand your feelings! Call me or email anytime.