Drugs and how they effect you????? - Interstitial Cystitis Network Support Forum

Kahlen - Sue · 11-07-2004, 09:12 PM

I am having a great deal of difficulty dealing with the effects of the various presciption medications that I have been on. Has anyone else had difficulty with memory, competancy, confusion, living in a fog, and just no emotion at all??? I was on Elmiron, Zoloft, Adavin, Tylenol 3, Peridiam, Ditropan, Premarin, and various sleeping meds over the last 1 1/2 years. I stopped taking all but the Elmiron in Aug/04 and went through huge withdrawls, and deep anxiety and depression. I lost my job due to the state I was in before stopping all of the meds. I was on Disablilty when they dismissed me and cancel my disablilty (just before my longterm would have kicked in). I have over 20 years of exceptional service with awards, and outstanding staff reports, and they showed no compassion to the state I was in and never considered the past 20 years as a guide to the fact that maybe something was very wrong

. My family saw this, and so did my coworkers and friends but they all attributed my behaviour and distance, and zombie like attitude to the Pain, drugs, and stresses in my life. I was such a mess I couldn't even recognize that I was in trouble. I have a lawyer to fight this, but they are a huge Corporation, and I am only one person with no means to fight this in court. I would love to talk to anyone who may be experiencing the same problems with the drugs. I will never go on Antidepressants again, or adavin. I really think that the GP's out their try there hardest to help, but the disease is not understood enough and the symptoms end up being medicated and the combination is very hard to determine on each patient. The Disease really needs some attention. I want to do something to help others and so this never happens to anyone else. We need to take charge of our health, and not automatically trust the GP's know how this will effect us. Question everything they want to prescribe and ask how this works with other meds you could be taking, and get your family to watch out for you and let your family Doctor know if any concerns.

***ICNDonna*** · 11-08-2004, 04:32 AM

If the disability you were on was a company based program, you might also want to apply for Social Security disability benefits. Many, if not most, company programs will cut off at the time you become eligible for Social Security. I suggest you look into it.

Donna

Cricketmk3 · 11-08-2004, 05:42 AM

Did you stop your meds cold turkey? I don't know about Zoloft, but I take Paxil and it is VERY dangerous to stop that drug suddenly. Serious withdrawal symptoms!

Kahlen - Sue · 11-08-2004, 07:31 AM

Thanks for your reply Donna, Social Security or CPP benefits here in Canada take a very long time to get. Your Doctor has to qualify you first, and unfortuneately they don't recognise this Disease as a permanent Disability yet. Do you know of any who has recieved this in Canada? I would really like to apply, but its not a life threatening disease, and I guess because there are not so many people afflicted with this, they don't seem to acknowledge the seriousness and severity some of us have. I have been off of work since May / 04 and I'm going in for another bladder stretch and fulguration at the end of this month. I am hoping for the best, so I can continue working at least part time. Thanks again Donna,
Yes! I did go off the drugs cold turkey, I had somethings brought to my attention that made me realize how much they had changed my personality. Things that I would never have done, and I can't remember doing them either. I had absolutely NO EMOTION to anything at all. My memory of the past year of so is so fague and cloudy. Only major things I can sort of remember but not in any detail. Like my car accident, the house fire, the servere injuries my Father in law aquired while in a home. That was things that happened between Jan - Mar of 04 alone. I'm OK now, but the first couple of months was horrible and painful. I am managing without the drugs (I do take T3's again for the pain) I do alot of meditating, and biofeedback therapy to help relax and forget about my stressed in life. I have myself back, and that is a blessing to me. Thanks for you concern. Thanks for this site, cause this really is helpful in many ways. I don't feel so alone anymore and there are so many who really understand and can be supportive.

Joanne · 11-09-2004, 02:50 AM

Hi,
I'm sorry to hear that your having such a hard time right now. After reading your posts, I can see that you are dealing with alot of stress. That alone can cause all of the symptoms that you describe. The depression is very familiar to me, since I was diagnosed 8 years ago, that is pretty much how I've felt. I've gone back to the doctor asking him so many times about my memory and the brain fog that I have. It is very frustrating!
I've been taking alot of different drugs for my bladder and for depression for quite a while now. Always be really careful about stopping any meds cold turkey. I would talk to a doctor and let them know before doing so, some meds can cause awful symptoms when you stop them too soon.
Try applying for the CPP disability, your doctor can help you. There are many people here in Canada who have applied and recieved it for IC.
When you do apply, don't give up-be persistent and move ahead. Don't let yourself become discouraged. Stay focused and find a doctor who will help you. Make sure you keep all your paper work in good order and if after the second denial you still don't get it-get a lawyer. It is worth it. If you can't work because of IC then you are intitled. Go after what you are intitled to!
Good luck, you will do fine.
Take Care and Be Well- Joanne

Kahlen - Sue · 11-09-2004, 11:00 AM

Hi Joanne, thank you so much for your email. I am doing so much better mentally and emotionally now. The Pain, well that hasn't changed, if anything its worse. I am finally back to me again, and that feels absoluetly wonderful. My world is spiralling out of control, but I can better deal with things when my head is on straight and I know what I'm doing. I got really scared of what the drugs were doing and that is why I went off cold turkey. I know I shouldn't of done that, but I really didn't have a choice. I'm glad that is all over now. I only take the Elmiron and T3's for the pain. I am determined to stay focused and fight this with everything in me. I have arranged to begin support meetings with the 4 others that suffer from IC in the area, and that begins tonight. I'm looking forward to the company and the support we can give to each other. Thanks again, Sue