Feeling grim today

Sorry to hear that you're not so good today, it does wear you down doesn't it. Can your GP not prescribe alternative medication that doesn't have this side effect? Hope you feel better as day goes on and you manage to attend your singing group this evening.

All my sympathy, Luckygirl. I get cluster migraines that leave me feeling 'grim' as you so aptly put it, and you have all the rest to cope with as well. I hope you feel better soon. If you manage your singing group I am sure that will cheer you up.

You have been doing brilliantly for ages Lucky so a day when you just 'give in' to sitting and doing not-a-lot would be really good for you. We all get days like that for one reason or another. Look after yourself.

Reading your post made me think how trivial are some of my own problems. I have constant knee pain, can't take meds, but on the whole I can put up with it. You have had a dreadful night and if that's a side effect of your antidepressant surely you can change it ? Can you get hold of a Mimms or BNF if you are near a library, so that you can do your own research? Or talk to a pharmacist? They may be better informed than the GP, unless you are prescribed by a consultant. Cost is unfortunately sometimes the criterion in prescribing, although again your particular med may be appropriate for your type of depression. Akathisia certainly seems like a pretty severe side effect. Are u susceptible to migraine anyway or is that also a side effect? I wonder if you could titrate this one down and introduce a different one, but I would talk to someone, or do some research first.
Definitely cancel your choir and don't beat yourself up about it. People are allowed to be off colour sometimes.
I do hope you can sort this out soon.

I think that you need to see your GP fairly soon because the drug side effects sound horrendous. Surely there is something else on the market that does not appear to make you feel 10 ten worse.

Maybe you would be best without an antidepressant at all Luckygirl. They are supposed to make you feel better not worse.

Or perhaps you could try a tricyclic? Definitely speak to your doc about this soon as possible. (Don't stop your anti-d without speaking to him first)

So sorry to hear this, no suggestions but hope you feel better soon.

- so sorry to read this Luckygirl. I hope it's just a glitch and you're feeling much better very soon.

Thank you for your kind words. I have had a sleep and am hoping that this will help, although my balance is still very haywire - and the pain in my face, eye and ear are seem to have taken up residence for today.

My new GP is ringing tomorrow with the results of my brain MRI, and then I am down to see her next Wednesday.

It is a tricyclic that I am on jbf - I expect the new GP will want to discuss the most suitable drug for me when I see her. This one was chosen because it is supposed to help with migraines. I have vestibular migraine which sends balance all over the place - but it is becoming so persistent that it is hard to function normally.

The migraine as been a problem for many years - it used to happen just occasionally, but it is a daily problem at the moment. I have to remind myself what it feels like not to have it!

Would you qualify for botox treatment or is it not the sort of migraine that would be helped by it? Other than that I think a complete medication review is due.

lucky I wonder if you have been pushing yourself too hard lately and your body is trying to get you to rest more. the migraines must be very debilitating. DH has had them since a child and we have learnt his triggers but sadly he finds as he gets older tiredness will bring them on and it will go on for days and days. Also sadly he finds he is less able to tolerate alcohol and even one drink will set him off sometimes. I hope you are getting some relief and some proper rest. best wishes.

Teetime - I am sure you are right about doing too much - but how can I not do the things I love while I still can? It is so frustrating not to be able to lead a normal life without making myself ill. I guess I do not want my life (or indeed me!) to be defined by my ill health. I feel I have a lot to offer this community and my family and do not want to adopt the "sick role."

I have just had to cancel tonight's singers, as running a rehearsal really does require me to be on top of things - it takes huge amounts of energy and enthusiasm which I am not able to muster tonight. It is so annoying.

I am dreading tonight and just hoping that the akathisia does not set in again - it is far more unpleasant than you can imagine if you have never experienced it. I know that others probably have far worse problems so I am probably just feeling a bit sorry for myself today after the lack of sleep.

I may feel better tomorrow when I have had the results of the brain scan.

Hope you feel better soon, we all have these grim times now and then, but they do go away.

So sorry you are having such a grim time. No suggestions that haven't been made by others but do agree the side effects are very extreme. Hope the MRI outcome is positive for you.

Luckygirl - could you possibly be suffering from Restless Legs Syndrome. It is well known among sufferers that most antidepressants can trigger this condition or worsen it. I have it very severely 24/7 and without my particular medication which sort of controls it would be unable to cope. It might be worthwhile googling RLS and see if the symptoms ring any bells.

Yes indeed Coolgran - akathisia is RLS only applying to the whole body. Treatments like Requip do not mix well with Dosulepin (my anti-depressant). This is why I have to see the doc to discuss how we can deal with it.

I am so sorry that you have this wretched condition, but very glad that you have a treatment that works for you.

Luckygirl I have it in my legs, arms, and shoulder. My treatment is rather hit and miss but better with than without. I find that I have to supplement with a second medication.

The anti seizure medications (rather than ropinerole) are considered to be very useful in relieving the symptoms of rls. One of the leading experts in the treatment states that if an antidepressant is needed then it should be prescribed and any side effect of rls then treated accordingly. If you find you have to cope with rls a good site is rls.org. It is The RLS Foundation and they have a superb discussion board.
Good luck.

Thank you so much Coolgran. That is very useful.

I see from that link that it RLS Awareness Day today!

It is indeed RLS Day.

Oops..posted too soon.
Another thing..... ferritin serum is the iron that is stored in the brain and it benefits RLS sufferers if their ferritin level is up around 100..... as opposed to a level of around 20 which doctors consider normal. Easier for you to google - RLS ferritin serum level - than for me to try and type it up. I'm only on my Kindle.

I've come late to this thread - I'm so sorry you are suffering so much Lucky. I suffered from RLS in both my pregnancies and I remember it with horror. Thankfully it didn't continue. I have no advice that hasn't already been given, but just want to offer my sympathy and hope things improve for you very soon

Thank you all for your kindness. I think "with horror" about sums it up - I hate it. It is difficult yo explain why it is so very distressing, as on the surface it sounds trivial.

I will look up the ferritin serum level - thanks for that - knowledge is power!