I thought perimenopause, too.

Just a thought (sm) [2007-09-19]
I'll share my story and although daytime sleepiness can be caused by a number of things, maybe this will help. I used to wake up after 7 hours of sleep and 3 hours later, I could barely keep my eyes open. I was told that I snored during the night. I talked to my doc and had a sleep study done. Turns out that I have moderate to severe sleep apnea and was not getting the deep sleep I needed. Now that I have CPAP, I'm at least able to get out of bed in the morning. I still suffer from the hypersomnolence, but I'm doing much better. Do a Google search on hypersomnolence and/or daytime sleepiness. There is a ton of info out there, and it may help when talking to your doc. I know all too well the feeling of falling asleep while typing a report! Good luck - I hope you can figure it out and get it resolved. Let us know how you are doing.

I thought perimenopause, too. [2007-08-22]
Went to my doc to see about getting hormone replacement because I was maybe sleeping 3 hours a night on a good night. They said my hormone levels were fine, and suggested an antidepressant. I thought that was crazy (grin) but desperate for relief went on Wellbutrin for a month and was not only not sleeping, but I was so anxious I could not even leave the house. I was switched over to trazodone a month ago and am now occasionally sleeping 8 hours, with 6 hours being more the norm. I still have an underlying anxiety that is *not* normal for me. I realize now that my staying at MQ through the changes was also definitely not normal behavior for me. I still think all this may be hormonal, although I have to say the trazodone does help me sleep. For all y'all that have had the bioidentical hormones done, do they help bring back your waistline? I went from having a waist and a flat tummy to 2 years later having a fat tummy and no waist.

Maybe perimenopause sm [2007-08-20]
Women start hormone decline long before your periods end and your hormones stop. Instead of the torture you are putting yourself through why not get a hormone level to see. And, find somebody who does not ignore. You have had these hormones all your life and wham, your body starts to rapidly decline. This is what has made your a human being for heaven sakes. They now have natural hormone replacement, bioidentical hormones it is called. Read Susan Sommers book on this. Since we also lose melatonin (for sleep) can try this, couple of bucks 3 mg at Rite-Ad and other places.

I have thought that too about adult ADD [2007-08-18]
I have tried Zoloft and did pretty well on it but I did not stay on it long because I got pregnant and quit taking it on my own accord. Probably also because I thought Hmm I fell better now why take meds...I am cured. But now I am in a worse mess. Someone else told me to check my thyroid. I did have my thyroid levels checked 10 years ago and it was fine and I was offered antidepressants then but I declined becuase At that time I had no insurance. I wonder if I should not get my hormone levels checked as well.

I thought it was just MTitis -LOL nm [2007-08-15]
;)

you know, I HAVE thought about this! sm [2007-07-03]
I've looked at Dragon medical version and even contemplated charging it (gasp) on the credit card. I mean, charge it and keep my job or... I'd love to hear input from any others who have gone this route. It's not a solution, but it's a temporary fix and way to keep a job until I can get something else lined up, as you mention. The way I see it, I'd just listen to my usual dictation but redictate it into my computer. (rather than have my computer try to understand all these ESL docs) Hmmm... free career counseling. Now that's interesting. I agree, typing isn't all there is, and I'm so fed up. Maybe the universe is trying to get me out of this. Thanks for your support :-0

Never thought of [2007-07-03]
using Dragon Naturally Speaking to help with transcription. I mean from the transcriptionist Once it was trained, do you think it would make work faster, and thus make more money? Just wondering?

Oops [2008-06-28]
I open the bins like that in my own fridge all the time,never thought twice about it. Glad I'm not your step-grown-up.

Do you get any exercise at all? [2008-06-23]
Even 3-4 minutes on an exercise bike or treadmill a few times each day (maybe onceevery hour or two, when you need to get up from your desk for a break) is better than nothing at all. It might just jump-start your metabolism a little. Are you sure your thyroid is okay? I I saw an infomercial the other day and have been reading about it on the internet. There are a lot of wonderful testimonials and it Just a thought.

mt-MQ [2008-03-18]
I just saw your post. I was an undiagnosed bipolar child. My mother was bipolar diagnosed. When I was a child, everything I said was grandious, lying, keeping things from my father, sneeking around doing things like smoking, drinking. I was 8 years old. As I got older these things became much worse. I wish I had someone to keep an eye on me, but my mother died when I was 7 and my father raised 4 children with me the youngest. It is thought that with the death of my mother the bipolar surfaced. I suggest you keep an eye on your son and regulate how much time he spends with his friends, etc. You need to be involved so closely with what is going on with him to the point of knowing where and what he is doing and how he is acting from now until he graduates from high school. Kids with bipolar are very suseptible to drugs and alcohol abuse. If only I had someone to keep close eye on me and get me on medicines I would not have done the things I did. Regular medicine control is a must with counseling. An open relationship with your son is a must as well. Keep your relationship with your son open and not defensive. You want him to continue to communicate with you. Don't make him feel guilty for things he has done as this will result in immediate withdrawal from you and society. This is a life-long disease that has effects of OCD, eating disorder, grandious thinking, spending outrageously, promiscuity and doing at-risk activities, etc. He needs to be on medication from now on, and it is important that he know why and what he can expect as he gets older. He needs to know how to moderate everything. To this day I do not do anything in moderation. It is either huge or not at all, and I take loads of medications. This is an honest assessment from a bipolar person who has been bipolar all her life.

Fascinating! [2007-09-29]
Here I am, it I just read what you and ER-MT posted and it A few months ago I had a meltdown and just had to get away. I went into the woods for a good 2 hours and just sat and listened and watched pretty much nothing except for some birds. I hate the thought of taking any medication because I have control over it 90% of the time...but that darned 10% of feeling out of control is a bummer when it does hit, and it I really hate the thought of any mental health issues being put in my medical record as well. I see a doctor maybe once every few years for a physical and only go if something is broken or needs suturing. I hate doctors--especially the ones up here in Maine. Itreated by an veterinarian. I actually had to turn my phone off this week because I Sheand she Thanks for the book recommendation. I'll have to check it out and see if there are any good tips for coping with it all.

Experience with Cymbalta? sm [2007-09-27]
My internist suggested a trial of Cymbalta as I am not myself lately, mostly because of back painwhich is a problem inthis profession. I cannot perform half of what I used to. I am at times very moody. I tried this just once and I felt awful, could not sleep, made me feel like a zombie. I have had to reject several other meds for different problems because I am highly allergic. I am afraid he's going to say that I'm just plain nuts. That's how I feel right now but I cannot tolerate the thought of putting this drug in my system. I do try healthy alternatives, PT, walking, vitamins, all that is good for me. He gave me 30 mg to be advanced to 60 mg. I have researched message boards on this and have seen very positive and very negative feedback. However, one does not know if drug reps input into these boards, i.e., promoting their own or degrading the competition. I feel this is a dangerous drug as I have a rapid heart problem as well. I would like to hear if anyone has any input on this, I could not believe how awful I felt just taking one dose. Thanks.

I had a similar exp. w/Wellbutrin...sm [2007-09-27]
I too only took *1* dose, and couldn Honestly, it was a good 2 weeks before I felt mostly back to normal, and several weeks longer before I felt completely back to normal. It was awful. The Wellbutrin made me feel sort of like I had the flu in many ways, and very dizzy, but there were other bizarre things too, likethe smell of coffee (which I love) and the smell of many other things,made me feel sosick and nauseous. I was also crying at first, but not really feeling sad, just sort of like the tears were leaking out for no reason. Strange! I told my doctor about it right away. (I called her office, cause I halfway thought I was dying!), and she didn She jotted something in my chart about the Wellbutrin causing I asked her if I was allergic to it, and she said no, not allergic, just an adverse reaction (I I felt like telling her to but in my record that I AM allergic to it, just to be safe. So long story short, 1 pill can make you very sick if you have a bad reaction to it, and you Hope you

Haysee, do you think you might have...sm [2007-09-27]
Social anxiety disorder (SAD)? For a long time, I just thought I was very shy, (that's what I was told all my life) but then I started seeing those Zoloft (I think it's Zoloft) commercials about SAD, and I started wondering... Then Oprah (good old Oprah LOL) did a show on SAD, and it clicked for me that that's *exactly* what I have (and actually quite a few of my family members). I read up on it, and yep, that's me! I'm really *not* shy, I just get anxious and uncomfortable around people I don't know, esp. if there are a lot of people, or if I'm around people and there is a lot of noise I just cannot wait to LEAVE. I can't stand it. I do much better with smaller groups. I'm really quite content to just stay here at home with my hubby and our dogs, so I know what you mean about being a neurotic shut in! LOL

I thought perimenopause, too. [2007-08-22]
Went to my doc to see about getting hormone replacement because I was maybe sleeping 3 hours a night on a good night. They said my hormone levels were fine, and suggested an antidepressant. I thought that was crazy (grin) but desperate for relief went on Wellbutrin for a month and was not only not sleeping, but I was so anxious I could not even leave the house. I was switched over to trazodone a month ago and am now occasionally sleeping 8 hours, with 6 hours being more the norm. I still have an underlying anxiety that is *not* normal for me. I realize now that my staying at MQ through the changes was also definitely not normal behavior for me. I still think all this may be hormonal, although I have to say the trazodone does help me sleep. For all y'all that have had the bioidentical hormones done, do they help bring back your waistline? I went from having a waist and a flat tummy to 2 years later having a fat tummy and no waist.

Those are very good points [2007-08-19]
Margaret. Good insight. My diagnosis is depression, and I was having that problem the OP was describing with being one subject behind in my thought processes. I think the new medicine is helping.

My own mental health issues. [2007-08-18]
Short background. I am 32 years old. I am married, have 2 kids ages 5 and 2 and work FT. Is this a mental health issue when a person appears to be spaced out. What is happening is that I will have a conversation with someone and when the conversation is over and already started on the next one, my mind doesn�t really shut down and I will be still thinking about what was said in the previous conversation that I don�t hear what was said in the next. I don�t know if that makes sense or not. Or another example, I will be thinking of something like what I want to do, about a previous conversation I had and someone will call me and I will be so deep in thought I cannot hear the person calling. I do this daily. I have been bad about this all my life but when something is bothering me it is 100% worse. It always affected my schoolwork and it also affects my job and relationships. I try to control myself but I have failed. Mom thinks I am have epileptic seizures and needs to see a neurologist. I don�t think it is seizures. Also, I think I must be suffering some kind of mental health issue where I will just be sitting and all of the sudden I will get so mad. No one has said or done anything to provoke it, but I will start thinking about something and get so mad, start rubbing my head and get the urge to kick something hard or toss something across the room or scream at the top of my lungs. Lately, people say I perceive things wrong. Mom says she is worried about the safety of my kids because of this that I described and told me I needed to get some sort of help. I accused her of calling me unfit. She said no, she thinks there is a short circuit somewhere. Then I said oh so I am crazy, she said no your getting it all wrong. Right now I cannot speak to mom without getting into an argument and a huge meltdown on my part. To tell the truth I have been worried too. 10 years ago, I was never this way. I have always been spacey but this anger is new. Use to if I had a bad run-in with someone, for example, I would think oh well tomorrow is another day, no big deal. Now, I will dwell on it and dwell on it until I just want to yank that persons hair out or kick them in the face of whatever. (I haven�t yet gotten physical with anyone yet). I don�t understand what has gotten into me. When my kids cross me when I am having one of these episodes, I have managed to just go to another room, count to 10 but there has been a few times I have screamed at them from the top of my lungs and then later think �oh crap� that was unnecessary. I secretly worry about my kids too. I called my PCP and I have an appointment set up for Monday. I sure hope she can help. Maybe this is just a lack of self-discipline on my part. I have tried but just don�t know how to control it or make this horrible feeling I get inside me just stop. It is so hard for me to get anything done. I try to get myself to do house work, I manage to pick clothes up off the floor and into the hamper. Then, I start to feel tired and quit although, I am far from being finished with my housework. This is so unlike me. Used to I would get things done and ready to go have some fun. Not anymore.

I have thought that too about adult ADD [2007-08-18]
I have tried Zoloft and did pretty well on it but I did not stay on it long because I got pregnant and quit taking it on my own accord. Probably also because I thought Hmm I fell better now why take meds...I am cured. But now I am in a worse mess. Someone else told me to check my thyroid. I did have my thyroid levels checked 10 years ago and it was fine and I was offered antidepressants then but I declined becuase At that time I had no insurance. I wonder if I should not get my hormone levels checked as well.

Amazed [2007-08-14]
It is amazing to me how many MTs are on one antidepressant or another. Could there be a connection? Stress maybe?? No we do not have stess do we? Maybe working our butts off for minimal pay and maximum headaches?? Just a thought. Effexor and Wellbutrin for me....

my situation in brief [2007-07-09]
College degree summa cum laude (BA), though not in MT. Privately trained in MT via paid mentorship. MT for over 10 years. Not a CMT or RMT. Presently an IC/subcontractor doing acute care. Said supervisor is who farms my work out to me. Dragon is working OK but I literally can't stand sitting here redictating everything. Used to have several of my own clients as well... have given them all up due to CTS. I have been told repeatedly by my supervisor that I am not capable of doing my job, and I am called derogatory things. I would prefer to not put them here. I have offered to be terminated, as I said, but it never happens. I do not know what my strong points are as I am not certified and am reprimanded frequently, but never fired. I have no faith in my skills. I own the BOS but my work is all done verbatim and Iwrong style-wise in a document. I do not have a doctor presently; I last saw someone about a year ago for the CTS and it just got too expensive. To be honest, I am near bankruptcy and last night I ran out of rice. Buying Dragon put me over the edge financially. I say this to anyone considering MT: Run as far as you can. I never thought I'd end up like this.

I agree 100% about Effexor. I take it for anxiety and panic attacks. SM [2007-04-13]
I It lasted for two weeks. I couldn I wore the carpet out from pacing the house. It started with pain in my right rib cage which I knew in my mind was not a heart attack, but apparently my body didn Next thing you know I My panick attack lasted two horrible weeks. I went to my regular doctor who belittled my symptoms and treated me like the loon I already thought I was. I am hypersensitive to medications and everything was giving me stomach upset. I finally found a wonderful nurse practitioner who completely understood what I was going through, said her daughter had panic attacks, and she prescribed me Effexor. I am now titrated up to 150 mg a day and it is wonderful. I feel calm. My teenaged son calls it my chill pill and that about sums it up. Wow, I No one can every really understand a panic attack unless they've been through one themselves.