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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by socialdeviantjeff on February 22, 2004, at 1:48:33
So, right now, I just don't give much a darn about anything. Except if I have some breakthrough anxiety or hostility. I don't feel particularily emotionally depressed or happy, just apathetic, flat and lonely. It's been this way for a few weeks.
Also, I've had a cold or something for a couple of weeks and in the last few days it's developed into Pleursy. For the uninitiated, Pleurisy is an inflammation of the outer lining of the lungs. You can barely breath or move and it hurts like crazy. Every time you breath in, it feels like getting stabbed. The ER doc gave me some Ultracet, duratuss and Lodine for it. For me, this combo feels way wierd.
Anyway, I'm just rambling, so see ya....
Posted by noa on February 22, 2004, at 9:51:07
In reply to Apathy or recovery? (could also be a chest cold), posted by socialdeviantjeff on February 22, 2004, at 1:48:33
Jeff,
First, I hope you get better really soon. It sounds rather awful.
Plus, although I'm not familiar with those particular medications the ER gave you for the pleuresy, but my hunch is that at least one of them has something like codeine in it? Or some kind of sedating ingredient. This alone could make you not care about much.
When I had coxsackie virus, which caused severe throat and ear pain (to the point that I was loathe to even swallow saliva let alone water or food), they gave me a sedating pain killer that only partially dulled the pain but it also made me totally not care that I felt pain! And, not care about much else, too. In fact, it kept me asleep most of the time.
I also wanted to share with you that when I have physical illness, it often affects my mood significantly. Just last week, I was feeling depressed one day and was attributing it to depressive illness, plus all the things I'm overwhelmed with in life and all my shortcomings, problems, etc. etc. Then, in the evening, I discovered I was physically sick--an intestinal sort of bug or something, with a slight fever. Despite not feeling well physically, at that point I was so relieved to have the physical explanation for my mood that my mood suddenly improved!
But my illness was minor and brief. You have been dealing with a lingering and painful respiratory infection, and besides, anything involving breathing and coughing, etc., I always find totally exhausting and draining and fatiguing.
So I don't know if this helps you---i.e., accepting that your mood is affected by the illness and that is OK and that it will get better hopefully as you recover from the illness.
The main thing is to just take care of yourself, allow yourself to indulge in TLC to give yourself the time and rest to recover.
Feel better!
Posted by Sad Panda on February 22, 2004, at 10:55:13
In reply to Apathy or recovery? (could also be a chest cold), posted by socialdeviantjeff on February 22, 2004, at 1:48:33
> So, right now, I just don't give much a darn about anything. Except if I have some breakthrough anxiety or hostility. I don't feel particularily emotionally depressed or happy, just apathetic, flat and lonely. It's been this way for a few weeks.
>
> Also, I've had a cold or something for a couple of weeks and in the last few days it's developed into Pleursy. For the uninitiated, Pleurisy is an inflammation of the outer lining of the lungs. You can barely breath or move and it hurts like crazy. Every time you breath in, it feels like getting stabbed. The ER doc gave me some Ultracet, duratuss and Lodine for it. For me, this combo feels way wierd.
>
> Anyway, I'm just rambling, so see ya...
>
>I don't know what AD's you are on but Ultracet contains Tramadol & probably would be a bad thing to mix with any SSRI's or Efexor as it could lead to Serotonin Syndrome.
Cheers,
Panda.
Posted by Karen_kay on February 22, 2004, at 14:48:39
In reply to Apathy or recovery? (could also be a chest cold), posted by socialdeviantjeff on February 22, 2004, at 1:48:33
Hey Jeff!
I learned in my Psych class that there are 2 different kinds of pain killers.
1. Things like Lortab,ect that just kill the pain, or dull it at least.
2. Things like valium that just make you not care about the pain. Since it's for anxiety and such, it makes you so you just don't even care that the pain is there.
this could have something to do with your "apathy." You know you care about things and issues usually, so just relax and let the drugs do their job while you are hurting. I'm sorry you are in pain. Wish I could wave a mgic wand and make your pain go away! But, I forgot where I put my wand, darn the luck... Guess support will have to work it's magic. Just rest and try not to think too much while you are hurting. You have plenty of time to think about things when you aren't in pain...
Posted by Ilene on February 22, 2004, at 19:23:37
In reply to Apathy or recovery? (could also be a chest cold), posted by socialdeviantjeff on February 22, 2004, at 1:48:33
> So, right now, I just don't give much a darn about anything. Except if I have some breakthrough anxiety or hostility. I don't feel particularily emotionally depressed or happy, just apathetic, flat and lonely. It's been this way for a few weeks.
>
> Also, I've had a cold or something for a couple of weeks and in the last few days it's developed into Pleursy. For the uninitiated, Pleurisy is an inflammation of the outer lining of the lungs. You can barely breath or move and it hurts like crazy. Every time you breath in, it feels like getting stabbed. The ER doc gave me some Ultracet, duratuss and Lodine for it. For me, this combo feels way wierd.
>
> Anyway, I'm just rambling, so see ya....
Is this a multiple-choice test? "Apathy, recovery, or pleurisy. Choose one."I'd say wait until you are over your infection. Assuming you care....
Pleurisy sounds so Victorian. Maybe you can do a Camille or wasted rock star act. Doesn't work if you don't have a receptive audience. Then it's just even more lonely (been there). You have to change your own sheets and all.
I sure hope you didn't catch this mizry by being too poor to get adequate health care.
Wish I was there to soothe your fevered brow or bring you a casserole or something.
I.
Posted by socialdeviantjeff on February 23, 2004, at 2:36:40
In reply to Re: Apathy or recovery? (could also be a chest col, posted by Ilene on February 22, 2004, at 19:23:37
Thanks everyone. I feel a lot better physically. As far as apathy, it happened well before I got sick. I suppose I would have claified that if it wasn't for the pain killers. I was also taking a bunch of sominex (yeah, I know. on top of everything else. Genius.) to sleep. Now, I'm only on the Abilify.
I'm just musing now over the last time I was purely happy, untainted happiness. Hard to explain. I'm not upset, I just can't imagine I ever was and I don't really care. I'm down to working one day a week and have no money. No big deal. Oh, well...
Yes, I'm a bit off, but I always have love for my fellow Pbabblers.
This is the end of the thread.
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