Well I haven't blogged for a few days and it seems along the way I lost 2 followers. But I don't blog just to see my followers list increase, I blog to see if there are like minded people out there like me and what I can learn from them and perhaps they can learn from me.
I have been in what I refer to as a little bit of a "funk" the past few days and have been so tired that I have spent most of my time resting. I have been on Paxil since the end of December and it causes me to be tired the majority of the time but more so than ever.
I take it in the morning so a few weeks ago I tried to take it before bedtime and I noticed no difference in being tired all day long. Then I tried going to bed at 10:00 p.m. and not 11:00 p.m., sleeping in another hour to gain in total 2 hours of sleep per night. I was still needing to lie down in the middle of the day for at least a 1 hour nap.
I decided that being sleepy outweighed having OCD and Depression so I called my doctor to see about being weaned off of it. The nurse asked me twice if I was sure and I said yes. Then I was doubtful especially when family members said that I appeared happier and better able to cope with life in general when I was taking an anti-depressant. So, I changed my decision and I am sticking with Paxil.
This has led me to try different ways to get more rest. Perhaps the problem is trying to experiment with my sleep cycle in order to find what best works for me. In the end I made the decision that if I need 10 to 12 hours of sleep per day in order to feel rested and get done what needs to me done, then so be it. It is better to get more rest than to try to go through the day with not enough sleep, yawning and constantly tired and not feeling like I have the energy to do anything at all.
So my schedule is that I am in bed by 10:30 at night and I do my best to stay in bed until 7:30 in the morning. Then I get up and eat my breakfast, read the paper and then take a 1 hour nap. By that time it is 9:00 a.m. and I am ready to shower and such and be ready to face the day by 10:00 a.m. Then I am good until bedtime.
At first I could only see that it takes me to 10:00 in the morning to actually be ready for doing housework and such, but now I view it as being totally rested and able to get more done than being tired all day long as I was before.
My family is right. I am better able to cope with my life and being weaned off Paxil may not be the best for me right now especially when there is the fear that old behavior such as OCD could creep back into my life robbing me of my joy.
So, that's what has been going on in the past few days and I will be back to blogging tonight, after I get some cleaning done.
We will continue looking at the Tightwad Gazette III and then I have some budget information to share with you that I have been working on over the past few weeks along with my feelings about the current economy and what I feel all of us need to not worry about, but be prepared for.
So, there you have it. Have a wonderful Saturday and I will be back this evening with more to share - how about a little teaser - my $37.50 per week food budget for the next few months and the need to prepare for the future more than ever.
5 comments:
I had this very same reaction when I was on Paxil - I was literally sleepy all day and once I weaned off (which in itself was horrible...I felt sick for close to three weeks, even when weaning gradually) I realized the whole time I had been on Paxil it felt like I had been in a fog!
With that said, you may want to consider just asking if you can halve your dose. The benefits may still be seen while the sleepiness may go away. Good luck!
Sounds like you're being really sensible. At the end of the day it's about your health and state of mind, and if this is the best way to achieve that, then go for it!
I'm sorry I don't always comment, but I just wanted to say that I'm here reading most days :)
@Debs: Didn't mean to make you feel a little guilty - not my intent. In fact lately I haven't been looking at everyone's blogs and I miss it. Sooo - I will spend some time looking at my favorite blogs as they really do lift me up.
@Elizabeth: I asked if I could take half the dosage and they said I was on the lowest dosage as it was. My biggest worry is for the OCD to come back which was absolutely horrible. I had never experienced anything like that before and never want to experience it again. That being said, my husband told me that I should listen to my body and sleep, extend any projects or housework into more manageable times, not worry about it and he will help me. He also told me that I shouldn't feel like I need to justify how I spend my time.
My husband is a very understanding man,
Paxil is a really good drug. If it helps then stay on it. Follow what your body tells you and go from there.
I have suffered from depression and anxiety for years. I know that paxil made me sleepy but I adjusted.
In the end do what is good for you
Judy
Oh I didn't feel guilty at all! I wish I could spend more time commenting on all the blogs I dip into, but my toddler and 'little bean' and all the mornig sickness that entails doesn't leave me much time, so instead I try to comment every once in a while just to say I'm still around!
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