Suicidal No More: Choosing to Live with Schizoaffective Disorder

Hello Jen, I'm sorry you are having problems ...

2012-02-06T11:32:20.715-05:00

Hello Jen,

I'm sorry you are having problems with acid reflux and OCD symptoms right now. I have some symptoms of OCD myself, but luckily not so bad that they incapacitate me. Still, I think I am going to have to stop giving in to my compulsive behaviors and realize that nothing bad will happen if I do. It's only been this year that I've begun to name the things I do compulsively.

As for the acid reflux, you might try taking papaya enzyme--Walmarts and large supermarkets and some pharmacies carry it near bottles of vitamins, minerals, herbs, etc... They help with digestion, so you chew some of them after you eat. I take more of them when I begin to develop heartburn and they work for me. Who knows, it might be a simple solution to a disturbing problem.

I take 40 mg of generic prozac and have nearly since the beginning of my acute psychosis, but I still have some OCD. I think it would be worth it for both of us to consider cognitive behavioral techniques to treat it as well.

Kate : )

Jen, You are going through so much. You are brave....

2012-01-26T00:24:53.681-05:00

Jen,
You are going through so much. You are brave. I hope the 20 mgs. is enough and it gets along with all the other playmates milling around inside you. Take care,
Meredith

Jen, Did you start any other new medications that...

2012-01-25T11:16:35.275-05:00

Jen,

Did you start any other new medications that might have a nausea side effect? When I was on lithium, I actually had my gall bladder removed before I discovered it was the lithium making me sick. The gall bladder wasn't working either, so that was a good thing, but it could have been an unnecessary surgery. Eeep!

If you feel that it is definitely reflux, my GI doctor said that prevacid really works the best for most people. I'm not sure what the generic is for it, because we buy the expensive name brand. It's worth the cost because it keeps it under control. There is nothing worse than stomach issues. (Well, you know what I mean!)

OCD thoughts are really awful and I hope the prozac helps you. They put me on zoloft for depression about a year ago and it has helped the depression but not the obsessiveness. Sometimes I wonder if there is EVER the right combination of meds out there. *Sigh*

Hugs,
Chelle
www.lifeonthedomesticfront.blogspot.com

I'm so sorry you're going through this Jen...

2012-01-24T21:47:04.561-05:00

I'm so sorry you're going through this Jen. I hope the Prozac helps, without any side effects! Medication is a tricky area... we need it, but we hate it in so many ways. Good luck sorting out your Risperdal too. You're such a strong self-advocate, I know you can get it all worked out (-:

My mom was a severe diabetic who died at 61, so I ...

2012-01-24T18:05:42.846-05:00

My mom was a severe diabetic who died at 61, so I am pretty vigilant about my weight,food input, & exercise....BUT, I am not taking the number of drugs that you are. I totally understand your reluctance to change the regimen that is working for you presently. All of it is a balancing act between risks & benefits.

Jen, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can help you &q...

2012-01-24T09:54:02.049-05:00

Jen,

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can help you "reframe" those obsessive thoughts and teach you how to stop yourself when you get going.

This has worked (to some extent) for me, but I still tend to obsess, so I can sympathize.

It's possible that the nausea and vomiting are coming from the antibiotic. I have horrible reactions from zithromax and sulfa drugs - I get horribly sick to my stomach. Before taking another drug, why don't you find out why you are on the antibiotic and whether you really need it. And if you do, maybe they can switch you to another one.

Hope some of this helps. I have reflux and it's horrible when it's acting up. I've been on prevacid for a LONG time and it's the only thing that works.

Hugs,
Chelle
www.lifeonthedomesticfront.blogspot.com

All I know is that you have tried many approaches ...

2012-01-22T09:27:52.307-05:00

All I know is that you have tried many approaches and that despite the fact that you are still having troubles with sleeping you shouldn't give up.

phentermine success story

I think the OCD thoughts coming after the med chan...

2012-01-21T19:13:22.106-05:00

I think the OCD thoughts coming after the med change means that the old med was covering you in that aspect to some extent the the new drug doesn't cover those symptoms. I don't think it's causing the OCD symptoms. I think it's just not helping them like the last drug was. That my opinion on it.

Janae Anderson

I read this yesterday & asked a doctor friend(...

2012-01-21T13:05:00.217-05:00

I read this yesterday & asked a doctor friend(retired-psych) who has helped me a lot. He suggested that if you do not want More pills, perhaps one could be switched out for another that would help with the OCD & other issues you are experiencing as well. Since there are some drugs that work well on anxiety & OCD...

He also mentioned that some obsessive thoughts can also be brought on by the schizophrenia.
~Mary

This is absolutely wonderful. Thank you so much fo...

2012-01-20T21:00:10.208-05:00

This is absolutely wonderful. Thank you so much for helping, I heard the demonstration really took Washington by storm

Yes, this makes a lot of sense, Afton. I think one...

2012-01-20T00:16:53.385-05:00

Yes, this makes a lot of sense, Afton. I think one family member is now going to get help that they need, so that is a good thing. But I know hat you mean. I have a hard enough time dealing with my own problems.

I can relate to this post. You can't spend all...

2012-01-16T06:16:12.808-05:00

I can relate to this post. You can't spend all your time stressing about others' issues just because they are family. It only makes you feel worse and drains you. Does this make sense?

I hope that you will not delete this particular bl...

2012-01-15T15:57:53.620-05:00

I hope that you will not delete this particular blog post. I totally understand your stance with your family. I have just recently cut ties with the majority of my family members of origin. I am the identified patient but the only one seeking treatment. They are toxic, negative, backbiting individuals who are self-serving and narcissistic! I hate being alone (separated from family members) but being with them is causing me to be sicker than my mental illnesses causes alone.

I have intermittently followed your blog. My diagnoses are different but I can relate to the content of your posts and the feelings that you share!

2012-01-15T15:54:46.948-05:00

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2012-01-15T15:45:27.331-05:00

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I don't think I can begin to imagine how you f...

2012-01-15T13:51:39.208-05:00

I don't think I can begin to imagine how you feel; my mother also reacted badly to the fact that I was sick with a mental illess, but never to the extent that you have experienced. I am glad that you re-posted: it took a lot of courage. I hope that it helps it really sink in that you're not responsible for the things you've been blamed for, or for other people's problems, because there's a difference between knowing in your mind and knowing in your heart. I hope you get to know it in your heart, and I hope your decision regarding your family is a stepping stone to recovering your sense of self-worth.

Dear Jen, I am very sorry to hear about your fami...

2012-01-14T20:43:11.942-05:00

Dear Jen,

I am very sorry to hear about your family member and yet this might be the break he needs. That's the problem, he's at a critical point and it could go either way--towards recovery or towards death. We've both been there in our own illnesses. My ex-boyfriend was an alcoholic and heroin addict. One night after a party where he drank and used heroin, he got into his car! A little while later he drove off a cliff. A police officer rescued him, but the damage was done--he had become paraplegic. A couple of years later he committed suicide. And all the while before his accident and after, I was praying for him to find recovery. But he didn't. It was too much for him. It would have been too much for me too to be doubly addicted and paralyzed. He had less than a fighting chance, but your family member does have a chance.

You have done all you could and then some and yes, you have been affected by the disease of addiction and have become, in part, an enabler. Co-dependency is to my mind an addiction too. I have stayed out of relationships for a very long time and now that I've found a friend in my community I see that I still have the same desire you have to fix and control what's wrong in her life. But now I see it and don't act. I respect my friend and help out only when I can and when it's comfortable for her. I've lived and learned. And you are too right now.

I'm so proud of you for going to the Al-Anon meetings. They aren't perfect, but there's a lot of wisdom and comfort to be found there. Just keep going Jen. Use the group to center and guide yourself, the way others use the concept of the higher power. When you go you are admitting that you are ill too because of alcoholism even though you are not addicted to alcohol and you are reaching out for help and to help. You are setting a good example for your family member. Let that member know that you too go to meetings and that they help you.

Write to me anytime,

Love, Kate : )

I love the flow of the poem. It's really inspi...

2012-01-10T22:27:25.564-05:00

I love the flow of the poem. It's really inspiring. Having these kinds of disorders do not necessarily mean that you are less of a person. It is unfortunate to think that there are people who are diagnosed with these disorders but the people that surround them must show support.
children with disabilities

You've done all you can Jen, now it's up t...

2012-01-10T22:10:40.203-05:00

You've done all you can Jen, now it's up to him to pull himself out of his illness and get help. I know it's hard, but all you can do is be compassionate and loving towards him and have hope.

I think you have to let it go(to the extent that y...

2012-01-09T18:30:51.729-05:00

I think you have to let it go(to the extent that you can)because it has the potential to drag you down....& you just happen to be dealing with probably as much as you can handle right now.

You aren't deserting this family member...not under the circumstances you have explained.

It is so tough when you see a disease eating someo...

2012-01-09T05:09:43.458-05:00

It is so tough when you see a disease eating someone up. Someone you care about and love and not being to do anything for them. He does though have to have the desire to recover within himself or no matter what you do for him nothing will change. What is most difficult though is when the addiction has gotten so out of hand and so far that it has eaten up that will within him. I don't know where you can really go from there an intervention perhaps?

It sounds like you've had a pretty incredible ...

2012-01-02T21:10:01.821-05:00

It sounds like you've had a pretty incredible year, all things considered! You never give up hope, I love that! : ) Here's to 2012 - I hope it's the best year yet for you!

Thanks, Matt! I appreciate you visiting my blog, a...

2011-12-30T02:21:10.191-05:00

Thanks, Matt! I appreciate you visiting my blog, and I hope 2012 is great for you too.

Thanks, Mary! I wish I was better at putting things into words. You know, you are one of the most talented bloggers I've seen, really.

Thanks, Kate!I think you give me too many compliments. ;)

I edited this post to add a paragraph about my visit to Baltimore, which I fogot to add when I first wrote it.
I I

Hi Jen! Happy New Year to you too! I honestly th...

2011-12-29T21:49:11.416-05:00

Hi Jen! Happy New Year to you too! I honestly think you are amazing. Every time I read your blog, even when you are struggling, I think -- this is one accomplished person. Even if you didn't have the added burden of mental and physical illnesses, you would still be accomplished. You continue to make a difference in people's lives and you stand by your convictions. You are hard working and honorable. I'm proud to be a friend of yours. May this new year be the best yet.

All my love,

Kate : )

I know very well that words cannot fully define th...

2011-12-29T17:52:13.276-05:00

I know very well that words cannot fully define the experience, but you've done pretty well nonetheless. I'm hoping for an even better 2012 for you. ~Mary