Friday, September 11, 2009

New Treatment

So I went to the gyno on Tuesday, and reported that I'd had little success with the clobetasol treatment.  She told me there wasn't much else she could do for me, and said I should try to find a specialist.  I'm going back to school soon, and my university has a pretty nice medical center.  Hopefully I'll be able to find someone who specializes in dermatology and gynecology (as she suggested).

The only thing she could suggest was a low-dose antidepressant.  I've read about this treatment in my desperate scouring of the internet for any information on VVD, and it intrigued me.  I was taking antidepressants up until several months ago, when my medical insurance changed and my therapist couldn't cover me anymore (I've toyed with the idea that the VVD pain flared up because I stopped taking the antidepressants, but I'm pretty sure the pain started before my prescription ran out).

So now I'm on a very low dose (10mg) of Celexa.  Even though this is the same stuff I was taking before, my Doctor was very concerned about the possibility of it causing me to have suicidal thoughts, which happens every so often with antidepressants.  So she only gave me two weeks worth, and instructed me to call her and tell her how I was feeling after the supply ran out.  She was adamant that she wouldn't prescribe me any more until she talked to me directly over the phone.

I'm kind of annoyed about this stipulation for several reasons.  First, because I've been on a higher dose of this same drug before and I was fine.  Second, because it means I will have to call her secretary and list times of the day when I will be available, so she can call me back in between her appointments.  And lastly, because I really, really hate talking on the phone, especially with people I don't know very well.  It makes me very uncomfortable.

But, I am feeling hopeful.  I'm on a new treatment, one that many women have had success with (plus I'm still kind of clinging to the hope that the pain flare-up coincided with my prescription running out).  I have to find a new doctor again, the third one I've seen about this issue, but at least I know what I'm dealing with and can look for a doctor who knows how to help.

Things are looking up.

2 comments:

  1. Good luck! I hope they help you. The run-around sucks, but it might pay off with pain relief. I am probably heading back to head meds myself -- think I'm going to request, if possible, those meds that also treat pain. Even if it's only a sliver of relief, it's hope, right?

    Sorry if this is convoluted. I am so overjoyed that there's a new blog out there but I must admit I'm commenting after happy hour :)

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  2. P.S. The word I had to fill in to submit that comment was "wingsful" :)

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