Information and opinions on health from Donna-1 at HealthCentral.com. HealthCentral.com is one of the top health destinations on the Web, with more than 35 condition-specific, wellness and general health Web properties. http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/86453/index http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/86453/rss self application/xml en-us 15 120 19 http://www.healthcentral.com/images/hc_logo_sm.gif http://www.healthcentral.com/profiles/c/86453/index http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/86453/153344/where-i-now Mon, 28 May 2012 10:17:14 -0400 Donna-1 When I first began taking antipsychotics and antidepressants, I just assumed the pills would fix everything.  My marriage, my other relationships, my poor self-image, my job stress...and all my illness symptoms, of course.  My grandmother taught me that "there is a pill to fix anything."  I believed her.  Unfortunately, it isn't true.  She doctor-shopped.  She prided herself on having a medicine cabinet full of pill... http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/86453/153344/where-i-now http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/86453/152944/developments Mon, 14 May 2012 07:07:41 -0400 Donna-1 I come to this site and see so much heartache and pain and missed chances and failed relatioinships...and sometimes questions that can't be answered.  At least today I can share a few words of hope.   Since last fall, I've had my share of personal physical and psychological problems.  Including anxiety, panic attacks, akathisia (all-over restlessness), itching, coughing, insomnia, depression, breakthrough schizophrenia symptoms,... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/86453/152944/developments http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/86453/152802/olanzapine Wed, 09 May 2012 02:03:32 -0400 Donna-1 At first, the idea of taking Zyprexa again just made me sick.  I have become allergic to Latuda (which had seemed the perfect antipsychotic for me.)  So I don't have any choice.  Latuda was also making me highly anxious, giving me unbearable akasthisia, and disturbing my sleep nightly.  Then the itching and coughing started.  Doesn't seem ideal, does it?  But compared to Zyprexa I thought  I had it... http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/86453/152802/olanzapine http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/86453/152767/psychiatrist Tue, 08 May 2012 02:17:55 -0400 Donna-1 I know that probably, under the law, a doctor has a certain number of hours to respond to a patient's phone call.  Maybe 24.  Maybe 48.  I don't know.  But wouldn't you think the professional standard would dictate that a call placed at 8:10am be returned that same day?   I don't make trivial calls to my psychiatrist and he knows it.  I've been seeing him for 15 years.  I have only ever called if it... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/86453/152767/psychiatrist http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/86453/152409/well-down-this Wed, 25 Apr 2012 22:16:47 -0400 Donna-1 I have spent most of the last 2 days in bed all day.  With the covers over my head.  Not even listening to music.  I'm starting to think I would just like to die...because there is no relief.  Everything is too difficult.  I'm just going through the motions.  No, I don't have plans to kill myself.  Just thinking it would be nice if I died in my sleep.  It feels like everything is wrong physically and... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/86453/152409/well-down-this http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/86453/152328/feeling Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:44:44 -0400 Donna-1 I know I haven't been carrying my weight around here for months.  But things have been difficult.  I haven't been feeling well...physically...emotionally.  It is so easy to just sit and do nothing except for the things that absolutely must be done to preserve independence.  I have been coughing and itching for months with no relief, no matter what I try.  Also having insomnia.  I think I am allergic to eggs (on top... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/86453/152328/feeling http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/86453/151992/endoscopies Tue, 10 Apr 2012 18:54:47 -0400 Donna-1 Well, folks, I have finally had the upper and lower endoscopies I have been putting off for a long time.  Turns out I have Celiac Disease (they confirmed by biopsy) but that everything else is okay.  My anemia had gotten so bad they assumed there was bleeding somewhere, but Celiac can cause iron-deficiency anemia.  I'll just have to revamp my diet now and see how it goes.   I'm sure anemia has contributed to the fatigue... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/86453/151992/endoscopies http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/86453/151656/depression Fri, 30 Mar 2012 11:46:40 -0400 Donna-1 Does depression interfere with your ability to make decisions? I have a terrible time settling on any one answer when making a decision. Yes, I will do it. No, I can't. But I have to. I am an adult and can make up my own mind. I wish someone would just make the decision for me. I refuse to even think about it until the deadline is passed and thereby avoid a decision. I ought to do it. What will happen if I don't do it? Will I be forgiven if I... http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/86453/151656/depression http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/86453/151450/good-stigma Fri, 23 Mar 2012 07:44:48 -0400 Donna-1 http://www.everydayhealth.com/depression/are-you-guilty-of-stigmatizing-the-mentally-ill.aspx?xid=aol_eh-emo_1_20120319_&aolcat=HLT&icid=maing-grid10%7Chtmlws-main-bb%7Cdl6%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D145857   The above article expresses some very real ways in which we and others show even subtle stigma against those with depression.  It's worth a read. http://www.healthcentral.com/depression/c/86453/151450/good-stigma