Peg

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-14-2005
Peg
5
Sat, 07-15-2006 - 12:03pm

How was your first night on topomax? I hope you aren't experiencing any side effects yet. I have no idea how fast it works. Are you accepting it anymore now? Just checking in. I hope that you're enjoying your weekend.

Meg

Avatar for peg_t
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-24-2003
In reply to: meggem2005
Sat, 07-15-2006 - 2:41pm

Hi Meg,

Thanks for checking in. I'm doing ok. The past 3 days I've been on the verge of crying on and off so that did not help my mood yesterday during my visit or when I posted. I'm still feeling pretty sad right now and I just screamed at my kids...I just hate that.

Anyway, I took the topamax and about an hour later I felt a little queasy, had a headache and felt very "heavy" and tired. Not the "depressed heavy" but a tired heavy. So, I went to bed expecting to get a good night sleep for once since pdoc said the topamax will help with sleep. Well, that didn't happen. I felt very groggy but kept waking up as usual. I actually think I woke up more last night than I did the past few nights. This morning I was ok until I had to eat. I forced myself to eat and about an hour later felt horrible. I felt headachy and queasy again. I went to the gym hoping that I could shake it and bring up my mood but I was so fatigued that I could only do half of my workout- and I didn't feel much better. Lunch went down a little better although the metalic taste I have in my mouth is worse now than before taking this stuff (probably from the other meds I take). Dh and I have a date tonight so I hope dinner goes well. I should have waited to start until tonight to take it so I wouldn't ruin our 16th wedding anniversary. I think I'll be ok...I'm trying to think positive.

All in all, I think it's going ok. I'm very nervous about this being off label and new, with no long term studies. I worry that my mood might level out but it will cost me some other part of my health if I stay on it a long time. My other concern is that weight loss is a very common side effect. So, now I have 2 meds with weight loss side effects, not really good for me. Depending on when I weigh myself, I am underweight now, by a pound or two. So, I need to make sure tdoc knows this and tell pdoc next time I see him (3 weeks). I don't need tdoc putting me away or anything.

As far as accepting it, I just vent about that every now and then. When I'm depressed or irritable, it is just another thing that irks me so I complain about it. I'm ok with the dx, I've known for a very long time (probably 22 years) that I have mental health issues. I just never did much about it. But, now that I have 2 kids and a family to take care of, I need to deal with it because I am effecting them. I don't want my kids to grow up like I did. Since ds may have some bp tendencies, I want to set a good example for him, too...even though I really hate taking the meds ;-). So, yes, I'm accepting it, I was just having a bad day and felt like b*tching.

I saw your mood chart-wow. I'm too lazy to do that right now. I've been looking at them on the net but never printed one out. I hope that you are able to get a little more stable soon. I know you are very concerned about school so I hope that your meds start working well for you. This whole med game bites the big one.

Well, this got long as usual. Thanks again for checking on me. I hope your weekend is going well.

Hugs,
Peg

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-02-2006
In reply to: meggem2005
Sat, 07-15-2006 - 3:57pm

((((((((((Peg))))))))) Sorry to hear you had such a rough night with the topamax. I do hope it evens out for you. All the side effects you describe I've had with different meds, but none of them were the topamax. I know that probably doesn't help you much:(


I hope that you are able to feel well enough to enjoy your date with your DH and celebrate your anniversary. I will send positive thoughts and vibes your way.


Hang in there sweetie, it DOES get better. And we're here for you as well.


Hugs,
Traci

Avatar for peg_t
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-24-2003
In reply to: meggem2005
Sat, 07-15-2006 - 5:56pm

Hi Traci,

Thanks for the hugs. My side effects are really not that bad- they are very tolerable and I actually felt a LOT worse when I started my lupus medication. I know it is going to get better- I just want to sleep. I don't usually miss the sleep, it's just annoying to keep waking up (I'm not sure if that makes sense or not??).

Dh and I went out to dinner and went to Carvel for an ice cream cake. We will share it with the kids before they go to bed. It's always nice to have an occasional dinner without the kids;-). We don't really have anyone to watch them so dates are few and far between. I just feel so blessed that dh has put up with me and all that I have put him through. We have traveled a very rough road at times, 90-95% my fault, so I feel very fortunate that we are still together. He deserves a medal...or a good pdoc...he may be more messed up than I am for sticking around LOL! I just hope that things start getting easier for him (meaning I get better) so we are together for another 16+++++++ years!!

Luv,
Peg

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-14-2005
In reply to: meggem2005
Sat, 07-15-2006 - 6:08pm
Peg- I'm glad the first night on topomax was ok and I hope that you have a good aniversary dinner tonight.
Avatar for peg_t
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-24-2003
In reply to: meggem2005
Sat, 07-15-2006 - 8:49pm

Thanks Meg- I expect there might be some changes with the side effects once I build it up in my system but I'll deal with it and give it a chance.

We had a nice time at dinner. I, of course, could not finish mine. We went to Texas Road House and I got a half rack of ribs, which to me is like a full rack! We bought an ice cream cake at Carvel and set it out to thaw because they are always hard as a rock. Well, we left it out too long. When I took it out of the bag, the chocolate ice cream started dripping all over the table and the floor and the vanilla was just kinda soft. We both LOL! We still ate the vanilla and the crunchies. We put the rest in pans with the melted chocolate and will refreeze it. It will just be a little ugly, but it will still taste good!

Hugs,
Peg