Wahoo! Yippee! I FEEL BETTER!
My optimism back in February, when I was taking Celexa and Trazodone only, was misplaced. But this time I do think I have reason to cheer.
A quick review: On February 14 I started an intensive exercise class. It was too intensive for me, really, and instead of taking three weeks at the preliminary level, as is usual, I wound up taking the beginner's class for seven weeks. Not until April 3 did I graduate to the "maintenance" class, which involves working out with weights and, once a week, 30-40 minute runs. Even then, I was behind - my hand weights were (and still are) only 4 pounds, which drives the instructors crazy, but even that light weight tires me out on some of the drills. (AND they call me "Drama Mama" and "Hollywood" because I moan and groan so much.)
From February 14 to April 18 I missed only one day of class, due to a family emergency, and I was never late once. But I lost no weight - not one pound. Everyone kept assuring me that I was replacing fat with muscle. But I didn't look any thinner, either. It was very discouraging.
I felt I was sleeping too much, too. I would go to bed at 9:00-9:30 p.m., read a little bit, and sleep till 5:00 a.m. Class ran from 6:05 to 7:05. I'd come home, eat breakfast, and be back in bed by 7:30, sleeping till 10:30 or 11:00 a.m., sometimes later.
In addition, I was again experiencing a good deal of inertia - just sitting here at the computer and playing solitaire, sometimes as much as an hour at a time. It's hard to describe the state of mind ... the best word I can think of is "blah."
My next appointment with Dr. Meyer was on April 13, less than a week before our scheduled cross-country trip to attend my brother's wedding. He recommended I try switching to Ambien instead of Trazodone, since Ambien is supposed to have a shorter "half-life" (meaning it breaks down and leaves the body quicker). To help with weight loss and give me more energy, he prescribed an appetite suppressant. This latter medication, however, proved to be unavailable, and a substitute had to be prescribed. I did not receive it until after returning home from our week-long trip.
The doctor told me to make a gradual switch from Trazodone to Ambien by taking half an Ambien and half my usual dose of Trazodone (which meant a quarter of a pill) together for a few nights. I did this that night, and felt just awful the next day. Spooked, I decided to stay with Trazodone, not wanting to risk problems on the trip.
Famous last words. We left April 19. The next day I started a nasty upper respiratory infection and was sick during the entire week, although - fortunately! - it didn't get really bad until the day after the wedding. We returned home on the 26th, but not until May 2 was I well enough to go back to exercise class. It was rough! I was out of shape from being sick and without exercise for nearly two weeks. But I had a new incentive to work hard: I had seen myself in the wedding video. I looked like the Pillsbury Doughboy (in a long dress).
Two days later, on May 4, I stepped from the house down one low step into the garage, rolled my right foot - and wound up in a soft cast for ten days due to a severely strained tendon.
So much for exercising. Sheesh.
Next > Improvement at Last (honest!)
