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        New Message Board Archives >> 2007 General Board Posts >> Checking In
        
(Message started by: clarence on Sep 7^th, 2007, 11:42am)

Title: Checking In
Post by clarence on Sep 7^th, 2007, 11:42am

Hey family - it has been a while.

Sorry I haven't been around. School and work take up nearly all of my time. Even over the Summer I have been doing school work non-stop. And, my wife and I are getting ready for our first little one - a boy due December 9th. So, we have our hands full, and will have them fuller in just a couple of months!

I especially wanted to check in to say this - always listen to Jonny. Seriously. I have read him on this board countless times saying "add Lithium to your drug regime." I never did.

Now, I've been chronic for 3 years. I have bad times, and better times, and times where there are months on end where I cannot make it through the night, and get very very little sleep. Last Summer I asked my Neuro for Lithium...because it was one of the only things I hadn't tried. He said - "Lets try this [Amitryptiline]." It made me so tired that I couldn't deal with the CHs when they came. I then said, "Can we now try Lithium?" He said, "Let's try Sansert first" (even though I had already tried it, and told him I didn't want to try it. As I walked out of his office he said to me:

Quote:

I really hope this works for you...but I don't think it will.

I didn't even fill the prescription.

To make a long story short - I pretty much gave up on doctors for a while there, thinking they were all jerks, and only was going along with Imitrex. But it got so bad, I went to a new Neuro. I actually said to him: "I don't believe that anything you give me will make one bit of difference." He said, "Let's try Lithium." I said, "Whatever."

4 weeks on - whereas I was at 4-5 CHs/day, not slept in months, I have had 6-7 CHs in the past 4 weeks, non the duration or intensity as they used to be. I'm not saying it is a cure or anything - I am saying that for me it has been miraculous. I take 300mg 2x/day. A little weight gain, but other than that, doing well on it.

I apologized to the Neuro today at my follow up for being a jerk the first time around.

I really hope and pray that the relief keeps up.

And, Jonny, sorry I didn't listen sooner man. Thanks.

How is everyone else doing?

Casey

Title: Re: Checking In
Post by thomas on Sep 7^th, 2007, 12:08pm

Doing pretty good here. Glad you are getting some relief.

Title: Re: Checking In
Post by Grandma_Sweet_Boy on Sep 7^th, 2007, 5:32pm

Casey - nice to see you posting again.

Are you still in Toronto or are you now finished with the courses you were taking here?

We've missed you - welcome back and HUGE Congrats on the coming addition to your family.

Carol

Title: Re: Checking In
Post by nani on Sep 7^th, 2007, 5:58pm

on 09/07/07 at 11:42:57, clarence wrote:

And, my wife and I are getting ready for our first little one - a boy due December 9th.

http://bestsmileys.com/happy/7.gif

YAY!!!!!!
What great news, Casey!! Congrats to you and Sarah. :-*
I'm happy to see you're getting a break, and that your grad school didn't swallow you up. ;)
Now, starting with the ultrasound...we expect pics!!!

BIG hugs, nani

Title: Re: Checking In
Post by Jonny on Sep 7^th, 2007, 6:38pm

Way to go, Casey!!!!

When I keep saying something over and over its because it has worked for me......AND I ONLY say it to people that I see in a position that I was in before I tried the combo.

Welcome home and congrats on the baby, bro!!!

If the Lith works for you like it did for me.....you have a lot of PF time coming, Bro....AWESOME!! [smiley=headbanger.gif]

Title: Re: Checking In
Post by Kevin_M on Sep 7^th, 2007, 6:54pm

on 09/07/07 at 11:42:57, clarence wrote:

and only was going along with Imitrex. But it got so bad, I went to a new Neuro.

He said, "Let's try Lithium."

Good to hear from you again Casey, kudos for managing so much. :)

Good to hear of this improved management. ;)

Title: Re: Checking In
Post by clarence on Sep 7^th, 2007, 8:23pm

Quote:

Now, starting with the ultrasound...we expect pics!!!

Alright - we were just in California, and my mom took us to have one of those 3-D ultrasounds. Here are a couple of pictures:

http://rainfallsoneveryone.com/personal/baby/SARAH_12.JPG

http://rainfallsoneveryone.com/personal/baby/SARAH_14.JPG

He was pretty shy at first, keeping both hands in front of his face. But in the last 10 minutes, we got those. Not too bad - they are both semi-profiles if you can't tell. (I couldn't tell for the longest time what the heck I was looking at.

Thanks for the congratulations everybody.

Casey

Title: Re: Checking In
Post by clarence on Sep 7^th, 2007, 8:27pm

Carol -

Still in Toronto. I had wanted to be finished sooner, but things haven't worked out that way. I took a job as a Youth Minister, and that has slowed down the school work a bit - but has been an incredibly rewarding position. I do love it.

I have about a year left in the program. Then I'll make my wife call me "Dr. Barton." Heh. Yeah right!

Jonny -

I do appreciate the advice. I would have found the relief a bit sooner if it wasn't for the first neuro. I can't believe he said "I hope this works, but I don't think it will." Then why the hell prescribe it? I have been loving the PF time. And, Sarah says I'm a different person. Sleep will do that for you I guess.

How bout the Sox?

Title: Re: Checking In
Post by nani on Sep 7^th, 2007, 8:27pm

Aw.... how precious! Babies are a gift from God, aren't they?
Have you two decided on a name?
I was thinking maybe...
Alex Rodriguez Barton, or maybe George Steinbrenner Barton... ;)

I've missed you, buddy. :-*

Title: Re: Checking In
Post by clarence on Sep 7^th, 2007, 8:31pm

on 09/07/07 at 20:27:54, nani wrote:

Heh. Good one.

No - Eugene Christopher. Eugene was Sarah's grandfather, to whom we were both very close. Before he passed away we decided that we wanted to name our first son Eugene. Christopher was my grandfather, to whom I was close. The two together made sense!

And, I like the meanings. Eugene = good birth. Christopher = Christ-bearer.

Definitely a gift from God.

Title: Re: Checking In
Post by nani on Sep 7^th, 2007, 8:33pm

That's so sweet. Y'all are gonna be great parents.
I'm available to babysit. ::)