Lexapro weaning

I've only been taking Lexapro (10 mg...a low dose) for about a year now. It's a drug that's used to treat depression and anxiety. I've been taking it mostly for SAD. I meant to go off of it last summer but ended up just staying on. This spring I started feeling better with the weather getting nicer so my doctor and I decided it was ok to come off.

First, I took 5 mg daily. After 2 weeks of this, I switched to 2.5 mg daily. I guess I should've then gone to 2.5 mg every other day, but I thought it was going ok so I just stopped.

WARNING -- it sucks. Every single time my eyes change directions, I feel dizzy. It's just for a split second but it's horrible. I read online that your brain is mimicking a seizure for a split second...and that's how bad it feels. It's been enough to throw me off balance more than once now. And if that wasn't bad enough, you feel 'manic' attacks. You'll be fine, blah blah blah, and then suddenly are crying. You can't explain why or what set it off, but it stops as soon as it starts. Then you'll be fine again, and you're suddenly mad. Then you're fine, and suddenly ecstaticly happy.

All of these symptoms are also MUCH worse if you're tired. I started experiencing them on Monday and Thursday was my first day at work with them. It was so bad in the morning I even called the doctor's office to make sure it's ok to have them so severly. Later in the day they got better because I wasn't as tired anymore. Unfortunately, the doctor's office said it is normal and should go away within the next week or so. I had also asked if it was ok to do the mini marathon and the nurse said yes, just make sure you put a contact name on the back of your bib just in case. Ohhh...thanks!

Anyways, my reasoning for writing this was to help anyone else who is considering going off of it. The symptoms aren't as bad now (day 8 off), but they're still there. More importantly than any other thing is to make sure you have a good support system in place. Tell people close to you what you are about to do so they are ready for it. Make sure they know what to expect. And hopefully, they'll be great enough to give you a break for a couple of weeks.

ER advice

If you're in the ER waiting to be seen because of difficulty breathing, do not be outside smoking when your name is called.

Day 2 in progress

I woke up starving. But then I got on the scale and was down 0.6 pounds. Not bad for the first weigh in! I had my motivation for the day.
I'm in the ICU today and it had been busy (until now, obviously) so I really hadn't thought too much about it. I woke up too late to pack lunch this morning, therefore I treated myself to a trip to the cafeteria and the salad bar. I'm not being sarcastic here, I really love our salad bar! I piled my bowl high with lettuce and spinach and cucumber and hard-boiled eggs. Added some cheese and grabbed a Ranch dressing and was on my way. Woo hoo!
Then, I walked into the department with my ever-so-exciting lunch. The smell of pasta and pizza almost knocked me off my feet. One person was eating Bazbeax's. Really? Come on now! Another person was eating Clarian's Healthy Choice meal for the day...lasanga! On top of that, they FINALLY filled our snack cart and what do you think was in it?!? Yep, HO HO'S!
Thinking I'd be smart I ate quickly and read my book to not notice all the wonderful food around me. Then I headed back up to the ICU. I had to take the elevator 6 floors with a woman with a HUGE slice of chocolate cake.
Now I find myself sitting here, proud of my day. One of my co-workers walks in and says the nurses had a pitch in for lunch and we can have the leftovers. He has proceeded to bring in (for all of us to share), 3 large chocolate chip cookies, 1 large brownie, 1 GINORMOUS piece of yellow cake, and a plate of soft tortillas to make tacos. How sweet of him.
I'm going to check on my patients before everyone notices the large puddle of drool on my keyboard.

Word to the wise

Never get a pedicure right before a race. Especially a race you haven't technically been training for.

Mom and I went for our spring pedicures last Friday and it was wonderful. Then Saturday morning I had the 15K training for the mini. (FYI, I'm walking it). The first four miles I'm doing great. My pace was averaging about 14:30/mile and I felt like I could go forever. It was cold and even started raining, but still felt good.

During the fourth mile, I started feeling blisters coming on. To make a long story short, by the seventh mile I was in excruciating pain. The last mile I was seriously walking on my toes. I refused to stop because...well, I was being stubborn. It was horrible!!! So, lesson learned. Never get a pedicure and have your feet all soft and smooth before 9 miles!

Don't make me go...

I started my week of clinicals at a particular downtown Indy hospital this week. Before I went, I considered it the 'scariest hospital in Indy'. Wow...I was right! It's horrible. Too many of our patients are prisoners with huge chains around their ankles. The nurses have to keep them sedated for OUR safety. It sucks.
I had one patient yesterday which was a prisoner who was intubated (breathing tube down his throat), sedated, restrained with the cloth restraints on each limb and then in addition his ankles were chained. Today I had him again and he was doing really well. So on my suggestion, the doctor ok'd him to be extubated, I did it myself and then treated him for the scratches he had in his throat. Of all the people he should've been nice to today, it was me.
I went in after lunch and the police officer who was guarding his room told me that she had tried to talk to the nurse, but no one seemed to understand. Turns out, they had unrestrained his wrists. He is now not sedated, not restrained, and able to speak and eat and all of that good stuff. I even tried to talk to people because the cop couldn't tell me what he had done, but she made it very clear that this wasn't a good situation. Thing is, you can't restrain a patient without a doctor's order. The cop's comment was..."but he's a prisoner". Yea, I agree.
Anyways, of course I was an idiot and reached across him to turn an alarm off because I thought he was asleep and he grabbed my arm and pulled me across him and said something very unacceptable. I got the joy of punching him in the arm (although to this massive man, it probably felt like a light breeze) and then seeing 2 cops react at an amazing speed. I was quite impressed.
Ok, that's enough for now. It's actually past my bedtime...I need to get to bed so I can enjoy my wonderful 12 hour shift tomorrow bright-eyed and bushy tailed. 7 days left at this hospital.