I want to set the stage before I continue this post!! This is not a pity post!!! I recognize that my body and mind have gone through some drastic changes since ADT!! Physically, spiritually, emotionally and mentally but the later two are grinding my gears most of all!!!!! I don’t know if “Anxiety” is emotional or mental but I can honestly say that the only prior memory of my I having an “anxiety attack” was when a crane malfunctioned on my job-site and came crashing down with the boom actually brushing my hand as it crashed to the ground! Nobody got hurt but I was more of a wreck than the boom!!! That only stated to establish my normal threshold!!! Now all it takes is a dog barking, a crowded restaurant, kids playing....... you get it!!!! I always instigated the rowdiness, now I despise it!!!!
I don’t mean to disrespect anyone (there’s a change too, I wouldn’t have given a shit before!!) but I have never had any belief in the mental health profession!! I always felt that ANYONE could be dx’ed as crazy (everyone I know anyway) and you will remain crazy until you doctor says you are no longer!!! No X-rays, blood work.... just opinions!!! A kid acts up, feed him drugs!!!! Sort of “give me a person and I’ll find a crime” and we’ll have drugs in waiting!! What an A$$hole.....right?!!!
Now I find myself relying on them for some sort of return to the old me or better quality in my current ADT soaked life. Tough, tough call on my part I’ll admit!!
I was fortunate enough to hook up with a psychologist who is a PCa surviver so it wasn’t necessary to get into all the physical changes / issues and how (whether you believe, accept, like it or not) they effect you other than physically! He pretty much had been in my shoes!! He quickly pointed out my depression and anxiety symptoms!! Far worse than I ever imagined, but it all made sense!!
Well, talking it out as much as it could be and my PcP handling meds so it was mutually agreed to a “call me if you need me” type of thing (simplified greatly for your reading pleasure)!!!
Now we’re playing around with drugs!!! Unfortunately, he couldn’t prescribe meds (because..... well.... I trust him!!!) and I have to rely on my Primary Care to take care of that!!! She refuses to accept the fact that I know when and why all this started (Eligard / ADT) but wants to reinvent the wheel. My childhood and bla bla bla!!! I keep telling her that I clearly remember the old me!!!! I clearly remember having fun, singing to the radio, doing fun stuff with grandkids.....!! I know / pray that this will pass when the Eligard passed / gets out of my system and my T returns....but!!!!
Anyway, She has tried some drugs (in the lowest dose available) that might have eased my depression and anxiety but worsened my QoL with adverse side effects. I’m already tired of being a guinea pig so I’m (by my choice) in a holding pattern with no drugs while waiting for my next test results ( in 4 weeks (T & PSA levels)) to see if there are any improvements and a light at the end of the tunnel. I don’t feel “ANY” relief in the side effects (last 3mo Eligard Nov 9th 2018)!! It’s thought that it should be weened out of my system by now!!
Anyway, Somewhere in this vent is a question!! I guess the question is “ is this how it works?
*Trial and error?
*If you react to one, will you react to all? Grinning and bearing it with nothing sucks but the side effects suck a little more!!! Before leaving the shrink, he thought it would be a hit or miss thing but “Missing” is the rule not exception!!
*Is this the standard operating procedure?
jc