I am going to preface my recent tale with one from many years ago. Basically I had a blueberry muffin one morning at work. Tasted fine going down. But then later in the day I was so nauseated I could hold nothing down. I was sick for days with something which was causing me to vomit up anything I dared to ingest. For about a year after that incident, I couldn't even look at a blueberry muffin. Was the muffin the cause of my distress? Most likely not yet...the correlation (the image of blueberry muffins) to my being sick was strong enough for me to lay off the muffins for quite awhile.
Something has been happening with me lately...medically...and the only new thing I have introduced to my system has been Prozac. I have no idea if this is all a coincidence but I want to relay this anyhow...just to see if anyone has had a similar experience.
Started taking Prozac in hopes that it would level my moods and also give me more energy (this is one of the drugs which can be recommended to someone having Multiple Sclerosis to increase their energy.) I have traditionally been very resistant to taking any type of mood medication so this was huge for me to try this. But finally I was ready...I was committed to giving it a good try. I understand/understood that it can take up to six weeks for the drug to grant you the full effect.
I also understand that with any drug...whether it be prescription or supplement...there CAN be side effects.
I am going to tell you the main part of this story but also follow up with how this drug otherwise affected my mood for the two weeks. A lot has seemingly happened in this brief time period.
It was almost a week into it when I was experiencing much discomfort (doesn't even begin to describe it) with pressure on my bladder and urinary frequency. I called my gyne...and went in...thinking I had a urinary tract infection. That would make sense. I do have MS...it is common for folk with MS to have bladder issues. Only problem was/is....this is not a UTI. There is no blood in my urine...no pain in urination...just this unbelievable pressure. So despite the test showing no infection...my gyne gave me anti-biotics for a urinary tract infection and sent me on my merry way. I showed up the next day because the pain and discomfort had grown so intense I literally couldn't stand it.
And this is one of the reasons I think I may want a new gyne is...he did not help me one iota. More so he seemed quite impatient and frustrated upon my arrival to his office a second time. Thing is...I have given birth twice...so I know what pain is. I hate going to doctors. I put them off for as long as I can. For me to go in there a second time...I was in great pain. So with no diagnosis...he wants to basically send me home telling me the old cliche of "take two aspirin (alleve) and don't call me in the morning."
I explained I was just starting Prozac. I asked him about cysts or fibroids. I was/am grasping at straws. He reluctantly did a pelvic exam and found my uterus enlarged and tender and my bladder was beyond sensitive. Yet he still could not say what he thought it might be. I asked about the MS connection...he didn't think so. Then again...this was the same doc who before I got my MS diagnosis...I was telling him of my symptoms...asking if they could be gynecological in origin and he just simply said no...and didn't show any concern whatsoever or even suggest that maybe I should ask my regular doc about the strong MS symptoms I was showing!
*sigh*
So...he sent me home with a script for napraxen...which is a little stronger than alleve...and let me tell you...it did nothing very little for my pain but at that point I was grateful for anything. I had to plead to get that. I asked him if that would help me get some sleep because it was so bad I couldn't sleep. He offhand told me to take Benadryl to get to sleep.
I mean...I am no doctor but if you think it is not a UTI...then wouldn't you want to investigate to see what it might be?
They also took cultures and were supposed to call me back on a Friday. No call. I call Friday to find the whole office leaves early that day. I call Monday and they finally call me late in the afternoon to tell me the cultures show nothing. So I ask what it could be. The same doc who told me days ago that my fibroid had not changed in size...says now it could be my fibroid causing this. And what to do? Nothing. No suggestions of what to do whatsoever.
Here is the thing...I will lay out the facts here. I do have a fibroid...have had it for years...it has caused me no problems. I do have MS. I do not have a urinary tract infection. I did start taking prozac two weeks ago and these problems all began after that (the problems being this horrible pressure and discomfort with my bladder. The thing is...it comes and goes. It does seem positional. It does seem that something is pushing against my bladder.
Oh and as the coup de grace...I am now one week late with my period. And before you ask...NO. Absolutely NO way...unless I am the virgin Mary herself...that I could be pregnant.
Something isn't right. Symptoms started when I began the prozac...a grand coincidence? I have NO CLUE! But to be safe...I tapered myself off and am now off of it. I still do not have my period...I am still in discomfort and peeing all the time.
I am guessing....the prozac contributed to this (I will show you what I found on-line related to this), or...I have some sort of infection that wasn't detected, or...the fibroid could definitely explain this...or...an ovarian cyst...or the worst thing...undetected ovarian cancer.
I am going to see my regular doc tommorrow and see what he says. This just all sucks because I don't know what is causing it. When I know I will feel much better mentally.
Lesson of this is...BE YOUR OWN BEST HEALTH ADVOCATE! If you don't like what is going on with your treatment...speak up...get a second opinion...get answers. And this is exactly what I intend to do.
As for prozac...it may have absolutely NOTHING to do with my symptoms. But at this point I thought it safe and logical to stop taking it.
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Additional notes: Happened to find this in the internet literature concerning the possible side effects of Prozac:
Frequent side effects:
Urogenital (referring to the urine and reproductive systems): Painful menstruation, Sexual dysfunction, Urinary tract infection, Frequent micturition (urination).
Infrequent side effects (1 in 1000 people may experience one of these)
Urogenital (referring to the urine and reproductive systems): Abnormal ejactulation, Impotance, Menopause, Amenorrhea (stopping of menstrual cycle), Menorrhagia (menstrual distress), Ovarian disorder (disorder of the ovaries),
Vaginitis (inflammation of the vagina), Leukorrhea (vaginal discharge), Fibrocystic breast (growths within the breast), Breast pain, Cystitus (inflammation of the bladder), Dysuria (pain while urinating), Urinary urgency (having to urinate immediately), Urinary incontinence (unable to control urination).
Come sit a spell and shoot the breeze. Sweeten the day with a little synchronicity...
9 comments:
I think that you are on the mark to question the Prozac. Good for you for being tenacious about this. I have certainly been questioning the whole dogma about SSRIs, and in my psychiatric nursing career I have been well indoctrinated with a depression theory that is just now proving to be unfounded. I hope you start to feel better soon. Don't ever doubt your own intuition.
well...i just don't know yet. i do not want to demonize this drug at all. i am but one case study for such a short time period (two weeks!) so who knows...but...all this was enough for me to go off of it to eliminate prozac as a variable. a lot of people do well on prozac so...i just want to make clear that i am merely reporting my experience.
I'm sorry that you have been feeling so lousy lately. Definitely, being your own advocate is VERY important.
You are correct in that with MS comes potential urinary/bowel issues, whether it's urgency, retention, frequency, lack of control, or lack of sensation. This is why some folks self-cath.
When I first started Zoloft, I experienced cramping and some effective cleaning out of the bowels for about a week. But survived the ordeal as it wasn't really that bad. Not like the pain you are describing.
I'm puzzled by your gyn who prescribed antibiotics for a non-existent infection and didn't seem concerned with the swelling and sensitivity. I don't have experience with fibroids but understand that they can be very painful when inflammed?
Regarding the missing/late cycle, hormones control so much. When we women get really stressed, it can mess with our cycles. Prozac is now prescribed for PMDD and has an effect on hormone levels (I think).
And regarding Aleve, a full dose can be two pills, twice a day. I know that's double what the bottle says, but it's the frequently prescribed strength. Just like Motrin is often used at levels of 3-4 pills, every 4-6 hours. I don't have experience with Naproxen.
I'm glad that you are seeing your main doc tomorrow. Your body is talking to you and you are wise to listen. Good luck.
well...as far as stress goes...i have certainly been way more stressed in my 43 years and i never had my period so delayed.
i am not fond of my gyne right now. he seemed fine for routine care but now that something is wrong...he sucks. no compassion...no follow up...no help! i don't know what his problem is but i am not waiting to find out. i will see my general doctor tomorrow and see what he says.
called my neurologist to let her know...she is the one who prescribed the prozac. the nurse called back and says..."oh gee...let me look in the book about side effects." i guess the book was unavailable as she couldn't tell me anything. this was the same lady who told me to stay out of the heat when i told her of the day i lost my speech and could barely talk and found i couldn't walk. great advice! (sarcasm)
i dunno...
i really do want to have faith in my medical practitioners but my patience is wearing thin.
I'm not a Doctor - in fact, I'm not a lot of things, but I play all of these roles quite often. I have, like you are now in the process of doing, learned through the school of hard knocks. Through self observation, and the observation of others with simular health issues, you learn much about the mind/body connection and our use of cognetive impairments. I know, blah, blah, blah....
In short, I believe that you are on the right track. Listen to yourself. Be your own advocate. You are the consumer of a service. If you are unhappy, speak up!
Have you ever heard of Lexapro? I've known several people that have had success with the med w/o the side effects, etc..
The Prozac may have caused the symptoms, or may have exacerbated a pre-existing condition, or may have had nothing to do with the symptoms. I applaud you for pushing beyond your gyno's simplistic response. Have you consulted a uro-gynecologist? I found that specialist very helpful in ruling out bladder conditions more complicated that a UTI.
GET THEE TO A NEW GYNO. et a blood draw for CA125, may catch ovarian cancer.(no other test) I am an ovarian cancer survivor, other often misdiagnosed: IC Intersistal Cystitis(not sure of spelling) partner has had it for over 15 years, undiagnosed for at least 5 years by every specialst under sun. Hang tuff, force them to FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG. AARRGGHH I feel you.
get thee to a female ob-gyn, post haste!
...this guy you see is UNreal! grrrr
good that you took yourself off, to see if is the main contributor
talk it all over with your family doc, he seems more level headed
sometimes the true test of a doc's worth is how they react when they encounter symptoms they don't understand, something they don't know. (see my other post about god-complex) sounds like your gyn didn't pass muster. (how tough would it have been for him to look up prozac side effects?)
Other docs, I found from personal experience, get squirmy when told the patient is taking psychotropic meds (antidepressants are one). Its like they shift you into the psycho-box. I used to feel that way, anyhow. Suddenly the doc seemed more tense, lower eye contact. I took anti-D's on and off for about 8 years. I saw the shift a few times. The fact that I'm a psychologist didn't seem to help my cause much, either.
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