I had to argue with the doctor, who wanted to put me on a different SSRI (I've been on almost all of them, over the years), but he finally agreed to give me Effexor. Anyone here been on it? Slightly worried about a couple of the named side effects - amitriptyline gave me blood pressure problems, and I wonder if this might do the same - but I haven't started it yet, so we'll see. I have to review it with the docs in a month anyway.

Been talking to my employers and they seem to support me in my fight to get a support worker. Hopefully that will help.

Shir, I wish I had something to contribute there. (The Girl is not keen on discussing Israel and politics, so we just don't. So I'm really rather ignorant. Which I shouldn't be.) I hope things change - that the pendulum swings back - if it was ever swung in the other direction.

So I'm really rather ignorant

I wish I could have that privilege. But the news and the ignorance, they're everywhere.

Shir, I mourn with you the loss of democracy in both our countries. America may not have reached the extreme that Israel has, but it seems that there are those in power who are making calculated moves toward the same end.

Seska, still sending out the ~ma for your work situation.

I'm getting ready to go to my first therapy appointment.

he finally agreed to give me Effexor. Anyone here been on it?

I'm never fully comfortable with these conversations -- the range of what happens to a given individual on a given drug varies so widely that I don't think too much weight can be given to what individuals have to say about it.

That said, I understand the impulse to ask about a drug you're looking to take. Effexor was fine for me. It was effective and my only side effect was thirst. Going off of it, however, was one of the uglier experiences I've ever had.

I'm never fully comfortable with these conversations -- the range of what happens to a given individual on a given drug varies so widely that I don't think too much weight can be given to what individuals have to say about it.

Erk. Sorry if I shouldn't be asking. I just like to have anecdotal evidence - largely because doctors won't tell me anything about these drugs.

ETA: I do also read research papers, information provided by the NHS, etc. on drugs I'm prescribed.

The main overall caveat about Effexor is that you should go off it slowly. It seems to be one of those drugs that people either love or hate.

I'm never fully comfortable with these conversations -- the range of what happens to a given individual on a given drug varies so widely that I don't think too much weight can be given to what individuals have to say about it.

I think we have the sense to treat what any individual says as only one data point. It's valuable to get opinions here because we are generally more self-analytic and more likely to have done a lot of research.

Quick parenting/medical question - I accidentaly dropped a Coke can on Frisco's big toe on Friday night. I felt so bad because it obviously hurt a lot and his entire toenail is now black. It is also not swollen exactly, but the nail is sort of pushed up (like the pressure from the blood on the inside is pushing it out). He's walking fine and only mentions it hurting when he's upset about something else and neither of us wants to go to the doctor. But now I'm wondering if there might be some benefit to seeing a doctor. Not sure what that would be but I'm worried his toenail won't grow back and he will be deformed for life, I guess.

I wouldn't bother with the doctor unless there's infection-type redness and pain. His toenail may fall off entirely, but it will grow back. Signed, my sister lost a toenail due to an accident with a brick at age 5 and has perfectly normal toenails now.

That sounds a lot like what happened to Dylan when he smashed his thumb in the door a few weeks back - in his case we did take him to the ER because it was bleeding so much that we couldn't even get a good look at it to see if he'd lost the whole nail or what, but if it's not bleeding and he's able to walk on it I wouldn't bother. Our doctor said that Dylan's nail would look bruised for a while and would probably grow back in a little weird, but that there wasn't any permanent damage.

Thank you, both. Parental guilt is strong.