Oh, that's good to hear, Suzi, thanks. I am noticing that my thumbnails are feeling almost normal, so I'm taking it as a good sign.

But hey, despite the brain probs, do I appear to be decently functioning to you folks?

I've become convinced that prescribing psych meds is an art, not a science. There are enough meds out there, and the reaction of any person to any particular med unpredictable enough, that it's about 1.5 steps above a guessing game.

My BF from HS is a psychiatrist and she said something along these lines once. What she said was they don't really know what pill X works on Person A, but not Person B and why no pills at all seem to work on Person C. I think they learn more about the brain everyday, but I think it's still so mysterious in many ways.

It is actually mostly a guessing game. It's not even 1.5 steps above. Zoloft works for a lot of people, so let's try that! Oh, Zoloft didn't work? Well, how about Celexa? No luck with Celexa? Let's try Wellbutrin! And so forth. That's neither art nor science; it's throwing darts at a board in a dark room.

I think they learn more about the brain everyday, but I think it's still so mysterious in many ways.

My brother discovered he has a certain genetic condition(?) that makes him basically immune to opiates-his receptors don't. He was wondering why the codeine they put him on recently had no noticeable effect. So he started researching, and lo and behold, there's this fairly rare genetic condition. One which also makes them violently receptive to this other drug that is a mild relaxant/numbing agent in most people. Which he's also had (virtually immobilized him and caused his heart rate to plummet.) It's fascinating. I've never been given opiates, but given it is genetic, wondering if I am also a carrier.

do I appear to be decently functioning to you folks?

Yes.

Also, often very funny.

despite the brain probs

raise your hand if you read that as "brain probes"

Allyson, you seem to function quite well from where I sit. (Please do not probe my brain.)

I totally hear you, Consuela--I get that feedback often. Less, though, now that I only interact over emails and occasional phone calls. It doesn't help that I have very little patience for idiots.

Thank you! Woo hoo for more birthday wishes!

You guys make me happy.

Yeah, you seem functional, Allyson.

It is actually mostly a guessing game. It's not even 1.5 steps above. Zoloft works for a lot of people, so let's try that! Oh, Zoloft didn't work? Well, how about Celexa? No luck with Celexa? Let's try Wellbutrin! And so forth. That's neither art nor science; it's throwing darts at a board in a dark room.

It is. My pdoc is fairly good at figuring out what will work for me, the Vyvanse disaster aside. He's more in the school of "if it's working partially, how can we add something to the cocktail to improve it?" than "let's try something new right now!". I like this about him. I'm pretty good at judging where I am in terms of improvement from pre-medicated baseline, and really, my target isn't a 100% remission from anxiety/depression.

Many happy returns, sumi!