Stupid medical questions

[gmoney]

Got an appointment with my GP at 8AM, and she'll probably do a blood draw... what's the rule on fasting? 12 hours, or just nothing after midnight, or what?

Also, thinking about asking for something to help me deal with my post election stress disorder. I tried Prozac after my Mom died, which didn't help a great deal, but did take the edge off... it made me sleepy all the time though, so I got off it a couple years back. I know some of you have experience with these kinds of things, so should avoid any one in particular? The bouncing O Zoloft critters look so soothing, but that's hardly a rationale for a prescription. Something with a cheap generic would be good, too.

Or should I just turn to alcohol?

TIA

[shesemsmom]

1. Depends on what the draw is for.

Were you told not to eat or drink. If so after midnight is fine. Most say a minimum of 6 hours Hope this helps

[Book Lover]

2. I have been told nothing after 9 pm

for a first-thing-in-the-morning blood draw for blood sugar and thyroid hormone levels, FWIW.

[Nevernose]

3. I took Paxil nine or ten years ago

It made me jittery, difficulty sleeping, and odd behavior -- I lectured my dog on the value of sharing, really freaking out the guests in my home.

More importantly, antidepressants all have one very remote, but very nasty possible side effect: impotency. I could have been happy and impotent, or depressed and well-laid.

I went with NOT being impotent.

[legally blonde]

4. There are lots of choices

on the market when it comes to antidepressants/antianxiety meds. I've tried quite a few before I found something that worked for me, which I think is quite common. A lot have some rather unfortunate side effects (jitters, odd behavior, sexual side effects, sweating, sleepiness, etc.). If Prozac didn't help, you could go with something in a different SSRI family--they all work about the same way, but have different effects in different people.

[sir_captain]

5. Really and truly

midnight would be enough, but to be on the safe side, do the whole 12 hours. You're better off not eating for the extra four hours and getting accurate blood-sugar results...

[yo-yo-ma]

6. 14 hours for cholesterol, nothing in the am (after waking) for sugar

other wise no nees for fasting for blood draws

[Nikia]

7. Xanax helps for anxiety, but be careful

I take them if I have a panic attack or high anxiety that I can't get under control. I average 2-3/month. They are effective taking them more regularly. The unfortunate thing is that if you take them regularly for very long, you will develop tolerance and addiction. My mother-in-law has a serious Xanax addicton and would probably die if she went off them cold turkey. On the other hand, they work very well. The main side effects for me seem to be feeling sleeping and high (different from any other high or drugged feeling that I have had).

[Cadence]

8. Have you thought of Saint Johns Wort?

The liquid version has worked for me. Not the best tasting but two dropper fulls in a small glass of warm water. Also get a stress B complex vitamin, the one from solaray is good.

I would strongly advise against paxil. For a lot of people once your on it getting off of it can be as hard or harder than getting off heroin. I noticed the poster above didn't mention this so they might have been one of the lucky ones but I've known of several people that had psychotic episodes trying to get off of it. There is a huge lawsuit against the makers of it right now.

[gmoney]

9. Thanks... looks like booze is the answer

Yeah, side effects and dependency are not in the cards... maybe I'll just take up boozing on the weekends.

Tried the St Johns Wort thing, and it didn't make much of a difference either...

[crispini]

10. Alcohol, when abused responsibly, can be your friend.

- Don't drink all week (lowers tolerance).
- Get shitfaced on Friday or Saturday, preferably something with not many (ketones?) chemical impurities (like vodka). Stay at home, don't drive, watch a humorous movie or something designed to completely take your mind off political shit. Also drink lots of water.
- Pass out on couch, wake up next day feeling better, repeat occasionally.

Does the trick for me.....