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Dec 15, 2022#p3
Last Thursday was my first follow-up appointment with the ... counsellor? therapist? His actual title is psychiatrist but I think there is still a lot of stigma attached to that. I grew up in a time when you'd see a psychiatrist if you were 'nuts' and therapy for mental health issues wasn't a thing. Frankly, mental health itself wasn't a thing.
How times change, eh?
I still wasn't really sure how I was feeling or whether the meds were having an effect so I asked my family before the appointment. The general consensus was that when I was up I was more up but the downward swings were bigger. I think my focus is a bit better (I can certainly concentrate on code more – or, rather, get lost in it) but memory is still an issue. Well, it's not so much my memory but not being focused or present enough to actually take things on board so that I can remember them later.
Apparently, it was like you could see the pills wearing off (even though that's not how they work) and my mood was shifting quite drastically in the evenings. I wasn't aware of it. I think that defines a lot of what's been going on: I'm just not aware of how I am, how I act or come across to others. In my head I'm acting normally but it would seem not – the proverbial 'living in a bubble' of my own making.
So, my prescription of Vortioxetine has been upped to 15mg a day from 10 and I've also been prescribed Quetiapine to complement it. Quetiapine should do a number of things including reduce the mood swings and help me sleep. I take it around 7 - 7:30pm and by 9:30 I'm struggling to keep my eyes open. It certainly gets me to sleep quicker (that's always something I've struggled with) but it's hit and miss if I wake through the night. Still, it's only been a week and I need to let that settle.
I still have PLMS on occasion and the Quetiapine might also help ease this. It will be a relief it that's the case.
My next appointment is 5th January and, if things work out, I'll be more stable by then so that the next phase of treatment can begin. Whatever that is decided to be.
