Angelika_23 Posted August 28, 2007 Report Share Posted August 28, 2007 Hello,I got all my neuro test results back. Everything was perfect, except that I have a slight calcium and vitamin D deficiency. The doctor suggested I try taking Effexor for my headaches, my symptoms and she said I did come out as slightly depressed. She is starting me on a half dose for seven days, then up to a full dose.Now I am being referred to either the Mayo Clinic or Cleveland Clinic for possible autonomic nervous system dysfunction. Does anyone know how long these visits take? Will I be there overnight, or just for a day?This is so frustrating. Angela Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs. Burschman Posted August 28, 2007 Report Share Posted August 28, 2007 Hi Angela,I don't know anything about testing at Mayo or Cleveland. My local hospital has an autonomic testing lab, which is where I was diagnosed with POTS. It only took a couple hours.My mom takes Effexor and finds it very helpful. She has a lot of the same autonomic symptoms as I do, though she hasn't been diagnosed with POTS. I tried to take Effexor, but it triggered migraines. Which is odd, since some people take it to prevent them! Just one of those weird medication reactions, I guess.I hope you find answers! Not knowing what's going on is the absolute worst!amy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adria Posted August 28, 2007 Report Share Posted August 28, 2007 Hi Angela,Usually an evaluation at the Mayo Clinic lasts about 1-2 weeks. Recently they have switched to a series of outpatient testing and appointments so you usually have to get a hotel room during your stay. It's usually a week of testing followed by a few days of appointments with various specialists who discuss your results with you and give you a treatment plan. When I was orginally diagnosed I was inpatient but I came through the ER. Hope this helps.Adria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pastordari Posted August 28, 2007 Report Share Posted August 28, 2007 I don't know anything about Mayo or Cleveland as far as their testing.I do, however, know about effexor. I have been taking it for at least 3 years with pretty good results. Actually, this med allowed me to experience life without depression for the first time. I just wasn't getting full remission of symptoms on othr SSRI's. Also, effexor has some good side effects like calming hot flashes and vasoconstriction which does help wtih POTS and circulation issues.Be careful if you should decide to discontinue effexor. You need to taper off with your doc's supervision. DO NOT stop it cold turkey. It is awful! My former doc discontiniued effexor with me to try something else with no taper and it was one of the worst experiences of my life. I am not telling you this to scare you. I think knowledge is power and allows us to make better decisions if we know what we are dealing with!I have had good results with effexor all the way around. My former doc, not so much!Hope this is helpful and that you have great results with effexor! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angelika_23 Posted August 28, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2007 Thanks for the good information everyone!One more question. Can I continue to take the Klonopin with the Effexor? I was so muddled, I forgot to ask! I mean, I asked if I should discontinue any of my meds and they said no, but I didn't ask about the Klonopin specifically.Oh my, I can't afford to get a hotel for a week or two out of town. I hope they can do my testing, etc. inpatient or all in a couple of days! Even a couple of days would hurt our budget.I am very hopeful that the Effexor will have good results. I am a bit wary of adding yet another medication... I react strangely to them sometimes. Everyone has given me some good feedback about it, so I'm not quite so nervous about it now.ThanksAngela Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldicedance Posted August 28, 2007 Report Share Posted August 28, 2007 Hi...I have been to the Mayo Clinic 3 times for autonomic testing and consultations. I would say you can count on about 7 days of testing/consultations. I do not think that inpatient testing unless you are admitted as an emergency or there is a compelling reason would be possible. My husband accompanied me. We had 2 airline tickets, hotel room with kitchenette that you could get to and from the Mayo Clinic without going outside, food, and transportation. This doesn't include the boarding costs for my doggie.It takes some time to get an appointment.Good luck.Lois Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dizzy Posted August 28, 2007 Report Share Posted August 28, 2007 I had testing done at Cleveland Clinic. I was scheduled for Tilt table test one day. After it returned a positive result I was scheduled for more testing the next day. I went back at a later time for a follow up. They did a good job with the testing......I was not so pleased with the follow up treatment. But, that has been several years ago...it may be different now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pastordari Posted August 29, 2007 Report Share Posted August 29, 2007 Angela, I'm no doc, but I do take effexor AND klonopin.My doc prescribes both, so it must be safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammy Posted August 29, 2007 Report Share Posted August 29, 2007 Just wanted to re-echo Dari,s advice about stopping Effexor once you have started it . Make sure to TAPER, and do so extremely gradually. Please read www.paxilprogress.org (or .com - can't remember) for information about effexor and how to taper once you have started, if you need to discontinue at some time. I didn't taper off of Prozac and went through complete **** for many months and still continue to have some effects. AGAIN, this is not to scare you but to prevent someone else from going through what I did with an SSRI. MY regular physician has also suggested I try Effexor, but since the Prozac difficulties, I have been way to scared to try any SSRI again. Also, you may want to read www.medhelp.org/posts/show/5332, as it covers dysautonmia and taking SSRI's a little bit also.- Tammy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angelika_23 Posted August 29, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2007 What is the Effexor supposed to do, really?Will it fix my heart rate? Will I be able to stop taking some of these other medications? The Midodrine pretty much keeps my HR where it should be - Hopefully the Effexor won't slow it down even more! Thanks for all the responses.Angela Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs. Burschman Posted August 30, 2007 Report Share Posted August 30, 2007 Angela,I don't know about Effexor, but I take Paxil, which is a similar medication. It has helped slow my heart rate down. When I wasn't taking it, I would routinely get 140-160 bpm upon standing. Now, it might get to 100-110.But that's just me. It's impossible to know what it will do to you until you try it. And that part stinks!Amy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
friday Posted August 30, 2007 Report Share Posted August 30, 2007 Hello,I got all my neuro test results back. Everything was perfect, except that I have a slight calcium and vitamin D deficiency. The doctor suggested I try taking Effexor for my headaches, my symptoms and she said I did come out as slightly depressed. She is starting me on a half dose for seven days, then up to a full dose.Now I am being referred to either the Mayo Clinic or Cleveland Clinic for possible autonomic nervous system dysfunction. Does anyone know how long these visits take? Will I be there overnight, or just for a day?This is so frustrating. Angela A word of caution on Effexor. I was on it and another depression med..don't ask me why they gave me two at once. at this time I seeing a lot of specialists and was on a lot of pills. no one was really checking them all out and I foolishly trusted my doctors. anyway, after a night of being sick I wound up in the ER, my electrolytes had plummeted. I was half conscious when I got there,and was in for three days. the doctors there seemed to think the pills were the culprit. they took me off of everything! They told me that both antidepressants I was on could lower your salt level. the doctor there seemed to think since I already had a salt deficiency I shouldn't have been prescribed these meds. but of course most docs don't' know about pots and just assumed it was alright.The thing is like I said it was two of these meds I was on not just Effexor. But it does say on it's site that it can lower salt..so just be careful and aware. You may just need check on your sodium levels to see if it is effecting them and if it is you might be able to take them and just increase your salt intake, in my case I had no clue so I didn't . Plus it was dumb of them to put my on too similar meds. needless to say I'm very careful l with my meds and my doctors these days. I don't' trust anyone blindly anymore, and make sure everything from all docs that I see is going to my gp. then I double check it myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angelika_23 Posted August 30, 2007 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2007 The neuro called today, they say I will be going to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. We are awaiting precertification of my insurance before the appointment will be scheduled.So, any advice/suggestions/etc. for me going to Rochester, MN? Hopefully it won't be too long of a wait, I don't want to be there when it snows.Angela Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pastordari Posted August 31, 2007 Report Share Posted August 31, 2007 The neuro called today, they say I will be going to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. We are awaiting precertification of my insurance before the appointment will be scheduled.So, any advice/suggestions/etc. for me going to Rochester, MN? Hopefully it won't be too long of a wait, I don't want to be there when it snows.AngelaI was going to say, wear a big coat!!!Best of luck to you. I hope you get some answers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs. Burschman Posted August 31, 2007 Report Share Posted August 31, 2007 Be sure you go to Culver's when you're there. It's a Wisconsin burger chain. Great hamburgers and frozen custard!Sorry I don't have any medical advice. Just enjoy-a-good-meal advice!Amy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smiles Posted September 2, 2007 Report Share Posted September 2, 2007 I've taken Effexor and Klonopin for over a year. Both helped alot. Effexor gave me more energy and helped some with circulation. It also balanced the brain chemicals that were beginning to get out of whack. They have recently switched me from Klonopin to Ativan for my convulsions and am ok on that too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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