Darlene

I take Lexapro, or atleast was taking Lexapro, I went from about 155 lbs./162 lbs. to 192 lbs., but I take a beta blocker too, I'm sure that doesn't help with the weight gain. The weight gain is a little depressing, but I would rather gain a little weight, a feel a little better, than stay at the weight I was and be sick. Other SSRI's make me sick, and lose weight.

I had to quit taking wellbutrin. It stimulated my nervous system, and made me sick to my stomach. I need something that depresses my nervous system, not stimulates it. I have taken wellbutrin, celexa, zoloft, paxil, prozac, and lexapro. Lexapro is the only SSRI that I have taken with no side effects except weight gain. It's also the only SSRI that doesn't affect my libido.

Mine doesn't work for pain, could it be because it's 50 mg?

Before I was diagnosed with POTS I had chills frequently, but I had hot flashes too. I would be cold, shaking, needed tons of blankets, then a few hours later, burning up, sweating, throwing the covers off. Dysautonomia is a dysregulation of the nervous system, your nervous system controls things like body temperature. Your chills is probably just a side effect of your dyautonomia.

Becca, What happened to you when you started taking celexa? I was taking Lexapro (the only SSRI that works for me), my new insurance doesn't cover it. The Dr. Switched me to celexa, she said it was similar to Lexapro. My insurance covers. Celexa and Lexapro can't be the same because I am not feeling well at all. I called the pharmacist, she said celexa is similar to Lexapro, but different. I figured something was different. I take celexa before I go to bed, and if I wake up in the night, my vision is distorted, things look like silly putty. Did this happen to you? And I feel funny. I can't describe it, but I don't feel right at all. I had blue cross blue shield, but MCO where Dr. Grubb is quit taking this insurance, so I switched to buckeye, well buckeye doesn't cover Lexapro. I told the pharmacist what the celexa was doing to me, she said have your Dr. call US Script, tell them why you need Lexapro, and see if your Dr. can get you a prior authorization. What do you take now Becca?

It affects my vision too. It freaks me out. Sometimes my visions dims, sometimes its blurry, here lately sometimes things look like silly putty. I am not sure things looking like silly putty has anything to do with being switched from lexapro to celexa or not, I didn't have that kind of visual disturbance until celexa.

Like what are the different things they do to you? Anything to make you pass out?

My arms get the same way. Like when I wash my hair, I have to put my arms down to rest a few times, my arms get tired. I have fibromyalgia also. My Rheumatologist also diagnosed me with thoracic outlet syndrome. Go to www.arthritis.org and type in fibromyalgia in the search bar. You can get all kinds of information there. My Rheumatologist didn't give me any meds, thought I was on enough already, she gave me that website I gave you, said learn all I can, and go from there. Here is a website about thoracic outlet syndrome http://www.medicinenet.com/thoracic_outlet...ome/article.htm Dar

What are the aura like for you? And how long do they last? How often do you get them? They scare the heck out of me. What do you when you get them?

Persephone, I tried Cymbalta and didn't like it. I have fibromyalgia also. I have tried everything for pain. Nothing works, so if you find something that does, let me know. I take Lexapro (helps raise bp). It's the only SSRI that hasn't caused me any side effects, except weight gain, but I would rather gain a little weight, a feel a little better.

I have been having some weird episodes I don't know if they are aura's or not. I am not experiencing a headache when this is happening. When it first starts i see blind spots, then I see lightning... Whatever is happening to me usually lasts about 20 minutes. Sometimes when I have these auras if that's what they are I have this burning inside my body (arms, chest), sometimes I feel like it's an on and off feeling, like I am being electrocuted or something. Anyone else have this happen to them?

At times my arms and chest feel like they are on fire. Now my neck is starting to feel like its on fire. My vision becomes distorted when this happens. It feels like I am being electrocuted. Has anyone ever had this happen to them?

Go to the Dr. if you haven't already.

Thanks for the tip, cardiactec. Dizzygirl. Is it MCO OR MUO? I thought out of all places MCO would know what to do. It's to bad we get treated this way.

I m not one to go to the ER, but before my dx & before meds I was there a few times. The ER Dr. had never heard of dysautonomia, and did not know what to do to help me. I wish more Dr.'s were educated about dysautonomia and knew how to help. Twice I was given an IV for dehydration, but when I left I did not feel any better than I did when I walked in.

One of my friends mentioned to me you can buy Metafolin at ihealthtree.com. You can buy 60 tabs for $5.39 + $5 for S&H = $10.39. You only take one tablet once a day, the bottle would last two months. The cost plus shipping would be $0.16 a day. Thats affordable. Just something to thing about if your insurance doesn't cover Cerefoloin.

There in an over the counter vitamin the same as Cerefolin called Metafolin. You can go to Metafolin.com to learn more about this.

I had gotten the flu vaccine in 99, before I was dx w/ dysautonomia. I experienced no side effects. I did get the flu vaccine a few months before I was diagnosed with dysautonomia in 2004. I was severely sick for several weeks after receiving the flu shot. Who knows, maybe it caused my POTS.

SSRI's can help some people with there heart rate. Dysautonomia can cause tachycardia because there is a miscommunication between the brain and the heart. This is where SSRI's come in. With me, I need a beta blocker. For some reason at night when it's time for bed instead of my heart slowing down like it is suppose to, it likes to speed up. I take lopressor for this.

Certain ingredients make my POTS symptoms worse like Aspartame and Splenda. Hope this helps.

Sara I had the same problem in the beginning with difficulty swallowing. I was given mestinon for this. I don't have this problem anymore.

I was diagnosed Dec. 2004, but I have had symptoms since October 2001.

All of my lesions are pariventricular white matter lesions. How do you know part of this brain is a favorite hang out for MS? About mentioning names on here, I'm sorry. I haven't been on here in a long time. I didn't know you couldn't mention names or I forgot. I will PM you with a name next time. What ever Dr. you choose. Make sure you tell them you have dyautonomia, so they are not confusing your symptoms with something else. Make sure you tell them everything you feel, whether it's autonomic related or not. But remember, lesions can mean lots of things. Haven't figured out what my mean just yet. Keep me posted.

I was diagnosed with POTS based on my symptoms, the poor mans tilt table, and 24 hr halter monitor.

I have the same pain as you, except I have no pain in my hand. I also have pain in my lower back and shins.