Mostly...
As I mentioned in my previous post, Wellbutrin can cause seizures. According to the FDA: "Bupropion is associated with seizures in approximately 0.4% (4/1,000) of patients treated at doses up to 450 mg/day. This incidence of seizures may exceed that of other marketed antidepressants by as much as 4-fold."
When I mentioned this to the doctor he got that glazed over look that I used to give people when they'd say, "You're from NJ do you know my cousin Richard?" Um....
Anyway, I went on to explain that Glaxosmithkline paid the government $3.4 billion for fraud and false promotion of Wellbutrin and about six other medications. The settlement was explained on July 2, 2012 in The New York Times: "In the largest settlement involving a pharmaceutical company, the British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline agreed to plead guilty to criminal charges and pay $3 billion in fines for promoting its best-selling antidepressants for unapproved uses and failing to report safety data about a top diabetes drug, federal prosecutors announced Monday. The agreement also includes civil penalties for improper marketing of a half-dozen other drugs."
"If GSK (as they are now known) is willing to lie about it's uses are they willing to lie about their frequency of the side-effects?" I asked. The glazed look vanished and the doctor's eyebrows shot up to his scalp. Despite still wearing a mask it was obvious that I'd made him think.
He signed my papers :)
He did ask me to follow up with an EEG to make sure that everything was firing properly but that wouldn't happen for a few months. Guess it wasn't an emergency huh?!
Stopping the Wellbutrin proved to be an depressing nightmare! My Seasonal Affective Disorder was pretty bad and I was suffering. I told my mom what was going on and she called her chiropractor
It's a non-invasive test that measures electrical activity in your brain.
The test lasts about an hour. It's in the dark with eyes closed...I fell asleep.
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The tech and I were laughing about how often you get to go to a medical appointment and get to nap!
The worst part is the goo they use as a conductor between the electrode and the scalp. I couldn't wait to get home and wash my hair!
The results came back clear and confirmed that I do have a brain.
This spring has been a whirlwind of activity in general.
Between bridal shows and open houses I have been crazy busy. The month of May has been torturously busy with the weekend of May 19, being the busiest ever. Three weddings, an open house, a birthday and a piano dedication.
I got it all done with lots of coffee and help from some friends!
Between the neurologist appointment and the EEG I also finished the tattoo.
IT HURT LIKE HELL!!!
It really did.
I used some of the leftover lidocain cream that I had from my port to numb the area. It gave me a solid hour of relief while my the artist worked but at the end it was really, really tough!
I had the incredible opportunity to create a super cool cake for Cheval, who designed my tattoo. It was going to be the first time we were together since the tattoo was finished and I was so excited!
The bridal shop where we met installed a pop-up shoe shop and Cheval was going to be there for the launch.
The cake was a hit but her reaction to it was everything!
She truly is the nicest person on the face of the earth.
I loved that I was able to show her the finished work and have her sign it! I will be adding it to the tattoo as soon as I can get in for an appoinment.
I had to miss my last appointment with my oncologist because I woke up feeling really nauseous.
I'm really bummed too because it was supposed to be on Cinco de Mayo! I was all prepared.
I see her the end of this month and need to come up with something fun.
The boys' last day of school is six days away and I can't wait! Looking forward to swimming and daytime excursions with them.
That's about all for now.
Stay well my friends.
