Cutting Prozac Out of my Daily Meds

Since Xyrem has almost stopped my cataplexy attacks, I decided last fall that I wanted to stop taking the antidepressant I started in July for cataplexy. I didn't like some of the side effects; it was making me more nervous than I already naturally am, and I learned that it can prevent weight loss which I definitely didn't want happening.

Since I work at a school and was worried about the withdrawal effects making me moody around the kids, I had to plan to stop taking them over a break. Between having surgery, longer-than-expected recovery, and turning 21, that opportunity didn't show up until spring break after Easter.

So now, it's been an entire month off of Prozac and I haven't had any weird withdrawal symptoms! All that worrying for nothing lol. There has been a small increase in cataplexy which is manageable, and, strangely enough, I'm once again having hallucinations when I sleep.

Nine months on Xyrem and I wasn't having ANY hallucinations at night or during naps like I did every time I fell asleep before Xyrem. It was a major relief! But now I'm noticing occasional hallucinations when I nap, and sleep paralysis the other night before my Xyrem had fully knocked me out, but nothing so horrible that I can't deal with. I think it's pretty interesting, and definitely not a side-effect of cutting off antidepressants that I had expected. Really, the only change I've made was cutting out my Prozac, so that has to be the culprit.

And now I'm laughing out loud at myself as I write this, because I just realized if I were to say to a non-narcoleptic that I stopped my Prozac then started hallucinating again, I'd probably get some funny looks and psychiatrist referrals. Thank god I'm part of a wonderful community of people with narcolepsy who understand what I mean! :)

A New Year and A Fresh Start

I've been slacking on the blog communication, I know. But I've found some time this morning to fit in a post to update anyone who cares about how my second semester of college has been going so far :)

First off, I have a new roommate! Beckah had to return home to England unfortunately :( but my new roommate, Samantha, has turned out to be another great match for me to be living with! She just transferred from a local community college so she is a 20 year old sophomore Communication Disorders major with a Psychology minor. Although she is older than me, she is just learning to branch out from underneath the harsh restrictions her parents have held over her for so long and to become her own person so the whole college life is new to her. She's extremely shy, which shocked me at first, but we've been working on that over the past few weeks and she's gotten much better on that matter! We even went to a party at a "fraternity house" (unofficially, as we aren't allowed to have actual Greek Life housing here in Berea) this past weekend and had a blast with mostly people we hadn't met before.

My class schedule is great this semester; not a single class before 10:10am ;)

M-W-F
US Chemical Industry 10:10-11am
Social Psychology 12:45-1:50pm
English 2:05-3pm

T-Th
History of Europe II 10:10-11:15am
Professions in Psychology 6ish-8ish (only Tuesdays; starts March 18th)

Not too bad if you ask me! I have plenty of time to go to class rested, and my neurologist even added an afternoon dose of medicine to my day to help me get through my evenings. I didn't even ask for more, but once I started this semester and started taking an extra 18mg of Concerta around 1-2pm, I am extremely grateful for his suggested! It helps especially if I find I don't have time for a nap before Social Psychology and English back-to-back on those days.

- I'm still a photographer for the school yearbook. Getting paid to take pictures? Can't beat that!
- I joined a group that gives middle school kids tours of campus to get them excited about it early so they can work hard in high school.
- My boyfriend Will and I are still happily together: January 30th was our 5 month mark <3

At least now I don't feel as bad for ignoring this blog for so long :S I'll make it a point to post more soon, this is a promise! On my way to Social Psych, wish me wakeful thoughts!