going away for work and will have to keep odd hours...

[Miss Banani]

I have to go away for work next week for like a week. I'm really wondering how I'll manage to keep up with my workload and the weird hours I am going to have to keep while taking my seraquel..

I usually take my seraquel pretty much straight after dinner, whenever that is, usually between 6 and 8pm, go to bed, read a book and fall asleep within half an hour... it makes me really sleepy. I know this routine won't work while I am away, I have to attend functions that are going to go way late, and at the same time be up early for flights and early meetings.

I don't have anything to wake me up but coffee and an alarm clock, and I know from experience that I sleep like a log on seraquel, and the later I take it, the later I will wake up. Apparently I snore too... Not cool lol.

So any way, my point is, does anyone have any advice as to what to do? I've thought of taking it like mid afternoon and then having a coffee instead of a nap, but I don't know if this will work... I'm a bit of a noob with this stuff. Any helps appreciated...

Miss B.

[tryp]

You could try taking it later in the day - when you actually are going to bed, Only issue there is that you might be hung over in the morning.

You could also try skipping it, though if you really can't sleep without it, that might not go well.

[Miss Banani]

I don't them for sleep, I take them to stay stable... ish. Is it a good idea to skip them in that case? I don't know ...

[Miss Banani]

Feeling really scared and defensive angry about this whole situation. I don't know if I'm going to be ok or not. I don't want to skitz out at work, and I don't want to fall asleep at functions, and its making me feel really awful and uncomfortable and like I want to avoid the whole issue by not going.

That however isn't one of my options. The trip is already paid for. I've made commitments. I can't just not go.

I can't skip taking it for a week either. I have no idea what the withdrawals are like but I know I passed out a few times coming off the Pristiq, and had to go to the hospital. I can't be doing that sort of nonsense while I'm away, I have to stay "normal" because I will be surrounded by people I don't know... clients, competitors, staff..... the entire time I am gone, I can't flip out.

I leave 9am Monday morning, its Saturday now... I have no opportunity to see any kind of doctor before I go... I'm so scared I want to cry.

Thats another thing I can't do while I am away... I have to maintain the whole "oh of course I'm reliable, and not a headcase at all, no sirree" and not burst into tears or shout at people. And I don't think I'm allowed to take the xanax with me. I'm not supposed to take it at all anymore, so probably not. And I don't know how else to stay calm - I'll be flying interstate a few times so I can't take any weed with me, and thats my usual crutch when I am losing it.

fuck fuck fuck. I don't know what to do.

Miss B.

[bpladybug]

Feeling really scared and defensive angry about this whole situation. I don't know if I'm going to be ok or not. I don't want to skitz out at work, and I don't want to fall asleep at functions, and its making me feel really awful and uncomfortable and like I want to avoid the whole issue by not going.

Thats another thing I can't do while I am away... I have to maintain the whole "oh of course I'm reliable, and not a headcase at all, no sirree" and not burst into tears or shout at people. And I don't think I'm allowed to take the xanax with me. I'm not supposed to take it at all anymore, so probably not. And I don't know how else to stay calm - I'll be flying interstate a few times so I can't take any weed with me, and thats my usual crutch when I am losing it.

fuck fuck fuck. I don't know what to do.

Miss B.

Take the Xanax if needed during this trip. I would take Xanax. I suppose your doctor wants you to wean off, and blah, blah, blah. Which is all fine and good. But you need to deal with this. Do you take two 25mgs ? Or do you take a 50 mgs, extended release? Will you actually have to work in the evening or just go to a business dinner or function? Take the 'Quel as early as possible. And bring an extra back up alarm, three if necessary so you can get the coffee into you and wake up. This is a predicament. I would be angry and scared and frustrated too. I wish it was Wed. or Thursday and you could talk to your doctor.

If you start to get sleepy during a business dinner can you exscuse yourself, say you don't feel well, have cramps, or somthing and go to your room? Good luck with this. Good luck on your trip.

[sorrel]

I have actually been in a similar situation where I was taking Zyprexa while away at a conference. I took it later, used 2 alarm clocks and was fine. But Seroquel is more sedating than Zyprexa for most people.

I would give serious consideration to skipping it. Seroquel isn't Pristig in terms of withdrawal, and you take a very low dose.

If you think that wouldn't go well, take it later, use multiple alarms and drink a lot of coffee. I think you'll be okay with that. If you miss something that's on your schedule in the morning, have an excuse about not feeling well or something.

[Miss Banani]

the 50mg slow release ones but I have some of the 25 mg ones left over from when I first started taking them if that helps.

I ended up calling one of my colleagues who I know is staying in the same hotels as me and she's agreed to be alarm number four - I'm giving her keys to my rooms so she can come and throw a bucket of water on me if necessary if I don't meet her at prearranged times/places.

My flatmate suggested it - the colleague in question is a really cool chick - I often have drinks with her after work, or used to before I wasn't allowed to drink anymore. I don't really like involving someone else in my fucked-up'ed-ness, I find it kinda embarrassing but it's the best solution I've heard so far (as far as being effective in getting me out of bed and making sure I am ok at functions... she's agreed to sort of babysit me) and she understands why I am the way I am - she was there the night I called hauled off by cops and beaten up - she was holding my hand when it happened, when they grabbed me. I was pretty much stable and together before that happened. That was about a year ago, I've been a bit of a mess since.

Anyway, back on topic, I think I'll be ok now... I think half the reason I was freaking out so bad was my flatmate pretty much looks after me at home, makes sure I'm eating properly and all that... She even turns out my light for me after I fall asleep at night. I'm going on this trip by myself, without her calming influence, without my usual crutches and routines and hideyholes....

But now at least I'll have someone watching my back and making sure I'm on time and preventing me from saying stupid stuff or being inappropriate in business situations... She has impressively expressive eyebrows lol. I'm going to watch them for signs I'm being a dick That should cover most bases, that and drinking a bucket load of coffee...

With taking the Seraquel later, did you mean like wait til bedtime? I know some night's I'm going to be up until 2 or 3 in the morning, and will have to be up at around 8am at the latest, if no one pulls any last minute changes that is lol. I'm soooo not looking forward to the lack of sleep.

[bpladybug]

the 50mg slow release ones but I have some of the 25 mg ones left over from when I first started taking them if that helps.

I ended up calling one of my colleagues who I know is staying in the same hotels as me and she's agreed to be alarm number four - I'm giving her keys to my rooms so she can come and throw a bucket of water on me if necessary if I don't meet her at prearranged times/places.

My flatmate suggested it - the colleague in question is a really cool chick - I often have drinks with her after work, or used to before I wasn't allowed to drink anymore. I don't really like involving someone else in my fucked-up'ed-ness, I find it kinda embarrassing but it's the best solution I've heard so far (as far as being effective in getting me out of bed and making sure I am ok at functions... she's agreed to sort of babysit me) and she understands why I am the way I am - she was there the night I called hauled off by cops and beaten up - she was holding my hand when it happened, when they grabbed me. I was pretty much stable and together before that happened. That was about a year ago, I've been a bit of a mess since.

Anyway, back on topic, I think I'll be ok now... I think half the reason I was freaking out so bad was my flatmate pretty much looks after me at home, makes sure I'm eating properly and all that... She even turns out my light for me after I fall asleep at night. I'm going on this trip by myself, without her calming influence, without my usual crutches and routines and hideyholes....

But now at least I'll have someone watching my back and making sure I'm on time and preventing me from saying stupid stuff or being inappropriate in business situations... She has impressively expressive eyebrows lol. I'm going to watch them for signs I'm being a dick That should cover most bases, that and drinking a bucket load of coffee...

With taking the Seraquel later, did you mean like wait til bedtime? I know some night's I'm going to be up until 2 or 3 in the morning, and will have to be up at around 8am at the latest, if no one pulls any last minute changes that is lol. I'm soooo not looking forward to the lack of sleep.

You have made some good plans to help you. In terms of taking Seroquel later I was referring to taking it later in the evening, say as an evening event winds up. In your initial post you said you took Quel after dinner and then were in bed and asleep in an hour or so. I just meant taking it not at 6 but later when you have an evening event. You are going to be up til 2 or 3 and then back up at 8 am?? That is just rough. I hope adrenalin helps you. Good luck on your trip.

[Miss Banani]

yeah, its always crappy in terms of no sleep... I used to go away for work like one week out of every month, but I've cut it back to one week in every 3 months after the cop thing, because I havn't been coping when fully rested with a relaxed schedule, let alone while away from home and flat chat busy on 4 hours sleep.