I made it to my appointment with my psychologist today. It felt good to be able to vent to someone face to face. She now understands a little why I am so stressed, and depressed. There is an awful lot going on around here at home.

I still don't know if she has any idea as to the amount of pain that can go along with CRPS, as she thinks that some of my stress is sleep related and that my sleep problems are behavior related, not pain related.

She does want to help with some relaxation and breathing techniques with me to try to relieve tension and stress. I have always had my own methods, but I am willing to give her suggestions a try. If they don't work, they don't work.

Although psychologists can not prescribe in Michigan, she is sending my PCP and my PM a recommendation to take me off the Amitriptyline and try something else. Her recommendations were either Zoloft or Effexor. I know the Amitriptyline was a dual purpose med, but I am having doubts on its effectiveness for either purpose with me. I have an appointment to see both my PCP and PM at the end of the month. Since I see my PM first, I will ask him. If he does not feel comfortable dealing with either of those meds, I will talk to my PCP the following day. She thought it would be better to have my PM handle this since I see him at least once a month, and usually only see my PCP every 3 months.

I was doing rather well this morning, and during my appointment, but as soon as I got back home, the depression started settling back in. If all I get out of this is someone that I can vent to face to face, and hear there suggestions, at least it is something.