An explanation to my VJ friends

[theresa 0]

Welcome back Gary! I am very happy that your K1 is moving forward as well. Hope your rest of journey turns around very quick and you and Luz to be together in US

[ChristinaM 0]

We missed you.

[Chris-n-Veronica 0]

Thanks God Gary your back!your really a big help here in vj , and thanks God you are free now in a bad habit like smoking! always remember God is always with us , He will never leave us nor forsake us! stick with the Lord and He give you the signs and wonder "Now, more than ever, is the time to “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). One of the greatest needs today is for believers to be strong in faith and wisdom. Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father” (John 14:12). hope this words of wisdom will helps you to be strong, and live by faith. All things are posible to GOd to those who believe...All things works together for good!!!! Good luck to you and to Luz.. God Bless us All

Good grief. Can't I go to ANY forum without being assaulted with Jesus-#######?

This isn't about you

Edited October 15, 2006 by Chris-n-Veronica

[Erik 0]

As soon as the check clears, I will forgive you

[Bruce n Jen 0]

To everyone on VJ. I owe all of you an explanation and an apology for what happened last week.

I have been a 2 pack a day smoker for over 30 years now and I was desperate to quit. I went to the doctor and asked him for help. He prescribed me a medicine called bupropion (Wellbutrin). I took one pill a day for a week and then I was told to increase the dosage to 2 pills a day for 2 weeks before I was supposed to quit. The thing the doctor didn't tell me about was the terrible side effects that were possible.

Welcome back! I hope that means you STOPPED taking that DRUG!!! Wellbutrin is no different than Prozac. Did you know that everyone of these school shootings involved kids who have or are taking psychiatric drugs - does that explain your behavior? I'm glad to hear you at least realized it was messing you up. Well done and good to see you back.

[knowledge 0]

Thank you all for your support. I thank God that Luz hung in there for me. I also thank God for my friends here. I understand that the side effects and the severity I experienced is a rare thing but I can tell you it is very real. I didn't understand what was happening to me. I am normally a rational, logical and focused person. But one day I woke up and felt like a different person. I couldn't sleep, I was having very weird thoughts and I just KNEW that Luz wasn't going to get her visa. Luz would tell me something and an hour later I could have sworn she said something totally different. When the effects started to subside I was searching for a reason for my abrupt behavior change. I was taking my medicine and I saw the insert that came with it. There it was in black and white, everything I was going through right there as a possible side effect. I am just glad I got over it in time. You don't know how close I came to canceling the visa, quiting my job and ruining not only my life but the lives of the two people I love the most in this world- Luz and her son Robin.

Wellbutrin! Oh God, the miracle pill lol...My dr prescribed it to me also to stop smoking, "forgetting" to tell me about the side effects; as I am anti-chemicals of all sorts, unless badly needed...i asked him a bit more about the pill, he told me it was an antidepressant..i told him, well i don't know, i'm already most of the time a happy person, even intensively happy...if i take this would that not speed me more?...silence, was his answer...well i said to myself....that's a bit fishy to me...I need to know more...Then i went to the Pharmacist (btw, it's the best person to give all the details of the side effects) who validated my concern...He told me initially, the researches showed that people who took it for depression, they also stopped smoking, so that's why they prescribe it now for this purpose. I decided not to take it...especially when i aked others who used it...1 in particular told me that it helped her stop smoking, but 1 month after stopping the pill she is still on the speed....and she suffered about it...So, be careful...and get the info that will help you how to relax after you stop...

So, i suppose that in addition of the effects in themselves...when a person is already in a sensitive emotional situation like this process is...some prevention has to be done...!!!

I also think now to try the patches...seems they work pretty well...!!!

So, overall, i have followed your story, and I'm glad you are back from these Altered states!.. .and again, be careful!!!

[Henia 11]

Awww of course, you have to come back...after reading your post about you leaving...I was totally bummed out...I went to your personal www and took at look at your story...Wow so nice...great pics...I praying you and LUz get reunited soon! Amin....

To everyone on VJ. I owe all of you an explanation and an apology for what happened last week.

I have been a 2 pack a day smoker for over 30 years now and I was desperate to quit. I went to the doctor and asked him for help. He prescribed me a medicine called bupropion (Wellbutrin). I took one pill a day for a week and then I was told to increase the dosage to 2 pills a day for 2 weeks before I was supposed to quit. The thing the doctor didn't tell me about was the terrible side effects that were possible. This is from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginf...er/a695033.html

you should know that your mental health may change in unexpected ways, especially at the beginning of your treatment and at any time your dose is increased or decreased. These changes may occur at any time if you have depression or other mental illness, whether or not you are taking sertraline or any other medication. You, your family, or your caregiver should call your doctor right away if you experience any of the following symptoms: new or worsening depression; thinking about harming or killing yourself, or planning or trying to do so; extreme worry; agitation; panic attacks; difficulty falling or staying asleep; irritability; aggressive behavior; acting without thinking; severe restlessness; and frenzied, abnormal excitement. Be sure that your family or caregiver knows which symptoms may be serious so they can call the doctor when you are unable to seek treatment on your own.

It seems that I was one of the unlucky ones that had all of those symptoms in bold. I had myself firmly convinced that Luz would never get her visa and the only hope I had was to move there. I really thought I was loosing my mind at one point. I really scared the hell out of me.

Not only that, I scared the hell out of Luz. At one point she even said that she does not know me anymore. That I wasn't the same Gary that she fell in love with. God bless her soul she still stuck with me. I will forever thank her for that. The symptoms that I described slowly subsided after 4 or 5 days and I finally came to my senses.

I know that she has been on here trying to cover for me. I am very sorry that she had to do that. I have asked her forgiveness and she has given it.

I want to ask all of my friends here for their forgiveness. I miss you all very much and I would like to come back to the VJ family. I want to assure all of you that everything is fine between Luz and I. Our visa is going to move ahead as planned. I even found out on the 12th that the NVC has sent her petition to Manila.

Can I come back?

[Kirsten L 0]

I want to ask all of my friends here for their forgiveness. I miss you all very much and I would like to come back to the VJ family.

Can I come back?

Just saw this post, Gary...My friend, why would you even need to ask if you can come back? We didn't want you to go in the first place. We're all standing right here with open arms, just pleased as punch to see you (or read you, at least)! And forget the apology. You had no control over how that medication would affect you. You're not to blame. I'm just glad that you're back to your old self now...for your sake and for Luz's.

I'm just sorry you had to go through those nasty, awful side-effects. You're a trooper, and so is Luz. She really loves you.

Welcome back, Gary! We missed you!!!

[kitkat1 5]

YAY!! Gary, we missed ya! Glad to have you back!!!

[mozplay 29]

Welcome back, Gary. Glad to hear things are back on track.

Mo

[a1cpat 0]

Sounds like a seriously rough time Gary. I am very happy that things have started to return to normal for you. You and Luz are very lucky to have such a strong bond to withstand this kind of thing despite the distance between you! We all missed you here on VJ, and we are all glad to have you back!!

[robacjd 1]

Welcome back, Gary. We all missed you and I know I was worried about you. It seems our fiancee's will be going to the Manila Embassy about the same time. My NOA2 was sent to Manila on October 11th. I am leaving for the Philippines on November 3rd and I arrive in Manila on Sunday, November 5th. I am going to be there at least 6 months to help my fiancee get through her interview and hopefully bring her back with me. If you are going to be over there, maybe we can meet and have a few beers. My fiancee is from Tanza.

[Louisa 0]

Great to have you back

[meauxna 15]

Wellbutrin is no different than Prozac.

You're welcome to look it up. It's actually completely different from Prozac.

Gary, I'm so glad you dodged a bullet with this one; what a terrifying experience. You & your crazy little clan have a special place in my good thoughts.

[sunandmoon 450]

Have you tried hypnosis to quit smoking?

Some people I know swear by it!

Luz tells me to just wait until she gets here. She will give my hands and mouth something else to do!

my fiance Yazi wants me to quit smoking. when i was in the Philippines i was able to cut back to 2 to 3 a day.

when i got back home resumed my pack a day. hopefully i can start cutting down again so when she gets here, i can kick the habit for good.

best of luck with the rest of process and quitting smoking.

Edited October 15, 2006 by roymcn3rd