36 replies to this topic

[fishinghat]

Overall it sounds like you are gaining. The weight issue will come off in its own time. Your body will tell you when it is ready to handle that challenge. Start up slowly though and don't strain yourself.

[Dman2900]

The weekend went ok....but I hurt my back and am in real pain from that along with the stiffness in my joins.

 

I have noticed something new. Not sure if it is due to dropping the meds, but I am retaining water. My feet and hands are starting to swell and my hands are starting to feel like a slight burning on the surface and getting a really darker color than normal.

 

I need to go get some water pills to help with the water retention. Could this be tied into the weight gain that I have been getting sine I stopped the drugs?....

 

Only time will tell...

[fishinghat]

Actually Dman, a number of members have noticed this situation in the past. Usually the water retention passes as the Cymbalta withdrawal passes.

[mrs301]

Hi all!  New here, as a matter of fact, first post.  

 

I have been doing a lot of reading before I decided to post.  Mainly to see if my symptoms are like any of the others, and they are, unfortunately.

 

I'm a 47yo F with severe depression and anxiety.  My doctor first had me on Pristiq 100mg.  Well insurance won't pay for it so it cost me well over $100.00. My next visit I asked the doc if there was anything a little cheaper that I could take.  He told me about Cymbalta, wrote me a script and I went on my way.  This was mid year 2015. He started me on 60mg of Cymbalta a night, and shortly after that bumped me up to 120 mg a night since 60mg just wasn't quite enough. The rash/redness/itching/swelling and pain came with a vengeance.  By October I was in full allergic reaction, I just didn't know it yet.  The hubs & I went on a trip and I think I spent more time shopping at a pharmacy trying EVERY cream, ointment for the red itchy rash on the insides of my legs from just above the knee all the way down to my ankles. The swelling was there, but not like it is today, and oh quite painful walking on them as well.  I tried some burn cream with 2.5% lidocaine in it.  It worked for a little bit, but a little bit is better than nothing!  I probably spent $100.00 on products the week I was there just to get a little relief.  Benadryl didn't even come close to touching it either.

 

About a week after our trip I woke up from a nap with a very swollen upper lip.  Off to the ER we go, just to make sure it's not anaphylaxis. It took a prednisone shot and a few antihistamines to bring the swelling down.  Finally!  Something that worked! So that was when my Rheumatologist put me on 20mg of Prednisone a day, that was in October, 2015. Because of the rash, swelling and itchiness, my Rheumatologist ran EVERY test known to her. Nothing!  The rash was almost gone and the itching was so much better.   And then she had me go to rule out heart, veins, dermatologist (who even did a biopsy), etc..  So many blood tests it's ridiculous!   And the only thing that came back a little abnormal was my SED rate and that wasn't even that bad.

 

About two months ago is when my Rheumatologist threw up her hands and basically say "I don't know. Maybe you need to get a second opinion".   So, I took her advice and went to another Rheumatologist. I also went to see an Allergist. The Allergist gave me a prescription for the itching, which is slow to work.  My new Rheumatologist immediately tested me for Lyme Disease and put me on Doxy-cyclinne, which was $100.00 for 30 capsules.(Lyme negative)  Oh, and messes up your stomach so badly if you don't eat a full meal and NO DAIRY with this medication.  Doc said it will render the medication useless. He also ran another test called C1 Inhibitor, Functional & Protein.  I looked this up and it does have the same issues that the Cymbalta does. However my test results came back and my numbers were close to being abnormal by 1 point. I have yet to go over these results with my doctor, so I'm not sure what this means if anything.  And, my allergist put me on Lasix, which does absolutely nothing for the swelling.  

 

So I believe it was a Saturday, maybe the 14th of May, I took myself off of the Cymbalta and I weaned myself off the Prednisone, YES!  I've been taking the prednisone since October which piled on the weight and I now have diabetes. Just what I needed.  Anyway,  I figured I would be ok, I would call the doc's office Monday for an emergency appointment and get a new prescription of something else.  I also take Wellbutrin in the mornings so I would still have something in my system, how bad could it be???  Pretty bad!   So as I sit on the couch trying to tell my doc that I truly believe I'm having a reaction to the Cymbalta (all the symptoms are there, even on the FDA website) he denies that it's the Cymbalta, however, honors my request and switches me back to Pristiq and gives me a bunch of office samples to try before I fill the expensive prescription. So that's where I am today, the longer I'm off the Cymbalta, the better I seem to be getting.  Coincidence?  I don't think so!  What is your opinion?

[fishinghat]

Welcome Mrs 301
 
What a bunch of pill pushers. I think you are on the right track. Instead of going back on the Pristiq I wonder why they didn't try one of the ssri. Most are inexpensive and are good antidepressants.  Ljke all the ADs they can have bad side effects and withdrawal but no worse than Pristiq.

[mrs301]

Thank you fishinghat!!!  I agree with you about the pill pushing.  It seems like every time I go into a doctors office, I walk out with yet another RX to help or to take care of the problem your having with the first pill they gave you.  A pill for your pills essentially.  I'm so tired of it, just tired.  I use to be an outgoing person that liked to hang out with friends around the pool or out to lunch, etc.  Not anymore.  Just want to either be home or go shopping (another bad issue I have to I guess try to make myself feel better, seeing a therapist for it now) and buy stuff and clothing I don't need.  Especially since I don't work, I don't go out to have fun, not even interested in going to the movies with the hubs either.  I just want to be normal again, is that too much to ask for???

 

So today, I noticed that I'm either psyching myself out about the upcoming surgery (6-1-16) or idk, maybe the storms that hit here today and we almost flooded again for the 3rd time in a year.  It really doesn't matter what it's from but I can just be off in my own little world and it feels like I can't breath, so I take a big breath and it goes away.  This has happened maybe 5 times today.  And the first time ever feeling this way. I'm not sure this is part of my withdraw or not.  My rash is coming back as well.  I was trying to lay down with my feet up to try to get some of the fluid down, but then came the rains and my entire 10 minute break was up and I was up as well.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

 

I'm so glad I ran across this forum!!!  It just might be just what I need to try and get back to my normal self....whoever that is now!!!   I'll keep you posted!  Thanks again! 

[fishinghat]

For sure God never promised us a rose garden. We must be patient and keep the faith. It will get better. Time and patience. Oh yea, and faith.