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New Symptoms 6 Months After I Quit?


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#31 thismoment

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Posted 12 December 2013 - 04:56 PM

DinCA, I was still 'improving' after 5 months, and a couple of the earlier overt symptoms did pop up. Like the dreams and sleeping problems. 

 

Getting tired helped me some- physical work or exercise to really get tired. 

 

It's nice to have something in the house that's a hedge against anxiety, because (for me), anxiety shakes my confidence and makes me question my withdrawal success. Something other than a benzo would be ideal- but even a benzo- if it's not often used. Just knowing it's there helps anxiety.

 

My Bead Zero was August of 2012, so I'm out 15 months now and feeling pretty normal.

 

I sometimes think it isn't helpful for me to constantly reiterate (is that redundant?) that it takes longer to recover than we hope. I think an envelope that is worth considering is 3 months to wean and 9 months to heal- a year in total.

 

You are doing great! 


#32 DinCA

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Posted 13 December 2013 - 03:24 PM

Thank you, thismoment.

  After I posted this I realized that all the warning signs were there and maybe I should have seen them.  I jumped back into life head first and things got really busy ....really fast.  I also noticed yesterday, I had picked up the wrong bottle of fish oil last time I bought it.  ...AND...maybe wasn't taking the supplements  as religiously as I had been.  I also checked my journal...it hasn't been as long as I thought since my last "relapse" of symptoms....altho they weren't this bad.  ...and exercise w/o any pain meds has been a challenge for me at times, especially now with the colder weather.....something I need to push threw .....regardless. 

 

blah blah blah....Gooodness...that is a lot of "ands".   Fact is.....I just  got lax...lazy, in taking care of myself.  I knew better.

 

To be quite honest,  Along with the anxiety....it is the sleep problems and dreams that bother me the most.  It makes me worry that the nightmares or hallucinations will return.  I will do ANYTHING to avoid those.  I am not sure I could go threw that again.  ...NO...I am sure ...I could not.

 

You may be right.  I may need to give in and get something from the doc to help.  The plan was to try to reach 3 months,  then 6 months w/o any meds  ....then try for a year.  My therapist is behind this plan ...and in turn the new doc was kind of forced to agreed with her.   With the agreement, of course, that if things got too bad or I felt suicidal, I would go back on them.   But I have to tell you...It PISSES me off to no end... to be just weeks away from the 6 month mark and be considering taking them again, now...for this.    God, I hate this stuff.   But, I  have started taking my grand daughter again.  I had stopped when all this began.  I give her more credit to my getting better than anything else.  She keeps me in the present moment and brought sunshine back into my life.  So, if keeping her in my daily life means going back on meds...then so be it.

 

I am sure the new doc will be happy to give me something.  But it will be a fight on just what that something will be.  I foresee a lot of head butting with this doc.  I see my therapist monday....so I will start there.

 

I agree....I need to remember that this is an on-going battle that will take time...and needs maintenance.

 

Thank you again for your reply.....and for your great contribution to this site.

D

 

 


#33 thismoment

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Posted 13 December 2013 - 05:29 PM

DinCA thank you. You are doing so well. I know you understand that I was speaking only for myself about having a hedge against anxiety in the house. I would rather be depressed any day than have anxiety. 

 

Caffeine makes me anxious, so I avoid too much coffee.

 

The nightmares are almost as destabilizing as anxiety, and from time to time I still get Cymbalta-like nightmares. But they have diminished greatly. 

 

Best wishes!!


#34 equuswoman

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    In the future want 2B off Cymbalta! The physicians are no help. Looking for understanding, support & encouragement as I know this is a difficult process. Want 2 be of help 2 others who will find this site looking for same things as I.

Posted 22 December 2013 - 10:38 AM

Enjoyed these postings. Helped me get things in perspective again.
Thanks y'all. ..♥

#35 albergo11

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Posted 01 January 2014 - 11:51 PM

Yeah, its 7 months, and my life is just now slowly starting to resemble normality.  Still have memory problems and cognitive challenges, and my vision is messed up, and I get headaches, but the derealization and depersonalization are slowly fading.  My sexual funciton has windows of normality, and then periods of lower than normal levels, but on average its returning to normal.

 

I'm guessing that it takes a year for the worst symptoms to go away, and then another couple of years before ALL of my cognitive abilities return.

 

The most difficult thing has been accepting that I've lost my intelligence and memory, even if it's just temporary.  It's radically altered my life.  I'm over the anger phase of this experience, and now just want to move on with my life, even if I'm a bit dumb and slow.

 

Cymbalta really really hurts, but I'm confident the brain will eventually heal itself if you stay the heck away from serotonin and norepinephrine agents.  I tried going on prozac during month #2 post cymbalta, and it helped get rid of some symptoms, but gave me a whole bunch of new ones, some of which are still here (4 months after prozac).  So my brain is totally rejecting psyciatric medications, and I will never take another pill from those liars called doctors.


#36 thismoment

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Posted 02 January 2014 - 12:18 PM

Albergo11- ditto.

 

Outside of the lab it's difficult for each of us to measure cognitive changes over time. But during Christmas our group of six played a card game that involved quick organizing of large hands of cards and rapid card-swapping between players. Chance was part of the game too, but it was mostly clear thinking, quick organizing, and fast exchanging. I finished last virtually every hand over a 4-hour period. This is unusual, and I was shocked and saddened at my inability to be even average. I could feel the sluggishness and foggy brain.

 

To me, this is more devastating than the loss of sexual function due to antipsychotic drugs, which as you all know is fairly common- and often permanent.

 

But after 16 months off Cymbalta (and all antipsychotics), I still notice subtle improvements in brain function, and I am heartened by that! Here's one: Yesterday was the first time in a very long time that I could visualize a simple 4-way concept and then articulate it, as in- (A is to B as C is to D). I was pretty excited!


#37 Clara

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Posted 02 January 2014 - 05:12 PM

albergo11, that's scary to me!!!!!!!!! 7 months... arg!!!!!!!!!!! Dumb and slow... sounds like me! Try to hide it from all but hubby! He is a wonderful man! I just hope and pray that whomever emerges after all this is someone I am my fam' can live with! arg!!!!  Gotta find a way to chase away all this self doubt going on! Oh well, thank you Sinbalta, I'll be onto another doubt or fear shortly!!!!!!! Hugs and prayers for all! clara :wacko: :blink:


#38 Donnaprashad

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Posted 02 January 2014 - 07:55 PM

None of us are dumb and slow. It's the stupid nasty disgusting "wonder drug" that our oh so smart doctors shoved down our throats. However I do know what you all mean! I'm a lawyer and I have to think clearly and critically all the time. Thank goodness for the other two lawyers in my office who know what I'm experiencing and can sort things out when I can't. I know that my brain function is going to improve quickly because it has to! And I pray and God has NEVER let me down. I trust Him so I know I will be okay.

#39 thismoment

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Posted 03 January 2014 - 12:04 AM

Clara

 

I will never judge you or doubt what you say.

 

And if the Clara that emerges is half as decent as you are right now, anyone would be overjoyed! Bless you.


#40 Wagtail

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Posted 08 April 2014 - 11:37 PM

I had forgotten about this thread...I am glad I found it.
I just hit my 5 month mark last week.  After well over a month of just a few mild symptoms once in a while.   ...maybe even more like 2 months......Now here it is back again.  Started a few days ago with that same  bad headache from before... and now it has graduated to the restless leg thing and problems sleeping again...vivid dreams (NOT the nightmares...thank God)  and some anxiety. 
I am so sick of this crap!     I thought things had evened out enough...and for long enough that I thought maybe I was going to be able to start living life.     Some things were still a little bit of a problem...but I thought I was done with this part.   Well...I hoped so anyway.    ARRRRGGGHHH!!!!
 
I guess I will up the fish oil.  Any suggestions would be very welcome.

This has just happened to me too.
Five months & I thought I was on the road to recovery , but here I am again in mental hell.
I feel like the depression , anxiety & fear have all returned & I can't tell if it's real or of it's discontinuation syndrome.

I don't know what to do , I can't stand the thought of going back on a antidepressant .. Can anyone send me some positive words of wisdom ..PLEASE ..

#41 gail

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Posted 09 April 2014 - 06:40 AM

Wagtail, how I wish that I could help you. I'm at 7 weeks and feeling what you are feeling, not everyday, but when it strikes it seems forever.

 

Those days traumatise me, like yesterday, my mind had a mind of it's own, no control at all, ativan was like candy, barely felt the effect.

 

I'm sure that experienced people will come along to reassure you, like Fh says, I wish I had a magic stick to fix it all.

 

I hope your day is better today.





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