Posted 20 February 2014 - 09:39 PM
Hi Happygolucky! Like you, I had to quit the poison cold turkey....I've been off 11 weeks now, and the good days exceed the hard ones, heck, today I started going to a weekly yoga class .....we are each wired so differently, however, that we each have our own unique timing, process and experiences....
You can do this, and it's well worth doing....just take one day at a time...or, one hour, one minute....listen to your body...it really does know how to cleanse itself and heal....read our sections on supplements and nutrition....drink lots of water...ice water may be easiest...get some omega 3 fish oil, an essential for nervous system healing...also b complex, vitamin c.....avoid caffeine, sugar, diet sodas ...actually any sodas...and alcohol....although I allowed myself to have warm Guinness stout a couple of times at bedtime....sipped it slowly and it helped my to get to sleep....
The key thing to know is that you are in control of the drug, and your withdrawal...it does not control you....and right now, I can sense that you need to let yourself slow down a bit and get a handle on what you're feeling, and work through how to deal with each symptom.... Remember, it's your body that's detoxing and healing....you are inside your body, and you are just fine....dont get drawn out into what's whirling through your body if you can help it...stand back a bit and watch...identify, one by one, the symptoms you're having, and find something you can do that will ease it....
First, a question..... I gather that you were on the 60 mg...Is that correct? And if I recall, without insurance it costs a whopping $500 or so dollars.... Which leads to my next comment and question....
Also, how long were you on cymbalta?
It would be much easier for you to work through withdrawal if you could reinstate at the 60 mg...perhaps even the 30 mg, and then use the bead counting method to gradually ease yourself down in dosage....
Is there any way to could scrape up the $$ to buy just one more month of cymbalta...and then do bead counting?
If not, so be it. You'll make it cold turkey...if I did, I'm sure you can!
Migraines, painful eyes, etc....it's inflammation....as your nervous system begins to detox and then to heal, you'll get these symptoms...it's a good sign...I used what I called my "self induced brain freeze" to help with these symptoms...I basically cover my eyes, arteries in the back of my neck, forehead with those peas pod sorta refreezeable ice packs.... Also, put ice on the insides of your wrists...
Dizziness...could be for your inflamed eyes and optic nerve...lie down on your back if possible....and hold a small soft pillow or a folded towel over your sternum....keep your eyes closed and just let yourself breathe....
You'll look like a mummy on dry ice, but what the hell.... ;-)
Nausea...ginger...best is the fresh ginger root like they give with sushi, or get ginger root tea and make it super strong....and in a pinch, I just grabbed the ginger from my spice rack and dumped it in my palm and licked it....ALSO ...try putting an ice pack on your lower sternum or right on your stomach...beats me why, but it's worked for me....
When you have chance, read the nutrition area of this site....and everything else you can here that seems of interest...
Talk to us here any time you need to...we're here to help and we're rooting for you....report new symptoms if they appear, and we'll make suggestions for how to deal with them....
You can do this!