39 replies to this topic

[FiveNotions]

WOW, Xiaojie !!! I am absolutely thrilled for you!! I'm doing my version of Snoopy's Happy Dance!

The Traditional Chinese Medicine approach you're using sure seems to be working....the more I read about it, the more convinced I am of its merits....western medicine really has been corrupted.... I found a great little shop that sells herbs (as well as chopsticks, black cotton cloth shoes, dishes, etc) in our Chinatown....however, I was told that the elder lady who is the expert is away for several months....they did give me the name and number of another Chinese practitioner here in DC....I left a message...but no call back yet....I also checked out a couple of the folks on the list you shared here....and I ruled them out....either too expensive or too "new age-ish" for me.... I want the DC version of your Dr. Liu!

Please don't go wandering off now that you're feeling so well.... we need you here, to share your experience, hope, and happiness! All of which are contagious, in the best possible way!

[Xiaojie]

WOW, Xiaojie !!! I am absolutely thrilled for you!! I'm doing my version of Snoopy's Happy Dance!

The Traditional Chinese Medicine approach you're using sure seems to be working....the more I read about it, the more convinced I am of its merits....western medicine really has been corrupted.... I found a great little shop that sells herbs (as well as chopsticks, black cotton cloth shoes, dishes, etc) in our Chinatown....however, I was told that the elder lady who is the expert is away for several months....they did give me the name and number of another Chinese practitioner here in DC....I left a message...but no call back yet....I also checked out a couple of the folks on the list you shared here....and I ruled them out....either too expensive or too "new age-ish" for me.... I want the DC version of your Dr. Liu!

Please don't go wandering off now that you're feeling so well.... we need you here, to share your experience, hope, and happiness! All of which are contagious, in the best possible way!

Hey FN, so glad to hear you're closer to finding a TCM in DC!!! Hang in there and don't give up the search - I know you'll find the practitioner that's right for you! As for the practitioners on the list I gave you, I was afraid that might be the case but was hoping I was wrong about that. Well, the best ones are found the way you're going about searching for them. I know your tenacity will pay off for you hopefully sooner than later.

Today is Day 11 on herbs. Seem to be maintaining status quo, up to now. But I feel impatient with the fat loss-thing. I'm doing all the right dietary things, increasing my daily activity, and drinking a ton of water daily, with no losses yet - pounds OR inches. Feeling impatient and frustrated today. Damn that rotten Cymbalta for RUINING my metabolism. I'm guessing there won't be much improvement in the fat-loss department until the very last drop of Cymbalta is purged from my body. Makes me wanna SCREAM. I just gotta persevere through this phase. Ugh!!! AND I WILL DO IT, TOO. No matter how long it takes.

My fluid-retention hasn't fully resolved yet, but it is improving steadily. It's a bugger to get rid of. This extra water-weight is what is putting pressure on my joints and that's why they're screaming on a daily basis. But even so, the pain is manageable, which is more than I could say before I went on the herbs 11 days ago.

So, positive some stuff going on here. I have to emphasize this whenever possible in order to keep my optimism.

[TryinginFL]

Xia... I have reached my quota of  "likes" for the day, but wanted to say how happy I am for you!  Sounds as though your Chinese Dr. really is a godsend!   I can't imagine where I would have found one near where I live in the "boonies" of FL, but sure wish I would have looked a few weeks ago...

 

I am now in my 10th week off the poison and finally having many good days - the bad ones not so much any more.  Still find myself tearing up often but can sometimes keep it under control.  Apparently you have gotten your emotions in check as well!

 

Also - HOORAY!! Your pain level is down!   I'm sure you love your Dr. Liu...

 

Hugs and prayers,

Liz
 

[FiveNotions]

Liz, I'm so happy to hear that things are on the upswing for you!

For a thread whose title is "today was the worst day so far," we sure have got a lot of happy things poster here! Proof positive that we can, and do, get through the crapalta days and make our way out into the sunshine!

[TryinginFL]

FN....thanks for your kind post!  I know that you will find your Chinese Dr. since you live in a "normal" (?) city.  I wish you the best of luck and, as always, offer all my support   You will be doing better shortly - I'm sure of it! 

 

I just need to get out of my seclusion here, but not quite ready.  Only go out when I have to, but I know things will get better - it's been such a slooooow process

 

Hugs and prayers,

Liz

 

P.S.  I wonder where Carleeta is, too!

[Xiaojie]

Xia... I have reached my quota of "likes" for the day, but wanted to say how happy I am for you! Sounds as though your Chinese Dr. really is a godsend! I can't imagine where I would have found one near where I live in the "boonies" of FL, but sure wish I would have looked a few weeks ago...

I am now in my 10th week off the poison and finally having many good days - the bad ones not so much any more. Still find myself tearing up often but can sometimes keep it under control. Apparently you have gotten your emotions in check as well!

Also - HOORAY!! Your pain level is down! I'm sure you love your Dr. Liu...

Hugs and prayers,
Liz

Thank you, TryinginFL!! I appreciate your words of support. I have mostly good days now since going on the Chinese herbs. What's a good day for me? A day where I feel like myself mentally and emotionally, and where my withdrawal symptoms don't cramp my style, or interfere with my daily routines. Having said that though, I still deal with the constant nagging achey-breaky bone and joint pain. The one rotten symptom that never completely goes away. The herbs somehow take the edge off it most days - but tonight it's been bugger to endure. No position lying in bed helps to make it less uncomfortable. And it has kept me awake tonight. Since stopping the Cymbalta 5 weeks ago, I stopped taking all western meds, except when I really can't take the pain anymore, I pop an Asian Extra-Strength Tylenol. Just lying here waiting for it to work, at the moment. Compared to others suffering much worse in this Forum, this is nothing. However, the herbs have nearly eliminated all the other withdrawal symptoms I was having, thankfully. Good riddance to bad rubbish, lol.

I know you were saying you live out in the 'sticks' in Florida. Made me wonder if you were close enough to a big city that you could drive there one day a week to see a TCM, were you to find one? Or maybe that's unreasonable logistically for you. But if you could, even one visit to get your herbs would get you started on the road to feeling better. Then after that visit when you know what herbs to take, you could order the remainder online and save yourself trips to the city. Just wondering out loud, or rather, in writing, lol.

Ok, well I think the Tylenol has begun to work, so I'm gonna try to see if I can rest. Hang in there, TryinginFL. All of us together and supporting each other, we can do this thing!! I'm sleepy and I sound like a cheerleader, but at least I'm sincere, lol!!

[xman]

Xia,  This may be redundant but do you think the joint pain may be r/t fluid in your "tissue space"? I too am thinking out loud... I know that we retain fluid on crapalta even long after the half life and weeks thereafter to boot. It may not be obvious like seeing pitting type edema. Nonetheless it is in our brains and body.

 

I have had a super thirst since dc'g crapalta. I stopped drinking a morning coffee to lessen GI upset and am now an official tea drinker.

[Xiaojie]

Xman, absolutely - the bone/joint pain is because of the fluid retention. I had suspected it and so asked the Dr about it, and she confirmed that it was. So one of the herbs on the formula she gave me is a diuretic. But I guess this symptom will die hard. If anything, Chinese herbal medicine teaches one patience. :-/

[Xiaojie]

Oops

[xman]

Xia, We are all learning, that is for sure. I need the patience lesson over and over...TY!!! I really want to grasp it!