5 replies to this topic

[Sleepyhead]

I am counting so many beads now that I'm wasting capsules because I lose count and have to start counting again. I have decided that because the total number of beads in a capsule is inconsistent that it would be better to control the number I take and not the number I throw away.

I need a proper tool to do this and wonder if anyone has come across something beyond the folded paper/cardboard method? Is there an actual tool out there for ease of counting?

Thanks.

[fishinghat]

You might try something like this but it may need a little modification.

http://www.apothecar...right-hand.html

[WendyK]

When I was counting down my dosage, I used cheap methods also. I honestly bought a cheep plastic deep plate that was a dark color so I could keep track of the beads. I used tweezers to count along and only poured out so many beads at a time. It gets easier when you get to a smaller dosage and are only counting out 40 or so so beads to fill the capsule.

I ended up averaging my total count. My average per capsule was 196 on more than one occasion, so I just stuck to that. When you are still taking 150, 132, 86 or however many beads, for me....the small difference wasn't that bad. At first, when I got a new monthly prescription, I would count 2 or 3 capsules out of the bottle and average. I would use that for the whole month. But, like is said, eventually I just stuck to using 196 the rest of the way because I got tired of counting out the whole capsule.

So....for the first half of the weaning process...let's say I had 196 beads in the capsule......I would start by only taking 1 out, then the next day, take 2 out and so on. Once you get midway......yeah, you will have to count out more. Then once you get lower than half, I would start the other way. If out of 196, I am now taking out 132 beads, I would start by not counting 132 or 133 beads, I would count out 64 or 65 and fill the capsule with that instead. Then you just go backwards.....65 on one day, 64 the next, 63 the next. OR by however many you are counting out. I basically did 1 more each day and then on the 3rd or 4 th day, I would take out 2 instead of one and so on. I went really slow. From March of this year until roughly mid October. Wahoo!

Also, while I was counting out larger amounts, I would only count 20 or so at a time, write that down and add up. I hated loosing my place or needing to start over. I also bought little medicine baggies. I would be optimistic and count out my pills for the whole week. I don't know about you, but I did not have time to think about counting out a capsule everyday. On Saturday or Sunday, I would get my whole next week ready. If on Wednesday you feel weird, then maybe when you get home, you might want to make Thursday's capsule have the same count as Wednesday and try that. Anyway, I would put 1 pill in each Baggie and label it so I knew what day I was on. (I also bought a small pocket calendar to help keep track of the days.). I would use an empty pill bottle and fill the bottle with the little baggies in order of the days of the week. (And that way I wasn't carrying a full bottle of pills, but I also wasn't carrying around little baggies in my purse. I figured for work, to have the prescription bottle would probably be the smart thing.) Plus having my pocket calendar handy helped me keep track, just in case I couldn't remember if on that day I was taking the right dosage. The baggies were also helpful in keeping the extra beads. That way you end up getting to a point where you no longer by the expensive medicine, you just fill capsules. So, like everyone on here says, Save The Beads!

By going slow and only taking out 2 or 3 more ever so many days, I didn't have to level off so much as I was anticipating. Once I got to only taking 40 beads, I did for about 3 days and then continued. Again once I got to about 15 beads, I did the same....but then was able to go all the way down. I seriously went to the last 2 beads. (To each their own. ).

And lastly, as I was counting, I also had a small little box. It was more like a little charm box that snaped closed. About 2 inches diameter and about 1 inch deep. I used this to store the Baggie of beads. But when I was counting, I would take the Baggie out, start counting the beads out the capsule I was using and then use the end of my finger to put them in the box. I didn't mix them with the Baggie yet, just in case I lost count. But, once I was good, I would dump the beads from the box into the Baggie, out the baggie back in the box and snap it closed.

My Bead Counting Kit
1. A deep dark colored plate for counting.
2. Tweezers.
3. Little medicine baggies. (You can find these at the drug store.)
4. A Baggie that I collected all the extra beads.
5. A small box I kept that little bead Baggie in because I have cats and I didn't want to accidentally leave it laying around for them to chew on. (That would have been a bad sight to come home to.)
6. A sharpie to label the baggies.
7. Pocket calendar to help keep track.

Anywho.......I hope this helps. For me, having a plan of action really helped. And because I am the way I am, I also created a spreadsheet to track my decrease percentage. But that probably isn't for everyone.

If you have any more questions or need help, please do not hesitate to ask.

Wendy

[equuswoman]

I also used  a dark color plastic plate and kept all the extra beads in a little black color ceramic heart shaped container. Mine were the brand name capsules and contained 200 beads per capsule. These were the 60mg dosage. I will never forget when I was searching the web for help to get off this nasty drug. My physician didn't have a clue as to the withdrawals that come with this discontinuation of Cymbala. But I was fortunate in that I did find this form.

When I first saw in the listings of topics "How to bead count" ... I admit I thought "WTH"....but I soon learned how to do this. fishinghat and thismoment were here when I came on board and these 2 wonderful ppl who had already made this journey were of so much help to me. I began dropping 3 beads per day but would run into horrible withdrawal. The worst was the GI upset....diarrhea...ugh

 

I found that I had to drop only one bead per day thus it required 3 months to SLOWLY wean off the poison. It was a journey through hell...but with help and encouragement I made it through and back. My brain will never will be the way it was prior to taking this crap but I'm at least off of it forever!

Weaning off of morphine has NOT been more difficult as was the Cymbalta...yes it has been tough going but nothing like the HELL of Cymbalta withdrawal

 

Support, love & prayers,

TheEquusWoman

[Sleepyhead]

Once again thank you for your thoughtful responses! I am forever grateful for the support of you who are committed to helping others through this very important site.

My tapering has been very slow. With an average bead count in my 30 mg of 282 and anywhere from a reduction of 1 per day to 1 per week I'm 9 months and have 108 beads left to go. This week I have accelerated to 2 beads out per day and so far, so good.

I frequently read and re read posts by other people. It is both comforting yet upsetting to know so many share similar withdrawal experiences. I missed a full dose for 1 day last May and I felt so awful I can only begin to imagine what having to go cold turkey would be like.

I just had an appointment with my doctor yesterday to discuss my dizziness and heart palpitations. I could not believe how certain he felt that I should be taking this drug. He was no help whatsoever in understanding or caring about anxiety caused by withdrawal. He was adamant that I should be taking a full dose of this for the rest of my life. He sounded like a pharmaceutical rep. In fact I bet he has a stake in the pharma industry somehow. He used to work in an investment adviser and now at 50 has been a doctor for 4 years. He pushes vaccines every time I go in (more money for him) and after I gave him 20 bucks for a letter referral to get orthotics he then hand chose the company I should go to. When I made an appointment with that company they took his name as the referring physician. I bet he gets something for the referral too.

I have a pretty strong feeling that my doctor is only there to make money. He is not there to listen to me and discuss my health goals when I say I don't want to take drugs and I want to carefully allow my body and mind to recalibrate itself to normalize. He didn't support my desire to want to live a healthy and balanced lifestyle as I move forward. He doesn't even know me as a person and I rarely even see him. He just insists on me taking medication.

So this site is really my main go to for support and information and human compassion with regard to seeking life without Cymbalta. And I believe a better life is ahead. So many people on here are proof of that.

End of my rant. I wanted to say that ks once again for this site and for the very active individuals on here tirelessly giving of their time to help others.

[fishinghat]

Unluckily the dr story is a common one. Many believe in the almighty pill as a cure all.

 

Just a note. Usually you get more sensitive toward the last few beads. Don't panic about it but when you get down to around 30 beads or so you might have to slow down some.

 

Your doing fine and are on the right approach. Hang in there.