sunnysideup69: what can I do to stabilise on venlafaxine

[sunnysideup69]

@BreathofAir

Good morning Rachel, 

Really helpful info about the acupuncture, thank you! Will mention this to her, basically I'm asking for as much relaxing and stabilising as possible, but it helps to know I'm not alone in the 'spiking' affect. Another friend of mine, being treated for hormonal issues, has said the same thing re treatments sometimes aggravating her anxiety. 

 

You made me laugh re the moxa sticks. Some of my acu points get the moxa treatment during a session. Last time it got too hot on one point, had to ask her to stop. Once long ago, I tried those Hopi Ear candles on my own...... Never gonna repeat that experience! 😂 It was a disaster. 

 

I agree, suggestion is really powerful. As is gratitude. When I'm in a pit, I force myself to find one thing to be grateful for.... I see it as a bit like tweaking the electrical circuits in my brain. Doesn't seem to do much at first, but cumulatively, it diverts the signal to a different place. A better one. I really have come to see the brain and nervous system as a computer. Some days, ruth.exe has crashed, and some days is running okay.

 

Hoping your thumping headache has gone this morning, ugh, they are the worst. Wishing you a calmer day today, with a happy window. Lots of love, prayers and healing your way x

[sunnysideup69]

 Not wanting to trigger anyone reading this, but honestly.......

 

Had to go for general woman-issues type check up.One of those post 50 type screenings.  After that, saw different GP at surgery. She asked how I was having restarted Citalopram 10mg last August, and I gave her an honest answer. Can you guess what her advice to me was?...........( sorry, there's no prize for guessing).......

 

 

Yep. Updose. To 20mg. <insert expletives here>

 

Next time, I think I am just going to lie and say everything is fine and I'm skipping around like a shimmering, candy-floss-pooping unicorn.

 

So far at the surgery, have seen three GPs since reinstating. Here is the selected advice.....

'If 10mg isn't making you better, then don't updose. We could try something else.'

'10mg is such a tiny dose.'

'10mg doesn't sound like it is quite getting you there. You started here (pointing to the floor), now you're here (pointing midway) and we want you here (pointing upwards.)Updose to 20mg.'

 

I'm seriously considering searching for a GP or psych who is on board with withdrawal and the negative side effects of antidepressants.

 

 

[Sassenach]

Hi  do you know there is a list of GPS and doctors who do know about withdrawal somewhere on this site never checked don't know how much is for the UK but might be worth a look sorry this is a bit crap using voice recognition on phone catch you later sassenach

Edited December 20, 2019 by manymoretodays
name removed

[sunnysideup69]

@Sassenach- ah great! I have seen it, you've reminded me it exists, than you....will take a look around now......

[Songbird]

On 5/30/2019 at 4:31 AM, Ruthmcg said:

 I'm skipping around like a shimmering, candy-floss-pooping unicorn.

 

😄  Thanks for making me laugh today!

Edited December 21, 2019 by Shep
updated new member name in text box

[sunnysideup69]

@Songbird

Ha! Glad to make you laugh, it's the least I can do as a thanks for your support x

[Sassenach]

Hi

 

Did your dad tell you the meaning of Sassenach ?

I am trying to get as many UK members as possible to take or send a copy of  "The Royal College of Psychiatrists " report to their local GP surgery preferably with a letter pointing out that their current guidelines are now officially wrong.

I am already at odds with my GPs so looking forward to it but I realise not everyone may want to do so.

Leave it with you.

Have a good evening

 

Sassenach

Edited December 20, 2019 by manymoretodays
name removed

[sunnysideup69]

@Sassenach......ah, yes, he did.....so you're not a Scot? You're English? I would love to to take such report to my local GP, what's the name of the report and can I just download it online? Would give me great pleasure to wave it at doctor 'you can just updose to 20mg.' Grrrrrrr.

 

Have a good evening. It's warmed up in London and I'm gonna get some fresh air in the back garden.

Hope your day was good,

Sleep well,

Ruth.

[Sassenach]

Morning

 

Will send later today.

Edited December 20, 2019 by manymoretodays
name removed

[sunnysideup69]

@Sassenach

Morning! Wishing you a great day, thank you x

[BreathofAir]

Thanks for the hug .  Had a stinky day. Hope tomorrow is better. Hope you have a nice weekend. 

 

Bless you. Heal well and sleep well. 

 

R xxxx

Edited December 20, 2019 by manymoretodays
name removed

[Sassenach]

Morning

 

Sunny in Scotland this am.

Sun shines on the sassenachs 🤣

Hope you have a good day.

Will send link later, been kinda busy.

 

Sassenach

Edited December 20, 2019 by manymoretodays
name removed

[sunnysideup69]

7 minutes ago, Sassenach said:

Morning Ruth

 

Sunny in Scotland this am.

Sun shines on the sassenachs 🤣

Hope you have a good day.

Will send link later, been kinda busy.

 

Sassenach

 

Good morning, gorgeous day here, too. Hahaha, gonna tell that to dad...... 

You have a good day too, will check in later 😊

[sunnysideup69]

10 hours ago, BreathofAir said:

Thanks for the hug Ruth.  Had a stinky day. Hope tomorrow is better. Hope you have a nice weekend. 

 

Bless you. Heal well and sleep well. 

 

R xxxx

 

Thanks Rachel, am sorry to read about your day. I feel so frustrated for you and am hopeful that your nearest and dearest can eventually understand what you are going through. 

In the meantime, we here understand. You can vent here. I'm wishing for you that you have a much better day, in terms of being allowed to feel exactly how you feel with no pressure. 

 

[sunnysideup69]

Note about acupuncture;

 

Spoke to acu lady and told her last two treatments spiked my anxiety. I don't need any 'energising' points. She has taken this on board. I'm gonna send her links about antidepressant withdrawal and acupuncture I've seen on this site.

[Tom37]

Hi ,

 

Thanks for you post!

 

I actually read a bit of your story this evening (in NZ) and it’s good to see someone in a similar situation who is further ahead in their journey and not far away from being stable. You will get there soon I’m sure of it. Windows and waves, you’ll be fine.

 

Hope London is treating you well, lived there for quite a few years myself. Great city but bit tiring though when from small town NZ!

 

Will read some more when feeling bit better.

 

Take care.

Edited December 20, 2019 by manymoretodays
name removed

[withhopeinmyheart]

Thanks for spreading positive energy! 

 

Hugs. 

[Carmie]

Hi , 

 

Thanks for your kind words on my thread. Welcome to SA. You really are quite a ray of sunshine on this site.☀️☀️☀️☀️

 

Keep up the good work, sending hugs🤗

Edited December 20, 2019 by manymoretodays
name removed

[Tom37]

Hi Ruth,

 

Managed to have bit more of a read of your thread and your in a similar situation as I but 3 or so months ahead in your journey. 

 

I see you’ve had a rough month and were getting a bit concerned about going backwards but it seems quite normal unfortunately for that to happen this far out. I’m actually going through the same thing after a couple of months of feeling a lot better with more tolerable waves that were short lived but this one has hit a lot harder and is lasting longer.

 

I try (rarely works!) to look at symptoms in a positive way in that the body knows something isn’t as it should be and is working on fixing it. The fact you have been having good windows is a great sign as shows the body is doing what is needed to make things right. 

 

I think once once you get through this rough patch you will see an improved baseline which hopefully means your not far away from stability. Try not to be concerned that it’s taking this long as not uncommon for it to take 12 months or longer. We all just heal at different rates but we do heal. 

 

You probably know the above from other members but just wanted to reassure you.

 

Take care.

[Sassenach]

Hi Ruth

 

I guess you have been following Rachel's thread and it seems things are getting out of hand.

We need to know what her husband said/did and looks as though it will have to be on PM.

She may not want to tell a man so would you be willing to PM her if necessary.

Feel free to say no as we are becoming embroiled in a situation that could affect us all.

 

[sunnysideup69]

9 hours ago, withhopeinmyheart said:

Thanks for spreading positive energy! 

 

Hugs. 

 

Hugs back at you x

[sunnysideup69]

7 hours ago, Carmie said:

Hi Ruth, 

 

Thanks for your kind words on my thread. Welcome to SA. You really are quite a ray of sunshine on this site.☀️☀️☀️☀️

 

Keep up the good work, sending hugs🤗

 

Aw, thanks Carmie x really very grateful to have found SA. It has given me hope for the future, and the very real possibility of recovering from antidepressants.

[sunnysideup69]

6 hours ago, Tom37 said:

 

 

I think once once you get through this rough patch you will see an improved baseline which hopefully means your not far away from stability. Try not to be concerned that it’s taking this long as not uncommon for it to take 12 months or longer. We all just heal at different rates but we do heal. 

 

You probably know the above from other members but just wanted to reassure you.

 

Take care.

 

Thanks Tom, all reassurance most gratefully received. It's a weird feature of recovery that, when I'm in a wave, I am convinced I haven't made any progress at all.

And when I'm in a window again, I can see how ridiculous that thought is.

 

I've been okay again since 11am on Wednesday....yep, I even know the time! It was so odd, it was like something literally clicked back on in my brain, everything began to look physically brighter again and I went from being quite lethargic and depressed to suddenly being interested in the world around me again.

 

It's a really strange process, but I have absolute faith that we can all heal and even become stronger from this experience.

Hope you've had a better day. I shall keep following your progress 

[Dejavu]

On 6/2/2019 at 3:36 AM, Ruthmcg said:

It's a weird feature of recovery that, when I'm in a wave, I am convinced I haven't made any progress at all.

And when I'm in a window again, I can see how ridiculous that thought is.

Oh, this. Absolutely this! Glad I'm not the only one. Another permutation of that is that when I'm in a window, I know this is all withdrawal. When I'm in a wave, though, I'm convinced I have some horrible dreaded disease. Ahhh, withdrawal - the gift that keeps on giving...

Edited December 21, 2019 by Shep
updated new member name in text box

[sunnysideup69]

Back in a window since last Wednesday, 29th May. Had some acu also on Thursday, so far so good ie no anxiety, a tiny bit disrupted sleep and some small internal trembling this morning. But...my mood is good, I feel like doing things.

Will be back at work on Tuesday after half term break, a bit nervous because I had to take some days out at end of half term. Explained exactly what was going on to boss ie dealing with high anxiety, sort of briefed him on why I think that's happening, too. He was great, but still, some normal level anxiety about going back in.

 

However, I'm learning not to just blow this energy. Gonna conserve my energy, was gonna go for a 5k walk but now am going to potter around, water the plants.

Thinking about vlogging the windows to play back on my wavey days.

 

I do actually sense that the baseline I'm going back to, after waving, is better. That has to be a good sign.

[sunnysideup69]

@Dejavu,

Isn't it just!

Been reading your thread and you've come such a long way. This is like a marathon, isn't it?

[Sassenach]

Hi

 

The link I promised for you to wave at your GP.

 

Sassenach

Edited December 20, 2019 by manymoretodays
name removed

[Sassenach]

Try again

 

https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/news-and-features/latest-news/detail/2019/05/29/rcpsych-calls-on-nice-to-update-its-antidepressant-withdrawal-advice

[sunnysideup69]

46 minutes ago, Sassenach said:

Try again

 

https://www.rcpsych.ac.uk/news-and-features/latest-news/detail/2019/05/29/rcpsych-calls-on-nice-to-update-its-antidepressant-withdrawal-advice

 

I can't wait to show them.I may have to go back to Dr Updose especially....😈

[Sassenach]

Thank you.

 

First smile toda😀y.

 

You are a tonic.

[sunnysideup69]

2 minutes ago, Sassenach said:

Thank you.

 

First smile toda😀y.

 

You are a tonic.

 

Good, glad you're smiling  We got some weird weather in London in the end....I guess that's justice for me being so 'ooh it's all bright and sunny' this morn. 

[Sassenach]

Ha

 

Now you know why your dad left Glasgae.

[Sassenach]

Oh forgot

 

Sunny out now, so there and its warm, so there!!!

[sunnysideup69]

1 minute ago, Sassenach said:

Ha

 

Now you know why your dad left Glasgae.

 

😂 I do recall it raining very much.

 

[sunnysideup69]

Ok, quick note. 

 

Again, it's day 4 after acupuncture. AGAIN, I feel a bit weird this afternoon. Not a huge anxiety spike however, but I had a nap after lunch  and I woke up feeling reaally super tired and a bit drained. So it's this '4 days after' pattern again.

I did have to go out to supervision this morning, but I don't think that exhausted me...I've been out this weekend, and haven't felt like this until today.

 

Hmmmmm. Not quite sure why this would be. Back to work tomorrow so have some lurking anxiety about that, but this feels neurochemical...and these feelings are always accompanied by that strange buzzing/humming in my ears, as if I can hear my own brain. Mood is still okay, though.

 

It's as if the acupuncture changes the action of the citalopram about 4 days after the treatment. Which I guess makes sense, as it works on the nervous system. It creates a mini- wave.

[BreathofAir]

Hi again , 

 

I always feel tired after acupuncture.  If you do feel wiped out,  it’s a sign you need a rest because you’re depleted.  Drink a lot of water also, but I’m sure you know this!  Don’t overdo the exercise.  Given that it stimulates your nervous system and releases chemicals into your brain, there’s no doubt it will have an effect on what the Citalopram is doing.  You will pick up again, just rest and take it steady at work. 

 

R xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Edited December 20, 2019 by manymoretodays
name removed