Jadenatalie: I see the light!

[Jadenatalie]

Link to intro thread

 

Hey all! Been meaning to write this for a little while now but just haven't had the time. But I knew I was always going to write a 'success story' as those were the ones that kept me going!! I HAVE BEEN OFF MEDS FOR 2 YEARS & 3 MONTHS!!

 

I'm 31, female, I was on SSRI's for a total of 5 years, mostly Fluox, then sertraline, then citalopram before my doctor removed me from meds cold turkey, he said I would have no ill effects from stopping this way either!! 

 

So I'm going to list my main withdrawal symptoms, what helped me through withdrawal and any other bits of info like when i felt the worst waves etc!

 

Symptoms:

-Daily crying

-anxiety

-panic

-depression

-dizziness

-skin itching

-tremors

-muscle weakness

-visual issues

-heartburn

-gut issues

-heart palpitations

-insomnia

-suicidal

-weight loss

-cramp in legs

-full body stabbing/zaps

-backache

-headaches

-TMJ

-brain fog

-unsteady on feet

-lethargy

-muscle weakness

-hair loss

-joint pain

 

Those are the ones I can remember off the top of my head, but there will definitely be more! 

 

I noticed my 'windows' were very sparse until I passed the 12 month mark and after that I'd eventually get more and more windows. Before the 12 month mark, my windows were only short and usually on evenings. I had the most severe withdrawal symptoms between months 6-11, which I've read lots of people suffer more at that stage too. I also in this withdrawal period took Cipro, and my symptoms worsened after taking that so I do believe I was 'floxed' too. 

 

The things that helped me get through a cold turkey withdrawal: (there aren't many!)

 

-Reading the success stories on this website (constantly!)

-Meditation daily

-Baylissa's book

-The Lovely Grind youtube videos

-Drew Linsalata podcast (the anxious truth)

-My partner! (most definitely the reason I'm still here and off those meds!)

 

I have been blessed to have a supportive partner throughout this process who fully supported me and believed I would make it out of the other side. He is my absolute angel! Between my sheer grit and determination and his supportive words I have done it! 

 

The only issue I've had since stopping the SSRI's is that I'm now in early menopause. I'm only 31 so it is very unusual. The doctors can't work out why I'm in the early menopause, my ovaries 'look' fine so they think it's more to do with my brain producing the hormones and my pituitary gland. So I believe that the medication and my withdrawal has caused my hormones to completely deplete by altering something in my brain. I'm now on HRT and feeling much better since being on it. I was hoping I wouldn't have any long term effects from taking these meds but it seems I do sadly. 

 

For anyone reading this, IT CAN BE DONE! I'm now over 2 years CLEAN and I feel SO MUCH BETTER that I don't have to rely on those tablets and have the ongoing side effects from them! KEEP GOING!!!

 

If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask and i'll respond as soon as I can! 🙂

 

Love Jade x

 

Edited June 27, 2023 by getofflex

[getofflex]

Congratulations on being drug free and recovering!  I'm so thrilled for you, and very inspired and encouraged by your success story!  We really appreciate you coming back here and writing your story - it will give hope and help to many people, I believe.  

[Erimus]

Well done Jade. Glad to see another crossing the finish line to victory. 

[Nypeaches89]

Thanks for your testimony! 
Im sorry about the early menopause, you know I’ve heard of other cases like that, menopause caused by PAWS. I personally got PMDD and post menstrual syndrome since that, Idk if it’ll ever go away. 
How and when did the menopause symptoms start? 

[peaceandlove]

Congratulations on your healing & thank you for coming back to talk about it.

How was healing for you… Did your symptoms just all randomly stop one day or did they slowly go away like less & less waves & more windows ??

[Jadenatalie]

On 6/30/2023 at 7:06 AM, Nypeaches89 said:

Thanks for your testimony! 
Im sorry about the early menopause, you know I’ve heard of other cases like that, menopause caused by PAWS. I personally got PMDD and post menstrual syndrome since that, Idk if it’ll ever go away. 
How and when did the menopause symptoms start? 

Hey! Well, my menopause symptoms and withdrawal symptoms were quite similar so it is hard to say when one started and the other ended really! 

[Jadenatalie]

On 7/8/2023 at 8:50 PM, peaceandlove said:

Congratulations on your healing & thank you for coming back to talk about it.

How was healing for you… Did your symptoms just all randomly stop one day or did they slowly go away like less & less waves & more windows ??

Hey! Healing for me was very slow, lots of dips when I thought I was doing good. Mine went away very slowly and gradually had more windows than waves pattern. 

[peaceandlove]

On 7/10/2023 at 6:36 AM, Jadenatalie said:

Hey! Healing for me was very slow, lots of dips when I thought I was doing good. Mine went away very slowly and gradually had more windows than waves pattern. 

cool thank you & also you mentioned you took Cipro & your withdrawal symptoms worsened? How long did taking that antibiotic set you back ?? Was it for an UTI

 

I took too took an antibiotic however it wasn’t Cipro it was something else I believe for an uti that I didn’t even have however that was like 5 months ago. I wonder if it has set me back as well 😣

[Jadenatalie]

On 7/11/2023 at 4:22 PM, peaceandlove said:

cool thank you & also you mentioned you took Cipro & your withdrawal symptoms worsened? How long did taking that antibiotic set you back ?? Was it for an UTI

 

I took too took an antibiotic however it wasn’t Cipro it was something else I believe for an uti that I didn’t even have however that was like 5 months ago. I wonder if it has set me back as well 😣

Yes I took cipro for 5 days I think it was. My symptoms were 100x worse after I’d finished that, that’s how I knew I’d been floxed. It was terrible and I’d convinced myself I had permanent damage etc, that really bad phase probably lasted 3 months and then I went back into my normal waves and windows pattern. And yes it was for a UTI but it turns out I didn’t actually have a UTI (it was the start of meno symptoms) x

[Hello20]

Hi jadenatalie, my 1st question is do you still get random anxiety? Did you go cold turkey from the meds? Did you work during your withdrawals? Sorry to ask a lot of questions but I'm curious and need some hope.

[manymoretodays]

Hi Hello20, @Hello20

 

Could you start an Introduction topic for yourself ASAP?  I know I gave you the friendly reminder.  Just go to Introductions, then start new topic, pick a title, add your user name to it.  Tell us a bit about yourself.

And do a signature: How to summarize your drug history in your drug signature

Thanks.

Edited July 19, 2023 by manymoretodays

[Hello20]

I've done it, can you check please?

[Jadenatalie]

On 7/15/2023 at 11:46 PM, Hello20 said:

Hi jadenatalie, my 1st question is do you still get random anxiety? Did you go cold turkey from the meds? Did you work during your withdrawals? Sorry to ask a lot of questions but I'm curious and need some hope.

Hey @Hello20 , i've always been a slightly anxious person anyway and anxiety is also part of hormone dips which i'm currently having. i do still have some anxiety but not half as much as i used to. Yes, i went cold turkey from my meds. Yes, i worked full time during my withdrawal and only had 1 day off sick (this was due to me NEEDING the money to live) if i didnt need the money i'd have gone on long term sick. 

 

x

[Hello20]

15 hours ago, Jadenatalie said:

Hey @Hello20 , i've always been a slightly anxious person anyway and anxiety is also part of hormone dips which i'm currently having. i do still have some anxiety but not half as much as i used to. Yes, i went cold turkey from my meds. Yes, i worked full time during my withdrawal and only had 1 day off sick (this was due to me NEEDING the money to live) if i didnt need the money i'd have gone on long term sick. 

 

 

@Jadenatalie how did you cope with the anxiety and still work? Would have been a very difficult time.

[Gardengonewild]

I'm almost afraid to ask as I only found tbis website too late but ....how did you know this website exists? What did you google exactly 

[Jadenatalie]

On 7/21/2023 at 8:37 AM, Hello20 said:

@Jadenatalie how did you cope with the anxiety and still work? Would have been a very difficult time.

@Hello20 I just did, I had no choice because I had to get the money to pay my bills unfortunately. It was so difficult but I pushed through. 

[Jadenatalie]

10 minutes ago, Gardengonewild said:

I'm almost afraid to ask as I only found tbis website too late but ....how did you know this website exists? What did you google exactly 

Erm, I’m not sure it was too long ago to remember!! I’m sure i googled antidepressant withdrawal. 

[Hello20]

1 hour ago, Jadenatalie said:

@Hello20 I just did, I had no choice because I had to get the money to pay my bills unfortunately. It was so difficult but I pushed through. 

How long have you been off the meds for? Did/do you have high cortisol levels that wake you in the morning? If not how long did it last? What did you come off? Sorry about all the questions.

[Jadenatalie]

3 minutes ago, Hello20 said:

How long have you been off the meds for? Did/do you have high cortisol levels that wake you in the morning? If not how long did it last? What did you come off? Sorry about all the questions.

Hey @Hello20 if you read the full post above that I’ve done, about my success story you’ll find everything you need with regards to how long I were on them and coming off them etc. I have detailed it fully above! 🙂 sorry I don’t want to repeat everything I’ve written already! 

[Hello20]

30 minutes ago, Jadenatalie said:

Hey @Hello20 if you read the full post above that I’ve done, about my success story you’ll find everything you need with regards to how long I were on them and coming off them etc. I have detailed it fully above! 🙂 sorry I don’t want to repeat everything I’ve written already! 

Can I ask how long the insomnia lasted please?

[Gardengonewild]

Hmmm. Nope. That wasn't it. Still doesn't come up. It's ok.i wasn't meant to find it 5.5yrs ago when I needed it. Just was curious thanks.