Chippy: Short Term use of Mirtazapine WD after CT

[Chippy]

Hi All

 

Been stalking around here a little for a few weeks. Thought I say hi and put up my story.

 

A bit of background.

Due to work/life stresses I had some social/anxiety which was clearly an issue for me. I changed my work situation and went to see the doctor with my wife. The doctor put me on 50mg of sertraline which was increased to 100mg. I think I don't have records of exact does and dates. It may have been 25mg and 50mg. after a few months I decided to come off the drug. I felt much better (probably due to me change in work situation). Fast taper. Something like cut in half for a few days, then half and half etc till I was taking a tiny bit of a tablet. No WD.

After a couple of months I felt a little anxious still. Life was better but quite uncertain. Contacted my doctor and was put back on the sertraline again. From memory the same does structure. Again after a few months I stopped. Same fast taper process. No WD.

This was around 2019/2020. Sorry to be a bit vague on dates.

 

Life got better and better and my anxiety appeared to be gone for the most part. Occasionally a situation would make me feel mildly anxious but that was it. Mild. We had made some further changes to our life and life was going well.

 

At the start of this year I seemed to get some trouble sleeping (2024). Not sure why. At the time I put it down to some problems we were having with family members. Looking back I do wonder if changing my diet quickly had an impact. (I reduced caffeine and sugar etc significantly)

I've always slept very well which I am grateful for so all very out of character.

 

Spoke to the doctor on the phone and they gave me a week of Zopiclone 3.75mg which is an anti-histimiine and this helped loads. I explained that I wasn't confident my issue had gone yet so I would like to continue on the drug. The doctor explained that the Zopiclone was addictive but recommended mirtazapine 15mg as this is non addictive with little to no symptoms. Having had a reasonably good experience with sertraline I thought ok let's give it a go.

 

Night one was horrendous. I was knocked out so hard. Felt so groggy. For the next week or so I felt pretty rubbish. Tbh I didn't think much of it as sertraline was very similar. I seemed to adapt to the drug and we agreed to keep me on it for a few months and see how I went. After a few more days I woke up in the middle of the night. Couldn't sleep. Feeling really hot with a terrible dry mouth. I can't remember what other symptoms I had but I contacted the Gp for help. Took 2 weeks before I could speak to her. By this time it had all calmed down so we left it. Then same this happened again. No sleep. Hot at night dry mouth. Again 2 weeks before I could speak to her again it settled down. I said I felt the drug didn't agree with me and she told me it would be fine to just stop. I thought that was great as I didn't want it in my system any more it was making me feel ill.

After 24 hours of CT I woke in the middle of the night again. WD seemed to have kicked in. Over the next couple of weeks I experienced. No sleep hardly, Night sweats, Dry month, bleeding when I blew my nose, Dizziness, No appitite, sound and light sensitvity, Nausea, Brain Zaps, Vivid Dreams when I did sleep, Raised glands, and a random heavy depressed state that I had never experienced.

I went back to the gp and she said she could put me back on but I had made it two weeks and relief would be just round the corner.

After 10-12 weeks I still had no luck with recovery. So I contacted her again. She said she wasn't experienced enough to help and put a call into the specialist in the NHS. A week or two later they wrote to me to say there was no sign of sudden succession syndrome here and I should see the nurse about my sleep hygiene.

 

I was quite frightened by this point as I know what has happened to me. I know my body and mind and none of this is normal. None of this I had experienced before.

 

I changed GP with a view to then start dealing with a new surgery but fear has kept me away.

 

I started getting more frequent bouts of anxiety/depression. Out of blue for a few hours. Sleep was still terrible but somehow I was getting some. Over time the sleep got more adequate but always felt light. I described it as stripey. I started sleeping with eye plugs and eye mask on with the windows open and a light blanket. Digestion was all over the place. My glands felt up. But I was coping.

 

Then about 4.5 months in I started getting very frequent anxious depressive feelings. My sleep got deeper but I often felt tired the next day like it was adequate. Very broken waking frequently.

 

After about 8 more weeks the feelings stopped happening. Sleep has improved some more. Sometimes I get 6 hours un broken.

 

A month later I got Covid no idea if it's related. It was quite mild but since then I starting getting a tension headache that come regularly. Then the feelings came back. Started with a random sense of panic one day. Then some anxiety the next. With a really bad headache. Yesterday I just felt really emotional all day. Then in evening the stress headache came back with anxious feelings.

 

I'm finding it quite hard to really detail everything that has happened. I don't recognise any of what is happening to before the mirtazapine it all feels very induced. Most nights I get to sleep fine so my sleep issues don't resemble the problems I had originally. That was a very different experience.

 

I know the NHS has made some changes this year in terms of how it deals with WD. So I have thought about contacting my Gp. However having spent some time looking into this I don't like the idea or reinstating the drug for fear of a bad reaction. I certainly wouldn't want different drug in my system!

 

Life is really good for us atm. We love where we live have no major worries these days. I feel so frustrated that this is happening and ruining what could be otherwise an amazing life. 😔

 

Hope that all makes sense.

 

 

Edited October 24, 2024 by Emonda
Name to title

[Erimus]

Hello, and welcome to Surviving Antidepressants. We are a peer support forum to assist in tapering off psychiatric drugs safely, or recovering from psychiatric drug withdrawal.

 

Could you add some dates for when you started and stopped the mirtazapine? Click this link to edit your signature: Edit your signature here.

 

You are currently in The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization, this can take some time, and your situation has been further complicated by a bout of covid. I would expect that things will slowly improve and dissipate over the coming months*, but recovery is non-linear so don't be disheartened if things feel like they get worse for a while, or you get new symptoms.

 

I wouldn't suggest reinstatement given your initial reaction, and your current progress off the medication. From this point on it is important to understand your brain is sensitised to a number of different things. This includes: psychiatric drugs, antihistamines, alcohol, certain antibiotics (avoid fluoroquinolones), general anaesthetic and certain supplements. Anything with psychoactive elements is a no go for the next year or so.

 

On 10/24/2024 at 8:59 AM, Chippy said:

Spoke to the doctor on the phone and they gave me a week of Zopiclone 3.75mg which is an anti-histimiine and this helped loads.

Zopiclone isn't an antihistamine, it's a nonbenzodiazapine/z-drug. It behaves similarly to a benzo in the way it acts, and I suggest you don't take any more of it. They build dependence very quickly.

 

On 10/24/2024 at 8:59 AM, Chippy said:

I know the NHS has made some changes this year in terms of how it deals with WD. So I have thought about contacting my Gp. However having spent some time looking into this I don't like the idea or reinstating the drug for fear of a bad reaction. I certainly wouldn't want different drug in my system!

If you ever have withdrawal related questions please ask here first before acting on instruction from your GP, they are not educated in the safe management of pyschiatric drug withdrawal.

 

Please continue to read the forums, 20+ years of knowledge is stored in these forums.

 

Regards

Erimus

Edited October 26, 2024 by Erimus

[Chippy]

Thank you so so much for your reply. That was so very encouraging.

One thing I’ve been worried about is coffee. I’ve dropped all my coffee to just one first thing in the morning made on a Mokka pot. I’ve started reducing the amount over the last week slowly by measuring. I’m worried about stopping that routine abruptly. I’ve had a lot of coffee over years and the one cup is very tame for me. However I have been aware it might not be a good ideas atm. 
Any thoughts on how to cut it out in terms of time frame?

[Chippy]

1 hour ago, Erimus said:

You are currently in The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization, this can take some time, and your situation has been further complicated by a bout of covid. I would expect that things will slowly improve and dissipate over the coming months*, but recovery is non-linear so don't be disheartened if things feel like they get worse for a while, or you get new symptoms

Thanks so much again. So reassuring. I’ve felt so exhausted so many days since July I’ve lost count. I was starting to get relief from it and as I said no depression anxiety for a good month. Really felt I was turning the corner. 
This weeks been horrendous. Two very tired days. Lots of emotional feelings. Lost my appetite. Feel a bit sad. Not nice. Hope it eases soon. Just very tired today. 

Edited October 26, 2024 by Erimus
Update quote with word correction from original text

[Chippy]

59 minutes ago, Erimus said:

Zopiclone isn't an antihistamine, it's a nonbenzodiazapine/z-drug. It behaves similarly to a benzo in the way it acts, and I suggest you don't take any more of it. They build dependence very quickly

This is very concerning as I was told by a gp it was an AH!

i know little about z drugs. Are you saying me taking this back to back with mirt is a bit like taking a benzo or ssri before mirt?

[Chippy]

1 hour ago, Erimus said:

If you ever have withdrawal related questions please ask here first before acting on instruction from your GP, they are not educated in the safe management of pyschiatric drug withdrawal.

Thanks. Yes im starting to realise this!

i have got brave a booked a gp appointment with my new surgery to discuss. But to be honest I’ve got no intention in accepting any more medication. It’s more to make them aware how I am to hopefully help others in the future. And to get some tests done to be sure I’ve not got any health issues apart from this. I’ve never even seen the other other gps from the other surgery. It was all done on the the phone! 

[Erimus]

1 hour ago, Chippy said:

Thank you so so much for your reply. That was so very encouraging.

One thing I’ve been worried about is coffee. I’ve dropped all my coffee to just one first thing in the morning made on a Mokka pot. I’ve started reducing the amount over the last week slowly by measuring. I’m worried about stopping that routine abruptly. I’ve had a lot of coffee over years and the one cup is very tame for me. However I have been aware it might not be a good ideas atm. 
Any thoughts on how to cut it out in terms of time frame?

I wouldn't worry about one cup of coffee each day if you don't feel too activated from it.

 

29 minutes ago, Chippy said:

This is very concerning as I was told by a gp it was an AH!

i know little about z drugs. Are you saying me taking this back to back with mirt is a bit like taking a benzo or ssri before mirt?

Mirtazapine is a potent antihistamine at 7.5mg and still is somewhat potent at 15mg. Zopiclone is a z-drug that works by tranquilising the nervous system. They don't act on anxiety the same way benzos do but still have the sedative effect.

 

30 minutes ago, Chippy said:

And to get some tests done to be sure I’ve not got any health issues apart from this.

Yes, it's good to get blood tests done every year or so when you are in withdrawal, just to make sure you have no deficiencies worsening your condition.

[Chippy]

23 minutes ago, Erimus said:

I wouldn't worry about one cup of coffee each day if you don't feel too activated from it.

 

Mirtazapine is a potent antihistamine at 7.5mg and still is somewhat potent at 15mg. Zopiclone is a z-drug that works by tranquilising the nervous system. They don't act on anxiety the same way benzos do but still have the sedative effect.

 

Yes, it's good to get blood tests done every year or so when you are in withdrawal, just to make sure you have no deficiencies worsening your condition.

Ah thanks so much for the reply. It’s been a very scary experience so it’s so reassuring to hear from you. Tbh I have been feeling dreadful this week. Feels like a real back step. 😟

Having a terrible day. You really made me feel better. 

[Chippy]

Hi All

 

Just a little update. 
 

The week before last was quite a rollacoaster. Everyday seemed to be some kind of emotional feeling. 
 

Monday - Had a random panic/odd feeling incident. Brain rescued me with a rush of endorphins or similar to prop me up!

 

Tuesday - Anxious depressive odd feel after walk. 

Pulse in top of head or sides sometimes. 

Turned into Big headache right around 3-4. 
 

Wednesday - 6 hours solid sleep. Perhaps a little dozing after. Felt quite emotional all day. Not sad. Just off. Had a few moments I thought it was escalating. It didn’t. 

Walk was ok. Felt a bit odd same as the rest of the day. Head a little pulsing by the end. 

Tension head back later in evening 

Thursday - Took a while to sleep. Woke lots.Tension head. Glands feel really up. Little to no appetite. 
 

Friday - slept better. Broken but lots little  of sleep. Head a little tight still on and off. Sinuses peppery. Derealised when outside. A little fatigue and foggy. Emotions seem heightened. 

Eased a bit throughout day. Head stinging though everything tastes odd. Appetite not great. 
 

Those were some notes from that week. Last Saturday I was exhausted but that was about it. Sunday felt not tired but very odd/sensitive with a horrible tension head. 
 

The rest of last week I didn’t make any notes. Not sure if it helps dwelling on things! But roughly;

My appetite has come back. 😀

Sleep seemed to crash to low levels most the week. Some days felt ok.
On those days I seemed to feel odd/derealised/emotional, honestly I have this quite a bit and struggle to give it a name!

 

Fall asleep ok most nights. 
Been mainly sleeping in 1.5 hour bits, having a pee and going back to sleep until I can’t sleep anymore. Some days it’s enough. Some days it’s not. 
Last night I managed 4 straight hours which I was very happy about. But then I failed to fall back asleep, so exhausted today. 

I feel like the Covid induced wave maybe leaving me. Hope so. Perhaps sleep will get a bit more solid and sufficient again now. It’s the hardest thing for me. It’s really gripped from the beginning. 
 

Everyday is a new day! Even on our bad days we are still healing. I heard this. I say it a lot. 

[LukeUK]

On 10/24/2024 at 8:59 AM, Chippy said:

The doctor explained that the Zopiclone was addictive but recommended mirtazapine 15mg as this is non addictive with little to no symptoms.

 

Withdrawal symptoms exist. This is medical fact.

 

Telling someone that it is not dependence forming is therefore a lie.

 

  

On 10/24/2024 at 8:59 AM, Chippy said:

she said she could put me back on but I had made it two weeks and relief would be just round the corner.

 

I had the exact same lie at 3 weeks off.

 

  

On 10/24/2024 at 8:59 AM, Chippy said:

After 10-12 weeks I still had no luck with recovery. So I contacted her again. She said she wasn't experienced enough to help and put a call into the specialist in the NHS. A week or two later they wrote to me to say there was no sign of sudden succession syndrome here and I should see the nurse about my sleep hygiene.

 

What kind of specialist was this?

 

What is "sudden succession syndrome"? Nothing comes up on google- is this an autocorrect of "serotonin syndrome"?

 

Unfortunately that's the only buzzword most of them know.

 

 

I'm sorry that you have been harmed by mirtazapine, and terrible NHS treatment combined with being fobbed off and lied to by practitioners who know next to nothing about the drugs they prescribe.

 

You're not the only one.

 

Of course, according my doctors, I am the only one. The multiple other people harmed by mirtazapine that I speak to in the UK are also either told that it isn't real, or that they are the only ones.

[Chippy]

13 minutes ago, LukeUK said:

What kind of specialist was this?

 

What is "sudden succession syndrome"? Nothing comes up on google- is this an autocorrect of "serotonin syndrome"?

 

Unfortunately that's the only buzzword most of them know.

Someone at the hospital locally. They wrote to me! I’ve never met anyone. Including my gp!!!

 

sudden succession syndrome is the nasty official syndrome created by drug companies to admit withdrawal exists but it only last a couple of days or weeks with limited symptoms. All lies. 
Nice guild-lines have been updated and completed ignored left right and centre here. 

[Chippy]

16 minutes ago, LukeUK said:

I'm sorry that you have been harmed by mirtazapine, and terrible NHS treatment combined with being fobbed off and lied to by practitioners who know next to nothing about the drugs they prescribe.

 

You're not the only one.

 

Of course, according my doctors, I am the only one. The multiple other people harmed by mirtazapine that I speak to in the UK are also either told that it isn't real, or that they are the only ones.

Thank you mate. It’s a bit rubbish I have to admit. It’s been the hardest thing I’ve ever dealt with. 
 

I’ve got a gp appointment in a few weeks to get some tests etc. Just doing my due diligence  to myself finally!

Also felt it was right to feedback my experience so they know. My appointment is with my new surgery so not so intimidating as they didn’t prescribe this in the first place so hopefully that will help it go well! Still a bit stressed about it though. 

I understand you are having a hard time of it atm?

 

[Erimus]

You can report side effects from medication using the gov's Yellow Card program. No idea if anything will come of it but worth putting in what happened.

 

https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/

[LukeUK]

Also, please write to your local MP about being harmed by mirtazapine withdrawal. Mine is working on it.

 

The more we can raise it as an issue, the better.

[Chippy]

11 minutes ago, LukeUK said:

Also, please write to your local MP about being harmed by mirtazapine withdrawal. Mine is working on it.

 

The more we can raise it as an issue, the better.

Good shout!

[LukeUK]

 

 

Mention that you are very concerned that the MHRA does not accurately record adverse reactions, that they are hiding the scale of the issue and they will only respond to contact by MPs on this, and ignore all contact from sufferers.

[Chippy]

4 minutes ago, LukeUK said:

 

 

Mention that you are very concerned that the MHRA does not accurately record adverse reactions, that they are hiding the scale of the issue and they will only respond to contact by MPs on this, and ignore all contact from sufferers.

Somethings got to change. So much pointless heart breaking suffering.

[Chippy]

Little update. 

Following my last post I had a week of terrible sleep. Really struggling to fall sleep and then once I did the same pattern of waking often and then eventually not getting back to sleep. 
 

Emotional symptoms have gone completely again. 
 

Appetite is back. 
 

I don’t appear to feel warm or have a dry mouth any more. 
 

Digestion is still off but not awful.
 

When I’ve slept enough to not feel tired I have a tension head. 
 

Ive had a few moments of feeling completely normal. First was an hour. Then half a day. On Saturday the whole day. 
 

Sleep is better but still very broken normally waking every hour or so for the first half of the night, with good sleep. The second half not good often getting nothing sometimes bits. I’m very comfortable and relaxed at night and don’t ruminate or anything. Feels out of my control like it’s chemical but quite predictable at the same time.
 

I feel like perhaps I’m doing ok?! But the sleep is really hard. I’m still so tired so many days in a row. 
My other symptoms have improved so much but sleep not as much. 
 

Is it common that sleep is the hardest thing to get back? 🤷

[Erimus]

Sleep can take a long time to fully resolve. So long as other things are improving try not to think about it too much.

[Chippy]

10 hours ago, Erimus said:

Sleep can take a long time to fully resolve. So long as other things are improving try not to think about it too much.

Thanks. Appreciate the reassurance. I’m finding it quite hard most days to function on the amount of sleep I get. 
last night I reckon 5 hours but broken. Feel a wreck today again. 

[LukeUK]

On 11/20/2024 at 4:41 PM, Chippy said:

Ive had a few moments of feeling completely normal. First was an hour. Then half a day. On Saturday the whole day. 

 

On 11/20/2024 at 4:41 PM, Chippy said:

Sleep is better but still very broken

  

On 11/20/2024 at 4:41 PM, Chippy said:

I feel like perhaps I’m doing ok?! But the sleep is really hard. I’m still so tired so many days in a row. 
My other symptoms have improved so much but sleep not as much. 

 

 This is all progress.

 

Even though it is still not easy, imagine where you might be in a few months if you had this amount of progress again.

 

You are improving, and with more time, you will improve more, even if this is non linear.

 

Having periods of time when you feel totally normal is a great sign, you will have more, and they'll be longer.

[Chippy]

8 hours ago, LukeUK said:

 

  

 

 This is all progress.

 

Even though it is still not easy, imagine where you might be in a few months if you had this amount of progress again.

 

You are improving, and with more time, you will improve more, even if this is non linear.

 

Having periods of time when you feel totally normal is a great sign, you will have more, and they'll be longer.

Thanks very much for the encouragement it’s very much appreciated. 
 

Non linear this process is for sure. 

[NBJ71]

Hows it going @Chippy

 

Any improvement from your last post? 
Has your sleep improved yet? 

 

[Chippy]

12 minutes ago, NBJ71 said:

Hows it going @Chippy

 

Any improvement from your last post? 
Has your sleep improved yet? 

 

Hi @NBJ71

 

I think perhaps some improvement?!

 

I’ve not had any very heavy anxiety or depression etc for weeks but have had some light symptoms. A little anxiety and racing heart one day. Had some more panic/terror, which is a new one on me. Not straight after waking but just during the morning. 
 

I seem to have a terrible tension head frequently still. Sometimes it eases or goes for a bit. This only seems to be the case if I feel rested/sleep adequately. 
 

Sleep still for me the hardest to deal with. It’s so very badly affected by all this. 
I have had a run of feeling the first half the night is deeper and less memorable. Getting up less frequently for the toilet. 
The second half the night is always a different event. Not sure if it’s cortisol related. I’m never able to sleep normally here. Sometimes nothing more at all. Sometimes little light burst of sleep after little light burst. 
 

For a week or so I seemed to be able to almost make the alarm during the second half of the night with what felt like more solid bits of sleep but still very light. 
 

last couple of nights have not been great. Just waking far too early and then very fatigued all day as a result. 
 

My digestion is very off today in particular. Not much fun. 

So I think some improvement. But as seems to be the case with this. One step forwards 2 steps back. I’m hopeful it’s all in the right direction. 

[NBJ71]

I guess if you feel a slight improvement then that’s progress.

 

I’ve got some similar symptoms to you such as morning fear/anxiety, bouts of depression and definitely poor sleep. My sleep has no pattern, sometimes I won’t fall asleep until 5am but most nights I’m asleep by 11pm and awake by 2am. If I’m lucky I’ll fall asleep for another hour at some point through the night. 
 

Just keep grinding through the days and you’ll get there eventually, we all will. 

[Chippy]

1 hour ago, NBJ71 said:

I guess if you feel a slight improvement then that’s progress.

 

I’ve got some similar symptoms to you such as morning fear/anxiety, bouts of depression and definitely poor sleep. My sleep has no pattern, sometimes I won’t fall asleep until 5am but most nights I’m asleep by 11pm and awake by 2am. If I’m lucky I’ll fall asleep for another hour at some point through the night. 
 

Just keep grinding through the days and you’ll get there eventually, we all will. 

Yeah I felt very optimistic about the sleep progress over the last couple of weeks. Feel like I’ve gone from likely to feel tired to very likely to not feel so bad. Oddly I’ve perked up this evening. You’d think if my main symptom today was tiredness it would only get worse throughout the day. I’ve been thinking about this recently if there is another symptom here like just being unwell/deregulated. 🤷

 

I noticed you have a similar recent timeline to me and some similar symptoms. I also tool sertraline a couple of years back. Think it started this all off by having two fast tapers starting a kindling effect so by the time I took zopiclone for a week abruptly stopped it then straight onto Mirtazapine my cns just said no more! I think I had a man adverse reaction to Mirtazapine so I’m not sure if I’m suffering ct wd or adverse reaction or maybe more likely both. 
 

We will all get there. One day at a time. 

[Chippy]

19 minutes ago, Chippy said:

My sleep has no pattern, sometimes I won’t fall asleep until 5am but most nights I’m asleep by 11pm and awake by 2am. If I’m lucky I’ll fall asleep for another hour at some point through the night. 

@NBJ71 I’m so sorry about your sleep. It’s hell not getting enough. Honestly some days I’m not sure how to cope. I’m sure in time this will get easier for you. 

[NBJ71]

@Chippy

 

I feel the same sometimes mate. I had the adverse reaction to sertraline but was then put on Diazepam and Zopiclone by the “experts” to deal with the symptoms. I was taken off of those after 6 & 8 weeks respectively very quickly so I’m not sure if I’m still dealing with an adverse reaction, withdrawal or both.
 

I guess it makes very little difference now as the only way out of this is through it because I certainly won’t be touching any more medication! 
 

Keep pushing through the days Chippy, we’ll all get through this eventually, just one day at a time. 

[Chippy]

5 hours ago, NBJ71 said:

guess it makes very little difference now as the only way out of this is through it because I certainly won’t be touching any more medication! 

I second this for sure! Our CNS’s are unhappy from probably all the irritation they have encountered and the answer is the same regardless. Time. Look after ourselves. Patience. 

[Chippy]

5 hours ago, NBJ71 said:

Keep pushing through the days Chippy, we’ll all get through this eventually, just one day at a time.

Will do! Thanks for the encouragement. You make sure you do too!

[Chippy]

5 hours ago, NBJ71 said:

I feel the same sometimes mate. I had the adverse reaction to sertraline but was then put on Diazepam and Zopiclone by the “experts” to deal with the symptoms. I was taken off of those after 6 & 8 weeks respectively very quickly so I’m not sure if I’m still dealing with an adverse reaction, withdrawal or both.

Experts! I’ll never trust a doctor fully ever again. I actually came on here when thinking about how to stop Mirt but thought best course of action was do as the doctor says. I didn’t think for one second the guys in the internet were the experts!!! It’s incredible what I’ve found and learnt through this process. 

[NBJ71]

Likewise! The vast majority of the medical profession have no idea of the destruction these medications can cause. Sadly, some of the senior professors are fully aware but they’re on the pharmaceutical payroll and have no moral compass! 

[NBJ71]

@Chippy

 

Hows it going mate? Any improvement? 
I hope your symptoms allowed you to enjoy Christmas & New Year. 

[Chippy]

14 hours ago, NBJ71 said:

@Chippy

 

Hows it going mate? Any improvement? 
I hope your symptoms allowed you to enjoy Christmas & New Year. 

Hi mate. 
 

Happy New Year and thanks for asking after me. 
 

The good news is a lot of my other symptoms are gone or quite background. 
 

Gut seems improved.

 

There is no sign of emotional symptoms like depression etc. 
 

Definitely some background stuff going on like dry mouth but nothing too concerning. 
 

My heads pretty sore quite a lot. That tension head seems to still be around. 

Sleep isn’t great still. If I’m honest I suspect it’s a little better overall but it’s so hard to tell as I often feel somewhere between a little tired and really tired. I think perhaps my bad days aren’t as bad as they were…. 
 

Routine is 9 hours in bed. Tend to sleep half of that fairly well but get up a couple of times for the toilet. Then second half varies. For example last night I had lots of extra naps but didn’t realise it until I realised I had just been dreaming. 
 

I know how long sleep takes to recover based on reports here. Unfortunately I cold turkeyd Mirtazapine which as we know has terrible sleep withdrawal. So I guess it’s to be expected. I really hope it gets a lot better this year. I’ve got it crossed. 
I’m so used to it now that I don’t stress about it. Whilst I think this helps sleep overall I can’t do anything to make it better quicker just not make it worse. 
It’s like my ability to sleep has been deleted. I’m mean not completely but a part of it. Kind of terrifying if you think about it! 
 

But over all I fall asleep fine pretty much every night. Most nights the first bit is deep. I use the bathroom less (but still a bit too much). I get to doze the second half sometimes, which helps me feel a bit more human.

So have everything crossed for the coming year I see further improvement!

 

How are you mate? How was your birthday?! Hope you managed to enjoy the holiday as much possible?

[NBJ71]

Hello mate, 

 

Thats great news that a lot of your symptoms are gone or easing somewhat. I’m really pleased for you. All the time you’re seeing progress it helps to keep you feeling positive I guess. 
 

I’m quite a way behind you so my symptoms are still pretty intense most of the time. Because of this,  I cancelled Christmas and my birthday, hopefully I’ll make up for it this year.

The last 7-10 days some of my symptoms have eased a touch which I’m grateful for. Strangely, this morning I gained a new symptom, kaleidoscope vision. It only lasted maybe 2 hours but was a bizzare experience. 

 

As for sleep, I was getting 1-4hrs. Now I’m getting 3-4hrs pretty regularly. I never feel rested when I wake but it’s a slight improvement so I’ll take it. Once I wake at 2-3am I sometimes get another hour before 8am. If I do, I generally have strange dreams and wake with my symptoms amplified. I think they call it a toxic nap. It’s the same in the afternoon, I can feel incredibly tired very quickly sometimes. If I take a 10 minute nap, my tremors and nerve tingling gets worse. 

 

Hopefully we’ll continue to see some more little improvements mate. 

[Chippy]

42 minutes ago, NBJ71 said:

Thats great news that a lot of your symptoms are gone or easing somewhat. I’m really pleased for you. All the time you’re seeing progress it helps to keep you feeling positive I guess. 

Thanks. Yeah I try to look at it like this. My sleep is so bad still that I feel quite restricted in life. I get on and still do loads which helps with distraction. But I feel like there’s a lot of living I just can’t take part in. Travel generally planning things in etc. Not to mention feeling so sleep deprived so often you don’t enjoy life half the time. Hopefully this will improve sooner rather than later! 
 

42 minutes ago, NBJ71 said:

I’m quite a way behind you so my symptoms are still pretty intense most of the time. Because of this,  I cancelled Christmas and my birthday, hopefully I’ll make up for it this year.

The last 7-10 days some of my symptoms have eased a touch which I’m grateful for. Strangely, this morning I gained a new symptom, kaleidoscope vision. It only lasted maybe 2 hours but was a bizzare experience. 

Im so sorry you are suffering so much mate. So pleased you can see some improvement. 
WD is a crazy thing. It’s shocking how much of our bodies it can affect. I hope you don’t get too much of that going forward!

 

42 minutes ago, NBJ71 said:

As for sleep, I was getting 1-4hrs. Now I’m getting 3-4hrs pretty regularly. I never feel rested when I wake but it’s a slight improvement so I’ll take it. Once I wake at 2-3am I sometimes get another hour before 8am. If I do, I generally have strange dreams and wake with my symptoms amplified. I think they call it a toxic nap. It’s the same in the afternoon, I can feel incredibly tired very quickly sometimes. If I take a 10 minute nap, my tremors and nerve tingling gets worse. 

Sounds like you’re catching me up here. I don’t check times anymore and just take what I get! But I’m not sure I’m sleeping more that half a night a lot of the time and it’s broken too.

Im really glad you’re seeing some significant improvement here. Although I know only too well how bad you can feel on this much sleep!

Hope you get loads of improvement shortly mate.