calithebold: Right at the beginning

[LoveandLight]

Yay for change! x

[calithebold]

Thanks LoveandLight... indeed yay for change... it's exciting and a fair amount scary but I'm up for the challenge

[btdt]

I have read most of your thread... I am sorry your doc put your E too high too fast I went manic on the increase from 150 to the next level I think I was on wk 4 then so it was a gradual upping if you like and still reacted badly.  

I have a question that may seem odd to you but when did you get the hiatal hernia?  Do you think it has anything to do with Effexor?  I am just curious. peace

[Fresh]

I have hiatus hernia too , diagnosed in the mid 90's. after 10 years on ad's.    Coincidence?

Cali , I'd be inclined to put what ever meds you've been prescribed for the hernia and nerve pain into the interaction checker at

www.drugs.com with your other meds.    And watch out for Nexium , it has it's own problems.

 

I LOVE that you're revamping your diet!    Here's to healthy choices ,    .

[calithebold]

Hi btdt, the hiatus hernia was diagnosed in 1996 after an endoscopy. It was before the effexor or any other ad. So not sure about all it. It's all just very confusing right now.

 

Fresh, I was on nexium for a very brief time but changed back to pariet after a bad reaction though I can't remember what that was now. Petu did a check the first time I joined and pretty much everything clashes. Lucky me! I'm not sure what is what.

 

What a day. I was sent to hospital by ambulance today after I nearly passed out in the pharmacy this morning. No one knows what to do with me, even myself. My toes and fingers have tingling and numbness, the shakes really bad, whole body shaking, dizziness, headache and tummy ache - sigh - my GP had me get a stomach x-ray as I am prone to constipation, just to confuse everything. The hospital couldn't get any blood out of me, tried both arms but the blood kept stopping and they tried to flush it as they wanted to put in a cannula and give me a bag of fluids. I'm obviously dehydrated as well. I am doing everything I can to get some food into me and trying to get some fluids in as well. I feel like someone put a blindfold on me, spun me around three times but forgot to take the blindfold off. Everyone here has had weird reactions before, so I know I'm not the only one. With all the drug changes, I'm not surprised really, it had to get me sooner or later.

[Fresh]

Cali ,  when I could barely eat , I was given some "formulated meal replacements" by a friend with cancer.

I specially liked the Nourish Smooth Fruits.

I just noticed they are made in Tennyson , Queensland , www.flavourcreations.com.au

 

Sorry your day was so scary.   Sending you and Cali a hug.  

[calithebold]

Thanks Fresh   I will definitely have a look at that website.
 

[AliG]

  Ohh!!! Cali, are you ok? where are you now?    Are you home?  So sorry that happened, to you. It's going to be ok.   Just another fork in the road .  Prayers and hugs,   Ali.

[calithebold]

Ali, thanks! I am home now thankfully. Another fork in the road indeed. I hope you're okay too

 

Would you believe when my GP asked me if anything had changed recently, I said no! Unbelievable! I can't think straight. Med changes galore since I saw him last

[calithebold]

Well I'm surprised today. I went to see my GP about my physical symptoms (excluding the dietary ones) and I was expecting him to tell me I had a virus or something like. He didn't. After I told him about the pristiq the first thing he said was withdrawal. I'm glad at least he is willing to see that   I always expect now that doc's will try and palm my symptoms off as something else, especially after my two hospital experiences in the last week. Geez, they were hopeless

[calithebold]

Feeling a bit better today. I think I need to just ride this out and hold as long as I need to. I really want to get stable before I taper anything and I feeling good it. I'm feeling happy about the changes to my diet too. I'm having a happy day this morning. It's so nice to feel like it despite my physical symptoms. I hope this continues

 

Thinking happy thoughts for all of you!

[calithebold]

Just found out my liver is enlarged. Very scared. Have to have an ultrasound on Monday morning.

[JanCarol]

The main post I could find was this one: 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/3503-histamine-food-intolerance/page-5?hl=%2Benlarged+%2Bliver#entry94419

 

Enlarged liver can be a sign of mastitis? (I have the term wrong, I'm leaving the house in 2 min)  and helped by histamine diet (there's that word again).

 

You might look at Btdt's thread, she may have more about it there.

 

Sorry you are having to go through this, sometimes the waiting is worse than the answer. 

[calithebold]

Thanks Jan, kinda all a bit scary actually

[calithebold]

I've done a little bit of reading when I could concentrate and one of the reasons of enlarge liver are diet and medication. I am feeling really angry right now at my doctor, that she got me into this position if this is the case. I can't believe how doctors hand out medication like their lollies. My doctor is one of those, though since I told her I wanted to taper off, she has been pretty good about not changing things. One thing I'm not sure of is that I have forgotten my 25mg seroquel at lunch time and I don't know whether to keep taking it or not. I think probably though I am not sure 100% I am scared of changing things at the moment. The other thing is that I have a massive headache and I don't know whether to take some paracetamol/tylenol. Like I said, I don't really want to add anything in, even that. Would anyone have a clue as to whether to take that or not? Or just ride it out and hope it goes away by resting?

[calithebold]

Considering this week, things are ok. I found out I'm almost anaemic and have high cholesterol but these things can be reversed and they will be. I'm making these things my priority now, my nutrition. It's my only body and so I must start taking care of it.

[Meimeiquest]

I've done a little bit of reading when I could concentrate and one of the reasons of enlarge liver are diet and medication. I am feeling really angry right now at my doctor, that she got me into this position if this is the case. I can't believe how doctors hand out medication like their lollies. My doctor is one of those, though since I told her I wanted to taper off, she has been pretty good about not changing things. One thing I'm not sure of is that I have forgotten my 25mg seroquel at lunch time and I don't know whether to keep taking it or not. I think probably though I am not sure 100% I am scared of changing things at the moment. The other thing is that I have a massive headache and I don't know whether to take some paracetamol/tylenol. Like I said, I don't really want to add anything in, even that. Would anyone have a clue as to whether to take that or not? Or just ride it out and hope it goes away by resting?

Do you maybe have fatty liver disease? (I think I might...I am really overweight). How your liver has handled all these meds at all is quite a wonder to me. You mist be quite healthy underneath it all! Tylenol depletes glutathione which is something a brain and liver really need. So if you can learn other ways to manage headache, you'll just be ahead of the game. Have you ever tried an Epsom salts bath? Great for relaxing and rumored good for detoxing. I use niacin for headache sometimes too, like 50mg. Everything you are learning just empowers you the more!

[calithebold]

Hi Meimeiquest, I think it's very possible I have fatty liver disease. My diet was full of sugar and carbs and no exercise but I am not overweight luckily. For some reason I haven't put it on weight with all that seroquel, or any of the others, amazing really. I have started walking and have cut sugar out of my diet. There are still some changes I need to make obviously, like getting off these drugs. I am not going to rush ahead and cut it all out, slow and steady wins the race, I hope.

 

The cause of the enlarged liver is still to be confirmed. Monday at 8am is the big date. I will find out the result on Wednesday.

[calithebold]

What a horrible day yesterday was. I shook all day. Dizzy. Tingling in my arms, hands and feet. Then my heart felt like it was pounding out of my chest. When I went to bed I got scared. I knew I was working myself up but I couldn't do anything, so I put on relaxation music and just lay there until what seemed like hours and it turns out it was. I saw 1am, still awake, not even tired. Then I did finally sleep with Cali laying right next to my legs, stretched right alongside them. I know this was partly anxiety because my chest was tight right up the top below my neck. When I noticed a sensation in my body, my chest would get tighter. Its damn scary.

 

Thankfully I feel a lot better today, except for the tightness in my chest which is still there a bit. I don't think I will feel 100% until I know my results of my liver scan. I keep thinking about all these drugs and it scares me half to death of the amount I'm on. I mean, I am really scared and so so angry.

[calithebold]

Well today is the day of my liver scan, keep your fingers crossed that it goes okay-ish at least. I have this horrible fear of dying at the moment, which makes it hard to sleep . Yesterday I had a really good day and I listened to my body and gave it what it needed. It felt nice . Wish me luck!

[Meimeiquest]

Wishing you luck!

[calithebold]

Thanks Meimeiquest

 

I went to the doc today expecting the absolute worst. Guess what, liver function blood test normal. Ultrasound Normal! I nearly fell off my chair. They scanned all my organs in my chest, all normal. How this has happened I'm not sure, but I'll accept it

 

In any case from now on my diet will remain the same, a healthy one. Lots of yummy healthy food and lots of water. My pdoc is going to make a plan with me for tapering, but it will be on my terms or I will find someone else.

 

I have a new lease on life, I really do. I am so incredibly lucky. Now all I have to do is shake the withdrawal I think I am still having from the pristiq, however long that will take and get rid of this bug I think I have. Poor sore throat and blocked up nose. Oh well, if that's all that's wrong, I have nothing to complain about

[btdt]

'Poor sore throat and blocked up nose"

For me these were wd issues.  I am glad you scan came back fine

when you say you have taken sugar out of your diet I want to ask if that includes flour?  Flour is really sugar by the time the body digests it. 

The best I have ever felt was when I took both out of my diet. 

 

I did not keep doing it in part due to losing control over my food with a car accident just eating whatever people would give me... but that is an old excuse now and I still have not changed back.  

 

What are you actually taking now?  

[btdt]

I have hiatus hernia too , diagnosed in the mid 90's. after 10 years on ad's.    Coincidence?

Cali , I'd be inclined to put what ever meds you've been prescribed for the hernia and nerve pain into the interaction checker at

www.drugs.com with your other meds.    And watch out for Nexium , it has it's own problems.

 

I LOVE that you're revamping your diet!    Here's to healthy choices ,    .

Me too. 

DX in 2004 not sure how long I had it before then... had another hernia from a surgical incision between the ribs for gallbladder removal.. called an incisional  hernia found out about that in 2007... I do wonder how much the drugs have to do with them both. I had been drugged for years before them both and know I did not heal after the gb surgery as expected incisions kept bleeding and would not stop. 

[calithebold]

Hi btdt, wow, never thought what I thought was a cold would turn out to be wd symptoms. I guess the only things I eat that have flour in them is bread and wholegrain pasta? not sure about the last one. Everything else now is fresh fruit, veggies and meat, brown rice. I also have frozen veggies sometimes, not sure if that's bad or not.

 

My list of current medications which I took out of my signature:-

I've been on this list of medications for a long time, I'll try and put the year started after each medication and I'm still on them today.

Lithium carbonate: 750mg (2000); Seroquel 25mg (2000); Seroquel-XR 600mg (2005); Pariet 40mg (2000); Lamictal 250mg (2010); Lyrica 300mg (2011); Abilify 20mg (2012). A hell of a lot I know. I'm not taking nexium.

 

I can't believe my scans were fine

[btdt]

The diet sounds good to me bread and bit of pasta is not going to hurt that much if your active you need some carbs. 

this is the line in the drug list history that had me confused..

 I was taken off all these medications in the last year cold turkey. So I get it now everything in blue you stopped everything in green you still take. 

Did they say why they were giving you each of these drugs?  What were they treating>  just curious.  

 

That is a lot of drugs. For sure.  I could not even guess where to start with this except to get as stable as you can if you can while still taking all these. 

 

the green I'm on now, the blue I was on last year or before and taken off last year,

 

feel like I am doing one of those tricky word games where I am suppose to write the color I see then the color I am writing... green no purple... eeekkk it is a bit confusing to those of us easily confused... but I have it now 

 

Did the same doctor put you on all these drugs?  

Can one doctor take a look at them all or lets say every doctor you see take a look at them all. To get an opinion and to be sure they know what all you are taking before they add on another drug.  They are responsible for your well being and can be held accountable but best to avoid all that and be sure they all know EVERYTHING your taking. 

[btdt]

I checked the drugs you still on for interactions this came up

Significant - Monitor Closely

• aripiprazole + quetiapine

  aripiprazole and quetiapine both increase antidopaminergic effects, including extrapyramidal symptoms and neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Potential for interaction, monitor.

• aripiprazole + quetiapine

  aripiprazole and quetiapine both increase sedation. Potential for interaction, monitor.

[calithebold]

Doing my signature was a nightmare. I don't know how to do it to be honest. There is so much there. Maybe I should take the list of meds I was on last year and just leave the pristiq in.

 

Two doctors put me on these meds and they both know what I am on. Yesterday I had a meds review by a consultant pharmacist and he is going to recommend a reduction in medication (what a surprise). But said other things, supplements were good. He also checked I was doing my blood sugar okay and did my blood pressure and weight. My pdoc is going to start a plan of getting off these drugs. I think she feels really awful about my scare -- well good! She needs to feel bad.

 

Thank you for looking at the meds. I am not sure I understand the first one but I will look it up. Yes and they scare the crap out of me right now.

[btdt]

 

I checked the drugs you still on for interactions this came up

Significant - Monitor Closely

• aripiprazole + quetiapine

  aripiprazole and quetiapine both increase antidopaminergic effects, including extrapyramidal symptoms and neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Potential for interaction, monitor.

• aripiprazole + quetiapine

  aripiprazole and quetiapine both increase sedation. Potential for interaction, monitor.

 

Abilify is the first one and seroquel I think is the second...

 

I would leave the signature the way it is seems like I just missed bits reading it ... I do that a lot and for some reason don't seem to see things.  

I am glad they are looking at some changes maybe it will do you the world of good getting the right people on board to double check things can't hurt that is for sure. 

Try not to worry your heading in the right direction now... I know easier said than done.  I would check here just in case if what they say makes you feel uneasy.. I tend to like to hear from people who have lived thru a purposed change in a drug as I trust them more. 

peace

[calithebold]

Hi btdt, Luckily I did know which drud was which, I'd be in trouble if I didn't. Thanks for all your help. I did have a question, when you were in wd did you ever feel like a hand was wrapped around you chest and back like a pressure, just squeezing? Weird question I know

[AliG]

  Hi Cali, So happy about your tests!  Glad to see you're eating "healthy".   You seem to be going well. Keep up the good work.    Ali.

[JanCarol]

Yah, anyone want to take bets on how fast her chemist and pdoc want to rip her off the meds?  And which one is first?

 

This would be a great office pool, the variables are perfect.  I'm hoping they go for the seroquel first, and taper at 10%.  BUT NOT UNTIL the wobblies from the Pristiq have stopped!

 

BUT I would BET that they will look at Lamictal or something weird, like the lithium (which is hard on kidneys and liver), and try and pull the root out first with something like "a half tablet for a week or two, then go off......."  

 

Any bets?  

[calithebold]

Dr K is sadly mistaken if she thinks I'm going to change anything at this point until the wd stop from the pristiq. I will tell her straight that I know my body and I know what it needs and it needs to rest. If she pushes it I will go somewhere else. I don't care what she thinks at this point because any changes she wants to make are only because she wants to cover her ass. Regardless of what she wants, I'm holding until I know this has subsided.

[btdt]

Yah, anyone want to take bets on how fast her chemist and pdoc want to rip her off the meds?  And which one is first?

 

This would be a great office pool, the variables are perfect.  I'm hoping they go for the seroquel first, and taper at 10%.  BUT NOT UNTIL the wobblies from the Pristiq have stopped!

 

BUT I would BET that they will look at Lamictal or something weird, like the lithium (which is hard on kidneys and liver), and try and pull the root out first with something like "a half tablet for a week or two, then go off......."  

 

Any bets?  

I think you should ask the other mods to make bets as I know I am not up on this enough to even guess... I would not have a clue what is right either. 

 

I do know one of the drugs... the pariet I had side effects from it at 20mg but I can't recall what they were... I know I am of so little help... I know it was not good... when I went down to 10 I noticed a big difference If and or when I recall the side effect I will come back and post... I was thinking about it earlier today so I could tell you but... I just can't get it to come up. 

peace

PS 

the only other drug on your list I have tried in lyrica and I thought it too strong the doc gave me a lower dose while he laughed at me and I could not tolerate it either... that is all I got. 

[calithebold]

Thanks btdt, I totally think you are not of little help, you have helped a lot already, so thank you.

 

I spoke the pharmacist about the pariet and he agreed that I would be better off reducing it at least. Before the wd I had been on pariet for quite a while and didn't seem to have an effect that I know of, of course. Since I've changed my diet I no longer think I need it anyway. The other day I did eat one unhealthy thing and ended up feeling very sick, so now I am careful not to eat things like that. I would definitely reduce the pariet so I will look it up and see the best way to taper it. First though I do want to be more stable. I'm not really sure of what order to think about tapering when I am stable, it's confusing to me really as in all honesty I don't know enough about the drugs I am on, which is terrible I know. I was actually thinking the seroquel-XR. I am seeing Dr K today to see what she says but I will take charge and from now on I make the decisions. It feels so good to say that.

[btdt]

Ask Alto too it can't hurt still make your own choices and do your own research.  

There is a thread on here about tapering ppi drugs .. I think there is one about the down side of them too I may have been the one who put that up I can't recall what it says tho... same old memory glitches today... they come they go. 

Jan Carol has some ideas about the drugs too maybe ask her to explain them I don't know enough to help other than those two one of which I could not take. There are different doses of pariet and my doc gave me both 10 and 20 and lots of 10 she said take what feels right to me. As she knows I am a difficult patient with a lot of drug issues and I will not stop whining and going back till she fixes issues... when I am well enough at least... If I am sick and have an issue I will go someplace else if I can't get heard there... 

that is how it is now.