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☼ Mixter: hello from a survivor


Mixter

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Hello!

 

I am an antidepressant/serotonin agent victim since 11 years old,

due to misdiagnosis of Lyme for 23 years, since I got it when I was a 6 year child.

 

Been on Sandomigrin (pizotifen) which is a serotonin agent and also affects the histamine/cholinergic system.

 

Made the dizziness attacks stop and my symptoms improved but very lazy and tired.

 

Quit after some years, the symptoms returned very slowly and also had withdrawal for years off the agent.

 

Had a panic attack, and depression when I moved to an apartment for higher studies,

and was put on Celexa and then Effexor in high dose (300mg)

 

Tried to quit the Effexor too fast after 7 years on antidepressants, horrible symptoms. Was hospitaled and reinstated,

upped to 450 mg's and never worked fully, even more horrible symptoms.

 

Slow tapering improved the symptoms, until I hit a wall at 126 mgs when I "overworked",

and that was when I finally got Lyme diagnosis, when I was hospitaled again.

 

I became severly agitated, near psychosis, could not sleep, severe restless legs/pain/akathisia/cramps.

 

Updosed to 150-165 mgs, found a private doc that prescribed antibiotics.

 

Tried a course of triple antibiotics, which helped but came with side effects.

Quit them after I discovered colloidal silver.

 

Now back at around 144 mgs, slowly tapering again and think I feel better.

Also C-vitamin has helped settle down many of the symptoms.

 

Using Colloidal silver, C-vitamin, Digestive enzymes, Antioxidants,

Calcium/magnesium combo, Probiotics, vit B to combat symptoms of withdrawal and Lyme.

 

I hope, eventually I will survive this whole ordeal/mess!

Edited by Neuroplastic
Adding the poster's name to the topic's heading
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Welcome Mixter! We have been in touch too no the other side. Although my ordeal has not been so long as yours, I understand perfectly well what has happend to you and how it feels that you were done so much harm by so called doctors.

Slowly getting to zero will be your first target I guess. And inbetween work on your health as much as possible. Wish you all the best ans a lot of strength.

Greetings, Claudius (DG on PP)

10 mg Paxil/Seroxat since 2002
several attempts to quit since 2004
Quit c/t again Oktober 2007, in protracted w/d since then
after 3.5 years slight improvement but still on the road

after 6 years pretty much recovered but still some nasty residual sypmtons
after 8.5 years working again on a 90% base and basically functioning normally again!

 

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Hallo Mixter!

 

Wellcome to this forum!!

Verry nice to have you in here!

 

We all go the way together!!!

 

Greetings

 

tramond

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Hi Mixter... it's nice to see you here! I was Rain on the other forum. Hope you are doing better and better all the time!

 

Summer

 

 

Charter Member 2011

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Hi MIx,

 

Welcome buddy, its great to see you here,

and i wish you all the best on your journey to wellness.

Yes, i know you from the other site too lol.

Began taking 30mg Seroxat on 15th Jan 1997 for grief issues. Remained at that dosage until Dec 05, did doctor ct, akathesia set in along with being non functional and overly emotional, brain fog. Doctor prescribed prozac, propranelol and diazeapam to counteract side effects, and told me to ct those 3 after 2.5/3 months use, induced wd seizure on 2nd day after ct. Was reinstated on seroxat 20mg in april 06, remained at that dose until Nov 07 and began a very slow taper lasting 56 months, finally DRUG FREE on 11th may 2011.

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hi Mixter,

 

welcome here,

for anxiety 

12 years paxil - cold turkey 1,5 month - switch celexa 1 year taper; total 13 years on brain meds 

67 years old - 9 years  med free

 

in protracted withdrawal

rigidity standing and walking, dryness gougerot-szoegren, sleep deteriorate,

function as have a lack of nerves, improving have been very little 

 

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Hi Mixer, welcome to SA :D

Began Paxil 10/97*

Paxil free 10/16/04 (tapered over 2.5 months)

Severe withdrawal

12/04 started Lexapro due to Paxil w/d symptoms (tapered over 4 months)

Lexapro free 8/2/05

 

2 1/2 year severe protracted withdrawal

Doing well now with a few residual symptoms

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Hey, Mixter! Great to see you! Keep us updated about your progress. Take it step by step and all will be fine.

2000-2008 Paxil for a situational depression

2008 - Paxil c/t

Severe protracted WD syndrome ever since; improving

 

 

“The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once”

Albert Einstein

 

"Add signature to your profile. This way we can help you even better!"

Surviving Antidepressants ;)

 

And, above all, ... keep walking. Just keep walking.

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Here you are! I'm glad you're here, my friend.

 

You have already shown yourself to be strong, smart, always open to learning new ideas, always trying to heal. There is no question -- you will survive this ordeal. Furthermore, you are going to do something very creative and inspiring to others with all that you have learned. I've known you long enough to see this about you.

1996-97 - Paxil x 9 months, tapered, suffered 8 months withdrawal but didn't know it was withdrawal, so...

1998-2001 - Zoloft, tapered, again unwittingly went into withdrawal, so...

2002-03 - Paxil x 20 months, developed severe headaches, so...

Sep 03 - May 05 - Paxil taper took 20 months, severe physical, moderate psychological symptoms

Sep 03 - Jun 05 - took Prozac to help with Paxil taper - not recommended

Jul 05 to date - post-taper, severe psychological, moderate physical symptoms, improving very slowly

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  • Administrator

Mixter, good to hear you've made some improvement.

 

How did they figure out you've had Lyme for so long???

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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Warm Welcome to you Mixter!

 

 

Good to see you here and I hope we can assist you in your journey. You've been through so much and continue to endure much but you're making it.

 

 

Your determination is evident and I sincerely wish you days of comfort, peace and freedom from Effexor.

 

 

You will make it!

 

 

Punarbhava

To Face My Trials with "The Grace of a Woman Rather Than the Grief of a Child". (quote section by Veronica A. Shoffstall)

 

Be Not Afraid of Growing Slowly. Be Afraid of Only Standing Still.

(Chinese Proverb)

 

I Create and Build Empowerment Within Each Time I Choose to Face A Fear, Sit with it and Ask Myself, "What Do I Need to Learn?"

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Hey mixter welcome! I was wondering if you tested positive on your lyme test and what test did you have. Thanks

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  • 3 weeks later...

Reduced to 136.8 mg (48 pellets down off 150 mg, 24 from previous cut-143.4mgs after something like 18 days due to severe depression)

 

No cant get a diagnosis here in Sweden, crappy **** hospital and healthcare!

 

In Germany and Norway there is.. but expensive, maybe worth?

It doesn't matter, I know I have Lyme already.

 

*Having a girl* helps me endure but the severe depression (after severe agitation lessened off to Lyme damage healing) was hard.

 

So I reduced and I feel better, but sad.. and confused, but seems the head pressure symptoms improve too so maybe there's a blockade.

But also I suspect serotonin defiency, in poop out state. Lyme could have caused transportation issues, toxic waste build up

and blockades in the paths all everywhere in my body. But crawlings and vibration is less - a very good sign!

 

Even after the drop! Compared to "other drops before I crashed due to Lyme" So.. maybe that's it?

 

Cutoff of the signal paths makes severe agitation or severe depression. Seems the two forms are closely related I think.

 

Going with using Ibuprofen to reduce inflammation/thin the blood and ease/improve Colloidal silver passage, with Krill oil and Omega-3's.

 

So hope it will eat away Lyme spirochetes easier deeper into the tissues, when the tissues are less inflammed and blood is alot thinner.

 

Iodine to increase Immune defence. C-vitamin to reduce inflammation, megadosing.

 

Soo let see if I get any good results..

 

Thanks everyone! I am very glad to be back into the boxing ring.

 

But I hate to have a new "hard and uncooperative psych doc" I must be smart and not fall into the traps.

 

He even refuse to prescribe meds to me if I don't cooperate and "take your meds" as per the journal entries.

 

Untold lesson: Never say that you quit meds on your self without cooperating with your doc. (antipsychotics, in hospital)

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  • Administrator

Mixter, have you been in the hospital? And treated with antipsychotics?

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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Yes and I tried them, they didn't help the symptoms and I tried to explain for the docs.

 

But they didn't listen, only switched from Perphenazine to Abilify etc.

 

Lucky that I was only on them for 2 weeks. They caused some akathisia too.

 

If I didn't take them I would be released from hospital.

 

Yes I was admitted to hospital after I "crashed", but it was Lyme attacking my body. Severe leg cramps, pain, restless, akathisiac, very anxious and agitated.

 

I updosed to over 150 mgs and also slowly upping to protect my body by serotonin enhancing immune defence,

managed to get triple antibiotic treatment by private doc.

 

It helped, but had some side effects it killed my gut flora and caused lots of diarrhea.

 

Colloidal silver is much, much better for me.

 

It is malpractice to treat Lyme brain with antipsychotics.

Against somatic symptoms (which was for this indication they used it for!)

 

It did not help my symptoms.

 

Only the antibiotics and colloidal silver (against main symptoms),

sometimes muscle relaxers (biperiden - Akineton and diazepam, against leg cramps),

also pain meds like Tylenol/Ibuprofen for leg pain and other pains (headaches, stomach pain, kidney pains).

 

I am doing much better and avoided to fall in the trap, but the docs are pretty fucked up.

 

Was there for 3 weeks, around May.

 

I got back my blood draw test results recently and they were perfect. No kidney/liver damage etc.

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  • Administrator

What a relief about the blood tests.

 

How did they find you have Lyme disease?

 

You're on 150mg Effexor now?

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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Hey Mix! I'm glad you've done another drop. And I'm glad you've moved to gentler treatments for the Lyme. And that's great news about having no kidney/liver damage!

 

Yeah, it's terrible to have anti-psychotic meds forced on you!!!

 

Hope your lady is doing well!

 

Sending you lots of healing energy! B)

1996-97 - Paxil x 9 months, tapered, suffered 8 months withdrawal but didn't know it was withdrawal, so...

1998-2001 - Zoloft, tapered, again unwittingly went into withdrawal, so...

2002-03 - Paxil x 20 months, developed severe headaches, so...

Sep 03 - May 05 - Paxil taper took 20 months, severe physical, moderate psychological symptoms

Sep 03 - Jun 05 - took Prozac to help with Paxil taper - not recommended

Jul 05 to date - post-taper, severe psychological, moderate physical symptoms, improving very slowly

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  • 1 month later...

Thank you. For a long time since, I have finally come back under the 126mg when I updosed in April or May 2011.

 

I am at 123mgs now, agitated but doing ok in other terms. Not so bad, and on low dose antibiotic + colloidal silver.

 

It was interesting to see how the effects of abx+col.silver did make me feel more normal, that the sudden "sensation dumps" did go away.

 

Making me feel more balanced, but still feeling on the "side" or the other. Which meant I could be severly depressed, or agitated.

 

Lyme has imprinted this type of neurological changes in my CNS, and added on - making my CNS more confused.

 

Now when straighting out this, it will go backwards. Remembering words that I thought I had forgotten, suddenly.

 

Dreams, sensations, emotions. *one by one* only in chronological order backwards when I experienced them, long time ago. Weird!

 

I am hanging in there and I wish you everything well.

 

I am sorry Healing that you had to leave, but I understand, as always.

 

I am not on anything else, like antipsychotics as they gave me horrible akathisia and didnt help.

 

Only on selected supplements, and the antibiotic Doxycycline 200mg + 30 ml 10 ppm strength colloidal silver / day.

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  • Administrator

Good to hear from you, Mixter.

 

bronxboy just reported he's gotten a diagnosis of Lyme disease http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1057-lyme-disease/

 

Is the low dose antibiotic and colloidal silver a treatment for Lyme?

 

How are you reducing Effexor? Are you taking out the pellets again?

 

Very interesting about the memory changes. Is this a known pattern for healing from Lyme?

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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Hi mixter, your story sounds just like mine I was given a/d at age 17 and im now 37 it is he'll going though w/d in top of a lyme brain it took me 20 years to find a true answer :( but at least me have one now, I don't know about you but the ocd from the lyme is insane.I hope you get the relief soon I feel your pain. Bronxboy :)

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In Sweden there is very bad knowledge how to treat Lyme so I am stuck. Much more knowledge in Germany, Norway, Åland etc.

 

But at least, the dock acknowledges and prescribes Doxycycline to me which many Swedish people miss.

Often they must become deadly ill - or die before attention is taken, this has happened.

 

Use google translator to translate them:

 

http://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/article12425490.ab

http://www.aftonbladet.se/halsa/article12436947.ab

 

Colloidal silver is to boost the antibiotic effect.

It has some effect against Lyme too.

 

I think if I am experiencing this, must be happening others too?

I have also these eye floaters of spirochetes, pretty much severe.

 

It looks exact like thousands of spirochetes and often moving tight in rows.

It happened after my crash, when they seemed to come out from the biofilm they lived in.

 

Yes I have severe depression and agitation from Lyme but is improving with the 2 treatments.

I have no other options.

 

Yes, I am taking out them. I will also use the scale if I need to.

 

123.5 mgs now for 5 days, severly depressed but resting/sleep is making depression go away. Opinions?

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  • Administrator

Sounds like the taper off Effexor is working.

 

Did you have tests that found the spirochetes?

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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Hi Mixter... I'm rain from PP.

 

 

I notice that you seem much improved from the early days of your taper. You're doing so well with hanging in there and taking good care of yourself.

 

Sending positive vibes for continued improvement.

 

Summer

 

 

Charter Member 2011

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi Mixter... I'm rain from PP.

 

 

I notice that you seem much improved from the early days of your taper. You're doing so well with hanging in there and taking good care of yourself.

 

Sending positive vibes for continued improvement.

 

Summer

 

I am kinda, improved the sudden jumps in sensitivity has ceased but new symptoms like depression and, agitation has came.

 

I am not doing so well but I have windows sometimes, but more rarely now.

 

I have got the symptom feeling body pressure/tension or cramps (whole nerves) and kinda everything muscles, legs

feels so weak when moving. Anyone get these? Always before I am going to drop, in tolerance.

 

I am trying, but it has been only 14-15 days now feeling worse.

 

Exercise seems to help prolong the holding but there is a limit how much. I managed 8 weeks, then I got to ER due to pains.

I sometimes have good windows when I can relax, but seems it gets gobbled up between. Alternating days!!!

 

Different now maybe, that I am on many antibiotics. But I do think my immune defence is attacking healthy tissue too.

As there is in Lyme, when the body attacks something it can't find.

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Hi Mixter... I'm rain from PP.

 

 

I notice that you seem much improved from the early days of your taper. You're doing so well with hanging in there and taking good care of yourself.

 

Sending positive vibes for continued improvement.

 

Summer

 

I am kinda, improved the sudden jumps in sensitivity has ceased but new symptoms like depression and, agitation has came.

 

I am not doing so well but I have windows sometimes, but more rarely now.

 

I have got the symptom feeling body pressure/tension or cramps (whole nerves) and kinda everything muscles, legs

feels so weak when moving. Anyone get these? Always before I am going to drop, in tolerance.

 

I am trying, but it has been only 14-15 days now feeling worse.

 

Exercise seems to help prolong the holding but there is a limit how much. I managed 8 weeks, then I got to ER due to pains.

I sometimes have good windows when I can relax, but seems it gets gobbled up between. Alternating days!!!

 

Different now maybe, that I am on many antibiotics. But I do think my immune defence is attacking healthy tissue too.

As there is in Lyme, when the body attacks something it can't find.

 

Mix I am having trouble understanding you why are you going to emerg... what pain?

Some antibiotics are not good to take with Effexor I hope you have researched how they are metabolized before you take them at the very least search for drug interactions.

Were you tested for lyme and it came up positive? If you have had lyme such a long time why is it so important to treat it now??? I am sorry if this sounds stupid I just don't know much about lyme and if it is not a deadly disease could you not wait till you are done with tapering to fix the lyme? I read you have had it since you were six since you lived this long without treatment I suspect it is not fatal.

Getting off E is a job all by itself and the other drugs may tax you system maybe not too I don't really know just concerned.

WARNING THIS WILL BE LONG
Had a car accident in 85
Codeine was the pain med when I was release from hosp continuous use till 89
Given PROZAC by a specialist to help with nerve pain in my leg 89-90 not sure which year
Was not told a thing about it being a psych med thought it was a pain killer no info about psych side effects I went nuts had hallucinations. As I had a head injury and was diagnosed with a concussion in 85 I was sent to a head injury clinic in 1990 five years after the accident. I don't think they knew I had been on prozac I did not think it a big deal and never did finish the bottle of pills. I had tests of course lots of them. Was put into a pain clinic and given amitriptyline which stopped the withdrawal but had many side effects. But I could sleep something I had not done in a very long time the pain lessened. My mother got cancer in 94 they switched my meds to Zoloft to help deal with this pressure as I was her main care giver she died in 96. I stopped zoloft in 96 had withdrawal was put on paxil went nutty quit it ct put on resperidol quit it ct had withdrawal was put on Effexor... 2years later celexa was added 20mg then increased to 40mg huge personality change went wild. Did too fast taper off Celexa 05 as I felt unwell for a long time prior... quit Effexor 150mg ct 07 found ****** 8 months into withdrawal learned some things was banned from there in 08 have kept learning since. there is really not enough room here to put my history but I have a lot of opinions about a lot of things especially any of the drugs mentioned above.
One thing I would like to add here is this tidbit ALL OPIATES INCREASE SEROTONIN it is not a huge jump to being in chronic pain to being put on an ssri/snri and opiates will affect your antidepressants and your thinking.

As I do not update much I will put my quit date Nov. 17 2007 I quit Effexor cold turkey. 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1096-introducing-myself-btdt/

There is a crack in everything ..That's how the light gets in :)

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  • 2 weeks later...

btdt, severe pains in my stomach, felt like my body stopped working.

 

Effexor covered up my Lyme symptoms, now they are back when maybe Effexor poop out, it feel worrying!

 

Antibiotics have helped and stopped many symptoms, and 5-htp keeping my head up/depression anxiety much gone.

 

But I will run out of them in 4-5 days, and I know I will become much, much worse again.

 

I am considering to order ABs from EU pharmacy, if docs dont give me more.

 

I am holding, 4 weeks now and sometimes I think I am worse, sometimes not, making me think I can hold more.

 

I have cold skin sensations on my body and stinging needles sometimes, in my feet/hands.

 

Sleep is still good, but sometimes my brain/eye pressure is in max pressure mode that I cant sleep until I take Tylenol or something.

 

I am very worried...

 

I can't taper Effexor first and then take deal of Lyme because Lyme is attacking my body bad and worse really, when I am off.

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  • Administrator

We're all rooting for you here, Mixter. Hang in there.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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  • 3 weeks later...

116.9 mgs now since 11 sept.

 

I had feelings of hitting a wall with lots of nausea, vibrations and dizziness, pressure in throat and so on..

Had to take antihistamine which I still take now, it is Hydroxyzine (Atarax) for some days it helps. So I can continue taper..

 

Still take low dose antibiotic, but supply is nearly gone now.

 

My goal for now is going down to 75 mg..

 

It is rough but thanks to Atarax (symptoms lower) I am doing better again.

 

No longer together with girlfriend, but I think it was best.. too much stress.

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"My goal for now is going down to 75 mg.." quote from Mixter

 

 

I remember when you started this journey. You've come a long way. Keep up the good work!

 

 

Charter Member 2011

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  • Administrator

Mixter, how are you measuring your reduction? Do you have an electronic scale?

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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hi Mixter,

 

slowly you walk forward, 75 mg is a good goal, and then see how you feel...

 

bye

for anxiety 

12 years paxil - cold turkey 1,5 month - switch celexa 1 year taper; total 13 years on brain meds 

67 years old - 9 years  med free

 

in protracted withdrawal

rigidity standing and walking, dryness gougerot-szoegren, sleep deteriorate,

function as have a lack of nerves, improving have been very little 

 

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No, I am counting out pellets. Now it is 120 pellets off.

 

Will use scale later.

 

I think Effexor absorption in stomach is poor, because I have poor stomach function.

 

I am considering switching to Celexa because of it.

 

Sometimes when my stomach is working better, I feel more "sedated" and numb.

 

Lyme is a big problem, I have a bit of vertigo and uneasiness, low mood etc. Vibrations inside. Eye trouble, headaches.

 

It doesn't feel like withdrawal to me anymore. Antibiotics (low dose now, running out) does not really help.

 

Only higher doses, and multiple combinations which I can't get here in Sweden.

 

Had a appointment with my new bad psych doc, the doc was harsh, clumpsy telling things, unsure and "mean" about some compliance things.

But thanks to my dad was with me, and he got really upset on the doc - and doc changed opinion about me.

 

He had decided before to not write the certificate that I was sick. It was sickening to hear what the psych doc said about me.

 

Clumpsy words! Like he didnt get the big picture about me and my history.

 

After appointment (It was a big one with 10 persons like social staff, contact person, etc), the doc went to my dad and said an excuse.

 

I am glad that my dad helped me and doc changed his mind!

 

Have to order antibiotics too. God save me...

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  • Administrator

At least your father helped you with the doctor. All we can do is go forward in our struggles.

 

You're an inspiration, Mixter.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

All postings © copyrighted.

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