☼ Junglechicken

[Junglechicken]

Still getting the "tongue scum" on the back of the tongue, and coating.

 

Ughh!

 

ND says its due to toxicity in the colon (which makes sense).

 

It started after we got back from the cruise beginning of September.  I was constipated during the whole week, and then came down with a virus, had on-going gut issues for a bit, along with my unhappy tongue.

 

Time for a colon cleanse?

[Junglechicken]

I started CBT in therapy today.

 

Let's see how it goes.

[Junglechicken]

GP reckons I am headed towards early menopause (don't have a cycle anymore, TOTM arrived on Day 50).

 

Various testing being done to determine whether HRT required.

 

Currently have this pain in my left side under rib cage.  It started out as little stitches, and has been getting worse ☹️  Have booked a GP appointment, but earliest one is 8th Nov.

 

Had interview today, and have one tomorrow as well.

 

[jozeff]

Thanks for your update junglechicken.

 

I was wondering how your therapy is going? 

 

I hope you will benefit from this!

 

How is your escitalopram WD? Just for my info: are you free from this med since April 2018?

 

 

I wish you all the best in your healing!

The menopause is yet another problem but since I'm a man I let other advise you😉

 

Cheers

Jozeff

[Junglechicken]

Worst heartburn of my life early hrs of this morning.  Spent a couple of hrs sitting upright in bed and had half a night's sleep.

 

What started out as little stitches in my left side (diaphragm), has become much worse.  GP appointment made, but have to wait until 8th Nov.  Really worried.

 ☹️

 

Tongue still has this awful grey coating on it - I haven't been healthy for months.

 

Survived both interviews (on Thurs and Friday) last wk.  Friday one looks hopeful.

[Scorpio]

Hi jc

 

Im sorry you are going through such a rotten time hopefully when you get to eventually see the doctor he will set your mind at rest. If it’s really bad ring the national health number 111 as if they think it needs it a doctor rings you and will arrange for you to be seen immediately. 

 

‘’Fingers crossed for a successful result from your interviews you are doing so well being able to attend them. As for hrt if they find you need it, I’ve been taking it for years and will fight anyone who tries to stop me. I was an early menopause victim and it certainly really helped me. 

 

Hugs

[Junglechicken]

1 minute ago, Scorpio said:

Hi jc

 

Im sorry you are going through such a rotten time hopefully when you get to eventually see the doctor he will set your mind at rest. If it’s really bad ring the national health number 111 as if they think it needs it a doctor rings you and will arrange for you to be seen immediately. 

 

‘’Fingers crossed for a successful result from your interviews you are doing so well being able to attend them. As for hrt if they find you need it, I’ve been taking it for years and will fight anyone who tries to stop me. I was an early menopause victim and it certainly really helped me. 

 

Hugs

 

Hi Scorpio,

 

Long time no speak etc., good to hear from you and hope you're ok?

 

Thanks for the 111 NHS info, I had forgotten about that.  Needless to say the catastrophic thinking has taken hold.  I think it's a GI tract issue, but have never had anything this severe before.

 

Am happy to go ahead with HRT (which is looking likely).  Waiting for a swab test result to come back, then on the 1st Nov I'm having another FSH done.

 

Yes, will be good to finally have a job and be able to contribute to the household bills (it's been 3 yrs since I last worked).

 

Hugs

[Scorpio]

Hi jc

 

well you are doing brilliantly to be able to return to the world of work - exciting for you. Now you just have to get on top of these aches and pains. Hopefully they will sort themselves out and fade away. Good luck with the swab test, it will be good to know either way. 

 

‘’I had six weeks of being upright  not brilliant but able to get out and about including 10 days holiday in Tenerife in a lovely hotel with the family - amazing considering for many months just to get to a local shop was a huge achievement. Went back down into the black hole for the past week or so but trying to keep going. 

 

Hugs

[Junglechicken]

9 minutes ago, Scorpio said:

Hi jc

 

well you are doing brilliantly to be able to return to the world of work - exciting for you. Now you just have to get on top of these aches and pains. Hopefully they will sort themselves out and fade away. Good luck with the swab test, it will be good to know either way. 

 

‘’I had six weeks of being upright  not brilliant but able to get out and about including 10 days holiday in Tenerife in a lovely hotel with the family - amazing considering for many months just to get to a local shop was a huge achievement. Went back down into the black hole for the past week or so but trying to keep going. 

 

Hugs

 

We'll see how the job thing goes Scorpio.  The previous attempt at working didn't work out.

 

When you say you had "six weeks of being upright/uptight", do you mean you were more or less housebound?

 

Tenerife with family sounds wonderful, and getting out of our various mental rutts is much needed I think.  We spent a week in Croatia and fell in love with the place!

 

Hugs

[Scorpio]

Hi jc

 

no some of the anxiety and other debilitating symptoms eased, slept better, ate better, still not up to the social life I did have before w/d but happy to go out and travel further afield. Not up to socialising with friends but doing more of the things I used to enjoy albeit still a long way to go. 

 

Never been to croatia will add it to the list. Tenerife is somewhere we have been to quite a lot so made it easier for me. 

[Junglechicken]

53 minutes ago, Scorpio said:

Hi jc

 

no some of the anxiety and other debilitating symptoms eased, slept better, ate better, still not up to the social life I did have before w/d but happy to go out and travel further afield. Not up to socialising with friends but doing more of the things I used to enjoy albeit still a long way to go. 

 

Never been to croatia will add it to the list. Tenerife is somewhere we have been to quite a lot so made it easier for me. 

 

That's great Scorpio, you're definitely on the road to recovery. 

 

I recall during early WD days travel was out of the question as way too stressful, at least the  physical repurcussions were unbearable.

 

Im like you re: the socialising bit....I find it a huge strain.  The main reason is feeling like a rabbit in the headlights.

 

Yes, Croatia definitely worth a visit...in fact any country on the Adriatic.

 

 

[Junglechicken]

GP appointment today to get to bottom of pain under rib cage on left side.

 

Wish me luck ☹️

[Junglechicken]

On 10/18/2018 at 6:50 PM, jozeff said:

Thanks for your update junglechicken.

 

I was wondering how your therapy is going? 

 

I hope you will benefit from this!

 

How is your escitalopram WD? Just for my info: are you free from this med since April 2018?

 

 

I wish you all the best in your healing!

The menopause is yet another problem but since I'm a man I let other advise you😉

 

Cheers

Jozeff

 

Hi Jozeff,

 

Thank you for stopping by.

 

My therapy is progressing, in that I am now on Wk 3 of CBT.  My therapist got fed up with the same ole stuck record grievances, and took the bull by the horns in order to get "mind over mood".  

 

Hmm, the question of WD is a tricky one in that I can't tell if my symptoms relate to WD, or peri-menopause, and losing my father earlier this year.  Could well be all 3.

 

Healing is one step forward and two steps back trajectory.

 

How about you? 

 

JC

[Scorpio]

Hi jc

 

good luck, thinking of you, hopefully will all be sorted today. 

 

Hugs

[Junglechicken]

25 minutes ago, Scorpio said:

Hi jc

 

good luck, thinking of you, hopefully will all be sorted today. 

 

Hugs

 

Thank you Scorpio, nervous as heck.

 

Hugs back

[Junglechicken]

So, NOTHING wrong.....doctor tested another urine sample (-ve) and abdominal exam revealed nothing.

 

She said if pain continued to go back for another check-up, and recommended Buscopan for constipation 

 

On the peri-menopause front, swab also came back -ve culture.  This is now pointing to oestrogen decline, and so FSH blood test may provide more evidence.

 

Gunky tongue normal too apparently......

 

Had stopped eating sugar again because I thought I had a candida overgrowth.

 

 

[apace41]

2 minutes ago, Junglechicken said:

So, NOTHING wrong

 

Hi, JC. Is it possible that this is "just" the ridiculous symptoms of withdrawal?

Best,

 

Andy

Edited October 22, 2018 by apace41

[Junglechicken]

1 hour ago, apace41 said:

 

Hi, JC. Is it possible that this is "just" the ridiculous symptoms of withdrawal?

Best,

 

Andy

 

Andy,

 

I don't know.

 

I'm the right age for these hormonal shifts approaching menopause, and just maybe WD exacerbates the endocrine response that much more.

 

Its an answer I'm not sure any of us know?

 

Best,

JC

[Scorpio]

Hi jc

 

well that’s really good news that there is nothing nasty to worry about. I think as apace said it’s all part of the horrible w/d. working it’s way out of your system. So your still waiting for results as to whether you need hrt, do you have long to wait. 

‘Just ignore your tongue, I think we all go through times when our tongue is not so attractive, do you brush it while cleaning your teeth, that helps sometimes. 

 

Hugs

[Junglechicken]

1 minute ago, Scorpio said:

Hi jc

 

well that’s really good news that there is nothing nasty to worry about. I think as apace said it’s all part of the horrible w/d. working it’s way out of your system. So your still waiting for results as to whether you need hrt, do you have long to wait. 

‘Just ignore your tongue, I think we all go through times when our tongue is not so attractive, do you brush it while cleaning your teeth, that helps sometimes. 

 

Hugs

 

Thanks Scorpio,

 

Yes always good news when a result comes back negative.

 

I think the next HRT hurdle is the FSH blood test (1st Nov).  If the result is higher than 17.7 (my last result), then that will indicate a further drop in oestrogen.  

 

Anyway, as for the tongue, I need to get a tongue scraper.....I should be cleaning it, but don't.  Got a dental check up on Thursday and hygienist appt which will help.

 

Hugs back

[apace41]

7 minutes ago, Junglechicken said:

I don't know.

 

I'm the right age for these hormonal shifts approaching menopause, and just maybe WD exacerbates the endocrine response that much more.

 

Its an answer I'm not sure any of us know?

 

YES! That was kind of my point.  It is clear (at least to me) that some (or all) of what you are dealing with is the function of the withdrawal process.  In the absence of it being 100% due to some other cause (menopause, hormonal shifts, food sensitivities, etc.) then it's probably nothing you'd want to be too aggressive treating anyway since aggressive treatment of an unstable CNS (due to withdrawal) likely has more downsides than upsides.  

 

I say all this from the standpoint of someone who (while not the same issues, although male andropause is a bit of a concern) is dealing with much of the same things you are, i.e., feeling crappy all the time, having a ton of seemingly random and disparate symptoms, allowing them to mingle with health anxiety to create a really challenging cocktail, etc.  I still have plenty of moments of illogical concern over symptoms, but I'm working more toward accepting all of this as a "sideshow" from withdrawal, the healing process, however else you'd like to characterize it, and trying to keep the escalation of symptoms to a minimum.  I believe in my heart that withdrawal is behind my irrational health anxiety -- I have a tendency toward health concerns and being perhaps a little overly proactive due to family history, but it was NEVER like it is now.  So, I'm trying to contain it the best I can until it hopefully significantly reduces.  Not easy work but probably good for the long term.  

 

Anyway, I wish you the best and hope you get the answers you are looking for.

 

Best,

 

Andy

[Junglechicken]

2 minutes ago, apace41 said:

 

YES! That was kind of my point.  It is clear (at least to me) that some (or all) of what you are dealing with is the function of the withdrawal process.  In the absence of it being 100% due to some other cause (menopause, hormonal shifts, food sensitivities, etc.) then it's probably nothing you'd want to be too aggressive treating anyway since aggressive treatment of an unstable CNS (due to withdrawal) likely has more downsides than upsides.  

 

I say all this from the standpoint of someone who (while not the same issues, although male andropause is a bit of a concern) is dealing with much of the same things you are, i.e., feeling crappy all the time, having a ton of seemingly random and disparate symptoms, allowing them to mingle with health anxiety to create a really challenging cocktail, etc.  I still have plenty of moments of illogical concern over symptoms, but I'm working more toward accepting all of this as a "sideshow" from withdrawal, the healing process, however else you'd like to characterize it, and trying to keep the escalation of symptoms to a minimum.  I believe in my heart that withdrawal is behind my irrational health anxiety -- I have a tendency toward health concerns and being perhaps a little overly proactive due to family history, but it was NEVER like it is now.  So, I'm trying to contain it the best I can until it hopefully significantly reduces.  Not easy work but probably good for the long term.  

 

Anyway, I wish you the best and hope you get the answers you are looking for.

 

Best,

 

Andy

 

Andy,

 

I take your point(s), and know you suffer from HA too.  

 

However, it would be interesting to see if by taking a low dose of oestrogen my symptoms actually reduce (regardless of the cause).  It could just be that WD has pushed me towards an earlier Menopause.  Women at the peri-meno stage of life also suffer from Anxiety and Depression and so it is very hard to attribute symptoms and moods to WD 100%.

 

Like you I'm working towards reducing the HA (and also negative ruminations) through CBT.  Not doing too well at it though - my brain is hardwired towards catastrophic thinking and needs re-wiring to challenge that thinking.  A big work in progress.

 

Anyway, if I can get answers that would be great.

 

Best,

JC

[Junglechicken]

Holy wotsit, I got the job!  It was the one I interviewed for on Friday morning.

 

Start on 19th Nov so have some breathing space to enjoy final moments of freedom.

 

At long last...….

[Scorpio]

Hi jc

 

many congratulations and best wishes for the start of your new career.  The beginning of many good things to come 

 

hugs

[Junglechicken]

30 minutes ago, Scorpio said:

Hi jc

 

many congratulations and best wishes for the start of your new career.  The beginning of many good things to come 

 

hugs

 

Thank you Scorpio,

 

I think my manager-to-be is decent which will help a lot.  He is into gardening too, so has to be alright.

 

This matters a lot as my last job (at the same company) was a disaster.

 

Need this to work.

 

Hugs

[apace41]

3 hours ago, Junglechicken said:

I got the job! 

 

Congrats, JC!  That's great news.

 

Maybe the relief of getting that done will help reduce the stress that may be contributing to your symptoms?

Best,

 

Andy

[Junglechicken]

18 minutes ago, apace41 said:

 

Congrats, JC!  That's great news.

 

Maybe the relief of getting that done will help reduce the stress that may be contributing to your symptoms?

Best,

 

Andy

 

Thanks Andy, 

 

I so hope you are right. 

 

My gut is not in good shape at the moment, which also includes diaphragm pain, etc.,  and pain migrating around the body.  

 

Have started taking special stuff for IBS in the hopes that this calms it all down.

 

Anyway, its a baby step in the right direction.

 

Best,

JC

 

[jozeff]

Congratulations!

 

Good luck with your new job! Well done

 

 

Jozeff

[Junglechicken]

1 minute ago, jozeff said:

Congratulations!

 

Good luck with your new job! Well done

 

 

Jozeff

 

Thank you Jozeff!

[brassmonkey]

Way to go JC.

 

[Junglechicken]

2 minutes ago, brassmonkey said:

Way to go JC.

 

 

Thank you Brass!

 

im marching/limping on, lol.

[manymoretodays]

Awesome!!!!  Balloons and happy dances.    Music too!!!

[Flowers]

Hi JC. Am delighted for you. You should be really proud of yourself. Congratulations!

 

Have you heard of boombod from Holland and Barratt. There has been a recent article in the Daily Mail that although it is a weight loss aid it has helped lots of people with IBS.  Might be worth a look but not sure of the chinese supplement in it.

 

Can't wait to hear how your new job goes.

 

Flowers xxx

 

 

 

 

[Junglechicken]

6 hours ago, Flowers said:

Hi JC. Am delighted for you. You should be really proud of yourself. Congratulations!

 

Have you heard of boombod from Holland and Barratt. There has been a recent article in the Daily Mail that although it is a weight loss aid it has helped lots of people with IBS.  Might be worth a look but not sure of the chinese supplement in it.

 

Can't wait to hear how your new job goes.

 

Flowers xxx

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you Flowers!

 

This is a quite severe IBS episode :0(

The worst I have ever had, and no, I hadn't heard of Boombod.  Will look into it and thank you for the tip off.

 

It's wonderful to be cheered on by you guys....big thank you!

 

When is your op Flowers? I saw one of your updates a few weeks ago but went on holiday, followed by interview prep.....

 

JC xxx

[Junglechicken]

17 hours ago, manymoretodays said:

Awesome!!!!  Balloons and happy dances.    Music too!!!

 

Thank you mmt !

 

Really appreciate everyone's support, it is much needed.

 

I'm pleased about it, but my body is reacting with IBS.

 

Funnily enough, talking of balloons; on my walks in the countryside, I keep seeing helium balloons with cute things on them; that have ended up stuck in trees, or on the ground.  I must have seen at least 4 or 5 in the past few weeks.

 

Is that a sign?

[Flowers]

11 hours ago, Junglechicken said:

 

Thank you Flowers!

 

This is a quite severe IBS episode :0(

The worst I have ever had, and no, I hadn't heard of Boombod.  Will look into it and thank you for the tip off.

 

It's wonderful to be cheered on by you guys....big thank you!

 

When is your op Flowers? I saw one of your updates a few weeks ago but went on holiday, followed by interview prep.....

 

JC xxx

So sorry you are having a bad attack of IBS JC. Hope it calms soon.

 

Still waiting for my op! I missed a slot when I went back to UK in the summer even though I told the hospital I would be away. The Spanish health system is quite strict here so it seems I got put to the back of the waiting list again. I am seeing my surgeon next Friday as will probably have to have all my pre op checks done again as they were done in April/May. 

 

Ho Hum!

 

In the meantime I have crashed into a big wave!  At least the weather is still mild here and the sun is shining!

 

Lots of love

 

xxx