grandmaD: turtle here

[Gridley]

You will make it, grandmaD.  Sorry you've been having such a hard time.

[Songbird]

 

On 10/18/2018 at 2:02 PM, grandmaD said:

What has me worried is the many symptoms that have continued to keep getting worse with every passing year, and are a daily occurance now, such as palpitations, breathlessness, anxiety, insomnia and rapid pulse (taken after resting 10mins early morning and has been in the 100’s mostly or 90’s). 

 

I had a terrible time with palpitations early this year, and after my vitamin B12 shot they mostly cleared up.  I don't know if you've tried B12.  If you don't want to risk a shot (it's high dose), you can get sublingual tablets.  See:  Vitamin B12 - essential for mood, nervous system

 

On 10/18/2018 at 2:02 PM, grandmaD said:

I have had a friend tell me I need to quit cold turkey and I just wonder if I might as well, but then there is the fear that the couple of things that have improved might get worse!  Also those symptoms that have remained the same might get worse!  I feel so trapped and don’t know what to do.

 

What worries me with this, is that if your system reacts with symptoms from such small drops (and the switch to generic), how would it react to a really big drop?  I've seen a lot of people get into trouble with the kind of thinking "I'm suffering really badly with w/d, I might as well just cold turkey, how much worse could it be?" - and then they find out how much worse it can be, and really regret it.

 

I think you've been doing brilliantly with your turtle taper, and you're down to a very low dose now!  I'm sorry you're still having a rough time with symptoms.  Sending you lots of (((HUGS))).

 

[grandmaD]

On 10/20/2018 at 6:22 AM, manymoretodays said:

Hi and hugs GrandmaD!!!

You are a great turtle and I am rooting for you.  You WILL win this race that is not a race at all sometimes.........

I hope things are at the very least hitting some kind of plateau now for you.  Such endurance you have.

Anyway.......just thinking of you.

I hear a lot of frustration right now.....and yes, that's okay, all things considered.

I am sending flowers, your favorite eats, housekeeping, driver, gardener, cook, and personal assistant to you now.........I'll throw in some angels too.

 

Love, peace, healing, and growth,

mmt

p.s. thank you for the update as well

Thanks for the cheering support Manymoredays!  Much appreciated.  Yes, I do believe I will win this race... well, crawl, that is ...  I am determined to get off that's for sure.  Other suggestions have been to switch... which I think I already said I tried with the amytriptaline, without success. I am getting by with sleeping tablets once again, just to get 1 or 2 nights sleep and some calm from the high anxiety.  I can get by with just 1/2 but that's not the answer either, as the anxiety seems to come back ramped up even worse.  I had some relief with lemon balm at times and other times another herb, borage.  I have found that whatever I use to help calm the anxiety, if I use too much I get headaches, so it's a matter of finding the right amount.  I suspect if I took a lesser dose of the amytriptaline I could do that, but it is so small tablet I really can't be bothered grinding it and weighing while still having to do so with the paxil. 

 

I am coping better, but still struggling - especially with the neuro emotions now, just so out of proportion and so intense and crying so much more.  That started end of last year with just a tear now and then but recently cried every day for 3 days... I hope that is a sign that I am closer to my healing and the end of this horrid w/d.  Not easy to deal with because now reacting to all sort of little things friends say ... not coping with that especially in light of other events recently that has forced me to become my husbands carer whereas before, he was caring for me.

 

Thanks for the flowers!  My kids came today to celebrate my birthday tomorrow and brought some lamingtons.  I don't eat sweets but I did have one and it was very sweet.  I have an idea that sweets/sugar ramp up the anxiety also.  We have a cleaner starting next week which will take a load of pressure off and also a teenage boy willing to help me weed the garden and do odd jobs.  The cook you sent hasn't arrived as yet!  But I do know we are surrounded by a multitude of angels!  I also have a lovely new friend, who is very supportive who turned up out of the blue.  This is amazing as I had cut myself off from friends the last 7 years and just really had the one local friend on a weekly basis.

 

Thanks again for your support, I am just so sorry I do not have time to spending here anymore reading others' journals or helping others so I may not be on here much more in the future, but I have been very grateful for this site.

[grandmaD]

On 10/20/2018 at 6:27 AM, Gridley said:

You will make it, grandmaD.  Sorry you've been having such a hard time.

Thanks for the encouragement gridley!  Yes I'm sorry too!  Going through w/d has been quite an ordeal for me, not to mention coping with a son who keeps attempting suicide and did so again recently on his birthday and now a seriously ill husband!    I just have to take one day at a time, mostly just 1 minute.  I do the next thing I need to do, and then the next and don't think ahead.

[grandmaD]

On 10/20/2018 at 4:57 PM, Songbird said:

 

 

I had a terrible time with palpitations early this year, and after my vitamin B12 shot they mostly cleared up.  I don't know if you've tried B12.  If you don't want to risk a shot (it's high dose), you can get sublingual tablets.  See:  Vitamin B12 - essential for mood, nervous system

That's interresting about B12.  I've been taking Blackmore's Reme-D for about 5 years now.  I started because I was having up to 3 migraines a week and just as many headaches on other days.  I bought it because I had researched herbs for migraines and found that feverfew was good and that is the ingredient in this supplement. 

 

The migraines came down slowly and I haven't had one for a long time.  The headaches also came down slowly and now average 2 a week.  It also contains 400iug of B12 and I wonder if you know if that is a safe amount to take on a daily basis for so long.   It also contains 25mg of B6.  I'm not sure which one it is now, I think it is B6 that you should not take large doses for long time, because it can cause tingling in the legs.  This tingling in my legs I put down to either the a/d or w/d and it is extremely painful, so if you know anything about that, I would appreciate it.

 

Quote

 

What worries me with this, is that if your system reacts with symptoms from such small drops (and the switch to generic), how would it react to a really big drop?  I've seen a lot of people get into trouble with the kind of thinking "I'm suffering really badly with w/d, I might as well just cold turkey, how much worse could it be?" - and then they find out how much worse it can be, and really regret it.

You are so right and I believe this makes sense!  I have to continually fight my brain that keeps saying "how can such a small amount possibly be still so activating?"  It is just so difficult to believe, especially when doctors tell you this amount is "doing nothing" but I have proven it is still doing "something"!  I know in the past I have tried to go faster at times (from 2.5% back to 5% taper once and other times done 4, or 5 or 6 weeks instead of 8, I tried Brassmonkeys slide and it was brutal!  So I do know from experience ... I just have to be so patient, especially now when rest of my life is upside down.  I do know I must not make a hasty decision and I often think when I don't know what to do, then do nothing, which is where I am at right now!  Oh, and YES i have BEEN THERE DONE THAT and said "it can't get much worse" when I have been in such a hell of a place, thinking it "can't get any worse" and discovered OH YES IT CAN !!!!  Any by then, the cumulative effects have made it impossible to go back and change things.  So, thanks Songbird for your wisdom, I just have be persevere, try not to look at the length of time... and be more patient ...

 

Quote

 

I think you've been doing brilliantly with your turtle taper, and you're down to a very low dose now!  I'm sorry you're still having a rough time with symptoms.  Sending you lots of (((HUGS))).

 

Thanks for the encouragement, I know there are others, like Stan who used to be on PP and many more that are still in a bad way after 8, 9 and 10 years.  It is just so tragic and I hate the fact we have lost all these years and there are so many people hurting and suffering and it just need not be if doctors would be educated and so on. 

 

I think the biggest problem now is, the neuro emotions affecting everything else and making those symptoms worse.  Thanks for the hugs!

[Songbird]

3 hours ago, grandmaD said:

That's interresting about B12.  I've been taking Blackmore's Reme-D for about 5 years now.  I started because I was having up to 3 migraines a week and just as many headaches on other days.  I bought it because I had researched herbs for migraines and found that feverfew was good and that is the ingredient in this supplement. 

 

The migraines came down slowly and I haven't had one for a long time.  The headaches also came down slowly and now average 2 a week.  It also contains 400iug of B12 and I wonder if you know if that is a safe amount to take on a daily basis for so long.   It also contains 25mg of B6.  I'm not sure which one it is now, I think it is B6 that you should not take large doses for long time, because it can cause tingling in the legs.  This tingling in my legs I put down to either the a/d or w/d and it is extremely painful, so if you know anything about that, I would appreciate it.

 

I don't think those amounts are dangerous.  It's unlikely that all of the B12 is being absorbed.  That supplement contains cyanocobalamin which has to be converted to methylcobalamin - some people find taking methylcobalamin works better for them.  Also, as we get older our ability to absorb B12 decreases, so a sublingual B12 supplement might be absorbed better.

 

Re vitamin B6 - 25mg is more than most people need daily, but the daily upper limit is 100mg, so unlikely to be toxic.  However, individual responses to supplements can vary enormously.  If you feel it may be contributing to leg tingling, you could try stopping the supplement for a while to see if the tingling improves.  You may be able to find another feverfew product without the B6.  I've just googled around about feverfew, and it sounds like palpitations can be a side effect.  Also, discontinuation after long-term use can produce rebound symptoms.

[grandmaD]

Songbird, When you say sublingual B12 do you mean the injections?  I once took an extra (tablet) supplement of B12 and when my blood tests came back it was very high, so I stopped that one. 

 

The migraines and headaches are much better now, last average being 2 a week, which is so much better.  In fact last week one was only mild while the other one was bad, so I wouldn’t worry about finding another supplement for them, especially while still on this one.

 

I had thought about going slowly off this supplement anyway.  That is interesting about the palpitations so it’s worth stopping them to find out.

 

[Songbird]

5 hours ago, grandmaD said:

Songbird, When you say sublingual B12 do you mean the injections? 

 

 

Sublingual means under the tongue.  Some sublingual supplements are liquids, others are tablets that dissolve under the tongue.

[grandmaD]

Update to say I am still struggling along with shingles aches, pain and severe itching.  Been back to docs about 4 times now and seen 3 different ones in same surgery.

 

apparently it is now called post herpatic neuraligia. 

 

The first 2 still want me to take another anti-depressant for it. 

 

The doc today has given  me a steriod cream and the chemist suggested a moisturiser.

 

I had been using coconut oil, which doesn't help with itching and also olive oil/eucalyptus oil and doesn't help with itching.

 

ANyone have any ideas of how to best help myself.

 

My life is also under a fair amount of stress too, which doesn't help.  I try and do my relaxation/breathing exercises 2 or 3 times a day and try and rest when I can.

 

[Songbird]

Sorry to hear you're still having shingles problems.  I'm not sure what you've tried so far, but steroid cream sounds worth a try.  If it doesn't help, you could try capsaicin cream, or an antihistamine cream.  Oatmeal baths are supposed to help, so that might be worth a try.  I think you can buy them at health stores, or make your own by grinding up some rolled oats.

 

 

Edited November 13, 2018 by Songbird
fix typo

[Carmie]

Hi GrandmaD, 

 

Thats terrible you still have shingles. I’m so sorry. 

 

Have you tried calendula cream to help with the symptoms a bit? A friend of mine uses it for a skin condition that causes itching n annoyance. 

 

Shingles is a viral infection I think. I have killed viral infections with olive leaf extract, I’d takes tons of it. I never had a problem with it but you never know what you will react to when you are going through withdrawals so you have to be careful. I’ve killed ear infections n bladder infections with it in the past.

 

Coconut oil is anti viral too,  though and I see you’re already using that on your skin. Do you swallow it as well? You would probably have to swallow it in large amounts to kill a virus so that wouldn’t be good for your liver.

 

Hope you get a bit of relief soon, 

 

Sending hugs🤗

 

 

[grandmaD]

Thanks Songbird and Carmie for your care and suggestions, I've made a note of them to look for the suggestions.

 

The shingles rash has gone and now what I have _the aches and pains) It is now called "post herpatic neuralgia".  This is very difficult and I have been tempted several times to resort to taking the Lyrica one doc prescribed or Amitryptaline (an a/d) another doc prescribed at lower doses than I tried before.   Each time I look up the side effects and I am not game try them again.  I keep hoping it will improve soon ... at least it is not excruciating like before, it is is mild to moderate, with shooting pain and throbbing pain.

 

I did a drop a couple of weeks ago and have really felt this drop with lots of headaches, head pressure, breathlessness is very bad and cramps and spasms again and now hobbling around with aches everywhere and a crook hip.  I am assuming this is from the drop and only time will tell if that's the case.

 

The steroid ointment was amazing, worked overnight and I only used it a few days in a row, no more than a week.

 

The funny thing is that when I was telling my daughter, she said she has a similar itch everywhere and she suggested I use a moisturiser on a daily basis, twice a day to start, which I have done and I think this has contributed to the relief in a big way.  I thought the itching was the shingles, but it could have simply been dry skin.

 

I read too, that shingles is a virus, but now I don't know if this "phn" is also a virus or just irritated nerves now from the virus - does anyone know that?

 

I have been trying to eat raw garlic (but keep forgetting) as I know that is a good anti-bacterial sort of thing.

 

I would have to say the moisturiser (sold at the chemist fro dermatitis) is better than the coconut oil on my skin.

[Songbird]

1 hour ago, grandmaD said:

I read too, that shingles is a virus, but now I don't know if this "phn" is also a virus or just irritated nerves now from the virus - does anyone know that?

 

 

Yes, shingles is caused by the varicella zoster virus (the virus that causes chicken pox).  It hides out in nerve cells for years, until something reactivates it and it reappears as shingles.  It can cause nerve damage which produces pain (neuralgia = nerve pain).  Some people find capsaicin cream helps.  You can also get  prescription capsaicin patches.

 

 

[powerback]

Hi grandma  thanks for your nice words on pinks thread ,I send my thoughts to you ,your going through so much .

Its a huge bug bearer of mine the way diagnosis are thrown around during the madness of withdrawal or adverse reactions to meds ,the symptoms mimic alot of "mental conditions".its the chicken or the egg scenario.

So your son needs to be careful because it can add to the stress ,in my opinion the "help" out there can add stress and apease it but its the system we are stuck with .

I wont lie there is certain aspects to my personality that dont add up to the "norm" but the last time to think about this is know .

Thats a joke your son thrown into spirals and withdrawls because of hes finacial circumstances .it just shows that "help" havent a clue.

Take care .

 

 

[pinkfairy]

Hi grandma D just stopping by too see if your ok ♥️

[grandmaD]

Hi Pink, thanks for stopping by!

 

How are you now?

 

Thanks Songbird for advice re capsicaim.  One thing I can say is that the steroid ointment helped a lot with itching and that has pretty much gone.  However, the aching in back, shoulder and chest still comes and goes but not as severe.  The aching has moved to the left chest now also, which I'm not sure is shingles since it's supposed to only effect one side of body.  How is your taper going?

 

Also had some bad aches in legs, back and a few spasms again, always scarey.  This seems to have been a result of going to the dentist and lying half way back in chair, a position my back hates.  I cannot lie on back at any time and cannot lie half way, but have to sit up erect.  Been on painkillers and anti-inflamlmatorys for that last few days. 

 

Not only that, I asked him to take tooth out which has been painful for years now but never in a position (especially with anxiety) to do anything about it, but now forced due to bad pain.  He decided to put in a filling instead.  Gave me injection (very painful), my jaw was so painful from opening (and perhaps tension of it all, too) and he then found 2 more fillings in same place and did them.  Now, 3 days later and $500 still have painful tooth!!!

 

 

[Frogie]

Hi GrandmaD:

 

I don’t get on much anymore, but noticed you had the shingles.

 

My Uncle had shingles. He went to the dr and they put him on the anti-virus meds also telling him the same thing. It made him sick to his stomach. The dr told him to stop taking the meds and use chamomile lotion to help. And Tylenol. It helped a lot.

 

I’m not a dr or a mod, I just wanted to give you some information that my Uncle got from his dr. Do what your dr and mods tell you to do.

 

Hope you feel better soon.

 

Take care,

Frogie xx

[grandmaD]

On 12/28/2018 at 5:40 AM, Frogie said:

Hi GrandmaD:

 

I don’t get on much anymore, but noticed you had the shingles.

 

My Uncle had shingles. He went to the dr and they put him on the anti-virus meds also telling him the same thing. It made him sick to his stomach. The dr told him to stop taking the meds and use chamomile lotion to help. And Tylenol. It helped a lot.

 

I’m not a dr or a mod, I just wanted to give you some information that my Uncle got from his dr. Do what your dr and mods tell you to do.

 

Hope you feel better soon.

 

Take care,

Frogie xx

Thanks Frogie, another doctor prescribed a steroid and this gave almost instant relief and within a week, itching all gone.  It has been pretty good ever since.

[grandmaD]

 

 

Altostrata

or any others 

I wonder if you might comment on the following symptoms I have?  I am confused now as to whether my symptoms are in fact withdrawal or not withdrawal at all but from shingles and heart issues???

 

 

I have been journaling a continuing and consistent increase each year for 7 years now, of some symptoms things such as:

Palpitations

Breathlessness

Rapid pulse

Anxiety/stress

Head banging sensation

 

I have always put these symptoms down to withdrawal but have wondered why they continue to get worse with each passing year despite a slow taper.

 

In August 2018 I got shingles which affected my back, shoulder and chest.   It has now been 4 months and since the rash is gone and itching improved, it is now called post herpatic neuralgia and apparently  it can last months, even years.  This has been very debilitatating, as I continue to have aches and pains in my back, both shoulders and chest on both sides now.  Exercise and/or exertion makes it worse.  I have googled that shingles can affect the heart and lungs and therefore cause all the above symptoms.  It also affects my head at times, causing a right side headache which I can feel is stemming from my shoulder and going up my neck into head.

 

As a result of the recent tight chest and breathlessness and chest aching and pain being much worse, I had an ECG and the results of that are the same as I had several years ago.  I wonder if it has just got worse as the years go by?

First degree a-v block - symptoms of that are dizziness, fatigue, short breath and chest pain. I have all these

Right Bundle branch block – symptoms are palpitations, breathlessness, pain and discomfit in chest, difficulty doing exercise/exertion due to insufficient blood being pumped around the body.  I have all these and known for some time now, that exertion, even walking makes it all worse.

 

So Alto and/or others:  Just wondering if I’ve had the shingles all along, since I’ve had itching in various places of my body for many years along with aches.  Or if it is the heart issues getting worse each year or has the withdrawal process caused both these other two problems!

[Frogie]

13 hours ago, grandmaD said:

Thanks Frogie, another doctor prescribed a steroid and this gave almost instant relief and within a week, itching all gone.  It has been pretty good ever since.

I’m glad to hear that! And the steroid didn’t bother you? You are so lucky! 

 

Take care,

Frogie xx

[Altostrata]

grandmaD -- It could be that you have had physical issues that have gotten worse over the years. If shingles treatment helps, it could be from shingles.

 

Withdrawal symptoms generally get worse after a decrease in dosage. If your symptoms do not fit that pattern, they may not be withdrawal symptoms. You might hold on tapering for a while to see if the symptoms continue.

 

What is this head-banging sensation? Noises inside your head? When did that start?

[grandmaD]

9 hours ago, Frogie said:

I’m glad to hear that! And the steroid didn’t bother you? You are so lucky! 

 

Take care,

Frogie xx

The steroid was for itching and it fixed that, but with so many other aches and pains and other symptoms, I wouldn't know if the steroid affected me in other ways!

[grandmaD]

Thanks Alto, there is no treatment for shingles except for another a/d amytriptaline or lyrica.  I tried both and made symptoms HEAPS worse.

 

The steroid was for the itching and that worked.

 

I was thinking if these symptoms are from what is now called post herpatic neuralgia or the heart diagnosis then, I could speed up the w/d taper, however I notice you suggest slowing it down.  So what I'll do is slow it down by weight and see if I can cut the time frame down from 8 weeks to less, depending on how it goes.

 

The head banging started when I began to taper, back in 2011.  Like someone bashing you in the side of the head with a baseball bat.  Extremely painful and very frightening.  Usually only once a day but at times could be several times a day couple of times a week.

 

It began to improve in frequency in 2015 but got worse in 2016 and I put this down to the switch to generic that was made at that time when many other symptoms that had improved got worse. 

Frequency went to 3 days a week during 2017. 

Frequency for 2018 was 2 days a week and the intensity subsided so that it doesn't make me cringe anymore.  It began to show signs of improving but went back up to 4 days a week when I got the shingles which is why I think it is connected to shingles.

 It is more like a sharp shooting pain now. 

 

The shingles also gives me sharp shooting pain in the shoulder, back and chest!  Bit confusing!

[grandmaD]

Update

Shingles still hanging around and varies on intensity depending on physical exertion or even walking can bring it on.  I say shingles, but it is now called "post herpatic neuralgia" because it is ongoing.  Headaches, shooting pain in head and various head aches and pains that sometimes are short lived (which is unusual) I wonder if due to this problem.  Apparently headaches are a symptom of shingles.  Now I have been experiencing toothache in many teeth... is this also shingles or phn?????? 

 

It's hard to believe it could be w/d as I am down to 1/10th of tablet and have slowed my taper down from .1 to .05 in order to see if it helps with all that.

 

Dentist

I went to the dentist hoping to have a molar taken out as it has been painful for years now.  He refused to take it out but did 3 fillings.

I'm sure I don't have to relate how anxiety affects a visit to the dentist, along with the discomfit of the injection and so on.  That afternoon I got a headache and for next two days, extreme tingling in my body and head and weird head feeling, sort of like being giddy - not dizzy, I get tingling and dizzy but this was much more severe 

Could it be that the anaesthetic dose was too much, given that I am now very sensitive to other medications and can't tolerate full doses of many of them.

Not only that, after much distress and discomfit and $500 later, the pain in the tooth is still there!  I have to go back supposedly to get more fillings on the other side and to see what he has to say about the other one that is still hurting.  

Later:  

I've  been back to dentist, spent more money and now he tells me the hurting tooth that he needs a crown.  Two other teeth need crowns he said.  total cost $4,500.  Forget it.  I'll put up with the ache.  I was quite anxious and have decided to hold off on the other 3 fillings on the other side.  So after all that money, stress and discomfit I am back to square one.

 

My concerns about the injection causing headache and weird head issues were confirmed when I had a visit from a friend I had not seen in many, many years and she told me about a cousin of hers, addicted to a/d's and having to take years and years to get off them. 

 

Her cousin also had a dentist visit and could not tolerate the injection.  I hope this info might help others.

 

Also, her cousin went to a rehabilitation place to get off the a/d and was told by those people it is easier for people to get off heroin than to get  off prescription medication!  So there you go.

[grandmaD]

Shingles update

My only debilitating issue continues to be shingles I have had now for 6 months and called “post herpatic neuralgia” – which affects my back right shoulder, left and right chest, neck and goes up the neck into my head at times causing a sort of throbbing, stabbing, stinging headache, and shooting pains.

 

During this time I have been incredibly tempted on a regular basis to go on the Endep/Amitryptaline the 2^nd doctor prescribed or even the Lyrica the first doctor prescribed.  It has been quite a battle.  So I've persevered with Voltarin gel, Calamine lotion, Pinetarsal for itch in bath and codeine for pain.

I just cannot come to grips with the fact it has been 7.5 years now getting off Paxil, only to go on yet another anti-depressant and I guess that thought keeps me going.

 

As for the withdrawal issues, they seem to be easing up and many are improving for the first time ever, I think, so I hope to do a 7.5 year update shortly rather than wait for 8 year update.

[grandmaD]

Dentist update

Recent issue was toothache (had for years) and a frightening, anxiety filled trip to the dentist to get the tooth out.  He refused and filled 3 teeth instead with hair line fractures at the base of the gum (receding gums). The fillings fell out a month later leaving me in pain again.

 

Just this week I found a new dentist and it took half an hour to convince him to take out the 2 aching teeth.  They both in good condition, but the hairline fractures on gumline was causing the pain with hot or cold food/drink.

 

I explained my withdrawal issues with previous dentist and how I had a very weird head for 2 or 3 days afterwards and they said it would have been the adrenalin in the anaesthetic.  So they used something different and it seemed to work good at the time.

 

However, the whole experience was a nightmare and extremely traumatic.  I thought he would just grab the tooth and yank it out, however neither teeth would budge!  Very embedded and also very long under the gum.  About 1/10^th above gum with about 5/10 below and another 5/10ths was the root and the whole lot was curved.

 

Dentist was very patient, took it slow and said I could have a break if necessary.  If I felt pain I was to tell him and this happened at least 5 more times after the first injection, which meant 5 more injections to keep topping it up.

 

Then he used a lot of force/pressure to push down and had to break the tooth into bits and keep going down, cutting away gum, breaking it off a bit at a time… at one point he called in the head honcho to help, but he took ages to come, so he began working on the other tooth…same procedure.  By this point I couldn’t sit still, wasn’t coping and wanted to GO HOME!  He gave me a break, but it was dreadful.  Then suddenly, he got the root of the first tooth out and said we would get the other one out TODAY!

 

Instead of 1 hour it was 2.5 hours.  Then I had stitches which took another 15 minutes!  Words cannot explain how horrible it was.  When I could finally get up and go, I began to shake and cry and got cold and had trouble walking so the girl was kind enough to hold my arm and walk me to the car.

 

I was sent home with scripts which caused another crisis.  Antiobiotics and steroids.  I had read about problems with antibiotics but not steroids.  It said take 3 steroids at once which I was not prepared to do, but staggered them throughout the night every 3 hours.

 

I took the antibiotic separate and my aropax/paxil separate and painkillers separate, so as not to take 3 different drugs at once!  Quite a balancing act since they all meant to be taken with food!

 

That night the anaesthetic was still in effect so despite waking every 2 hours as usual, I was calm and able to get back to sleep and the pain was tolerable. 

 

Day 2 evening the anaesthetic began to wear off and palpitations started up, banging hard and rapid pulse, etc. with tight chest and breathlessness, plus shingles ache came back.  Then to bed as usual and couldn’t sleep for 3 hours so got up, back to bed, no sleep another 2 hours, up again and back to bed and no sleep another 2 hours.  I got 3 hours sleep and woke up revved up no end, very stimulated.

 

My head was the best it’s ever been!  Clear and “normal” I think!  Energy to burn so I was like superman, go, go, go!   I cleaned the bathrooms (unheard of first thing in the morning) and then did kitchen sink (unheard of to do 2 jobs one after the other)!  Then I crashed and although head was still good and revved up, my body started to shake again.

 

I am quite sure it is the steroid so I am not taking the next dose tonight!  He said it was for “inflammation” and I’m not sure if that was for the face and gums or inflammation in the head to alleviate the 3 day weird head I had at the previous dentist.

Or else it is just given to all patients who have “surgical extractions”.

 

Today is day 3 and my head is very weird, with buzzing, vibrations, seems stimulated with electrical impulses, I don’t know, it’s just horrible, worse than usual withdrawal head issues.  I also feel somewhat giddy/whoozy.  Since I didn’t take the steroid dose yesterday, this can only be from the anti-biotics I think. 

 

Any help or advice would be appreciated guys!

[Gracee]

Holy Smokes grandmaD!   What a horrible ordeal.  On top of all your misery you had yourself a cleaning spree!!!!!!  I love your attitude.  My advise would be to be good to yourself and make your emotional and physical health your Number One Priority.  Wear your comfy clothes, spread out in a recliner with a blankey, sip lots of water, watch tv and do whatever makes you smile.

 

Tell me if I am mistaken.   Are you GrandmaD from P.P. of years ago?   The GrandmaD I remember was suffering with terrible headaches and withdrawing from antidepressants.  I was on the site on and off from about 2005 till 2010.  You probably wouldn't remember me.  I was GraceC and only posted occasionally.  Apologies if I've misspoken and am mistaken.   In any case, sending you best wishes and hugs for your recovery.

G.

 

[powerback]

Oh japers GM what a nightmare for you ,my anxiety is high just reading it because I need a tooth out myself.

Totall respect to you geting the work done ,you persevered and did what needed to be done.

Loads of rest and relaxation because its still early days after the procedure.

I have a question.

Did that dentist refuse to do the work because of withdrawal/your high anxiety?

Im thinking of just keeping my withdrawal to myself incase I get in this position and even looking into an holistic dentist.

Sorry for the question in your hour of need and pain .dont be rushing to answer.

Take great care ,sending hugs.

 

[grandmaD]

Powerback, how urgent is your tooth?  If it isn’t giving you any pain and your anxiety levels are high, I would wait until you were in a good place before getting it out! 

 

I was in pain with both teeth and had already put it off for years.  Then, because those fillings I had a month ago fell out and were causing pain again, I felt I didn’t have any choice but to have them out.

 

No, they didn’t refuse to take them out on the basis of my w/d and anxiety.  I think he was just worried I would be sorry afterwards, because he made sure I understood that once they were out, he couldn’t put them back again! 

 

I would tell them about your current w/d and anxiety and any panic issues.  I found them to be very understanding, patient and kind as a result.  He told me he would take it very, very slow, which he did and that he would stop whenever I wanted and have a break.

 

Hi Grace,

Yes, the whole thing was traumatic.  That cleaning spree I can only put down to the effect of the steroids!  Crazy! Never had that sort of energy in last 10 years!!

 

Yes, I was on PP from 2010 or 2011.  Yes, I’ve had migraines, headaches, pressure heads, head banging sensation, vibrating heads, sore heads, you name it.  If it wasn’t one sort of head issue it has been another.   Only in the last 6 months I think that 8 of my usual 16 symptoms  have began to ease up.  Though that has been compromised now with this dental stuff.

 

 

It was pretty rough with the severe tooth pain, jaw ache, face ache and headache up the same side of my head for 3 days, the nights being worse, so p/k’s around the clock.  Never taken so many meds and p/ks for so many days in a row and hated having to do that.

Day 9 today and first day without pain meds, however did have a sharp shooting pain again up side of my face along my ear.  Hope to stay off them now.  I feel like I am just beginning to recover.

After that, I had weird heads again, giddy and headache. 

 

The pain and aching comes and goes now from mild to moderate, so hope it will all pass soon. 

PB how urgent is your tooth?  If it isn’t giving you any pain and your anxiety levels are high, I would wait until you were in a good place before getting it out! 

 

I was in pain with both teeth and had already put it off for years.  Then, because those fillings I had a month ago fell out, I felt I didn’t have any choice but to have them out.

 

No, they didn’t refuse to take them out on the basis of my w/d and anxiety.  I think he was just worried I would be sorry afterwards, because he made sure I understood that once they were out, he couldn’t put them back again! 

 

I would tell them about your current w/d and anxiety and any panic issues.  I found them to be very understanding, patient and kind as a result.  He told me he would take it very, very slow, which he did and that he would stop whenever I wanted and have a break.

 

 

 

 

Hi Grace,

Yes, the whole thing was traumatic.  That cleaning spree I can only put down to the effect of the steroids!  Crazy!

 

Yes, I was on PP from 2010 or 2011.  Yes, I’ve had migraines, headaches, pressure heads, head banging sensation, vibrating heads, sore heads, you name it.  If it wasn’t one sort of head issue it has been another.  Only in the last 6 months I think that 8 of my usual 16 symptoms  have began to ease up.  Though that has been compromised now with this dental stuff.

 

 

It was pretty rough with the severe tooth pain, jaw ache, face ache and headache up the same side of my head for 3 days, the nights being worse, so p/k’s around the clock.  Never taken so many meds and p/ks for so many days in a row and hated having to do that.

 

 

After that, I had weird heads again, giddy and headache.  It is still the same.

 

The pain and aching comes and goes now from mild to moderate, so hope it will all pass soon. 

 

My head is not good, with vibrations and buzzing and slight giddiness and I suspect that is from all those anti-biotics, steroids and painkillers. 

 

I just have to get through another week, hope to see the swelling go down and then get the stitches out and then concentrate on stabilizing yet again with my w/d symptoms.

 

 

 

 

 

[grandmaD]

https://beyondmeds.com/2017/08/14/shadow-2/

[Gracee]

Best wishes and hang in there my friend.

[O2bhappy]

GrandmaD -

 

I just wanted to stop by and tell you that I was thinking about you!

[grandmaD]

Gracee and O2B happy, thank you for thinking of me, bless you guys!

 

I was able to stop painkillers after 10 days with some shooting pain still happening up the side of my face/ear and into head, but now and then.

 

I've had the stitches out, nowhere near as traumatic as the teeth!  Dentist said he was very worried about me.  Usually teeth come out easily, but then he had me - and then 3 days later said another patient had same teeth and same difficulty!  So I'm not the only one.

 

I go back for a final check in a month and teeth clean.  I will have to decide then what to do about 3 other teeth that need filling, one of them similar to the 2 I had out, with the hairline crack at the gumline due to receding gums. Hmmmm...

[grandmaD]

7.5 YEAR UPDATE AS OF FEBRUARY 2019

 

 

THINGS THAT ARE GONE

Scalp crawlies

Body jolts

Dry eyes and mouth

Nausea

Sitting time 1hour ok, can push to 2 hours if necessary, but difficult.

 

THINGS THAT REMAINED THE SAME

Ear ringing – mostly hi and at times extreme

Tingling in legs - distressing

Painful/aching legs, ankles and feet – much discomfort and prevents sleep

Started to shop but still don’t take care of bills

Tried to drive again after 10 years, but is very stressful and my brain doesn’t work properly and am afraid I am a danger on the road.

Adrenalin rushes causing faint/dizzy spells usually in morning from time to time -  less frequent

Body vibrations – intensity and frequency of strong/hard vibrations has lessened –

Instead I now experience a similar vibration, but it has changed from feeling like a jack-hammer inside my body to more like high tingling/electrical impulses

 

THINGS THAT IMPROVED

Tight chests

Tired (4-5 days per week)

weak, heavy, shakey, fatigue

Head vibes

Insomnia – 3 nights per week for 2-4 hours

Good days – average of 2 days per week

Head banging sensation – less frequent and less intense

Sore heads

Head pressure

 

THINGS THAT GOT WORSE

Headaches worse – same as years 1 & 3

Breathlessness worse year ever

Palpitations worse again, worst ever

Anxiety worse again and worst year ever

 

[grandmaD]

It’s been 4 weeks now since the dentist to have 2 teeth extracted which was very traumatic to say the least.

 

I am quite sure now that much of the severe symptoms I experienced afterwards were the result of the anaesthetic, steroids, anti-biotics and painkillers.

 

 I feel like it is all starting to resolve in the last week and moreso the last few days.

 

I was extremely dizzy/giddy and still am, but its very mild

My blood pressure was low, often 98/78

I had blurred vision

I had a constant/permanent headache and sore head for 5 days in a row the first week, 4 days in a row the next 3 weeks

I had other weird head issues, difficult to describe

I had tight chest worse than usual and breathlessness worse than usual

I had a sore jaw and shooting pain up the side of my face into my head

The tingling that I normally experience went to extreme and still is, in body and head

Ear ringing is still sky high, like a tree full of circadas

I had 1-2 days each week where I felt so bad in my head and body I thought I was dying

The chest ache, shoulder and back ache, stabbing pains got a lot worse (shingles)

 

What I believe is that with all the drugs, it stimulated my central nervous system, despite the fact he used a drug with little or no adrenaline in it. 

 

Now that I am beginning to feel better I really do believe that what I have been through was the result of the drugs used and because my system is hyper-sensitive and therefore the drugs had a neuro-toxic reaction on me.

[thecowisback]

wow- i can't believe how long you've been going through all this!!!