David182: hello all

[David182]

Good deal, Dave!

That’s very encouraging to read. 

You’ve been suffering for so long, it brings me much joy your getting to a manageable level!

[David182]

Hey Dave, how have you been?

 

I’m alright. Had some terrible brain fog/confusion yesterday. I ran out of fish oil for a few days so that may have been it. Also experiencing some heavy physical fatigue the last few days. Just exhausting at times. Not sure if I over did it the other day at work or it’s just one of those waves.

 

I’m grateful it’s the weekend. Hopefully I’ll feel better by Monday.

 

I hope your anxiety has remained low, that progress is continuing.

[DaveB]

6 minutes ago, David182 said:

Hey Dave, how have you been?

 

I’m alright. Had some terrible brain fog/confusion yesterday. I ran out of fish oil for a few days so that may have been it. Also experiencing some heavy physical fatigue the last few days. Just exhausting at times. Not sure if I over did it the other day at work or it’s just one of those waves.

 

I’m grateful it’s the weekend. Hopefully I’ll feel better by Monday.

 

I hope your anxiety has remained low, that progress is continuing.

 

Hey David, sorry about your wave, boy do I know the feeling! Last Saturday I had my 1st real anxiety free day in over a year...today I feel back at square one after a pretty bad week where anxiety were at levels I thought were long gone. So yeah, like you I am just hoping it is "one of those waves" and it will pass quickly. 

[David182]

I’m sorry about the backslide, Dave.

Having that anxiety free day shows promise.

 

Anymore, I just try to enjoy what I can while I can without overdoing it.

 

I’ve been really trying to implement Dr. Claire Weeks’ (sp?) method: face the problem, accept it, float through it and allow time to pass. Much easier said than done for sure but it seems to work with practice 

 

This is a temporary wave but doesn’t mean it’s fun. One day at a time.

[David182]

Definitely have opportunity to use the Dr Week’s acceptance approach lately. Lots of frustration, anger, disappointment, emptiness, bumbed out, etc....

 

In the pits as it would seem, trying to stay positive but I’m really losing patience with things. Not many other choices...must keep pushing through, one day at a time.

[DaveB]

1 minute ago, David182 said:

Definitely have opportunity to use the Dr Week’s acceptance approach lately. Lots of frustration, anger, disappointment, emptiness, bumbed out, etc....

 

In the pits as it would seem, trying to stay positive but I’m really losing patience with things. Not many other choices...must keep pushing through, one day at a time.

 

Me and you both buddy. Keep on fighting, you will get through it!

[David182]

Thanks Dave, I appreciate it.

Fight we shall!

[Carmie]

2 hours ago, David182 said:

Definitely have opportunity to use the Dr Week’s acceptance approach lately. Lots of frustration, anger, disappointment, emptiness, bumbed out, etc....

 

In the pits as it would seem, trying to stay positive but I’m really losing patience with things. Not many other choices...must keep pushing through, one day at a time.

 

Hi David, 

 

You’ve inspired me to get Dr Weekes’ book. Acceptance is hard but like you said there really isn’t any other choice. A day at a time, an hour at a time, a minute at a time does it.

 

Take care

[David182]

Hi Carmie, 

 

Thank you you for letting me know.

To know my suffering can help another means more than I can articulate at the moment. 

 

Having struggled with anxiety and depression for so much of my life and especially the suffering of SSRI medication problems, it feels like this book was written for me. It is a really good resource, worth every cent.

 

Thanks again, take care,  I’ll be praying for you.

[David182]

Been drumming and walking pretty much every night since Monday except last night (walked only - really tired & wore out) even throwing in abdominal or leg exercises every other night. With only walking last night I am more irritable today/moody and slightly foggy thinking/ just not as alert.

My physical endurance has definitely taken a turn for the better so that excellent and when I do get enough exercise my mood is pretty good.

 

How’s this week been for you?

Dave? Carmie? Anyone else?

[David182]

Haven’t been able to drum for about a year because it was too physically demanding, so that’s a big step forward.

[David182]

 

Just remembered I dreamed vividly this morning and thought I had a lot of bugs on my wall. I actually grabbed my phone to shine light on the wall to double check and then realized it was fine and I was only dreaming. I’m not sure if I was half way between dreaming and being awake but it was weird. Not sure if it’s Zoloft related or not but though it might be worth mentioning.

 

I have been feeling tired and actually sleepy at times during this last week. I haven’t felt sleepy in quite a while, only exhausted instead.

[DaveB]

Sounds like a lot of good developments, very excited for you David. You should be proud of where you have come and what you have endured!

[Carmie]

On 5/5/2018 at 10:51 AM, David182 said:

Been drumming and walking pretty much every night since Monday except last night (walked only - really tired & wore out) even throwing in abdominal or leg exercises every other night. With only walking last night I am more irritable today/moody and slightly foggy thinking/ just not as alert.

My physical endurance has definitely taken a turn for the better so that excellent and when I do get enough exercise my mood is pretty good.

 

How’s this week been for you?

Dave? Carmie? Anyone else?

 

 

Hi Dave, 

How is your day going so far? I’m so glad that you are able to drum again and walk. That is amazing. With any kind of exercise balance is the key. 

 

Ive had Cfs for over 20 years and I’m very balanced in what I can do otherwise I collapse and can’t get out of bed. Cfs is a CNS illness and when you’re going through withdrawals it’s a CNS problem too so don’t overdo the exercise.

 

By the way I only saw your message to me as I was reading through a lot of people’s threads. If you want someone to see your message to them you have to put a @ in front of their name, for example the one to me you would put @Carmie and then I would get a notification. 

 

Thanks for thinking of me Dave. I’ve actually had long windows all weekend and have had a window all day so far. It’s been two months since my last taper and I’m finally stabilising. I’m not going to taper again for a month or two to give myself a break. 

 

Hope you’re enjoying your drumming. I love music. I go to a lot of concerts and am a major music fan. 

 

Take care my fellow sufferer 

 

 

[David182]

Hi @Dave and @Carmie!

Thank you both for the encouragement. 

It’s strange to feel this good physically after so many months of suffering but I’m gladly taking it : D

Thank you also for the heads up on using the @ symbol, I had no idea about that : )

 

I’m definitely being careful with the exercise as I have had so many crashes in the past year. My body actually seem to crave exercise now and my mood heavily depends on it also.

 

My mental focus and acuity as been a bit off and depression & anxiety are lingering close to the surface; not all the time but I’m more emotionally sensitive right now (kind of reminds me of how I could be/was before I started Zoloft).

there seemed to be a correlation with my body taking this turn for the better and my emotions being more sensitive.

 

I’m grateful the exercise tolerance is increasing and actually helps.

 

I’m glad your stabilizing. It is so encouraging after suffering for so long.

 

Yes! I just can’t fathom how some people just shrug their shoulders when it comes to any music, lol

 

Thank you. You take care too : )

 

Dave, is your anxiety still improving/disappearing?

[DaveB]

11 hours ago, David182 said:

Hi @Dave and @Carmie!

Thank you both for the encouragement. 

It’s strange to feel this good physically after so many months of suffering but I’m gladly taking it : D

Thank you also for the heads up on using the @ symbol, I had no idea about that : )

 

I’m definitely being careful with the exercise as I have had so many crashes in the past year. My body actually seem to crave exercise now and my mood heavily depends on it also.

 

My mental focus and acuity as been a bit off and depression & anxiety are lingering close to the surface; not all the time but I’m more emotionally sensitive right now (kind of reminds me of how I could be/was before I started Zoloft).

there seemed to be a correlation with my body taking this turn for the better and my emotions being more sensitive.

 

I’m grateful the exercise tolerance is increasing and actually helps.

 

I’m glad your stabilizing. It is so encouraging after suffering for so long.

 

Yes! I just can’t fathom how some people just shrug their shoulders when it comes to any music, lol

 

Thank you. You take care too : )

 

Dave, is your anxiety still improving/disappearing?

 

It is not linear, but yes it is slowly becoming all much more manageable. I am so happy for you that you can exercise again, that should really help. What a crazy road we have been on, hopefully we are coming to an end of this crazy chapter.

[Carmie]

Hi @David182

 

I’m so glad you’re feeling physically okay at the moment. I’m getting longer windows too right now as well. Yay!

 

Despite your mental focus not being so great and anxiety lingering near the surface it’s still great not to be in a full blown wave, isn’t it? I’ve still got many, many more years of tapering to go and so do you by the looks of it so we need to make the most when we’re in windows and sometimes have a little break from tapering to keep our sanity. 

 

I ordered the Claire Weekes book off eBay by the way, it hasn’t arrived as yet though. 

 

I’m going to order a weighted blanket soon too and an aromatherapy oil diffuser as well. I’m not taking any supplements but I want to incorporate magnesium and fish oil. I’ll probably start with the magnesium. We keep having to add more tools to our toolbox. 

 

Take care and and enjoy your drumming

 

 

[David182]

@DaveB 

It’s has been crazy for sure!! Once I’m fully stabilized, I’m planning on hanging out at my current dose for quite a while to make sure. It’d also probably be for best that my PCP and I need to get on the same page  before tapering. It seems like it’s going to be complicated enough dropping by 10%.

I’m glad things have become much more manageable for you! Getting closer for sure.

 

@Carmie

I hear you on keeping our sanity! Lol

It very easy to feel anxious and dread over the time it’s going to take to get off these meds but one key to peace is staying in the present. It’s going to take around 3 or 3.5 years for me to be free of Zoloft but I’m doing far better today than I was last year and I’m going to try and enjoy that for now. : )

 

Magnesium definitely helped me with anxiety and fish oil with clear thinking (or at least clearer).

 

I’m excited for you to get your copy of that book. It’s so helpful. 

______________________________

I’ve been VERY carefully increasing my exercise and trying to keep a daily practice of meditation, which seems to help with focus and relaxing.

 

i feel more emotionally stable (the sensitive season only lasted about a week). I do struggle with irritability and anger if I don’t exercise enough. It may be partly due to Zoloft/CNS stuff but I think it has more to do with my girlfriend of many years and I breaking up. It was a mutual agreement but still tough. (Four year is quite a while)

 

Making progress though.

One day at a time, we’re getting closer my fiends!!

 

 

[David182]

Added deadlifts (light weight) to my leg routine last Wednesday or so. Handled it well enough but for the past 3 days or so I feel warm (no fever). I remember this sensation from when I doubled my dose a year ago. 

 

I believe I increased my serotonin to a noticeable level from the increased exercise over the past 2 months or so. 

The deadlifts maybe have just put the final touch on it. My symptoms are tolerable but I am backing down on the lifting for a bit and continuing with light/moderate cardio.

 

It was a bit frustrating at first but right now I’m just grateful to recognize the symptoms and respond appropriately.

One day at a time.

[David182]

Took it easy for the weekend. Felt alright (warm flashes went away).

 

Added a few back exercises last night to chest night. I did upper chest, center (single dumbbell squeeze), then added rows and lats. Felt fine last night and this morning. Ate for 2pm break. Felt a bit dizzy walking back to my office and was having intermittent waves of sweating/anxiety.

Not sure what the deal is there. 

 

I haven’t done back exercises for quite a while (almost a year).

 

Body may just be getting used to increased exercising. It didn’t feel like blood sugar issue. I am trying to lose weight also so maybe it’s a metabolism thing. Idk, I hope not to have much more of those episodes. Might need to back off the weight lifting a bit if it continues.

 

@DaveB

@Altostrata

[DaveB]

1 hour ago, David182 said:

Took it easy for the weekend. Felt alright (warm flashes went away).

 

Added a few back exercises last night to chest night. I did upper chest, center (single dumbbell squeeze), then added rows and lats. Felt fine last night and this morning. Ate for 2pm break. Felt a bit dizzy walking back to my office and was having intermittent waves of sweating/anxiety.

Not sure what the deal is there. 

 

I haven’t done back exercises for quite a while (almost a year).

 

Body may just be getting used to increased exercising. It didn’t feel like blood sugar issue. I am trying to lose weight also so maybe it’s a metabolism thing. Idk, I hope not to have much more of those episodes. Might need to back off the weight lifting a bit if it continues.

 

@DaveB

@Altostrata

 

Yeah slow and steady my friend, I know how bad you want to hit the weights but be careful and you will get there. 

[David182]

I’m thinking it has to be related to the fight or flight response and how it effects glucose.

[David182]

1st setback in a while. Kind of freaked me out when it happened. Ugh, I hate when that happens. Yeah, I guess I pushed just a bit too hard : /

[Altostrata]

Some people do develop sensitivity to exertion or heat.

 

Where are you in your taper, David182? Please update your signature.

[David182]

Oh ok, I’ll do that.

 

I’m still on 50mg Zoloft.

 

@Altostrata

[David182]

Not the best night of sleep, woke up early, heavy sweating at times, dry mouth, anxiety, dizziness, nausea (mostly when eating)....yeah, reminds me of when I doubled my dose last year. I’ll be taking it easy on the exercise. 

 

It definitely sucks but I guess there is no way to know our limits until we’ve passed them.

 

One day at a time.

[DaveB]

41 minutes ago, David182 said:

Not the best night of sleep, woke up early, heavy sweating at times, dry mouth, anxiety, dizziness, nausea (mostly when eating)....yeah, reminds me of when I doubled my dose last year. I’ll be taking it easy on the exercise. 

 

It definitely sucks but I guess there is no way to know our limits until we’ve passed them.

 

One day at a time.

 

Sorry David, it really sucks to have symptoms you thought were gone come back doesn't it. Like you said, one day at a time!

[David182]

Woke up after about two hours of sleep. Aches and pains, wild temperature fluctuations, I can’t be without all covers in bed because I’m chilled but I’m also so hot, it comes and goes in waves but I can’t believe how hot I feel at times (no sweating). I’ve drank water to hydrate and taken ibuprofen and niquil.

 

These are new symptoms, I haven’t felt these before. I’m definitely praying for them to pass and to get some good sleep.

[David182]

Hot flashes, tights calves, substantial thirst, foggy thinking...yup, I remember this well. Set myself back a bit.

 

I’m hoping recovery will be quicker since I’m further along in my journey than I was.

[David182]

It seems to me my serotonin levels are high. It checks out with the research I've done as well as certain symptoms of past experience.

I'm trying to level out by laying back on the exercise (none lately, only work related).

 

I'm trying to stabilize before I start my taper journey.

50mg seemed to work for years but I don't know if that's the case anymore.

I'm not sure what else I can do to lower my serotonin other than being lazy and allowing time to pass.

 

Altostrata, do you know if this might be the result of my nervous system being so sensitized (I'm sure some of it is) or is the 50mg too much for me any more?

I don't know why my elevated serotonin is causing such havoc for such a period of time. I guess it comes back to 'how much of this is sensitivity' vs 50mg being too much?

 

Is there anything else i can do to lower my serotonin?

Should I consider dropping 10% in the near future or might I be able to fully stabilize at 50mg?

 

My previous two posts outline my symptoms, consistent with elevated serotonin.

 

*update: it seems as though my pupils are dialated. 

23 hours ago, David182 said:

Woke up after about two hours of sleep. Aches and pains, wild temperature fluctuations, I can’t be without all covers in bed because I’m chilled but I’m also so hot, it comes and goes in waves but I can’t believe how hot I feel at times (no sweating). I’ve drank water to hydrate and taken ibuprofen and niquil.

 

These are new symptoms, I haven’t felt these before. I’m definitely praying for them to pass and to get some good sleep.

 

6 hours ago, David182 said:

Hot flashes, tights calves, substantial thirst, foggy thinking...yup, I remember this well. Set myself back a bit.

 

I’m hoping recovery will be quicker since I’m further along in my journey than I was.

@Altostrata

[David182]

17 hours ago, David182 said:

It seems to me my serotonin levels are high. It checks out with the research I've done as well as certain symptoms of past experience.

I'm trying to level out by laying back on the exercise (none lately, only work related).

 

I'm trying to stabilize before I start my taper journey.

50mg seemed to work for years but I don't know if that's the case anymore.

I'm not sure what else I can do to lower my serotonin other than being lazy and allowing time to pass.

 

Altostrata, do you know if this might be the result of my nervous system being so sensitized (I'm sure some of it is) or is the 50mg too much for me any more?

I don't know why my elevated serotonin is causing such havoc for such a period of time. I guess it comes back to 'how much of this is sensitivity' vs 50mg being too much?

 

Is there anything else i can do to lower my serotonin?

Should I consider dropping 10% in the near future or might I be able to fully stabilize at 50mg?

 

My previous two posts outline my symptoms, consistent with elevated serotonin.

 

*update: it seems as though my pupils are dialated. 

 

@Altostrata

@ChessieCat?

[DaveB]

18 hours ago, David182 said:

It seems to me my serotonin levels are high. It checks out with the research I've done as well as certain symptoms of past experience.

I'm trying to level out by laying back on the exercise (none lately, only work related).

 

I'm trying to stabilize before I start my taper journey.

50mg seemed to work for years but I don't know if that's the case anymore.

I'm not sure what else I can do to lower my serotonin other than being lazy and allowing time to pass.

 

Altostrata, do you know if this might be the result of my nervous system being so sensitized (I'm sure some of it is) or is the 50mg too much for me any more?

I don't know why my elevated serotonin is causing such havoc for such a period of time. I guess it comes back to 'how much of this is sensitivity' vs 50mg being too much?

 

Is there anything else i can do to lower my serotonin?

Should I consider dropping 10% in the near future or might I be able to fully stabilize at 50mg?

 

My previous two posts outline my symptoms, consistent with elevated serotonin.

 

*update: it seems as though my pupils are dialated. 

 

@Altostrata

 

Sorry you are struggling David, I don't think it is as simple as lowering serotonin. You might try a small reduction of 5 mgs of Zoloft, or maybe just hold and be more careful with exercise for a bit until your nervous system is much more stable. 

[David182]

Thank you, @DaveB

yeah this is a nasty one. 

Im being super lazy this weekend to try and heal.

 

Oh, btw, I really like your icon change (Superman S). Right on brother. : )

[RachelSusan]

David182,

 

Yes exercise can cause the withdrawal symptoms to get worse.  You will be able to workout again in the future.  It is best for now to do exactly what you are doing and take it easy.

 

Just my opinion, but  I suspect it's more likely that the exercise is affecting your already sensitized central nervous system, rather than the symptoms coming back because the exercise has raised your serotonin levels. I've been reading up on it, after I saw your post,  and appears to me that it takes a lot of cardio every day to possibly make any change in serotonin level.   Again,  just my opinion.

 

I hope this wave passes quickly.

 

RS

 

[David182]

24 minutes ago, RachelSusan said:

David182,

 

Yes exercise can cause the withdrawal symptoms to get worse.  You will be able to workout again in the future.  It is best for now to do exactly what you are doing and take it easy.

 

Just my opinion, but  I suspect it's more likely that the exercise is affecting your already sensitized central nervous system, rather than the symptoms coming back because the exercise has raised your serotonin levels. I've been reading up on it, after I saw your post,  and appears to me that it takes a lot of cardio every day to possibly make any change in serotonin level.   Again,  just my opinion.

 

I hope this wave passes quickly.

 

RS

 

 

Hi Rachel Susan,

 

thank you for your reply, I much appreciate it.

I believe I will just hunker down, take it easy and let my CNS settle down.

I was doing so well for about a month or so, felt pretty much normal. My body was taking the increased exercise very well but that little extra seemed to be enough to put me over the edge.

 

One day at a time.

 

How have you been doing?

[RachelSusan]

I'm doing good.  Thanks for asking.  I've had the exercise problem too so I feel for you.