sunnysideup69: what can I do to stabilise on venlafaxine

[Erell]

Hi Sunnysideup!

Whouah, I'm so happy To read about your good days! Even if you think you're not stable, enjoy these good days, they must have a sweet taste! 

 

I'm curious about massage : wanted To try To help me relax but too afraid of my NSC not linking it ! Tell us how it goes for you

 

Hoping you're having a good day! (Or night, don't know what time it is for you

[sunnysideup69]

9 hours ago, Erell said:

Hi Sunnysideup!

Whouah, I'm so happy To read about your good days! Even if you think you're not stable, enjoy these good days, they must have a sweet taste! 

 

I'm curious about massage : wanted To try To help me relax but too afraid of my NSC not linking it ! Tell us how it goes for you

 

Hoping you're having a good day! (Or night, don't know what time it is for you

 

Oh my gosh, Erell, they do! I have not felt happy since the beginning of this year, just awful really, and it's so good to have some good feelings coming back. 

Massage should be okay but I would go for something gentle. When you have a 'deep ' massage, it can actually make you a bit emotional afterwards...and we're already emotional. So I just explained today that my nervous system was in a bit of a state and I need just gentle and soothing. She concentrated on neck and upper back and shoulders, which was great- all my tension sits there. It's night now,going to bed soon. xxx

[sunnysideup69]

Sunday 29th September daily notes - today was another good day, this is a really good run. The Ven is definitely kicking in, but I've been taking 2200mg fish oil every day over the last two weeks and I think it's rally helping calm my system

 

5 20 awoke after an intense dream, slept straight through since 10.20pm last night

6am ate breakfast, slight fatigue

7am took 75mg XR Venlafaxine

7 15 warm epsom salts bath

7 30 2200mg omega 3, plus 150mg magnesium citrate

8am feeling slightly restless, anxiety 3 out of 10, slightly dizzy, gone after about 30 mins

9 15 left to go for a massage

10 30 massage feeling sleepy and relaxed

1300 ate lunch, anticipating friend coming over, she is often a bit depressive so am hoping she's in good spirits

1400 to 1600 tea and cake with friend, it was fine, i felt relaxed, very tired by the end though

1800 did strength exercises, listened to music, am enjoying music again

2100 quietly reading my book, winding down for bedtime

2200 Bed, fell asleep quickly

 

 

 

 

[sunnysideup69]

Bit late with this update, which in itself is a good sign.....since last Tuesday (24th) There has been a real shift in mood and stability. I think I am beginning to stabilise on the Venlafaxine, and I'm pretty sure the Omega 3s are really helping me to calm down. To say I am pleased is an understatement, I've literally been suffering continuously with really bad anxiety all year, and it's such a relief to wake up feeling 'normal' and for the wobbles to be minor. I am having fluctuations in the day, but they are so small and almost insignificant. Here's my diary for Monday 30th and Tuesday 1st October.

 

Monday 30th

0315 woke fom intense dream but straight back to sleep

5am woke up in a good mood

7am 75mgXR Venlafaxine, with breakfast

735am 2200mg omega 3s, 150mg mag citrate

8am slight agitation, a bit 'high' but not difficult to manage

9am headache (didn't drink enough water after massage yesterday)

10am leave for counselling 

1300am ate lunch, headache has shifted

                slight obsessing over someone

1800 snack, not very hungry

 

2200 bed

 

 

Tuesday 1st October

3 00 woke but went back to sleep

400 woke but went back to sleep, both times vivid dreams woke me up

520 fully awake, no anxiety

630 breakfast

710 75mg xr Venlafaxine

715 more food, hungry

730 2200mg omega 3 plus 150mg magnesium citrate

1000 out for 5k run, feeling quite 'heavy' in body but completed it slowly

1300 lunch

1400 snack

1500 fatigued, went for a nap- woke up with some anxiety/disorientation but it passed

1600 got up

1800 ate supper and spent evening peacefully listening to online workshop

2200 bed

1100 warm

 

 

 

[sunnysideup69]

So even though I seem to be stabilising, I realise I need to work on keeping myself stable- this is going to be the challenge for me. I tend to feel better and then try to dash into my normal routine. Need to keep an eye on that. But it's good to feel like I'm stabilising 👊

[sunnysideup69]

I'm stopping with the daily notes for now, because finally, after 7 weeks on the Venlafaxine, I seem to have stabilised. However, I realise I'm still fragile. Am making myself a mental weelness plan for work even as we speak.

I'm wondering @Gridley....given that I've actually really been wobbling around for a good 17 months, I'm wondering if I should now hold for the same length of time before I attempt to ever taper again?

 

[Gridley]

1 hour ago, sunnysideup69 said:

'm wondering @Gridley....given that I've actually really been wobbling around for a good 17 months, I'm wondering if I should now hold for the same length of time before I attempt to ever taper again?

 

You should certainly hold.  I don't know if 17 months is necessary.  I would say to hold for at least  six months and then let's reappraise.  It will depend on how you're feeling at that point.

[sunnysideup69]

@GridleyOk, so, I maybe spoke a bit too soon. The last three days I have woken again with anxiety which resolves as the day progresses.

 

Was nice to get a little window of that not happening, was anxiety free on waking for a good few days, now back to anxiety on waking again.

 

So I will make notes again for the next few days, especially as I'm heading back to work this week. Maybe that is kind of creating a bit of anxiety for me.

 

I've noticed a bit of obsessive thinking about someone creeping in as of Thursday, and my mood has dropped. I really need to tackle that as it's something I've always struggled with a bit....need to learn some techniques.

 

Also, days here in the Northern Hemisphere are getting shorter. Decreasing light can make me wobble a bit.

 

Keep plodding forward, I guess.

[Gridley]

6 hours ago, sunnysideup69 said:

I have woken again with anxiety which resolves as the day progresses.

I have found that the morning anxiety/cortisol spikes come and go with me. The fact that your anxiety resolves during the day is a very good sign.  .

 

Good idea to contiue the notes.  And we keep plodding forward.

[sunnysideup69]

@Gridley oh dear, have actually had a really bad day today, all day, so obviously got a little wave going on. Got a bit of general anxiety and a racing heart a lot of the day. Also a kind of weird low pitch humming in my ears.

The last time I had an all-day anxiety was twelve days ago, though, so that's not too bad. Also seem to have a bit of an unsettled stomach with this general feeling.

 

Forgot to take hour by hour notes today, will start that up again tomorrow.

Feeling a bit discouraged by having a bad day.....

[Gridley]

26 minutes ago, sunnysideup69 said:

Feeling a bit discouraged by having a bad day....

Yes, it is discouraging.  I'm sorry you're having these difficult symptoms.   Really, though, you seem in general to be doing well.

 

Does the magnesium seem to help with the anxiety?

 

Here's my anxiety toolkit.  The last link, feet-on-wall, has really helped me.  If you can't manage feet on the ll, just hooking your lower legs over a chair works also.

 

Audio:  First Aid for Panic (4 minutes)
 

Audio:  How to Recover from Anxiety - Dr Claire Weekes
 

VIDEO:  Peace from Nervous Suffering - Claire Weekes (1 hour) (http://sendvid.com/vgquc1dg)
_____________

Anxiety Stuff - all kinds of stuff about anxiety attacks and things that help …

 

10 minute Restorative Yoga for Relaxation | Up the wall

 

 

[sunnysideup69]

3 minutes ago, Gridley said:

Yes, it is discouraging.  I'm sorry you're having these difficult symptoms.   Really, though, you seem in general to be doing well.

 

 

 

Thank you, needed someone to say that. I'm about to pop a bit more magnesium to see if it helps my anxious body.

I'm really noticing the shift in daylight this week and I bet my nervous system is, too.

I think the Epsom salts baths were really helping but I've run out...need to get some more tomorrow.

 

[sunnysideup69]

Had a really anxious sleep, ugh. Kept waking, alternating between being drenched in sweat and shivering. Did keep getting back to sleep though, so that's good.

Have to keep reminding myself that last week I had a run of seven good days, so am definitely beginning to stabilise on the Venlafaxine.

 

Will keep notes of symptoms today, will be more helpful to do so in a wave I think to see what's going on.

I'm just going to have to learn to manage the anxiety in the meantime.

 

 

[Erell]

Hi Sunnysideup!

 

I'm in a middle of a wave too after having expérienced improvments,  so I totally understand what you're going through!

As you had 7 days of good,  you must remind that nothing lasts forever,  as this wave

 

About anxiety, I think the best way is To find distractions. What are yours?

 

Keep believing !

[sunnysideup69]

2 minutes ago, Erell said:

Hi Sunnysideup!

 

I'm in a middle of a wave too after having expérienced improvments,  so I totally understand what you're going through!

As you had 7 days of good,  you must remind that nothing lasts forever,  as this wave

 

About anxiety, I think the best way is To find distractions. What are yours?

 

Keep believing !

 

Mine is about to be, do a meditation, have a bath, do some housework, go to counselling. What do you do to distract yoursel?

[Erell]

When anxiety is too High, I try To distract with really simple things: sudoku, watching silly vidéos on YouTube, acting (like cleaning my flat)...

I should try To take a bath! 

[sunnysideup69]

On 10/7/2019 at 7:04 AM, sunnysideup69 said:

 

Weird, can't seem to get rid of that box above.....

 

Anyway @Gridley, wanna say thank you for all those links above. I'm gonna explore them properly today. I especially like the yoga 'legs up the wall' idea, I've just started yoga and that's something I can fit in every day.

I'm tentatively going back to work tomorrow, being phased in for two weeks. So, three mornings. I kind of feel I need to try getting back out into the world a bit more now, I'm not bed bound, I'm able to socialise, so I'm finding my way gently back into life again. Anyway, here are my notes for yesterday, am gonna keep it up for at least seven days this time, and probably for whole of October. Yesterday was difficult but not as awful as Sunday, which was a stinker.

Gridley, I'm a bit worried about the cortisol/anxiety spikes in terms of causing damage? Are they harmful?

 

Notes for 7/10/2019

3 a.m. woke with palpitations and body chills

5.30 a.m. Awake , anxiety is a 6 and I have palpitations

6.30 a.m. Ate breakfast, did meditation for ten mins

7 a.m. took Venlafaxine 75mg XR, noticing that dip in mood coincides with digestive symptoms, feeling some nausea/ a bit gurgly

7.30 a.m. Hot bath, too hot, was really sweaty after

9.00 a.m. 2200mg fish oil, 150mg Magnesium Citrate

9.20 a.m. Heart palpitations

11 a.m. leave for counselling, still feeling bodily anxiety especially tight chest and arms, slightly short of breath. Counselling was great, talked thru the rigger for my anxiety this weekend, was very soothing.Anxiety around a 6 all morning.

14 00 Ate lunch. Took another 150mg magnesium citrate. I'm feeling anxiety beginning to subside.

15 00 spoke to friend on phone, feeling quite relaxed

16 30 briefly feeling miserable for ten mins but it passes, have been very tired all afternoon as anxiety subsides

17 00 from here on, feeling pretty 'normal', anxiety about 1 or 2

18 30 Ate supper, watching tv

21 30 Fell asleep on sofa

22 30 woke and went to bed

 

[sunnysideup69]

I LOVE the legs-up-the-wall-yoga....gonna add that to my daily routine. 10 mins sitting meditation, 10 mins restorative yoga.

[Gridley]

6 hours ago, sunnysideup69 said:

Gridley, I'm a bit worried about the cortisol/anxiety spikes in terms of causing damage? Are they harmful?

I don't know the answer to this.  I've brought your question to the attention of the other mods.

 

Glad you like the leg-up-the-wall yoga!

[Altostrata]

Hello, sunnyside.

 

From your earlier few daily notes, it looked like you were getting activation (variously agitation, headache, palpitations) shortly after taking Effexor. This indicates the dosage might be too high for you. The nighttime sweating might also be an adverse reaction.

 

Your more recent report, from October 7, was confounded by the hot bath after you took Effexor.

 

We need to see more daily notes, to identify possible adverse reactions to Effexor.

 

The cortisol spikes in the morning can be very uncomfortable and unsettling, but we have many people who have recovered from them. You might be able to lessen them by minimizing stimulation from the morning light with blackout shades and curtains and using a sleep mask to shield your eyes.

[sunnysideup69]

Thank you @Altostrata

I'll continue with the daily notes.

 

October 8th

Woke at 2 a.m. back to sleep quickly

Woke at 4a.m. back to sleep quickly

5am woke properly anxiety at about 3 or 4, slightly jittery

6 30 a.m. breakfast, anxiety at about 3 or 4

6 50 2200mg fish oil, 150mg mag citrate

7am Venlafaxine 75mg XR

9 am Went for a 5k jog anxiety about 3

9 45 warm bath

12pm ate lunch , anxiety is about a 1 now

12 30 took another 150mg magnesium

1300 did 'legs up wall' yoga

14 00 doing some artwork

15 30 feeling a bit 'flat', a slight depression at about a 1

16 30 quick pre yoga snack

all afternoon, depression has been around a 1

1800 feeling normal again, off to yoga

18 40 hatha yoga

2020 back from yoga, relaxed

2130 bedtime for me

[sunnysideup69]

@Altostrata

Should also add that I'm postmenopausal, and the night sweats are quite common for me, hard to know if its the venlafaxine or my hormones

[Altostrata]

That latest report is an improvement, isn't it?

[sunnysideup69]

16 hours ago, Altostrata said:

That latest report is an improvement, isn't it?

Yes, it really is, about to post yesterday's also, was a good day, and also so far today. Thank goodness. Still a bit prone to odd days of anxiety but I do think things are heading in the right direction

 

October 9th- first day of phased return to work (mornings only, 3 days per week)

2 am woke, straight back to sleep

4 am woke, straight back to sleep

5 am woke and got up, have a headache (but I ran yesterday and my fluid intake was really too low, think it's just dehydration from that) Anxiety around 2

6am breakfast

6 20 2200mg fish oil, 150mg magnesium citrate

7 am 75mg XR Venlafaxine then leave for work, anxiety is about 2

7 45 am arrive at work, feel calmer, not bothered by anxiety all morning  at work

12 45 leave work

1 30 begin to prepare lunch Drank caffeinated tea

1500 ate lunch slight anxiety, 1, I think it may have been due to the caffeine in the tea. Tak 150mg magnesium

17 30 10 mins meditation, then 10 mins 'legs up the wall yoga', no anxiety at all, just feel sleepy and relaxed

1800 supper

2030 screens off, feeling relaxed and reading peacefully

2130 fell asleep reading

2230 wake and take myself to bed

 

[Erell]

Hi Sunnysideup!

 

Whouah! I'm so glad To see you're doing great!!! Everytime I read your thread it gives me hope !

 

Enjoy your day !

[sunnysideup69]

Thanks @Erell, I'm definitely getting there, and if I can, after such a rough year, than rest assured you will, too.

 

October 10th notes

3 am woke, back to sleep

4 am same

4 55 fully awake

5 30am warm epsom salts bath

6 am breakfast

6 30 2200mg fish oil, 150mg magnesium, noticing some slight body twitches, jerks starting, mostly in arms

7 am Venlafaxine 75mg XR, then leave for work

anxiety free morning!

 

1400 return home from work

14 30 eat a HUGE lunch, still relaxed

1800 brief strength workout at home

anxiety free evening!

21 30 tired, go to bed, sleep straight away

[Erell]

Whouah!!!! Anxiety free! What a sweet day, Im so glad for you 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗

[sunnysideup69]

Friday 11th October notes

Awoke in early hours, didnt see time, straight back to sleep.

4 30 am beginning to wake up

5am fully awake and feeling calm but really knackered

530 am warm epsom salts bath

6 am breakfast, including three caffeinated teas*, really need to cut back on this/ get decaf because I think it spikes me a bit

630 am 2200mg fish oil, 150mg magnesium citrate, *anxiety is about a 2, bit of ringing in ears and slightly jittery. Did 10 mins meditation

7am 75mgXR Venlafaxine, right now anxiety still around a 2

7am leave for work, pretty good morning, anxiety subsides to 0

1400 arrive home, really tired, feel a bit flat, slight depression for 30 mins at 1 or 2 ie feeling 'oh , i have nothing to look forward to.....but it goes

1430 eat

1500 feeling better

1630 really tired, flatness of affect about 1 or 2, so I snuggle under a blanket on sofa and watch tv, unintentionally fall asleep

2130 suddenly wake, can't believe I slept for 5 hours. Woah, must have been really tired. Not gonna attempt bed straight away, won't be able to sleep. Watch Gardener's World.

2300 go to bed 

 

 

 

 

[sunnysideup69]

Saturday 12th October                60 days into taking Venlafaxine/since switching directly from Citalopram

 

2am woke up, used bathroom, went back to sleep

4am snapped awake, doubt I'm gonna get more sleep as I fell asleep at 4 30 pm yesterday

4 30 am up, made tea, went back to bed with it

5 30am warm epsom salts bath

6am felt really wobbly after bath, shaky, today I need to rest really well anxiety this morning, about 2

7am take Venlafaxine 75mgXR, eat breakfast, feeling spaced out

9am went food shopping as friends coming for lunch anxiety still around 2/1

1pm friends arrived feeling a tiny bit withdrawn initially

130-5pm really relaxed, good to actually laugh with friends, enjoyed their company  anxiety subsided to 0 

6pm went for 5k run

2130pm bed anxiety has been 0 since 130pm

[sunnysideup69]

Sunday 13th October notes

 

2am, 4am woke, restless, back to sleep

5am got up Feeling calm despite restless sleep

630 am Breakfast beginning to feel some irritation, realise it's part of 'fight or flight' about a 3, imaginary arguments w family in my head

7am Venlafaxine 75mg XR

730 warm epsom salts bath

845 out for 5k walk through park, irritation subsiding

10am home again irritation 2 or 1, when I stopped citalopram in 2015 I recall being very angry often, this is mild

11am go food shopping, irritation now 0

1240 lunch, then spent afternoon making sauerkraut and kefir

Anxiety/depression free afternoon 

1700 did strength exercises

1800 supper

1830- legs up wall yoga/meditation, then peacefully watching you tube snuggled up on sofa, at some point fell asleep (too early) and took myself to bed around - didnt see the time

 

NB I need to change a few things eg want to take my bath in the evening, also, need to go to bed no earlier than 10pm because my body doesn't seem to sleep longer than 7 hours max and am waking up too early

 

@Gridley, hello, is this disturbed sleep through the night likely also to be withdrawal from Cit? I'm guessing it is.....I don't actually feel tired but it would be good to sleep through.....

 

[Erell]

9 minutes ago, sunnysideup69 said:

Anxiety/depression free afternoon 

Still loving your updates 😄😉

 

About sleep  : I understand what you mean. In my case, I don't put lights off to sleep before 11pm : if I do it earlier, I wake up too early.

However, I keep going to bed early (around 8pm !) : it gives me the time To relax with slight light.

 

So happy To see that you expérience times without anxiety or dépression! Enjoy it! 

[Giulietta]

5 hours ago, sunnysideup69 said:

is this disturbed sleep through the night likely also to be withdrawal from Cit?

 

Hello sunnysideup

Disturbed sleep is a WD effect of ADs. Have you noticed that some nights are better than others? Speaking from personal experience - and what I have  seen of nearly else - the stark reality of poor sleep is a consequence of ADs and withdrawal fromt them.  From the time I started taking cymbalta - I almosts never had a full night where I didn't wake up 2 or 3 times. I am now down most nights to waking up once a night - and occasionally sleep through the night.

 

I did start wearing a black out mask which helps very much. A weighted blanket and low lights from 7 pm helps as well.

 

Welcome to AD

 

Giuilietta

 

 

 

 

[Gridley]

5 hours ago, sunnysideup69 said:

 

@Gridley, hello, is this disturbed sleep through the night likely also to be withdrawal from Cit?

 

Very likely yes.

[sunnysideup69]

3 hours ago, Guilietta said:

 

Hello sunnysideup

Disturbed sleep is a WD effect of ADs. Have you noticed that some nights are better than others? Speaking from personal experience - and what I have  seen of nearly else - the stark reality of poor sleep is a consequence of ADs and withdrawal fromt them.  From the time I started taking cymbalta - I almosts never had a full night where I didn't wake up 2 or 3 times. I am now down most nights to waking up once a night - and occasionally sleep through the night.

 

I did start wearing a black out mask which helps very much. A weighted blanket and low lights from 7 pm helps as well.

 

Welcome to AD

 

Giuilietta

 

 

 

 

Hello Giuilietta,

Thanks for this info. I almost never had a problem sleeping until the second time round on Citalopram, after beginning to taper in October 2016. From about Feb 2017, I started to have problems sleeping. I just put it down to being post menopause at that point, which I'm sure didn't help....but in the whole peri menopausal period running up to then, my sleep had been okay. I think it was probably down to a too fast taper.

Also, @Erell, I have seen you refer to having a 'toxic nap.' Do you mean when you fall asleep and then wake, and feel suddenly anxious/horrible? That just happened to me, and it feels really random. ( I also think I'm getting a cold though, my throat is very scratchy and a bit sore.) I'm wondering if it's low blood sugar or something, but I feel a sense of doom all of a sudden after waking......

[Giulietta]

43 minutes ago, sunnysideup69 said:

I started to have problems sleeping. I just put it down to being post menopause at that point, which I'm sure didn't help....but in the whole peri menopausal period running up to then, my sleep had been okay. I think it was probably down to a too fast after.

 

Me too!  I started experiencing hot flushes, perspiring and terrible insomnia - 3 years after 50 (menopause)!!! The MD really didn't undestand and referred to me to a gyn who didn't help. I would not take estradiol. I read in the cymbalta prescribers information and other details (look on the mayo website) that cymbalta causes these symptoms so I am more inclined to associate my symptoms with cymbalta.

[sunnysideup69]

11 hours ago, Guilietta said:

 

Me too!  I started experiencing hot flushes, perspiring and terrible insomnia - 3 years after 50 (menopause)!!! The MD really didn't undestand and referred to me to a gyn who didn't help. I would not take estradiol. I read in the cymbalta prescribers information and other details (look on the mayo website) that cymbalta causes these symptoms so I am more inclined to associate my symptoms with cymbalta.

 

I meant 'too fast taper', but you got what I meant.

Yes, I can understand why you chalked it up to the Cymbalta.

Fell asleep on the sofa at 8 30last night....gah! Need to keep myself awake until at least 10pm as am awake at 430 am again this morning.

Funnily enough, after chatting to you about this yesterday, I had a really good sleep. Fell asleep 830pm, suddenly awoke at 2230 and thought bugger, I've done it again. Went to bed, slept through til 430 am. Also fell asleep for an hour during the day. It's been really dark in London all day, cloudy and rainy, and that weather just makes me feel so tired. In answer to your question, my sleep is definitely better some days than others. Going to try to keep better sleep hygiene, no napping, 10pm bedtime.