aprilshowers210: Debilitating Post Acute WD syndrome, Unable to Eat

[Armorall]

A- Are you looking for success stories of people who went back on meds or just success stories in general?

[aprilshowers210]

2 minutes ago, Armorall said:

A- Are you looking for success stories of people who went back on meds or just success stories in general?

Success stories from people who went back on meds

[Armorall]

I only know one- mapleleafgirl. She did a four year taper. Relapsed after 20 months. Was in acute withdrawal for four months, then reinstated. But she also says that she has had the uncanny ability to reinstate- she did it at 11 months before. That's not really common- I'm actually making a sheet that quotes all of people's kindling experiences or fear of because of the known danger in remedicating. 

I wrote mapleleafgirl some time ago about it, she might be able to answer questions on it. 

If you do a search on kindling, I think you'll find that as the much more common (and horrific) outcome, but I know you are suffering to an extreme extent. 

I guess I should shut up and let a mod answer the question. I have no qualifications on speaking one way or another on it. 

[Katy398]

Hi @aprilshowers210, How are you?  I’ve been thinking about you. Where are you at? Has anything eased over the last few days?

Take care K

[aprilshowers210]

4 minutes ago, Katy398 said:

Hi @aprilshowers210, How are you?  I’ve been thinking about you. Where are you at? Has anything eased over the last few days?

Take care K

Thanks so much for checking in. Things are, not great? I’ve been able to eat more and I’ve gained weight back (and muscle) but my food choices are limited and I still experience a lot of uncomfortable symptoms. Eating throughout the day still stimulates me a lot so by the end of the day I’m usually having headaches.

 

I’m not doing well emotionally. Because of this ordeal I’m missing my brother’s wedding in India. Missing that is killing me inside, and knowing that these symptoms are so debilitating, I just feel I have no hope left. I don’t know how much more missing out I can do.

[Armorall]

Sounds like you are improving! I'm sorry you are missing your brother's wedding, that is hard. But, things are getting better! 

[aprilshowers210]

Hello all! I don’t know if anyone is still following this, but I have an update that I think is worth posting.

 

I became suicidal and checked myself into inpatient care at a facility I’d been to before years ago. I decided I wanted to go back on medications, but obviously I was terrified. However, what I found through the process was improvement. They started me on 5mg of Lexapro which I tolerated with no issue. I then moved up to 10mg to begin building up a therapeutic dose and the only symptoms I experienced were some night sweats and heart pounding the first night. I have since had a tightening of the window of symptoms I experience. I have been feeling significantly better, my fatigue has decreased markedly, and I can eat food fine. I have a ways to go, but the improvements I’ve seen are honestly staggering. 
 

I expect to have some ups and downs as I go, but I’m so surprised at how okay things have gone.

[pinciukas]

5 hours ago, aprilshowers210 said:

Hello all! I don’t know if anyone is still following this, but I have an update that I think is worth posting.

 

I became suicidal and checked myself into inpatient care at a facility I’d been to before years ago. I decided I wanted to go back on medications, but obviously I was terrified. However, what I found through the process was improvement. They started me on 5mg of Lexapro which I tolerated with no issue. I then moved up to 10mg to begin building up a therapeutic dose and the only symptoms I experienced were some night sweats and heart pounding the first night. I have since had a tightening of the window of symptoms I experience. I have been feeling significantly better, my fatigue has decreased markedly, and I can eat food fine. I have a ways to go, but the improvements I’ve seen are honestly staggering. 
 

I expect to have some ups and downs as I go, but I’m so surprised at how okay things have gone.

I am glad that you are doing better! This is most important to feel good!

[existing]

A low histamine diet helped me.

 

I found out about it when I did a search on here for 'chest buzzing'. When I started cutting out foods cited on lists as high-histamine or histamine releasers I noticed immediate improvement. 

I cut back to an extremely bland diet of mostly rice, sweet potatos and a few fruits and vegetables.

There are also foods which are high in quercetin which inhibits histamine release. Apples provided the most relief for my symptoms.

Even the foods which I could tolerate still had effects although much less severe ones. The tiniest amount ingested made an immediate difference.

[Dave1]

Hey I’ve read through your story. It has given me hope. First, I’m so glad you’re feeling better. 
 

I’m about 5.5 months off cold turkey antidepressant. I’m sensitive to a lot so I’m petrified to reinstate, but your story has given me hope that maybe I will be okay after all. Please keep us posted.  

[Cathy4]

@aprilshowers210

I have been keeping up on your thread, too.  I’m so glad you’re finally able to eat again.  What a relief it must.  So glad you took care of yourself and did what you needed for your health/wellbeing.
Cathy

[Katy398]

I’ve also been looking in on your thread. Your food intolerances was one of the scariest symptoms I’ve read.  I am so relieved for you that symptoms have improved. You really needed this respite. Phew. Well done you’ve been so brave. Best wishes Thinking if you Kx

[Dave1]

@aprilshowers210/ how are you feeling? 

[aprilshowers210]

On 2/21/2020 at 8:07 PM, Dave1 said:

@aprilshowers210/ how are you feeling? 

Hey everyone. It’s been a while! To be honest I had to take a break from here because what I went through was really traumatizing. I’m still unable to talk much with people in my life about that time but, I just wanted to share my life update as so much time has passed.

 

I am doing quite well! I still suffer with physical symptoms and I still cannot tolerate caffeine and highly sugary drinks, but overall I can live a somewhat normal existence. My sleep is still a barrier for me because if I wake up early I’m riddled with indigestion, nausea, headaches, head rushing, etc. I still struggle with significant digestive issues but I can eat. I also have fatigue that tends to prevent me from more rigorous activity and I currently don’t have the ability to hold down a full time job so I do gig work with a delivery app. 
 

All of that said, I’m just happy to be more okay than I was then. I was terrified, and truly wasn’t sure if I could make it out. One day I hope to find doctors that believe me and don’t attribute it to a sudden “severe anxiety” but until then, I am surviving okay. Thank you all so much for your messages, they mean so much to me.

 

Also as a note I’ve been on 15mg of lexapro with 10mg of melatonin to sleep at night and this has been the routine keeping me okay for the time being.