Momoffour: Struggling Post-Sertraline CT

[Momoffour]

@Blossom71thank you, you too! 

[Momoffour]

@Blossom71i got out for a drive today. And cleaned a lot of my house. Playing with my kids which is nice because I barely recognized them before and didn't feel any love for them even though, I know I love them 🥺 which is totally unlike me.  I felt really close to being myself with less brain damage feeling and weird vision with some symptoms coming and going. I hope this means RI is working. 🤞🏻 

[Blossom71]

9 hours ago, Momoffour said:

@Blossom71i got out for a drive today. And cleaned a lot of my house. Playing with my kids which is nice because I barely recognized them before and didn't feel any love for them even though, I know I love them 🥺 which is totally unlike me.  I felt really close to being myself with less brain damage feeling and weird vision with some symptoms coming and going. I hope this means RI is working. 🤞🏻 

Oh I hope so @Momoffour, but it definitely sounds like things are heading in the right direction!

I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you too 🤞 

[Momoffour]

This morning has been pretty rough brain feeling where everything around me is overwhelming, light sensitivity a bit of the stomach doom anxiety that makes me wanna drop to my knees and cry but not as bad as usual. Starting to feel like it's calming down a bit but still there. 

I'm gonna just keep swimming and telling myself happy positive words. Laying in bed to just ride it out. 

[Altostrata]

Hello, @Momoffour It looks to me like your withdrawal symptoms are settling a bit. 

 

What time o'clock do you take sertraline? What's your sleep pattern now?

 

Head pressure is a commonly reported withdrawal symptom. Sounds like yours comes and goes, along with light and sound sensitivity?

[Momoffour]

@Altostrata it's not head pressure it's like this feeling that makes everything around me overwhelming sometimes tingling in my brain and ears that comes and goes . It's honestly scary.

I have just a general brain damaged feeling too and so hard to explain. That one is always there just less at times, same with slightly off/weird vision. 

Yes light sensitivity, noise sometimes, and just a general sense of feeling off.

It's really hard to tell what's what. I have times of feeling better but not like a complete window or symptom free. 

I take it at 11 am. My sleep is still broken. And if I have the overwhelmed brain feeling it's hard to go to sleep some nights. 

It seems to have improved a little though my sleep

The anxiety seems to still happen but not as often or as harsh. This morning was really bad though with all symptoms. 

 

[Momoffour]

It feels like overwhelming anxiety in my brain is the best way to describe it which in turn makes everything around me overwhelming

[Momoffour]

@Altostrata today has been pretty awful. That anxiety brain feeling has been almost all day with very little let up. 💔 Today is the first day it has lasted so long. 

[Altostrata]

Is it better or worse after you take sertraline?

[Momoffour]

@Altostratait's usually better and was for a few hours today after taking it...but today is just rough. 

[Momoffour]

@Altostratait will feel like my brain is tingling/overstimulated/overwhelmed I am hiding in my room and just crying because it's scaring me so bad 

[Momoffour]

Like when you're on a roller coaster and dropping. That's what my head feels like kind of 

[Momoffour]

@Altostrata I'm trying to find someone else that's had this symptom. It's so hard and scary... I am hanging on trying to be positive though. Just want this to pass. Today has been my worst day since RI. Should I stay where I am. Will I be okay?

[Altostrata]

There are thousands of members of this site who have reported similar symptoms. We have seen the symptoms very gradually go away.

 

Since you feel better after 1mg sertraline, it appears reinstatement is working for you, but the small dose is wearing off quickly and you need more sertaline to last throughout the day. Suggest you add 0.5mg for a total of 1.5mg per day, tell us how you're doing.

[Momoffour]

@Altostrata okay I will try that tomorrow. Thank you.

[Momoffour]

@Altostrata do you think 2 mg would be too much? It's easier with the syringe I have to find. 1.5 would be harder to find every day with the condition I'm in. 

[Momoffour]

Also, do I need to taper my birth control? I started a new pack today which also may be why things are different. Like 3 weeks on and during your cycle one week off. My cycle just ended so I started a new pack today I've seen many people to through withdrawal from stopping birth control on Facebook. So I don't want to just stop it. 

[Momoffour]

The birth control hasn't seemed to effect withdrawal before now though. 

[Altostrata]

If you feel up to it, you can try 2mg.

 

Cycling caused by going on and off your birth control pills for a week can be a confounder in your symptom pattern. If it hasn't caused any changes, I guess doing this can be okay. But it may become a complication.

[Momoffour]

@Altostrata that's how they work. I mean the week of placebo pills. I'm not starting and stopping them. I'm just saying today was the first day of the actual pill and not the placebo. How do I get off them? So I don't have to worry about it. 

[Altostrata]

You'll have to ask the Facebook group members how to stop birth control pills. You can't skip doses. You'll have to have another birth control method.

 

If they do not cause symptom fluctuations, I would not bring in the complication of going off them at this time. You need to focus on stabilization from going off sertraline.

[Momoffour]

@AltostrataOkay. You're right. Today has just been awful. 

The worst day I've had since RI. I also think I'm a rapid metabolizer for some medications. Does that matter? Should I take 1 mg in the morning and 1 at night? Thank you for your time. I really appreciate you. 

[Blossom71]

Hi @Momoffour

 

I have no idea whether this would be an option for you but I’m on the ‘mini pill’. So you take the same pill every day and no placebos. It might be an option at some point in the future to prevent the hormone fluctuations although at where you are at the moment it’s probably not a good idea to change. 
 

Maybe something to speak of hormone fluctuations continue to cause you a problem.
 

https://www.ukmeds.co.uk/blog/whats-the-difference-between-combined-pill-and-mini-pill

 

[Momoffour]

@Blossom71 Thank you. My sleep was worse last night after I said I thought it was improving. I'm just a mess not knowing what to do. 🥺 I guess I'll try updosing today and praying it works. I'm barely hanging. 

[Frogie]

 

@Momoffour

 

You might want to keep notes so @Altostrata can see what is going on.

 

Keep Notes on Paper

 

You might take a nice hot shower before bed, take a Epson salt bath also.

 

Keep off the phone, tv and computer a couple of hours before bed as blue light can affect your sleep.

 

You might also try a small amount of melatonin before bed. Start off with 0.3 mg. You can get it on Amazon really cheap.

 

Melatonin

 

Sleep problems - that awful withdrawal insomnia

 

I hope this helps. Keep your chin up, it will get better.

[Momoffour]

@Altostrata I do feel a bit worse since reinstating... but okay at times. The brain damaged weird vision (maybe Dr?) feeling is all day every day varying in intensity

Went to bed around 8:30pm fell asleep around 9pm

Woke up but don't remember what time

 

12 am- woke up went back to sleep

2 am woke up went back to sleep

4:30 woke up heart racing 7/10 stayed up

Went to the garage and smoked a cig 

5:00 am tried to go back to sleep and couldn't heart racing still. Anxiety in stomach. 10/10

6:00 am ate breakfast took birth control still anxiety in stomach 8/10

Feel weak and shaky feel like I'm dying 7/10

6:20 am bowel movement kinda hard to go 

Asking if reinstatement was idea because I feel so much worse than I ever have 

Anxiety in stomach stopped still feel weak 7/10

6:30 am chills and cold 8/10 still feel weak 7/10 feel pressure in my collar bone and near chest 8/10

Going outside to smoke another cig 

Pain in arms 2/10 

6:45 am still very cold laying on my couch under a blanket. Slight headache 2/10 coming and going  pain in shoulder blades and back radiating to my elbow at times 3/10 

Still pain in arms 2/10 even with all this going on feel slightly better than this morning. Really happy the brain anxiety/stimulation hasn't started up yet. Maybe at 1 all morning. 

7:00 am still laying on couch trying to read stomach anxiety going in and out still cold 

Sleepy feeling.

8:00: still sleepy keep dozing off but scared to sleep because I always feel worse after awake. stomach and chest anxiety 9/10

A bit shaky yawning. 

8:40 I have pressure in my chest and arm 6/10 Face is a bit numb. 5/10 but stopped about 15 mins later 

9:20 anxiety finally stopped. Now just tingling in foot and shin 8/10. 🤦🏻‍♀️ Always gotta be something,  had a snack & some water 

10:00 had a pb & j and a Lala probiotic smoothie for lunch.

Freezing cold again 10/10. With collar bone pressure 5/10. Laying on my couch under blankets again. 

11:00 am taking 2 mg sertraline. (first updose pray for me)

Got a little anxiety and rush 2/10 

Slight headache. 2/10 

Still have pressure in collarbone 4/10.

In and out ear ache lasted 2 minutes 

Shoulder pain also didn't last long 

Brain anxiety (that's what I'm gonna call it) 3/10 please don't spike 🤞🏻🙏🏻

Light sensitivity 5/10

Forearm pain 4/10

Just feeling weird. My body must be registering the new dose

Hoping this hour goes by fast so it can kick in and relax me some. Telling my mom about SA and how you all are trying to save me. 

I'll do a notes continued for next hours and symptoms 

 

[Momoffour]

11:30 feel my heart beat in my brain stopped 10 mins later Light sensitivity, brain damage feeling still going strong as well as pain in my arm.🙄 Gonna drink some water. And I'm hungry, again! At the other half of my pb&j

 

12:00 was calm and cool for a few minutes stomach anxiety now 6/10 freezing cold 7/10

Gonna lay on the couch with blankets heating pad  and try to read. 10 mins later anxiety stopped now just chest and arm pressure. 4/10 and heart beat in brain off and on 

 

12:20 tired still have arm pressure. Just feel weird and off. 

 

1:00pm going to the store I have to get groceries and a cake for my middle daughters birthday. Tinnitus and still feel weird. Pain in side of my ribs when I move.. head hurts in temples a bit. But overall feel good with symptoms. Mostly drugged I'd say symptoms at a 1 

Hope it stays this way 🤞🏻

 

2:30pm little dizzy off and on 3/10 

Drank some chocolate milk not even thinking  dumb idea 🤦🏻‍♀️ no instant reaction but I have some anxiety and brain anxiety just alert feeling in my head about 10 mins later 🙄

Drinking water hoping it will help 

 

3:00pm came home and laid on my couch. Not so much anxiety in stomach but still alert feeling.  

Some collarbone chest pressure 4/10

 

4:15pm still alert feeling 🙄. Stood up to start walking and eyes blacked out got a bit dizzy and head pressure. Passed quick going to smoke a cigarette and then make dinner 

 

5:00 ate dinner vertigo a bit passed quick. Stomach anxiety 2/10 also passed pretty quick. Still have the alert feeling but less 

 

5:30 I think the alert feeling is gone. Back to just general brain damaged feeling and weird vision. 

 

7:00 reading, feel tired. Slightly blurry vision now. Back hurts a bit. All 2/10 

 

8:00 some stomach anxiety. 4/10 tired and thinking about laying down soon. Getting kids in bed. 

8:15 stomach anxiety ramping up 6/10 

8:20 now about 3/10 about to lay down and try to sleep.

Today hasn't been very bad at all. Hoping tomorrow is as good. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Altostrata]

It will take at least 4 days for the updose to take full effect.

[Momoffour]

@AltostrataStill weird vision all day general brain damaged feeling 

 

8:40 pm fall asleep 

10:30 wake up fall asleep 

12:40 wake up fall asleep

 

2:20 awake heart Palps 6/10 stomach anxiety 7/10 sleep is getting worse 🤦🏻‍♀️ Nooo. 

Get up out of bed go smoke a cig

 

2:30am No more heart Palps stomach anxiety 3/10 gonna attempt to lay back down. 

Have to walk up my hallway stairs so heart Palps again but slowwwwly calming down. Praying I can sleep! 

 

3:00am still not asleep 🥺 but trying

Anxiety and heart Palps off and on 

 

3:15 going back downstairs. Crying. 

Why is my sleep getting worse? 😭 

 

3:40am ish finally feel back asleep 

 

4:30 am woke up again 

 

5:00 am woke up again 

 

5:30 am waking up again. Getting out of bed. Brain is shaking 6/10 

 

5:40 am stopped shaking now just popping randomly  Shaky mainly in my hands 

 

6:00 am. Eating plain Cheerios for breakfast 

Little of the brain stimulation anxiety 3/10 🥺

 

6:10 am take birth control gonna lay on the couch because I'm cold. Stomach pain for a few minutes. 

 

6:30 am pain in foot 7/10 stomach doom anxiety 8/10 nausea 4/10 

 

6:40 just random pain in different places that seems to pass quick but move. General brain damaged feeling just don't feel well. Heart beating weird, shaky, just not right. Stood up eyes blacked out again. 

 

7:00 am still not feeling well. Freezing cold too now 9/10

Chest & collarbone pressure  3/10

 

7:20am the weird unwell feeling is less but still here (maybe it's my bp) & or heart? still cold hands and feet especially. Heart beat in head off and on. 

 

7:40 same as the above plus kind of sleepy and nerve pain in my leg varying in intensity 

 

8:00am was dozing off on couch but got up because every time I sleep I wake up worse.

Feeling better but still off/brain damaged yawning at the same time. 

Smoke a cig and then go sit and read 

 

8:30am so close to feeling like myself and off at the same time that it's frustrating. Arm pain coming and going other random pains popping in and out 

 

8:40am Anxiety and cold still feel off. Head feeling weird and brain damaged. 

 

8:50am bowel movement constipation

 

9:00am yogurt snack. Cold chills and cold head still feel brain damaged. 

 

9:15am headache in and out. Crying feeling hopeless wondering if I'll ever be me again or if I'll stabilize still feel brain damaged. And cold. 

 

9:40 stopped crying just sitting here cold hands and feet trying to be positive and just accept this takes time. Random nerve pains, aches, and twitches in and out. Still feel brain damaged

 

9:50 am anxiety 6/10. 🙄 Still brain damaged feeling. 

 

10:00 am anxiety feels barely there and now chest/collarbone pressure. Random pains in random places. Brain damaged feeling 

 

10:20 ate half a pb&j sandwich for lunch. 

Pain in the back of my left knee and ribs burning off and on. Still have chest/collarbone pressure and brain damaged feeling. 

 

10:30 anxiety 7/10 ugh rash on hand that has probably been there for a while but just now noticing. Doesn't itch or burn or anything like that which is why I haven't noticed it. 

It's also not raised scaly or bumpy just red blotchy and smooth and only on my hand

 

I had rashes on my legs before reinstating though 

 

 

[Momoffour]

Photo also makes it look worse than it does in person. 

[Momoffour]

11:00 am 2 mg sertraline 

Still have anxiety, arm pain, annoyed,  nerve pain that comes and goes brain damaged feeling 

 

11:40 chest/collarbone pressure 4/10

Anxiety 6/10 brain damaged feeling as always 

 

12:00 anxiety 4/10 chest and collarbone pressure still present. Brain damaged feeling Crying again. Sick of going through this just want it to be over already. 

usually have relief after taking dose so I'm patiently waiting for that.

12:40 some relief from anxiety and crying Still feel brain damage and overall low mood. 

 

1:00pm left upper arm pain 4/10

Collarbone chest pressure 3/10 had a snack 

 

1:30 slight anxiety, still have pressure in arm and collar bone. Try to accept that today isn't awful but not good either. 🥺 

 

2:00 still have anxiety 2/10 in my stomach cold with chills. Gonna lay here and read if I can. 

 

2:30 anxiety gone chest pressure 4/10

 

3:20 arm hurts slight headache anxiety. Crying. Just over this. 

I'll do notes continue in next post 

[Momoffour]

3:50pm cold anxiety headache 

Teeth nerves hurt 

 

4:30pm Headache in and out chest and collarbone pressure 6/10

Trying to order pizza for my daughter's birthday. 

 

5:00pm anxiety passed quickly still collarbone and now shoulder blade pressure 

 

5:21pm eating dinner pizza. Skipping the birthday cake though 

 

5:50pm feel kind of okay just some brain sensations. Crying because it's my middle daughter's 5th birthday and it makes it even harder. I hope next year is better. 

 

6:30pm feeling better just the brain damaged feeling. And heart beat in head off and on. 

Chills and cold. 

 

6:45pm collar bone and chest pressure shoulder blade hurts. 

 

8:15pm put kids in bed. All symptoms have been at a 1 if that for a little while. Thinking about laying down soon. Tired 

 

8:30 laying down. Trying to go to sleep. 

 

 

 

Today hasn't been awful like Sunday. But not good either. Maybe tomorrow will be better 🤞🏻🙏🏻 hoping for good sleep tonight 

[Altostrata]

How long have you been taking 2mg sertraline?

 

That does look like hives. Did you work in the garden or get anything on your hand to which you might be allergic?

 

Did you change your smoking pattern lately? How do you feel before and after a cigarette?

[Momoffour]

@Altostrata Fell asleep around 9pm

Woke up at 10:30 back to sleep

Woke up at midnight sweating racing heart off and on sleep

1:15 am racing heart gonna try to go back to sleep. 

No, no garden. I don't feel any worse or better after a cig. Only 2 days at 2 mg today will be day 3 of taking it at 11 am. 

My sleep is getting worse. 🥺

 

[Momoffour]

It's actually way light than it looks too the rash. 

[Momoffour]

1:30 am finally just got up smoked a cigarette 

No pattern for cigarettes maybe I will try making one. Usually just smoke one when I feel like it. Hopefully over time I can slow down and eventually quit. Just really hard with stress.