Cheeky: on Paxil for 23 years needing advice

[brassmonkey]

Traveling and tapering can be a tough combination to handle. All your timing gets thrown off and there is a lot of schedule changes and stimulation.  It can easily trigger a wave. I try to go with the flow as much as possible, do the best I can to maintain my schedule and allow the trip to be a major distraction and try not to think about WD.

 

If you haven't traveled for a while, then your body isn't used to it and that can set things off. Like you think, this is just another wave and will pass.

[Cheeky]

19 hours ago, Greatful said:

@Cheeky My guess would be the changes in schedule with sleep and when you take your meds.  Hopefully when you are settled back at home things will resolve. 

This is a great sign that you are healing   2 weeks of feeling good what's that like lol

You've got this😊 

Thanks @greatful,

when this happens I always feel like it won’t end, but in my heart I know that we all do heal eventually and maybe this is my journey to teach me lessons and make me a better human being. YOU TOO will be okay . We have to imagine it and it will happen .

[Cheeky]

14 hours ago, brassmonkey said:

Traveling and tapering can be a tough combination to handle. All your timing gets thrown off and there is a lot of schedule changes and stimulation.  It can easily trigger a wave. I try to go with the flow as much as possible, do the best I can to maintain my schedule and allow the trip to be a major distraction and try not to think about WD.

 

If you haven't traveled for a while, then your body isn't used to it and that can set things off. Like you think, this is just another wave and will pass.

Thanks @brassmonkey

[Carmie]

Hi Cheeky, 

 

Thinking of you and sending hugs🤗

[Cheeky]

On 2/28/2022 at 2:50 PM, Carmie said:

Hi Cheeky, 

 

Thinking of you and sending hugs🤗

Aww @Carmie Thankyou for thinking of me, your such a beautiful lady .
I’m okay up and down round and a round, not sure one day to the next. 
How are you going with all these floods , are you safe and where about in Queensland do you live? I forgot my memory is poor. 

[Carmie]

H

On 3/1/2022 at 8:14 PM, Cheeky said:

Aww @Carmie Thankyou for thinking of me, your such a beautiful lady .
I’m okay up and down round and a round, not sure one day to the next. 
How are you going with all these floods , are you safe and where about in Queensland do you live? I forgot my memory is poor. 

Hey Cheeky, 

 

Yes, I’m very familiar with the up and down, round and round🙃. All we can do is take a day at a time. 

 

And, yes, I was okay in the floods, though the small creek out the back of where I lived turned into a mighty torrent. It was incredible. 
 

I live up a hill though so the water doesn’t come all the way up, I live on the top floor of a unit too so I’m all good. Friends of mine got flooded though😔

 

Take care💛

[Cheeky]

3 hours ago, Carmie said:

H

Hey Cheeky, 

 

Yes, I’m very familiar with the up and down, round and round🙃. All we can do is take a day at a time. 

 

And, yes, I was okay in the floods, though the small creek out the back of where I lived turned into a mighty torrent. It was incredible. 
 

I live up a hill though so the water doesn’t come all the way up, I live on the top floor of a unit too so I’m all good. Friends of mine got flooded though😔

 

Take care💛

@Carmie I’m so glad your alright. I live on a hill so lucky I’m safe as well . This world really isn’t likening what we’re doing to it though. 

[Greatful]

@Cheeky  How are you doing.  You've been pretty quite..... Did you get my pm

 

Edited March 29, 2022 by Greatful

[Cheeky]

Hey everyone,

So I thought id made it and have been feeling great the last few months. I went on holiday to Hawaii which was amazing for ten days and had a relatively good first week back at work but BOME I'm feeling those awful withdrawal symptoms again. I understand the time change of taking my medication while overseas was different but I think im paying the price now. Has this happened to anybody. @wantrelief @brassmonkey @Frogie

[Frogie]

@Cheeky

 

Time change, climate, eating differently, almost anything can cause a wave. That sounds exactly what you may be going through right now.

 

It happened to me every time we had a time change.

 

I would just hold, and do lots of self care. You will come out of it.

 

Hawaii is beautiful though, I was there in 2011. Glad you enjoyed yourself😊

[wantrelief]

Hi @Cheeky:  I am glad you were feeling so well over the last few months and were able to enjoy your holiday!  I am really sorry you are feeling withdrawal symptoms again after feeling well.....that is so hard.  I am sure things will right themselves again now that you are home and back in your usual time zone.  It is good to know your brain can get to a much better place so will again.  Hang in there, Cheeky.

[Carmie]

On 5/5/2022 at 5:28 PM, Cheeky said:

Hey everyone,

So I thought id made it and have been feeling great the last few months. I went on holiday to Hawaii which was amazing for ten days and had a relatively good first week back at work but BOME I'm feeling those awful withdrawal symptoms again. I understand the time change of taking my medication while overseas was different but I think im paying the price now. Has this happened to anybody. @wantrelief @brassmonkey @Frogie

Hi Cheeky, 

 

So happy to hear that you were feeling well during your holiday, I’m glad you really got to enjoy it. 
 

I’m very sorry you’re struggling again, but how nice to see a glimpse of what life can be like again in the future. 
 

How are you feeling today?🧡

[Carmie]

Hi Cheeky, 

 

How has life been treating you?🧡

[Cheeky]

Hey @Carmie, 

Thanks for thinking of me . 
I’m doing well , feeling 100% normal (touch wood) and just enjoying my life . I know I should be tapering, but I’m just too scared to go back to that WD place. I need to be there for my kids and just live in the moment. I don’t come here much as I feel overwhelmed and scared and it can be triggering. 
I will come and visit you in your thread 

[Carmie]

9 hours ago, Cheeky said:

Hey @Carmie, 

Thanks for thinking of me . 
I’m doing well , feeling 100% normal (touch wood) and just enjoying my life . I know I should be tapering, but I’m just too scared to go back to that WD place. I need to be there for my kids and just live in the moment. I don’t come here much as I feel overwhelmed and scared and it can be triggering. 
I will come and visit you in your thread 

Hey Cheeky, you have to do what’s best for you and if you can’t cope with tapering at the moment, that’s fine. At least you have the tools if you decide to start again. I’m tapering really, really slowly as my body won’t let me go much faster than I’m doing at the moment. 
 

Yes, if you’re finding this site triggering best to not come here too much. I’ve had long breaks away from here too. It’s really sad seeing all the people that are suffering from these dreaded meds. 
 

I hope that you have lots of fun times with your kids🧡

[Greatful]

@Cheeky  Stopping by to say hi.  How are you doing?♥️

[Cheeky]

17 hours ago, Greatful said:

@Cheeky  Stopping by to say hi.  How are you doing?♥️

Hi @Greatful,

Thanks for thinking of me 🥰

well just when I thought things were going smoothly, I got sick and had to take strong pain killers and it’s brought on a wave . The usual symptoms but it doesn’t matter how many times this happens to me it sends me in depression and I have those dreadful Nero emotions . I’m just really hoping I’m going to come out of this soon . 
   I have recently joined the “inner Compass Exchange “ that is created by Laura Delano.  It’s an app that will bring people together from all over the world together, similar to this one but will have live Zoom meeting every 2 weeks for support.  
I hope you can join , I know it would be great .  
 

sending you a big hug 🤗 

[Cheeky]

Hey warriors,

well it’s time for an update …..

I have been back to my normal self for some time now and just enjoying my life with no withdrawals. 
I try to stay away from these support groups as it scares me too much and brings back memories of my withdrawals. 
I may being living my life but deep down I want to continue tapering but am too frightened to. I keep thinking to stay as I am and keep things stable and take the rest of my drugs becouse at least I’m living happily . I’m worried if I start tapering again something bad will happen and I will never get stability back . If only we know for sure everybody eventually heals 100% . I’m just so confused as to what to do . My kids need their mother . 
Big hugs to anybody reading this 😊

[Cheeky]

Hi everyone, 

Back again to  ask for some guidance. 
Since my last crash one year and 4 months ago , I feel like my mental health is slowly deteriorating . I’ve keep everything very stable , no dose changes, same manufacturer, taking my drugs at the same time , no alcohol and having enough sleep very night . I feel like I’m having waves and windows but I’ve had no changes . I keep trying to find something to blame but I’m getting worse for no reason . I have a gut feeling that I’ve hit some type of tolerance and my brain is fighting to keep stable . 
I’m not sure to what my next steps would be and would appreciate any guidance @brassmonkey @Altostrata

 

[Altostrata]

Hello, @Cheeky

 

What is your symptom pattern? How has it changed in the last few months?

[Anthony75]

Hi @Cheeky

 

Sorry you’re having a hard time. I’m also still in windows and waves and feel like I’m getting worse from CT Paxil. Just wanted to offer you my support and that if you need to talk I’m here. I understand how it feels to be in this situation even though we have different withdrawal circumstances. Wish you the best.

[Carmie]

Hi Cheeky, 

 

Thanks for your post on my thread. I’m so very sorry you’re struggling so much. Life can be so hard, I’m using distractions each day just to get through the day. My WDs are bearable at this moment, but other health issues are taking their toll. I’m in tears a lot. One minute at a time is all we can do sometimes. 
 

Even when I’m in some kind of baseline I still have withdrawals. It’s something we can’t escape when it comes to these meds. 
 

Alto wanted to know what your symptom pattern is and how it’s changed in the last few months. If you have a moment can you please answer her. 
 

Sending you hugs🤗

[Greatful]

@Cheeky. Now are you doing ❤️

[Cheeky]

Hi @Carmie @Greatful

sorry for the late reply. 

I’ve been doing fine since I last wrote on here, not sure about what caused withdrawals to start, I really can’t work it out. 

I have finally cut my Seroquel by .5mg which is 5% and I will see how I go. It’s been a week and today I felt myself having subtle symptoms. 
I will keep this updated 

[Greatful]

@Cheeky  Long time since I've chatted with you, how are you doing?🌞

[Cheeky]

17 hours ago, Greatful said:

@Cheeky  Long time since I've chatted with you, how are you doing?🌞

Hey @Greatful thanks for checking in on me . 

Well what can I say, I went down 3% of my original dose only six weeks ago and I thought everything was going well. 

Thinking back now my Nero emotions were happening to me but I wasn’t aware , I just thought I was tired therefore making me irritable and cranky. 

Well, I’m basically feeling pretty down pretty anxious and fearful this week. I completely understand it’s withdrawal, but every time you go through it, it just never gets easier 

I start doubting myself and this process .

I try not to make too many decisions when I’m feeling like this because I know that it’s my neuro emotions talking and I know that everything seems bigger than what it is. I’m not sure if the 3% is too much of a big drop. I might try through 2% next time but on the rate that I’m going on I feel like I will never get off these drugs.

I will just have to soldier through. 

I hope everything is going well with you. Sorry I don’t come on the farm that much as I just try to keep to myself. 

Sending you love

Cheeky

[Thorin]

Hi. Cheeky,

 

it was good to meet you earlier. Hang in there.

 

Thorin

[Cheeky]

Hi everyone, 

So I’m going to give an update on what has been happening of late. I last did my Seroquel drop 3 months ago by a 5% drop and it’s been up and down since.

For a few days, I’m okay then BAM bad symptoms. Is this “Withdrawal Normal”? 

I know that if I waited more I will never get off these drugs. I feel that most people have a pattern and in my tapering experience, I don’t have none. I seem to suffer after the 4 weeks of a drop in dose. 

I’m going to give the Seroquel a break and start the Paxil taper again. What would you recommend my percentage to start with?

@brassmonkey @Altostrata

@Shep

@ChessieCat

[Cheeky]

@brassmonkey @Shep @ChessieCat @Altostrata could someone please help out 

[Shep]

On 5/15/2023 at 7:38 AM, Cheeky said:

For a few days, I’m okay then BAM bad symptoms. Is this “Withdrawal Normal”? 

 

No, withdrawal normal is when you're symptoms level off so that you're not feeling good, but you're not feeling bad. This is from Brassmonkey's post WD Normal:

 

On 12/9/2018 at 3:27 PM, brassmonkey said:

I see WDnormal as the overall baseline of where you are in general. The place you are when you're not feeling good, but you're not feeling bad. Sorta a rolling average of the past couple of months between the windows and waves.  Watching the level of WDnormal is a good indicator that things are improving.  Over time you should be seeing a raising of the standard for WDnormal.  So how you're feeling now is better than say six months ago. It changes very slowly but is a really good indicator.

 

How often are you having severe waves? Are the waves worse now than they were 6 months ago? 

 

Why are you tapering the Seroquel before getting off Paxil? Is the Seroquel helpful for sleep? Please see:

Taking multiple psych drugs? Which drug to taper first?

 

On 1/27/2022 at 4:19 AM, Cheeky said:

I started using the 24hr Nicobate Patch in the 22nd and it’s been working well for me, but the last couple of days I’ve been getting strong head pressure, nausea in the morning and I don’t normally get that in a wave with the dizziness, brain fog , crying spells and of course the aniexty.

 

I just re-read the last couple of pages of your thread. Are you making any more changes with the Nicobate patch or is everything still the same? 

 

[Cheeky]

39 minutes ago, Shep said:

ow often are you having severe waves? Are the waves worse now than they were 6 months ago? 

 

Ive been having waves and windows since my last cut on the 2/2/23 , I was starting to feel better then got sick with a throat infection and had to take medication for that . I stopped after a few days and didn't complete the course , that was 4 weeks ago .

 

[Cheeky]

44 minutes ago, Shep said:

No, withdrawal normal is when you're symptoms level off so that you're not feeling good, but you're not feeling bad. This is from Brassmonkey's post WD Normal:

 

so basically the symptoms are bearable and less extreme.

[Cheeky]

45 minutes ago, Shep said:

Why are you tapering the Seroquel before getting off Paxil? Is the Seroquel helpful for sleep? Please see:

 

I was tapering that drug as I have been on it less time  and I'm really scared of the long term  affects . I have just a few days ago started my Paxil taper and have tried the Brassmonkey method, buy dropping a maximum of 5% 

[Cheeky]

49 minutes ago, Shep said:

just re-read the last couple of pages of your thread. Are you making any more changes with the Nicobate patch or is everything still the same? 

I haven't touched them for a long time . I post that awhile ago

[Cheeky]

51 minutes ago, Shep said:

How often are you having severe waves? Are the waves worse now than they were 6 months ago? 

 

I wasn't having waves 6 months ago as I had a break in tapering since I crashed last time on  the 3/8/21 and had a death in the family . I wanted to give my brain a break

[Cheeky]

55 minutes ago, Shep said:

 

No, withdrawal normal is when you're symptoms level off so that you're not feeling good, but you're not feeling bad. This is from Brassmonkey's post WD Normal:

 

 

How often are you having severe waves? Are the waves worse now than they were 6 months ago? 

 

Why are you tapering the Seroquel before getting off Paxil? Is the Seroquel helpful for sleep? Please see:

Taking multiple psych drugs? Which drug to taper first?

 

 

I just re-read the last couple of pages of your thread. Are you making any more changes with the Nicobate patch or is everything still the same? 

 

What would be your thoughts on my next taper ?