someday: tingling / pin-prick / burn-y sensations around body/face

[Hudgens]

My brother was bothered for a long time with the feeling that his throat was closing off. It's an anxiety symptom. The important thing to know is that your throat is not closing off, you are not going to choke. Very difficult to convince yourself of this, though. When it happens you have to just allow it to be what it is, so to speak, and at the same time try and stay simply aware of how it feels. No judgments or worrying about it. This helps it begin to fade and teaches you not to be afraid of it next time. The more times you treat it this way, the weaker its affect on you. Eventually it stops occurring altogether or it just doesn't matter to you anymore. This method also works with all other anxiety symptoms and even helps with depression and physical pain.

[clearday]

I always appreciate your input, because you seem to have a lot of experience talking about this topic, whereas I am new to it all myself. I have been getting ringing in my ears the past few weeks too. 

 

It helps to read the multitude of stories on this site. Use the search engine for topics such as "paresthesia", "pins and needles", "burning skin" etc and see what threads you come up with to read over and help confirm what you know.

 

Like all of us, you spent years basting your brain in a powerful nerve altering chemical. We have all found out that this has caused us serious nerve damage. We all compare our symptoms and progression of withdrawal and see that it all makes sense, it fits like a glove. There are things in life we are unsure of, but one thing I can absolutely be sure of is that I am in SSRI WD. This is based on all the evidence I have gathered, the hundreds of stories that confirm over and over that I am sick due to use of powerful psychotropic drugs.

 

Also, I have been through this before with Prozac, years ago. These drugs are extremely harmful for many people, no doubt about it. Plenty of doctors agree, and are publishing papers that support this fact.

 

What makes more sense - that exposing yourself to years of this nerve-transforming drug has caused your symptoms, the same symptoms that most other people also get after being on this drug - or, that you are suffering from a mysterious illness pulled out of the dark imaginings of your mind, based on no evidence?

[someday]

For the past 48 hours, especially at night when I'm trying to sleep, I've been getting burning sensations that are far more intense and painful than ever before. This seemed to just come out of nowhere. I also feel slightly dizzy almost all of the time. My legs feel weird regularly too, like a strange tingly sensation, it's hard to describe. And I think I have developed further numb areas around my body. The new painful burning sensations are bothering me the most, though. I'm so so fed up. I hate 2015. I really hate this year.

 

I'm just venting. I am always grateful to have the health that I do have, and my heart goes out to and my thoughts are with those people who are battling with their health every day. Those are the true heroes, and they are also the people that our disgraceful society often leaves to fend for themselves. I just don't understand this world at all. I'm just so tired.

[clearday]

Sorry to hear -

 

So, has your reinstatement failed? Does this mean that you are now sensitized to Lexapro?

 

How do you plan to proceed from here?

[someday]

Sorry to hear -

 

So, has your reinstatement failed? Does this mean that you are now sensitized to Lexapro?

 

How do you plan to proceed from here?

 

I honestly don't know. My feelings of anxiety itself has decreased considerably since reinstating the lexapro (I was incredibly anxious in the months leading up to reinstatement) and I am noticing the tingling/burning sensations less and less, although that could just be me getting used to them, it's hard for me to tell. It's just the past week where these really intense burning sensations have begun. Although, the dizziness persists, as does the loss of sensation in random parts of my body.

 

My plan was to just keep taking the Lexapro and see if the symptoms subside. I know that it's different for everybody, so maybe my symptoms will take longer to subside. I don't really know what else to do. I am prepared to deal with the physical symptoms. I don't really know what other options I have. I may not be thinking clearly at the moment.

 

As always, thank you much for replying to me.

[clearday]

I hope you feel better soon -

 

Recently, someone tried reinstatement, and symptoms got worse -

 

So they were suggested to cut the dose in half, in case the reinstatement dose was too high.  

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/8464-jaclyn-debilitating-withdrawals-vision-disequilibrium-confusion-etc/page-2

 

I'm not saying that's what you should do, because I know nothing about reinstatement.

[someday]

The past month, I've gone through phases (two or three days at a time) where I am exhausted beyond my comprehension. Exhausted throughout the day. It feels like I've hiked a mountain, when I've barely done anything at all. It feels like a gorilla is pushing me down with a giant hand, keeping me from being able to stand up.

 

I once forgot to take my tablet for two nights in a row. I then only had 5 tablets left to cover me for ten days (due to financial constraints) so I've had to "budget" with them, meaning skipping days. 

 

But even before having to skip days, I've been experiencing these symptoms: I'm having almost constant nightmares which leave me waking up exhausted and afraid. 

 

My head feels heavy and fuzzy and it feels dizzy and unable to think straight. Everything feels slowed down.

 

Still having numbness in throat which means it's sometimes harder to swallow, and at night time I'm almost constantly coughing up saliva that has gone down my windpipe.

 

I'm so grateful I'm not having worse symptoms than this at the moment, because I know the hell that many of you are going through, some for months and years on end. I hope you are all doing well today, or at least improving.

[JanCarol]

Hey Someday - 

 

It looks like you your reinstatement dose was too high.  It's better to start low - 1 or 2 mg, and then build up, because it's harder on the nervous system to back down off a higher dose.  But - I understand the desperation.  Why do they give us pills that are too powerful and we have to chop them up to get what we need?  Your symptoms were so disturbing, that you would probably have tried ANYthing to get relief.  I'm hoping that maybe your symptoms settled down after a spell?

 

How are your symptoms?  Have you quit the reinstatement?  Did you go to the doctor for more tablets?  Have you had any more tests done?

 

Please let us know how you are going.

[someday]

I feel so alone and scared. I have nobody to talk to.

 

Almost two years ago I posted in this thread about losing sensation in my tongue /throat /neck area, meaning that swallowing felt extra difficult and frightening. I got used to it. But about six weeks ago I had a chest infection and mucus went down my airways twice to the point where I was choking - for about five seconds both times I could not physically take in or expel any air. It was terrifying. For six weeks afterwards it didn't happen again. However, now I spend 24/7 with what feels like mucus around my airways, and normally we would just cough this up, but it's as if the sensation is totally gone from that area and when I try to cough it up nothing happens, I can't feel anything at all, except for the mucus continuing to slide down into my trachea. Basically, it's like I've totally lost sensation in a portion of my airways area. I'm constantly trying to stop the mucus going down further but this only works half the time. When I say constantly I mean 24/7 every 30 seconds. It's so scary and uncomfortable and I can't believe I'm back here again being anxious 24/7 terrified about what the true cause may be, what underlying condition I may be about to be diagnosed with.

 

And I know that I'm not just imagining the presence of mucus going down my windpipe, because when I force myself to go for any length of time without trying to clear it, it builds up and I have to cough up a large amount of it.

 

Metaphorically, and to an extent also literally, it feels like I'm spending 24/7 with someone's hand wrapped around my throat and I'm terrified they're going to strangle me at any moment.

 

I'm exhausted.

 

I'm going to see the doctor this weekend.

 

Sorry to be so negative. I'm just feeling really scared and unhappy and alone lately. All the time.

[LexAnger]

Hi someday, I'm so sorry you are still feeling so bad!

What meds/ dose are you on now or you are off completely?

 

Can you update your signature? I will try to read your previous post later to understand what happened after nov, 2015 when you were still on 10 mg lex.

[someday]

Hey LexAnger, thanks for replying!

 

I am still on the 10mg actually, since November 2015... Escitalopram (Lexapro.)

 

I was going to wait until the weekend to go to the doctor but I've decided to go today after work instead. I slept deeply last night, so I wasn't up all night clearing my throat, and the result was that my chest was full of mucus this morning. I couldn't bring it up either. And when I spoke, barely any sound came out. I've managed to get some of it up now which has helped a little. But why was my body not doing that automatically overnight the way it's meant to.? I guess only beginning the medical tests process will shed any light on that. :-/

[AliG]

Hi Someday. I'm so sorry for what you're going through although I'm sure that we can all empathize. You are still on 10 mg? Have you not been tapering ?

Is there a reason for this ? We are just trying to understand the process here. If you can give us a little more information to fill in the blanks between now and then, it would be helpful.

Have you had these symptoms the whole time - 2 yrs almost ?  

Ali

[someday]

Hey AliG,

 

I hope you're well! Thanks for responding!

 

I haven't tapered because every time I tried it just ended it disaster each time. Life has just been easier and simpler by staying on the medication.

 

Yeah the sensation loss in my throat and neck and tongue area started almost two years ago, following a year of ill-advised tapering. I have got used to it, but now it seems that even my cough muscles area have stopped working, so when I try to bring up / cough up mucus or saliva that's going into my windpipe, nothing happens, it just keeps going down, it feels like the sensation that controls that area is gone.

[AliG]

Do you think it's a true sensation or one that has been over emphasized / focused on due to withdrawal ?   

[someday]

It's definitely real, because the physical evidence is there. Before, when I'd cough or whatever, whatever was going down my windpipe would physically come up. Now, when I cough, whatever is in my windpipe just stays there, or keeps going down. :-/

[AliG]

I'm so sorry for your pain. I hope it goes well from here. Maybe the tests will reveal the cause and therefore a cure .

[someday]

Thank you :-)

 

I hope you are well.

[Mort81]

Someday  I feel like I am dealing with something similiar to you now . It literally just started happening about a month ago, I have difficulty swallowing and I have been complaining to family members that it feels like mucus is stuck in chest and or throat  ,Especially after trying to eat . Very odd feeling , Ive started lots of tests as the it brought me to the ER twice . A throat scan , Lung Xray were normal, I did a Scope in my Stomach and Esphogus yesterday and it showed a small narrowing in my espohogus so a balloon was added but he said it shouldnt have caused so much trouble. Maybe it was worse a week ago when my acid was worse. But anyway this symptom is really challenging, I am sure it will go away just like all the other weird WD symptoms.   I remember my first 6-7 months off Meds my stomach was horrific , I had every test under the moon. The pain was horrific , the food wouldnt digest , I felt awful and all tests came up clean .  I have a feeling we may be experiencing Dysphaglia with some panic .  But my voice feels weak and iI have no strength behind my cough at all . mine doesnt feel numb it feels more sensitive if anything my whole throat area. 

[Mort81]

I noticed for me its not always so bad with my throat , sometimes it completley lets up , especially at night when Im really tired , and Def when I wake up its much better than when I start my day . Same for u ? 

[Mort81]

Just thought I'd share something* that has helped me a lot latley. Not sure if we have same thing but https://www.hydrasense.ca/en/products/self-mix-nasal-care/

 

This improves my symptoms a lot! Not at 1st but after a few weeks of using it I notice a big difference.

[Pepms]

Hi! I know its been a long time but I haven’t found a lot of information online, how did it go with the tingling at the end ? I was on lexapro 20mg for 8 years and after tapering it off for about 6 months I stopped, 2 months later having paresthesia all over body

Edited June 11, 2022 by Pepms
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