Jump to content
SurvivingAntidepressants.org is temporarily closed to new registrations until 1 April ×

JanCarol - undiagnosed! Off all "bipolar" drugs!


Recommended Posts

  • Moderator Emeritus

One more comment about the feeling I got in the doctor's surgery.

It felt like I was in the marketing arm of various medical device and pharmaceutical companies.  Posters on the wall for dentures and free hearing tests, weight loss programs and "women's health," blah blah.  At least there were no drug posters - I remember the Pfizer "Nerve Pain" poster I found in another surgery that was so offensive.  Even the info form I was filling out asked me questions about "maintenance" I have had done like PAP smears and mammograms (Peter Goetzsche says mammograms probably do more harm than good). 

I laughed when I saw that I had one line for "all your medications and supplements."  LOL my supplement list is a 2 page Excel document!  So I just listed medications.  

And one line for "your complete medical history,"  egads.  Hubby laughed at that, too, so I just put down hysterectomy and thyroidectomy.  It was a new office so I didn't list the "bipolar" thingy, but did say: DO NOT GIVE ME ANY SEROTONIN BASED DRUGS (because I was there for pain, and there was a good chance they would try and Tramadol me).  

As I sat there, with these loud Ad posters on the wall - and some Current Affairs show on TV blaring at me, it was shocking that people put up with this stuff all the time.  It's even worse in the USA where you get all the Direct to Consumer drug ads.  That would make me throw my TV away forever.

In Shaman Circle, one of the ladies asked me about my own practice,  Nobody drums for me - so how do I practice shamanism?

I'd have to say the first thing I do is eliminate all these chaotic awful controlling and manipulative messages.  They assault and confuse my senses.  (I got a similar assault when we went to see the new Star Wars movie, and the ads beforehand came blaring at me in full big-screen colour and 3D sound - egads!)

There's a lot to be said for a simple life.

"Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna

 

Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again.

 

My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices.

 

A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia.   CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013.   Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine).     Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 -  Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years  on Lithium).  Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made.


The tedious thread (my intro):  JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium

The happy thread (my success story):  JanCarol - Undiagnosed  Off all bipolar drugs

My own blog:  https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/

 

 

I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus
3 hours ago, JanCarol said:

So - just to let you know - there is still hardship.  It's still a hassle.  And it feels like I'm back on the ground again.  What is keeping me optimistic is:  "This, too, will pass."  Whether it is a week or 3 months, it will pass.

 

Sending healing vibes your way for your back pain. I hope this resolves soon and I love your attitude and the float-and-breathe vibe.

 

3 hours ago, JanCarol said:

I recommend doing your own body scan!

 

This is intriguing. I am nowhere near your level of being able to do these things, so I appreciate how you give explanations and links. Very helpful for us following along.

 

3 hours ago, JanCarol said:

Okay - that was 2 pages of stuff in my journal.  And not all of it was good, but not all of it was bad, either.  But here's what blew me away:  the range and variety of emotions expressed here!  OMG - I'm FEELING lots of things, I'm engaged with my life, and having feelings "of an almost human nature!"  (Pink Floyd, "The Wall") and - it's okay!  I got this!

 

Sounds like an awakening to the "Full Catastrophe of Living", as Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn puts it. And hey, listening to Pink Floyd is what got me through cold turkey / rapid taper benzo withdrawal, so I highly recommend Floyd.

 

It's wonderful you're waking up, being able to fully embrace the body scan and do it on your own terms, guided by your own body. After being assaulted by chemicals and doctors for years, this is a powerful thing to be able to take control and agency over your own mind and body. 

 

Lots of insight here amidst a lot of pain. Yes, this is the Full Catastrophe but you are embracing the good and the bad without judgement. It has an insightful Observer quality. What I really enjoy about reading this is you don't embrace the "detached" observer - you are fully participating. I'm learning from your journey. 

 

 

3 hours ago, JanCarol said:

There's a lot to be said for a simple life.

 

Amen to that. 

 

Hope you see the sun today. 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator

Hi JanCarol:

 

Long time no talk.

 

You know I have been watching my thyroid for over a year.

 

Well... This morning the dr called and said my TSH was 7.30 (normal is .04-4.0). A few months ago it had gone from 4.10 to 5.10 and now it's in the 7's.

 

He is putting me on the lowest dose of Aurmor.

 

I know you take thyroid medication, can you help me out?

 

I'm in tears. 😥😥😥 I really thought I could beat it.

 

Thanks.

 

Take care,

Frogie xx

PREVIOUS medications and discontinuations: Have been on medications since 1996. 

 Valium, Gabapentin, Lamictal, Prilosec and Zantac from 2000 to 2015 with a fast taper by a psychiatrist.

 Liquid Lexapro Nov, 2016 to 31-March, 2019 Lexapro free!!! (total Lexapro taper was 4 years-started with pill form)

---CURRENT MEDICATIONS:Supplements:Milk Thistle, Metamucil, Magnesium Citrate, Vitamin D3, Levothyroxine 25mcg, Vitamin C, Krill oil.

Xanax 1mg 3x day June, 2000 to 19-September, 2020 Went from .150 grams (average weight of 1 Xanax) 3x day to .003 grams 3x day. April 1, 2021 went back on 1mg a day. Started tapering May 19, 2023. July 28, 2023-approximately .87mg. Dr. fast tapered me at the end and realized he messed up. Prescribe it again and I am doing "slower than a turtle" taper.

19-September, 2020 Xanax free!!! (total Xanax taper was 15-1/2 months-1-June, 2019-19-September, 2020)

I am not a medical professional.

The suggestions I make are based on personal experience.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus

Hey Frogie - you may beat it yet.  It's really too early in your taper to tell if this is a permanent thing.

You're still on Lexapro, right?


Do you know about Hashimoto's antibodies?  Or have you just tested TSH only?

You won't know what your native state is until you've been off the drugs for at least 3 years.  

 

Now is the time to get the fluoride out of your water, to stop eating gluten.  These two things might make a big difference.  If you have Hashi's, consider a Low Histamine Diet.  Seriously - that can improve your numbers, can even reduce the Hashi's antibodies.  http://www.histamineintolerance.org.uk/about/the-food-diary/the-food-list/  

I'm here today because I fought with an ignorant **** of a doctor today.   I'm out with severe back pain.

My osteopath interpreted the CT scan report for me yesterday - I'm grateful for the time he took to explain what the terms meant, and to show me the pictures that matched the findings, and I'm grateful for his recommendations for non-surgical interventions.  I was armed with this knowledge when I went to the GP today (he ordered the films).

The GP read the report to me - blah blah as if I can't read for myself.  The only words he interpreted were "severe bilateral facetal arthropathy" which he called "osteoarthritis."  He gave me a referral to a surgeon.  

We talked about pain management, and I emphasized to him that I could not have any drugs which had serotonin in them.  He said he would give me something stronger than Endone, called "Targin," which is oxycodone mixed with naloxone to make it "non-addictive" (and also non-effective - so the "stronger than Endone" was a bald faced lie.).  When I asked him to repeat the drug name please, he looked at me and said, "You don't need to know the name of the drug.  It's an opiate, that's all you need to know."  I said, "Tramadol is an opiate, and I cannot have that drug, so it is very important for me to know the name of the drug."

Hubby witnessed all of this - and was able to compare the osteopath's caring report and description to this guy's lame performance.  A doctor, telling a patient, "I'm giving you a drug, but you don't need to know what it is!"  OMG.  I told him I couldn't have the Targin, either (it's completely ineffective when bundled with naloxone).  Then he recommended a neurosurgeon.  Is it any wonder that the average "client/patient/etc." just goes along with what the doctor says - it was like pulling teeth to get him to tell me what he was doing, prescribing, etc.  "Some tablets," is just not good enough for me.

I'm minimizing the use of the oxycontin and endone that he gave me - using castor oil packs and magnesium baths.  This is a holiday weekend, so my hopes of getting to the "next stage" of care within the next 10 days is slim.  Hubby says he will push to get attention, first from the non-surgical GP, and then - if necessary, the neurosurgeon.   Before this happened, I was 104 hours average in between pain doses.  Now it is more like 52 hours average between pain doses.  Still good (not addicted), but I was really proud to get up over 100 hours.

Last week I was marvelling at regaining productivity and passion for my work.  Now, I have a choice between severe crippling pain - or the fuzzy headedness of pain drugs.  I spend about 18-20 hours a day in bed where I can relieve the pressure on my lower back (4 bulging joints, and nasty arthritic changes in about 3 of those joints, and one joint is bone-on-bone.)  It's hard to be productive from this standpoint.  I don't even like using the tablet in bed - I have to twist my body to use it, and that's not an option. 

So - all it takes is one twist, one turn, and I'm back to square one (or so it feels).  But it's not really square one because I have a better toolkit, I'm not afraid of pain, I can go into the pain and work through it as much as possible (as long as I don't have to walk, stand, sit, or do any of the behaviours that flare it up).  My osteopath wants me on strict bed rest.

 

Next week we find out what these non-surgical (likely injections) interventions are.  I'm afraid of steroid shots, but that supposedly makes the intervention more effective. I've already had trigger-point anaesthetic injections (twice) from the osteopath.  He really wants to break the cycle of this before it gets really bad.  I'm fortunate in that none of the nerves are cut off (yet), and I have the opportunity to make the best of this before it gets any worse.

I'm not even allowed to walk, until I see the next specialist.  No yoga, no walking, no weightlifting, no karate.  And that GP was - so typical - and so difficult.  I can imagine how someone less fighting than myself would just go along with whatever - in fact - that's how I ended up losing my thyroid, and more.  The surgeon always sounds so reasonable when he describes how much better he can make things with his snips and stitches....

So I will try and touch sunlight, even if I can't walk in it.

Edited by JanCarol

"Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna

 

Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again.

 

My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices.

 

A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia.   CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013.   Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine).     Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 -  Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years  on Lithium).  Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made.


The tedious thread (my intro):  JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium

The happy thread (my success story):  JanCarol - Undiagnosed  Off all bipolar drugs

My own blog:  https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/

 

 

I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus

JC, 

 

Sorry you are having such a struggle with the back and the docs.  Did you not get the "they are gods" memo?

 

Have you considered stem cell therapy?  The following is a documentary that will be free all weekend that might give you some additional thoughts:

 

http://www.thehealingmiracle.com/replay-weekend-guide/?inf_contact_key=asd@asdf.com&view_key=348a4dt4a61702e3a131e0f9459c740wacd48&inf_contact_key=6de3c579762636160bcdf79e477bcee12b75cbcd601c8648609b9840eb7a6a24

 

You have done so well in dealing with so many things I am sad to see you derailed by your back.  Have you tried inversion therapy?  It saved me from an L3/L4 disaster and corresponding sciatic pain that was truly debilitating.  I bought an inversion table and used it 2x a day for 15 minutes at a time and in about a month I was 80% better and healing.

 

Just some thoughts.

 

I hope you feel better.

 

Best,

 

Andy

Sertraline 50mg and Clonazapam .375mg from 2000 -- symptoms of dizziness Spring 2012

increased to .5 Clonazapam and 100mg Sertraline -- no improvement

Benzo microtaper from November 2012 to November 2014 (followed benzo sites "taper benzo first")

Started Sertraline taper in December 2014 cut by 25mg to 75mg; 62.5mg 1/1/15 and 50mg on 2/1/15

Held at 50mg through April 5 to use liquid 
Reduced dosage in 10% or less drops from 50mg to 25mg -- at single tablet of 25mg on 10/5/15

Transitioned to all liquid for accuracy while tapering -- Horrible insomnia -- back to 25mg liquid and held until October 1, 2016

10/16 -- 11/18 tapered very slowly to 10.6mg.  No real improvement and never really stable so updosed to 12.5mg (1/2 a pill) for convenience and long hold.

After 8+ months of holding with no noticeable improvement decided to add .4ml of liquid Prozac (about 1.5mg) to see if that improves the situation

Supplements, Magnesium, D3, Omega 3, curcumin, Valerian, 81mg Aspirin, L-Theanine, Vit. C,

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator
On January 27, 2018 at 6:35 AM, JanCarol said:

Hey Frogie - you may beat it yet.  It's really too early in your taper to tell if this is a permanent thing.

You're still on Lexapro, right?


Do you know about Hashimoto's antibodies?  Or have you just tested TSH only?

You won't know what your native state is until you've been off the drugs for at least 3 years.  

 

Now is the time to get the fluoride out of your water, to stop eating gluten.  These two things might make a big difference.  If you have Hashi's, consider a Low Histamine Diet.  Seriously - that can improve your numbers, can even reduce the Hashi's antibodies.  http://www.histamineintolerance.org.uk/about/the-food-diary/the-food-list/  

I'm here today because I fought with an ignorant **** of a doctor today.   I'm out with severe back pain.

My osteopath interpreted the CT scan report for me yesterday - I'm grateful for the time he took to explain what the terms meant, and to show me the pictures that matched the findings, and I'm grateful for his recommendations for non-surgical interventions.  I was armed with this knowledge when I went to the GP today (he ordered the films).

The GP read the report to me - blah blah as if I can't read for myself.  The only words he interpreted were "severe bilateral facetal arthropathy" which he called "osteoarthritis."  He gave me a referral to a surgeon.  

We talked about pain management, and I emphasized to him that I could not have any drugs which had serotonin in them.  He said he would give me something stronger than Endone, called "Targin," which is oxycodone mixed with naloxone to make it "non-addictive" (and also non-effective - so the "stronger than Endone" was a bald faced lie.).  When I asked him to repeat the drug name please, he looked at me and said, "You don't need to know the name of the drug.  It's an opiate, that's all you need to know."  I said, "Tramadol is an opiate, and I cannot have that drug, so it is very important for me to know the name of the drug."

Hubby witnessed all of this - and was able to compare the osteopath's caring report and description to this guy's lame performance.  A doctor, telling a patient, "I'm giving you a drug, but you don't need to know what it is!"  OMG.  I told him I couldn't have the Targin, either (it's completely ineffective when bundled with naloxone).  Then he recommended a neurosurgeon.  Is it any wonder that the average "client/patient/etc." just goes along with what the doctor says - it was like pulling teeth to get him to tell me what he was doing, prescribing, etc.  "Some tablets," is just not good enough for me.

I'm minimizing the use of the oxycontin and endone that he gave me - using castor oil packs and magnesium baths.  This is a holiday weekend, so my hopes of getting to the "next stage" of care within the next 10 days is slim.  Hubby says he will push to get attention, first from the non-surgical GP, and then - if necessary, the neurosurgeon.   Before this happened, I was 140 hours average in between pain doses.  Now it is more like 52 hours average between pain doses.  Still good (not addicted), but I was really proud to get up over 100 hours.

Last week I was marvelling at regaining productivity and passion for my work.  Now, I have a choice between severe crippling pain - or the fuzzy headedness of pain drugs.  I spend about 18-20 hours a day in bed where I can relieve the pressure on my lower back (4 bulging joints, and nasty arthritic changes in about 3 of those joints, and one joint is bone-on-bone.)  It's hard to be productive from this standpoint.  I don't even like using the tablet in bed - I have to twist my body to use it, and that's not an option. 

So - all it takes is one twist, one turn, and I'm back to square one (or so it feels).  But it's not really square one because I have a better toolkit, I'm not afraid of pain, I can go into the pain and work through it as much as possible (as long as I don't have to walk, stand, sit, or do any of the behaviours that flare it up).  My osteopath wants me on strict bed rest.

 

Next week we find out what these non-surgical (likely injections) interventions are.  I'm afraid of steroid shots, but that supposedly makes the intervention more effective. I've already had trigger-point anaesthetic injections (twice) from the osteopath.  He really wants to break the cycle of this before it gets really bad.  I'm fortunate in that none of the nerves are cut off (yet), and I have the opportunity to make the best of this before it gets any worse.

I'm not even allowed to walk, until I see the next specialist.  No yoga, no walking, no weightlifting, no karate.  And that GP was - so typical - and so difficult.  I can imagine how someone less fighting than myself would just go along with whatever - in fact - that's how I ended up losing my thyroid, and more.  The surgeon always sounds so reasonable when he describes how much better he can make things with his snips and stitches....

So I will try and touch sunlight, even if I can't walk in it.

I'm so sorry to hear about your back. About 3-4 years ago, my fiancé ended up in the hospital because he couldn't walk. We got a really good non-surgical dr that did the injections. We bought an inversion table, he uses that, a Pilates machine that he stretches on and a roller foam that he stretches on. As long as he stretches, he's ok. But it's been bothering him lately which is making me nervous.

 

It's only my TSH level that is high. I had all the other tests done and the antibodies showed no Hashimoto disease. :)

 

My dr and I talked at length and because from May, 2017 it was 4.1, September, 2017, it was 5.1 and now it's 7.3, we decided to start on the lowest dosage of Armour 15mg. Natural. And he did say it could be from tapering. So, I guess we shall see. But he said something had to be done now or I would continue to get worse.

 

I hope you get some relief with your back.

 

Keep me posted and good luck.

 

Take care,

Frogie xx

PREVIOUS medications and discontinuations: Have been on medications since 1996. 

 Valium, Gabapentin, Lamictal, Prilosec and Zantac from 2000 to 2015 with a fast taper by a psychiatrist.

 Liquid Lexapro Nov, 2016 to 31-March, 2019 Lexapro free!!! (total Lexapro taper was 4 years-started with pill form)

---CURRENT MEDICATIONS:Supplements:Milk Thistle, Metamucil, Magnesium Citrate, Vitamin D3, Levothyroxine 25mcg, Vitamin C, Krill oil.

Xanax 1mg 3x day June, 2000 to 19-September, 2020 Went from .150 grams (average weight of 1 Xanax) 3x day to .003 grams 3x day. April 1, 2021 went back on 1mg a day. Started tapering May 19, 2023. July 28, 2023-approximately .87mg. Dr. fast tapered me at the end and realized he messed up. Prescribe it again and I am doing "slower than a turtle" taper.

19-September, 2020 Xanax free!!! (total Xanax taper was 15-1/2 months-1-June, 2019-19-September, 2020)

I am not a medical professional.

The suggestions I make are based on personal experience.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On ‎27‎/‎01‎/‎2018 at 1:35 PM, JanCarol said:

Hey Frogie - you may beat it yet.  It's really too early in your taper to tell if this is a permanent thing.

You're still on Lexapro, right?


Do you know about Hashimoto's antibodies?  Or have you just tested TSH only?

You won't know what your native state is until you've been off the drugs for at least 3 years.  

 

Now is the time to get the fluoride out of your water, to stop eating gluten.  These two things might make a big difference.  If you have Hashi's, consider a Low Histamine Diet.  Seriously - that can improve your numbers, can even reduce the Hashi's antibodies.  http://www.histamineintolerance.org.uk/about/the-food-diary/the-food-list/  

I'm here today because I fought with an ignorant **** of a doctor today.   I'm out with severe back pain.

My osteopath interpreted the CT scan report for me yesterday - I'm grateful for the time he took to explain what the terms meant, and to show me the pictures that matched the findings, and I'm grateful for his recommendations for non-surgical interventions.  I was armed with this knowledge when I went to the GP today (he ordered the films).

The GP read the report to me - blah blah as if I can't read for myself.  The only words he interpreted were "severe bilateral facetal arthropathy" which he called "osteoarthritis."  He gave me a referral to a surgeon.  

We talked about pain management, and I emphasized to him that I could not have any drugs which had serotonin in them.  He said he would give me something stronger than Endone, called "Targin," which is oxycodone mixed with naloxone to make it "non-addictive" (and also non-effective - so the "stronger than Endone" was a bald faced lie.).  When I asked him to repeat the drug name please, he looked at me and said, "You don't need to know the name of the drug.  It's an opiate, that's all you need to know."  I said, "Tramadol is an opiate, and I cannot have that drug, so it is very important for me to know the name of the drug."

Hubby witnessed all of this - and was able to compare the osteopath's caring report and description to this guy's lame performance.  A doctor, telling a patient, "I'm giving you a drug, but you don't need to know what it is!"  OMG.  I told him I couldn't have the Targin, either (it's completely ineffective when bundled with naloxone).  Then he recommended a neurosurgeon.  Is it any wonder that the average "client/patient/etc." just goes along with what the doctor says - it was like pulling teeth to get him to tell me what he was doing, prescribing, etc.  "Some tablets," is just not good enough for me.

I'm minimizing the use of the oxycontin and endone that he gave me - using castor oil packs and magnesium baths.  This is a holiday weekend, so my hopes of getting to the "next stage" of care within the next 10 days is slim.  Hubby says he will push to get attention, first from the non-surgical GP, and then - if necessary, the neurosurgeon.   Before this happened, I was 140 hours average in between pain doses.  Now it is more like 52 hours average between pain doses.  Still good (not addicted), but I was really proud to get up over 100 hours.

Last week I was marvelling at regaining productivity and passion for my work.  Now, I have a choice between severe crippling pain - or the fuzzy headedness of pain drugs.  I spend about 18-20 hours a day in bed where I can relieve the pressure on my lower back (4 bulging joints, and nasty arthritic changes in about 3 of those joints, and one joint is bone-on-bone.)  It's hard to be productive from this standpoint.  I don't even like using the tablet in bed - I have to twist my body to use it, and that's not an option. 

So - all it takes is one twist, one turn, and I'm back to square one (or so it feels).  But it's not really square one because I have a better toolkit, I'm not afraid of pain, I can go into the pain and work through it as much as possible (as long as I don't have to walk, stand, sit, or do any of the behaviours that flare it up).  My osteopath wants me on strict bed rest.

 

Next week we find out what these non-surgical (likely injections) interventions are.  I'm afraid of steroid shots, but that supposedly makes the intervention more effective. I've already had trigger-point anaesthetic injections (twice) from the osteopath.  He really wants to break the cycle of this before it gets really bad.  I'm fortunate in that none of the nerves are cut off (yet), and I have the opportunity to make the best of this before it gets any worse.

I'm not even allowed to walk, until I see the next specialist.  No yoga, no walking, no weightlifting, no karate.  And that GP was - so typical - and so difficult.  I can imagine how someone less fighting than myself would just go along with whatever - in fact - that's how I ended up losing my thyroid, and more.  The surgeon always sounds so reasonable when he describes how much better he can make things with his snips and stitches....

So I will try and touch sunlight, even if I can't walk in it.

Hi JC ,just reading your post here has put an idea in my head ,how about these doctors go on a list like other trades ,like the building trades ,if I talked to a customer like this in there house I would be destroyed .when are these people ever going to get it .the problem is we keep going back to them [not a judgement] .

Even if we report them to the relevant body ,I don't even  trust they would be  non biased .

besides  the fact he's rude ,he's blatantly lying to your face .

Sorry about your back .may it heal soon .

 

 

Alcohol free since February 2015 

1MG diazepam

4.5MG PROZAC.

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus

Hey Andy - 

 

This is Australia - I have watched the first 1/2 hour of the Healing Miracle - mostly about the Texas lawmakers and spinal cord injuries.  But it gives me something to do while doing bedrest.  I can't really surf from in bed, but I can hook up earphones and watch a little video (awkward, but it works).

This is Australia - "questionable" therapies which are available (marginally) in the USA will be highly iillegal here.  MOst people here do "medical tourism" to Thailand or Mexico for alternate cancer therapies.  I can't even get B17 or CBD here (I investigated this when hubby had prostate cancer).  

Powerback - you are right - we should be able to report.  There are doctor review sites - like Trip Advisor for doctors, but they are not very well used here in Australia.  Most people just go to the doctor and trust him/her with whatever s/he says.  When I ask people to question their docs - or ask for more detail ("what tablets?  what's in the injection? What are the successes and risks of this or that therapy?") people think I've grown a 3rd head, because, like Andy said, they got the "Doctor is God" memo (that I apparently missed!)

The good news today is that I have found a new non-invasive practitioner.  He is an MD (recommended by my Osteopath, who is also an MD)  He was not in a hurry to inject me, was instead concerned about hip alignment problems.  He gave me very specific Finch Therapy muscle activation exercises which will release the twist in my hips.  He said (smart doc) that all of the awful stuff that was on my CT scan - was there 3 weeks ago, but that whatever happened last week is what we need to address, not the stuff on the scan.  In other words, the awful stuff seen on the scan was there before - when the pain was manageable.  (I won't say absent).  He did inject some anaesthetic into the muscles around the rotated hip.  He asked if I wanted cortisone, but was not fussed when I said "no cortisone," and why (worried it will spin me out).

His qualifications:  MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery), FRACGP (Fellowship of Royal Australian College of GP's), FACRRM (Fellowship of College of Rural and Remote Medicine - maybe he was a Flying Doctor at some point), DRANZCOG (Obstetrics and Gynecology!), PGDipMSM (Post Graduate Diploma in Muscular-Skeletal Medicine) from Otago, NZ.  So - he's not a lightweight, even though he's young.  Heck, at my age all the docs look young.

 

He considered all of the invasive things - injections, etc., to be far more than I need at this point.  He was pro my getting an inversion table or chair - and he said, it won't hurt me.  

He spoke a lot about "what won't hurt me."  He said my TENS machine may give relief and won't hurt me.  He was focused on things that would help without hurting - not with the power of "I can do this and so that's what I want to do" like most arrogant docs.  I guess he didn't get the memo, either.


He was very reassuring, felt very strongly that if I can get the hip rotated correctly, that the pain will resolve itself.  This gives me hope.

The bummer news is that this is wearing me down.  My toolkit has been ripped out from under me, and I need to take things back to basic basic basics.  So - no yoga or karate for awhile.  I may be trying to get back into Tai Chi.  Back to daily sun walks, even though it's stinking hot here in Queensland now.  It's essential to keep those joints moving.


So that big D depression is nagging at me again.  This feels like a steep learning curve (again) and that I will have to work very hard just to get close to where I was before.  It's good that I'm familiar with "sitting with it." and surviving pain, discomfort - but it is stressful and wearing to be forbearing all of this.

We had a domestic trip planned at the end of next month - involving flying and car rental and driving - and I was hoping - miles and miles of walking through beautiful forests...these plans may be stuffed, and may need to be cancelled.  I was so looking forward to those forests and ocean and fresh food.  (if you must know, it was a trip to Tasmania - it's still a goal, but it seems so much further down the horizon than it did before.)  Tasmania is like heaven on earth - almost as nice as New Zealand (it's tough for me to decide, but it is my understanding that when I get to the South Island, Tasmania will pale by comparison).

Hubby wants to travel.  I'm not being a very good travelling companion right now.

The big D - if I can't get it back on track in the next week or two - I will probably get counselling for it.  It's situational, not chemical.  It's not withdrawal - I've been past all that for years now, just living with the damage that docs have done to me via drugs and surgeries.


So - new routine.

Morning sun-walk.  Daily mag bath (2x a day, if possible), Finch therapy exercises, and then castor oil pack.  Right now, I'm having difficulty with the heat - it makes me not want to leave the room where the AC is.

None of this is withdrawal related, none of it is relevant really, to this website.  But it is about coping with life beyond drugs (and I'm angry about the pain drugs I seem to be back on a squirrel wheel of a sorts with them - but I also know that coming off of them is a piece of cake compared to psych drugs)...and managing my mood and well being under duress.

I got this (said reluctantly, but said).
 

"Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna

 

Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again.

 

My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices.

 

A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia.   CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013.   Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine).     Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 -  Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years  on Lithium).  Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made.


The tedious thread (my intro):  JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium

The happy thread (my success story):  JanCarol - Undiagnosed  Off all bipolar drugs

My own blog:  https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/

 

 

I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi, JC.

 

http://www.globalstemcelltherapy.com/stem-cell-destinations/australia/amp/

 

It may be super expensive but they do it there.

 

Best,

 

Andy

Sertraline 50mg and Clonazapam .375mg from 2000 -- symptoms of dizziness Spring 2012

increased to .5 Clonazapam and 100mg Sertraline -- no improvement

Benzo microtaper from November 2012 to November 2014 (followed benzo sites "taper benzo first")

Started Sertraline taper in December 2014 cut by 25mg to 75mg; 62.5mg 1/1/15 and 50mg on 2/1/15

Held at 50mg through April 5 to use liquid 
Reduced dosage in 10% or less drops from 50mg to 25mg -- at single tablet of 25mg on 10/5/15

Transitioned to all liquid for accuracy while tapering -- Horrible insomnia -- back to 25mg liquid and held until October 1, 2016

10/16 -- 11/18 tapered very slowly to 10.6mg.  No real improvement and never really stable so updosed to 12.5mg (1/2 a pill) for convenience and long hold.

After 8+ months of holding with no noticeable improvement decided to add .4ml of liquid Prozac (about 1.5mg) to see if that improves the situation

Supplements, Magnesium, D3, Omega 3, curcumin, Valerian, 81mg Aspirin, L-Theanine, Vit. C,

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus
12 hours ago, Frogie said:

I'm so sorry to hear about your back. About 3-4 years ago, my fiancé ended up in the hospital because he couldn't walk. We got a really good non-surgical dr that did the injections. We bought an inversion table, he uses that, a Pilates machine that he stretches on and a roller foam that he stretches on. As long as he stretches, he's ok. But it's been bothering him lately which is making me nervous.

 

It's only my TSH level that is high. I had all the other tests done and the antibodies showed no Hashimoto disease. :)

 

My dr and I talked at length and because from May, 2017 it was 4.1, September, 2017, it was 5.1 and now it's 7.3, we decided to start on the lowest dosage of Armour 15mg. Natural. And he did say it could be from tapering. So, I guess we shall see. But he said something had to be done now or I would continue to get worse.

 

 

Hey Frogie - the good news is, if you start with thyroid supplementation - you can prevent damage later.  So don't resist it, think of it as a health supplement like magnesium, that's good for you.  I think that 15 mg is too low, but if it gets your TSH down again, that will be good.

I think that much of my cardiac problems are from decades of hypothyroidism, whether drug induced or otherwise.  So - better to take the thyroid now, instead of those awful cardiac drugs later (all of which, I'm convinced, deteriorate health instead of improving it).

It's good to hear that your fiance was able to manage with an inversion table.  I don't have room for a Pilates, but I think I can figure out the inversion table (or chair, depending on what I find).  As you see from my above post, I do have hope that I can do this, get through this, get better.

I hope you see the sun today!  I have and man is it hot!

"Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna

 

Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again.

 

My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices.

 

A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia.   CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013.   Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine).     Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 -  Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years  on Lithium).  Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made.


The tedious thread (my intro):  JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium

The happy thread (my success story):  JanCarol - Undiagnosed  Off all bipolar drugs

My own blog:  https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/

 

 

I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus
Just now, apace41 said:

 

http://www.globalstemcelltherapy.com/stem-cell-destinations/australia/amp/

 

It may be super expensive but they do it there

 

HOLY MOLY Apace!!  That's more than I got for my house in the USA.  (and the website doesn't say whether that's in US$ or AU$ - I suspect it is US$, which is even more outrageous)

 

I'm afraid that's out of the question now.  I'd love to see about fixing my knee with it, but - egads.  Who's got that kind of money?

"Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna

 

Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again.

 

My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices.

 

A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia.   CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013.   Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine).     Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 -  Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years  on Lithium).  Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made.


The tedious thread (my intro):  JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium

The happy thread (my success story):  JanCarol - Undiagnosed  Off all bipolar drugs

My own blog:  https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/

 

 

I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus
47 minutes ago, JanCarol said:

 

HOLY MOLY Apace!!  That's more than I got for my house in the USA.  (and the website doesn't say whether that's in US$ or AU$ - I suspect it is US$, which is even more outrageous)

 

I'm afraid that's out of the question now.  I'd love to see about fixing my knee with it, but - egads.  Who's got that kind of money?

 

I wasn't suggesting you could afford that or would.  Just pointing out that stem cells have made their way into Oz.

 

Best,

 

Andy

Sertraline 50mg and Clonazapam .375mg from 2000 -- symptoms of dizziness Spring 2012

increased to .5 Clonazapam and 100mg Sertraline -- no improvement

Benzo microtaper from November 2012 to November 2014 (followed benzo sites "taper benzo first")

Started Sertraline taper in December 2014 cut by 25mg to 75mg; 62.5mg 1/1/15 and 50mg on 2/1/15

Held at 50mg through April 5 to use liquid 
Reduced dosage in 10% or less drops from 50mg to 25mg -- at single tablet of 25mg on 10/5/15

Transitioned to all liquid for accuracy while tapering -- Horrible insomnia -- back to 25mg liquid and held until October 1, 2016

10/16 -- 11/18 tapered very slowly to 10.6mg.  No real improvement and never really stable so updosed to 12.5mg (1/2 a pill) for convenience and long hold.

After 8+ months of holding with no noticeable improvement decided to add .4ml of liquid Prozac (about 1.5mg) to see if that improves the situation

Supplements, Magnesium, D3, Omega 3, curcumin, Valerian, 81mg Aspirin, L-Theanine, Vit. C,

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus
3 hours ago, apace41 said:

I wasn't suggesting you could afford that or would.  Just pointing out that stem cells have made their way into Oz.

 

Yar, but they may as well not be. 

It's typical Oz - it's here - but it's not accessible.  The barrier is not only money, but "Health Ministry approval" as well.  This means you have to know someone who is doing research.

I do know that at the research level, a lot of cutting edge stuff is happening here - when Dubya banned stem cell research, Aussies were full speed ahead.  I think it was Aussies who discovered - in concert with a scientific team from China - that infants or placenta were not needed for stem cells to work.

Watch this space - it's what I want to do for my knee.  Maybe in 10 years it will be affordable.

"Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna

 

Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again.

 

My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices.

 

A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia.   CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013.   Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine).     Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 -  Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years  on Lithium).  Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made.


The tedious thread (my intro):  JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium

The happy thread (my success story):  JanCarol - Undiagnosed  Off all bipolar drugs

My own blog:  https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/

 

 

I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus

So - my daily routine is now about 3 hours of maintenance on the back - mag baths (2 x 20 minutes), exercises (2 x 10 minutes), castor oil packs (2x15 minutes - could be longer but it's too hot for castor oil packs), daily sun walk 10 minutes, daily yoga / meditation 15 minutes (taking it easy, easy) and daily tai chi 10 minutes.  Plus about an hour nap in the afternoon to take the pressure off my lower back.

I managed almost 48 hours with no pain control at all!  Awesome!  I'm back on it now, but not the strong stuff.  I'm happy to leave the strong stuff in the cupboard for those emergency times (like when hubby had his kidney stone).  

 

I've been studying prolotherapy for my knee - there's a good chance that it will respond well to prolotherapy.  Apparently the achilles tendinitis that I regularly get when my thyroid is not right - is another thing that prolotherapy is good for.  Strengthening tendons.  But I'm reluctant to do it on a thing like the achilles - as I consider that to be a symptom of thyroid troubles. 

If I could get the knee working better, that would help with my back too.


But one thing at a time.  Right now, it's nap time to take the pressure off my sacrum.

 

And I did see the sun today - egads it was hot!

(note on sunshine:  I've been listening to Dr. Jack Wolfson, D.O., the "Paleo Cardiologist" (board certified).  He says that to reduce your cholesterol, get out in the sunshine so that you convert your cholesterol to vitamin D.  He says this is far more effective than Vitamin D supplementation, and works on a number of metabolic pathways, as well.

"Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna

 

Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again.

 

My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices.

 

A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia.   CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013.   Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine).     Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 -  Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years  on Lithium).  Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made.


The tedious thread (my intro):  JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium

The happy thread (my success story):  JanCarol - Undiagnosed  Off all bipolar drugs

My own blog:  https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/

 

 

I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator
On January 28, 2018 at 10:09 PM, JanCarol said:

 

Hey Frogie - the good news is, if you start with thyroid supplementation - you can prevent damage later.  So don't resist it, think of it as a health supplement like magnesium, that's good for you.  I think that 15 mg is too low, but if it gets your TSH down again, that will be good.

I think that much of my cardiac problems are from decades of hypothyroidism, whether drug induced or otherwise.  So - better to take the thyroid now, instead of those awful cardiac drugs later (all of which, I'm convinced, deteriorate health instead of improving it).

It's good to hear that your fiance was able to manage with an inversion table.  I don't have room for a Pilates, but I think I can figure out the inversion table (or chair, depending on what I find).  As you see from my above post, I do have hope that I can do this, get through this, get better.

I hope you see the sun today!  I have and man is it hot!

Thanks Jan:

 

That's what everyone tells me. Think of it as a supplement, not a medication. They say sometimes Lexapro can do this and once you get off of the Lexapro, your thyroid will go back to normal. Let's hope so.

 

My dr started me on a really low dose. I have to go back in and get tested again. I'm sure he will up it.

 

I see you are doing better with the back. That's great! You can get a foam roller cheap at a sporting good store. It looks like one of those foam things for the swimming pool, but shorter and harder. It's helps my fiancé a lot with the inversion table. The table folded up is a little bigger than an ironing board.

 

I wish you luck! I know it's the hardest thing to have, back issues. I watch my poor fiancé go through it everyday.

 

Thanks for the information on the thyroid medication. You help me a lot.

 

Take care,

Frogie xx

PREVIOUS medications and discontinuations: Have been on medications since 1996. 

 Valium, Gabapentin, Lamictal, Prilosec and Zantac from 2000 to 2015 with a fast taper by a psychiatrist.

 Liquid Lexapro Nov, 2016 to 31-March, 2019 Lexapro free!!! (total Lexapro taper was 4 years-started with pill form)

---CURRENT MEDICATIONS:Supplements:Milk Thistle, Metamucil, Magnesium Citrate, Vitamin D3, Levothyroxine 25mcg, Vitamin C, Krill oil.

Xanax 1mg 3x day June, 2000 to 19-September, 2020 Went from .150 grams (average weight of 1 Xanax) 3x day to .003 grams 3x day. April 1, 2021 went back on 1mg a day. Started tapering May 19, 2023. July 28, 2023-approximately .87mg. Dr. fast tapered me at the end and realized he messed up. Prescribe it again and I am doing "slower than a turtle" taper.

19-September, 2020 Xanax free!!! (total Xanax taper was 15-1/2 months-1-June, 2019-19-September, 2020)

I am not a medical professional.

The suggestions I make are based on personal experience.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus

I haven't warmed to foam rollers - too many issues - if it's not my back, it's my hips or my knees.  I'm scared of falling off of them!

But I will be looking into inversion tables.

The good news is - in less than a week, I've kicked the hard drugs, and am doing non-drug management!

 

The funny news is - the neurosurgeon (and his office) got snippy with me!

They called.  I've never had a referral to specialist pursue me like this.  They called and called until we connected.  The neurosurgery business must be having doldrums or something.

So I finally connected, and told them that I was going to a pain management GP.  I was informed that this was a "rejection of referral," and they asked me if I told my GP.  Since it wasn't MY GP, but was a doc-in-a-box, I said it didn't really matter, but that I would tell them the course of action I was pursuing.

Then today - I got a letter.  It was a letter notifying me that I had rejected my consultation with a neurosurgeon, with a cc: copy of what they sent to the referring GP.  They told the GP that, against all recommendations I have rejected the referral to the GP and refused an appointment.

This is like bullying - trying to intimidate me into thinking that my refusal is a form of "non-compliance" and is dangerous and they need to cover-their-arse and notify me and the doctor of my choice to not go to a neurosurgeon.  This is not making me feel attracted to the neurosurgeon in any way!

If this were a psych issue there might be people at my door addressing my "oppositional defiance disorder" and ready to inject me with psychoactive drugs to ensure my compliance!

I'm stunned, I'm really stunned at how hard this neurosurgeon's office has worked to get me in their office.  It's not a good look - kind of like when you are dating, and the guy is desperate to get laid.  It is very unattractive, and generally drives away prospects.

There may be a liability issue here - but - here's the thing.  I have never received such a letter or admonition from not calling a specialist ever before.  Why now?

 

My back turnaround is starting to feel miraculous.  I'm not opposed to doctors - but I'm more and more shy of trusting everything I'm told.  And the right doctors - like my osteopath, and now this guy - can be amazing!  I reckon I'm going to ask him if there's anything we can do about the knee (as I think that's causing the hip/pelvic/sacroiliac problem).

I hope you see the sun today.  I had a cloud walk today, with a sigh of rain.  I can now do my tai chi, and will start tai chi classes next week.

"Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna

 

Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again.

 

My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices.

 

A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia.   CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013.   Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine).     Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 -  Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years  on Lithium).  Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made.


The tedious thread (my intro):  JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium

The happy thread (my success story):  JanCarol - Undiagnosed  Off all bipolar drugs

My own blog:  https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/

 

 

I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus

JC,

 

Great news that you are getting the back in order without a surgical intervention or anything more invasive.

 

10 hours ago, JanCarol said:

It's not a good look - kind of like when you are dating, and the guy is desperate to get laid.  It is very unattractive, and generally drives away prospects.

 

Interesting analogy -- LOL.  Larry the lounge lizard meet Marcus Welby?  

 

Best,

 

Andy

Sertraline 50mg and Clonazapam .375mg from 2000 -- symptoms of dizziness Spring 2012

increased to .5 Clonazapam and 100mg Sertraline -- no improvement

Benzo microtaper from November 2012 to November 2014 (followed benzo sites "taper benzo first")

Started Sertraline taper in December 2014 cut by 25mg to 75mg; 62.5mg 1/1/15 and 50mg on 2/1/15

Held at 50mg through April 5 to use liquid 
Reduced dosage in 10% or less drops from 50mg to 25mg -- at single tablet of 25mg on 10/5/15

Transitioned to all liquid for accuracy while tapering -- Horrible insomnia -- back to 25mg liquid and held until October 1, 2016

10/16 -- 11/18 tapered very slowly to 10.6mg.  No real improvement and never really stable so updosed to 12.5mg (1/2 a pill) for convenience and long hold.

After 8+ months of holding with no noticeable improvement decided to add .4ml of liquid Prozac (about 1.5mg) to see if that improves the situation

Supplements, Magnesium, D3, Omega 3, curcumin, Valerian, 81mg Aspirin, L-Theanine, Vit. C,

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus

Hey Andy!

:lol: Maybe not Marcus Welby - he's too kindly.

 

Leisure Suit Larry meets - Hannibal Lechter?   Josef Mengele?

 

I'm thinking the Doctor in charge of the hospital in Patch Adams - the one who talks about Doctors being right and Gods and all that....character is called "Dean Walcott" - or maybe John Hurt in "The Doctor" before he got his compassion on....

 

 

"Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna

 

Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again.

 

My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices.

 

A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia.   CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013.   Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine).     Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 -  Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years  on Lithium).  Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made.


The tedious thread (my intro):  JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium

The happy thread (my success story):  JanCarol - Undiagnosed  Off all bipolar drugs

My own blog:  https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/

 

 

I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus

In looking for inversion tables - I found this.

 

It's supposed to be like a chiro treatment (without the chiro.  I don't like bone crunching)

 

I'm guessing that my yoga does some of this - but - this is a smaller footprint than an inversion table:

POSTURE PUMP, from:  https://posturepump.com/posture-pump-products/neck-pain/deluxe-full-spine-posture-pumpr-model-4100.html 
model_4100-s_1200_x_630.jpg

 

There are air pockets that inflate to extend the spine - especially the lumbar and the neck (my neck isn't the best from all the computer use, it's recommended for computer users which is - all of us!) in order to oxygenate the discs.  Comes highly recommended. 

About the same price as an inversion table...I haven't found any inversion chairs here in the land downunder yet.  I don't know if the "posture pump" is available here, either (it's probably not), so I may just be dreaming.

But I'm learning!

"Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna

 

Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again.

 

My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices.

 

A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia.   CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013.   Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine).     Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 -  Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years  on Lithium).  Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made.


The tedious thread (my intro):  JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium

The happy thread (my success story):  JanCarol - Undiagnosed  Off all bipolar drugs

My own blog:  https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/

 

 

I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus

JC,

 

I had a unit that was just the neck/lumbar portion of that.  It worked pretty well.  Kind of functioned more as a traction device.

 

I think it might help but it's slightly different than inverting.

 

See if you can get one with a 30 day return policy and then if it doesn't work you are covered.

 

Best,

 

Andy

Sertraline 50mg and Clonazapam .375mg from 2000 -- symptoms of dizziness Spring 2012

increased to .5 Clonazapam and 100mg Sertraline -- no improvement

Benzo microtaper from November 2012 to November 2014 (followed benzo sites "taper benzo first")

Started Sertraline taper in December 2014 cut by 25mg to 75mg; 62.5mg 1/1/15 and 50mg on 2/1/15

Held at 50mg through April 5 to use liquid 
Reduced dosage in 10% or less drops from 50mg to 25mg -- at single tablet of 25mg on 10/5/15

Transitioned to all liquid for accuracy while tapering -- Horrible insomnia -- back to 25mg liquid and held until October 1, 2016

10/16 -- 11/18 tapered very slowly to 10.6mg.  No real improvement and never really stable so updosed to 12.5mg (1/2 a pill) for convenience and long hold.

After 8+ months of holding with no noticeable improvement decided to add .4ml of liquid Prozac (about 1.5mg) to see if that improves the situation

Supplements, Magnesium, D3, Omega 3, curcumin, Valerian, 81mg Aspirin, L-Theanine, Vit. C,

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus

Yeah - I'd be looking in the used market.  I have a thing about "new" - it's like asking them to fire up a bunch of manufacturing, carbon footprint, petroleum use, and plastics for a fresh manufacture, when there are always a bunch of used, discarded things laying around.  (this negates return policies, though).

 

I do a bit of traction with my yoga, using straps and blocks and support.

 

Okay - the news.  On the intermittent fasting, the action we decided to add for February was a 30 minute walk at the end of the fasting period and just before breaking the fast.  I'm seeing great results, and hubby has gotten an "all clear" from the cardio - so - dodged a drug there!  I've lost a bit of weight - but the amazing thing is how my appetite is changing.  More water, I love just plain water now.  Fewer carbs, I'm seeing less in the way of sugar spikes and carb binges.  (LOL a binge for me is a piece of toast).

 

In other news, I bought a juicer (used, of course).  It's a basic juicer, not one of those fancy $$$$ kind.  After all, I want to try it before I invest my life savings in one.  It's been good!  I've gotten hubby to enjoy an orange, lime, kale and ginger juice.  My favourites are beet apple ginger, and carrot orange ginger.  I'm only doing a bit of greens or cabbage (reminder to thyroid people:  steam kale, cabbage, cruciferous veggies before juicing!), because I'm trying to make the juices palatable to hubby.  I've been having about 1/2 litre a day, he's been having just 200 mils a day, and he's doing well not to make faces about it.

 

The pain is - manageable.  I can fall off so easily!  My last visit to the Muscuoloskeletal MD, he injected my back, shifted my exercises, and decided that my knee is the source of all my troubles, and so he did a full prolotherapy on that.  OMG.  It knocked my knee out of commission!  For the first 24 hours, I wanted crutches!  I had a cane, but it wasn't really enough.  After 48 hours, I could walk again.  I have been taking it easy because of my back, so I haven't really tested my knee with anything like hiking or karate to see if it is improving.  We're still going to Tasmania, so I will give the knee a good test then.  I return to the Pain MD guy after we return from Tasmania.

Because my knee got totally knocked out from under me - it has caused a bit more pain in my back.  I think it maybe (given my sensitivity) would have been a good idea to get the back in better shape before doing the prolotherapy on my knee.  But as usual, the doc seemed so confident.  I should've listened to my intuition!  My average between pain drugs is about 36 hours (yeah, that went to heck and back), which is too close.  I had a painful day today, but a good day - managed to deal with it using non-drug techniques.  (There's a little log of it here, in my "What's Next" post to Callie:  http://survivingantidepressants.org/topic/15834-callie-venlafaxine-xr-or-effexor-xr-hoping-to-be-well-someday/?do=findComment&comment=333319 ) So now it is late at night, and after 2 tai chi sessions, walking, meditating, mag bath, castor oil packs, and dinner - I'm okay!

 

More news:  I got my HeartMath EmWave2.  

th?id=OIP.TXOpw8gbf7uB9IXZoKATmgHaF7&pid

 

I got a used one, for a song.  Someone I know got the new "InnerBalance" one, and was happy to sell me her old one.  It has pretty flashing lights on it, the lower blue one is for heart rate, the upper green one is for "coherence" - it's red for "fight or flight," blue for calming, and green for "coherent" (brain and heart in coherence).  The big button is also a sensor, I can use my thumb on it, and it will sense my biofeedback info from that, or I can use an ear clip.

The blue slider lights in the middle can either pace my breathing (up for inhale, down for exhale) or I can go to advanced mode for "Heart Rate Variability" (exciting!  Yes!).  On my first meditation session today, as soon as I dropped into my body for my body scan, the light went green, and the HRV went to the highest score.  Huzzah!  (however when I synced it to my computer, it didn't give me as high a score as the handheld device did - so I'm still confused and there is a learning curve here).

This is great feedback, and I'm hoping to get hubby to take it up, to manage his heart and blood pressure, too.

NOTE:  I think I can have my PVC's while in the "green zone," there were some moments in meditation when the heart beat got funny (I can now feel bigeminy - 2 beats on lower heart for 1 beat in upper heart) but it still registered as good on the HeartMath device.

 

Here's to resonance and coherence!

 

"Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna

 

Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again.

 

My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices.

 

A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia.   CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013.   Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine).     Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 -  Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years  on Lithium).  Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made.


The tedious thread (my intro):  JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium

The happy thread (my success story):  JanCarol - Undiagnosed  Off all bipolar drugs

My own blog:  https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/

 

 

I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus

Oh yes, one other bit of news.  My orthomolecular doctor just took a 6 month leave with no notice.  She called to tell me the clinic was closed (left a message, I was asleep), and that she would be reopening her practice somewhere in the Brisbane area in the next 12 months...

 

I called my compounding pharmacist to see if any other doctors would help me with my thyroid.  He suggested that my MD/osteopath might help, and he would help with my labs if need be.  My osteopath doesn't really like doing management things right now, as he's caring for a sick relative, and only works one week a month - that's fine for getting adjustments - but - harsher if I have a thyroid problem and need counselling.

 

I'm not angry enough to leave the orthomolecular doctor a scathing review on ratemd's.com but - I'm a little lost.  I do have about 6 months to figure out what's next. At least my thyroid - while not optimal (my hair is still falling out, my nails are now cracked and broken below the cuticle, and my collagen / joint issue has caused me about 6 months of severe pain in 2017).

 

Overall, I reckon her prescribing of the phenibut was a brilliant move - the side effects have been much more subtle than the metaprolol, and gave me time to get other things in order - hawthorn/motherwort/magnesium taurate, as well as meditation and other supportive practices.  I'll start tapering the phenibut in a few months time.

 

But - loss of a rare practitioner - and with no notice!  For me, a professional thing to do would've been to send notice on January 1, that the clinic would be closing in 45 days, to give her patients time to get their ducks in a row if they needed it.  Not call the day after the clinic closed.

 

It's my hope that she's taking the 6 months to go abroad and widen and/or deepen her training.  I live in hope.  It's also my hope that maybe she will be closer to town so that - some of my Brissy friends can take advantage of her expertise!  I do know a naturopath on the other side of town who might be able to recommend someone...

"Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna

 

Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again.

 

My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices.

 

A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia.   CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013.   Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine).     Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 -  Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years  on Lithium).  Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made.


The tedious thread (my intro):  JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium

The happy thread (my success story):  JanCarol - Undiagnosed  Off all bipolar drugs

My own blog:  https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/

 

 

I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus
3 hours ago, JanCarol said:

More news:  I got my HeartMath EmWave2.

 

Even more good news, JC.  That makes you eligible for this:

 

https://www.heartmath.com/addheartcalls/

 

Best,

 

Andy

Sertraline 50mg and Clonazapam .375mg from 2000 -- symptoms of dizziness Spring 2012

increased to .5 Clonazapam and 100mg Sertraline -- no improvement

Benzo microtaper from November 2012 to November 2014 (followed benzo sites "taper benzo first")

Started Sertraline taper in December 2014 cut by 25mg to 75mg; 62.5mg 1/1/15 and 50mg on 2/1/15

Held at 50mg through April 5 to use liquid 
Reduced dosage in 10% or less drops from 50mg to 25mg -- at single tablet of 25mg on 10/5/15

Transitioned to all liquid for accuracy while tapering -- Horrible insomnia -- back to 25mg liquid and held until October 1, 2016

10/16 -- 11/18 tapered very slowly to 10.6mg.  No real improvement and never really stable so updosed to 12.5mg (1/2 a pill) for convenience and long hold.

After 8+ months of holding with no noticeable improvement decided to add .4ml of liquid Prozac (about 1.5mg) to see if that improves the situation

Supplements, Magnesium, D3, Omega 3, curcumin, Valerian, 81mg Aspirin, L-Theanine, Vit. C,

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus

LOL Andy!  I checked into this - Pacific Time is like - the middle of the night for me.  It's great - but - as always these seminars are at the wrong time for Australia.  We're on our own little planet down here.

 

There are always cool seminars - there's a Shades of Awakening Valentine's Day group phone call I'd love to be in on - and MIA holds webinars, and Sounds True has them too - but always at the wrong time for Australians. I'm still off my rocker enough to not commit to a seminar in the middle of the night.  I might be awake!  But I might be out of commission.  If I were 20 years younger?  I'd be on it.  But if I were 20 years younger I wouldn't be so interested in the HeartMath which might save my life!

 

"Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna

 

Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again.

 

My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices.

 

A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia.   CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013.   Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine).     Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 -  Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years  on Lithium).  Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made.


The tedious thread (my intro):  JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium

The happy thread (my success story):  JanCarol - Undiagnosed  Off all bipolar drugs

My own blog:  https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/

 

 

I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus

Musical interlude:

 

 

 

"Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna

 

Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again.

 

My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices.

 

A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia.   CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013.   Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine).     Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 -  Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years  on Lithium).  Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made.


The tedious thread (my intro):  JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium

The happy thread (my success story):  JanCarol - Undiagnosed  Off all bipolar drugs

My own blog:  https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/

 

 

I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus

 I've been travelling. 

 

Today was a beautiful cruise in an old oak Danish ketch sailing ship.  The ship crossed the oceans from Denmark to Australia, so even though it is not a big ship, it was beautiful and comfortable, and sailed 3/4 around the world (they went the long way).  I'd like to do one of their 3 day or 7 day overnight cruises.

Anyhow, on the ship, I met a psychiatrist.

 

FIrst he was talking about studying anthropology in London (he had a British accent), then it went on and he told me he was a doctor, an MD.  I thought - OH!  I will take a chance, and got out a "Surviving Antidepressants" business card that I hand out to help people find the website when they tell me their stories.  (hint:  I hand more of these out than I do my own business card).  I said - this is what I do - the card doesn't have my name on it because I'm not that important but the website is.  We help people come off antidepressants.

I was thinking he was a GP - and was hoping to gain another tapering doctor, or at least - bring a contrary opinion to the table.

He took the card with interest, and said, "oh, but I'm a psychiatrist, how did you know?"  (heh, because I'm ........spooky!)

I said "really?  Just an instinct I guess"

He said, "The drugs are awfully hard to come off of," and I gave him an example - Effexor - and how the drug companies don't give us the right doses to taper 10%, so we open the capsules and count beads.

 

And he said - get this - "Oh yes!  I had a patient where we did that - got a knife and a mirror and separated the beads out to taper!"

 

OMG.  

 

Then he said, "Is it just my experience, or is Effexor the hardest one to come off of?"  I said, "It's evil, but each of them have their own challenges" - and cited Lexapro for being so damn strong, and Paxil for having such an awful short half life.

So I told him that we have different methods for different drugs, and that we have trouble finding doctors to support our methods.

He asked for my name, and seemed excited to find out that we had many case studies here, and that I write here, and asked for my name so that he could find my story.  I told him a bit about what it was like meeting my biological family and being convinced that it was genetic, that I had a broken brain.  I used the "like insulin for diabetes" line and he rolled his eyes and said "Pharmaceutical companies!"

 

Reminder:  This is a PSYCHIATRIST I was talking to!

 

I went on to tell him that I came off all of my drugs, and that I learned that he can't help me with my mood, and that hubby can't either.  Only I can help me with my mood.  He really liked that.  I said, "I now don't consider it any doctor's business what my mood is," and he said, "oh, you'd be safe telling me!"  I told him how frightening it was to unpatient myself and undiagnose myself, and that I was so afraid that if I came off the drugs I would ruin my new marriage in a new country.  He seemed eager to read my story.

 

Remember, I'm talking to a PSYCHIATRIST here......

 

Anyhow, he talked about how he likes to taper his patients off the drugs - he finds that their lives are a wreck on the drugs, and that they get better when they are off the drugs.  I talked about Whitaker's studies that the drugs actually increase the chronicity of the problems.   He talked about CBT, and how that's popular now, but that he's mostly an old fashioned psychoanalyst, and how he wants to hear about the person's life and struggles and work on practical steps to improve.  

 

He mentioned the growing tragedy of child psychiatry, and how they now just get out the prescription pad instead of working with coping skills and talking to the child to see what's happening.  He complained about overdiagnosis, and was even willing to say that his most violent cases were probably drug related.  He talked about how bizarre it is that people are getting multiple diagnosis - and each diagnosis is so rare - how wrong is it that they end up with 4 separate incredibly rare psychiatric disorders?  We talked about akathisia and impulsivity.

He said he only works one day a week (mostly retired) but that he has colleagues, and works in a psychology centre where they seem to operate from the same playbook - and that he knows OTHER PSYCHIATRISTS who practice like he does.  I asked him if he wants referrals, and he gave me his card.  (I will post more about his details in the "Recommended Doctors" thread.  He talked about taking seminars and education in tapering drugs in Sydney (he practices in Melbourne), and recommended a doctor and hospital there.


I told him how rare he is, and that not even my own psychiatrist would give me the time of day when I talked about s-l-o-w tapering.  Hubby asked him:  How do you get them off the drugs?  He said - as slowly as possible!  (and I believed him, after all, he knew about bead counting, and I've never met an MD of any stripe who understood that concept).

I dropped a few names - Whitaker, Breggin, Healy - he knew none of these.  He was just a gentle, compassionate guy who tries to do his best by his patients.

I hope he comes to visit SA!  (my mind is a little blown and I'm beginning to wonder if that was real, or if he was just mirroring me as a technique to see "what makes me tick.")

 

(but we also talked about anthropology - and he talked about how some of the sayings in Ireland matched some of the Middle Eastern customs he had seen...but he only studied anthropology for a year.)

ADDENDUM Sep 2019:  Reference to his practice, here.

Edited by JanCarol
update to add link to Recommended Doctors info

"Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna

 

Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again.

 

My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices.

 

A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia.   CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013.   Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine).     Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 -  Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years  on Lithium).  Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made.


The tedious thread (my intro):  JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium

The happy thread (my success story):  JanCarol - Undiagnosed  Off all bipolar drugs

My own blog:  https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/

 

 

I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hi JanCarol

 

I reckon this has been quite an uplifting encounter! I can almost taste the joy of this experience ^_^

Origin of Panic Attack and Anxiety Disorder: Overdose of Hallucinogenic HOT-7.

2013-09 20mg escitalopram. In the 4 first months 0.5-1mg/day Alprazolam for sleep & difficult situations.

Tapered the first time from 20mg to 0mg in 17 months or so. Withdrawal 6-8 weeks after last dose. Didn't taper enough to low enough doses (+-1mg).

2015-01-02 Back on 10mg after one week of delayed withdrawal. Stable in 8 days.

Second time tapered 2 years from 10mg to 1.6mg. Stable for half a year in range 2.5mg-1.6mg.

2017-07-28 Measurement errors: went for 1-2 weeks on 2mg. Restlessness and anxiety. Tried back to go back to 1.7mg for 5 days. Anxiety stayed.

2017-08-03 - 2017-08-20 Switched to liquid Lexapro 20mg/ml (1 drop is 1mg). Updosed to 2mg hoping to stabilize. Horrible Panic and Anxiety. Hold for 17 days hoping to stabilize. Didn't work enough for me at the time.

2017-08-20 End of holiday approaching. No more time. Decision to up dose to 5mg escitalopram. Back to the pills. Tapering alprazolam.

A lot of side effects: Akathisia, more anxiety, very troubling sleep, every thought and movement gave me panic attacks. Worst time of my life. I did learn coping skills in this period. A lot. Mastering meditation, mastering floating technique and more Claire Weekes stuff... Can handle extreme anxiety pretty decent now.

2017-09-30 Going down again because holding got worse almost every day. ADVICE TO OTHER ESCITALOPRAM PEOPLE, if updose doesn't work in two weeks, go down again!!! WD is not as brutal as adverse updose effects! After every taper (while tapering pretty manageable, after couple weeks holding, akathisia and extreme anxiety came back)

2018-01-29 Got to ZERO. A hard way down for sure. And now hoping for improvements along the way... Tapering melatonin gave me dystonic reactions however.
14 months after zero: Alternating akathisia, dystonic reactions and WD. Very unstable. No meds whatsoever. 31 months after zero: dystonia got worse, still very high anxiety, and many symptoms... no healing in sight. Adverse reaction destroyed me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...
  • Moderator Emeritus

Here's some new non-drug treatments I learned from listening to a talk with Ann Marie Chiasson, a natural practitioner in Flagstaff, Arizona.


They are both based on natural human instincts, and have been confirmed by use in Chinese Medicine, Taoist Yoga, and tribal shamanic practices.

 

The first is self-soothing.  The energetics of this is that it is grounding and centering.  She called it toe-tapping (I call it "windshield wipers")
Toe Tapping (windshield wipers)

  • Lie on your back, bed is fine.  Swing from your hips so that your feet wobble.  Open, then close them, out and then in, so that your big toes tap together.  The motion must come from your hips, as Western society has "cold feet" a lot, and this helps to bring energy into the feet, hips, and lower back.  I like to do 30 of these, or you can measure it in minutes, doing 1-3 minutes at a time.
  • Helps with anxiety, insomnia, pain, and is self-soothing.  Children do it naturally.  (and their parents probably say something stupid like, "lie still!")

The next one requires help of a partner or friend.  It is excellent for soothing emotional distress.  

Heart tapping/patting.

 

You know the way you soothe a baby by patting or rubbing it's upper back?  Or, when a friend comes to you in distress, you pat them on the back and say, "There, there"  Or even when someone is choking - what is our first instinct?  To slap the back...

Well, this is a human instinct for a reason, and I recently found out why, there's a plexus of energy behind your heart that is recognized in several tribal traditions, and also in Chinese medicine, Taoist yoga and Tai Chi.

 

There is an actual treatment involving patting the back - and your partner can do it with you!

 

  • It would probably work best if you could lie down on your tummy or even on your side.
  • Ask your partner to first touch you behind your heart, between the shoulder blades - but not to high.  Then start patting, like you are a baby.  Gradually increase to a gentle percussion with slaps of the palm of the hand.  5 minutes a day adjusts anxiety, settles nerves, heals the broken heart.  For severe cases, you can go up to 20 minutes at a time.

 

The only thing is, you cannot do yourself, someone has to do it with you.

It can be a way to wake up together, or even before falling asleep at night.  It will increase your togetherness, too.
 

These two techniques are sound, body-wisdom advice.  I have tried it, and a few SA members have tried the heart tapping, now, too - and it feels very natural, very human, very connecting and soothing.

"Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna

 

Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again.

 

My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices.

 

A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia.   CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013.   Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine).     Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 -  Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years  on Lithium).  Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made.


The tedious thread (my intro):  JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium

The happy thread (my success story):  JanCarol - Undiagnosed  Off all bipolar drugs

My own blog:  https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/

 

 

I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...
  • Moderator Emeritus

Thanks for reminding me, gigi - I still need to post his contact info on the "Recommended Doctors" thread!

 

Today's topic:  Unrelenting Tinnitus

 

There are probably a number of contributing factors to my unrelenting tinnitus, which varies from high pitched tones (one in each ear, and a third one in between) and the sound of crickets,  including:

  • an accident as a child which left me nerve damage in my ears - with more damage in my right ear than my left.
  • decades of drugs
  • decades of allergies and sinus troubles
  • heavy metal toxicity?
  • damage to my nervous system?
  • lithium toxicity - damage to liver and/or kidneys?
  • The ever increasing radio waves and EMF that are closing in on my nervous system.  It used to be that a town might have a few cell towers - now we all have smart meters that do stuff all the time, wifi in the house, bluetooth, devices, etc.
  • Noise pollution  

 

Thus far, I have been unable to tie it to events like stress or diet.

 

So when I went to Tasmania recently, I was dismayed to find that the tinnitus was unrelenting in a place where the EMF was better.  There were places where we got out of the car - and there was no sound.  No traffic.  Just the sound of birds.  And my unrelenting tinnitus.  So - maybe it's not about the EMF at home.

 

So - I'm always talking about being curious about symptoms.

 

I confess - this is one symptom that I prefer to distract from, to ignore.  How can I be curious?  It's always there.

 

Then I read this:  Psychology Today - Is Tinnitus Really God?

 

Now there's something to be curious about.

 

Some spiritual teachers see tinnitus as a message from The Greater Self (God, Angels, Spirits, whatever you want to call it) that the receiver is too stubborn to heed.  

 

There is that element of "ignoring," that I mentioned earlier.  One teacher suggested that the Greater Self is surrounding one tightly when there is tinnitus, that there are messages there, lessons, support, teachings.  Others suggest that our lives are so noisy, that we rarely get quiet enough to hear the Voice of God.  Native American teachings suggest that God is only heard in Silence (and that can be confirmed by other teachings, too, such as "The Still, Small Voice").

There are traditions which teach about this symptom as a spiritual call, a need to surrender (oh that's a hard one!), a need for stillness and retreat.

 

So I'm developing a relationship with my tinnitus.  I'm learning to be curious.  When do I notice it most?  Are there messages I need to heed?  How can I adapt to it, what is it asking of me?

 

I've been watching a video series by Michael A. Singer about how our mind is a dangerous place, a big bully, and how we tend to adjust outer things when our mind is bothering us, instead of learning about the inner things to address when our mind is bothering us.  The mind is an inner thing - and yet, we so often address it by looking at outer things (maybe I need to move, or this relationship or job isn't good for me, or maybe a pet would help, or maybe there's a supplement I should try, etc. etc.) - when the real solution lies in addressing the inner distress, not the outer situation.  I'm still learning on this one - but I'm looking at the tinnitus in a new light, with a new angle, a curious perspective.  I'm hoping that it will bring me to a place of compassion for myself, for my ears, for my head - and for those around me.  By having this conversation with my tinnitus, I hope to learn and grow.

 

This has not improved the tinnitus, and it is as unrelenting as ever.  So far, in the conversation, I haven't gotten any answers, but I will be patient and keep asking questions.

 

"Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna

 

Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again.

 

My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices.

 

A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia.   CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013.   Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine).     Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 -  Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years  on Lithium).  Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made.


The tedious thread (my intro):  JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium

The happy thread (my success story):  JanCarol - Undiagnosed  Off all bipolar drugs

My own blog:  https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/

 

 

I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Mentor

JanCarol, as a person with tinnitus, THANK YOU.

  • Prozac | late 2004-mid-2005 | CT WD in a couple months, mostly emotional
  • Sertraline 50-100mg | 11/2011-3/2014, 10/2014-3/2017
  • Sertraline fast taper March 2017, 4 weeks, OFF sertraline April 1, 2017
  • Quit alcohol May 20, 2017
  • Lifestyle changes: AA, kundalini yoga

 

"If you've seen a monster, even if it's horrible, that's evidence of divinity." – Damien Echols

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus

FarmGirlWorks - I hope you find something in there that helps!

"Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna

 

Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again.

 

My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices.

 

A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia.   CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013.   Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine).     Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 -  Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years  on Lithium).  Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made.


The tedious thread (my intro):  JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium

The happy thread (my success story):  JanCarol - Undiagnosed  Off all bipolar drugs

My own blog:  https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/

 

 

I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you for this thread. My ears constantly ring! The funny thing is my mom recently said the same thing. My nose also constantly runs. I don't know if these symptoms  are related or not. 

Start citalopram late 2004 20 mg/d, tapered to 10 mg 1xd on for several years

Citalopram 5 mg 1xd, occasional attempt to taper; off citalopram 4 months Aug. 2016

Venlafaxine 37.5 mg 2 months Nov, Dec 2016 stopped ct and change to citalopram 10 mg/d severe withdrawal with daily nausea 

Citalopram 20mg/day April 2017 - Feb 21, 2018, Citalopram 15 mg/day Feb. 21 - 3/3/2018

Citalopram 20 mg/day 3/4/18, Citalopram 18 mg 1xd 3/5 - 4/1,

Citalopram 17 mg 4/2, 16.6 mg 4/16, 16.2 mg 4/23, 16 mg 5/14, 15.8 mg 5/18, 15.6 mg 5/22, 15.4 mg 5/29, 15.2 mg 6/5, 15 mg 6/12,

14.6 mg 7/21, 14.2 mg 7/28, 14 mg 8/4, 13.6mg 8/18, 13.2 mg 8/25, 13 mg 9/1, 12.6 mg 9/22, 9/25 13 mg, 11/9 12.8 mg, back to 13 mg after a few days. 1/9/19 12.8 mg, 1/14 12.6 mg, 1/20 12.4 mg, 1/27 12.2mg, 2/4 12 mg, 2/24 11.8 ,3/1 11.6, 3/6 11.4, 3/11 11.2, 3/14 11, by 4/28 10 mg.

Nov. 1 9.8 mg, Nov 8 9.6 mg, Nov 22 9.5 mg, slow taper down to 9 mg 1/27/2020. Slow taper down to 8 mg Sept 1 2020, decrease by approx. 10% a month to 5 mg/day Jan. 2021.

 

Supplements/other: multivitamin, vitamin d 2000 u 1xd,, melatonin 0.75 mg mg 1xd prn, magnesium, Propranolol Sr 60 mg/day Feb. 2016 (?), alprazolam 0.125 mg prn  (rarely taken) approx. <2 yrs 

Change to famotidine 20 mg prn, cetirizine 10 mg prn or loratadine 10 mg prn for allergy sx.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus
On 9/7/2017 at 1:04 PM, nz11 said:

....You write so well. Have you considered writing a book...
 

 

OMG! yes. No pressure, but yes, the world needs to know your story. I'm only half way through this thread, but this was my first thought too. Big congratulations on your successful taper, surviving everything you've gone through and mostly for revealing the diagnonsense for what it was.

I'm not a doctor.  My comments are not medical advise. These are my opinions based on my own experience and what I've learned. Please discuss your situation with a medical practitioner who has knowledge of tapering and withdrawal...if you are lucky enough to find one.

My Introduction Thread

Full Drug and Withdrawal History

Brief Summary

Several SSRIs for 13 years starting 1997 (for mild to moderate partly situational anxiety) Xanax PRN ~ Various other drugs over the years for side effects

2 month 'taper' off Lexapro 2010

Short acute withdrawal, followed by 2 -3 months of improvement then delayed protracted withdrawal

DX ADHD followed by several years of stimulants and other drugs trying to manage increasing symptoms

Failed reinstatement of Lexapro and trial of Prozac (became suicidal)

May 2013 Found SA, learned about withdrawal, stopped taking drugs...healing begins.

Protracted withdrawal, with a very sensitized nervous system, slowly recovering as time passes

Supplements which have helped: Vitamin C, Magnesium, Taurine

Bad reactions: Many supplements but mostly fish oil and Vitamin D

June 2016 - Started daily juicing, mostly vegetables and lots of greens.

Aug 2016 - Oct 2016 Best window ever, felt almost completely recovered

Oct 2016 -Symptoms returned - bad days and less bad days.

April 2018 - No windows, but significant improvement, it feels like permanent full recovery is close.

VIDEO: Where did the chemical imbalance theory come from?



VIDEO: How are psychiatric diagnoses made?



VIDEO: Why do psychiatric drugs have withdrawal syndromes?



VIDEO: Can psychiatric drugs cause long-lasting negative effects?

VIDEO: Dr. Claire Weekes

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Riveting read about your holiday meet with the psychiatrist, JC.

Best wishes and more power to your elbow.

Born 1945. 

1999 - First Effexor/Venlafaxine

2016 Withdrawal research. Effexor.  13Jul - 212.5mg;  6Aug - 200.0mg;  24Aug - 187.5mg;  13Sep - 175.0mg;  3Oct - 162.5mg;  26Oct - 150mg 

2017  9Jan - 150.00mg;  23Mar - 137.50mg;  24Apr - 125.00mg;  31May - 112.50mg holding;  3Sep - 100.00mg;  20Sep - 93.75mg;  20Oct - 87.5mg;  12Nov - 81.25mg;  13 Dec - 75.00mg

2018  18Jan - 69.1mg; 16Feb - 62.5mg; 16March - 57.5mg (-8%); 22Apr - 56.3mg(-2%); CRASHED - Updose 29May - 62.5mg; Updose - 1Jul - 75.0mg. Updose - 2Aug - 87.5mg. Updose - 27Aug - 100.0mg. Updose - 11Oct 112.5mg. Updose - 6Nov 125.00mg

2019 Updoses 19 Jan - 150.0mg. 1April - 162.5mg. 24 April - Feeling better - doing tasks, getting outside.  7 May - usual depression questionnaire gives "probably no depression" result.

Supps/Vits  Omega 3;  Chelated Magnesium;  Prebiotics/Probiotics, Vit D3. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator Emeritus

Thanks Peng and Petunia!

 

(I still haven't gotten to the evil part of the story....too busy posting optimistic and drug-free interventions!)

I went to new ortho-doc.  Oh my.  She's a piece of work.  She wants me to fire my chemist because "he's not real" (excuse me?) and this is one that Brass will like:  Phenibut has been banned in Australia.  She said "I will not prescribe a banned drug" (it wasn't banned LAST month) and treated me like a party-junkie after that point.  I will give her a few breaks because she's new, and I'm not sure she's trainable, but I will try.  I have some options in my back pocket if she starts treating me like pond scum.  The good news from her, is after all these years, I'm finally getting my microbiome (poo) test.  I'll be sending my poo-kit to Melbourne at the end of next month, and finding out - what my gut microbes are like, and probably getting specific dietary info.

More good news - hubby has installed "Solar Tubes," these are shiny bright sun-tubes that bring - you guessed it - sunlight into the house!  I will be able to track the weather by looking up at the skylight!  Already the house feels more cheerful.   It's not a substitute for a sun-walk, but for days when I can't sunwalk (like right now, in the days right after a prolotherapy shot to the knee) - at least I can see the sun!

 

SolarTubeKitchen.jpg

Yes - that's sunlight - not a light bulb!  No electricity needed!

So - I will see the sun every day that it is shining!  (and I will track the clouds on the days that it is not)

 

 

"Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna

 

Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again.

 

My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices.

 

A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia.   CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013.   Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine).     Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 -  Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years  on Lithium).  Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made.


The tedious thread (my intro):  JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium

The happy thread (my success story):  JanCarol - Undiagnosed  Off all bipolar drugs

My own blog:  https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/

 

 

I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Terms of Use Privacy Policy