jen84: Effexor withdrawal

[jen84]

thanks for your kind words btdt. I didnt get the job, but thats ok... it was only a temp position anyways. I will find a permanent full time career soon enough. Until then, I will keep plugging away.

 

My waves and windows are so weird... I should start up my journal again to keep track of what is going on. Today I was super emotional at work... But I think it was because I was doing something I really didnt want to be doing... My job is to clean the site, not run compactor and set up for concrete slabs... when I look back though, the break from sweeping is nice. I can't wait to get back to my forestry gig. It just snowed again yesterday, so spring is still a ways away.

[btdt]

No need to start over start now... and keep going.. 

peace

[jen84]

Feeling so good today! No anxiety at all! What a relief, I forgot how it felt to feel this good... I'm taking full advantage of this and savouring the peace in my head.

[btdt]

boom! 

love it when that happens enjoy!

[jen84]

it was nice, while it lasted!

 

This morning I went for a ski, then went to the grocery store to get stuff for dinner. While I was shopping around, I felt like a zombie... wasnt sure what I was doing or getting, I was in this crazy fog. I dont really notice how fogged up I am until I have to go out into public. 

 

I quit coffee last sunday, and had a cup this morning, so I was off of it for a week... And now I feel crappy. Note to self, coffee does not help! I can feel my heart racing, thoughts racing etc. 

[btdt]

I think we all have our own systems to figure out and sometimes it takes a lot of experience to do it as it can be befuddling... when symptoms change as they do.  There are many faces of withdrawal.. many.  If you have time to read other peoples stories it may help you to know what to expect.  

peace

[jen84]

I have read lots of other stories, and it helps to read about what other ppl are going through. I am making my way through yours btdt, it's just taking a while as I'm pretty busy.

 

Still feeling good, and still staying away from caffeine

[jen84]

Feeling fairly decent lately... Must be in a window. I still feel some anxiety, but then I ask myself, why am I anxious? And I try to really think about what is making me feel this way... Usually it's something silly that I have no control over or I do have control over it, but I force myself to do it and push through the uncomfortable feelings. I read that it's better to do the thing that makes you anxious instead of avoiding it, makes sense.

[jen84]

Today, I reduced to 4 beads from the 5... fingers crossed this goes well! I am still having anxiety, but I really am working on just letting it be a thought and not letting it really upset me. Sometimes it does get the best of me and I cry. It seems to be around in the mornings, then by noonish it disappears, or rather, becomes less intense. I am still not drinking coffee... I miss it, but not drinking caffeine has definitely helped. 

[mammaP]

Hi Jen, I suggest tipping a capsule into a small box or tub of some king and using a pair of tweezers to take 4 of the largest beads. As  time goes by the beads will get smaller because you are taking the big ones first. Then start a new capsule when you drop to the next one down and take the largest again. It makes a huge difference and helps to avoid the worst of withdrawal, it's tapering without thinking about it.  I found it hard to drop a bead at 4  because 1 bead was a 25% redutiin and I felt it but doing it this way has made it easier to drop to the next one down. 

[jen84]

Thanks for the suggestion MammaP... Yesterday, I definitely felt it, it felt like I missed my dose all together. Today, I have picked out 4 of the biggest.

[jen84]

day 4, at 4 beads... had a rough sleep last night, anxiety, tossing and turning etc. Feeling ok this morning, hoping for a good day. 

[jen84]

I had a really good day, could be because it was so sunny and warm. Still waiting for some sort of w/d symptom though.

[jen84]

Day 6 - still doing really good, in fact, it's been a long time since I have felt like this. No anxiety at all! 

[mammaP]

Brilliant news Jen, I'm so glad you are feeling better. 

[jen84]

Day 10- Still no withdrawal. Feeling pretty darned good 

[LoveandLight]

Yay that's great

[jen84]

coming up on 2 weeks since drop. Still feeling great! Minor anxiety, but it's not even worth mentioning... nothing at all like I had while on 5 beads... I am still waiting for something to hit me, some sort of withdrawal. I also wonder, maybe the 5 beads was too much and was over stimulating me? My anxiety left a few days after the drop, so it makes me wonder... anyways... no need to over analyze, still enjoying the calm mind.

[LoveandLight]

Brilliant!

[jen84]

The anxiety is creeping in today... Hopefully this is the worst of it, not sure if it's w/d or a wave, probably a bit of both. Thank goodness tomorrow is Friday!

[jen84]

It seems to me from what I have been reading, that it is fairly normal to experience the w.d from a drop at the two week mark... Just wondering if anyone has an average for how long this might last? It is not bad at all, in fact, I am doing fairly good. Today is a bit of a rough day, but I started my monthly cycle, so that would explain a few things... even with my aunt flow in town, I am still doing good. I had a break down in front of my boyfriend the other night... I told him that I was disappointed with myself and where I am, mostly with my career, or lack of. Anytime I am in a wave, this is the biggest issue for me, not having a proper career, and bouncing from job to job. In about a month I will be going back to my forestry gig, which will pull me out of my sticky financial situation and will give me a bit of breathing room from month to month. I am not sure if the forestry gig is a long term career for me, but it sure is great experience. I just have to make it through these last few weeks. Anyways, I got to dig in the garden yesterday and get my hands dirty... it is very therapeutic and relaxing. I saw my sister today, it was tough, as I mentioned earlier, I am still in a bit of a wave, and my cycle has started, but it was good to see her.  

[Petunia]

It seems to me from what I have been reading, that it is fairly normal to experience the w.d from a drop at the two week mark... Just wondering if anyone has an average for how long this might last?

 

Its difficult to say, because everyone is different.  In general, we find that most people are ready to cut again about 4 weeks after the previous cut, but this is a guide and its better to base the decision on your own body and symptoms. 

Wait until your symptoms settle down before making another cut, even if it means holding for longer.

 

Are you going to stay on wellbutrin, or taper off it too?

[jen84]

Petunia, thanks for the reply. I think I'm going to hold out at 4 beads for a couple months, I do not want to rush this at all. It's good to know most ppl feel good enough to cut at 4 weeks though. I'll see how this goes in the next few weeks and re-evaluate how I'm doing.

 

Eventually the Wellbutrin will be cut as well. I don't see any reason for me to stay on it. I would like to wait til I'm off Effexor though as I don't want to put my body through too much at once. Unless you think I should be tapering Wellbutrin at the same time? I didnt even consider tapering two at once.

[Petunia]

We advise only tapering one drug at a time.  If you're doing ok with tapering the effexor first, then you should stick with it.

 

Some people find wellbutrin to be activating, it can sometimes cause increased anxiety.  If you start to have these kinds of issues and they don't subside as you continue to decrease the effexor, you do have the option of holding your effexor taper and starting to decrease the wellbutrin.  But if I were you I would give it more time to see if you can stabilize after your last cut.

[jen84]

I am feeling better, still not quite back to where I was when I first cut, but close. When I reinstated the effexor, it took me 4 months before I decided to go down, I guess I dont need to wait that long to make my next cut do I? I guess my body is stabilized now, I just have to let the withdrawals pass. What a relief. 

[jen84]

I am coming out of my wave, and starting to feel much better. Will hold out at 4 beads for a few more weeks.

[jen84]

feeling rough the past few days. Worrying about everything under the sun, no motivation to do anything. I have my mom coming for a visit tomorrow, and I cant be bothered to clean. Of course I want to see her, but im not in a good frame of mind, im worried I will just end up crying and having a big ole pity party. Hopefully this will pass in a few days and I will be back to my old self.

[jen84]

I made it through my moms visit, it was quite nice actually, she met my bf and really likes him.

 

I feel like I'm trapping myself in a corner at work. I am finally able to have decent convos with ppl, but I think I might be saying too much? I just get yapping away, and then I think back and realize I shouldn't have said what I said. I feel like coworkers are distancing themselves from me, I feel unappreciated for what I do, even though it is just pushing a broom. theres not much for me to do right now, but they still ask other busy ppl for help instead of asking me. My bosses don't really talk to me, it's a weird situation. I feel like they think I'm unskilled or something.

Anyways, I'm just letting off some steam so I can make it through tomorrow and look forward to the weekend

[jen84]

Still not feeling very well... trying to push through. I am feeling really sad, quite depressed and teary, lots of tears and crying. Hopefully this will pass soon.

[Fresh]

My goodness Jen ,    I'm still astonished that one or two beads can make such a difference (this is all quite new to me).

 

Thankyou for continuing to share.   I do hope you feel better very soon.

 

Best wishes ,  Fresh

[mammaP]

My goodness Jen ,    I'm still astonished that one or two beads can make such a difference (this is all quite new to me).

 

Thankyou for continuing to share.   I do hope you feel better very soon.

 

Best wishes ,  Fresh

One or 2 beads can make a huge difference, I didn't believe it myself until I was down to the last few beads! 

 

It can take a while to stabilise Jen, cutting down to 4 beads from 5 is a 20% reduction but there is no alternative when counting beads at the low doses. 

I'm sure you will have a window soon, hang in there! 

[jen84]

i think my mind is the culprit here. I just have to focus on being positive and not get so dramatic over the stupidest things. My clutch went in my car sat morning, Which sucks bc I am already broke, but I need my car for work so I don't have an option, it must get fixed.

[jen84]

I'm feeling much better today... It's like the cloud blew away, and all I have sunshine and blue sky... for the most part

[btdt]

I think your doing great and so happy to see Mamma here she is the bead tapering expert I did not taper so have little to offer in way of personal experience she is the master at Effexor bead taper... and very kind so ask her anything.  

Glad things are going well enough.. keep up the good fight...thank you for stopping by my thread it is a lot to read and likely not the useful..as I am so far into the process... it is hard to tell what relates to wd at this point and what doesn't.  

peace to you

[jen84]

yesterdays good day was a one off... not feeling very swell today.

[jen84]

had a rough go this morning, but am feeling better this afternoon. It is such a weird feeling when I am down, its like my world is collapsing, and the only way to make it stop is to cave in to my emotions and cry... I know crying is not helping, but it seems to be the only thing I can do when I feel so dreadful. When I am feeling good though, its the complete opposite, i feel like I can conquer the world, and more... I need to focus on not being so dramatic when I am in the rut, and appreciate the good days, and good moments. I didnt realize how long this is going to take and it is really frustrating, but again, trying not to focus on that.