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Posted 11/4/2014 5:30 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone, I haven't been on for awhile. I've been pretty busy lately and such. I've been crossing over my meds for 4 weeks now. I was on 20mg of cipralex and it wasn't very helpful so I decided to go back on effexor. The first 2 weeks I was taking 75mg effexor in the am and stayed at 20mg of cipralex in the pm. Now for the last two weeks I've been at 150mg of effexor and 10mg of cipralex. I will say that the days I feel good are wonderful and I am so grateful for them. For the most part it's been ok but yesterday and today I'm feeling the dark and anxious mood again. It can be pretty strong at times and I'm feeling a bit discouraged. I am practicing positive thoughts but I'm still feeling off. I could just use some words of encouragement at the moment. I feel as though this is hormone related but I'm not expecting my menses till next week and usually I feel the worst 3 days in to my menses and a few days after too. Anyway just could use some friendly advise. Thanks all, Lisa
Posted 11/4/2014 5:39 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Lisa! I didn't know you were Lisa too. Good name :-)

Sorry about those dark feelings- been there done that. It seemed it took my meds after changing them & going off another, a good 8 weeks or so to even out to where I was comfortable.

I'm still coming out of it so not everyday is "perfect" but it's better. I honestly feel it's probably bc of going off of the citalpram & starting back on the Effexor.. I'm sure if you called your doctor, they'd likely tell you the same but it wouldn't hurt to make a call.

My psychiatrist told me it takes the brain 3 months to heal after getting on the right med/dosage and you're still in that window. If it's unbearable, call your doc. My dark days seemed to last 1-2 days at a time.

Maybe you'll get some more insight but it's my belief from experience not so long ago, that your chemicals are still adjusting from lowering the one med & going on to the other.

Sending you much peace & healing!
Lisa
Posted 11/4/2014 6:21 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you Lisa. I'm happy to see you're in a good place now. My dark days can last from 2 to 10 days. I just would like to go more than a couple weeks of feeling great! I know we can't feel perfect all the time but ever since my 1st med celexa quit on me , I've been struggling to find one that is a good fit. I go back to my old worry that I won't find a good med and that I'm not treatable. Funny, just the other day I was feeling great, and today I'm a doubting ditz!! Lol. I'm sure I will be better again but it's hard when bad days follow some really great ones. I think it makes it feel worse? Thank you again for your input. I really could use it!!!
Posted 11/4/2014 8:30 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Lisa and Lisa,

Ha!!!

I am so glad I went through menopause. I use to have moodiness before I started my period, and felt good after I started, but in realization, there is only one week of normal. Which stinks, I know.

I still get the "dark days", but not a lot, I am happy for that. I was on Effexor for about 15 years, I Liked it. I am now on pristiq and that works good for me. I hope you both feel better soon...

Hugs, Karen...
Posted 11/4/2014 11:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Karen & thank-you!

Lisa-

The last post you made could have been written by me a couple of months ago... Like, exactly. I was on a trusty AD for many years that pooped out. It's taken months to find something to get me back to pre-poop out. I've tried several AD's & addons. I too wondered if I'd ever feel normal again & was so scared bc until this year, I'd never struggled to find the right med. I've had a couple of boughs with anxiety & depression in the past 20 yrs but I just took a med & got better. I don't think I suffered more than a month or 2!

This year has been different to say the least... I'm not quite where I'm totally confident this is behind me, but having much better days. I was taking xanax daily for several months but now just take PRN.

Keaz, another member here, is in the SAME boat as us. We all had great luck in our past treating this junk but this year it's taking longer for some reason. Same with many women in the anxiety forum?! We've ALL been questioning hormones as we are all in our 30's & 40's, just trying to find why it's being so tricky.

I'm blaming the planet alignments lol! Seriously, the planets aligned just so this year that only happens every 84 years... People who study that said it's causing rifts in everyone this year. They're supposed to get back in place at the beginning of the year!

My meds haven't changed since August and I was questioning them until recently so I can't say what's changed other than time? I will say I believe adding Lamictal in August to the Pristiq is when I started noticing small improvements.

When do you see your doctor next? You might consider an addon to get the ball rolling a bit faster?

Keep posting, we certainly understand as so many of us are in or have been in the same boat as you!

Sending peace!
Lisa
Posted 11/5/2014 12:48 AM (GMT 0)
Oh, my mercy...where to begin?

I have more questions than answers, but want to offer support.  My personal mantra lately is that "If misery indeed loves company, will somebody hold my hand?"   I, too am feeling PITIFUL. 

smhair  I walk a tightrope with unimaginable health issues and the emotional toll that has taken on my so-called life.  I am 53, with a history of stage IV endometriosis.  I am 20+ years post hysterectomy.  HORMONES affect EVERYTHING, ladies...believe me.  I lost all of my "lady parts"...basically neutered in order to save my life.  I was forbidden to ever seek HRT...NONE.  At 33, I went through full blown menopause...my cancer surgeon warned me of the HELL I would go through...I did.  I am.  It seems I always will. 

I have taken several different AD's and anxiety meds over the years...most when they first came on the market.  My personal experience was that Prozac made me really pissed off.  Cymbalta was in conjunction with pain management in 2005-06, so I'm not sure which med did what, exactly...but I quit taking EVERYTHING to keep my sanity and my fast-paced career.  I've been steady with Zoloft 100 mg for years, recently increased to 150 mg.

Each person is different, of course, so they have a different experience.  I suffer from severe depression and anxiety that is exacerbated by what I refer to as "situational depression".  I put on a happy face and push through.  I've reached out to a pain management specialist this year, but I'm still in the "trial" phase.  I need pain medication that does not have a sedating effect...hard to find and hard to afford.

I hope you find what you're looking for. The ugly truth is that this BEAST of depression cannot be tamed by pills alone.  I try to focus on others, as I feel that I am a "fixer".  I just can't seem to "fix" me.  I too am running on empty.

HUGS~~Dixie

Posted 11/5/2014 7:28 AM (GMT 0)
sending many healing thoughts to my hw family.
Posted 11/5/2014 12:41 PM (GMT 0)
Lisa, I like the planet alignment idea. I think I will blame this on that!! I do believe in those possibilities and who knows, maybe it's contributing! It's weird that the first med i tried many years ago, was amazing for 8 years and now I'm struggling to find one that's as effective. I think the effexor will work. I'm not at a target dose yet so I'm going to have to wait it out. Last time I was on it, it took 3 months for more stability and even then I had some breakthrough during my menses.



Dixie, I'm sorry you suffer with chronic pain. I'm suffering with horrid back pain that leaves me walking like an old lady. It's only been 3 days and it's already taking a toll, so I can't imagine how you deal with it. Thank you too for your words. I appreciate it.
Happy turtle, always nice to hear your kind words! I really am so grateful for this forum and all of you. It's comforting to know that you're not alone!
Posted 11/5/2014 3:09 PM (GMT 0)
Nothing left to say, except
Peace and comfort
Trina
Posted 11/6/2014 3:04 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks again all. It seems that my anxiety has now increased substantially since my last post. I'm not sure why either. I'm trying to remain positive, but it's difficult when your mind is doing cartwheels and I feel like I'm in a constant panic mode. I'm doing the deep breathing and positive thoughts but it's not helping much. I know it's only been a month on effexor, but why was I feeling so awesome for awhile, and then this? I seem to go well for 10 days or so and then I feel bad again. Even on the last med, this was the case. I can't help but wonder why. It's like a cycle that continues. Could it be physical?? It's strange. Can anyone relate to this??
Posted 11/6/2014 3:43 PM (GMT 0)
Do you think maybe you need to increase the Effexor? It worked very well for me for years, but I was taking a high dose. 375mg a day... Maybe a talk with the doc would help???

Hugs, Karen...
Posted 11/6/2014 3:58 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you Karen! I am supposed to go up this week actually. Do you suffer from anxiety too?
Posted 11/6/2014 5:51 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, I do... I take Xanax for that, but going off of it. I now take pristiq and Xanax...

I am going off of the Xanax now though. I am down from 4 mg a day to 1/4 mg a day.

I hope your doctor's appointment goes well.

Hugs, Karen...
Posted 11/7/2014 2:59 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks again friends. I'm still not feeling any better unfortunately. I'm so tired of this stuff. When I was younger and had a bout, I could usually come out of it within a couple months but this has been going on since July 2013 if you can believe it! I have seen good days, great days even but I can't seem to keep them going for long. I'm worried that going off the effexor in the past has ruined the chance of it working this time around. I just feel so discouraged about this. Honestly I was feeling g soooo good last week and now I feel like I'm back at square one. I want to cry and jump out of my skin at the same time. Yesterday was tough. I felt bad even in the evening, when typically I feel better in the evenings. of course this has me worried that I'm getting g worse all of a sudden. Geez this is so hard sometimes. Thanks for listening
Posted 11/7/2014 5:34 PM (GMT 0)
be strong. keep distracting yourself. do breathing when not having an attack. this is good to. (sort of basic meditation whilst doing stuff.) less caffeine,more water-good for the brain. keep being honest with ya doc. know that we are here for you. many healing thoughts i send.
Posted 11/11/2014 11:58 AM (GMT 0)
i did good second time around on effexor. it was the most effective ad forme. just checking in tose how you are.
Posted 11/11/2014 2:05 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, you are so sweet to ask! I'm not doing well at the moment. The heavy heart and churning stomach were there when I woke. I'm trying to live with this but I'm feeling so disappointed that I was feeling good for a little and then it came on again. I am so tired too. How are you doing? I hope you're better?
Posted 11/11/2014 2:19 PM (GMT 0)
Do you do any breathing exercises or practice mindfulness? They both help when the anxiety rears it's ugly head. Anxiety can cause all kinds of things to go on. And it causes stress within us too. If you look in the resource thread at the top of the page, there are many links to books, sites and also phone numbers.

There is a site called "mindful.org" if you are interested.

I Hope that you feel better soon.

Hugs, Karen...
Posted 11/11/2014 2:42 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you Karen. I'm actually doing an exposure story at he moment. I did 8 weeks of cbt, but most of my group had social anxiety. I have no issues socially, nor do I fear places or people. I'm trying to use what I learned in class but it's somewhat difficult because my exposure is really with my thoughts rather than places, people etc.. I do try to be mindful as well. I'm sure this depression is a result of my anxiety, as it was the anxiety that came first. I'm just having a hard time living with this. I know that accepting and living beside it are keys to recovery. I've done this when I was younger and not on medication. It seems the older I get, the lower my resistance is. I'm so glad to have you all as my support. I'm very grateful for all of you. It really does help to have people around that can relate to what you're going through.
Posted 11/11/2014 4:18 PM (GMT 0)
keep fightin'. i am.
Posted 11/11/2014 5:44 PM (GMT 0)
I really believe as we get older that we are much less tolerant of things. And things seem harder, but we do get experience under our belt.

Anxiety is a tough one. Keep practicing and know that practicing is doing... It does become second nature and you wont have to fight so hard, it will come natural...

I hope you have a good day.

Jamie, I know you are always fighting hard. You lead the battle for us!!!

Hugs, Karen...
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