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and...*Angels Grayce, KonaKitty, and Sylvester* always loved, never forgotten




Sunday, December 22, 2013

The State of the Sheeb

Friends and Kitties!


Sheebie here.

Time for a happy Tale of Woe!

 After four months, I've finally weaned myself off of the antidepressant Effexor, which is one of the toughest ones to stop, and it was pretty serendipitous how it shook down.  In September Scott went to Pain Management for his shoulder issues (a total fiasco; the doc was the most arrogant POS I've ever met) which resulted in a revisit to his Primary Care Physician for a re-up for his usual (and effective) pain meds.  At that consult the doctor did not want to write a scrip for the same-old same-old and instead prescribed something new...something Scott wasn't adverse to, he's always open to seeing if something is more effective for his chronic pain.  However, after doing some research I discovered that one of the new prescriptions was contraindicated with a psych med that he takes.  He elected to ramp down off the Prozac and try the painkiller (tramadol)--they are both SSRI's so it was a safe substitution; just not good to take both concurrently.  (btw--we've switched PCP's--I take umbrage with medical stupidity)  So.  Scott had extra Prozac and I wanted to quit taking Effexor--it was time.  

Let me digress.  I started taking the Effexor ten years ago at a low dose for depression and also for the nice side effect that it can reduce hot flashes, something I'd been having since my late 30's.  No problem; I felt good mentally and the hot flashes did mitigate.  A few years later I had some major mental stressors and had my dose raised which helped me tremendously at the time...but venlafaxine (generic) has an extremely short half-life and if you're on a higher dose and don't take it on a rigid schedule you are screwed--dry mouth, shakiness, blurred vision, and, worse of all, the sensation of electric jolts in the brain.  Not just unpleasant, you truly can't function until you get some more in your system.  Nice, right?  Just like a junkie.  The trick to quitting is to start taking something with a nice long half-life, like Prozac, for about a month--which I did--and then sloooowly cut back on the venlafaxine, along with large amounts of fish oil.  I was taking 75 mg twice daily so the first round (two weeks) I only took half my evening dose so I would sleep through the worst of the side effects, and even that was pretty horrendous.  But it got worse...I cut the morning dose back the second two weeks and I thought I was gonna die, the brain zaps were that terrible. Fortunately I timed it so I was on vacation and I didn't have to go to work because I would have made mistakes, my concentration was so poor.  I was feeling better after a week but I decided to hold steady for a month before I cut the evening dose in half again and this one was easier, so I reduced the morning dose by half in another two weeks and the side effects for that go-round were much more bearable too, I was just really irritable and sensitive to noise, etc.  (Almost like my usual crankiness!)

I eventually got it licked, and I'm happy to report that I'm now Effexor-free, for the first time in years.  I'm taking Scott's Prozac (for now) and I'm going to wean off that as well, over the next couple months, to see how well I do without any anti-depressants.  Don't worry--if I start feeling squirrely I have absolutely no qualms whatsoever about starting back up again--I've been down that rabbit hole before and don't intend on visiting it again, ever.  But right now I'm in a really good place mentally, and my OB/GYN started me on an estrogen replacement patch three weeks ago (which should also act as a "boost") so I'm curious; how will I feel, "plain"?  

They say it's an ill wind that doesn't blow some good, and that's what I view Scott's crappy visit to Pain Management as--the storm that allowed me to get out from under my addiction.  Because that's what it was, albeit medically enabled sanctioned.

And Scott?  The new meds didn't help significantly so he's back to the same one he was taking before all this hoohah, and they work just fine.  Funny how life goes, sometimes.


Happy Sunday!

XX  Sheebie  XX

42 comments:

  1. Omg how awful! I'm shocked to hear how awful this must have been! Sending virtual (pathetically useless) hugs.

    Stacy

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  2. I hate doctors sometimes. If something works why mess with it - re: Scott's meds.

    Glad you are doing OK. Dependence on a medication that provides a necessary benefit should not be looked down upon by doctors or anyone. Says the woman on narcotics for pain....the current atmosphere makes those of us on them feel like criminals and it is wrong.

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  3. Paws crossed for a drug-and-depression-free 2014!

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  4. BTW, I consider estrogen a hormone, not a drug. ;-)

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  5. Well, the Human grew up in the '60's so she's a fan of drugs of all types, heh heh. However, the ones she takes now have no entertainment value at all, more's the pity. LOVE your bedroom!

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  6. Whoa, the head peep says she wasn't aware that weaning off of Effexor was so tough You're a tough cookie, Sheeb. High paw to you.

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  7. We say good for you! Sounds like it was a rough one but you made it thru it. Meowm says she takes zoloft. She has taken others in the past, and had weaned herself down to only a few a week, then gave them up all together. But then she started seeing things, no patience or tolerance for anything and then too much crying...so she went back on them. Now if she misses too many doese, she can actually feel a fuzziness in her brain...strange but true.Good luck getting off the prozac and staying off.

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  8. Woohoo you! Kicking to the curb, Sheebie-style!

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  9. I've yet to be impressed with any GP...or vet for that matter.

    I remember talking about the side effects of Citalopram, when I was on it for the second time and the resident du jour (I'm at our teaching clinic, the only one at the time that had any openings for patients) went off to discuss with the overseeing dr., came back and told me there wasn't any evidence for those side effects. Idiot. All normal side effects MANY get, btw.

    So good for you, and fingers (and paws) crossed going forward, Trish.

    There's a site called crazymeds -- have you seen it?

    http://www.crazymeds.us/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HomePage

    "Finding the Treatment Options That Suck Less." :-D

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  10. YOu've probably heard this before but its worth a mention. I suffered from depression and sometimes spent all day in bed with lethargy but since leaving of the wheat and gluten I am feeling sooooo much better and haven't had a day in bed for months. Its a bummer but there are alternatives and its worth it for me to feel human again.
    Thanks so much or your absolutely brilliant posts throughout the year,the lounge is my first blog visit everyday and I was thrilled to see Scotts top covered in fur, it made me feel better to know that others walk around with fur coats on. lol
    Briony
    x

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  11. Oh Trish, what a journey you have both been on and you have been on one that is very much filled with turns, switch-backs and mountains. I hope so much that things will get to where they need to be and SHOULD be for you. And as for Scott, I am grateful he has something that works and I might mention that you are the third person to say that PMC are the pits pits pits. One had a dear friend of mine in tears with their attitude and actions. Se begged her Dr. to she that she didn't have to deal with that person so lacking in compassion and human kindness again.

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  12. Good for you to get off those drugs. Sure hope you do all right without them. Good work Sheebie. Take care.

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  13. That sounds like a great way to end 2013 and to start 2014!

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  14. We hope this new situation works better for you. You've suffered a lot... you deserve an end to all that, as much as you can get.

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  15. Good for you - and isn't it astonishing, the idiocy one runs into in a dr office sometimes!? By the way, i saw thus Instagram post amd thought "It's Salem's color-opposite!!": http://instagram.com/p/iOgImXED_8/

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  16. Good for you - and isn't it astonishing, the idiocy one runs into in a dr office sometimes!? By the way, i saw thus Instagram post amd thought "It's Salem's color-opposite!!": http://instagram.com/p/iOgImXED_8/

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  17. ugh...what a mess! I hope the coming year gets this all straightened out...for both of you. Doctors and medications are evil have-to's.

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  18. You're doin' it! You've got yourself off the worst the drugs and, I believe, that's quite an accomplishment. One of which you should be very proud. You are on your way to recovery, for sure.

    Purrs,
    Nissy

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  19. Hope things work out... Personally I've always believed in the plain approach...

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  20. Mom says that you are very brave to share your problems and medication decisions. She also says no one would want to her about all of her medical "stuff." She is especially sorry that Scott's pain management doc couldn't help him. Mom goes once a month for acupuncture, which she says has saved her life. It is by no means a cure all and she still has pain all the time, but the severity is so much less. She still takes pain meds, but since she can't take any of the opiates, she needed something additional. Good luck getting the right solutions for yourself. MEOWY CATMESS! MOL, HO, HO, HO! Purrs and hugs, Lily Olivia, Mauricio, Misty May, Giulietta, Fiona, Astrid, Lisbeth and Calista Jo

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  21. Wow! I've gone off my Prozac a few times to see if I could go without it (I can't) but I never had those kind of symptoms. So glad about that! Glad you are doing better!

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  22. Good for you Sheebie!! We are so proud of you and here's to 2014 and I am glad Scott is doing better!

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  23. We purr things keep going well for you and Scott too :)
    Purrs Georgia and Julie,
    Treasure,Tiger and JJ
    and Angel Tillie

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  24. Good for you weaning yourself off the Effexor. It sounds like it was a tough journey and I admire you for getting there.

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  25. Good for you! Getting off some of the meds our Drs give us can be a long, hard process.

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  26. Good on you for getting yourself off this med. The side effects of lowering the dosage sound awful, I think I would have given in!

    Good luck finding a decent physician. I've been without a family doctor for years, since my former doctor retired. I still haven't found one I trust or that stays long enough to build up any kind of rapport. Thankfully I don't have to see them very often.

    Have a great week!

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  27. You've sure been through a lot but glad you're at a better place now! Bet the hiking in nature helps a lot too!

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  28. Ahh yes meds! M has had plenty of problems with those when she was being treated for Parkinson's. They can do wonders for you, but they can also make matters worse. Good luck.

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  29. Glad you're off those - they sound scary! PS - We like our PCP so if you still need one and we still have the same insurance let me know.

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  30. Yay for figuring out for yourself what works best. Madi and I send your Chrisymas hugs
    Madi and Mom

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  31. Good for you, Trish, for sticking to it and getting off the med. So many others would have caved in not wanting to deal with the effects. I hope this works out for you.

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  32. Drugs - sometimes so good and sometimes so bad! Wishing you and all the kitties a most wonderful joyful Christmas my friend!
    xo Catherine

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  33. Kudos Trish! Really!!!

    I cannot agree more about some medical professionals. In fact they are so unprofessional! My own GP, who is one of the good'uns, had a detached retina recently and he was treated abominably in our local hospital. Was told nothing and was not properly informed of his after care. He was in despair. And if the medics can't look after their own, what hope is there for the rest of us? Our free-at-the-point-of-use health service is in meltdown!

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  34. Good job getting yourself off the drug and to feeling and doing better. That had to have been no fun at all and certainly not easy but you did it!!! Bravo my sweet friend. We are hoping you and Scott both will have wonderful, happy and pain free days ahead. Sending big warm hugs your way!

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  35. Big hugs to both you humans from our gang over here -- what a saga you tell! Wanting to support you and Scott on your medical travails -- are you aware of Dr. Paul Christo out of Johns Hopkins? He's one of the very few MDs knowledgeable about options to treat pain. He has a radio show and a huge archive of interviews he's done with various pain-management experts -- check it out at the link below. Maybe there's something in there for you guys. We certainly hope so! Our very best for the holidays and new year, to all of you Loungers. http://www.paulchristomd.com/radio-show-2/

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  36. Yes the Effexor is evil to get off of with the brain zaps...thank God you are through that hellish journey and out the other side and feeling better. Yay for serendipity!

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  37. Drugs - sometimes so good and sometimes so bad!
    My dad-person too have had problems with doc´s that have wrote a scrip for a new medicine and when my dad-person check´s it shall NOT be combined with Tramadol *sigh*

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  38. I tried Effexor a while ago, and I had the worst time getting on it (same side effects as weaning) and it was not helpful, so we increased the dose several times and still not helpful so we had to wean down off it.. it was miserable..

    I read a book "the mood cure' and found it very helpful. I take sam-e and tryptophan now and find it much much more effective

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  39. Glad things seem to working out, sans Effexor! Those pysch drugs can be so helpful, but OH so many potential side effects!! Hope things continue to go well!

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  40. I've been on Wellbutrin for years and have often thought of weaning off to see what my normal is now. I don't know if that is wise or not. I would do it under my docs supervision though. But my doc ofc 20 years just retired. So it would be a new doc and she recommended one who would be a good fit for me but I just don't know. I tell ya, nothing helps me this time of year with the darkness though. Lynne

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  41. Wow, what a painful journey. Here's hoping 2014 is a better year for you and Scott [health-wise]!

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  42. I loved that you mentioned fish oil! I've been on and off prozac and started taking 1000mg a day and I feel more like myself than I had in years!

    If you haven't check out the book "Depression Cure". Might not be a cure but it's helped me tons!

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Oh Boy...this is gonna be GREAT!