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Hi. After feeling great on the protocol for about a year I have suddenly gone hugely downhill. I've just come off Effexor and I'm weak, exhausted, dizzy and feel terrible, but only for half of the month, I feel fine the other half. Also found out I have low iron. What's happening?? I can't stop crying and I feel like I can't do anything. I so want to run back to the doc and continue the Effexor but the being ok for some of the time suggests that this is not really what I need. Ay ideas?
I think you are experiencing
I think you are experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Did you inform yourself about it? Did you go off it in tiny baby steps or cold turkey?
Hi ClaireK- I'm Claire B! I
Hi ClaireK- I'm Claire B! I think there is a Claire C in treatment, too.
Anyway, I was on Effexor at one point and remember having similar experiences when I came off of it. I think Annika is right that it is withdrawl symptoms. Obviously if this has been going on for awhile, that's not the answer, but I remember being VERY emotional and dizzy and exhausted coming off that stuff.
I also remember about a year into treatment I became extremely run down and was exhausted and dizzy a lot. So maybe it's the herbs and the drugs are creating a double-whammy for you. I hope you can take it easy and rest until this phase passes. Good luck! xo
Please ask at your
Please ask at your appointment. Comming off a western med is a big deal. Did you discuss with your doctor how to do it? Also, at least with Benzodiazopines and some similar drugs, sometimes the guidelines for coming off a drug that are given by your doctor are not conservative for some people. In other words there is always a percentage of the population that needs to go slower. I hope you have told Dr. Brizman what is going on. She should be able to help or at least help explain what is happening. ALso if you are having withdrawal then your hormone cycles will effect that. Hang in there. How is your bladder holding up??
If we don't excel at health, the only other option is disease.
Effexor withdrawl symptoms:
Effexor withdrawl symptoms:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SSRI_discontinuation_syndrome#Signs_and_sym...
If we don't excel at health, the only other option is disease.
Thank you so much for the
Thank you so much for the replies (you're making me cry I'm such an emotional wreck!). I did come off the Effexor slowly, and I've been on the same dose for about 4 months (75mg) when it all seemed to 'poop out' on me. I've been coming down from 150mg since Oct 12, and had been alternating with the 75mg, and reducing very slowly. I did notice I was more tired though once I completely stopped the 150's and had a couple of days when I felt overwhelmed in Sept, again in October, and then bam this started at the beginning of December. I had a parasite when I got put on the Effexor and now I'm back to square one - have I got the parasite back, or was the Effexor propping me up for the last few years. So tempted to pop a 150mg and just stay on them forever........ Really confused. Was this just depression all along??? Would love Effexor experiences...... Xxxx
Hi ClaireK - I'm Claire C!
Hi ClaireK - I'm Claire C!
it's so funny dr. Matia always tells me she has like 5 Claire's- which is unusual. Anyway I am coming off of a six week horrible bout just like you are talking about- depressed, despair, weak, exhausted, dizzy, strange food binges like large amounts of butter, nauseous, so out of it just really bizarre. the strange thing about the depression and despair is that I was happy at the same time in fact a few times I was laughing and then started crying hysterically - which was quite scary. I also started having heart palpitations and trouble breathing. Anyway long story short...I've never been on antidepressants or drugs for IC ....so it might just be vicious die off - she also pulled me off Siberian and rhodiola. I too have been in treatment a little over a year. Hang in there!
Yes, I guess if the drugs
Yes, I guess if the drugs were sticking a plaster on it all for the last couple of years then the cracks would start to show when I started reducing it over the past year (that was Oct 2012 when i started slowing down, so really not been quick at all). I almost think that I've taken antidepressants because I feel more energetic on them. I have three kids and was running two businesses when I got sick in feb 2010. I don't know how I made it through that year - looking back it's like a nightmare. I got put on the AD's at the end of the year, but at the same time got the results of some stool tests I had done (this is all pre Dr B) and there was a parasite called blastocystis Hominis. I informed myself about this nasty and got a protocol from the Sydney Centre for infectious diseases. Blasto is a real problem in Australia. Then I started to get better in every way apart from the bladder, but i did have energy. Then I went to Matia who sorted me out in just a few months! I felt fabulous, took the kids out of school and went travelling for 7 months in 2012. So the timing of it all leaves me a bit confused. I always said to my hubby I was never sure if it was the parasite treatment or the antidepressants which got me going in the right direction although I'm certain that Matia got me to my goal. Just need to do it without the drugs! Oh for some zing and energy......
Hi Claire - I am sure Dr. B
Hi Claire - I am sure Dr. B can help sort this out! This is temporary - just look at how well you responded with your bladder! You'll get totally off the drugs when your body is ready. I'm curious about the protocol you did for blasto? I have that one as well.
Hi Claire and Claire - same
Hi Claire and Claire - same spelling too! Thanks so much for your replies - it helps so much to know you have people rooting for you! I hope this is short-lived too - seem to have one bad half and one good half of the month. Got an apt tomorrow!!!!
Notbeyonce be sure you check
Notbeyonce be sure you check with the Brizmans about parasites and mention your concern about your specific issue. They have a holistic perspective on this. Parasites take hold in the body when the gut flora is already out of balance. As the gut flora get back in balance, it makes an inhospitable environment for the parasites and they die. So most likely the Brizmans are not going to support a targeted parasite protocol because it may tip you out of balance in some other way and possibly make the IC worse. Be sure to ask them.
If we don't excel at health, the only other option is disease.
Hey Mimi - I've spoken at
Hey Mimi - I've spoken at length with the Brizmans about the parasite situation. I'm not considering taking any action right now, just curious what protocol Claire used since blastocystis is generally very difficult to get rid of.
Notbeyonce very glad you are
Notbeyonce very glad you are talking with them. What did they say? The thing about the "data" or whatever on parasite treatment is that this is not studied in TCM to my knowledge, nor is candida managment. ICAMA uses approaches to candida management that are totally outside the scope of a western understanding of it and are successful. Hopefully they have responded to you questions. Would love to know what they said at lenght to you? (at least a summary LOL)
If we don't excel at health, the only other option is disease.