Letters From the Island of Anhedonia

[Brassmonkey]

I am posting this here so I will have an easy reference for telling poeple how to do a slide.

It's simple you just---

Week one drop 2.5% of previous dosage (we will call it the original dose). Multiply the amount of the original dose by .975 to get the right amount.

Week two: drop 2.5% of the original dose. Multiply the amount of the original dose by .95 to get the right amount.

Week three: drop another 2.5% of the original dose. Multiply the amount of the original dose by .925 to get the right amount.

Week four: drop another 2.5% of the original dose. Multiply the original amount by .9 to get the right amount.

Week five: use the same dose as week four.

Week six: use the same dose as week four.

Week seven: start again using the dose from week four as the original dose.

Hope that makes sence.

[Brassmonkey]

Well Saterday ended up being pretty good, was able to push through and get a lot done on my projects. The evening was okay too, the legs didn't give too much trouble and had a pretty good night.

Sunday I abused my self and payed for it. Did the harder yard work and heavier projects and ended up very sore and tired, had a little depression set in and the fuzzy head was back. Did a lot of stretching and was able to get some good sleep that I wasn't expecting, but today I am pretty dragged out, the head is definitly fuzzy and my ears are ringing noticeably. Woke up with a headache, but that has finally cleared up It's going to be a short easy week which will be nice.

Started the second week at 19mg.

[lotusflower]

Originally Posted by Brassmonkey

It's going to be a short easy week which will be nice.

Yeah, Happy 4th!! Will you have off only the 4th or the entire weekend?
Here in Southern Italy, when a holiday falls mid-week, they usually take the whole week off! I hope you allow yourself some time to relax and enjoy the fireworks.

[Brassmonkey]

Joanne-- Happy 4th to you too. We get Wed, Thur and Fri off, but only get paid for Wednesday. Like most red blooded Americam Boys I love blowing things up so the 4th is my kind a day.

[Brassmonkey]

Boy can things change quickly!! Yesterday afternoon I was fuzzy and a bit depressed. All evening I was a bit uptight and antsie with my emotions swing noticeably but not baddly. Went to bed and wam I felt GOOD. I was happy, smiling, bubbly and NO PAIN. Slept quite well all night and woke up feeling good with only a stiff back. Have been doing well all day, have a slight headache right now but it has been a busy physical day. My eyes are tired and twitchy but other than that I am doing well, great way to go into a very long weekend.

[Kay2020]

Happy 4th of July Tom! I hope you really enjoy your long weekend!

[Brassmonkey]

Had a relatively quiet 4th. fireworks are illeagle in Covina, and all the big shows are a ways away and didn't seem to last very long. Spent the day working n my Halloween projects and got a lot done, which is good because the 4th is the unofficial start of the home haunting season, the panic increases from now to the end of October. I'm feeling more ontop of it this year 'cause I'm not all numbed out emotionally, and am having a good time playing with my toys.

Holding steady on the 19mg. Emotionaly I have been a bit down during the afternoons, nothing out of the ordinary. Physically I have had good and bad days, the leg pain has been comming back at night but leaving me alone during the day. Generally sore and achy today, need to get moving around which should help. Had a happy attack the other night when going to bed and a minor one again last night. Got to bed too late and ended up not sleeping as well as I could have. Well gota get lunch and face the day.

[Brassmonkey]

Heavy yard work all day today, and it looks like I an going to pay for it. By the time I was done I was having a fun time trying to walk, legs were sooo tired aand sore. Satand watched the skunks for a while and felt a little better but I am still hurting pretty good. A little fuzzy in the head and had to watch the dizziness while working but other than that I felt good all day and loved being outside. Now to kick back for the evening, Monica is cooking her famous stirfry for dinner,can't wait.

[Brassmonkey]

The Wheel Of Life has turned, and I felt it run me over. I have been really enjoying the several days off the company made me take for the holiday, there have been emotional ups and downs all week but overall it has been great. I had a good time working on projects today and was sitting in one of the big comfy chairs on the patio watching the birds and skunks, when I looked out thru the garage and saw the sports car I build many, many years ago and "click" something changed inside my head and I said to my self "the time of the Rolls has passed" (I call the car the Rolls 'cause it Rolls down one hill and can hardly make it up the next), and it sunk in, all the crap of the past is now behind me and things will be getting better and better. It's not going to be a streight line but thats the direction I'm going. It has taken about an hour to sink in and will take even more time to sort itsself out, but something happened. And I am starting to ramble.

[kingCobra]

I hope things keep going well for you! Thanks for your help! Slower the taper the better I guess...in time we will all heal.

[Brassmonkey]

Well there has definatly been a change inside my head. I have been calmer, more focused and in the moment. A little more motivated and wanting to make some changes in my life. I hae the rest of this week on 19mg and then start another slide, I will be interested to see if the feelings are maintained.

Had a good rest of the weekend but was sorry that the vacation was over, I could use another 20 or 30 years of it. I had a good time all break and got a lot done around the house and on my projects. I did however, abuse myself greatly with yard work yesteday and am paying for it today, but not as baddly as I expected, but the yard looks a lot better for it.

[Brassmonkey]

My legs are back to being really tired and sore. having a lot of fun getting up the stairs at work again. It is embarassing when your 75 year old boss can out run you on the stairs. Other than that things are going well, having a bit of brain fog and also pretty tired, but it is 97F in the shop and that will drag anyone down. Nice thing is that I am not sweating buckets like I did last year, just a little moist so that is a definate improvement that I will keep.

[Kay2020]

I hope your symptoms vanish soon! I have been trying your tapering with the Klonopin and it works very well. Wanted to see how you were doing and thank you for the help.

[Brassmonkey]

Kay--I'm so glad the "Brassmonkey Method" is working for you that is wonderful. Hows the BMI stuff working? After holding steady for about 8 months I am starting to drop again, hit an 18 year low yesterday, ofcourse I'm back up some today but that is how my body works. Right now it's 8 more pounds to my interum goal and 18 to my final goal, we shall see how it goes.

The 19mg seems to be holding pretty well, only real problems are the physical, which I don't like but can cope with. It's mainly the legs and it comes and goes day by day. Other than that I am a little fuzzy and distracted and the heat is really bugging me, but that happens every year, atleast this time I am not pouring sweat like last year. Getting ready to start another slide this comming week, I will be interested to see what happens on weeks two and three. I don't want to think about it 'cause I dont want to jinx it. Well the shop is sitting right at 100F and I gota go play with some fiberglass.

[Brassmonkey]

Dang--two donuts and I feel light headed.

[julieannboo]

Originally Posted by Brassmonkey

Dang--two donuts and I feel light headed.

was they krispy kremes - they are dangerous!

[Brassmonkey]

Just big unidentified ones sitting on a plate in the break room. I really need to start going to DA meetings (Donuts Annonomus) I have a bigger problem there than with the alcohol, and I've been making such good progress on getting my weight down too.

Sofar things have been smooth this week, some fog, some fuzzy, some dizzy and a little pain but all manageable so it looks like I am inline to start another slide next week.

[Kay2020]

Tom, the BMI is working great, I have to buy new jeans now I have not had any WD for Klonopin since using your method and that is a big thing! I plan on sticking with this method all the way!

I hope you are feeling better.

[Brassmonkey]

Gee an excuse to go SHOPPING, thats great, I'm so glad that both the BMI and the Brassmonkey Method are working for you.

Well I started my next slide today by dropping to 18.5mg and I have been agro all day, I hope it is just the people at work being more obnoxious than usual and not the drop allready. Had a bit of a rough night last night, got to bed late and a little keyed up so had trouble getting to sleep, plus my legs decided it would be a good time to start hurting, so I was tired when I got up and then noting but problems at work all day, at least we aren't cooking like last week. I have been a little more dizzy and the ringing in my ears has increased a little too, so thei slide seems off to a good (sarcastic) start.

[rose32]

Tom,

Congrats on the halfway mark !!!!!!!!!

(((((((HUGS)))))))

I could use the DA always had a fondness for an unitentified donut any would do but I do like the maple ones.

Hope your next slide goes well.

Rose32

[Brassmonkey]

Thanks for the hugs Rose, being half way feels great.

I started a new slide this week by dropping to 18.5mg. So far So good. Yesterday was very hecktic at work so I was rather frazzed. Then today I spent the whole day in court, nothing bad just jury duty, but I have been put on a trial which will last the next several days, which I have to take off from work with no pay. It should be interesting and a total change of pace.

[Brassmonkey]

Made it through the first full day of the trial with no problems. My head stayed clear and I was focused the entire time, but I was quite tired by the end and still had to sit through an AA meeting. Had a nice headache by the time I got home, but some dinner and a shower helped that a lot. Tomorrow promices to be easier.

[tchrldy]

Such encouraging news! So happy your unique taper is working so well! You'll have to share details of the trial as it progresses so we can try to figure who done it!

aka Katie

[Brassmonkey]

Just tired and a little brain fog to end out the week. It has been pretty intense so I am glad that that is all I am experiencing. The trial was quick and clean just three days all told. Ended up that he didn't do it, it was an accident that then plaintif was trying to take advantage of. Made me feel good that the right thing happened.

Thanks for the encourgement Katie, the "Brassmonkey Method" seems to really be working for me. Maybe you should give it a try on your 5% drops.

[Timinjapan]

Tom, I'm glad you enjoyed your Perry Mason moment. I'm also glad that your slide system is taking a lot of the bumps out of your withdrawal. My method is much cruder, as I've been unable to obtain either liquid or scales here, and I guess I'm not as sensitive as some of the sufferers here. I use a razor blade on 10mg pills and I dose twice a day. At the moment, for 4mg a day, I make sure one pill lasts 2.5 days or five doses, so the dose averages out over that period. On my next drop, I'm going for 3.75mg a day. So I'll be cutting the tabs into half, half, and half again, so that I take 15mg over 4 days. But I think your method is far superior, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants a smooth ride and has access to a good scale or liquid Paxil.