I went to the Dr.'s again

[maui]

Hello,
I can't stand what paxil has done to me, and so many people.
Well This 9 month mark has been awful...Here are my symptoms for the past 2 1/2 weeks...A couple of times I got rerally dizzy..I even woke up in the middle of the night dizzy..Some nausea..Loss of appetite..Fatigue...Anxiety out of control...tingling in in my hands feet/toes..I also had some under my lip area..very strange..Random burnig sensatons..This is very strange,,has anyone had this? Cool sensations as well, almost like my clothes are wet in that area..I must should like a crazy person...
So anyway I went to the Dr. this week..all my blood work came back fine..I'm getting an MRI on Saturday..I am scared there is something seriously wwrong with me..I can't believe this is w/d? 9 months later..I keep thinking I have ms..these are all the signs..Anyway..sorry this is so long, but nobody else understands what I'm going through..Now I'm panicking about my MRI...Well what do you guys think? Nicole

[Scott]

i've had all of that.. all my bloodwork came back normal too. My doctor looked at me like i was from another planet. Noone really understands unless they've actually gone through it.

[maui]

My Dr. told me she thought the MRI wasn't necessary..I told her I absolutely needed it..I can't keep having these thoughts of diseases, tumors etc. running through my head..

[Johnnny off Paxil]

Sorry to say this Dear..but 9 months off is not a whole lot..... 18 months is the minimum to begin stage 2..your very much in the early part of withdrawal.....many things have to heal because of your exposure to SSRI's.

No they won't find anything I assure you and NO you don't have any "diseases"..this is all withdrawal.

Its the doctors "who don't believe"..because they remain or want to remain ignorant about AD's..they understand nothing about withdrawal..unless they've gone through it themselves..then they know.

If doctors want to prescribe AD's..the prerequisite is that they take it themselves for at least 6 months and follow their own "program"..that would quickly close down the AD's..I tell you.

Hang in there..it will get better in time...when you can..try to get some walks in

Regards, Johnny

[FreazyTek]

Hèhè,i'm having the exact same thing maui.i went to the doc yesterday and he totally denied it was from the AD that i'm suffering now.its been 9 months now since my bad reaction and here's my symptoms
-head thats like burning up and numb
-parts of my face starts out numb
-my eyes hurt
-my limbs hurt now
-i have like a lump in my throat

He drew some blood to get a total blodwork to c whats going on
I allready had a CT-scan but they didnt see a thing
I'm going to do a PET-scan if my bloodwork turns out ok

Will our symptoms resolve eventually you guys think??
And how come we're getting these verry strange sensations?
The CNS that is shoock up?

[pax80]

i'm not in a nice place at 16months off, but that period 6-9 was very cruel... it started to improve 1 year off...

[texgirl]

Originally Posted by Johnnny off Paxil

Sorry to say this Dear..but 9 months off is not a whole lot..... 18 months is the minimum to begin stage 2..your very much in the early part of withdrawal.....many things have to heal because of your exposure to SSRI's.

The 18-month timeline is not set in stone by any means, and I really wish, with all due respect, that Johnny would quit saying this. What you're going through, Maui, is absolutely withdrawal. The MRI will show nothing. Many here have been through this, running to the doc for tests for heart, blood, neuro, etc., and I don't know of a single person whose results came back anything but normal. Do it if it will give you peace of mind, but rest assured that what you're going through (including the fear that you have a disease or serious illness) is extremely common and has been experienced by hundreds if not thousands before you. While I know it may seem unbearable now, try to remain calm and remind yourself that, even though you feel awful, in fact what you're experiencing is your brain and body healing. You might not feel significantly better for months, but you could feel great tomorrow. Not everybody has severe symptoms for months and months. Relax and hope for the best!

[Samalabear]

Originally Posted by paxisnt4ever

i'm not in a nice place at 16months off, but that period 6-9 was very cruel... it started to improve 1 year off...

I'm still not in a great place 20 months off, either, but I know I'm moving forward and compared to that 6-9 month period, I am much better. I got very close to going to my doctor during this time, too. In fact I made the appointment and then canceled. I just simply couldn't face her because she was my only choice and she's the one who helped "sell" Paxil to me. I had all the feelings you had and a lot more. I came here a lot and I tried not to think too hard about what I was feeling physically. Plus, had I gone to my doc, who knows what kind of drug cocktail she might have talked me into -- go back on Norvasc, take a statin, Buspar, Lexapro. I would have hoped my better sense would have said no, but it was a very, very difficult time. Today I am very happy I left well enough alone and gained enough faith that I would get through this with prayers and a good diet and the support of the good people here.

BTW, I really did hope that at the 18-month mark that I would be on top of the world. Well, it didn't happen. But I hurt my brain a lot by CT alone. In the last few weeks I've come to realize through other postings how long it takes for the brain to heal. The good news is that it's not stagnant. If you keep moving forward you will heal.

But I did end up in the ER one day in August with a major anxiety attack that felt like a stroke. Six hours later, a lot of tests and a nice $2,800 bill nothing was found heart-wise or a few other areas. Their solution: Xanax. After two days of a very small amount of Xanax I knew I couldn't take this drug, either. Severe rebound anxiety and strong suicidal urges. No thank you. And I could tell the docs were having a hard time believing that my problems were due to Paxil WD after such a long time. I also felt a bit patronized, like let's placate the crazy lady. You know, we don't need this kind of thing during WD. It really makes it worse.

[Katesmom]

The ninth month mark is a very common time for a w/d wave to hit. It happens over and over again. Please don't panic, even if there are new symptoms. I had new symptoms with some old every time I had a wave hit. This is what paxil w/d is, so please give yourself a break. The fact that it started 2 1/2 weeks ago should be a major flashing lightbulb that it will come, but it will go again too, just as suddenly as it came. Try to be patient with it.

[maui]

Thanks for all your posts..It makes me feel better to hear that people had/have the same issues..Oh ya, when I went to my dr.'s app. she wanted to know if I wanted to go on another AD...I said no, I said to her my biggest problem is the anxiety, and I'm going to try to work on that myself..w/out drugs..I said plus look what happened to me w/ paxil..she said well there are others ..I said no thanks.She probally just wants me to stop coming in the office..

[scotty]

Originally Posted by texgirl

The 18-month timeline is not set in stone by any means,

Withdrawal is very individual. While we have discovered some consistent points of increased symptoms, it is far from a timeline. Everyone is different, everyone reacts differently. Predictably unpredictable.

[Johnnny off Paxil]

Originally Posted by texgirl

The 18-month timeline is not set in stone by any means, and I really wish, with all due respect, that Johnny would quit saying this. What you're going through, Maui, is absolutely withdrawal. The MRI will show nothing. Many here have been through this, running to the doc for tests for heart, blood, neuro, etc., and I don't know of a single person whose results came back anything but normal. Do it if it will give you peace of mind, but rest assured that what you're going through (including the fear that you have a disease or serious illness) is extremely common and has been experienced by hundreds if not thousands before you. While I know it may seem unbearable now, try to remain calm and remind yourself that, even though you feel awful, in fact what you're experiencing is your brain and body healing. You might not feel significantly better for months, but you could feel great tomorrow. Not everybody has severe symptoms for months and months. Relax and hope for the best!

Sure I'll stop saying this....when there is proof that this is otherwise untrue...from what I've have seen and experienced..... I don't it it being disproved or untrue..but simply a nice way of being politically correct....but why not give people the unvarnished truth..that way you don't have any false expectations ......
I have yet to see one person on this forum where everything was honky dory after even 1 year or 14 months..or 16 months.....
Lastly as Laurie quite aptly says..whats predictable about withdrawal is that its unpredictable.

Regards, Johnny

[scotty]

Originally Posted by Johnnny off Paxil

Sure I'll stop saying this....when there is proof that this is otherwise untrue...from what I've have seen and experienced..... I don't it it being disproved or untrue..but simply a nice way of being politically correct....but why not give people the unvarnished truth..that way you don't have any false expectations ......
I have yet to see one person on this forum where everything was honky dory after even 1 year or 14 months..or 16 months.....
Lastly as Laurie quite aptly says..whats predictable about withdrawal is that its unpredictable.

Regards, Johnny

Some have done quite well at a year, others take 3 years, some have no withdrawal at all. To put a specific timeline based on one persons experience isn't accurate, that's all Tex was saying.

[lola76]

Maui, I went through the same thing with a Dr. I used to go to. I started crying during the consult. I told her I was tired of the medicine and the way I felt. She gave me a load of cr*p. She stated that I had an illness and compared it to being diabetic. If I wanted to feel better I needed to take some sort of AD to feel better. This really made me so furious. What the h**l is was this idiot doctor thinking. I felt like telling her to put the AD meds up her A**. I was too emotionally drained at the time to even argue with her. These doctors all they want to do is give you drugs for every sort of ailment. When it comes to w/d, unfortunately, we have to be our own doctors and try to figure out what works for us and what doesn't. I hope that you will soon start feeling better. One day we will be completely free from this Paxil prison!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Johnnny off Paxil]

Originally Posted by scotty

Some have done quite well at a year, others take 3 years, some have no withdrawal at all. To put a specific timeline based on one persons experience isn't accurate, that's all Tex was saying.

Ok...some have no withdrawal at all..wow..this is why doctors think we're "psyche cases"....according to them thats whats supposed to happen.
I can see why people get angry and frustrated at them.

Yes there is NO specific timeline..agreed....but........... I stand by what I said..9 months is still too early and yes wouldn't it be chump if it was all gone and cleared up next week..but then if it doesn't happen then our will to go on and on and on with withdrawal gets zapped...you get worn down..

Regards, Johnny

[scotty]

I agree that 9 months is a "classic" bad period. Yup, 30% of those on ssri's have no withdrawal at all. My next door neighbor is the perfect example. On zoloft for over a year, stopped cold turkey, never a withdrawal symptom.

[scotty]

I would love to know how many millions of dollars have been spent on withdrawal related symptoms. It's got to be staggering.

[darcyb]

Originally Posted by Johnnny off Paxil

I have yet to see one person on this forum where everything was honky dory after even 1 year or 14 months..or 16 months.....

Define honky dory? My physical withdrawal symptoms (nausea, dizziness, bowel distress, zaps, lethargy) were pretty much gone a year later, minus a few anxiety flare ups and difficulty with short term memory.

Advice for anyone in withdrawal:

Hope for the best, but live in the moment, while avoiding predictions. Let go of ALL expectations and just live the best you can. Let reality show you what's true, not your imagination. If you want to battle the REAL addiction in your mind, it's the desire to conceive the future.

[Johnnny off Paxil]

Originally Posted by scotty

I would love to know how many millions of dollars have been spent on withdrawal related symptoms. It's got to be staggering.

Yeah.. and then if you brought this up as an "economic issue"..I think that would be a good angle to take it from.

Regards, Johnny

[Johnnny off Paxil]

Originally Posted by darcyb

Define honky dory? My physical withdrawal symptoms (nausea, dizziness, bowel distress, zaps, lethargy) were pretty much gone a year later, minus a few anxiety flare ups and difficulty with short term memory.

Advice for anyone in withdrawal:

Hope for the best, but live in the moment, while avoiding predictions. Let go of ALL expectations and just live the best you can. Let reality show you what's true, not your imagination. If you want to battle the REAL addiction in your mind, it's the desire to conceive the future.

I agree..be like a Masai Warrior..live in the moment..thats all there is is right now....

Regards, Johnny

[Samalabear]

Originally Posted by Johnnny off Paxil

Yeah.. and then if you brought this up as an "economic issue"..I think that would be a good angle to take it from.
Regards, Johnny

The Business Week article in the Lipitor/statin issue brings this up -- the cost of the drugs first, the uselessness of them, and then the cost of care from the side effects. It is staggering. Look at how health care costs have risen since all these wonder drugs of all ilks came on the market? Late 80s maybe? Don't want to take away from this thread, but that article made this connection.

And think of it: Paxil was only the third of the SSRIs when it came out. Now the number of SSRIs is also staggering. I can barely keep track of them anymore.

[imokay]

Originally Posted by maui

Thanks for all your posts..It makes me feel better to hear that people had/have the same issues..Oh ya, when I went to my dr.'s app. she wanted to know if I wanted to go on another AD...I said no, I said to her my biggest problem is the anxiety, and I'm going to try to work on that myself..w/out drugs..I said plus look what happened to me w/ paxil..she said well there are others ..I said no thanks.She probally just wants me to stop coming in the office..

Your Dr isnt on West St in Milford is she? I went to the neurologist in Hopedale last year because I thought I had MS. He didnt do an MRI but he said I definitely didnt have it. But if having an MRI will make you feel better then GO FOR IT!! Then it will be one less thing to worry about. I hope when you do go they dont give you an appointment at midnight like they did when my neighbor had to go. (I assume to are going to MWRH?)

[maui]

Originally Posted by iluvmykids

Your Dr isnt on West St in Milford is she? I went to the neurologist in Hopedale last year because I thought I had MS. He didnt do an MRI but he said I definitely didnt have it. But if having an MRI will make you feel better then GO FOR IT!! Then it will be one less thing to worry about. I hope when you do go they dont give you an appointment at midnight like they did when my neighbor had to go. (I assume to are going to MWRH?)

My pc is in Southboro, she used to be in Milford on Fortune Blvd.
She told me the MRI wasn't necessary but I need it to ease my mind..So I'm going tomorrow At 5pm, in worcester umass MRI..

[Amaya's Nana]

Originally Posted by darcyb

Define honky dory? My physical withdrawal symptoms (nausea, dizziness, bowel distress, zaps, lethargy) were pretty much gone a year later, minus a few anxiety flare ups and difficulty with short term memory.

Advice for anyone in withdrawal:

Hope for the best, but live in the moment, while avoiding predictions. Let go of ALL expectations and just live the best you can. Let reality show you what's true, not your imagination. If you want to battle the REAL addiction in your mind, it's the desire to conceive the future.

Darcy - always the voice of reason!!!! And for the record, at the 10th month after my last dose, I came out of the darkness like someone had switched on a light. The hellride was over!!!! Had a few glitches for a couple of more months but they were no big deal. So, I was recovered before the 12-month mark after 9 years' of Paxil use.

Maui - good for you for getting things checked out just to give you some peace of mind. I'll bet you dollars to donuts though, that it comes back clean as a whistle and this is nothing but that crappy 9-month wave. Hang in there. I promise, things do get better.

[maui]

Originally Posted by Amaya's Nana

Darcy - always the voice of reason!!!! And for the record, at the 10th month after my last dose, I came out of the darkness like someone had switched on a light. The hellride was over!!!! Had a few glitches for a couple of more months but they were no big deal. So, I was recovered before the 12-month mark after 9 years' of Paxil use.

Maui - good for you for getting things checked out just to give you some peace of mind. I'll bet you dollars to donuts though, that it comes back clean as a whistle and this is nothing but that crappy 9-month wave. Hang in there. I promise, things do get better.

Thanks, I hope everything comes back normal too, I just want my life back..All of the neuro symptoms really scare me..so I just want to make sure before I blame it all on Paxil..