light sensitivity, tiredness

[anjillian]

I've noticed the tiredness comes suddenly on certain days even with a full night sleep. Also sensitivity to light where i feel i need my sunglasses (workplace).. not outdoors. Usually happen together with muscle weakness, sluggishness.

Anyone have experience or understand what is causing this unexpected exhaustion, muscle weakness, light sensitivity. Is this just part of withdrawl?

Seems odd since some days i am full of energy. It's all so unpredictable.

Anything that can help?

[commish]

The most consistant thing is the inconsistancy. But light sensativity is a biggy. You can pretty much chalk it up to withdrawl.

[anjillian]

The inconsistency makes me feel like some days I am "normal".......some days i am NOT AT ALL! It's so frustrating because there is nothing that really helps. It does get better when i get home for some bizarre reason.

My question is if this stops when off paxil completely.

The tiredness is not a normal one. Every test from dr.'s has come back ok. When these days hit, i feel like i need to leave my job and stay home.

The light sensitivity is pretty hard to deal with. I have to look customers in the eye and my eyes hurt so badly sometimes from the lighting.

I'm just trying to figure out what to do. I can't take this much longer

thanks

[pax80]

magnesium chloride and fish oils worked great for eye issues...

[anjillian]

Thanks..

[DUTCHY]

Yep, can relate to that one......it's common for being in WD. Sorry Anjillian, I'm almost 6 months off Paxil and still have my dry en sensitive eyes every now and than! Also I can still feel extremely exhausted sometimes while I did nothing special that day....
the reason? I wouldn't know, for me it's just a part of the whole "getting off Paxil" race. I do take 400gr.chelated Magnesium (Carlson) a day, the Fish oil made me too speedy, I skipped that one....

Commish said it all perfectly in his reply:
"The most consistant thing is the inconsistancy" (Wow! Respect! )

Thank you Commish and good luck to you Anjillian

[Cayte]

Ooh no. I'm afraid it doesn't stop when off Paxil, although I guess everybody is different.
Light sensitivity is a biggy with me still, and is a particular nuisance when driving.
Also, sometimes, noise sensitivity is a problem too....or am I just one big softee?? lol
I think you do learn to adapt and, hopefully, with time and techniques of relaxation in place this may abate??

[Cayte]

...yes I find the chelated magnesium slightly more effective and easier to take too.

[scotty]

Withdrawal is predictably unpredictable! The light sensitivity is very, very common in withdrawal.

[anjillian]

Thank you

[anjillian]

WHat about the exhaustion part. I get it suddenly, approx 1x a week and it is so severe at times it's scary.

[eileen]

Jill, I haven't had muscle weakness in about a month. I have a slight light sensitivity at times and have to turn off computer or not look at TV.
I did get a slight muscle spasm in my back this morning while running around in the spilling down, cold rain, trying to get all of my shopping done.
It's not too bad now as I put the heating pad on it.
I'm a firm believer in healing and I am feeling better.
Eileen

[AussieGirl]

I can so relate to this.

havent posted for a couple of weeks ( Just read the posts) but now know I need to be posting regularly. The unpredictability of the W/d is hard. I felt i was doing so well for a couple of weeks there. Felt so alive and energised and optimistic.

The last week or so been getting a variety of symptoms. Increasing anxiety; headache; nausea; light senstivity; night sweats; feelings of unreality and that is to name but a few?

i am soooo determined to just ride this out and not increase the meds which is what i have done in hte past.

[anjillian]

Eileen,
Do you feel better since being off, as opposed to a small dosage? At times i wonder if it's the small dosage that's causing this feeling. I guess i'm really confused. Just want to feel normal again.

Jill

[anjillian]

Yes, keep hanging in there. For me, it was an adjustment every taper but i got used to the taper and could live with it.

The symptoms come and go and you get used to dealing with them and functioning with them. Just go really slow and you will be fine.

[eileen]

Originally Posted by anjillian

Eileen,
Do you feel better since being off, as opposed to a small dosage? At times i wonder if it's the small dosage that's causing this feeling. I guess i'm really confused. Just want to feel normal again.

Jill

Jill, I do feel better and it's amazing. The nausea since months has almost disappeared the day I stopped taking the Poison. My doctor and I had a discussion about it and he asked me why I was waiting another week to stop it.
When he heard I was afraid of getting sicker,he told me that it might be psychological. LOL Was I angry! It did stop but I often found that cutting my dose made me feel a bit better.
The small amount of drug I was taking might have been making me sick. Who knows but for now I'm feeling better.
Take your time Jill and I really would look into compounded medication to get you off the last couple of mgs.
My busy season with my bed and breakfast is now over and I think that helps. I have more time to do other things. Good Luck!
Eileen

[Cayte]

Hi anj..are you feeling any better?

[anjillian]

I"m glad the nausea ended for you. That's great! I also think alot is psychological, but alot of times i feel it physically. I cut my dose a drop today because i'm just tired of this. It could be i just need to get off and end things to feel better and start healing.

I'm also glad you have time to yourself now which will probably be very beneficial. I may have to rethink my job choice. It is very stressful and may not be a great choice. Like sometimes i think i want a month or two to just rest and not deal with all the stress and people.

I think i've been dealing with this for too long now, all the symptoms and just am dying to be me again, normal with a normal energy level. To wake up with energy like once and not have to take a pill at all in the morning.

I guess as the saying goes "when there's a will, there's a way". When you set your mind on something until you succeed.

Feel good and stay strong!

Jill

[anjillian]

Yes hon, i cut my dose a drop more today. It's Saturday so i have time to myself. I always feel better when i'm home and relaxing. Work is just so stressful! I also keep the house dimly lit so no prob with light sensitivity.

thanks for asking about me
Jill

[Cayte]

Jill?
Yes re the job situation. I don't know what you do, but I found it increasingly difficult coping with the stresses of my teaching job and the protracted withdrawal.

[anjillian]

I contemplate leaving so i can get off completely and get well. The job is a sales rep with alot of pressure to sell, annoying people, bright lights and although i've gotton used to this "overload" for the entire time of w/d, I feel it not so healthy for me, since my problem prior to paxil was anxiety and panic.

At first it was challenging and i thought by throwing myself into the water, i could become stronger. I thought i was facing the fear and yes, it did help me. But the extreme of the pressure and all the things that once spun me into a major panic attack. Well, am just not sure i could tackle that when totally off paxil.

I don't have alot of options because i need the job/money... even it doesn't pay so great anyway.

[eileen]

Jill, I think you must still be somewhere aroung 2 mg? I couldn't have went off at that high a dose. I don't know about what my doctor said to be. We are the people that swallowed it and went through the horrific side effects and they want to believe the drug reps. After all how can doctors be wrong?
Eileen

[anjillian]

i'm a bit less than 2 right now. I'm cutting the pills. I had a dr. who once told me to get off in one week. Can u imagine that? Maybe that would work for someone with a maid and nanny who didn't have to work. They don't have personal experience with the drugs, just book knowledge.

I've been without a dr. for about two years already. I found i know myself better and just don't trust them anymore.

Am doing well with this cut so far, wonder what will be like tomorrow at work.. hmmm

[Cayte]

It's a difficult one re work...you have to weigh up whether it's better to be kept really busy (and possibly feeling crap), or having more time to heal...but on the other hand possibly too much time to think, and also of course having no money coming in......hmmmm..

[anjillian]

yes, i contemplate all the time the pro's and con's of working/not working. i think it's a catch 22. Too much time on your hands or wired out stimulation to your nerves. Being alone as opposed to all the pressure/socializing at work etc. I do need the money so i will hang in there. I just need ways to rest when i'm feeling overwired from this very competitive and physically demanding job i have.

Just very hard to ignore my needs right now which are to be alone, sleep when i need to and have time to take care of myself.