1908 replies to this topic

[fishinghat]

2mg a day of ativan isn't too bad. It is a more addictive and worse withdrawal than clonazepam. Anyway, the same technique applies. The first signs of withdrawal is intestinal bloating, pain, foul gas. This lasts about 4 or 5 days. There is usually 2 or 3 days of agitation after that. I have often used Ativan in tight spots and withdrawan from it 3 times. I can usually drop 5% +/- every 14 days with little or no problem. Of course you will have to find your own comfort zone.

[clearglass]

Good Morning All,  I feel so blessed: family, friends, forum, and the list goes on.  Praying a better day for everyone .

Time to make breakfast,

clearglass

[xman]

Goodmorning to Clearglass and all! Hope everyone is well and feeling positive about what the future holds!  Or hopeful.

[Wagtail]

Good morning everyone, it's a rainy day down under but still beautiful.

Hopefully we will all have the strength to endure another day of s/e's, & be able to cross another day off our calendar towards a soon to be good recovery .

The positive is, that we all have fishinghat & other great informed members, Fivenotions , Thismoment , Carleeta etc .. To guide us through . :-))

[FiveNotions]

Hi all, here's my positive for today.... I'm looking into a change of careers....being a librarian isn't feasible for me any longer, as in order to re-enter that workforce I'd need to significantly enhance my library science-specific technology skills....which I've learned would cost me thousands of dollars, which I do not have and refuse to borrow

......also, being an old fart makes me far far less marketable...it's a young person's world.... So, I'm considering getting trained for something in the healthcare field at our local community college....they have a number of certificate programs related to "gerontology" ..... Essentially, I'd be an old fart helping other old farts.... And amazingly, there are lots of jobs, and being an old fart isn't much of a hindrance....

Long story longer....this afternoon I went to take the required verbal and math "skills assessment test" ..... Yes, I passed, with a high score....that's a Positive!

But, the math portion was very very difficult for me....and showed me just how much of a "hit" I've taken in my cognitive functions thanks to cymbalta and withdrawal.... Or maybe it's just age...or a combination.... But it was a real shocker....

I must have looked somewhat "stricken," as the exam proctor...an assistant prof about my age....leaned over and whispered in my ear, "just relax, you'll do fine".... Another Positive....

I almost started weeping....at how much I've lost...and at his kindness....

I am determined to make the most and best of what time and abilities I have left in my life.... and I am eternally gratefully to have all of you here to help and encourage me!

[TryinginFL]

FN..... 3 Cheers for you!  Talk about positives   I admire your inspiration and guts to get out there to do something out of your realm!  I am probably an older fart than you and admit to not having any desire to go back to work, but I do wish to continue my pursuit of learning Spanish and then, hopefully Italian!  I love languages and am hoping that I have not destroyed all of my working brain cells!

Just hearing "relax, you'll do fine" must have been the best encouragement you could have hoped for!  I agree about the math - was never my thing either!

 

I'm sure that everyone here joins me in being proud of you - keep up the good work!

 

Hugs and prayers,

Liz

[TryinginFL]

My positives for today (the last few days) are that I am feeling almost human again!  I feel as if a transformation has taken place!   Is this how it was before? I can't even remember...

 

I still have my teary times (and maybe always will) but the sadness and pain seem to have left   No more horrible dreams (although I always dream, but not awful dreams) and I wake up feeling good!  I'm sure there will still be some bad days from time to time but now that I am well into my 10th week of this trip, I'm sure that what is left of me will make it!!  No more Crapalta or Lyrica for me ever again!  I still have my Alprazolam and Hydrocodone - they will most likely remain a part of my life, but I feel that I need them for the anxiety and arthritis.

 

I hope that I can support all who need it and will continue to join us ...  I want to help!  Thanks to all of you amazing and kind people!

 

Hugs and Prayers,

Liz

[xman]

Thank you LIZ and so so very happy to hear the great news!! Yippeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[gail]

Oh yes Liz, great news! So happy for you, one day, I will be writing this myself.

[BelaLugosisDad]

It's early in the day for me to be adding something positive, but.....for the past several years I've had some sort of "blind spot" in the lower left quadrant of my right eye...the opthomologist cldnt find anything, but it's been like a blurred window pane or smudge sensation...and has driven me nuts as I love to read.... I realized just now that it's gone! No blurs as I read, and it wasn't there yesterday when I picked up a book to read for the first time in months....also, my current eye glass prescription now seems totally out of whack....I don't seem to need reading glasses anymore, and my lone distance vision has gotten worse....Cymbalta non only changes lives, it reshapes eyeballs ....

I have got this too. It is impossible to read. It is highly distressing as reading was the only thing I could do through the day to try and keep my mind off this hell.

Thanks for your post, it is reassuring to know that this bay be temporary and could clear up.

[clearglass]

Like xman said Yippeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!  Reading that last post from Liz makes me feel good and that's my most positive for today!

clearglass

[Carleeta]

Hello everyone..I'm positively happy to see all of you still posting something positive daily. ..I love reading positive posts and I love posting positive posts...

It's positively been an exhausting week getting dealing with some negative events in two of my close friends lives..

On a very positive note I did get to workout at Curves three times this week..Opps I guess I was more out of shape than I thought...Ill keep going until Im right back in shape again..lol lol..I guess that means the rest of my life..lol lol..

It's positively starting to warm up some here and should be in the 40's and moving upward..It's ts about time..lol lol

Don't have to worry about starting my car everyday now..lol lol lol

[TryinginFL]

Carleeta....so good to hear from you!  Sorry to hear that you have been through some troubling times..

 

But the Curves positive!  Wonderful!!   I had a positive today - rode that stationary bike again and increased the time slightly.  That will go on the rest of MY life - along with the aqua fitness when weather is warmer!  At least the exercising is helpful as to helping the out of shape body to try to get healthy - working out all of that crap in our systems!

 

Isn't it great to not worry about starting the car??

 

Hugs and Prayers,

Liz

[Carleeta]

TryinginFL. ..Yes..It's great to Not have to start the car. .lolnlol...I just love the fact you get to exercise in water, and it will be soon for you in Florida. ..

I actually like exercising just for anxiety and good health. ..

Yippeee, you are on the bike...Great exercise..

So excited you found some better days. ..

[FiveNotions]

Hi Carleeta! We missed you!

I'm sorry that your two close friends are dealing with some tough stuff....but having you to help them is a blessing....just as you are a blessing to us here!

[Wagtail]

Hi all, here's my positive for today.... I'm looking into a change of careers....being a librarian isn't feasible for me any longer, as in order to re-enter that workforce I'd need to significantly enhance my library science-specific technology skills....which I've learned would cost me thousands of dollars, which I do not have and refuse to borrow
......also, being an old fart makes me far far less marketable...it's a young person's world.... So, I'm considering getting trained for something in the healthcare field at our local community college....they have a number of certificate programs related to "gerontology" ..... Essentially, I'd be an old fart helping other old farts.... And amazingly, there are lots of jobs, and being an old fart isn't much of a hindrance....
Long story longer....this afternoon I went to take the required verbal and math "skills assessment test" ..... Yes, I passed, with a high score....that's a Positive!
But, the math portion was very very difficult for me....and showed me just how much of a "hit" I've taken in my cognitive functions thanks to cymbalta and withdrawal.... Or maybe it's just age...or a combination.... But it was a real shocker....
I must have looked somewhat "stricken," as the exam proctor...an assistant prof about my age....leaned over and whispered in my ear, "just relax, you'll do fine".... Another Positive....
I almost started weeping....at how much I've lost...and at his kindness....
I am determined to make the most and best of what time and abilities I have left in my life.... and I am eternally gratefully to have all of you here to help and encourage me!

Reached my quota of likes for the day , all 3 of them !..
Good luck with your new course, you will do fine. You've done a lot of research for everyone on here so I don't think there is too much wrong with you !.
Maybe a career change will be a good thing & interesting.xx

[xman]

I am positively happy to see Clareeta here !!! And all the great people that make up this wonderful, uplifting, informative, real place to come for peace of mind, sharing ... :DOff to work...........zip................. I wish everyone a good day around the world. We can do this!

[gail]

Wagtail, you are giving me ideas about the 3 likes of the day, thanks

 

Good to see you back Carleeta.

 

Fivenotions, always impressed by your cat's eye, your icon, or is it that when I see it , I know you are there and that is comforting!

[Carleeta]

FiveNotions. ..I'm so proud of you...and scoring very high on the tests..yippeeee. .I do believe Cymbalta has a way of knocking us down physically and mentally..Although since we are on our way up the days of physical and emotional do improve..As far as you cognitive skills go, it appears as though you are almost back there, if not there yet...My look on aging process and memory is this...It's not our minds slowing down...but it's that we have so much knowledge built up in there it just takes a bit longer to find things through the clutter..lol lol...but I do believe it...

Great job my friend....yippeeee. ....

[gail]

My positives today was a ton of house cleaning.

 

My positively negative is that it was done so I could forget about the nausea and the crying etc.

 

Such a nice day, even sat on the balcony with a book. 

[Wagtail]

A positively positive day ,

I rode the bad s/e's all day & managed to stay on my feet through it all .

My daughter , her husband & grandson made a surprise visit for the day. We went to the beach for a couple of hours , (which although uncomfortable for me, because of the burning sensation all over my body which is made worse when exposed to the heat from the sun !,) we had many laughs.
We enjoyed a casual lunch @ home & then went for a walk to the park so Baby Charlie could play .
I hated seeing them leave but I was very happy that I managed to feel the pain & enjoy the day regardless.

A very positive outcome , yippeeeee :-)

[TryinginFL]

Wagtail...good for you!  How wonderful that you could enjoy your family visit even though the s/e's are still hanging on! I hope that your days will be getting better soon ...

A remarkable positive for you!!

 

Hugs and Prayers,

Liz

[Carleeta]

The weather is rainy, although positively getting into the forties and fifties for the next week..yippee. I know the below zero temps are now gone....yippee. ..

Getting ready to back up my traveling suitcases..lol lol lol..and will be starting my move to my home in two weeks..yippee. .

It's been crazy for months although I am pushing forward no matter what..

I'm definitely alive today...

[TryinginFL]

Carleeta....  Hoooorraaay!!!!   So happy to hear that things are moving right along for you! (Pardon the pun!)    It won't be long and all the moving chaos will be over forever! (You have done a lot of that in a very short time)  If I ever have to move again, I will go on an out of state trip and return when it is over

 

It is a beautiful day here and I am with you in feeling alive

 

Hugs and Prayers,

Liz    

[Carleeta]

TryinginFL. ..Yippeee for the warm weather and soon you will be able to start your aqua exercises..so exciting...yippeeee.
Yes, I'm just going forward with all that I can...

lol lol TryinginFL. ..I'm looking forward to sleeping in my own bed with all my familiar and comfy bedding..lol lol...

[Carleeta]

Wash is in the washer, ambien shaved down for the next week...Dusted the house with the swifter. .lol lol..so easy..lol lol

positively staying inside today because of the gloomy and rainy weather...lol lol...looking for things to do..lol lol....Too quiet for me..lol lol

[clearglass]

Carleeta, So good to see you back. My positive, next to the FB children and dogs posts, this is my next best place to come daily.  A real place, like xman wrote.

Family visits, warm weather, new classes, and Carleeta's sleeping in her own bed. I love this site .

 

Speaking of the 'likes', I reached out to the developer and will update everyone if/when I receive a response. 

 

Have a relaxing Sunday .

clearglass

[TryinginFL]

Clearglass.... you are sounding much more upbeat!  I hope that you are having many more positives and good days

 

How wonderful that you have contacted the developer of this site - I would also like to hear what he has to say!

 

Take good care of yourself...

 

Hugs and Prayers,

Liz

[clearglass]

Thank you  Liz. I've been so busy, I haven't had time for crappy symptoms.

Other than carrying the extra 50 pounds and daily brain zap, I've been pretty good the last few days.

 

I hope you are having more positive and good days too.  I hope and pray all of us are.

Hugs

clearglass

[equuswoman]

Thank you Carleeta. I'm staying with our site; support is like an unbroken circle.

That's the way that I feel as well. I want to give back a little of what I've gotten while on this site. I will forever be grateful to the members here who met me with open arms and open minds! The patience they had with me as I would ask the same questions more than once about the way to do the "bead counting"....the way that I was finally after over four months rid myself of this poison!

May God bless and keep them always!

TheEquusWoman