86 replies to this topic

[Amybc7]

A 5k Walk!?!?  Bravo!

 

I think the issue is the every other day routine of taking the medication.  Of course - I'm getting ready for bed and drowsy reading could have misinterpreted what you are saying.  

 

When you take the medication one day and then not the next - it kicks your body into withdrawal.  It's like a "mini cold turkey".  

[FiveNotions]

INR, please, check in and let us know how you and your husband are doing .... we haven't heard from you since last night ... we're worried about you !

[Jzacher]

Hello folks.  Today is a good day.  I managed to get some house work done.  I took 30mg yesterday evening.  I am sure that has a big part of it.  It is a relief to not be crying.  I have a son who is a pharmacy assistant and am going to see if I can get him to help me to make some 20mg-10mg-5mg pills out of the 3 boxes of 30mg tablets.  Is this a good idea or should I be looking at trying to do 25-20-15. I would really like your comments on this.

[fishinghat]

If it is your last 3 bottles then I would recommend the first option.

[Carleeta]

JZ....Welcome and congratulation on the 5K.  Isn't it a great feeling to accomplish such a powerful power walk.  Haven't done one in 7 years and do miss them so much.  Walking is still the best exercise one can do.  You have that under control.   As far as the Cymbalta... and the way your doctor has scheduled you to come off of it,,, may work well for you.  Most of the members on this forum have had a difficult time coming off Cymbalta and have suffered the more severe withdrawals.  Everyone is different and some individuals to well with little to no withdrawals, and others suffer from the more intense withdrawal symptoms.  Only you will be able to tell where you fall within this category.  Just keep listening to what your body is telling you, for this is your best marker.  Please keep us informed on your progress....

[TryinginFL]

INR...

 

How are you doing?  I haven't seen any recent posts from you and have been worried about your situation.  Please keep updating us and I hope you know that we all want to help you!

 

Liz

[FiveNotions]

Hi INR, I see that you were signed on earlier this evening, I'm so happy you're still with us, and so sorry I missed you, and that you didn't post to let us know how it's going... I just sent you a PM

[ItsNotRight]

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[FiveNotions]

Welcome back, INR, we missed you! We'll do everything we can to walk you and your husband through this mess. You're not alone, either in how you yourself are feeling and going through, or your husband and what he's suffering in withdrawal.

I need a bit of time to reread all that you've written. I'll be back!

One thing right away ... you need to have a therapist of your own, and perhaps one of the 12 step groups. Do you have access to either, or both? You said he's in the VA health network (disaster), is there anything they've got available that you can use? Or is the whole system useless at this point?

[DoneWithCrap]

FN is right about you needing a therapist. We are not professionals but offer our life experiences to try to help each other. It sounds like you need a chance to be heard. You have been through so much in your life. I think a lot of us have that in common too. You, like me, have been on full alert our whole lives walking on eggshells trying our best to not upset the other people in our lives. We have been born into lives surrounded by emotionally Ill people and as a result we feel responsible for making them feel better. Often we forget that we need support too.
You are not responsible for your husbands happiness or for the cause of his pain right now. He needs to accept the help he so desperately needs. You have done so much to help him but it is time he seeks professional help.
Please don't allow him to victimize you when you are trying your best to help him.
I'm thinking that at this point, you have done as much as you can for him until he agrees to get professional help. If he doesn't get the right kind of help, you are enabling him to continue injuring himself. He is injuring himself with his impulsive thoughts of going cold turkey. He could be putting his job in jeopardy and he is adding stress you his relationship with you ( and most likely anybody else that sees him acting this erratic ).
I hope you can time for yourself today. A chance to think about something other than your husbands pain.
Please let me know if I can help you in some way.

Renee

[Jzacher]

So here is my update. I have started making ACVtea with honey every evening. I am now down to 25 mg from 30 and I am feeling clearer headed more energy and less pain. Go figure! I will continue counting down with the help of a very smart son who just happens to be a Pharmacy Tech. Thank you for all the suppot

[FiveNotions]

INR, do you have any place you can go to for peace and safety, even if for the day ? Even better, someplace where you can go to stay for a few days if things get really bad?

 

You need a support network, and if you don't have one at the moment, starting to build one will help you feel better about yourself,, and will give you some distance from what he's going through and inflicting on you ... yes, we want him to get help and get off the Cymbalta ... but we're also very concerned about you ...

 

Also, if it would be helpful, you could PM me to tell me where you live and I can research 12 step and other possible support groups in your area (even telephone talk, not just "in person" groups) ... there are also online forums for spouses of veterans ....

 

Hang in there! Check back with us often!

[ItsNotRight]

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[ZappAlta]

I suggest you call a battered womens shelter for advice or a social service agency -pack little necessary items and get out even if its a homeless shelter plus take your daughter.  Red Flags everywhere here !! Get moving,

[FiveNotions]

INR, leave the house, both you and your daughter .... do you have a cell phone? USE it!

 

DO NOT HESITATE to call the police and get him taken out of the house!

 

An alternative ... you and your daughter can get in the car as though you were just going to do your usual grocery shopping or run errands. get to the supermarket, a McDonald's ... somewhere where you can make calls. And do what Zappa suggests ... get in touch with a women's shelter and make arrangements to go there.

 

Also, an alternative for your daughter ... does she have friends with whom she can stay for a few days/weeks? Try to get her out and away as well.

 

I'll get FishingHat to sign on her and talk with you. He's a vet. Got lots of experience and solid advice.

 

I'm praying for you.

 

It's time for you to take action ... if you can't do it to save yourself, do it for your daughter ... both of you MUST get out... or get HIM out.

[TryinginFL]

INR...

 

I agree with ZappAlta and FN - you have to get away from him!  I hesitate to think what he might be capable of in his present state.  For both yours and your daughter's safety you MUST get rid of him - whatever way you can.

 

Are things bad enough that you can "Baker Act" him?  At least that would give you 72 hrs to think out a plan for the two of you.  This is harmful for your daughter to even witness this!  Please check out this process as you can call the police...

 

You will remain in my thoughts and prayers - please keep us posted - we want to help you in any way that we can!

 

Love, hugs and prayers,

Liz

[fishinghat]

INR

 

I am a vet and have been around several that are toxic like this. Get out before you are hurt really bad. Call a taxi, a freind, a women's shelter and get picked up and taken to safety. If you will let me know what town you are in (by PM) I will set everything up and all you have to do is call them.

 

Unluckily most of the vets I know like this (violent) wind up forgotten about by the VA. If reported as violent they are usually institutionalized by the VA until they are properly medicated. At that point they are set free with instructions to come back to the VA clinic each month.  At that point they feel cured and usually come off their meds and they nearly always become homeless. A recent study shows that 45% of homeless males are suffering from a mental illness and veterans make up the  largest  part of them. I hate to say this but there is little hope for his recovery.

 

Get out. Get safe. Then contact local Homeless Assistance groups for there advice.

 

Let me know if I can help in any way.

 

God Bless

 

[DoneWithCrap]

Please listen to everyone telling you to get out to safety ASAP!

You have been through enough! It is time to take care of yourself and your daughter!

[FiveNotions]

INR, how are you, are you okay? Please let us know!

[TryinginFL]

INR...

 

We're worried about you!  Please post to let us know you're OK!!!

[FiveNotions]

I'm praying for you INR!

[ItsNotRight]

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[fishinghat]

I am real glad to hear from you INR. You may or may not know but uncontrolled crying, feelings of fear or death are common with Cymbalta withdrawal. Many of us on her have made trips to the ER during this madness. At this point he is probably sensitive to any sound, motion, conversation, etc. Walking on pins and needles may be necessary as he goes through this BUT not the displays of violent anger. That is not acceptable. The drs could put him on a benzo for the mood swings or a dozen other things like hydroxyzine, clonidine.....  I am ssooooo glad you posted. We have been so worried. We are here if you need help.

[ItsNotRight]

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[FiveNotions]

Hey there, INR, sooooo good to hear from you!

 

And, even though you may not feel it as you write it, I can see a lot of positives and progress in your post!

 

Your husband is in the grip of serotonin depletion ...serotonin, and he needs to learn about this, is a powerful brain chemical, it's deeply involved in the Central Nervous System, and the CNS regulates just about every bodily and mental function ... every single symptom he's having is due to a shortage of serotonin ... becuz he quit the Cymbalta cold turkey ... remember, Cymbalta is a "serotonin booster" and the brain gets "addicted" to that boost ... when it's removed too rapidly, all hell breaks loose ...

 

And yet, despite all hell having broken loose, in the midst of it, your husband has begun taking positive steps ..that's wonderful.... and encouraging and hopeful ... he didn't survive 3 wars without having some major survival and coping skills ... seems like he's slowly learning that those same skills apply to surviving the crapalta war!

 

How long has he been cold turkey at this point? Do you think he's had enuf of the suffering that he'd be willing to listen to us, and go back on, get stable, and then do the bead counting method?

 

I also think, others here can chime in if they disagree, that it would be an excellent thing for him to go to the hospital ... to make the decision to do so on his own... it was very positive that he told all this to you...

 

Now, back to you ... it's clear you've had your own hell at the hands of these types of drugs, and yep, you've experienced the withdrawal hell he's going through.

 

You need to reach out to get some support for yourself. If you don't drive, does your daughter? Is there any way you could get to appointments with a therapist in your area? Does the VA have any resources available? Or, would it help to have me identify the names / locations of some private therapists and/or support groups for you?

 

If not, the best option is this and the other online forums that deal with the things you're dealing with ... also, there are telephone help lines, and I've recently learned that there are some "Skype forums" ... how the hell that works, I don't know ... but again, I'd be happy to look into any of these options for you ...

 

Just remember, as FH said, physical violence is NOT acceptable ... and you are NOT to allow yourself or your daughter to be the victim(s) of it. Call 911 immediately if it gets to that point.

 

Prayers continue! Keep reading everything you can here, especially about the symptoms, and supplements, nutrition, etc... and keep posting!

[TryinginFL]

INR....

 

It is wonderful to hear from you!  We are all so concerned for you - I cannot add to the wonderful advice given by FH and FN - they are really something, right??  I am just happy that you have found this safe and wonderful place to vent, have great friends and get help when you need it!

 

Please keep us updated and don't hesitate to ask for help - you will get it!!

 

Hugs and Prayers,

Liz

[ItsNotRight]

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[fishinghat]

INR

 

Do you have private insurance and can you get him in to see a different psychiatrist?

[ItsNotRight]

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[fishinghat]

I understand and concur with your feelings on the VA. Sorry, wish he could get with a good psychiatrist who knows how to manage psych meds. It would also help if he could get with a good psychologist that could teach him techniques to control his anger/anxiety and emotions in general. They can make a big difference. We have an organization in my state that provides support to the mentally ill. They have drs which volunteer services and work to get your medicines in control. There should be similar groups in your area as well.

 

I will pray for you and your family.