47 replies to this topic

[bronxbomber]

Took 5 days of 20 mg Prednisone and it really relieved much of my sciatica pain. But I took the last dose on Wednesday and by today (Saturday) the pain has returned. An MRI is in my future because it will help diagnose what's actually causing this problem. Can't cure it if you don't know what's causing it.

I've decided to restart my Cymbalta taper. Yesterday was my last day on 2 mg - 10 bbs. I plan to taper by one bb each day down to 1 mg - 5 BB's. Then 2 days at 4 bbs, 2 at 3, down to 3 days at 1 bb. If all goes well, I will take my last bb on Labor Day Saturday.

I'm praying that in 2 weeks my Cymbalta story will be over, and the rest of my life story will be about to start.

[fishinghat]

Great plan BB. I hope all goes well. Let me know how the MRI turns out.

[KathyInFL]

Bronx, what's a bb?

[bronxbomber]

KIF, it's my very unscientific name for each tiny little pill found in a Cymbalta capsule. In the case of the generic I am taking, 5 of those teeny tiny white pills equals one mg. of Cymbalta.

[bronxbomber]

KIF, I guess most people refer to them as "beads" rather than "bb's". Sorry about that.

[fishinghat]

If you are referring to my post I was doing BB as a short hand for bronxbomber. No offense meant.

[bronxbomber]

fh, none taken.

As you see, I referred to the poster as "KIF", using your type of shorthand.

[bronxbomber]

Well ... I seem to have hit a wall of sorts. Yesterday was my first day at 1 mg. I had an unpleasant email from a "friend" then an argument with my husband. At that point I lost it and basically cried for 4 hours. It took a valium and a codeine to get to sleep.

Unfortunately I don't feel much better this morning. I just sobbed my way through 1 1/2 hours of PT. My husband says it's a self fulfilling prophecy - I expect to have trouble in the final stages of withdrawal, so I'm having trouble. It's not true; based on how easy it's been so far, I really did not expect to have trouble in this final stage. But I do. The combination of the sciatica pain and the emotional stress has really done me in.

I'm tempted to hold at 1 mg - 5 beads - for a week and see how I do. Hopefully I'll stabilize and stop being so emotional. Or should I tough it out and continue my slow taper for a few more days?

FH, Gail and others who have been involved in this field for a while, I would be grateful for your expertise.


Barbara

[fishinghat]

I am sorry for your difficulties BB. Considering the argument and the unpleasant email I would say go back to 6 beads and stay there until things settle down and some of your stress lets up.

 

Did you have your mri yet?

[gail]

Same here BB, hold at five or six beads for a while.

I do hope that you stabilize at this point.
It's a wax and wane process. And don't feel bad about taking meds to help you. It's temporary!

[bronxbomber]

Thanks, fh and gail. I did much better yesterday afternoon - went bowling with friends, went out to dinner, discussed my situation without tears.

I wrote to my friend and explained that I couldn't afford to be involved with her right now - that I needed the support that my real friends were providing, and could not respond to her accusations. I asked her to keep the door open, but told her why it might be a while before I could walk through that particular door again. She has not responded. If this is the end of our friendship, so be it. I can't afford to pay the high price of her so called friendship right now.

I couldn't help thinking last night that if our positions were reversed, and I received a pained email like mine from her, I'd set my pride aside and be on the phone in about 2 seconds, calling to ask her what I could do to help. Sadly, no such phone call arrived last evening.

Of course, I'm starting to tear up just writing this, so I'm clearly not calm enough to continue my taper. I will add beads to my existing capsules and try to stabilize at 6 beads for a week. I hate to do this when I'm so close, but I see the logic in doing so. Getting down to zero is so close I can taste it, but another week is insignificant if it will help me reach my goal in a better mental state.

Thanks for your help, understanding, and quick response. They really keep me anchored right now.

fh, I got a prescription for an MRI from my GP yesterday. I also have a prescription for a mammogram based on some findings from the full body scan I had recently. It saw something in my left breast, probably not cancerous but we need to be sure. Another day, another worry. Definitely time to stabilize my taper for a bit.

Thanks again for all your help and for responding quickly when I needed it.

Barbara

[fishinghat]

You are exactly right about your friend. If they truly cared for you they would be there.

 

Good luck on the breast exam and I hope it is all clear.

 

Prayers for you

[gail]

Hello. I have been on 60mg Cymbalta for about 4 years, then upped to 90 mg about 6 months ago. A couple of recent incidents​ have made me realize that this drug has changed my personality, but not for the better. Also, I have gained 40 lb.
After some research, which totally blew me away in terms of the withdrawal process, I dropped down from 90 mg to 60 this past Saturday. So far I haven't had any issues, and in fact I think I feel better, though it's probably wishful thinking at this early stage.
If this goes well, I plan to drop down to 30 mg after 2 weeks, around June 10. I will stay at 30 until after the 4th of July weekend, then begin a slow taper down to zero.
Today I made plans to go snow skiing with a couple of other women on July 22-24. I do not intend to drive, but I am hoping to be able to ski. I'll be about 17 days into my taper, and of course I have no idea how I will feel. But my positive thinking tells me to make the plans, and change them if I need to.
Realistically, I wonder whether I will be able to travel, and to ski, 2+ weeks into my taper. Please give me your thoughts.

Interesting journal on withdrawal!

[gail]

Hello. I have been on 60mg Cymbalta for about 4 years, then upped to 90 mg about 6 months ago. A couple of recent incidents​ have made me realize that this drug has changed my personality, but not for the better. Also, I have gained 40 lb.
After some research, which totally blew me away in terms of the withdrawal process, I dropped down from 90 mg to 60 this past Saturday. So far I haven't had any issues, and in fact I think I feel better, though it's probably wishful thinking at this early stage.
If this goes well, I plan to drop down to 30 mg after 2 weeks, around June 10. I will stay at 30 until after the 4th of July weekend, then begin a slow taper down to zero.
Today I made plans to go snow skiing with a couple of other women on July 22-24. I do not intend to drive, but I am hoping to be able to ski. I'll be about 17 days into my taper, and of course I have no idea how I will feel. But my positive thinking tells me to make the plans, and change them if I need to.
Realistically, I wonder whether I will be able to travel, and to ski, 2+ weeks into my taper. Please give me your thoughts.

Again!

[bronxbomber]

Thanks gail and fh for all the help during my withdrawal. Just a quick update:

Breast MRI was fine.

Sciatica is about 90% better. I still have some pain but it is infrequent and minimal. I skied about 30 days last winter. It wasn't always pretty but it was almost always fun.

My friend and I are back to being friends. Currently she is undergoing some tough issues and we talk almost every day. I finally erased all the painful emails, as I had no desire to relive them.

I finished my taper with no additional issues and went on vacation in October Cymbalta-free. I unsuccessfully tried life without any anti-depressants, so I am now taking 60 mg Wellbutrin.

My husband has been taking 100 mg Zoloft for 20 years, and is considering switching to a different drug. I shall have to read about the process of tapering from Zoloft if he does decide to switch. When I mentioned to his doctor that I had been taking Cymbalta and had to undergo a slow taper, he just shook his head and said that Cymbalta is a bad drug and should be taken off the market.

I just saw Gail's quote so decided to drop by and say Hello. Thanks again for all your support.

Barbara

[gail]

Ha Barbara,

So happy to see you again. I went fishing...and I got the Fishing lady, how great!
Wonderful news about your skiing. I see that you had a somewhat easy withdrawal.

As for your friend coming back and in good terms, keep her. Friends Are hard to find, so are soul mates.

Oh my friend, thank you for the update. I hope to see you again. As for your husband, sure!y FH will come by with suggestions. Thank you so much! I love updates and it helps newbies.

[fishinghat]

Hi Barbara

So glad things are turning around for your withdrawal. It is nice to have a life back isn't it?

When I comes time for Zoloft withdrawal just tell your husband to approach it the same as Cymbalta, slow and with great patience. Less emotional issues with it but worse stomach issues. If we can be of any help please let us know.

[gail]

Hi Barbara,

I did switch from Prozac to Zoloft with no problems. Both have long, real long half lives,
I don't think that switching from one to the other would be a problem.

As for switching to something else, that's another matter. Take care!