141 replies to this topic

[fishinghat]

Hi Polly

I checked the FDA database and only 0.5% of those reporting side effects from m NAC mentioned stomachache/pain. It certainly sounds like what my stomach issues were like during withdrawal. Just to be safe I would also be sure and drop the NAC for a couple days to see if things change.

[Polly38]

Thanks for the words of encouragement IUN. It has felt like a very long day😭. A quick question- I have random pains in my shoulders and a near constant pain between my shoulder blades. Also, when someone comes to talk to me or I am asked to do something out of the ordinary people I feel quite uneasy. Is this part of withdrawal too?

Thanks again.

[invalidusername]

LOL - feel like I have done a full day already. Only been awake 5 hours! I am getting so fed up with this head. It is just relentless. I can cope on and off, but this is just horrible.

 

Someone coming to talk to you out of the blue is going to trigger a stress response, thus giving you a streak of anxiety. I get this all the time, but this is fairly mild symptoms as long as you don't react to it. It is just a feeling and you have been there hundreds of times before. There is no cause for alarm.

 

Pain you speak of is almost surely tension you are putting on yourself through sitting/standing positions as you feel anxious. This is almost involuntary at these times. You will correct it one minute and the next you are tense. Ask yourself now if you are tense - I bet you will be!! Tense each muscle group for about 5 seconds and hold it as much as you can.. then let go. Then just keep reminding yourself to check for tension and it should ease.

[fishinghat]

I agree with IUN. just a stress response. Not uncommon at all. Cymbalta effects the nervous system and pain receptors so a multitude of random pains is common for a while. It will pass.

[Polly38]

Thanks both for your replies. Sorry you are having a bad day too IUN. Out of interest, are you both in the UK or US? (Was just wondering. Lol).

I have just had a session with my therapist and she said exactly the same as you both. I know I am holding myself in a tense position all the time but have been finding it hard to relax lately. Do you both think I should drop another bead tomorrow? It will be 28 then.

Thanks so much.

[invalidusername]

I am in the UK - Kent, down in the South East and Hat is a Mid-Western US in Missouri.

 

Are you in the UK?

 

Glad we are in line with the therapist!! Still think you are good for another bead drop, but it is up to you. If you go slower now, just remember you will need to go even slower still at the 10-bead mark. If you are happy with that, then by all means hold on for another day. It is a question of patience.

[Polly38]

I am in the UK too. I live in Gloucestershire. You are both so knowledgeable and supportive and those of us going through this Cymbalta (Duloxetine) withdrawal nightmare are very lucky to have your advice and support, so a huge thank you!

I will try another drop tomorrow and keep you posted. I hope you have a better day tomorrow. You certainly deserve it!!

[Polly38]

I will definitely go slow from the last 10 beads and will come back to ask your advice nearer the time😁

[Polly38]

FH - have only just seen your reply about NAC. Will drop it for a few days and see how it goes, although it sounds like the stomach issues are probably from withdrawal. Thank you.

[invalidusername]

Gloucestershire?

 

Oooh.. country chicky

 

Such a beautiful place. That is a great place to be if you are anxious. South-east is full of everyone running 'round like whippets with their ass on fire.

[Polly38]

Ha ha. That made me laugh! We are near to the Cotswolds and I suppose it is a lovely place to live. I need to appreciate it more!😬

[invalidusername]

No way!! This is great... LDN's country getaway is about an hour's drive from you. I've got my next detox retreat all sorted

[invalidusername]

Beats 4253 miles to have a retreat with Mr & Mrs Hat

[Polly38]

Ha ha, yes it does!

[fishinghat]

4253 miles? Is that all? I figured it would be farther than that.

[invalidusername]

No Sir.. world is a small place. Around 11 hours in the air... Tea and a bowl of Valium for breakfast and I'd be fine...

[Polly38]

Hi.

Ok, so today is not so great🙄. I dropped another bead and I am feeling so anxious.I am at work and am trying to ignore it but I keep getting an anxious feeling in my stomach and feeling like I need to keep catching my breath. Is this normal and should I stay with 28 beads tomorrow or drop another one?

Hope everyone is OK. Thanks

[fishinghat]

I would pause for a while as it would probably worsen if you continue dropping. An exercise in patience for sure.

[Polly38]

Thanks FH. The shortness of breath is quite bad too. Shall I stay at 28 or go back up 1 bead?

Hope you are well. Thanks.

[fishinghat]

I am doing fine. Thank you for asking.

 

The choice is yours. If you can tolerate your symptoms then stay where you are at, if they are just too bad to handle then ho back up one bead. Listen to what your body is telling you. Don't rush too much.

[Polly38]

Thanks FH. I can't stop yawning today and can't get enough air in then. I know this happens when you start too. Do you know why this happens? Just curious. Thanks.

[fishinghat]

This is due to the elevated adrenaline that occurs during stress like withdrawal. The extra adrenaline causes us to breath shallower and faster. Because we are not breathing deeply this allows CO2 (carbon dioxide to build in the lungs which causes the blood to become more acidic. This condition is called respiratory acidosis (there is a section in the ebook on this). Acidic blood does not transport as much oxygen so we tend to breath even faster and shallower causing the condition to worsen even more. The key to stopping this is to lessen the stress obviously but that can be a challenge. The next best thing to do is breathing exercises.

 

Take in a slow deep breath and exhale a little slower than the inhale. When you deep breath make sure that your stomach expands outward. This indicates you are using your diaphragm to make as deep a breath as possible. Do three of these deep breaths in a row and then breath normally. This should be repeated as many times a day as necessary. I did this 10 to 20 times a day during my experience and it helped take the edge off the issue until it passed.

[Polly38]

Thanks so much FH. I knew you or IUN would know! It makes it a bit easier when you know what it is. I will keep practicing my breathing!

[invalidusername]

Apologies for my late entrance today. Such a busy one and not stopped.

 

Sorry to hear of the increased anxiety. Sounds like you have got to your pivotal point, so rest is inferred at this stage. Quite how long will be up to you as Hat said.

 

Just to add on what Hat has said, remember to breath in through the nose and out through the mouth. Breathing in through the nose is more restrictive and forces us to slow our breathing and it also increases the nitric oxide produced through the sinus pathways, and this helps us breathe better. Then out through the mouth as breathing in and then out through the nose creates a backflow of oxygen into the lungs, so efficiency is reduced from the breathing. 

 

Far better when the science is laid of for you, but it works!!

[Polly38]

Thanks very much IUN. Hope you have had a better day today. I will stay at 28 beads tomorrow and see how it goes🤞

[invalidusername]

Nothing but the best service at cw.com!! LOL

 

Keep going with the breathing exercises and meditation. Will be thinking of you tomorrow sugar plum.

 

I'll be at the Mental Health place first thing choking on the transparent platitudes dished out every week by the occupational health tart. I really don't like her. She treats me like I'm a child even though I am clearly older than her, and I have been in further education since I left school.

[Polly38]

Thanks IUN. Have gone back to 29 beads and feel bloody awful😭. Keep going hot, short of breath and ache all over🤮.

How long do you think it will take to settle? Where to from here?? God, this is awful and I'm at work😭

[Polly38]

Sorry me again! Would an antihistamine help with any of these withdrawal symptoms? Thanks

[fishinghat]

It can take a few days to start to settle or a month or more. Sorry to be such a downer. Many people take prescription hydroxyzine, an antihistamine to help. Others have used diphenhydramine, also an antihistamine, which is the active ingredient in Benadryl, some sleep aides and some allergy meds. Your body becomes use to the diphenhydramine so it must be used on an intermittent basis.

God bless and hang in there.

[invalidusername]

Hi Polly - yes, I think this might help, as it does help me from time to time. The issue is that diphenhydramine is only available by prescription here in the UK. So doc's appointment - explain everything, go to pharmacy, part with your hard earned £9 for 24 (12 doses), or... do what I did and order this from these guys;

 

https://www.discount...ydrinate-50-mg/

 

It is the same as dramamine, but far cheaper. I have tried dramamine and equate and there is no difference - both do the same job. Free delivery but it take 5 working days. So if you order today.. sort of now... you will get them next Friday. Bit of a wait, but no more than the above mission of going via the GP. I've had 3 orders from them before with dramamine, melatonin and equate and never a problem.

 

Do note that it does make you drowsy. Not so much that you cannot work, but I'd avoid driving whilst it is in effect, which is after 1 hour of taking for about 4-5 hours. So you could take when you get to work and one dose of 100mg should see you through. Oh and don't be tempted by anything "non-drowsy" as many members report that it does not work for anxiety...

 

Hat - thought we could update the ebook with this - even dropping my message in would do it...