Posted by Effected on October 22, 2003, at 17:07:41
Hi,
I'm a 39 year old male. I have read several posts which have been a help to me (to know there are others).
About 1 year ago I started having unusual pains in my stomach area, back/kidney area, chest, even breathing hurt (not all at the same time).
My PCP is an Internal Medicine doc, which I see for high blood pressure. He referred me out to a doc for stomach pains, a doc for heart/chest pains, etc. This was the beginning of a major ordeal for me.
The stomach doc did some tests and thought for sure I was going to be having emergency Gallbladder surgery that day.. only to find out that Gallbladder seemed Ok. Then did a endoscopy and said he took a biopsy of something abnormal he found in the stomach. An ultrasound test of the abdomen revealed a 3-5cm mass on my liver which also had me and docs concerned. This prompted a liver needle biopsy. The liver biopsy was not a fun deal friends. You are fully awake with a little local (as you have to control your breathing) when this giant tube/needle is shoved in and moved around into the liver.
While waiting for the results of the stomach and liver biopsies I was at the point of hardly being able to walk (could barely feel legs), very weak, scared, lost "50" pounds over a couple months, and in much pain. I was "sure" it was all over for me as to be this far gone there was No Way to pull out of Stomach and Liver cancer at the stage it had to be! Well, the results started coming back... benign tumor in stomach.. benign tumor on liver.. etc, etc. Wow, what in the world was going on?
Doc started asking about stress. I just couldn't accept/believe it to be possible (though, I certainly had been under a lot with economy down turn. Having laid off 80% of my employees, I can say it isn't a pleasant experience for either side). He prescribed Effexor XR and to my TOTAL AMAZEMENT I became a believer that stress must have been the culprit. Within 2-4 days I was a different person, most symptoms diminished by 80%-90%. I am 100% a believer that Effexor is great for a person that needs the help, and I was one of them.
Here I am today.. I've been notified that my job will end at Christmas. I would like to be off all meds because of the cost. I've been on Effexor almost a year at 187.5mg/day (taken in morning). The past 5 days I reduced the dose on my own to 150mg trying to get off and have experienced 'many' of the withdrawal issues posted here. This morning seemed the worst, then seemded like a switch was thrown and this afternoon is the best yet.
I've started having a lot of pain in my right hip joint when lifting leg (i.e. putting in pant leg, getting in car, etc) for past 3 months. Also, lots of popping and cracking sounds from joints. Doc referred me to Ortho doc. Ortho doc did MRI and Xrays, which MRI shows fluid in hip. He is thinking possible Rheumatoid Arthritis. Primary doc doesnt believe it and thinks it is stress related and should not be lowering XR, but increasing it. The past few days the joint pain has gone into ankles, and an elbow.
Questions:
(1)Has anyone experienced JOINT pain in either taking Effexor or trying to get off of it?
(2)Does that sound possible to be stress related?
(3) From the posts I've read it sounds like taking 1.5 more months to get off is reasonable? Lower dose by 37.5mg once a week from 150mg now?
(4) The doc is I believe pre-disposed with me now to believe all is stress after the workup that was done with me a year ago. Should I be concerned with this?
Thanks much
PS: Sorry it is so long.
poster:Effected
thread:272013
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031021/msgs/272013.html