Posted by lolabus on August 12, 2004, at 14:02:15
I just want to let everyone know that I've been through hell, but the light at the end of the tunnel is starting to emerge. It's getting better. To make a long story short, I went from 300mgs to 150 to 75 to 35.4 over about 4 weeks. I took my last one last Wednesday (Today is Thursday). The past week has been one of the worst I've ever had. I have been through my own personal hell, and I never thought that it was going to end. It hasn't ended, but MAN is it better. There was a point there, where I honestly thought I was going to die. The brain zaps alone were enough to send me into a downward spiral. The brain zaps are all but gone now. I've had about 2-3 over the past couple of days. I have a couple of things that I think helped me with some of the symptoms. Kava Kava. I'm taking it cause of a post I saw saying that it helped. Honestly, I don't know if it is, but I also don't know if it isn't. If you don't have liver problems (see the label on the bottle)take it. It might help. The other things that I'm giving a ton of credit to, because I had the most upset stomach I've ever had, are Gingerale, Bitters and Ginger Root. I've been sucking down gingerale and bitters for 3 or four days now, and although it's still queasy, my stomach isn't nearly as upset as it was. I also found these Altoid Ginger mints, and they're really helping. If you like ginger, try it. It can't hurt you.
The last thing that's made this trip (which is pretty much what it's been. One god awful trip) dealable, is my husband. Do what you can to get a good support system around you before you do this. My mom and husband have held my hand through this whole thing. The mass hysterical crying, the nasty tirades, the soaks in the tub (OH try that too - Epsom salts, they help), the not being able to sleep. All of it. I beg you, don't do this without support. You need to have someone who can reassure you that you're not loosing your mind, and that you WON'T feel like this forever.
I'm not out of the woods yet, but I wouldn't have said that two days ago. I know I'm not going to die, and I know that I'm not going to be stuck in my hell tunnel for much longer. Stick with it. DON'T give in to taking more meds to make it easier. You're going to go through this one way or the other. You're just delaying the inevitable by taking more crap. This is going to be one of the hardest things you've ever done, and you're going to think that it will never end. Sorry, don't mean to scare you, but it's true. All I can say to you is YES, I promise, for what it's worth, it will get better.
Tell yourself that you're doing the right thing, and that you're taking control. Even though your body feels like it's falling apart, it's getting rid of this crap that's been controlling you for however long. Now you know how awful it really is.
Be strong and Good luck. If I can make it through this, know that anyone can!!!!
poster:lolabus
thread:376893
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040811/msgs/376893.html