Hello All. Mine is a long story traversing 66 years however I'll attempt to abbreviate without loss of experience. Sepsis 65 years ago, many operations abdo & right knee, possible genetic tendency toward low moods, fibromyalgia and arthritis throughout. Over time this led to long-term antidepressants 20+ yrs, pregabalin, anti-inflamm meds, BP meds and statin use. Then told I had Chronic Kidney Disease!I'm not sure why but from some place of natural intelligence, I felt this demand to withdraw from many medications. I organised a ten min conversation with my fairly new GP to explain my decision. She brooked no argument but advised blood tests for my kidneys. Firstly I tackled the anti-depressants withdrawal over a period of 6 weeks. Then anti-inflammatory drugs over a 3 week period. An immediate improvement in my kidney readings! But God! Have I battled some horrible side effects from withdrawal! And I'd love to find a support group, any ideas?
This isn't a course for everyone so please get support from a health provider you trust and a support group. I'm now planning to get some external support to help me with the panic and pain. Until I can eventually figure out the safest route for pain and mental help. As now I've taken on the fight to come off pregabalin (Lyrica).
I have times of extreme sorrow. Pain that is chronic and harsh. And I've cried more in the past month than I have in the previous 20 years. With mental flights that are seducing me into believing this is all too much to bear.
Do I have a question ❓ Too many! I think my main reason for writing this is to warn people to keep their medications to the minimum. And don't allow overworked health practitioners to make decisions about what meds they think will help you, within a ten minute appointment. The majority of GPs really care, but some have compassion fatigue. Fortunately my new GP works WITH me.
I know I'm not alone in my fight with mental and physical health. My thoughts are with those of you all, but especially those of you who are fearful in amongst what currently feels very unfair.
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Amy-Grace
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I’ve read what you’ve written and my heart goes out to you. Antidepressants should be done at a slow pace, I was on 300mg dropped to 225mg with a fortnight then from 225mg to nothing in a month 😳 I found out that I was taken off it too quickly as it should be done so much for 4 weeks then dropped again for 4 weeks etc I ended up with a neurological overload, was in hospital for 8 days because I could not walk, or get my words out and one side of my face dropped slightly but they said I hadn’t had a stroke 🤔 I had to learn to walk all over again, couldn’t do stairs. Pregabalin is a different matter, a neurological nurse told me that it’s worse than heroin to come off, she was on it herself and it had to be dropped at 25mg at a time and it’s taken her a year so please don’t do this lightly, I came off 400 within a couple of weeks and she told me I could have had a seizure and died which my doctor didn’t tell me about and it also takes a year or more for your brain to rewire itself hence comes the paranoia, anxiety, depression etc and sitting in all the time makes it worse as you begin a cycle of having panic attacks trying to get out of your comfort zone, please be careful. I’ve sent a picture f a free external service. Keep your chin up hun 🥰x
I hope you don't mind me commenting on your post. I haven't found the courage to create my own post.
Last year, I started to have adverse effects from meds I was on for 15 years. I tried to get help but was unsuccessful they all blame me my mental health it's been hell. A consultant in A&E told me to stop them, they were literally killing me and I had no clue.
It's been a year now and still I have serious physical health problems, like pins and needles in my hands and feet I also struggled to walk, inflammation in my body and pain i am trying to deal with. I am so sorry for what you have endured. I can totally relate and still no one has said this is all down to the meds I was on. Everything I have found out had been through the Internet.
I wonder if I actually have permanent brain damage. Its been so scary. I am going to contact the external service you have shared and wondered if you could give me any more guidance on what you went through and how you cope I would be so grateful 🙏 and thank you.
I wanted to thank you for your post I completely understand what your going through, I only wish I knew the high dose of medication I was on for years was in the end going to cause so many more problems.
It's been a year since I came off and I am still struggling with no real support. Your post makes me know I am not alone thank you again for your insight.
Hi hun, yes it is worrying that the doctors don’t tell the complications that you’ll face when taking tablets and upping them, and your not alone hun, there are hundreds who are not aware, I didn’t even know that diapam and especially zopiclone (sleeping tablets) taken for a number of year can cause Alzheimer’s or dementia and I been on them for years due to insomnia. I’m still struggling after what felt like a stroke even my left side of my face dropped along with not being able to get my words out and on my notes in the hospital they put a fibromyalgia fare up 😳all tablets affect your mental health that we don’t know about but I do realise we need to talk as you can’t bottle it up because it eats away at you and what ever tablets you take they will effect your brain and gut as they are related but will affect the cicardian rhythm and your mitrochindria,it can give you mass cell dis function and key cause of fatigue is mitochondria dysfunction.
Too many toxins in your body your liver overheats and can’t deal with it the toxins therefore go to the brain hence brain fog.
To help with depression whe your at your most weakness you have to find your inner strength, 3 gratitudes a day will help anxiety, depression. Look at your limiting beliefs and change them, ask yourself impowering questions instead of disempowering ones, one little step your still taking actions.hope this helps ☺️
Please will you go to the doctors too as your symptoms sound a bit like fibromyalgia, there are certain pressure points that they can check. Do you have problems with your eyes too? Get constant headaches? Too much cortisol abnormal hormones can affect the adrenal glands when your in flight, flight, freeze mode, being in constant FFF mode can have an impact in your body, it affects your nervous system, vagus nerve and if one of your organs isn’t working properly then it affects all of them x
How can I thank you for your comments You're amazing. Your words have brought me more understanding and peace than I have had from any doctor in the last year.
I can relate to everything you have said. I was on these meds for so long that I had no clue what they were doing to me.
Everything you mention I went through and at first I knew, to a degree it was withdrawal, hypersensitivity, the sickness, unable to regulate my body heat, the rashes,the inflammation to the point I couldn't walk and my memory the list goes on. It was horrible.
I did see a psychiatrist, and they wanted to put me back on meds just saying oh their side effects after 15 years, and thats why I was so sick. In the end, I came away and dealt with it on my own. I have seen a GP thinking I had other illnesses like autoimmune, and a lot of the tests have come back negative but I had a few positive so still awaiting results.
I do have Rosacea now and problems with my eyes. I also have serious food allergies and i never knew about my gut health until recently and I am working on my diet. My memory is none existence but i am doing everything I can to improve. I am still going through it, but just reading your message helps me so much, and I feel able to go forward.
I know I would rather live my life like this, doing the best I can, than to ever go back on meds.
I would like to keep in touch if that's OK and please know your are a blessing I can never thank you enough for taking the time to talk with me and share your words of experience.
Yes of course we can keep in touch, and if in the meantime I can help further then just message me. It’s also worth knowing that you get a lot of symptoms that you wouldn’t believe with abnormal hormones too if your around that age, but yes keep in touch and let me know how you are getting on, I’ll keep an eye out or may text you once a week to see how your doing, take care and keep your chin up hun, things can only get better 😉🤗
I am, so at that age 😊I was actually on HRT and had to come off at the same time this was all going on as i had been on it for too long. I was able to reduce that slowly thankfully, but you are so right it all has had a huge impact on my physical health. I know now that my body could not take anymore.
I was so lucky to have seen this post and your comment honestly it has changed so much for me I can not tell you how completely alone I felt having no real clue as to what these med were doing and also how long withdrawal was going to last until I read your post and what you have endured it all made so much sense to me.
I went to Holland and Barrett today got a new lot of vitamins for my gut health and memory including ginko 😊
I will definitely keep it touch you have given me hope that I can get through this. We need more people like you in the world Josie-Anne you are a bright light and I am so grateful for your guidance and support it means so much 🙏 ✨️
Here’s 10 help tips to guide you and look up in Google Nick Orton- The Tapping Solution, it’s free and you tap the meridian points in your body which help clear things and set you free 🥰
Thank you so much I'm am going to check that out right after this message.
I spoke tomy GP today and she has now referred me to a rheumatologist which has a nine month waiting list but I am just glad to get the help, and the dermatologist who I see in June.
The GP feels its not just coming off the meds that have caused all my health concerns as I was very unwell pior to coming off. but they have played a huge part in it all.
I also joined a wellness/ mental health group near where I live to stay on top of things I'll take all the help I can get to stay well mentally.
I hope you are doing OK and once again. Thank you 😊
Hi hun, my mental health isn’t all that great at the moment due to external circumstances beyond my control which has had a fundamental impact on me which in turn has set off my anxiety and depression which I’m trying to sort out myself as I don’t t was to go back to the person who caused me to have the neurological overload, I don’t want her to start me on tablets then increase them for her to say we’ve got to get you off them because you could have had a heart attack again no way but I need something as some days are just like ground hog days and since my client moved away I’ve got too much time on my hands. Yes there are things that I could be doing but just haven’t got the enthusiasm to for it, nor really want to go anywhere but hopefully with the DailyOM that gives you insights each day they help and they are free too if you Google it DailyOM they have helped me immensely and they do have little courses you can do to help with a wide range of subjects too. But I’m so pleased you’re finding your feet too 🤗well done and keep up the good work. When we get that low down the only way is up ⬆️😉🌷x
Hey Josie-Anne It is not easy when things beyond our control impact our mental health. After going through what you went through, I am not surprised by how you feel, and it makes it even harder to deal with everyday life.
Our physical health impacts our mental health as our mental health can affect us physical, I know what has happened to me has put a fear in me of ever taking meds again and I can only imagine how hard it must be for you.
Personally, I think you are one strong woman. You have given me so much guidance and support that I have not received from any doctor. You have taken the time to help me when you are still dealing with your own issues that takes strength. I was utterly shocked by your experience, but at the same time, I completely understood.
We may not be where we want to be right now but we are doing all we can to get there everyday is a challenge and we get through it the best way we can.
You have shed light on my life in a very dark time and I am so grateful so I know we can get through it no matter how long it takes.
I will look into the DailyOM it sound like it would be really beneficial to me. I am truly glad I have you to talk to 😊
Always here anytime you need to chat as you are for me...
How are you getting on, I’ve had bloods done and got a text from the surgery saying my bloods are abnormal so they want me to make a non urgent appointment to speak with them, when I rang up I was told there was a 4 week wait, I think now a days you have a book an appointment in advance and hope you still going to be unwell by the time it comes around 🙄😂
Please forgive my late response I only received a notification today of your message.
I can not believe that you have been asked to book an appointment with the doctor and still you have to wait four weeks. Its a worry just waiting for them to tell you whats going on. I completely understand where you are coming from.
I have been doing ok but this week has been a bit tough as I caught the flu again so I have just been taking it easy.
Thank you so much for your message it's always a pleasure to hear from you..
Sorry you’re not well, having flu is no joke, I hope you feel better soon all you can do is just rest.
You’d think that as it wouldn’t take long they’d would get you in, I’ve been to the doctors to book an appointment after ringing the surgery 81 times and not getting an answer and the place was empty so I don’t see why around 3pm I can’t go as it’s usually quiet then 🤔
All the doctors surgeries are bursting at the seams,they are over stretched and you have to wait well past the time of your appointment but if you turn up 5 minutes late they can refuse to see you 🤷♀️
I know it's absolutely ridiculous that there are no appointments and the surgery are empty after a certain time. Yet everyone is needed to see a doctor. The fact you had to contact them 81 time is so wrong and yet if your late they will refuse to see you.
You should be seen sooner considering you have abnormal results. It's a worry just waiting to get an answer as to what is going on with your health.
I actually can not believe I have the flu and thats exactly what I am doing resting with lemsip 🤧
Oh I know I had a day of trying to keep on top of the house work yesterday and I was absolutely knackered 😴 😊 gone are the days when I could clean through the house in one day 😀
A brilliant post. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and concerns. There seems to be many that are over medicated without a second thought. I'm so glad to read that your kidneys are improving and your new GP works with you 🙂. Keep going, it seems like you're on the right track. What kind of natural things do you do to handle/lessen physical pain? Meditation and avoiding inflammatory foods seem to be helping me, but it's early days.
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Building myself up
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Mental health team assesment
Pregabalin withdrawal 
