Re: -My meds, sypmtoms and question on how to proceed

[Guest guest]

Thank you so much . I think what you do is so admirable. I

will get going on the items you recommended.

Couple of questions. First, the Salmon Oil I take is Nature's

Bounty. Should I switch or is it a good enough brand?

As far as the " fear " , I think I am gonna try the Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan

because it does feel like long-lasting fear probably due to the fact

that I have been through the ringer and I have been shaken to the

core. None of the this stuff will have adverse reactions with the

Ativan will it?

Also, I am a smoker. I have been looking for a reason to quit. My

doc actually said to wait until the anxiety is under control. I am

just curious in terms of how smoking effects withdrawals and how

cessation might play a part.

Lastly, I am going to go back to the clinic that originally took me

off the Ativan that I am now back on. I am angry that they made me

do it cold turkey and I want to help in terms of giving my input so

someone else doesn't have to go through the hell I did. How would

you recommend I approach them? Also, is there any good resources I

could take to arm myself when I go into to see them given they will

probably be rolling their eyes at me. I have to try at least.

Once again, mucho gratitude.

Casey

> Dear Casey,

>

>

> You said:

>

>

> <<Week 4 hit

> and I wasn't so nauseous, but I still had some lightheadedness. The

> hard part of this part was this was when the emotional outbursts

> came. I would cry uncontrollably all the time. This is also when

the

> fear and racing thoughts started in with the am I ever gonna get

> better and am I permanently screwed thoughts. Week 5 I was a bit

> more stable emotionally, but the racing thoughts and fear have been

> prevelant since then to this day. Week 6 and then the sickness came

> back. Horrible flulike feelings, nausea, and the lightheadedness.

> ALso, feelings of being disconnected. At this point I was getting

> desperate and pissed at the same time. I started the exercise. I

> ride my bike every night regardless of how I feel. I also really

> started trying to tap into the higher power thing.>>

>

>

>

> ** The exercise, if you can do it, will help you get through

these

> periods more quickly. You have to understand, though, that you've

been

> taking some very powerfol drugs--some of them for quite a while--

and it is

> going to be a long road back. You're not alone. Many people here

have had

> similar histories. The good news is--you can do it. You will

survive this.

> Life will improve.

>

>

> You said:

>

> Week 7 and up until today. I can say that it isn't as bad. The

> symptoms I get are not 24/7. They come and go, but that is just as

> scary. What I feel on an intermittent basis is the nausea,

> lightheadedness, flulike stuff, and feeling disconnected. ALso, I

> feel fatigued and irritable at times. I would say being foggy or

> disconnected and lightheadedness are the two I feel the most of the

> aforementioned symptoms.The things that are with me all the time

are

> the fear that I am never gonna get better and the racing thoughts.

> The racing thoughts are horrid. I constantly fear losing my mind

and

> feeling like this permanently. Even when I ride my bike I am

> constantly afraid I am gonna pass out, but I press on.>>

>

>

> ** This may sound odd to you but you are actually doing much

better

> than you should be at this point. Seven weeks is very littel time

when it

> comes to your body trying to adjust to not having the drugs.

>

>

> You said:

>

> <<I shared my experience with the PA with the group. That was

> infuriating. ANyways, I fear my doctor isn't much better. I have to

> keep seeing him because it is free health care and I have other

> issues. I am 35. I am 6'3 " and weigh about 240. I was 210 before I

> started on the meds and peaked at 260 while on them. I take 240mg

of

> Cardizem and 100 mg of Atenolol for blood pressure and occasional

> bits of atrial fibrulation(from the past drinking). I haven't had

to

> many palpatations since cutting out the booze and caffeine.I take

> about 5 mg of Ativan a day. I know I have to get off that too, but

> first things first.The Ativan helps with the free floating anxiety,

> but not very much for the racing thoughts. I tried Xanax, but it

was

> too sedating.

>

> I am a veteran and I was a successful elementary school teacher.

> Showing up to work drunk is what precipitated me going into the

> hospital for help and it cost me my job. Truthfully, while I am sad

> about losing my teaching job, I really don't worry right now cause

> all I care about is getting healthy in mind, body, and spirit. By

> the way, all my anxiety issues cropped up after leaving the army. I

> have thought there is a connection there. I know this whole process

> has been worsened by it being my first year of sobriety and losing

> my teaching credential.>>

>

>

> * For the fatigue you'll find that a homeopathic remedy called

Carbo

> Vegetabilis30C is helpful.

>

>

> The fear issue--it's good that you can identify the root of

it. If it is

> free-floating fear I recommend Nature's Sunshine HY-C. For the

> long-lasting fear and to accompany the HY-C I recommend Jin Gui

Shen Qi Wan

>

http://www.1stchineseherbs.com/Jin_Gui_Shen_Qi_Wan_chinese_formulas.h

tm

>

>

> You said:

>

> <<As far as supplements, I take a multi-vitamin(Centrum), a b

complex,

> gingko biloba(120 mg), Vitamin C(500mg), and Nature's Bounty Salmon

> Oil(4-5 grams a day), Vitamin E 400iu. I read some of the stuff on

> the link from antidepressant facts. They seemed really down on

> taking vitamins, especially b complex. The multi-vitamin has

Vitamin

> K in it and I noticed they said that could be bad for withdrawal.

So

> what I have done is stop all supplements except for the Vitamin E

> and the Fish Oil because I don't know what is helping or if it is

> hurting me.>>

>

>

> ** I think it's important to know that the recommendations from

> Antidepressants Facts are based mostly on the experiences of two

people who

> haphazardly tried various things. This would be the same as going

to a

> pharmacy and picking up the 1st 10 bottles of drugs you saw

because someone

> told you they took them and they are good. It is equally

important to know

> that I have been doing this for 20 years with people and have

found that

> those who do not get good supplement protocols going or totally

eschew

> supplements don't heal as fully or as quickly as others do. The

very two

> people who are so vocal about this at the other group both still

have

> significant problems from the drug(s). This is after a few years.

>

>

> Check the archives there going back to before mid-Nov. of 2003.

You'll

> see that many people reported good results with supplements.

Those who

> complained they had problems never did report them so their

protocols could

> be adjusted, they just complained. Taking supplements is like

taking

> pharmaceutical drugs. The potential is there for each person to

respond

> differently. When that happens it is not that difficult to

pinpoint the

> problem and adjust the regimen.

>

>

> The Centrum vitamin is close to worthless. You'd be much

better off

> with the Buried Treasure VM-100 recommended in the Basic

Protocol. Not

> everyone has difficulty with the B vitamins. Most people can

handle them

> much better in a full spectrum formula like VM-100 than

separately. Again,

> some people take the exxperiences of a few and make a rule out of

it just

> out of desperation. Same thing with the Vit K.

>

>

> I'd go up to 2 grams on the Vit C and 800 mg. on Vit E. I'd

add inositol

> (much more affordible in bulk form than any other way. Start low

and build

> up on this. Some people take a few grams a day). Inositol will

help over

> time with the anxi4ety and irritability at a really deep level.

>

> Your fish oil does is good IF it is a good quality salmon oil.

What brand

> is it? If it's poor quality you will hurt more than help yourself

with it.

>

>

> You said:

>

>

> <<I am frustrated, angry, and mostly scared. I read the basic

healing

> protocol. What do you think is a good plan of attack here in terms

> of what I should take and what I should stop taking from my

> supplements? I really am at a loss for how to proceed and I need

> guidance in terms of nutrition and supplements. Thank you very

much.

> It is appreciated beyond words. >>

>

>

> ** Keep me posted on what you're taking and how you're

feeling. This is

> a journey and requires adjustments. After you stabilize more I'd

like to

> see if we can address the original reason you ended up in this

mess. I'm

> leaning toward flower essences for this.

>

>

> Hang in there, Casey, you can do this. Please don't ever

hesitate to

> lean on the group. Having the support is as important as anything

else.

>

> Regards,

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Casey,

You said:

<<Week 4 hit

and I wasn't so nauseous, but I still had some lightheadedness. The

hard part of this part was this was when the emotional outbursts

came. I would cry uncontrollably all the time. This is also when the

fear and racing thoughts started in with the am I ever gonna get

better and am I permanently screwed thoughts. Week 5 I was a bit

more stable emotionally, but the racing thoughts and fear have been

prevelant since then to this day. Week 6 and then the sickness came

back. Horrible flulike feelings, nausea, and the lightheadedness.

ALso, feelings of being disconnected. At this point I was getting

desperate and pissed at the same time. I started the exercise. I

ride my bike every night regardless of how I feel. I also really

started trying to tap into the higher power thing.>>

** The exercise, if you can do it, will help you get through these

periods more quickly. You have to understand, though, that you've been

taking some very powerfol drugs--some of them for quite a while--and it is

going to be a long road back. You're not alone. Many people here have had

similar histories. The good news is--you can do it. You will survive this.

Life will improve.

You said:

Week 7 and up until today. I can say that it isn't as bad. The

symptoms I get are not 24/7. They come and go, but that is just as

scary. What I feel on an intermittent basis is the nausea,

lightheadedness, flulike stuff, and feeling disconnected. ALso, I

feel fatigued and irritable at times. I would say being foggy or

disconnected and lightheadedness are the two I feel the most of the

aforementioned symptoms.The things that are with me all the time are

the fear that I am never gonna get better and the racing thoughts.

The racing thoughts are horrid. I constantly fear losing my mind and

feeling like this permanently. Even when I ride my bike I am

constantly afraid I am gonna pass out, but I press on.>>

** This may sound odd to you but you are actually doing much better

than you should be at this point. Seven weeks is very littel time when it

comes to your body trying to adjust to not having the drugs.

You said:

<<I shared my experience with the PA with the group. That was

infuriating. ANyways, I fear my doctor isn't much better. I have to

keep seeing him because it is free health care and I have other

issues. I am 35. I am 6'3 " and weigh about 240. I was 210 before I

started on the meds and peaked at 260 while on them. I take 240mg of

Cardizem and 100 mg of Atenolol for blood pressure and occasional

bits of atrial fibrulation(from the past drinking). I haven't had to

many palpatations since cutting out the booze and caffeine.I take

about 5 mg of Ativan a day. I know I have to get off that too, but

first things first.The Ativan helps with the free floating anxiety,

but not very much for the racing thoughts. I tried Xanax, but it was

too sedating.

I am a veteran and I was a successful elementary school teacher.

Showing up to work drunk is what precipitated me going into the

hospital for help and it cost me my job. Truthfully, while I am sad

about losing my teaching job, I really don't worry right now cause

all I care about is getting healthy in mind, body, and spirit. By

the way, all my anxiety issues cropped up after leaving the army. I

have thought there is a connection there. I know this whole process

has been worsened by it being my first year of sobriety and losing

my teaching credential.>>

* For the fatigue you'll find that a homeopathic remedy called Carbo

Vegetabilis30C is helpful.

The fear issue--it's good that you can identify the root of it. If it is

free-floating fear I recommend Nature's Sunshine HY-C. For the

long-lasting fear and to accompany the HY-C I recommend Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan

http://www.1stchineseherbs.com/Jin_Gui_Shen_Qi_Wan_chinese_formulas.htm

You said:

<<As far as supplements, I take a multi-vitamin(Centrum), a b complex,

gingko biloba(120 mg), Vitamin C(500mg), and Nature's Bounty Salmon

Oil(4-5 grams a day), Vitamin E 400iu. I read some of the stuff on

the link from antidepressant facts. They seemed really down on

taking vitamins, especially b complex. The multi-vitamin has Vitamin

K in it and I noticed they said that could be bad for withdrawal. So

what I have done is stop all supplements except for the Vitamin E

and the Fish Oil because I don't know what is helping or if it is

hurting me.>>

** I think it's important to know that the recommendations from

Antidepressants Facts are based mostly on the experiences of two people who

haphazardly tried various things. This would be the same as going to a

pharmacy and picking up the 1st 10 bottles of drugs you saw because someone

told you they took them and they are good. It is equally important to know

that I have been doing this for 20 years with people and have found that

those who do not get good supplement protocols going or totally eschew

supplements don't heal as fully or as quickly as others do. The very two

people who are so vocal about this at the other group both still have

significant problems from the drug(s). This is after a few years.

Check the archives there going back to before mid-Nov. of 2003. You'll

see that many people reported good results with supplements. Those who

complained they had problems never did report them so their protocols could

be adjusted, they just complained. Taking supplements is like taking

pharmaceutical drugs. The potential is there for each person to respond

differently. When that happens it is not that difficult to pinpoint the

problem and adjust the regimen.

The Centrum vitamin is close to worthless. You'd be much better off

with the Buried Treasure VM-100 recommended in the Basic Protocol. Not

everyone has difficulty with the B vitamins. Most people can handle them

much better in a full spectrum formula like VM-100 than separately. Again,

some people take the exxperiences of a few and make a rule out of it just

out of desperation. Same thing with the Vit K.

I'd go up to 2 grams on the Vit C and 800 mg. on Vit E. I'd add inositol

(much more affordible in bulk form than any other way. Start low and build

up on this. Some people take a few grams a day). Inositol will help over

time with the anxi4ety and irritability at a really deep level.

Your fish oil does is good IF it is a good quality salmon oil. What brand

is it? If it's poor quality you will hurt more than help yourself with it.

You said:

<<I am frustrated, angry, and mostly scared. I read the basic healing

protocol. What do you think is a good plan of attack here in terms

of what I should take and what I should stop taking from my

supplements? I really am at a loss for how to proceed and I need

guidance in terms of nutrition and supplements. Thank you very much.

It is appreciated beyond words. >>

** Keep me posted on what you're taking and how you're feeling. This is

a journey and requires adjustments. After you stabilize more I'd like to

see if we can address the original reason you ended up in this mess. I'm

leaning toward flower essences for this.

Hang in there, Casey, you can do this. Please don't ever hesitate to

lean on the group. Having the support is as important as anything else.

Regards,

[Guest guest]

Casey, I meant to add An Shen Bu Xin Wan to your list.

http://www.1stchineseherbs.com/An_Shen_Bu_Xin_Wan_chinese_formulas.htm

Regards,

[Guest guest]

One last thing. Should I discontinue the Gingko Biloba?

> Dear Casey,

>

>

> You said:

>

> <<Couple of questions. First, the Salmon Oil I take is Nature's

> Bounty. Should I switch or is it a good enough brand?>>

>

>

> ** It's over-processed. I'd strongly recommend Carlson's.

The price

> looks expensive but you get really high quality fish oil that is

not rancid

> and contains high amounts of EPA and DHA.

>

>

>

> <<As far as the " fear " , I think I am gonna try the Jin Gui Shen Qi

Wan

> because it does feel like long-lasting fear probably due to the

fact

> that I have been through the ringer and I have been shaken to the

> core. >>

>

>

> ** If you do this you have to take the HY-C with it. The one

above is a

> yang tonifier. You can't take a yang tonifier without yin support

(HY-C).

>

>

>

> <<None of the this stuff will have adverse reactions with the

> Ativan will it?>>

>

>

> ** No. In fact, you may be able to slowly drop the Ativan a

littel

> (don't totally d/c it).

>

>

> <<Also, I am a smoker. I have been looking for a reason to quit. My

> doc actually said to wait until the anxiety is under control. I am

> just curious in terms of how smoking effects withdrawals and how

> cessation might play a part.>>

>

>

> ** It will quadruple your misery. You have enough

neurotransmitters and

> neurotransmitter transport systems in there trying to return to

normal

> without severely challenging your dopamine system.

>

>

>

> <<Lastly, I am going to go back to the clinic that originally took

me

> off the Ativan that I am now back on. I am angry that they made me

> do it cold turkey and I want to help in terms of giving my input so

> someone else doesn't have to go through the hell I did. How would

> you recommend I approach them? Also, is there any good resources I

> could take to arm myself when I go into to see them given they will

> probably be rolling their eyes at me. I have to try at least.>>

>

>

> ** This is information that is widely disseminated and has

been known

> for years. They chose to ignore it. This is from a professional

guide used

> by physicians:

>

> " Lorazepam dosage should be terminated gradually, since abrupt

withdrawal

> of any antianxiety agent may result in symptoms similar to those

for which

> patients are being treated: anxiety, agitation, irritability,

tension,

> insomnia, and occasional convulsions. "

>

>

>

> <<Once again, mucho gratitude.>>

>

>

> ** You're quite welcome.

>

> Regards,

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Casey,

You said:

<<Couple of questions. First, the Salmon Oil I take is Nature's

Bounty. Should I switch or is it a good enough brand?>>

** It's over-processed. I'd strongly recommend Carlson's. The price

looks expensive but you get really high quality fish oil that is not rancid

and contains high amounts of EPA and DHA.

<<As far as the " fear " , I think I am gonna try the Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan

because it does feel like long-lasting fear probably due to the fact

that I have been through the ringer and I have been shaken to the

core. >>

** If you do this you have to take the HY-C with it. The one above is a

yang tonifier. You can't take a yang tonifier without yin support (HY-C).

<<None of the this stuff will have adverse reactions with the

Ativan will it?>>

** No. In fact, you may be able to slowly drop the Ativan a littel

(don't totally d/c it).

<<Also, I am a smoker. I have been looking for a reason to quit. My

doc actually said to wait until the anxiety is under control. I am

just curious in terms of how smoking effects withdrawals and how

cessation might play a part.>>

** It will quadruple your misery. You have enough neurotransmitters and

neurotransmitter transport systems in there trying to return to normal

without severely challenging your dopamine system.

<<Lastly, I am going to go back to the clinic that originally took me

off the Ativan that I am now back on. I am angry that they made me

do it cold turkey and I want to help in terms of giving my input so

someone else doesn't have to go through the hell I did. How would

you recommend I approach them? Also, is there any good resources I

could take to arm myself when I go into to see them given they will

probably be rolling their eyes at me. I have to try at least.>>

** This is information that is widely disseminated and has been known

for years. They chose to ignore it. This is from a professional guide used

by physicians:

" Lorazepam dosage should be terminated gradually, since abrupt withdrawal

of any antianxiety agent may result in symptoms similar to those for which

patients are being treated: anxiety, agitation, irritability, tension,

insomnia, and occasional convulsions. "

<<Once again, mucho gratitude.>>

** You're quite welcome.

Regards,