Posted , 13 users are following.
i have been off citalopram for 6 months now and still suffereing side effects has this happened to anybody else
2 likes, 114 replies
Posted , 13 users are following.
i have been off citalopram for 6 months now and still suffereing side effects has this happened to anybody else
2 likes, 114 replies
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katecogs Rangers3131
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The effects will wear off in time. It did for me the first time.
Rangers3131 katecogs
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katecogs Rangers3131
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Its still to quick to come off meds if you want to avoid withdrawal. These meds take a long time to work and so it'll happen the other way too. Coming off slowly and with minimal decreasing doses not only avoids withdrawal but isn't a shock to your body which stops the symptoms from reapparing.
If you're seeing your doctor you could either reinstate a small amount of Citalopram ie 5mg going up to 10mg after a month, staying on it and then withdrawl properly, or continue as you are because the withdrawal effects will cease eventually.
Let us know how you get on with your doc.
K x
garry53693 katecogs
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katecogs garry53693
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Rangers3131 katecogs
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katecogs Rangers3131
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So he didn't suggest reinstating a small amount? Yes I remember the brain zaps and dizziness the first time I withdrew - I found when I was tired it felt worse.
Have they eased in all the time you've been off the meds?
Rangers3131 katecogs
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katecogs Rangers3131
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Ah I see .....
I wonder if you can take 5-HTP which is a herbal over the counter tablet. It acts the same as an SSRI but doesn't have any side effects at all, can be started / stopped anytime. I've taken them since I've been off meds. You can't take with prescribed SSRI's. Just wondered if it would help ease the symptoms you're going through. Though you can buy them from any health shop it probably best ask the doctor though .... you've been off SSRI's long enough though so should be fine.
Rangers3131 katecogs
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Rangers3131 katecogs
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katecogs Rangers3131
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I take Vitamin D3 all the time as I don't go in the sun much. A friend of mine was having problems with aches / pains / tiredness and her blood test came back with low Vit D3 levels ..... an important Vitamin
Oooh you've been feeling better today? That's great!!! Sounds like the start
Rangers3131 katecogs
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icejan katecogs
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just a thought, seeing as u take d3, i just had the results of a bone scan,have the start of osteoparithis, one of the questions was have i ever taken anti depressants. Just be aware, i am shocked as i did not believe
the results would be positive.
katecogs icejan
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Ooh sorry to hear that Icehan. That's interesting - so do you mean anti depressants or D3 play a role in oseteoarthritis? I do have general wear and tear in my thumbs and hip as had a bone scan some years ago following a kidney stone which led to having one parathyroid removed as was diseased (one thing followed after the other) 😳
K x
katecogs Rangers3131
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When is the full MOT happening?
Glad you're beginning to feel better - those side effects do hang around a bit don't they.
Rangers3131 katecogs
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katecogs Rangers3131
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Let us know the outcome
I had a free NHS check some weeks ago and my cholesterol and blood pressure were excellent ..... though since I was last measured 30 years ago, I'm now 2 stone heavier plus I'm 1 1/2 inches shorter!!! Booooo
Rangers3131 katecogs
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katecogs Rangers3131
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??👍🏼
Rangers3131 katecogs
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katecogs Rangers3131
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Rangers3131 katecogs
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katecogs Rangers3131
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K x
Rangers3131 katecogs
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Rangers3131
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john059 Rangers3131
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Rangers3131 john059
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john059 Rangers3131
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Rangers3131 john059
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john059 Rangers3131
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I also had a crappy day Rangers. Just so sick of feeling this way. Got up this morning and took my dog for a walk hoping I would feel better but nope. Still feel the same. Spoke to a pharmacist yesterday and she said all this Cit should be out of my system now. but she couldnt tell me much about my seratonin levels. I have a Dr's appointment on 2 may so I'm def gonna speak with her about this. I'm eating right, exercising everyday and its been six weeks since my last dose. I should be feeling better by now. Enjoy your day.
Rangers3131 john059
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john059 Rangers3131
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Going for a complete physical on Jun 6th Rangers. I already know my blood iron is a bit low. Trying to get that up too. Getting old sux. Lol. I take 3000 iu's of vit D3 daily so I dont think thats my problem. But who knows. If someone wud have told me I wud feel this crappy at 60 yrs if age U wud have said they were nuts. Feeling a bit better this aft but still not where I want to be. Being low on iron is not good either. We'll see what she has to say next week though!!!!!! Enjoy your day!!!!
katecogs Rangers3131
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Ah ha ..... its surprising how many people are short of this. I expect it'll be Vit D3 as that's the 'sunshine' vitamin. Sometimes people buy Vit D over the counter and make the mistake of just taking D and not D3.
Also just 10 mins in the sun each day on any part of your skin will provide you with enough D3 (doesn't even have to be sunny).
K x
Rangers3131 katecogs
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katecogs Rangers3131
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True yes, and so is Vit A. Lack of Vit D3 causes untold problems ..... including depression, tiredness, aches & pains etc and some people don't realise they're deficient in it, and just put the symptoms down to part of like or ageing.
Hope you feel the benefits soon.
K x
john059 katecogs
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Rangers3131 katecogs
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Rangers3131 john059
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Rangers3131
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katecogs john059
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The ones I take are 25 µg (1,000 I.U.) and I take 1 a day.
Rangers3131 katecogs
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Rangers3131
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katecogs Rangers3131
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Wow that's early - 38 Yes I wish we all had an 'MOT' every 10 years - full bloods, scans etc. Probably too costly though.
I bought a good book some years ago by Jeff T Bowles called Vitamin D3 Miracle whereby he did an experiment of taking extremely high doses of D3 (not recommended of course) ..... but what he writes is interesting. Kindle edition is only £2.39 on Amazon.
Rangers3131 katecogs
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katecogs Rangers3131
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No, I'm in the UK .... so free NHS Scotland is lovely - been to Edinburgh and fell in love with it there.
K x
Rangers3131 katecogs
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john059 Rangers3131
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RangersI'm going for ine on the 6th of Jun and will surely ask to have it checked then. Thanks. Enjoy yer day
john059 katecogs
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Rangers3131 john059
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katecogs Rangers3131
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I had a NHS health check some weeks ago - not a full one. But yes .... if I don't ask, I don't get
katecogs john059
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Mmmm ..... interesting
I've now just ordered some more with a higher strength.
john059 katecogs
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I have been taking it for some time now. I also take fish oil in the morning. Doesnt seem to do anything for me though. I just dont understand why I'm not feeling better at this stage of my recovery. Its been since the 12th of mar since I took my last dose of Cit. I will bring it up with my Dr ealy next week when I see her!!!! Have a great day Miss Kate
katecogs john059
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Yes I take fish oil too ...... I've been veggie since I was very small so I get my fish benefits that way
I still think you'd do well to try 5-HTP (I know your doc said otherwise) ..... its bought in a shop alongside vitamins, or online. Some people have low levels of serotonin which cause depression and a host of other symptoms. I know I need something, so that's why I take 5-HTP.
I know your doctor wasn't keen, but its not a prescription meds.
Many years ago a new doctor in our practice asked 'wasn't it was about time I came off Citalopram' ...... I told him no, and had he read my notes as he'd only just met me. Nope ...... he had a quick read and said 'ah yes, I see'. Doctors can advise - and its up to you at the endof the day.
K x
john059 katecogs
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john059 katecogs
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katecogs john059
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5-HTP works within about 2 weeks - there should also be no side effects like you get from SSRI's. You can stop them abruptly too with no withdrawal either.
I've taken these successfully since last August, and I took them before when I'd had a break from SSRI's too (again successfully).
Fingers crossed for you.
K x
john059 katecogs
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Good morning Miss K. Just purchased some 5-HTP at the health food store. Was telling the lady there about my nightmares on AD's. She said she's heard so many similar stories. I wonder if theDr's just go on the salesmppl's advice. That would sure make sense as to why they know so little about what they are prescribing. Now I have to make a schedule for myself as to when to rake this stuff. Enjoy your day
katecogs john059
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Oooh am excited for you now trying out the 5-HTP Yes, I wonder how the drugs companies / doctors work, and have read that physicians are the most important audience to pharmacuetical sales. Trouble is, GP's are just that - General Practicioners - jack of all trades / master of none. I think some have special interests in certain fields and its good if you find one that is interested in mental health.
I take mine in the morning. Needed after a meal. My stupid brain thinks I'll get a good full day's benefit from them rather than taking at night and sleeping through the first few hours. They work whenever you take them.
K x
john059 katecogs
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katecogs john059
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Mmm .... yes the spacey feeling could be anticipation maybe? 100mg x 3 (300mg) seems high. I've 2 different bottles - one is 50mg and I take 2 a day and the other bottle is 200mg at 1 a day. Not sure I'd take 300mg ........ I once mistakingly took 2 of my 200mg's and couldn't understand why I felt 'ansty' and on edge all day oops.
Yes it does lose its zip but the way to combat that is that also take l-tyrosine along with it which enhances it. Its called a Catecholamine Precursor. I've taken both now for 8 months and before when I was on it I took i for over a year.
Which country are you in .... just wondering re the doseage on your bottle.
K x
john059 katecogs
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Good morning Miss Kate. I'm in Canada. Just woke up and had a crappy sleep. Only gonna take 200 mg's today. Just took one and will take a second after dinner this evening. Dont really like the fact that I cant eat for two hrs but if thats gonna get me over the hump well I can do that. After all I just wnat to get better. Have urself a great day!!!!!
katecogs john059
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Ah - thought you were that way somewhere ... States or Canada. I'm in the UK. Bloomin cold here too!!!!
Really hope these help you - its worth trying though, and you can always stop anytime ..... but do give them a couple of weeks first.
You know I've never noticed my 5-HTP said take before a meal ..... I always take with or without and they seem fine for me.
Hope your day gets better.
K x
john059 katecogs
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katecogs john059
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Our weather was warming up and suddenly its turned really cold ...... so a shock to the system.
Oh you're probably right taking the meds a few hours before eating. Bit uncomfortable having to wait for food though Its also best to take l-tyrosine with it too.
K x
john059 katecogs
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katecogs john059
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A bit long, but in a nutshell:
In the excellent book I have on 5-HTP it says that 'despite the good results treating people with 5-HTP, it was noticed a pattern in that 1 in 5 people being treated showed a decreaft after a or so of treatment as the 5-HTP wore off. Researchers found that though the levels of seortonin had risen and stayed high, the levels of othe important monamine neurotransmitters Dopamine and Norepinphrome (classed as Catecholamines) had declined. It was found giving patients l-tyrosine restored the effects of 5-HTP.'
No, I doubt the lady at the store would have mentioned it - its probably not widely known unless having read this book.
Mmmm - do you think its the 5-HTP making you feel unwell??? I'd be surprised if it were. Yep fingers crossed it kicks in soon.
K x
john059 katecogs
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Hi Miss Kate. Hopefully its not the HTP thats making me feel this way. Fingers crossed on that one. I'm gonna continue on it for awhile and see where it takes me. Tomorrow is another day and hopefully be a better one. Hope you had a great day.
katecogs john059
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Yes, probably is just 'whatever' has been building up. I know if I don't take something / anything, then I'll begin to notice I'm not right.
K x
john059 katecogs
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Well was I wrong. I can take this 5HTP with or without food. Its prescription meds that you must wait two hrs on either side before you take this. Thats very good. Short term memory issue again. Lol. The sun is shining, i feel a bit better so i'm going to take my dog for a good long walk. Enjoy your day
jhoanna03956 katecogs
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Hi,for how long have you been taking it when you withrew? And what type of issue did u take it for? I have extreme social anxiety and even though I have tried withdrawing slowly I still experience my anxiety coming back.so I keep going back on them....and it is so hard because I am afraid those pills will harm my health in time but at the same time I can't cope at all without them....and even on them I can't cope properly....
katecogs john059
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Lol
Well - glad you feel a bit better - maybe they're starting to work already???
katecogs jhoanna03956
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Hi Jhoanna
I took the meds for 16 years the first time before I came off, but decided to restart again after a year off due to the stress of family illness. I stayed on them for another year then came off last year - spending a year withdrawing this time.
Initially I took them for anxiety, depression and intrusive thoughts.
Some people take all sort of meds for life - diabetes, epilepsy, heart, blood pressure - so taking these meds are no different. If you need them, then stay on them. I never intended coming off, but curiosity got the better of me as wondered how I'd be. During the 16 years on meds I'd reduced from 20mg to 10mg for a maintenance for years, and finally reduced to 5mg for the last few years before stopping.
Since I've been off meds (last August) I now take 5-HTP. So though I'm off prescription meds, I do need something.
How long have you been on meds? How have you tried coming off meds? I did it by reducing from 5mg each time and stayed on each reduction for about 1-2 months. The last 5mg I further crushed and took 2.5mg and lastly 1.25mg then stopped. I didn't have any withdrawal doing it that way.
But if the meds help you, then why not stay on them? I would. Maybe you can reduce a tiny bit and if you feel well still continue on the lower dose?
Always reduce etc with your doctors help though.
K x
john059 katecogs
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katecogs john059
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That's brilliant!! So glad to hear that.
Its 1.30am and just off to bed (bit of a late night) oops.
john059 katecogs
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katecogs john059
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Yes I'm a bit of a night person, but do have to watch it as too many late nights and it starts to affect me. Was a long lay in today as its Sunday!!! Yes there'll still be low days I expect whilst you settle on the 5-HTP ...... again, time is a healer xx.
Sunny here too today, but a cool wind. Very Spring-like today. Off to the dance studio for a few hours and a workout now.
K x
john059 katecogs
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Good morning Miss zk. I'm not much of a nite person. I used to be until this depression crap started to affect my everyday life. I have been doing a lot of reading on diff sites regarding 5-HTP and no one mentions how long a person should stay on it. Some sites do mention that it does lose its zip after awhile though. I'm gonna stay on the 2 x 100 mg plan everyday. One in the am and one after dinner. We'll see where that takes me. Gonna reduce that to 50 mg's eventually. Hope its all positive in the long run!!!! Hope ur having a great day.
john059
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katecogs john059
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There also seems to be conflicting reports on 5-HTP too. I have a wonderful book on 5-HTP, written by a man who studied this. He goes into depth about how it works in the brain as well as prescribed meds. He also talks about why you need to take l-tyrosine along with 5-HTP too.
Very interesting book. I can send you the link if you want.
K x
john059 katecogs
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That would be great Miss K. Just got up from the worst sleep of my life. My eyes are all swollen. Dont know whats going on. But I have a Dr' app't this aft and I will bring up all this stuff with her. Have a great day.
katecogs john059
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Ok will message you withit.
Mmmmm maybe your eyes are suffering if you've not had a good sleep??? Could be totally unrelated of course but yes check it out with the doctor.
By the way ... am I the only one on here that finds adverts keep popping up and I lost my post? Even clicking from the email I go to a post, then the screen scrolls and I lose it.
john059 katecogs
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I dont know why this happens to my eyes but its sure a bummer. When I lack sleep like that it ruins my whole next day. I have decided to cut my dosage of 5H in half. I've been on it for 5 days now and I read on a site that u should work your way up to a normal dose. So instead of 100 mg pill in the morn and again at nite I have decided to use a pill cutter and half it. Also read that you should not take Omega-3 oil to close to when you have taken your 5H. Reaching for a comfortable solution here. So dang sick of feeling sick I guess!!!
katecogs john059
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When I miss don't get a good nights sleep I'm just heady and tetchy all the next day. Yea be careful taking too much as can cause agitation, racing heart etc.
How did the doctors appointment go?
john059 katecogs
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katecogs john059
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Hi John
Oh gosh really? I am sorry you're returning to the meds because you spent a great deal of time and effort coming off them and know you wanted to be free of them. Oh the other hand, its maye wise in returning to them if you're struggling a little, and before it takes a hold. The 5-HTP can always be kept for that time when you decide to come off again one day.
Do you need to take iron tablets now?
K x
john059 katecogs
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Good morning Miss Kate. Yes it is a bummer that I have to go on them but it will be a low dose. Now that I have a much better understanding of how all this works, i'm not afraid to go back on them. This has been a 2 year struggle for me but I sure did learn a lot. Especially from ppl like you and for that u have all my respect.
I beleive theres a reason for everything!!!!! As far as Iron tablets goes we'll see after my cats can. Aspirin could have caused bleeding in my upper small intestine that the 2 tests I have taken would not show that. The pharmacist told me 81 mg Aspirin is only good for maintenance after you have had a heart attack. He said they had studied this to the 9's. Lol. Fingers crossed on that one. Trying to maintain my exercise levels and so on as I know that helps a lot. Enjoy yer day!!!!!
Angel1984 garry53693
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I've also put on about 2 stone