Starting Week 3 More Anxious

Good to hear from you mate. I'm on 40mg capsule number 5 today, so five days into the increase. Felt a little nervy, hands shaking again and very slightly queasy this morning, a bit like very diluted initial side effects. I managed to drive down the beach later, and had a walk but felt like I had the flu coming on with mild back ache. I knew it was the bloody tablets finally kicking in, so had a bath. Feeling better now, but a bit sad that it's Xmas next weekend and I feel like s**t again, just in time for Santa. At least I feel like crap and it's not a hangover how amazing. Maybe there will be a miracle, who knows? Oh well. I spoke to the doctor about the serotonin syndrome risk but she didn't seem too concerned about it at the relatively low dose of 40mgs. I think it usually happens within 24 hours of taking or upping the dosage, but at the moment, and after the past 10 weeks of utter hell, I couldn't really care less any more! I'm sure we'll survive mate, or they wouldn't risk putting the dosage up, it's extremely rare, but obviously with our health anxiety we think we'll get it! Even if we did, it's highly unlikely to be fatal anyway, just stop worrying and go for it, I did, and I'm still here so far! I am feeling better, but waiting for the lowish mood to elevate a bit more. I'm living on my own, and got through the whole of it alone, so it's been pretty intense, but I'm laughing a bit like a madman at some things, and talking to myself. At least I'm having an intelligent conversation with someone I trust. Try to relax, and get as much food and sleep/rest as you can mate.

i know this is an older post, but i am currently in week 3 of flux and suffering bad. its currently 3.10am and my mind is racing and wont shut up. Im shaky, sweaty and feel really sick.

Did anyone else get really bad head pain, like a stinging? it hurts to touch my head at the roots and the scalp feels kind of numb. My main fear is MS and now my mind is going into overdrive.

i heard week 3 could be a b***h, and i just need some reassurance because i cant imagine feeling any better right now.

Hello RT, welcome to the fun factory! You've done amazingly well to get this far, please don't give up now, you will get past this awful time, you know you've got the resilience, never give up ok. Many do, but these side effects are very cruel physically and mentally, I'm pretty sure the doctor doesn't tell us it can take months not just a few weeks, because we'd probably not take them. Many of us lot also have health anxiety which makes it worse. The first month or so does seem to make the symptoms worse to start with but for pretty much all of us they WILL GO , please believe this and keep fighting on, you WILL get better ok. You're right in the middle of the worst bit of the journey right now, all those side effects are the same as we've been through, the constant nausea, shaking, twitching and all the rest. For me it's the deep fatigue, but that's starting to recede now too. Your head pain is probably another one, splitting headache and then numbness, weird. Your brain is reconfiguring itself like a computer update really, so actually physical changes are happening with the feel good receptors as your serotonin levels increase, and your brain is saying what the heck, I've got to adjust to the new amount it's coping with! It's not surprising we get some unusual pains, your doc might put your mind at rest (sorry, no pun intended). One of the best things now is reassurance, and distraction, although I know you probably just want to curl up and hide under the duvet! Try to eat, bananas are really good, and dry cereal or bread. Your appetite will come back, I literally had to pinch my nose when swallowing to stop being sick at about the 4th week, but it passed off. Sleep or just resting, and food, are the most important things right now. You don't have MS or anything else, it takes a long time for these illnesses to show symptoms, but you've only been on the fluo for a few weeks! The health anxiety was one of the first things I was aware was going, and completely gone now after 4 months. The worst of it will go soon enough, just dig deeper, you'll be so proud of yourself, for many of us this is the worst thing we've ever had to deal with in our lives, unless you've been through it, it's hard to understand. All that you're suffering IS normal side effects, thankfully you found this forum, and we'll try to help you, we'll put our arms around you when you're at your lowest moments, because we understand what you're going through kiddo. Just keep on going, it'll get better. Just post on here we'll support you, take a deep breath and know you're not alone ok. Best Wishes and hold on for the rollercoaster x

Thank you so much for your wonderful words Phil!

Last night was one of the worst nights I have ever experienced. My head is still hurting today and I just wish it would go away.

I was on sertraline for a month, but the pain it gave my head I asked my GP to switch. And now I have this pain, I feel like I am going backwards.

This website is like my sanctuary and I am constantly searching comments to reassure myself. And by searching here, it means I am not scaring myself with the googling of symptoms!

I have a review booked next week anyway with my GP - so I can re-evaluate then. I really do want to stick this out, but the pain in my head seems to be making my anxiety worse than what it was pre-flux 😦

Hi there

I just want to say that Phil is 100% right and i can back up his every word - we went through this. When you suffering like that and your mind racing with million negative thoughts you start to jump from one thing to another trying to get better quick and stop all this suffering. People start to change meds, increase, decrease and etc. But you you should do just GIVE ENOUGH TIME for meds to work. Its nor magic pill, its slow process with many ups and downs, side effects and fears.

Dont give up , keep going and let meds do their job - later you will be so happy you did ! You will have your life back even when now you feel like this forever.

You will get there, you will be fine, please believe in yourself and meds

Thanks so much for the reassuring words Nataliya - this is why I like coming here. So many people understand what I am currently feeling and going through.

I am going to keep going with the meds and hopefully, the bad head fades in time 😦

Oh yeah, it's going to get much much better, like Nataliya is saying, give it more time, it's not an easy or quick fix, and I'm pretty sure fluoxetine is quite a slow mover compared to some of the newer ones (like sertraline, I ended up in an ambulance after only two of them, not a great start! Some folks do really well on.it, just the luck of the draw). They all do the same thing just different chemical composition I guess. I might just mention that when you start feeling a bit better, it's possible to suddenly feel really crap again, the bloody blips! Please don't worry the drug has stopped working, it's still doing it's thing behind the scenes. This was such a disappointment after going through that hell you're in right now, but it only lasted about 5 days, and I just got out of another last week. They'll all go in time, so stick with it. I'm in the 4th month now and all the other sideys have gone, just still getting a bit fatigued for an hour or so after taking them (40mgs, started on 10, then up to 20, then 40, all went smoothly, just some very slight sideys for a few days, nothing like the initial ones, mostly a bit nauseous and low appetite. Thanks for your nice words Nataliya, I said before I don't think I'd be here now without your help and support, it's time to give back now, that really helps too! Virtual hugs to you all, there's no easy day, but there ARE better days ahead, Tell the doc about the head pain, paracetamol worked well for me, no side effects from that simple over the counter painkiller, 30pence down in the supermarket!! I'm not entirely sure the doctors that haven't experienced this medication fully understand the awful side effects and how long it takes to get on them. The fluo might feel like your worst enemy right now, but they will become your best friend, really! Keep on going RT, we're thinking of you, wish it's possible to do more. Oh, have a look for a poster called Katecogs in the search field, she's helped loads of us, her posts are really informative and such a reassurance. Be in touch whenever, we'll not give up on you ok!!

Thank you so much Phil!

It is so reassuring to know that there are people out there that know exactly what I am going through, but that are also so blooming lovely!

Your words mean so much and I really hope I can make it through.

I hope you do not mind, but anytime I will need to vent/seek reassurance, I will more than likely search you or Nataliya out 😃

Ruby

You WILL make it through, no doubt about it! To get even this far takes a lot of resolve and determination, and courage, every day you're getting closer to the good time. If you stopped now you'd go back through the withdrawal side effects, and that could take the same time as pushing on through, so it's going to be a real pita either way! Might as well suffer and have something to look forward to, rather than the awful disappointment of giving up hmm? Come on, you can do it, you know you can deep inside, because you know you want to. Get on the rollercoaster and hold on tight! Hugs from Wales.

This is why I am sticking with the Flux. I was on Sertraline but that was just so awful, more awful than what I feel now which is why the GP switched me to this!

I will stay on this Flux train, and thank you so much again for your messages!

I am also in Wales, so hugs right back!

Ha ha that's brilliant!! Pembrokeshire for me! Yeah stay on it, Nataliya was right on the money with that bit of advice for sure. The Flux Train, I like that one!

hey Ruby sending you a big hug from the Land Down Under - Australia 

I am on fluoxetine now for over a year, it was hell of a journey - not all of it of course, as i said ups and downs.

I was trying to stabilise on 20mg for 9 months, i was feeling like myself in afternoons and evenings, happy and full of hopes. But mornings were awful, terrible anxiety, intrusive negative thoughts, fears.

Thats when i went for higher dose 40mg, i was so scared to increase due to initial side effects but it was very easy transition and the game changer for me. Now i am 5 month on 40mg and i got my life back, trust me its working. 20mg fluoxetine is very low dose, but 40 is perfect. Trust me you will be fine, even better than fine .!!

Msg Phil and me anytime you need 

thank you so much Nataliya!

I started straight off on 40mg, going from 100mg on Sertraline.

I am praying that I will get there eventually.

You and Phil have been so kind with your words of encouragement.

Ouch! That's a pretty high dosage to start on the fluo tbh!! No wonder you're suffering. I guess it's about in the middle therapeutic range when you've built up to it and you're used to it but seems a lot to start off on straight away. I think the maximum daily dose is about 80mgs? Most posters seem to have started on 10 or 20. But what Nataliya is saying it's best not to keep changing and probably best to stick with it as your body should be getting used to that dosage now. Hope you have a more comfortable night, although the weird dreams and night sweats are not much fun at all! I'm still getting the vivid dreams, but now getting about 6 hours sleep at last, but mornings are still a bit crap and shaky hands don't help getting the coffee out of the jar, most of it ends up on the floor! Oh well, let us know how you're getting on, sleep tight.

Hi Phil!

Last night was a much better night! Had the usual sweats and interrupted sleep, but the pain in my head was much better!

Woken up with the shakes, but nothing that propanalol cant sort!

How long have you had crappy sleep for?

Hiya, great news as sleep and rest is really important now as the exhaustion builds up. Don't worry if any aches and pains do come back, they'll go eventually, give it time to settle down. My sleep is only just starting to get better, the sweats seem to have gotten less this week (week 17 or so I think). The sleep quality is much deeper though, despite the awful dreams. I'm starting to just go out like a light then sleep right through rather than taking ages to get off and waking in the middle of the early morning and not being able to get back to sleep.The worry and anxiety just went and it sort of coincided with that. So in all about 4 months but it could come quicker for you as you seem to be responding very well and quickly to the fluo, even if you don't feel like it right now!! I still get the shakes a bit, usually first thing in the morning. Funnily enough I felt quite weak and a bit fluey today but that's also been on and off all the way through. Hope you do ok today, no matter how dull it is outside or raining etc, dig deep inside and trust yourself, every bad thing will only make you stronger, and that's a good thing. From the strong comes forth sweetness. Let us know how you get on when you feel up to it ok.

Today seems to be going okay - finding it hard to take deep breaths and my chest/airways feel tight and muffled, but that happens a lot and after having 2 x-rays, a CT scan and 3 appointments with a Respiratory Consultant, I am coming to learn to live with it haha.

How is your day going? Hope it is treating you okay!

Hiya, that's a lot going on together, no wonder you're anxious. I hope the medics get to the bottom of it soon. Tension from anxiety and stress etc can give symptoms like that, especially a tightness, probably cos the muscles are so tense even subconsciously? I'm getting some face to face counseling through the online Talk Plus service which the doctor put me on to, it's really easy to register online and took a bit of a while to get the face 1 to 1 appointment but it's really been very good, 7 sessions in all, the doc will tell you about it, and the Social Prescribing service. Not sure if it's the same where you are, as I actually live and work in England -I just got back last night from my old caravan down there! Work is a bit dull, but helps pay the bills. Good to hear you're feeling a bit better today as well, maybe you're lucky to be getting through it quickly, hope so anyway, and that the head pain is wearing off. I think even though it's really unpleasant, the side effects must mean the fluo is working at least. It's weird, there was no magic moment when I suddenly felt good, I kind of just realized I was brighter and just better! In fact, my sister and other friends noticed it before me. It's interesting to hear about your journey, most of us seem to get very similar effects, but for sure it's made me much more confident and less worried especially socially, I still can't really understand why I got to the point that I needed help! Life's a strange old thing sometimes. Hope you have another more restful evening, keep going, hopefully your recovery will coincide with the spring and summer!

How's it going? Hope you're breathing better today, and that all's well, and you're not suffering too much. It's not very nice I know.