OT Kicking Effexor!
Question:
Fil, have you tried diet caffeine-free Coke? Before my surgery I found it easy to switch from regular diet Coke and I actually liked the taste of the caffeine-free better. [Since the surgery I can only drink bottled water for some reason - oh and coffee.]
Yes I have…and I keep it in stock. Decaf Diet Pepsi too. Without it, I’d be sucking back 5-6 cans of the high test a day. If I’m just thirsty, decaf diet is a workable bait-and-switch. It does nothing for the caffeine cravings, the headaches, the morning ritual of stumbling into things, mixing up words, dropping stuff and disorientation, or the unspeakable pepsi fantasies. (I’m awful in the mornings. I lose my balance and fall into walls/doors, or I don’t notice stuff and walk into it, or drop stuff onto myself, and am usually carrying a few bruises at any given time.) –Fil SO not a morning person that it isn’t even funny
Response:
No I dont Mary because I’m diabetic and orange juice has a lot of sugar but I love navel oranges and eat plenty of thosethe natural sugar seems to leave your system quicker thanks for telling me though, maybe I can find some other source, I’ll have a look around. Jean.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My Dr has just had to urge me togo off Quinine which I take for cramp in my legs at night, it has been decided that Quinine is bad for older people in that it affects the electrodes or some sort of electric things round your heartso I stopped taking them as I already have angina, but boy the cramps are pretty bad, and the Dr couldn’t find anything to replace the tablets, all these tablets they are now finding are ‘dangerous’ makes you wonder just what we are putting into ourselves when the Dr’s put you on medication, one lot of BP tablets could have killed me if I hadn’t MADE my ‘then’ Dr listen to what I’d been telling him for months eventually he took blood tests and found my kidneys were in a very bad way, fortunately he’d heard me at last and I recovered when he took me off them. Jean.P. Jean, my dad got these cramps and extra potassium helped him. Do you have your orange juice every day?
Response:
Thanks to you too Howard, you learn something every day. Jean.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My Dr has just had to urge me togo off Quinine which I take for cramp in my legs at night, it has been decided that Quinine is bad for older people in that it affects the electrodes or some sort of electric things round your heartso I stopped taking them as I already have angina, but boy the cramps are pretty bad, and the Dr couldn’t find anything to replace the tablets, all these tablets they are now finding are ‘dangerous’ makes you wonder just what we are putting into ourselves when the Dr’s put you on medication, one lot of BP tablets could have killed me if I hadn’t MADE my ‘then’ Dr listen to what I’d been telling him for months eventually he took blood tests and found my kidneys were in a very bad way, fortunately he’d heard me at last and I recovered when he took me off them. Jean.P. Jean, my dad got these cramps and extra potassium helped him. Do you have your orange juice every day? Good observation. That does need to be done with awareness of any cardiac drugs that affect potassium metabolism.
Response:
Thanks again howard I will take this information on board Jean.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My Dr has just had to urge me togo off Quinine which I take for cramp in my legs at night, it has been decided that Quinine is bad for older people in that it affects the electrodes or some sort of electric things round your heartso I stopped taking them as I already have angina, but boy the cramps are pretty bad, and the Dr couldn’t find anything to replace the tablets, all these tablets they are now finding are ‘dangerous’ makes you wonder just what we are putting into ourselves when the Dr’s put you on medication, one lot of BP tablets could have killed me if I hadn’t MADE my ‘then’ Dr listen to what I’d been telling him for months eventually he took blood tests and found my kidneys were in a very bad way, fortunately he’d heard me at last and I recovered when he took me off them. Jean.P. Quinine is indeed related to cardiac drugs such as quinidine, and I can see reasons for concern. There’s a range of disorders between nocturnal leg cramps and restless leg syndrome, and it’s possible that treating restless leg syndrome might relieve the cramps. The treatment of the latter tends to use anticonvulsants and related drugs. A reasonably safe and low-side-effect drug would be a low dose of clonazepam near bedtime, which has anticonvulsant, tranquilizing, and muscle relaxant properties. Alternatives could include more classic anticonvulsants such as gabapentin or carbemazepine, or conceivably an anti-spasticity drug such as baclofen. Whenever there’s a chronic cramping condition, it can be wise to put the patient on a regular, often low dose of anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen. Without going too biochemical, there’s evidence that cramping and related muscle problems cause the release of inflammatory substances. The benefit, from a biological basis, is that it tends to force someone to keep an injured muscle still. In practice, that reaction from the autonomous nervous system may make the muscle problem considerably more painful, and spiral into making it worse and worse.
Response:
No I dont Mary because I’m diabetic and orange juice has a lot of sugar but I love navel oranges and eat plenty of thosethe natural sugar seems to leave your system quicker thanks for telling me though, maybe I can find some other source, I’ll have a look around. Jean.
I am diabetic as well, and have been told that natural fruit is better for me than fruit juice. The added fiber in the whole fruit slows the absorption of the sugar. I still have to be careful that I don’t overdo the quantity. — PGP key available from http://pgp.mit.edu "Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all." — Hypatia of Alexandria
Response:
My late mother took Quinine for years to help with cramp, In the end she became deaf, and the quinine was blamed for it . Marie from OZ
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My Dr has just had to urge me togo off Quinine which I take for cramp in my legs at night, it has been decided that Quinine is bad for older people in that it affects the electrodes or some sort of electric things round your heartso I stopped taking them as I already have angina, but boy the cramps are pretty bad, and the Dr couldn’t find anything to replace the tablets, all these tablets they are now finding are ‘dangerous’ makes you wonder just what we are putting into ourselves when the Dr’s put you on medication, one lot of BP tablets could have killed me if I hadn’t MADE my ‘then’ Dr listen to what I’d been telling him for months eventually he took blood tests and found my kidneys were in a very bad way, fortunately he’d heard me at last and I recovered when he took me off them. Jean.P. Good for you! We’re all purring and praying that things keep going well! And if you decide at some point that you want a medicine OTHER than Effexor, talk to your doctor about the ones that are available that have fewer side effects than the Effexor does. BTW, I hear you BIG TIME about the "time to ditch caffeine" decision. In my case, last year when I had to go on blood pressure meds (to control a BP that’d risen to something like 132/100 and 132/98), I decided that all but the first cup of coffee in the morning had to go. I hate taking meds unless I absolutely, positively HAVE to. And there’s no logic in taking BP meds, then undoing their benefit by caffeinating my blood pressure back up to an unhealthy level, right? So all coffee, tea, and other beverages after the first cup of the morning are now decaf or non-caffeinated. BTW, the BP has now been controlled with the meds, to the point where it’s at a normal level again. It took a few months to get the dose right, but things seem OK now. I’m not surprised that I ended up on meds, given the history of high blood pressure that’s rampant on both sides of my family. I’m reaching an age (early 40s) where some of the family’s genetic time bombs are going to start showing up, if I’ve inherited any of them. Purrs and prayers that you keep doing well! Donna, Captain, and Stanley
Response:
Your right there John, I try to make it one in the early evening, but sometimes I get greedy and steal another one and I’ve noticed the difference. I guess I dont always do the right thing by my diabetes but I try, sometimes I can’t help saying to myself, come on your 72 surely you can relax a little sometimes, after all I might go out tomorrow and walk under a bus, just joking {a bit.} Jean.P. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – No I dont Mary because I’m diabetic and orange juice has a lot of sugar but I love navel oranges and eat plenty of thosethe natural sugar seems to leave your system quicker thanks for telling me though, maybe I can find some other source, I’ll have a look around. Jean. I am diabetic as well, and have been told that natural fruit is better for me than fruit juice. The added fiber in the whole fruit slows the absorption of the sugar. I still have to be careful that I don’t overdo the quantity. — PGP key available from http://pgp.mit.edu "Reserve your right to think, for even to think wrongly is better than not to think at all." — Hypatia of Alexandria
Response:
My god my kids reckon I’m deaf, I am a bit too. Well I’m not taking it any more now thogh it was pretty bad last night because it was the 3rd night withoutso its not going to get any better from now on. Jean.P.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My late mother took Quinine for years to help with cramp, In the end she became deaf, and the quinine was blamed for it . Marie from OZ My Dr has just had to urge me togo off Quinine which I take for cramp in my legs at night, it has been decided that Quinine is bad for older people in that it affects the electrodes or some sort of electric things round your heartso I stopped taking them as I already have angina, but boy the cramps are pretty bad, and the Dr couldn’t find anything to replace the tablets, all these tablets they are now finding are ‘dangerous’ makes you wonder just what we are putting into ourselves when the Dr’s put you on medication, one lot of BP tablets could have killed me if I hadn’t MADE my ‘then’ Dr listen to what I’d been telling him for months eventually he took blood tests and found my kidneys were in a very bad way, fortunately he’d heard me at last and I recovered when he took me off them. Jean.P. Good for you! We’re all purring and praying that things keep going well! And if you decide at some point that you want a medicine OTHER than Effexor, talk to your doctor about the ones that are available that have fewer side effects than the Effexor does. BTW, I hear you BIG TIME about the "time to ditch caffeine" decision. In my case, last year when I had to go on blood pressure meds (to control a BP that’d risen to something like 132/100 and 132/98), I decided that all but the first cup of coffee in the morning had to go. I hate taking meds unless I absolutely, positively HAVE to. And there’s no logic in taking BP meds, then undoing their benefit by caffeinating my blood pressure back up to an unhealthy level, right? So all coffee, tea, and other beverages after the first cup of the morning are now decaf or non-caffeinated. BTW, the BP has now been controlled with the meds, to the point where it’s at a normal level again. It took a few months to get the dose right, but things seem OK now. I’m not surprised that I ended up on meds, given the history of high blood pressure that’s rampant on both sides of my family. I’m reaching an age (early 40s) where some of the family’s genetic time bombs are going to start showing up, if I’ve inherited any of them. Purrs and prayers that you keep doing well! Donna, Captain, and Stanley
Response:
Bananas & prunes are good for potassium, too. 
Katz
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My Dr has just had to urge me togo off Quinine which I take for cramp in my legs at night, it has been decided that Quinine is bad for older people in that it affects the electrodes or some sort of electric things round your heartso I stopped taking them as I already have angina, but boy the cramps are pretty bad, and the Dr couldn’t find anything to replace the tablets, all these tablets they are now finding are ‘dangerous’ makes you wonder just what we are putting into ourselves when the Dr’s put you on medication, one lot of BP tablets could have killed me if I hadn’t MADE my ‘then’ Dr listen to what I’d been telling him for months eventually he took blood tests and found my kidneys were in a very bad way, fortunately he’d heard me at last and I recovered when he took me off them. Jean.P. Jean, my dad got these cramps and extra potassium helped him. Do you have your orange juice every day?
Good observation. That does need to be done with awareness of any cardiac drugs that affect potassium metabolism.
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – My Dr has just had to urge me togo off Quinine which I take for cramp in my legs at night, it has been decided that Quinine is bad for older people in that it affects the electrodes or some sort of electric things round your heartso I stopped taking them as I already have angina, but boy the cramps are pretty bad, and the Dr couldn’t find anything to replace the tablets, all these tablets they are now finding are ‘dangerous’ makes you wonder just what we are putting into ourselves when the Dr’s put you on medication, one lot of BP tablets could have killed me if I hadn’t MADE my ‘then’ Dr listen to what I’d been telling him for months eventually he took blood tests and found my kidneys were in a very bad way, fortunately he’d heard me at last and I recovered when he took me off them. Jean.P.
Quinine is indeed related to cardiac drugs such as quinidine, and I can see reasons for concern. There’s a range of disorders between nocturnal leg cramps and restless leg syndrome, and it’s possible that treating restless leg syndrome might relieve the cramps. The treatment of the latter tends to use anticonvulsants and related drugs. A reasonably safe and low-side-effect drug would be a low dose of clonazepam near bedtime, which has anticonvulsant, tranquilizing, and muscle relaxant properties. Alternatives could include more classic anticonvulsants such as gabapentin or carbemazepine, or conceivably an anti-spasticity drug such as baclofen. Whenever there’s a chronic cramping condition, it can be wise to put the patient on a regular, often low dose of anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen. Without going too biochemical, there’s evidence that cramping and related muscle problems cause the release of inflammatory substances. The benefit, from a biological basis, is that it tends to force someone to keep an injured muscle still. In practice, that reaction from the autonomous nervous system may make the muscle problem considerably more painful, and spiral into making it worse and worse.
Response:
Honestly, after that first night of barfing, I haven’t felt bad at all.
Stupid Effexor. I find myself getting dizzy spells. Usually I don’t get dizzy unless I’ve got a fever or exhausted myself running up stairs. They’re pretty mild though. Just annoying. Nothing next to 6 this morning–I woke up from a pepsi dream barely able to swallow, throat dry, ears plugged with mucus, and ribbons of stinking mucus in my nose and throat. Granted, the room was dry, and I do have rhinitis–mucus isn’t anything new–but that Pepsi was just /soooooo/ good. Oooo, the fizzle in the ears as it moistened the dryness and helped me swallow the gunk or cough it out. Soothing the pain of my throat with its icy wetness. I fell right back to sleep and slept like a baby until 10. …and I’ve had a diet dr pepper and another pepsi since then…of course, I’ve also written 10 pages of postgrad term paper. I am not cutting back caffeine until Tuesday when the paper is done. But I don’t think I’ll ever be able to give up the blue can delight entirely… –Fil
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Honestly, after that first night of barfing, I haven’t felt bad at all. Stupid Effexor. I find myself getting dizzy spells. Usually I don’t get dizzy unless I’ve got a fever or exhausted myself running up stairs. They’re pretty mild though. Just annoying. Nothing next to 6 this morning–I woke up from a pepsi dream barely able to swallow, throat dry, ears plugged with mucus, and ribbons of stinking mucus in my nose and throat. Granted, the room was dry, and I do have rhinitis–mucus isn’t anything new–but that Pepsi was just /soooooo/ good. Oooo, the fizzle in the ears as it moistened the dryness and helped me swallow the gunk or cough it out. Soothing the pain of my throat with its icy wetness. I fell right back to sleep and slept like a baby until 10. …and I’ve had a diet dr pepper and another pepsi since then…of course, I’ve also written 10 pages of postgrad term paper. I am not cutting back caffeine until Tuesday when the paper is done. But I don’t think I’ll ever be able to give up the blue can delight entirely… –Fil
Fil, have you tried diet caffeine-free Coke? Before my surgery I found it easy to switch from regular diet Coke and I actually liked the taste of the caffeine-free better. [Since the surgery I can only drink bottled water for some reason - oh and coffee.] Hugs, CatNipped
Response:
My Dr has just had to urge me togo off Quinine which I take for cramp in my legs at night, it has been decided that Quinine is bad for older people in that it affects the electrodes or some sort of electric things round your heartso I stopped taking them as I already have angina, but boy the cramps are pretty bad, and the Dr couldn’t find anything to replace the tablets, all these tablets they are now finding are ‘dangerous’ makes you wonder just what we are putting into ourselves when the Dr’s put you on medication, one lot of BP tablets could have killed me if I hadn’t MADE my ‘then’ Dr listen to what I’d been telling him for months eventually he took blood tests and found my kidneys were in a very bad way, fortunately he’d heard me at last and I recovered when he took me off them. Jean.P.
Jean, my dad got these cramps and extra potassium helped him. Do you have your orange juice every day?
Response:
I’m not as badly addicted this time around, but there is nothing better in life than that first cup of Java in the morning. Its often the only one I have during the day (I’ll usually drink decaf or hot chocolate if I want a hot beverage, and water if I want something cool) but darn I enjoy that first coffee far too much.///
Oh I *SO* hear you about the coffee addiction. I’m a veritable pitbull until I’ve had at least one cup of coffee when I get up. The only purrson who doesn’t keep a low profile in the mornings is HRFL Tiger, and even *he* gets fairly short shift! ;o) Helen M
Response:
Lots of purrs and best wishes, — Polonca & Soncek
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Here it is…the first day without Effexor. Honestly, after that first night of barfing, I haven’t felt bad at all. If anything, I’ve felt BETTER because I no longer need to sleep more than 10 hours a day (was pushing 16 mandatory sleep hours in every 24 when I quit). Therefore, I only nap if I get less than 10 hours at night. All this stuff is getting done, and it’s awesome. I even have time to watch TV or read comic books again. Mood’s better instead of worse–with this energy and fire back, I feel like I could rule the world. As long as my fire doesn’t spill over into rage, all is good. Now to address the caffeine addiction. THIS bastard I’ve been fighting for six years to control. I’m sucking back three cans of pop a day again and I’ve got to cut this out…I can feel the stomach damage returning. Starting Monday, when my term paper is done, it’s down to one. –Mary
Response:
My Dr has just had to urge me togo off Quinine which I take for cramp in my legs at night, it has been decided that Quinine is bad for older people in that it affects the electrodes or some sort of electric things round your heartso I stopped taking them as I already have angina, but boy the cramps are pretty bad, and the Dr couldn’t find anything to replace the tablets, all these tablets they are now finding are ‘dangerous’ makes you wonder just what we are putting into ourselves when the Dr’s put you on medication, one lot of BP tablets could have killed me if I hadn’t MADE my ‘then’ Dr listen to what I’d been telling him for months eventually he took blood tests and found my kidneys were in a very bad way, fortunately he’d heard me at last and I recovered when he took me off them. Jean.P.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Good for you! We’re all purring and praying that things keep going well! And if you decide at some point that you want a medicine OTHER than Effexor, talk to your doctor about the ones that are available that have fewer side effects than the Effexor does. BTW, I hear you BIG TIME about the "time to ditch caffeine" decision. In my case, last year when I had to go on blood pressure meds (to control a BP that’d risen to something like 132/100 and 132/98), I decided that all but the first cup of coffee in the morning had to go. I hate taking meds unless I absolutely, positively HAVE to. And there’s no logic in taking BP meds, then undoing their benefit by caffeinating my blood pressure back up to an unhealthy level, right? So all coffee, tea, and other beverages after the first cup of the morning are now decaf or non-caffeinated. BTW, the BP has now been controlled with the meds, to the point where it’s at a normal level again. It took a few months to get the dose right, but things seem OK now. I’m not surprised that I ended up on meds, given the history of high blood pressure that’s rampant on both sides of my family. I’m reaching an age (early 40s) where some of the family’s genetic time bombs are going to start showing up, if I’ve inherited any of them. Purrs and prayers that you keep doing well! Donna, Captain, and Stanley
Response:
Headaches, nausea and the cravings were horrendous. It took about 3 months for the cravings to subside, but they didn’t ever go away entirely (not ever beign a smoker, I’m not sure what giving up smoking is like, but its probably similar)
I kicked caffeine for six months during the worst of the ulcers, probably because I was so doped up on painkillers and/or passed out when they didn’t work well enough, that I couldn’t notice the headaches that much. I’m back fighting now…going into overdrive once the term paper is done. Must get back to a can of pop a day. Some people think it’s FUNNY when you have dreams of singing, dancing pepsi cans and then wake up choking from dry throat and going berserk with cravings…. –Fil (Had a cherry cigarillo once and liked it so much that I never touched one again. I don’t need another addiction and lung cancer. A half-rotted digestive system and the singing, dancing pepsi can hallucinations are quite enough)
Response:
On 2005-04-14, Enfilade penned: – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Here it is…the first day without Effexor. Honestly, after that first night of barfing, I haven’t felt bad at all. If anything, I’ve felt BETTER because I no longer need to sleep more than 10 hours a day (was pushing 16 mandatory sleep hours in every 24 when I quit). Therefore, I only nap if I get less than 10 hours at night. All this stuff is getting done, and it’s awesome. I even have time to watch TV or read comic books again. Mood’s better instead of worse–with this energy and fire back, I feel like I could rule the world. As long as my fire doesn’t spill over into rage, all is good. Now to address the caffeine addiction. THIS bastard I’ve been fighting for six years to control. I’m sucking back three cans of pop a day again and I’ve got to cut this out…I can feel the stomach damage returning. Starting Monday, when my term paper is done, it’s down to one. –Mary
Good luck with both drugs! But are you sure you want to kick both at once? Caffeine’s the only physical addiction I’ve ever had, and it’s a bad one. I fully support your plan to kick that stuff, but maybe just try to kick the Effexor first? Just a thought. One problem I had with caffeine was that I would use it as an "upper." Instead of saying, "I would like a coffee," I would say, "I am really tired this morning; I need some caffeine." Then my sleep patterns would get all screwy and I wouldn’t sleep well, so I’d need more caffeine … and so it went. Now, if I forget to order decaf, I can’t sleep at all. No matter what time of day I drank the stuff. — monique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Here it is…the first day without Effexor. Honestly, after that first night of barfing, I haven’t felt bad at all. If anything, I’ve felt BETTER because I no longer need to sleep more than 10 hours a day (was pushing 16 mandatory sleep hours in every 24 when I quit). Therefore, I only nap if I get less than 10 hours at night. All this stuff is getting done, and it’s awesome. I even have time to watch TV or read comic books again. Mood’s better instead of worse–with this energy and fire back, I feel like I could rule the world. As long as my fire doesn’t spill over into rage, all is good. Now to address the caffeine addiction. THIS bastard I’ve been fighting for six years to control. I’m sucking back three cans of pop a day again and I’ve got to cut this out…I can feel the stomach damage returning. Starting Monday, when my term paper is done, it’s down to one.
I don’t know about Effexor, but caffeine is one heck of a b*tch to kick. When I was pregnant, The Yowlet would not allow me to have any caffeine whatsoever, I’d immediatley chuck up all over the place if I had any. Of course, I was still addicted but couldn’t have any, and it wasn’t like I could just cut-down over time, I had to go cold turkey. It was aweful. Headaches, nausea and the cravings were horrendous. It took about 3 months for the cravings to subside, but they didn’t ever go away entirely (not ever beign a smoker, I’m not sure what giving up smoking is like, but its probably similar) I was lucky, because my caffeine addiction was in the form of coffee, and these days decaf coffee is pretty good, so I didn’thave to break the psychological habit as well as the physical habit. But as soon I stopped breast feeding Cary, I quickly became re-addicted (I made the mistake of having *one* cup of coffee whilst breast feeding Cary, and after him being full of nervous energy and then tired but unable to sleep for 8 hours, I didn’t try again till he was weaned). I’m not as badly addicted this time around, but there is nothing better in life than that first cup of Java in the morning. Its often the only one I have during the day (I’ll usually drink decaf or hot chocolate if I want a hot beverage, and water if I want something cool) but darn I enjoy that first coffee far too much. Yowie
Response:
Here it is…the first day without Effexor.
Way to go! We’re purring that you continue doing as well. — Marina, Frank, Nikki, and introducing: Mere! marina (dot) kurten (at) pp (dot) inet (dot) fi Pics at http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/frankiennikki/ and http://community.webshots.com/user/frankiennikki
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Here it is…the first day without Effexor. Honestly, after that first night of barfing, I haven’t felt bad at all. If anything, I’ve felt BETTER because I no longer need to sleep more than 10 hours a day (was pushing 16 mandatory sleep hours in every 24 when I quit). Therefore, I only nap if I get less than 10 hours at night. All this stuff is getting done, and it’s awesome. I even have time to watch TV or read comic books again. Mood’s better instead of worse–with this energy and fire back, I feel like I could rule the world. As long as my fire doesn’t spill over into rage, all is good. Now to address the caffeine addiction. THIS bastard I’ve been fighting for six years to control. I’m sucking back three cans of pop a day again and I’ve got to cut this out…I can feel the stomach damage returning. Starting Monday, when my term paper is done, it’s down to one.
YAY!!! I was so worried about what you might have to go knowing what I went through. I’m glad it’s been so easy for you and *very* glad that you’re feeling so much better! Hugs, CatNipped – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – –Mary
Response:
Here it is…the first day without Effexor.
<SNIP Mood’s better instead of worse–with this energy and fire back, I feel like I could rule the world. As long as my fire doesn’t spill over into rage, all is good. Now to address the caffeine addiction. THIS bastard I’ve been fighting for six years to control. I’m sucking back three cans of pop a day again and I’ve got to cut this out…I can feel the stomach damage returning. Starting Monday, when my term paper is done, it’s down to one. –Mary
If you’d like some advice on herbal remedies, both for the caffine & to help with the Effexor discomfort, e-mail me directly. I may be able to help. I’d have mentioned this earlier, but while you were weaning off the drug, I didn’t want to suggest anything that might have been contra-indicated… — Mathew Butler to 2 kittens: Chablis & Muscat En Vino Veritas
Response:
Good for you! We’re all purring and praying that things keep going well! And if you decide at some point that you want a medicine OTHER than Effexor, talk to your doctor about the ones that are available that have fewer side effects than the Effexor does. BTW, I hear you BIG TIME about the "time to ditch caffeine" decision. In my case, last year when I had to go on blood pressure meds (to control a BP that’d risen to something like 132/100 and 132/98), I decided that all but the first cup of coffee in the morning had to go. I hate taking meds unless I absolutely, positively HAVE to. And there’s no logic in taking BP meds, then undoing their benefit by caffeinating my blood pressure back up to an unhealthy level, right? So all coffee, tea, and other beverages after the first cup of the morning are now decaf or non-caffeinated. BTW, the BP has now been controlled with the meds, to the point where it’s at a normal level again. It took a few months to get the dose right, but things seem OK now. I’m not surprised that I ended up on meds, given the history of high blood pressure that’s rampant on both sides of my family. I’m reaching an age (early 40s) where some of the family’s genetic time bombs are going to start showing up, if I’ve inherited any of them. Purrs and prayers that you keep doing well! Donna, Captain, and Stanley
Response:
Here it is…the first day without Effexor. Honestly, after that first night of barfing, I haven’t felt bad at all. If anything, I’ve felt BETTER because I no longer need to sleep more than 10 hours a day (was pushing 16 mandatory sleep hours in every 24 when I quit). Therefore, I only nap if I get less than 10 hours at night. All this stuff is getting done, and it’s awesome. I even have time to watch TV or read comic books again. Mood’s better instead of worse–with this energy and fire back, I feel like I could rule the world. As long as my fire doesn’t spill over into rage, all is good. Now to address the caffeine addiction. THIS bastard I’ve been fighting for six years to control. I’m sucking back three cans of pop a day again and I’ve got to cut this out…I can feel the stomach damage returning. Starting Monday, when my term paper is done, it’s down to one. –Mary
Then, when a hot flash kicks in, on top of already being sweltering – not fun. Good luck – it sounds like you’re making an intelligent/informed choice, after reading up on the whole deal. Cathy — "Staccato signals of constant information…" ("The Boy in the Bubble") Paul Simon "Pearly the cat and Harry Andruschak" <pearlyandha…@aol.comity> wrote in message news:20020625231647.00917.00000168@mb-mo.aol.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> When I first joined ASM, Kitten warned me that the natives tended to get > restless when the topic of HRT came up. I have, of course, been reading the > pros and cons, visited other web sites, talked with other men who are > hypogonadal for one reason or another, and in general have tried to do my > homework. I joined ASM because of my hot flashes, and today, 13 months after > castration, I am still getting them. Due to the stress I am under, from the > circumstances of having to file a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, I am still flashing > every hour or so. The flashes alternate between mild and serious. At night I > sleep through the mild ones, and wake up every two hours from the serious ones. > I am having major problems from my lack of sleep. The weather in LA is hot and > getting hotter. I work in hot conditions 8 hours a day at the Post Office, and > my flashing shows no signs whatever of abating in frequency or intensity. > Donna Garnier, my physician, has discussed options with me, and today I > consented to try estrogen, 1.25 mg. of Premarin per day, taken with supper. > Took my first one two hours ago. > Whilst some studies have been done on men who take estrogen in the aftermath of > prostate cancer, the studies tend to be incomplete, contradict each other, and > pretty much leave it up to you to decide what is best. The main advantage is > that it will work for about 70% of the men suffering from hot flashes. The > disadvantage is that one might be in the 30% for whom it is a waste of time and > money. It may or may not also help in thwarting osteoporosis. There have been > no reliable studies done on whether men taking estrogen benefit in the battle > against osteoporosis. The biology of the hypogonadal male and hypogonadal > female are similar but not identical, and what works for one may not work for > the other. > Donna and I discussed other potential side effects. Although some studies have > suggested that there might be an increased chance of heart attack or stroke, > Donna doubts this would ever be a problem. She measured my blood pressure at > 105/60. My cholesterol is great, and my weight is now down to 175 pounds, the > lowest I have been in years. My diet and exercise program is working fine, > although I am quite aware that weight loss is the easy part and that keeping it > off is the hard part. > Another potential side effect is mild feminization of the body, including > gynecomastia. > The most serious side effect may be psychological. Most men with prostate > cancer who have taken estrogen as part of their therapy report that there are > changes in feelings and attitudes that may be unacceptable to non-transgendered > males. This may adversely effect my current "eunuch calm". If it gets bad > enough, I will discontinue the therapy. In any case, Donna and I plan to > discontinue the therapy anyhow once the summer is over and cooler conditions > prevail. > At least my voice won’t change to soprano. > All E-mail to this screen name is blocked to thwart spammers. Reply to > harryandruschak AT aol DOT com > (310) 835-9202 > "Behold, I am a dry tree." 
Trust my metabolism to be da*ned awkward 