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NinjaKitty
15-09-14, 14:59
Ok so I removed my old post as it was long winded and now not important.

On day 4 of pregabalin, 50mg x2 a day
here is my experience so far

Day 1 only took one in the pm, slight feeling of dizzyness/drunk went to bed slept well

Day 2 1 in the morning felt dopey all day but less anxious took night time dose was staggering like a drunken lunatic

Day 3 mroning dose taken at 11am, bit groggy but it wore off as the day went on night time dose made me sleepy as hell by 10pm, went to bed read till around 10.3/11pm took night meds slept for 12 hours straight

Day 4 today took my Morning dose at 11am not feeling so groggy today, woke up with no anxiety what so ever, none at all, felt it creeping up on me around 10am, took my pregabalin and my diazepam anxiety poof its gone,so tonights dose will be at around 9pm so i can at least go to bed at 10pm and read a little

So all in all after 4 days and 7 tablets i feel at least 50% better than i did this time last week, no horriible anxiety symptoms, only issue is my IBS is acting up, I can now drink a coffee in the morning and not feel like im fleeing out my head.

Will DEFINITLY be continuing the pregabalin and slowly reducing my benzo intake.

I see my Psychiatrist on the 22nd of this month and he has told me he will up my dosage to 75mg 3 times a day, but if after 4 days I'm feeling the side effects wear off so quickly i have high hopes for this med, I didnt even want to take my diazepam dose this morning but because i am in tolerance withdrawal i took it as i need to taper slowly.

So as of tomorrow i will decrease my diazpepam by 2mg and continue the pregabalin.

I understand why people take this med for a day or 2 then stop, the drunk groggy spacey feeling is unsettling but i pushed through it, and it get's better every day

thank you to EVERYONE who gave me words of encouragement and information I will keep this thread going with regular updates on my journey

1 question though to anyone who has been or is on pregabalin, when you updosed from you initial dose did you experience the " settling in period side effects again"?? Or was it easier than the 1st few doses?

Kitty xx:yesyes:

PartyTime
15-09-14, 16:09
Good for you Kitty. Was wondering how you were doing. Offers me some encouragement too.
Thanks :yesyes:

NinjaKitty
15-09-14, 18:43
Good for you Kitty. Was wondering how you were doing. Offers me some encouragement too.
Thanks :yesyes:

Seriously on day 2 I was ready for throwing them down the toilet I felt that detached from reality, but, my inner logical side won me over and said keep taking them this is only natural side effects and nothing serious has happened. ... So i took my daughter to the park and had lot's of fresh air which definitely made me less drowsy etc.... so my conclusion about this Medication is if your sedentary and just sitting about the drowsy feeling etc is more prominent, the more active you are the better you feel for sure..... today i did lots of active things round the house cleaning and playing hide and seek with my youngest who is 2, when she went for her nap i didn't sit about wallowing I did some cleaning in my room and made dinner prep. Now i feel a bit tired but it's a good tired not a medicated tired.

I say give them plenty of time.... take the updoses to a therapeutic level (my psychiatrist recommends 300mg minimum) and ride out the 2-3 weeks of groggy feeling..... the benefits in my opinion definitely 100% outweigh the minimal side effects...... but that's just my opinion and obviously I'm not a Doctor but i definitely think its worth tryin to get over the settling in period..... prozac made me feel way worse than this for the 4 weeks it took to settle in my system.

Stay positive PartyTime and how about we support each other through the stages of getting used to the meds.

Kitty xx

keggsy
15-09-14, 20:10
Well done kitty, am on day 8 of 1 x 75mg taken at night.
It is helping with my sleep, taken with 15mg mirt.
Anxiety not too bad but not too much different from before, as my anxiety hits me at night over not sleeping.
May up to 2 x 75mg in due course, with one of them being taken in the morning.

PartyTime
15-09-14, 23:30
Yeah , mutual support is good.
I know I've got to put some effort in here but scared to go out in case I bump into anyone I know (particularly from work, or neighbours). It's a vicious circle i have to break. Only I can do it but I'm so worried about having to explain myself in a coherent way and my brain is hopelessly out of gear!

EDIT : I'm grateful to have a job but that has complimented to this this recent trough. I won't bore you with the details but it has been the seed - or perhaps the way I have mismanaged myself and burnt out

NinjaKitty
16-09-14, 12:01
Ok day 5, woke up this morning with that Oh so comfy feeling of I dont wanna get outta bed im so snuggly and comfy........... but ............. had to get my butt out of bed my daughter was on a rampage lol

feeling good taday and no stoned groggy feeling, taken my morning dose of pregabalin and feeing much more positive.

So today is pro-active day, gonna go do the shopping housework etc etc and get my daughter off to nursery and what not, for the 1st time in ages i have actually taken time to look "normal" got dressed in nice clothes unlike my usual joggers and sweats and put make up on etcetc (all boring to most but a big plus for me)

So yes Day 5 is looking good and I'll be back with another update soon

Kitty x

keggsy
16-09-14, 15:56
Well done kitty

PartyTime
16-09-14, 17:37
Nice one Kitty
Hope you progressing nicely too Keggsy

NinjaKitty
16-09-14, 21:13
Thanks guys :D hope your both doing well :D cyber hug (((((hugs)))))

Kittyx

SarahH
18-09-14, 16:21
Pregabalin is a great substitute for Valium. If I up my dose I need no Lorazepam at all:)

Sarah

PartyTime
21-09-14, 12:11
You doing OK Kitty?

NinjaKitty
22-09-14, 10:44
You doing OK Kitty?

Hey yeah I haven't been on much been doing lots of stuff with my kids and what not.

I have been on 50mg twice a day now for 10 days and i feel like 80% better the dope drugged feeling has worn off during the day but at night it still makes me sleepy when i take it with my mirtazapine.

Im due to see my psychiatrist today at 3.30 uk time and he is due to up the dose, Im still getting the odd anxiety rush some mornings but not every morning and im 10 times less anxious during the day and I have been outside and generally just LIVING for the past few days, it is amazing how much better i feel.

so today i think im being upped to 50mg 3xdaily or 75mg 3xdaily im not sure but he wants me above 150-200mg a day with the view to be at 300mg a day withina month or so, So i am fully prepared for the next onsalught of sleepy drunk feeling for a few days again but all in all i swear even in 10 days this medication has made a HUGE difference, i was taking 3 valium during the day in the past 10 days i have forgotten my morning dose 5 times and havent taken my afternoon does of diazepam with no ill effects.

so on saturday i decided to start tapering off my valium so instead of 5mg 3 times a day im taking 2.5mg in the morning and 5mg in afternoon and 5mg at night for 2 weeks then i'll drop the morning dose and just take 10mg and cut down 1mg every 2-3 weeks (ashton method works best for me) and i dont thinkit is going to be an issue.

So i give this med 9/10.... not 10/10 because I'm still feeling a bit off at night with it but i sleep like a log now because im completely anxiety free at bedtime.
I will be back later today to update on my dosage increase :)

Hope everyone else is doing ok xx

Kitty xxx

SarahH
22-09-14, 12:28
Well done it sounds like it is working well for you and helping you off the valium:)

NinjaKitty
22-09-14, 12:44
Well done it sounds like it is working well for you and helping you off the valium:)

Thank you sarah yes, I do feel it is going to be a big help in my benzo withdrawal, I dont like being on benzos and this time round i have been on them much much much longer than I wanted to be, Pregabalin just might be my life saver, and Im not feeling any issues with lowering my valium dose, so if i can get off the valium my nxt stage is to get off my nitrazepam at night, being on 2 benzos is just in my opinion completely wrong, but Im positive i can do it. thank you for the support

Kitty x

SarahH
22-09-14, 16:34
Yeah I can see that must be very hard being on 2 Benzes.... not great. But I really think pregabalin is the way forward for benzo users. When I am on the right dose I don't need any Lorazepam and although I take Zopliclone at night I have reduced that from 18.75mgs a night to 7.5mgs. So stick with it and don't be afraid of upping the dose :)

sarah

SmilingAlbert
22-09-14, 22:38
Wonderful to hear of your progress Kitty - it's great when something starts working isn't it? I had this myself with Preg back in May. Keep up the good work.

Albert

NinjaKitty
23-09-14, 13:32
Thank you all

I saw my Psuchiatrist yesterday and he has upped me to 50mg 3 times a day, so I;ve taken this mornnings dose and gonna take my afternoon dose around 2.30 and then my normal night time dose to im preparing myself to feel a bit woozy again and tired for a while but i definitly have high hopes for it

Kitty x

NinjaKitty
24-09-14, 13:11
Ok day 2 on 3 doses of 50mg, co-ordination is a bit off and i feel a bit drunk and vry sleepy, my psychiatrist called me today to see if i was ok told him how i felt and he said if it doesnt wear off in a week he will prescribe me 75mg in the am and 75mg in the pm instead, but i feel much calmer still, I must admit no major horrible side effects, im actuallly in love with this mediacation, it's seriously been a live saver for me and i ahve only been on it for 2 weeks.

I will keep everyone updated xxx

Kitty love xxx

john61
24-09-14, 14:21
Hello
I've been following your pregabalin journey with interest,coz I'm also on it for anxiety.
Like you I started on a small dose and built up gradually.that was 2yrs ago and I'm still on and I am in love with this medication and don't ever want to come off it.even after 2yrs its still keeping my anxiety at bay and solving a few other health issues I've had.
I take 100mgs three times a day along with 150mgs per day of venlafaxine.
Pregabalin is by far the most usefull,effective medication I've had and given me my life back.
Just thought id share my experience of pregabalin.
I look forward to the next post of your journey.good luck-John

NinjaKitty
24-09-14, 15:33
Hello
I've been following your pregabalin journey with interest,coz I'm also on it for anxiety.
Like you I started on a small dose and built up gradually.that was 2yrs ago and I'm still on and I am in love with this medication and don't ever want to come off it.even after 2yrs its still keeping my anxiety at bay and solving a few other health issues I've had.
I take 100mgs three times a day along with 150mgs per day of venlafaxine.
Pregabalin is by far the most usefull,effective medication I've had and given me my life back.
Just thought id share my experience of pregabalin.
I look forward to the next post of your journey.good luck-John

So Pleased you find this medication so good for you, I unfortunately am taking a lot of meds all at once my med regime now is

50mg pregabalin 3xdaily
5mg diazepam 3xdaily
45mg mirtazapine at night
10mg nitrazepam at night

but i have found since starting pregabalin my need for my daily doses of diazepam have become less, so I am currently tapering off my diazepam by 1-2mg every 2-4 weeks (ashton method) obviously for minimal withdrawal issues, slower the taper the better when you;ve been on benzos long term.
Still trying to get used to the dopey feeling in the afternoon after my 2nd dose of pregabalin but as with my initial 1st morning dose Im hoping this wears off as quickly as it did before, within a few days the drunk/sleepy feeling wore off and i was very much more motivated so i shall keep it up for another week or so before taking my psychiatrist up on the offer of the 75mg morning and night, although he did suggest i get up to 300mg per day so preferably only taking it twice a day am and pm. but i will as always keep everyone up to date on my experience and hopefully it keeps getting better :)

Kitty x

mr benn
24-09-14, 21:20
Intersting thread. Not a medicene i was aware of until i came on here. Im currently on Trazadone (175mg) but dont feel it does me any good.
Im very wary of taking new tablets tho as I seem to react to the side effects , and my Anxiety makes me monitor for them even more.

Im also intrested to note you mantion your Pschologist is reccomending your tablets. When I asked what a psychologist does instead of a CBT specialist this wasnt mentioned. I wanted to see a psychologist as something different to CBT but they wouldnt recommend it. Felt i was being fobbed off a bit.

john61
24-09-14, 21:27
That's quite a med regime you have there.good plan to get off the benzos I think.my cpn says pregabalin is a clean drug.my only usefull tip is don't run out of pregabalin,in my experience its quite a unpleasant withdrawal if you get caught out and have to go cold turkey with it.but you're probaly more organised than me so it won't happen.

SarahH
25-09-14, 09:15
Well done!
I am on 3x100mgs a day and have been since April 2013 (400 initially down to 300 in last 6 months). I combine it with 20mgs of Citalopram, which is the right balance for me.
Ad you go up the doses the SE's will be less severe and disappear more quickly.

Sarah

NinjaKitty
26-09-14, 11:16
Intersting thread. Not a medicene i was aware of until i came on here. Im currently on Trazadone (175mg) but dont feel it does me any good.
Im very wary of taking new tablets tho as I seem to react to the side effects , and my Anxiety makes me monitor for them even more.

Im also intrested to note you mantion your Pschologist is reccomending your tablets. When I asked what a psychologist does instead of a CBT specialist this wasnt mentioned. I wanted to see a psychologist as something different to CBT but they wouldnt recommend it. Felt i was being fobbed off a bit.

My Psychiatrist prescribes my medication, that's my physchiatrists job i also have Psychologist who does my CBT therapy councelling etc, 2 sepreate people, psychologists dont prescribe meds or they dont where I am only my phsychiatrist.

so yes psychiatrist is for meds etc and monitoring your progress
psychologist is for therapy etc

Pregabalin is good so far no real major issues except drowsy but even today im on day 4 of 3 a day and im noticing im less clumsy or drowsy.

Kitty

---------- Post added at 11:10 ---------- Previous post was at 11:05 ----------


That's quite a med regime you have there.good plan to get off the benzos I think.my cpn says pregabalin is a clean drug.my only usefull tip is don't run out of pregabalin,in my experience its quite a unpleasant withdrawal if you get caught out and have to go cold turkey with it.but you're probaly more organised than me so it won't happen.


John I am really lucky that my dr;s and my psychiarist makes sure i always have enough medication, I get prescribed all my meds on a monthly bassis (every 28 days really) so i order them 3-4 days in advance so i dont run out, on the upside I sometimes forget diazepam doses so i never completely run out of medication, im always very strict about my meds never take morethan prescribed or anything like that, it's a bit OCD to be honest i have to take them same time every day, i dont deviate from my schedule and my tapering is done slowely, I never quit anything cold turkey, I have successfully tapered of benzos in the past usually ashton method crossover taper to calium and reducing doses by anythig from 1-2mg every 2-4 weeks, and have done so twice now very sucessfully with minimal issues.

im just very Lucky that my dr's recognise the need to taper slowely and efficently last time i was on temazepam at 30mg for 2 yrs and i withdrew over 9 months crossing over to valium and came out it unscathed.

Thanks for the msg
Kitty

---------- Post added at 11:16 ---------- Previous post was at 11:10 ----------

Just to Add im due a updose in 2-3 weeks of my pregabalin probably to 75mg 3 times a day or 100mg 3 times a day not sure what he has planned for me yet, but even at this dose i am finding my anxiety is much much less and im not feeling like i even want to take my valium but sine i ave been on them for 2 yrs this time round i can;t just quit cold turkey, so today im on 2.5mg valium in the morning 5mg afternoon 5mg early evening and will gradually taper off again in 2 -3 weeks. slow and steady is the best option i have seen what rapid withdrawl and cold turkey can do to people. I also have 2 kids to think about and having a mother incapacitated by medication is not a good thing.

on the upside i am now going out more and taking my daughter out for longer and longer each day, before i could only manage maybe half an hour now im out for 2 hours without an issue, and thankfully my afternoon dose of pregabalin is when she naps so by the time she wakes up the initial drowsy feeing is starting to dissipate :)

My children are my life and coping with a toddler and a teenager is stressful wnough when your a single mother, Im jst happy i can be the best mom can be to them.

Kitty xx

NinjaKitty
29-09-14, 15:06
Ok so on day 8 of 3 50mg tablts a day and still not able to shake the tiredness, Im not sure if 3 times a day is working for me or if i should just wait it out for a another week or so till i see my Psychiatrist again, feeling lethargic and unmotivated right now which for me sucks, i hate not doing anything, I am also experiencing my agrophobia coming back but i have had a rough week emotionally with friends and such so i am putting my low mood down to outside problems and not my medication.

So tomorrow i will if it kills me get my butt moving and go out and stop wallowing at home feeling emotionally drained.

I feel like a bad mother and a bad person for being so unmotivated and emotional, but it is coming up to "that time of the month" and that always has me spiralling out of control

So thats my update so far, just want to feel semi normal again and live instead of just existing.

Kitty xx

SarahH
29-09-14, 16:05
Ok so I am NOT a Dr but it may well be that the amount of Valium you are taking plus the Pregabalin is making you feel so lethargic.This cross over period is going to be tough for you but keep going!!!!
Just another pointer. My Psychiatrist told me that Valium can make people depressed..... Hopefully you will eventually be just taking Mirt for depression/sleep and pregabalin for anxiety........... keep going:)

hanshan
30-09-14, 02:47
I agree that as the pregabalin goes up, the valium on a regular dose should come down (you can taper). You can still keep some in reserve if a bad spell hits.

NinjaKitty
30-09-14, 10:32
Thanks guys
I am currently already tapering off my valium, im down from 5mg 3x a day to 2.5mg one dose but still 5mg for the other doses, the taper has to be small and slow i have been on them for a very long time, in all honesty my valium has never made me depressed before, I should have been more clear that i honestly think mmy circumstances at the moment and other outside issues are adding to my depression, depression isnt my main issue, in fact it isn't an issue it is something i don't worry over, im due major surgery in 4 months time and its scaring me, and my anxiety has been terrible the past week. Lots and lots of outside factors.

Im certainly not someone who blames my depression on my meds because on or of them if fluctuates (especially around that time of the month).

Today however I feel much better for having a good sleep and it being undisturbed for once. I think possibly i was just hacing a few bad days

thanks for the input

Kitty x

SarahH
30-09-14, 11:23
Good to hear:D

hanshan
01-10-14, 01:47
Hi Ninjakitty,

Major surgery is scary for anyone, so anxiety here is very normal. Also, in my experience, anxiety about one thing can set off anxiety about other things, plus physical symptoms. Keep us posted about the surgery if you feel it helps.

NinjaKitty
01-10-14, 11:07
Doing much better today, the daytime tiredness is wearing off, the night time tiredness however isn't but in my experience this is no bad thing, feeling tired and going to bed and sleeping right through with minimal wakenings is a good thing, must admit very groggy in the morning but after a cup of coffee and something to eat im fine.

Yes major Surgery is daunting and as it is Brain surgery it is even more so, this has sparked of a bit of Health anxiety, I am not afraid of the anesthetic or the actual surgery it is the aftermath im petrefied of and the 6-9 month recovery time, it just seems so long and the side effects and obvious risks that go with a crainiotomy are scary, Im just not coping very well with the thought of it, my psychologist who im due to see this week will hopefully help me with my fears, but at the end o the day it has to be done.

thanks for all your support and information guys really appreciate it, sticking with the pregabalin 3xdaily for now till i see my psychiatrist again and we'll discuss options then

Kitty xx

keggsy
01-10-14, 16:48
We are right behind you kitty.
Keep going, you are doing well
X

hanshan
02-10-14, 04:47
Keep going Kitty - you are actually very brave. (And brave people get scared occasionally.)

NinjaKitty
02-10-14, 10:55
thanks guys, doing even better today im actually energetic and ready to go out and stuff today so big bonus, will keep ya'll posted once i see my psych again xxx

NinjaKitty
07-10-14, 11:42
So quick update, finally ssettled on the 3 a day not feeling tired or lethargic during the day now, although still feelilng exhausted at night but im putting that down to the fact i take my last dose of pregabalin and mirtazapine together. All in all feeling better

Kitty xxx

SarahH
08-10-14, 15:05
That's great news:D

sarah

grapefruitmoon
08-10-14, 18:31
As someone who has just taken their first pregabalin 10 mins ago I'm loving this thread! Well done and I hope it has the same effect on me:unsure:

hanshan
09-10-14, 10:17
Good luck, grapefruitmoon.

NinjaKitty
09-10-14, 15:12
well due to see my psychiatrist in a week or so, he wants me upped to 150mg twice a day, so I am hoping even with the increase I won't get the settling in dopey feelings again, I have noticed ifi take mmy pregabalin too late at night i am completely wasted the next day, quite tired etc, but, in all honesty I think it could be the fact i take so many meds that induce tiredness thats the biggest issue.

I was out Monday night till 11.30pm with a friend , didnt want to take my mirtazapine and pregabalin at my normal time of 9pm, so i wated till i got home at 11.45pm and i was soooo tired the next day, especially after taking my morning dose, I think that taking pregabalin with the ammount of vallium i take is having a knock on effect.

So as long as I remember to take it when I'm supposed to take it i dont get the hangover the next morning....note to self stick to same times and dont mess about with them

Kitty xxx

NinjaKitty
15-10-14, 13:51
Hiya everyone, so quick update

still on 50mg of pregabalin 3x daily see my psychiatrist on tuesday next week with no doubt an increase, I must admit i now feel not so drowsy at all, but i also feel the medication wearing off slightly quicker than before, My psychiatrist has suggested we try and get me up to the 300mg mar with the pregbablin so I am anticipating an dosage increase.

on the upside i am no down to 12mg of diazepam daily instead of 15mg, slowly tapering is definitly working with minimal withdrawal (probably thanks to the pregabalin kicking in.

Only down side im feeling from it is my night time dose still knocks me bandy like i have drank a bottle of wine before bed, I have addressed the issue with my psychiatrist who has said the pregabalin may be increasing the sedative effect of my Mirtazapine (i take 45mg of mirt and 50mg of pregab at around 9.30pm) but by 11pm I'm completely gone with the fairys, but not to an extent where I can;t function just feel very stoned tired and unbalanced.

I don't know if anyone can back this up but my psychiatrist has told me that as i increase the dose the sedating effect does decrease along with the feeling unbalanced (which may i add only happens at night) all in all im doing ok but having issues with my appetite im not very hungry and off my food, but I am putting that down to the fact I have been anxious the past week or so and as we all know that dreaded knotted tummy feeling is enough to put anyone off their food.

Kitty xxx

hanshan
16-10-14, 10:04
Hi Ninja Kitty,

45 mg of mirtazapine is a big hit - maximum daily dose for most people. That combined with any level of pregabalin would knock a lot of people out.

Particularly if you are going to increase the pregabalin, I would suggest taking some of the pregabalin earlier in the evening, and the rest at 9.30 pm. Hold off taking the mirtazapine until close to bedtime, or take 15 mg earlier and the rest later.

Good luck with it all.

SarahH
16-10-14, 13:20
Hi, I agree with all the above:) Also, just a thought but if I take pregabalin on an empty stomach my SE's are worse... i.e. the drunken feeling.

Sarah

SmilingAlbert
17-10-14, 21:51
Mirt is more sedating at lower doses - weird, but true - search around the internet and you will see that confirmed. The most sedating dose is around the 7.5 to 15mg mark.

Any more than that, and the enervating side comes on - there is a complicated explanation of this on the web if you want to look.

One way round this - if it's a problem - is to take say 15mg at night, and the other 30mg in the AM - but you must discuss with your doctor before going this route. (you may need to get a good pill cutter from Boots to do this)

For many, the sedating aspect goes away in any case since, in theory at least, it's a SE, and not inherent (e.g. in comparison with valium and the other benzos).

Mirt and Preg is a good combination, and used by many folk here - just make sure you get an NHS pre-pay certificate (if you pay for prescriptions) to reduce the cost.

On the subject of which, when I tell my US friends that I can get as many prescription drugs as a doctor describes for £10 a month, they look at me as if I'm insane! A reminder that, if you're in the UK, how much a blessing the NHS is if you have to take multiple pills, especially if you're on super-pricey patented things like Pregabalin...

Hope you get better soon

Albert

NinjaKitty
21-10-14, 12:53
As a qualified pharmacist i know how my meds work, my mirtazapine is for anxiety only, not depression, at 15mg i was a space cadet at 45mg I'm neither up nor down, but adding the pregabalin increases the effects of my other meds, currently I am fine, was only one night i felt completely out of it, See my psychiatrist today and no doubt an updose of pregabalin, 150mg a day is not what he wants me on he wants me on 300mg at least so im wondering how big a dose increase i will get today.
On the upside i was out and about with friends again the other night and was late taking my meds but i was neither up nor down.... May i add that I don't drink or take recreational drugs at all, the only things i take are my meds.

I'm definitly feelig better, unfortunately my seizures have been an issue the past week..... stress building up can cause my seizure activity to go off the charts, but my neurologist who is also watching my pregabalin intake has agreed my psych needs to get me up to a higher dose for all aspects.

thanks for all the info and support

Kitty x

SarahH
21-10-14, 13:51
Good luck today Kitty.

sarah

NinjaKitty
23-10-14, 13:58
Thanks, saw the Psych and were sticking at 150mg a day for now, he will see me in 4 weeks time to see if my anxiety creeps back in then he might up the dose, but have cut this weeks dizepam down to 11mg a day, 1mg cut every 2-4 weeks depending how stable i am, but he has suffested i up my pregabalin once i get down to 10mg or less of my valium. all in all productive and starting new therapy in a few weeks so fingers crossed this psychologist can help me with my impending doom of my upcoming surgery in February.

Kitty xx

SarahH
23-10-14, 14:00
Great news:)

Sarah

hanshan
24-10-14, 04:51
Hi Kitty,

Is there any way you can put a positive spin on the surgery to take away the "impending doom" feeling? I know it's not easy, but negative thoughts won't improve anything, and just make you feel rotten for the next few months.

Take care.

NinjaKitty
27-10-14, 11:58
Hi Kitty,

Is there any way you can put a positive spin on the surgery to take away the "impending doom" feeling? I know it's not easy, but negative thoughts won't improve anything, and just make you feel rotten for the next few months.

Take care.

Oh definitly after my surgery I won't have seizures anymore and hopefully no more constant pain in my head, it isn't easily done though unfortunately having a incredibly huge fear of being in hospital and the fact I'm having major brain surgery is kind of taking over, but, my psychologist is working with me to overcome the fears I have, but at the end of the day It's something I need to go through with I dont have an option and the longer i leave it the worse i get, so my psychologist is realy helping in that department, Im also hating the fact i will have no hair again and a huge scar, but i guess it is a small price to pay for something that will improve my quality of life, I just can't help that Im constantly worrying about my mental state after the surgery and the fact im 2 weeks in hospital 100+ miles from home and then a 6-9 month recovery period afterwards with physio and possible rehabilitation (learning to talk properly and other such things again)
But i'm getting there slowly but surely
Kitty

SarahH
27-10-14, 13:32
Kitty, your worries put mine into perspective:hugs:

NinjaKitty
27-10-14, 16:49
Kitty, your worries put mine into perspective:hugs:

:hugs:

Sarah to be honest the intensity of worry everyone has varies... as where mine seems dramatic and severe sometimes, everyone with anxiety and other worries suffer worse than I do, I have a friend on another anxiety site who is perfectly healthy and nothing wrong with her except her insatiable OCD and panic over bllood clots..... she has never had one she is only 18 and isn't likely to have one and she suffers more from this fear than i do about my fear........ Im not afraid of my surgery itself, or the aftermath recovery etc but more the impact it will have on my psychological problems, seems ridiculous that im not worrying about the surgery more being alone after it and if Im going to end up the quivering wreck again i was years ago.... to me it seems ludicrous that i worry about that more than the physical side, but to be physical ailments i can cope with as where physchological issues scare the living hell out of me.

Kitty xx

NinjaKitty
05-06-15, 11:31
Hello Everyone..... Im back after my major brain surgery :D which went 99.5% according to plan I am physically ok, i am talking walking etc etc im 3 nearly 4 months since my surgery on the 12th of february and OMG the scar is huge I lost minimal hair, I woke up from the 7 hour srugery and all i asked for was a drink of water lol!!!!!
was in hospital for 10 days then home agan had 50+ saples in my head which were removed, had a few issues with the scar healing but now its practically ok. as you can see from my signature on here meds have changed my dose of pregabalin is higher than it was before im on 450mg a day now for epilepy (was diagnosed in january that my AVm in my brain had nothing to do with my seizures).
Unfortunately Im coming off mirtazapine and starting duloxetin 30mg of each eaach day but the pregabalin has 100% been a HUGE life saver for me Im now on high doses increasing weekly up to 600-800mg which wil cover my anxiety but mostly my Epilepsy.
I hope you guys who helped me are ok and sorry I dissapeared for ages but I had a rough time and didnt have a laptop.

BUT IM BACK NOW WOOOOHOOOO!!!

Lots of Love
Kitty xxxx

hanshan
06-06-15, 08:00
Hi Ninjakitty,

Fantastic to hear from you and great news that the surgery went so well. More power to you.

NinjaKitty
06-06-15, 12:32
Hi Ninjakitty,

Fantastic to hear from you and great news that the surgery went so well. More power to you.

Thank you all the healing is going fairly well but my mental health problems have changed and I ahve had a med change , still on pregabalin but started a thread for info on duloxetine (cybalta) but it seems to be a not so widely used med.

But apat from that Im doing well and no majoy irssues after surgery except with my scar having a few infections. Long time to recover but Im ok.
Thanks for the reply

Kitty xx

MyNameIsTerry
07-06-15, 07:05
A couple of us posted on the thread you put in the general section on the meds board before you added the others.

I don't think there are many people on NMP using Duloxetine and for that reason I started to talking to people on the Ven board where there is a much better presence and they were an excellent support to me. Since its another form of SNRI, I think people go through some similiar experiences with it.

I'm sorry to hear about your brain surgery, that must have been quite an ordeal, let alone on top of anxiety! I hope you are feeling much better now.

SmilingAlbert
07-06-15, 12:09
Welcome back Ninja,

Glad to hear things went well and you are on the mend!

NinjaKitty
07-06-15, 13:01
Thanks everyone im on the mend still got weird feelings in the scar area and if people who get face lifts like the tight feeling after having your face lifted god help them because holy crap it is tight tight tight.

So yes the major brain surgery went 10 times better than expected and I didn't need the ammount of after care I was warned about before surgery, I can walk but not far, I have numb bit on my temple and tightness and nerve pain as the muscles join back together and the nerves.
As for my pregabalin it is now no longer prescribed tommy by my psychiatrist it is prescribed by my neurologist as a anti-seizure med for my epilepsy which was confirmed in May, I do need to for EEG on my brain to confirm it but the seizures were nothing to do with my AVM.

My meds have changed and My NameisTerry i agree duloxetine is quite rarely used so getting some experience info etc is a bit hard but at the end of the day it will either work or not work and I rarely get worried about the side effects more worried about commbining with another anti D but you replied to one of my posts about it which was great.

As for pregabalin Im still 100% sure it is a great med for anxety the settling in perios is short and tbh side effects are slim to none for me anyway.

thanks everyone for your replies.
Will keep you updated on my recovery time

Lots of love
Kitty xxxxxxxxx

SarahH
07-06-15, 16:56
Welcome back:welcome:

NinjaKitty
09-06-15, 10:08
Thank you Sarah Im glaad to be back :D
Kitty xx

louiserowe94
19-08-16, 10:14
hi guys!!

ive been following you stories and hoped you could help me. ive just started taking my pregabalin yesterday morning im on 50mg 2x daily but wanted to start taking it just 1s per day to avoid side effects, I took my first tablet yesterday morning and felt awful,:weep: my anxiety went through the roof for a good couple of housrs, it gradually eased and I felt a dizzy kind of feeling and had rouble getting to sleep on the night.
im wondering weather to take 1 50mg in the evening rather than morning and is day 2 going to be easier than day 1? :(
would much appreciate you replys thanks for reading :) xx:)

shiznit76
21-08-16, 17:02
Hi i recently started also, but did very slowly as had bad side effects before on others. Started on 25mg/day for four days, then 25mg twice a day for four days and like this and now on 100mg twice a day and had no real side effects at all