Posted by Jacklyn on April 1, 2001, at 14:20:21
In reply to Anyone had success on Effexor XR? , posted by jp on October 24, 1999, at 14:59:14
Hello,
I have been on Effexor XR 150 mg. for about 3 years. Seven years ago I was diagnosed with severe Fibromyalgia...there were many days that I could not get out of bed because the pain and fatigue were so severe. I was and am a divorced, single parent who was unable to work. Getting my son to and from school was a challenge on many days. If it weren't for my son, I would have committed suicide, because my life seemed impossible to live. I was treated by a team that included an Internist, Psychiatrist, and Rheumatologist, and tried many combinations of medications unsuccessfully over a 4 year period. (I had negotiated medical insurance to be paid by my ex during the divorce proceedings because he could afford it, and I thank god for the medical and prescription coverage that I have.) I finally arrived at a combination of meds that has made my life manageable/bearable...Effexor XR 150mg each day, and 1 mg of Clonapin plus 100 mg of Trazadone every night. Yes, this is a lot of medication, and yes, there are side-effects, and yes, I hate being so dependent on meds. My life is much smaller than it was 7 years ago, and I am much bigger (a lot of weight gain). But I no longer have debilitating pain, or fatigue, and therefore have the emotional and mental resources to cope with life's ups and downs. I teach full-time, plus tutor, to make ends meet. I never go out at night, because I am worn out and in bed by 8 p.m. I used to be an athlete, and now I take walks when I can. I have brain fog, memory loss,
and vision problems, but as I am 45, I think that this is due to both age and the meds. I was very angry for the first few years that I was sick..I went from being a Type A personality to an invalid, and neither friends or family understood, or quite believed, what was happening to me. I have tried getting off the meds a couple of times, and I went through terrible withdrawal and got very sick, very fast. So a couple of years ago, I just surrendered. I am here for my son, I like my work, and I have a pain-free little life. If this it the best that I will ever have, I can live with it. Hope my experience helps someone.Jacklyn
poster:Jacklyn
thread:13781
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010327/msgs/58293.html