Posted by Marie B on May 31, 2001, at 12:33:19
I am 27, married, and I just found out that I am 6 weeks pregnant.
Unfortunately, my husband does not quite understand what I am going through concerning Effexor and getting off of it etc.
Having a child is very important to me. It turns out that I had a miscarriage a few months ago, and my doctor did not think twice about the fact that I am taking Effexor. I have been taking Effexor XR, 300 mg a day, and have been taking it for so long that I can't tell anyone truthfully actually how long it has been, since it simply has Seemed like Forever...And the one good thing: since taking Effexor, my life has improved dramatically. Elimination of suicidal thoughts, no fear of life in general, courage to speak, courage to sleep.. and to do all this as a normal person, to feel normal and be normal without an afterthought; has been a gift.
Now what happens when the beneficial effects of Effexor are depleted? What will happen to my life? Will i start acting strange again? Will I 'freak out' when stress begins? Will I start cutting my arms up again in order to have control over some of the hurt?Now I am SCARED! I do not want to lose this baby.. and I know that I have to get off this medicine. So for the past week I have cut myself down to taking 150 mg Every OTHER day. That's the limit the body has imposed upon me: the withdrawal is substantially uncomfortable. Dizziness that is caused by my nerves feeling like they are exploding; and dizziness is a word that just doesn't do Any justice to the reality of what it is that I am actually experiencing. My nerves are affected thorughout my entire body, feeling spasms in my arms, and god forbid if I MOVE. My every movement is significantly accentuated with reactions to the withdrawal. I just cannot seem to find the words to explain how bad it feels to have these juices of hell searing throughout my blood creating havoc.
And here I am with a developing second life inside of me.. how is it affected by my needs for Effexor? Does it feel the withdrawal also? But if it absorbs the venlafaxine and the affect of that is low birth weight.. what is the significance to my child's life? Will it be normal?
Augh. and how am I going to be a functioning person for nine months while tryiong to carry this child and yet still be a productive person with responsibilites?Who has gone through this and survived?
poster:Marie B
thread:64904
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010530/msgs/64904.html