[barb dwyer]

I feel the need to make something very very clear with my new friends here in Mental Health Forums.

When I made the decision to stop taking my medication;
it was not to stop drinking.

It was an informed choice I made
and the doctor was aware of my doings
every.
step.
of the way.

I am suddenly concerned that others are going to see what I've been sharing with you all as some kind of ticket to be off meds - and this is simply not the case.

I didn't go off my medication to make any kind of point with the doctor, or to myself.
I went off my medication because I was experiencing what I perceived as very real physical SYMPTOMS of disease ... and I was convinced that the medications I was being given ...
were simply masking symptoms of something far more serious.

I needed to establish a baseline of physical symptomology.
It took me one (1) month to do that.
That's all I needed.

I feel I need to make one other thing abundantly clear:
You ... are NOT ... me.

I need to make clear that :

1) I had over a full year of sobriety in a Program of Recovery.

2) I was only on these medications for less than eight months
out of eighteen months of sobriety.

3) Each medication made matters worse, not better for the physical symtomology that I'd gone to the doctor to help with. The negatrive effects of these medications were immediate - not long term.

When I made a list of everything I had a complaint about -
it made for a very serious list indeed.

I am afraid that some are looking for this experience of mine to be their ticket to 'go off their meds' and I am truly concerned because of that.

Don't do that.

Talk to your doctor.

I was having dizzy spells.
Exaustion.
Unexplained weight gain.
Heart palptations.
Shortness of breath.
Swelling in the eyes hands feet.
Severe and excrutiating pain in all my joints.
numbness and tingling in arms legs face and hands.
difficulty remembering short term things and events.

None of those symptoms have to do with medication and if you look on any of the literature for any drug - you get any of THOSE symptoms - they ALL say 'see your doctor'.

Which is what I did.

I am deeply concerned that someone is going to stop taking their medications and NOT report to their doctor who actually NEEDS to be on what they've been prescribed... because of reading my posts.

Stay on your medications -
if you're unhappy -
keep bothering your doctor. That's what they're FOR.