I have a severe physical exertion intolerance - performing even the slightest of physical tasks, like walking the stairs, brings on the onslaught of symptoms - akathisia, chest pressure, and, lo and behold, ruminations. Those are gem. Once the system gets stirred up somatically-wise, the psyche part follows the suit. What is your experience? What are your ways of dealing with it?
Hi Luc,
since i am meds free, i have the same chest pressure, unable to exersize, unable to walk more than 20 steps, walking stairs normally, i have not akathisia (or mild) and ruminations;
since near 2,5 years, i improved a little: i can walk 40/60 steps before chest pain/shortness of breath; stress makes this worse; i found nothing to deal with, only when chest pressure,i have to stop and wait it diminish before walk more;
12 years paxil(9 years only 10 mg) - cold turkey(1,5 month) and switch celexa tapered 1 year 20 mg
62 years old - for GAD - 4 years 3 months meds free [since april 2009]
vegetables soup - orange (vit C) - curcuma - some meat or fish
Hi Luc and Stan............
I very much COULD relate to everything you have relayed since, I experienced the similar and to the same degree. Notice I used the word "could relate". This is no longer a chronic situation for me. For so long (2 years of bedridden violent tapering along with 28 months post taper) I was in the same situation as both of you. Lately, I've been able to engage in much more. While I'm not swinging from the chandelier, I'm far more capable of moving, walking and engaging in some physical exertion.
I promise you, things will greatly improve and they can improve fairly quickly. I could barely walk up the stairs without feeling completely wiped out, out of breath, pain in leg muscles along with incredible weakness. Luc, you mentioned in another thread that you force yourself to do the stairs everyday in an effort to maintain a small degree of muscle mass.
I did the same. No matter how much it wiped me out, I walked up 1/2 flight of stairs, rest at the landing and then walk up the other 1/2. I did this daily in order to get my body moving in some way, especially when I was bedridden for so very long. As you know, just taking the stairs is a monumental endeavour that creates so many negative effects.
But things can change for the better in a relatively short period of time and/or improve gradually but at a more linear pace.
Three times this week, I have walked at a good pace, for 20 minutes straight. The most amazing thing is ............I didn't have to slowly work up to this level as I did during C/T xanax WD. For some reason, I've been able to accomplish this level right from the get-go. Mind you, I did have one day last week when I could barely walk down one street and didn't know if I was going to make it home but there were two other days where I was able to walk down 4 long streets (one day was a bit difficult and the other day felt absolutely effortless). Now, this week (3 days so far) were relatively easy.
This is major progress for me. As well, I have worked in my garden shed several times organizing and cleaning. Mind you the tasks were not strenuous in nature but these same tasks would have been impossible for me to accomplish a mere couple of months ago.
I've also been able to do a bit of light digging in the garden but I do have to be careful to pace myself........to only do a few minutes at a time. Again, this would have been impossible a few months ago.
I still have problems with head pressure IF I bend from the waiste down to pull out some garden weeds or to do certain types of housework although the head pressure isn't as severe as it used to be.
The chest pressure has significantly decreased.
I can't say though that exertion made my akathisia worse. Rather, I had to move with the akathisia but the moving made me feel so much sicker in other areas. The akathisia has signifcantly decreased as well although, hot bath or shower can ignite the akathisia for me but at this stage of WD it is short-lived and not anywhere near as severe as it used to be.
Oh, upper body exertion always seemed to produce the worse reactions. I could barely lift the lightest of objects since, they felt like they weighed 1,000 lbs. I now have some days where I can lift heavier objects and even carry some up the stairs (which would have been uheard of before) without incurring serious consequences. Although there are some days where I cannot do such but the main point is ............at least there are many okish days (in this regard) where I can accomplish such things.
I am being careful not to push too fast, too soon, since, I've learned from my xanax experience that one can create a major setback from engaging in strenuous exertion during times of improved recovery. So, my advice is to ease into life rather than trying to jump back into it, especially in regard to the upper body exertion.
I know you both are keeping the faith but thought I'd share this with you since, it helps to hear about the improvements others have made, especially those who were suffering severe degrees of incapacitation.
May your walk become lighter and stronger very soon!
Samsara
Forgot to mention the fatigue factor. I still do get hit with some spells of bad fatigue however, it's not extreme and there is no longer the extreme weakness that accompanies the fatigue and thus, I can push past the sluggishness without it making me feel worse (most times). I remember when the fatigue was so paralyzing and the weakness so utterly extreme that I could barely open a can of soup, let alone make anything substantial to eat and I still had many such days a mere couple of months ago.
While I still deal with fatigue and some days can be pretty bad, it's nowhere near the paralyzing levels it used to be.
BTW, prior to recently, pushing myself made things worse and not better. However, this seems to be changing now. If I push myself (as long as it's within reason) I can obtain some degree of benefit on most days. Other days the opposite is true but at least things are moving towards the constistently better phase rather than locked into consistently impossible.
Wish I could present my thoughts a bit better but I feel cognitively challenged ATM. (lol)
Samsara
This is great news, Sam!
Meds free since June 2005.
"An initiation into shamanic healing means a devaluation of all values, an overturning of the profane world, a peeling away of inveterate handed-down notions of the world, liberation from everything preconceived. For that reason, shamanism is closely connected with suffering. One must suffer the disintegration of one's own system of thought in order to perceive a new world in the higher space."
-- Holger Kalweit
Samsara, i see you feel better, i am living similar improvements as you (without the garden i do not have), have to go to the park; my chest pain will not go away and appears as soon as i walk a little (maybe each 40 steps i have to stop and rest a little before restarting)
many thanks for your details explanations, i appreciate very much,
best healing for us all!
12 years paxil(9 years only 10 mg) - cold turkey(1,5 month) and switch celexa tapered 1 year 20 mg
62 years old - for GAD - 4 years 3 months meds free [since april 2009]
vegetables soup - orange (vit C) - curcuma - some meat or fish
Thank you Sheila and Stan!Originally Posted by stan
Stan.........
I'm so sorry to hear of you having such difficulty with walking and chest pain. This is horrible to contend with.
I know you had heart tests done and all came out fine right? Have you had any tests for your lungs? You may wish to get a second opinion re: heart specialist since, what you describe sounds similar to angina.
Stan, do you breathe through your mouth when you are walking? Sometimes, this can cause more CNS activation because you're physically pushing to walk but also the walking pushes you to breathe harder and chest and lungs can tighten up for lack of a better word ATM and when this happens one can try to compensate by over breathing through the mouth which only makes things even worse.
Perhaps you can try this. Keep your mouth closed and breathe through your nose. Breathing through your nose creates more resistance to the intake of air and thus, automatically slows down the CNS. Breathing through the mouth has the opposite effect........it will create more CNS stimulation.........will cause your chest to tighten. Slow breathing will cause your heart and chest to relax more.
So keep your mouth closed...........then slowly breathe in through your nose and then slowly breathe out through your mouth. Also, as you are walking fill your mind with a peaceful word or phrase. The language we use with ourselves is very important.
Recite a calming word or phrase as you draw in each breath.
To illustrate how much more endurance slow breathing can provide I will give an example. Many years ago, in my younger days my ex-husband and I were skipping each evening as part of our exercise routine.
My ex-husband was far stronger than I and had more muscle mass and endurance however, I could outlast him when it came to skipping. The reason I had more endurance is because I was breathing through my nose and NOT my mouth. Consequently, I did not tire out as quickly as my ex-husband.
He skipped for a shorter period of time and was out of breath. I skipped for a much longer period of time and was not as out of breath as he. The difference was in our breathing patterns. I recommended he try breathing through his nose and once he did, he developed more endurance.
Stan, would you consider trying Vitamin C? It's an antioxidant and can help with chest pain and breathing, as well as a natural blood thinner. It will keep your heart and lungs healthier. Maybe give this a try.
I take 1,000 mg (three times per day). ONE 1,000 mg pill with each meal. Do not take on an empty stomach since it's too acidic. It will also keep your immune system strong and it has antihistamine properties to it.
Here are a few natural remedies for chest pain:
http://www.natural-home-remedies.inf...chest-pain.htm
Herbal Home Remedies for curing Chest pain
Chest pain is a common but confusing symptom. It has different causes.
1. A common, simple cause is muscle spasm or strain in muscles and ligaments due to unusual bending or twisting activity or over-breathing. Inflammation of the rib joints is another cause. Pressing the affected area increases this type of pain.
2. Chest pain due to lung diseases-like pleurisy or pneumonia -is worsened by coughing or even deep breathing.
3. In hyperacidity or a stomach ulcer, pain may be accompanied by a burning sensation ascending into the chest - due to acid reflux into the gullet. Acidity pain is worse when the stomach is empty.
4. Pain due to gall bladder disease tends to worsen after a meal.
5. Psychological anxiety states can cause chest pain.
6. Reduced blood supply to heart muscle causes angina - a squeezing type of pain. It is usually relieved by rest or taking sublingual nitrates. See Coronary heart disease below.
Home remedy for the treatment of Chest pain
Simple chest wall pain is relieved by analgesics, rest, hot fomentation and application of pain-relieving ointments. Note: Never take any chest pain lightly. Consult, to find out the cause and treat it. Angina is the warning signal of a possible heart attack.
How To Use Home Remedies for chest pain
Natural home remedy help in reducing chest pain - Boil 4-5 pods of garlic in a glass of milk and consume the garlic pods with milk daily to avoid chest pain.
Good home remedy provide relief from chest pain - Take a spoon of Basil Juice with Honey in empty stomach every day.
Effective home remedy help in curing chest pain - Sit down and take slow deep breaths, in through the nose and out through the mouth.
Traditional home remedy help in treating chest pain - Honeydew + Grape + Watermelon + Milk - Rich in vitamin C and Vitamin B2 that increase cell activity and strengthen body immunity.
Stan,
have you noticed ANY improvements in this area? I know I had many different types of chest pains........jabbing, tightness, pressure, pains that would last for a spell but these occurred even when I was not exerting myself and these have significantly lessened in intensity and duration.
IF you are noticing any improvements at all then that's a good sign but if not then it would be prudent to get a second opinion. Would you consider getting a second opinion from a different doctor?
I'm so glad to hear that you have experienced improvements in other areas. We just have to wait things out a bit longer. I think you are one month ahead of me? I'm at 28 months plus 3 weeks.
Samsara
hello,
i had no test for lungs and will not do actually; i breathe by nose; i think my receptors in lung have been killed; i do not think angina; it seems
to me as if i have a bad anxiety reflexe when exercise, the same as Luc has when we walk upstairs;
for vitamin C, i am against taking supplements, but i eat orange which have vitamine C;
i think i have
"5. Psychological anxiety states can cause chest pain."
because i am in a kind of permanent panic state which lessens and gives apparently what Luc calls somatization;
"Natural home remedy help in reducing chest pain - Boil 4-5 pods of garlic in a glass of milk and consume the garlic pods with milk daily to avoid chest pain.
Good home remedy provide relief from chest pain - Take a spoon of Basil Juice with Honey in empty stomach every day."
i am trying to regularly eat a little garlic, honey
about improvements in that area i have noticed some changing , sometimes more left chest, actually more center at heart,
some time less can walk more far, and other time each 30 steps, but when i walk in that state 40 minutes, often it hurts less;
thanks for your advices, i will no go to doctor, i was two weeks ago and he said it is age for my fibromyalgia (as i do not want pain killer)
i am 30 months one week off
12 years paxil(9 years only 10 mg) - cold turkey(1,5 month) and switch celexa tapered 1 year 20 mg
62 years old - for GAD - 4 years 3 months meds free [since april 2009]
vegetables soup - orange (vit C) - curcuma - some meat or fish
At 40 months off I am almost unable to walk upstairs or downstairs. Walking alone in the street is hard because of balance problems, weakness in the legs and in my left arm. I am very slim and my homeopath always says that I have not enough muscle mass.I have a high level of muscular tension and pain (Fibromyalgy) .These long-lasting problems ruin my life and make me forget that I have had real improvements in other domains.
I already have had acupuncture which brought some improvements but which are neither long-lasting nor significant.
Severe anxiety since childhood .SSRIs for OCD.
Major traumatism in my life:Prozac during short periods.
Deroxat (=Paxil) during 7 years.
Three unsuccessful atempts to quit.
Deroxat free since may 2008 (Cold turkey )
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