Auditory cymbalta

I have Bipolar 2, severe depression, Auditory and Visual Hallucinations, Paranoia, severe anxiety disorder, separation anxiety, PTSD, OCD, panic attacks, anxiety attacks, night terrors, and insomnia. I also have/had suicidal ideation and tendencies.
I am normally supposed to be on meds and in therapy but haven't been for a while due to some BS reasons and then moving states.
From the time I was diagnosed with everything in 2012 to the last meds I was taking in 2023, the only thing that consistently helped was Haldol and I was taking 15mgs a day when I was still taking meds. I've had countless meds that different Dr's have prescribed but seem to build up tolerances quick if they do work or they just plain don't work. I can't remember everything I've been on but I can remember Wellbutrin, Pravasin(?), Cymbalta, Prozac, Zoloft, Latuda, Buspar(which made me extremely angry so I won't go back on it), Effexor, Pristiq, Lexapro, Paxil, Trazadone, Topirimate, Risperidone, Xanex, and Ambien.
Basically what I am needing/wanting opinions or thoughts on are what people would recommend for me to suggest with the new Dr, that I am finally seeing soon, that I know the meds listed above haven't helped in the past and don't necessarily want to go through a whole bunch of trial and error with the same meds to get the same results. If that makes sense. Every time I have had to switch Dr's in the past since being on meds, they have never listened to me about what I've been on and the experiences with them, even though they all have access to my records, and will put me through the process of trying meds I've already been on just for me to be back in 3 months in a worse place. The only one they all seem to listen to me on is the Haldol, which I am grateful for, but my last Dr was supposed to up it again when I saw her next, which never happened. So now I'm not even sure this new Dr will listen to me about it and what my last Dr's plans were.
So does anyone have any suggestions on how to make the Dr listen? Cause I really need to get back on meds and don't want to get discouraged again because a Dr won't listen.
Does this make sense?

I don't really know what I'm doing here or what I'm doing. But here I go. Rant time.
I was diagnosed with schizophrenia when I was a teen about 13 to 15 years old. I'm 31 now. I had symptoms of auditorial and visual hallucinations for years before I was first diagnosed. I lived in a world of hearing voices and having full blown conversations with people that was not there. I was treated for it along with insomnia since from a baby age I have always had trouble with sleeping and staying asleep as well as clinical depression with suicidal tendencies from cutting myself to trying to hang myself or playing Russian roulette. I don't remember what I was taking but it made me catatonic which didn't help my bouts of sleep paralysis. I stopped treatment and just let it go. Over the years I slowly closed everyone off. Friends I let go of. Family I ruined relationships with. I shut down and shut out. As time went by I started developing other symptoms like paranoia and psychosis. I'd be afraid to go out on public let alone be going outside my home. I started developing and living in false memories that I never could tell wasn't real. Everything I experienced in my day to day life would be reported back to me by loved one's and I'd have no memory of any of it. Everything would be different from my perspective. I had a psychotic episode last year where everything peaked and I fell into alcohol to rest myself staying drunk every day on vodka or whiskey going through a bottle or two a day. I was taken to get emergency psychiatric help and was diagnosed again but as schizoaffective being I'm schizophrenic with clinical depression, (mania) bipolar, and general anxiety. I've since been on medication that helps. Risperdal, cymbalta, trazedone, and Seroquel. But it's like coming out of a fog and staying in that fog. My days get hazy and I have a hard time remembering things. I still have minor hallucinations but even those are foggy. And I stay in a blank mood like I'm apathetic until something can randomly trigger a mood swing where I can be depressed for days on end and have flares of extreme anger and yet have a good laugh at the same time. It seems that's my daily life now and I have to live with it. Idk. I just thought I'd share myself and see how this opening up thing goes since I don't even talk to my therapist.

So last week I went 5 days with almost no sleep, started having visual and auditory hallucinations, was really jittery, pacing around the house, spent way too much money, my anxiety and paranoia was through the roof. I went inpatient at a crisis center near me, slept for 24 hours, everything was good for a day. I saw a different psych than i normally do and he upped my antidepressant and buspar which I didn’t understand because I thought that could make mania worse. Now I’m back to staying up (at 24 hours right now), feeling jittery, pacing again, maxed my credit card, vivid thoughts of self harm, had to call in to work cause I work nights and if I can’t get to sleep I’ll be having to drive 40 minutes on 0 sleep for 36 hours. I’ve been doing a ton of projects around the house today, can’t focus, etc. I left a message but my own psych never got back to me. my question is: should I go back inpatient? Should I go to the same place as before or should I go to a different crisis center with a different doctor? Wait until Monday when my actual doc is in and just try to sleep? What should I do?
I’m already on Abilify, Cymbalta, Buspar, remeron, seroquel, and I’m waiting on a lamictal script.

Here are my symptoms:
Shortness of breath
Chronic nausea
Dizziness
Fatigue
Rapid / irregular heartbeat
Weakness
Numbness (internal and external)
Tremors / spasms / seizure like body convulsions
Temp regulation problems
Lack of concentration/memory problems/brain fog/ foggy vision
Balance issues
Tingling
Slurred speech / I stutter & search for words
Dry mouth
Swelling
Auditory / sensory overload
Here are my diagnoses post Covid:
SFN
PEM
Dysautonomia
FND
ME/CFS
Non epileptic seizures
Update on my current condition:
I’m currently using my feet/leg/thigh machine for blood circulation. My neuropathy is still horrendous.
About 2 weeks ago I had collapsed in my parents arms after being up all night with 10/10 neuropathy pain. I’m talking screaming, crying, can’t take it, pain. I was also frustrated that I wasn’t sleeping. I was given a 2 day emergency virtual visit with a back up doctor for a follow up.
I was prescribed cymbalta a week ago (was given the option between that or gabapentin (spelling?) but was personally recommended cymbalta as it has less side effects). Said back up doctor suggested the cymbalta wouldn’t be helping as my pain is so severe so she’s giving me a referral for pain management & putting in a note for urgency care. They’ll see me within the month. If cymbalta doesn’t work, I’ll try gabapentin, & eventually graduate to lyrica.
Now for the LDN, it has been a miracle for me. My pulmonologist diagnosed me with CFS in July and in late Aug I took my first dose. Since then I’ve been on it for mainly fatigue. It’s helped tremendously. I’m on 4.5 mg. I was bed bound previously. Now I can do dishes, & laundry once a week. I can go up & down the stairs without trouble. I can see friends occasionally. Socialize. I pretty much got some sort of normalcy back. I can go out into the world when I need to (masked). LDN has helped me with brain function & most of my fatigue & dysautonomia symptoms.
I will crash upon exertion though. Here’s what I’ve noticed(that I can remember at the top of my head). If I overdo it, my body will pay for it. Menstrual cycles (before & during) are the worst. If I don’t get enough sleep, if I do too much a certain day, sometimes it’s for no rhyme or reason at all, I will crash. So if there’s anything I’ve learned is to take whatever life throws at you & give yourself some grace.
Shoutout to my partner. ❤️

I am reaching out with depression and defeat at this point. I do not know what else to do. I am curious to know if anyone else has ever dealt with this specific issue or something similar. My cat Bear (10/M) will not stop compulsively m*sturbating while simultaneously having what appears to be anxiety attacks. I know, this sounds wild but I do not know how else to describe it, so I filmed it.
Brief Video for Context: https://imgur.com/a/5rs1UmS
Social & Environmental Background: He was neutered at the appropriate time as a kitten. Bear is a highly affectionate, playful, smart, outgoing and vocal cat. My mom died suddenly & unexpectedly in June 2022. My mom has been with him day in and day out since 2017. Prior to her disability-retirement, he had a companion, Lightning (18/M), who passed in late 2016. I lived with my mom and Bear up until 2021, but was at the house 3 days per week with them after moving out. The day she passed I had to rip him from the only home he had ever known for nearly a decade. He adjusted better than I thought he would in my home over the next few months. No behavior issues or other signs of distress.
Onset & Interventions: I went to Firefly Music Festival for 4 days in September. I came home to a new behavior of the compulsive m*sturbation on fluffy blankets and on me while wearing my bathrobe of the same fabric. My boyfriend works a lot, so Bear was not receiving the amount of attention he is used to for those 4 days. I do not work so I have been home this entire time with him. I believe he started doing this as a way to self-soothe? My home is catified and he is engaged with extensively to prevent boredom as an indoor only cat. Soon after, he started getting in the litter box and marking on the wall next to it or right outside the box. I’ve tried everything litter box wise to prevent this. There is nothing occurring externally that would logically cause him to become territorial. All potential health causes have been ruled out by his feline-specialist vet. Bear is overall healthy. The marking behavior is on and off. We trialed Gabapentin and it only made him worse and the behaviors more frequent. The Gabapentin was then stopped. We tried Feliway wall diffusers (a very expensive investment for the size of my house) and that did absolutely nothing (except stain my drywall lol.)
Recent Changes: Over the past few months, when my boyfriend and I get into bed for the night he starts up on the blanket and does not stop. Its like a switch gets flipped in his brain. The m*sturbation only behavior has progressed into what I previously described as anxiety attacks. He makes his way around the bed and doesn’t know what to do with himself. If I remove him from the bed or redirect him, he is so persistent he will keep jumping back up. He acts like he wants me but then freaks out if I touch him. Something about us getting into bed is triggering him. A few weeks ago he needed what was left of a reabsorbed tooth pulled in addition to a deep cleaning. The transdermal opioid, Zorbium, caused him to hallucinate badly for 4 days straight. He was acting as if he was being attacked by the things he was seeing. Running from the hallucinations, dodging them, etc. His ears would turn directions as well so I believe there were also auditory hallucinations occurring. He was restless, taking laps patrolling the house. Then he ended up hiding, which he never does. He had not slept in days. I felt awful as there was nothing I could do besides wait for the drug to run its 4 day course. The vet tech said (anecdotally in her experience) around 1 in 15 cats experience an adverse reaction to this medication which seems quite high to me. Zorbium is a brand new drug only released into the market last year. If I had known around 1 in 15 cats are experiencing this, I would have insisted I administer pain medications daily on my own the old fashion way. I would have never consented. Ever since Zorbium / the surgery he barely wants to play. He sleeps much more than usual. When he is awake he is more aloof and displays the aforementioned anxiety behaviors. I think he might be traumatized.
He has had nothing but paradoxical or adverse reactions to medications. I am very hesitant to start him on Fluoxitine as the vet suggested for this reason. Additionally, he has a slight decline in kidney function. My mother’s cause of death was determined to be Cymbalta toxicity. She (unknowingly) had an impaired liver (autopsy confirmed) and could not metabolize a therapeutic dose. The medication accumulated in her system overtime and it killed her at the age of 64. Understandably, the idea of starting my senior cat on an antidepressant is very triggering for me. I do not want my trauma to dictate the decisions I make for Bear, but if Fluoxitine were to result in his decline I would never forgive myself.
If I can help him conservatively, I will do whatever it takes. Bear is my world and my heart is shattering for him. I plan on taking a class Feline Behavior Solutions: Teaching Foundation Behaviors for Modifying Behavior through the IAACB Foundation in May as an attempt to learn how to train him out of doing these anxiety behaviors because they only ramp him up further. If that fails, I guess I have no choice but to trial Fluoxitine no matter how triggering it is for me.
This is a longshot, but does anyone have any advice for me? Any shared experiences out there? Any conservative management options for something like this in the meantime until I start this class? Words of support would also be appreciated. If you’ve made it this far reading my post, thank you. ♥️
TL;DR: My cat is having daily episodes of compulsive m*sturbation and what I believe to be anxiety attacks. Fluoxetine is my last resort. I am seeking conservative management advice and/or support. I would like to hear if anyone else has experienced something like this along with what has or has not worked in attempting to lessen your cat’s suffering. Thank you!

Tl;Dr: Was prescribed anti-depressants for anxiety and stress, tinnitus has SIGNIFICANTLY decreased the past year.
For me the end of the year is a time for reflection and thought I’d post an update.
Context: I was in a really bad state after my tinnitus started mid-2019. I had a severe ear infection which started the tinnitus and it kind of just never went away. There were several weeks and days where I wanted to pull my ears out.
The past aka: The Age of Doctors Giving zero f***s: I visited over 12 or so doctors, saw two ENT’s, had my ear examined, nose examined and was put on multiple drugs. In 2021 I had a mental breakdown due to multiple reasons and ended up severely depressed as it’d been brewing for a while. Shock horror, my tinnitus became worse. Shock horror, my anxiety increased because of my tinnitus. And so the circle of stress and anxiety continues. No one listened to me properly.
“It’s not that bad.” “Why don’t you just chuck a podcast on when you sleep? Have you tried meditation? What about some white noise? Are you stressed?”
The pre-present: aka - A doctor finally listened to me By the end of 2021/start of 2022 my anxiety and stress increased 10 fold. I started having full body pain including nerve pain up my arms, legs, toes and fingers. There were days I just sat in bed and cried, wishing for someone to remove me out of my body and make me a new one. My tinnitus was so loud. My pain was unbearable. I was prescribed Lyrica to treat nerve pain, but it just made me sick and feel worse.
Then, my life changed. I walked into a different doctor‘s office (an acquaintance actually) who took one look at me, didn’t say a word, listened to my story and for the first time, just shut up and listened to what I had to say. I described my tinnitus, my pain, my state of life, everything.
After several minutes of questioning, he asked, “Would you try anti-depressants?” My first reaction was, “Hell no,” because I couldn’t bare the thought to be on medication. I didn’t think I was that stressed. Boy was I wrong…
After some coaxing from my friend, I went through the first horrible week of my anti-depressant. Fighting the nausea, insomnia, random tinnitus spikes and anxiety around what I was doing, things started changing.
3 weeks later my nerve pain dropped down. I started crying less and my brain was quieter. My tinnitus seemed, oddly quiet even. 3 months later, I was completely, 100% pain free. Now, almost a year on, my tinnitus is still there but it’s about 10% of what it was before medication. I still get flare ups every now and then, but I ride them like a wave, take lots of breaths and know that it’ll eventually return to baseline-T.
The reason I’m writing the post is that if you have tinnitus and you’re constantly thinking about it and worrying about it, it will make it worse. I spent countless nights worried about it, listening to it to see if it was different, louder, quieter…The reason I was prescribed the anti-depressants was to try to break the cycle of the stress and anxiety and luckily for me it has done.
If you are considering getting help, whether that’s therapy (which I also do) or medication keep persisting.
The one and only person truly battling for you is you. Never ever give up trying to find an answer if you need an answer. I was never diagnosed but the doctor alluded to a malfunction in my central nervous system and possible auditory pathways.
The medication I am on, duloxetine or I think it’s called Cymbalta in the US is a difficult drug to come off which I am very aware of. But for me it has saved my life. I’ve done a deep dive into the chemistry of it and tried to theorise how it could be linked to tinnitus and pain. Our brains are beautiful but can also be absolute assholes at the same time.
If you’re struggling and want someone to talk to or have gone through/are going through something similar please reach out. I know how isolating and lonely it can be.
Happy festivas/Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays.
May your year be T-free in 2023 ✊

I tried my first dose of Wellbutrin and about 6 hours later was surprised to find that my car alarm started sounding, only when I went outside it wasn’t actually sounding and it was all in my head. Then for the rest of the day I kept hearing it coming on and off. The sound was so loud and so convincing that I told my friend over the phone that I needed to check my car.
Later I started hearing a person shouting to quiet down my car, who sounded really angry. I went outside to see what the commotion was and again, just the peaceful outdoors with no one in sight.
I read more about Wellbutrin from Scott’s explainer essay on Lorien Psychiatry and apparently it antagonizes nicotine signaling (which is why it’s prescribed as a stop-smoking drug). I wonder if this could be the explanation, since I’ve also heard from the SSC community that schizophrenics are drawn to nicotine and find that it relieves some of their positive symptoms.
I’m not a diagnosed schizophrenic but as I’ve posted recently I’ve been experiencing an escalating pattern of symptoms that have been very worrying (and have some related family history). Scott was kind enough to leave a comment and recommended that I try fish oil supplements as a prophylactic, so I’ve been taking 1,200 mg a day. Even still, that hasn’t prevented this concerning development.
My doctor is still adamant about me not trying an SSRI since I’ve been on an SNRI but have found the memory and cognitive side effects very distressing. He says the N component of Cymbalta should be protective against cognitive side effects and that for someone experiencing these effects a switch to SSRIs could only in theory be expected to make them worse.
So now I feel like I’m out of options: Trintelix, a supposedly better SNRI than Cymbalta in terms of memory and other cognitive side effects, is $300 a bottle and very hard to cover with insurance. Lexapro, the typical SSRI starter treatment, is even more liable to causing the side effects that made me want to switch in the first place. And now even the lowest possible dose of Wellbutrin (75 mg) appears to be exacerbating my risk for schizophrenia.
Oddly, Vyvanse doesn’t cause auditory hallucinations. I’ve been taking that with little incident for years. So it can’t be that the Wellbutrin is just too stimulating, right? Scott’s website (Lorien) also convinced me to try Light Therapy and so far it seems to be helping me a lot with my feeling of wakefulness, likelihood of giving into temptations, and gives me a positive appetite to get school work done (very unusual for me, as that usually requires a stick instead of a carrot).

Do y’all ever wildly misinterpret real sounds? Like, rather than an auditory hallucination, the sound actually happens but you think that it’s something entirely different (and in my case at least, often scary)?
I’ve had that going on in the back of my mind since I was a kid, long before I was developed schizophrenia, so I’m not sure if they’re related.
Some examples: Heard some scratching noise outside at night, immediately assumed it was some kind of hell hound pacing around near me. The sound was just dead leaves.
Heard something tapping on the window, became immediately afraid that “someone” is standing outside the window. I live on the third floor. The sound was actually just rain.
Is that just paranoia? lmao
(25M, taking Risperdal, Cymbalta, Straterra, Cogentin)

So I've been tapering off of my cymbalta for about a month and simultaneously starting zoloft (psychiatrist recommendation). I've been having severe withdrawal symptoms which I expected, but it's been a month and I'm still having brain zaps or tingling feelings with movement, and now I'm starting to have auditory hallucinations (I keep hearing my cats in the litter box like scratching noises, but obviously I recognized that it's not there). I'm a little freaked out considering I've never had hallucinations before. One of my parents is schizophrenic, so idk if I'm just now developing Schizophrenia or if my antidepressants are fucking with me. This more of a rant than give me a solution. I'm just a little anxious and concerned 😟

So- first off my medication history just so y’all can get the picture.
Benzodiazepines: 0.25mg Xanax PRN, 2mg Ativan DID, 0.25-0.5mg Klonopin Wafer DID PRN and Klonopin 1-5mg/d QD-QID Antidepressants: 50mg Trazodone, 5-20mg Lexapro, 30-60mg Cymbalta Antipsychotics: 5mg Zyprexa Zydus, 25mg Seroquel QD-TID, 300-400mg Seroquel, 300mg Seroquel ER Mood Stabilizers: 250mg Depakote DR DID-TID, 500-1000mg Depakote ER QD-DID, 300mg Lithobid ER QD, 300-1200mg Gabapentin DID-TID Stimulants: 20-30mg Adderall XR, 10-15mg Adderall Anxiolytics: Medical MJ, 50mg Vistaril TID, 10-40mg Inderal QD, 5mg Sonata QD, 5-10mg Buspar DID Anti-craving Medication: 25mg Naltrexone QD, 2-6mg Suboxone QD
So all of those were failed medication trials. Adderall worked for me but since i’m an addict they are tapering me off. In terms of bad reactions Naltrexone, Vistaril, Lithium, Depakote, Zyprexa, Cymbalta, Ativan, and Xanax were those. The rest really just did nothing for me. Suboxone, Adderall, Gabapentin, Seroquel, and Klonopin worked the best for me but I can’t take gabapentin on suboxone, and I can’t take Adderall and Klonopin due to my addictive past.
Speaking of that, I’m a month and a half clean and in terms of the drugs I used, these were the main ones:
Alcohol, Benzos, Ambien, Soma, Pheno, Opiates (Mostly fet most recently), Coke, Crack, Meth, Speed, MDMA, LSD, and Weed were most prevalent.
Now- the real problem. I need to find a non-stimulant adhd med that seems to work well, an anxiety medication that isn’t very addicting, and some thoughts on what y’all think of the bipolar med I’m thinking of starting.
Currently these are my medications: 400mg Seroquel 30mg Adderall XR 6/1.5mg Suboxone (Currently raising)
I’m having some auditory hallucinations, delusions, bad anxiety causing me to throw up, and adhd symptoms now that my adderall booster is completely tapered in the afternoon.
I’m thinking of cross tapering off Seroquel and onto Saphris for the hallucinations. For a mood stabilizer i’m thinking of Trileptal or Topamax. Just need some feedback.
For the ADHD a tricyclic like desipramine or nortriptyline might be good for that purpose. Or bupropion. I don’t really know that’s why I need an opinion. Provigil, Amp or Mph aren’t an option due to my addiction history.
And for anxiety i’m really kinda clueless on what I should try. Maybe a TCA, or an MAOI. If anyone has any experience with Memantine, Tianeptine, Tiagabine, Baclofen, Tizanidine, or Vigabatrin i’d be grateful.
Anyways any feedback on this topic concerning meds you’ve tried and have helped would be amazing. Thank you for reading if you did!

Okay so this is going to be long, I apologize. I am a 30yo white female, 5'6, about 180 lb. I used to drink heavily, identify as an alcoholic, and have 5 years of sobriety from alcohol. I do smoke medical marijuana maybe twice a month, when my PTSD is really bad, but lately I can't even afford it so I don't. I am diagnosed with PTSD, bipolar 1 with psychosis (on a waiting list for a neuropsych evaluation, in part to consider if it is schizoaffective), ADHD, auditory processing disorder, hypothyroidism, keratoconus, NOS eating disorder, constipation, trouble swallowing (this was confirmed in a swallowing study, I just can't remember the actual name of it), hopefully temporarily injured ulnar nerve, and vaginal and rectal prolapses. I have an nexplanon implant for birth control, and have never been pregnant. So basically I'm a mess both physically and mentally, it's been a lot to deal with on my own, especially trying to navigate the system while dealing with my mental illness.
My current medications are trilafon, effexor, lamictal, trazodone, clonidine, Vyvanse, Ativan prn, Omeprazole, famotidine, dulcolax (prescribed), Claritin, magnesium oxide, vitamin d, benztropine, advair puff inhaler, levoxyl, singulair. I take Advil for the prolapse pain, which I'll explain. I don't try Tylenol because up at 12 years ago I had a liver problem from Abilify. My numbers are back to normal, but I just don't want to stress my liver, especially after everything I used to drink.
So... My mental health problems began as depression and anxiety in high school, I would have had ADHD at the same time but that was only diagnosed last month. Shortly after high school, I got a retail job and fell into an abusive relationship with a coworker who was 10 years older than me. That was the beginning of an 8 years of abusive relationships, particularly because I was trying to escape neglect/some minor abuse at home. A few years into it, my boyfriend I trusted began sexually trafficking me out. During this time I was roofied often, and we smoked marijuana frequently. Talking about those highs with my current therapist, who is a forensic psychoanalyst, made her "100% certain, without a doubt, that they were lacing the marijuana with crystal meth." I can share those symptoms if they're relevant. So needless to say I developed pretty severe PTSD from beatings and especially the violent rapes.
When I was 25, I was able to get out of that situation, got sober, and started getting support and therapy from an agency that works with trafficking survivors, that's how I found my therapist. I've been in inpatient psych about seven times since then, but not in the past year and I'm happy with my med combination for that. I know it's an obscene number of meds, but every time psychiatrist and I try to cut one out, the symptoms come right back. Shortly after getting out of these situations, I realized something was wrong physically. There was a bulge coming out of my vagina when I bore down, and when I had bowel movements there was a bulge coming out of my anus. It took me about a year to get a doctor to even look at it, they just kept saying I was too young for that. Finally someone took pity on me and took a look, they were uterine and rectal prolapses. I went to the woman's pelvic health clinic at Mass general. They were so confused of why they could happen to me, at my age, and thought I might have Ehlers Danlos. A geneticist excluded that, I am very stretchy but was one criteria short of the diagnosis. I've tried so many times to explain to the doctors that this must have been caused by sexual trauma, but they insist sex wouldn't do that. They don't listen when I tell them I've had multiple things in me at once, and been violently fisted, sometimes in both holes at the same time. I truly believe that's what caused it. I finally had a culdoplasty and rectopexy when I was 26. It was successful at first, but within six months the vaginal prolapse was back, and the rectal prolapse came back shortly after as well. My urogynecology surgeon wants to do another surgery using mesh, but is concerned because I do want kids one day, and she said she won't do surgery unless the colorectal surgeon also wants to. I've been in contact with the colorectal, and they keep having me send pictures. They say it's not protruding, so it's not technically a prolapse. It's hard to show depth in the photos, plus it's a very hard area to photograph for yourself, but when I feel it it definitely comes out past the anus, maybe by a centimeter. She's refusing to do more surgery until "it comes back fully," and says that from my picture it looks more like rectal wall. I don't know the difference. Looking at the pictures I sent them last year versus last week, it is almost doubled in size. I don't randomly want surgery, I'm not crazy, but I need a solution. Pessaries have not helped with the vaginal prolapse. The rectal one is very sensitive, and bleeds all the time, usually getting heavier as the day goes on, especially if I have a bowel movement. Part of why I think it sticks out is because as my patulous anus closes, a little bit of it gets caught and I have to poke it in with my finger to be able to close. I also have extreme pelvic pain from it. I avoid going out in public if I don't know what the seating will be like, because I can't comfortably sit on hard surfaces. Laying down doesn't really help either. I've been going back and forth with them for the longest time, because the combination of heavy bleeding and pain is a huge trigger for my PTSD and seriously impacting my health day to day. This week they finally said maybe I could try a neuromodulator, so gabapentin, nortriptyline, cymbalta, or Lyrica. So that's the prolapse stuff.
Now, in December I got my third nexplanon implant insert in my left arm. I had no problem with the other two, and they also stopped my period, which was very helpful because the heavy bleeding was really triggering me. After the removal and insertion this time, which went very smoothly, I started noticing a pins and needles feeling in my pinky finger, with some weakness. My gyno was worried about my ulnar nerve, so she had me come back, removed the one from my left arm, and put a new one in the right. That went smoothly, but my pinky never got better. The past few weeks, I've noticed a tiny bit of tingling, but mostly the weakness in the whole hand. I can't open packaged food, or barely zip my jacket, because my left hand fingers are too weak to hold them firmly while I open things with my right hand. Also, you know that thing where doctors hold out their finger and you're supposed to squeeze it while they pull away? I've tried my own experiments with that and my hand, but particularly my pinky, is completely incapable of holding on at all. I finally had a neurology virtual visit this week. Listening to this the neurologist said it most likely is my ulnar nerve, and that it heals on its own but might take up to a year. She wants to do a ENG test to confirm that. She said if I needed medication, she would recommend gabapentin, nortriptyline, cymbalta... Etc. Exactly what they told me to do for the prolapse pain, I was happy to finally have a solution for the prolapse pain and fix this at the same time.
However... The problem is these are a modulators can also work as antidepressants. I have tried the gabapentin, nurtriptyline, and cymbalta in the past for that reason. Ultimately they did either not work, or pushed me towards mania, so we stopped them. I was told if I want to start them I will probably have to stop my effexor first, but that's been very helpful for my depression and I've been stable on it for a while, so I don't want to mess with it by using something I know doesn't even work that well for me. The only one left was Lyrica, and I mentioned it when talking to my psychiatrist this week. She said that is a controlled substance, so she'd prefer I avoid it, especially because I already have Ativan, and just started the Vyvanse last month. I've heard different opinions on how addictive it is, I brought it up with the neurologist and colorectal surgeon, and they said they're not concerned about addiction. I was in my support group for trafficked women last night, and while not doctors between us we have a lot of experiences with drugs and addiction. They strongly warned me not to try it, but again they're not doctors, just experienced. When I looked it up, it said it only became a controlled substance recently because people were mixing it with opioids for a stronger high, causing overdoses, and that it wasn't as addictive on it's own.
So, I apologize for the length of this. My questions are- Could the violence I described possibly cause prolapses? If not, what are other causes if we've ruled out EDS? I don't fully understand why we would wait for the rectal prolapse to get even worse than it already is, do you think that's a good idea? Should I change doctors? It's tricky because these doctors all work as a team in the women's pelvic clinic, so I'd have to replace GI, urogyn, and colorectal. I have tried calling other hospitals in Boston, but they just tell me how great MGH's program is and that I should go there. Do you have thoughts on how to treat the pain of the prolapse, because the Advil doesn't really work? Do you think the neuromodulators even would help with that? Any tips to stop the rectal bleeding?
Also, how to stay clean with it? No matter how long I wait to leave the bathroom, the bleeding never really stops. I've tried using menstrual pads, but I can't really find the right placement for them to catch the blood, because it mostly goes up the back of my underwear, and I also get a lot of rectal mucus so it hasn't necessarily absorbed everything. Right now I roll up toilet paper and wedge it in my butt crack, it usually bleeds through to my underwear, and even occasionally gets on my pants, but eventually stops after about half an hour. This question may sound stupid, but I missed out on a lot of hygiene skills because I was partially neglected as a kid, so I'm really wondering how to take care of this hygienically.
Do you have any advice on the ulnar nerve situation? Do you think the meds really would help with that?
Is Lyrica as big of a risk as my psych thinks, especially considering how much it could improve my quality of life and mental distress?
What would you recommend? Or any random thoughts you have... Obviously I will probably be going with what my actual doctors recommend, but I'm curious to see if anyone has answers to these questions that I could possibly explore with my care team. Thank you so so much for reading all this

I know everyone goes through these thoughts of what would we be like without meds? I feel like I will never know and being held to these meds is scaring me lately.
I am on…
Cymbalta Kolonpin Lithium Wellbutrin Lamictal
I have been on them for years and years added in gradually. Scared to try therapy since my last therapist left me to seek an inpatient……..I never made anything dramatic and this was tough.
Before meds I was not human. My mind was so distorted and I will say insane. 12 years later in my early 30’s I am “stable”.
My depression is sadly numb, my mania is having crazy energy. But my creativity is gone. I want to know who I am…but am I the same I was? I just feel bad tapering because I get so sick, physically and irritated that it gets mistaken for me being “bad” again.
I also never thought I would want a child. I know I would be a good mom and I want to have a family. I could never be pregnant on these meds for the babies health. I don’t want to risk hurting my child with these meds and know I would need to come off.
Been feeling really sick lately with neuropathic issues and in the summer I had some auditory hallucinations so I know my doctor is not going to want to get me off of them.
I just want some sense of normalcy. I am getting older and I am scared. I’ve considered adoption but am scared I will be seen as to crazy due to my bipolar. It seems everything in my life is ruined by being bipolar. I can’t even get life insurance from anywhere due to it…wtf?!?!
This was a ramble, I know. It’s hard to get others to understand the holds this puts on life in so many ways.
Anyone feel any of this snd what have you done during that time?
Anyone detox at a facility?
Is it worth trying to have a child for their sake. I am a HS art teacher and help guide so many kids through rough times. They all think I should adopt a child in elementary or middle school to help them and show them the love I do my students especially if they have been through trauma they thin that kid needs someone like me. So how crazy can I be? But only with meds
I would love to have my own child, but I feel that is selfish. I would love to give a child a safe and loving home. But will my bipolar ruin any chance of that? It gets in the way of so much.

i’m pretty sure the answer is yes, but i always question the reasons behind my body doing certain things. i have schizoaffective bipolar type (as you can see), and i’m on a heavy dose of meds to quell my hallucinations. (300mg seroquel, 200mg lamictal, 45mg buspar, 90mg cymbalta). on the whole they’re effective, but then i get to bad patches like one i’m in right now where my auditory hallucinations are paranoia are far more intense than usual. this is normal, right, being medicated but still having periods like these?

I am 20, biological female but use he pronouns as I identify as male about 170 lbs and 5'10 feet tall. Currently on 100mg Seroquel XR, 60mg Cymbalta, 60mg Latuda. I live in Australia and am mixed race (1 English parent 1 South Indian parent). I have been depressed for as long as I can remember and have been seeing and hearing things since about age 10.
I started seeing my psychiatrist in 2019 for depression and hallucinations. My psychiatrist recently wrote a letter in which she called it major depression and schizophreniform psychosis. I suffered from auditory, visual, and tactile hallucinations. I read that doctors are careful about prescribing care and medication for people they suspect to be faking their illness, so I didn't tell my doctor or psychiatrist that I was seeing shadow people.
I read that seeing monsters is a stereotype and not common. I read that visual hallucinations are always in colour, but these were black shadows in the form of humans. Not even the inside of their mouths were in colour. I was scared that they would deny me any kind of care - I don't want medication, but I was scared that they would take away the therapy. Now I think it might be okay, because I suffered from uncommon auditory hallucinations (I read that hearing indistinct voices is uncommon and can be a sign of faking) and they never accused me of malingering.
I do take my medication every day, but while it did remove the hallucinations for a long time, they're back. And I think they're mad that I couldn't recognise them while my medication was working. The auditory and tactile hallucinations are the same, except the indistinct voices are gone, but the visual hallucinations are more active. They don't just stand in the corner of the room any more. It's a little distracting, honestly.
How do I tell my psychiatrist that my hallucinations are back and that I lied about having no visual hallucinations because I was scared she would think I was faking my sickness? As a doctor, would you be upset or even angry if a patient told you this?

I read that the American Psychiatric Association says 2/3rds of people with schizophreniform disorder develop schizophrenia. From what I understand schizophreniform psychosis (what my psychiatrist called it) is short term schizophrenia that lasts from one to six months. If it lasts longer than six months they call it schizophrenia and it's permanently there.
I suffered from visual, auditory, and tactile hallucinations. I had one persecutory paranoid delusion that my family members were trying to kill me and ended up in a psychiatric hospital again. I got put on Seroquel, Latuda, and Cymbalta and the hallucinations stopped. They have been gone for months.
However, I'm starting to hear and feel things at night again. And I'm seeing shadows again. Not full blown shadow people like I used to but if I focus my eyes I can see where they should be. It's all coming back. But I haven't stopped taking my medication and I don't want to go to a higher dose because it's making me fat. I gained like 40kg in a year and I can't seem to lose it.
Am I doomed? Reassurance would be nice, or if I really am fucked I would appreciate support from people who can manage their schizophrenia.

27m Medications: mirtazapine, gabapentin, cymbalta. I've been taking them for a year now.
Hello,
For the past week I've been experiencing very strong electric shocks in my chest when I fall asleep. It feels like a semitruck that jerks me awake. Once I'm awake it goes away until I fall back asleep, then it happens again. Its scary and unpleasant.
I obviously googled this and only got results about Exploding Head Syndrome. I've had EHS when I was a teen and it was only auditory, never physical.
Does anyone have any idea what this could be?

Hi. I have to get this out somewhere. First, I’m not a “kid person” in general but have two elementary aged kids, which my husband and I did try very hard for (I.e. they were not unplanned). But as I’ve gotten older I’ve realized I think I have SPD. There are many sensory things that bother me, but related to kids and auditory sensory issues, it’s like the second they start whining or crying or even saying “Mommy!” I basically lose my sh!t. It’s gotten to the point where I’m trying to figure out how to not divorce my husband but somehow lose custody of my children. Or looking up apartments in the area so that I could just live separately from my husband and kids (but again, not get divorced). My husband can’t understand it because he doesn’t get as bothered by the sounds of whining and crying but he does agree I probably have SPD. By the way, I’ve had OCD since I was a preschooler, panic attacks and GAD. I’m already on Cymbalta and Valium as needed. I used to drink to self-medicate but I’ve curbed that dramatically, thank goodness. CAN ANYONE RELATE?! And what do I do about this? It’s a horrible feeling filled with guilt to want to just ran as fast as you can away from your own children.

Cross posted in PTSD but really needing some support.
I recently began seeing a therapist who I absolutely love.
Long story short, I was told that all symptoms which I previously thought were attributable to multiple other mental health conditions (violent intrusive thoughts daily, occasional auditory hallucinations, compulsive behavior, unstable relationships, severe self harm, and many more) can all be attributed to “severe PTSD” from years of repeated emotional, physical, sexual, psychological, and verbal abuse as well as deaths of those close to me, car accidents, bullying, and among other traumatic events.
This is the first time I’ve felt validated in my life and am coming to terms with the diagnosis of PTSD as opposed to the other disorders I previously thought.
I currently take Cymbalta and Adderall with significant improvement since beginning but feel my depression coming back and continue with severe anxiety and panic attacks.
I’ve been having severe anxiety about this and could really use some guidance or advice from anyone who had longer experience with this.
TIA

I recently began seeing a therapist who I absolutely love.
Long story short, I was told that all symptoms which I previously thought were attributable to multiple other mental health conditions (violent intrusive thoughts daily, occasional auditory hallucinations, compulsive behavior, unstable relationships, severe self harm, and many more) can all be attributed to “severe PTSD” from years and years of repeated emotional, physical, sexual, psychological, and verbal abuse as well as deaths of those close to me, car accidents, bullying, and among other traumatic events.
This is the first time I’ve felt validated in my life and am coming to terms with the diagnosis of PTSD as opposed to the other disorders I previously thought.
I currently take Cymbalta and Adderall with significant improvement since beginning but feel my depression coming back and continue with severe anxiety and panic attacks.
I’ve been having severe anxiety about this and could really use some guidance or advice from anyone who had a longer experience with this.
TIA

I believe I am beginning to experience some of the neurological symptoms that can occur alongside the clotting issues. I am seeing a neurologist next week, but I was hoping to find a little guidance here from someone that is familiar with APS. I have never posted before, but I have become beyond frustrated and it is near impossible to find information on my own. Between my PCP, hematologist, and ob/gyn no one seems to know much about APS or have any interest in learning more. I need to know how my condition should be managed. I’m also scared of not being taken seriously because I take opioids for chronic pelvic pain, and the neurologist may attribute my symptoms to those medications instead of looking any deeper.
For the past 6 months, with an increase over the past month, I have experienced: Difficulty focusing and decreased cognition. Difficulty finding, mispronouncing, and getting stuck on words. Sudden, jerking movements throughout my body. It is particularly upsetting when the jerks cause me to drop objects from either hand and when my jaw clamps down causing me to bite my tongue.
New symptoms that began a month ago: Auditory hallucinations, like hearing a loud scream or someone saying my name when I am falling asleep, talking in my sleep, and trouble sleeping. Intermittent tremor when holding objects in either hand or attempting to use that particular hand. I feel like some movements “freeze-up”, like the muscle doesn’t initially respond to signal from my brain. I have also had 2 falls in the past 6 months or so.
I would be so appreciative for any insight or recommendations. I just feel like there is something else going on. This disease is making my life hell. I want nothing more than to move on, but these symptoms and the resulting anxiety make it impossible to do so. Please let me know if I can provide any additional information. Thank you!
Medical history: ht 168cm, wt 140kg. Caucasian, nonsmoker, no drugs/alcohol. Antiphospholipid Syndrome-diagnosed in May 2019. H/o PE x3, DVT x1, and multiple small superficial clots in arms. OCP was suspected for initial PE in March 2018, eliquis ordered x3 months. The second PE occurred a week after starting low dose HRT alongside eliquis. All hormones were discontinued. Third PE occurred while still on eliquis, warfarin ordered instead. DVT occurred while on warfarin with INR 2.4, life-long lovenox ordered and IVC filter placed. CT of head in May 2019 showed a 1 cm area of low attenuation, but I never experienced any related symptoms.
Chronic pelvic pain-G2P0, postmenopausal. H/o recurrent, bilateral dermoids. Both ovaries and tubes removed, uterus remains. In December 2019 the chronic pelvic pain became severe. Ultrasound showed 8cm complex mass, tumor markers negative. Ob-gyn states that it is inoperable d/t extensive adhesions. I was placed on MS Contin for pain control until I can see a pelvic pain clinic in June and hopefully find a long term solution.
Additionally I have a h/o mild HTN and migraines that began after menopause.
Surgical history: 2007-right salpingo-oophorectomy for 2 large dermoids 2010-exploratory laparotomy/left salpingectomy for ruptured ectopic pregnancy 2014-ventral hernia repair-for incisional hernia that occurred after previous surgery 2017-left ovarian cystectomy for 2 large dermoids 2017-incision and drainage of postoperative abdominal abscess April 2019-left oophorectomy and ventral hernia for 2 large dermoids and repair of recurrent incisional hernia
Current meds: lovenox 135mg bid, propranolol 80mg qd for mild HTN and migraine prophylaxis, cymbalta 120mg qd for depression, klonopin 0.25mg prn, gabapentin 600mg tid for chronic abdominal pain, MS contin 75mg bid for chronic abdominal pain, oxycodone 7.5 mg prn for breakthrough pain

I've been on Cymbalta for around 10 years for Fibromyalgia and Depression. I was on 120mg, the highest recommended dose. In March I started having mystery symptoms - vertigo, excess sweating, my blood pressure would drop 10 points from sitting to standing. I had tests done by a gynecologist, cardiologist, gastroenterologist, neurologist and psychiatrist. I was normal on all my lab work and work ups. Finally, after a lot of homework, my Dr and I cut my Cymbalta in half. My symptoms stopped immediately. Then I took a genetic test for psychiatric medications and found that Cymbalta was the worst medication I could take! It was the most reactive for side effects and the least reactive for therapy! My psychiatrist and I decided to wean off of Cymbalta and go on a more effective medication. It is very important to wean off this medication slowly and with a physician's assistance! I knew I was in for a struggle because if I ever missed just one dose I would get very dizzy. It has been day 11 and I am completely disabled with withdrawal symptoms: - extreme vertigo, I have fallen from just standing. - stomach ache and nausea, probably from the vertigo. - auditory hallucinations, it sounds like someone is shaking a morroco inside my head. - spontaneous shaking, not from the cold but just tremors all over my body. - brain fog - and most interestingly I will just burst out laughing or crying, with enough emotion I have peed my pants (embarrassed to share that but it's true). I am bed ridden most of the time, not being able to lift my head of the pillow. I am fortunate that I work freelance from home, but I haven't done anything for over a week - pay my bills, respond to emails, etc... I definitely cannot drive. I'm writing this because in my opinion Cymbalta is a poison to the body. I have a friend who suffered withdrawal symptoms for several months and it is so easy to find others who are going through this, here on Reddit and everywhere on the web. Please help me bring awareness about this medication by telling your friends and family to be very aware of what they are getting into if they are prescribed this medication! Be an advocate for yourself and do your homework on this medication! My genetic test tested over 20 medications, there are better meds out there, both for Fibromyalgia and Depression. Hopefully I'll start feeling better soon!

If this is not allowed, please lemme know!
I took two hits off of a weed pen tonight, which is nothing new. Except I’m pretty sure I triggered a psychotic episode. I had full on tactile, taste, and auditory hallucinations. My skin felt like it was bleeding. My pants felt wet. And the person who I was with, and have been seeing casually for two months, I could not stand him for the two hours I was like this. Tried to cuddle and kiss and touch through it but my head was literally screaming in disgust.
Has this ever happened to anyone before? For what it’s worth, I take Geodon, Cymbalta, Prazosin, Buspar, and PRN Ativan