As I say to many other new forum-ers "Welcome to the club!"
Well, if you check back the extensive archive of my posts and discusisons you may (or may) realise certain similarities early in mine too.
Briefly (and I know a lot will nod off here - so, to those I say "go make a cuppa!" return in a while), I was diagnosed with WRS myself back in late October, but I plodded on and by middle of November I found myself in a dark place on the edge of some abyss, I was smoking, also smoking a little "herbal!" now and again and drinking to basically, get from one day to the next in providing a community service with virtually no back up. I had just started a relationship and with her love, help and the Doctor (who just happens to know a lot about "sticking plasters for the brain" fortunately) I finally accepted I needed help.
I started on 10mg beginning of December and it increased 10mg roughly each month until I levelled on 40mg - where I am now. Over six months down the road things are improving, but I had to let it happen. I had to put up with quite a few side effects. I have to say here that not everyone gets all side effects and not at the same levels of intensity either. I experienced increased anxiety (when I didn't think I had any, but was reassured here (and by my Doc) that Cita causes anxiety before it can treat it as part of the overall healing process), I felt a little nausea, freakiness, spaced out (by Cita), shortness of breath, multiple vivid dreams (which made me very tired and down so, on the suggestion of a good soul here I started taking mine at bed time and it works! (for me)). I suffered for a period with paranoia over the slightest ache, pain or feeling which my Doctor sorted by sending me for a male MoT and that seemed to do the trick (after a while). There were other side effects, but I won't go on.
As you can see with Gary's comments (and you will with others) you ain't alone and this is the best place to be.
Before taking over the counter remidies you should always seek medical advice, if say (and we have to be careful here!), you are not sure about things, you can always post a question here and get some wonderful help through first hand experiences. I can assure you the advice (which is monitored), is very good.
Trust me, you will soon be joining in and realise you are not alone where ever you are in the UK (I have to add here that other countries are available! Lol!). Seriously though, we are a global forum.
Your journey has just begun, it may or may not be a roller coaster of a ride (mine was), you may or may not experience all the side effects, your recovery may or may not take time. All you have to, try to, do (and sometimes it ain't easy) is just go with the flow. Let's face it, it would be great if we could sit in the front car, wearing flying goggles and totally enjoy the ride, but with the ups, there are downs and you just have to try to focus on the positives, accept the negatives as part of the recovery and look straight ahead.
You are already in the self help section of your recovery and here is the best place to be!
I used to play a lot of sports especially, rugger, badders and do a lot of running until I was diagnosed with ostea-arthritis in the knees and my (previous) Doctor banned me for life! So, when I hear someone ain't running because they can't, I do feel for them. I do seriously miss being not able to just get out there get some cardio-vascular going, run off the fat and some of me worries! I do hope you feel up to it soon.
A couple of final things (funny, I thought I could hear cheering?!) In the early days when everything was upside down, I did manage to decide to look at the positive and accept the negatives. I realsied I could not do much about helping myself without a lifestyle change, healthier eating, stopped smoking, cut down on my drinking, so much so, some pubs have had to close (actually one is a very nice Thai restaurant (other restaurants are available!!) which has certainly helped. The main thing though, I have, just last week, removed myself from that which made me ill and I sign off from my employ this very morning! With work related stress you cannot, continue in the same environment that has made you ill! Sorry, it has to be said! I am doing other things that interest me, I am doing these things for me, my partner, my daughters and Family. I am doing this for a better me for a better future. No longer to be a slave to this lost and corrupt system!
Man! that was GOOD! You see, answering posts is a kind of self help!
Welcome again and goodbye for just now! (could swear I just heard a fanfare!)
Chin up!
David
I hope that helps you (as it does me). You'll see, one day you'll be giving words of encouragement too, believe me.
In the meantime