Hello - SSRI withdrawal
Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2014 11:06 pm
Hey everyone! I have had PGAD for a little over a month since I went off of an antidepressant (celexa) too fast. I'm glad that there is a support group for this, the antidepressant withdrawal forum I'm also on doesn't have much experience with this.
Anyway, I believe it started with leg pain. There were pins and needles which, over the course of a few days, began to affect my my left labia with a piercing pain. I thought at first it was only a leg problem, but then I began to feel like my bladder was always full, and I felt aroused for no reason. After a few days I began to have stabbing, intense orgasms. I looked it up and found out that I had PGAD and that it was possible to have this after getting off an SSRI. As soon as it came, it disappeared for a long time. Kinda embarrassing here, but I need to say this. Anytime afterwards when I "touched myself" my left leg would hurt for at least 2 to 3 days later, but my genitals would settle down no problem. I was concerned about this, and tried to stop doing it, but well...
Around late June or early July I stupidly gave into the urge. My legs hurt as usual. A little later I got my period. A little after my period, around July 11th, I began to feel like I was still having menstrual cramps even though I was done. I thought I was having another yeast infection, but even after taking Monostat, it persisted.
Then, on the 24th of July, my PGAD suddenly came back. I suddenly understood where the cramping was coming from. I am now having a tingling sensation in my labia or colitis, I can't tell really. It comes and goes when it wants to. Occasionally a very shallow orgasam will occur, worse at night and usually when I'm on my left side. I tried to suppress it and it does work a little, but I need to be concentrating on it in order to stop it, and that means no sleep. I've also noticed I'm a lot more, er, gassy, but I do wonder if sometimes the air is not coming from my butt, if you know what I mean. It feels different.
I have some clonazepam my GP gave me for when he thought I was having restless leg syndrome. It does help a lot, but I do not want to become dependent on it. I don't want to be dependent on any meds, the reason why I got off of Celexa in the first place. So that's one problem.
I'm afraid I'll have to get back on it forever. I feel so stupid, tapering off too quickly has possibly left me with a life long condition. I fear that nothing short of that or undergoing an implant will help. I really don't want to get back on meds.
I went to my OBGYN yesterday and told him everything. He was very confused and, after testing me for a UTI and vaginal infections (all negative) and also having me go through an ultrasound that didn't find anything, referred me to a medical university doctor who specializes in Vulvodynia (why don't OBGYNs know about this?!). I don't know if that will help at all. I do have an appointment with a neurologist in August. Do any of you know if they can pinpoint the site of occurrence?
So yeah, I thought my PGAD had gone, but no, it came back. I do know of one person who got off of an SSRI, had PGAD for four months before it went away and is fine now. I really hope that is my case. I feel guilty because my family (I live with them) has to put up with my stupid decision now.
I did have one yeast infection btw, and this was in early July.
Oh dang, almost forgot, I did fall on my back in late June and had severe back pain while sitting at work (I know sitting is bad for this thing), but this all stared almost immediately after my SSRI withdrawal. My GP had an xray done of my spine which showed nothing was wrong.
Anyway, I believe it started with leg pain. There were pins and needles which, over the course of a few days, began to affect my my left labia with a piercing pain. I thought at first it was only a leg problem, but then I began to feel like my bladder was always full, and I felt aroused for no reason. After a few days I began to have stabbing, intense orgasms. I looked it up and found out that I had PGAD and that it was possible to have this after getting off an SSRI. As soon as it came, it disappeared for a long time. Kinda embarrassing here, but I need to say this. Anytime afterwards when I "touched myself" my left leg would hurt for at least 2 to 3 days later, but my genitals would settle down no problem. I was concerned about this, and tried to stop doing it, but well...
Around late June or early July I stupidly gave into the urge. My legs hurt as usual. A little later I got my period. A little after my period, around July 11th, I began to feel like I was still having menstrual cramps even though I was done. I thought I was having another yeast infection, but even after taking Monostat, it persisted.
Then, on the 24th of July, my PGAD suddenly came back. I suddenly understood where the cramping was coming from. I am now having a tingling sensation in my labia or colitis, I can't tell really. It comes and goes when it wants to. Occasionally a very shallow orgasam will occur, worse at night and usually when I'm on my left side. I tried to suppress it and it does work a little, but I need to be concentrating on it in order to stop it, and that means no sleep. I've also noticed I'm a lot more, er, gassy, but I do wonder if sometimes the air is not coming from my butt, if you know what I mean. It feels different.
I have some clonazepam my GP gave me for when he thought I was having restless leg syndrome. It does help a lot, but I do not want to become dependent on it. I don't want to be dependent on any meds, the reason why I got off of Celexa in the first place. So that's one problem.
I'm afraid I'll have to get back on it forever. I feel so stupid, tapering off too quickly has possibly left me with a life long condition. I fear that nothing short of that or undergoing an implant will help. I really don't want to get back on meds.
I went to my OBGYN yesterday and told him everything. He was very confused and, after testing me for a UTI and vaginal infections (all negative) and also having me go through an ultrasound that didn't find anything, referred me to a medical university doctor who specializes in Vulvodynia (why don't OBGYNs know about this?!). I don't know if that will help at all. I do have an appointment with a neurologist in August. Do any of you know if they can pinpoint the site of occurrence?
So yeah, I thought my PGAD had gone, but no, it came back. I do know of one person who got off of an SSRI, had PGAD for four months before it went away and is fine now. I really hope that is my case. I feel guilty because my family (I live with them) has to put up with my stupid decision now.
I did have one yeast infection btw, and this was in early July.
Oh dang, almost forgot, I did fall on my back in late June and had severe back pain while sitting at work (I know sitting is bad for this thing), but this all stared almost immediately after my SSRI withdrawal. My GP had an xray done of my spine which showed nothing was wrong.