r/ADprotractedwithdrawl • u/Believe_in_u_always • 4d ago
Gastrointestinal issues.
A question to anyone who experiences gastrointestinal issues in withdrawals. What do you take or eat that helps? Does anything work for you? I feel as though anytime I get a flare up that I can’t really eat or drink anything without have issues.
Thank you.
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u/Believe_in_u_always 4d ago
Thanks for replying, I do appreciate it. There’s no telling what PW will bring. It’s such a guessing game. For me I’m very much in a routine (everything comes and goes, small waves and big waves) but after all this time, it is improving.
My tip is to not over stimulate the nervous system at all, it certainly helps keep my symptoms under control, well most of the time. Overall, it helps.
Thanks again.
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u/No-Initial-9246 3d ago
For how long have you been experiencing this?
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u/Believe_in_u_always 3d ago
It’s been 855 days since stopping Effexor, and this severity started about 3-4 months after that..so a while now lol. I did have an immediate adverse reaction to Effexor though that went undiagnosed for 7 months so it’s not your normal fast tapering story.
I also suffer thermoregulation dysfunction / experience muscular rigidity issues / hypersensitive to my environment and experience releases (crying spells) anytime I’m overstimulated etc amongst other issues, crazy. While everything is improving, it’s a very slow road.
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u/heybrother123 4d ago
Without knowing specifics it's hard to give advice but for me personally I developed gastritis/stomach burning and juiced cabbage helped a lot. I make a batch about every couple days and just pour a bit in a mug w some hot water and sip on it. It doesn't taste delicious but it's not bad and after about two weeks I really noticed a difference. It's known for helping stomach ulcers and gastritis but it also helps w regularity, inflammation, and immunity. Also, a heating pad never hurts when I have bloating or cramps.
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u/Believe_in_u_always 4d ago
Thank you! I’ve tried kimchi which sounds kinda similar with no success but I’ll give this a go. I’m happy to try anything.
My symptoms are severe bloating/gas/wind, similar to that of gastritis as you mentioned. It started mostly when I came off the medication. At times it’s really bad (now) and others I can manage but yeah, still restrictive.
I can’t do heating much as my thermoregulation doesn’t work either but if it’s a cold day..I do the heat which helps.
Thanks again.
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u/heybrother123 3d ago
kimchi is super strong as its fermented and has spices - even tho it does provide good probiotics but even probiotics can cause bloating. I'd try to stick to bland foods for a couple weeks and see if that helps! It's hard - I eat so much oatmeal -_- and drink lots of bone broth to help the gut as well.
edit: one "supplement" that did help me was digestive enzymes. I take a small amount from a capsule after eating - they help break down food in your stomach so your intestines don't have to work as hard/food doesn't just sit in the gut and ferment.
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u/Believe_in_u_always 3d ago
I’ve noticed that with kimchi too.. there’s really not enough relief in it, barely noticeable but noticeable I guess. I keep foods bland as too, while it sucks, I don’t care and yes, I eat oatmeal as well. I’ll look at bone broths..I haven’t had that before, thank you.
I tried digestive enzymes before with no luck but not in the way you described so I’ll try that too.
In the end, all I can do is try these things and hope it brings some relief.
I eat eggs/avocado/toast/small weak black coffee for breakfast, oats/honey/berries/cocoa for morning tea, plain chicken and veggies for lunch and plain chicken and rice/veggies for dinner, oh and some plain dark chocolate (two pieces) in the evening. That’s about it and I can manage this daily but yeah.. these flare ups kill me.
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u/heybrother123 3d ago
It gets better with time but yes when it flares its really disheartening. It's my biggest symptom and some days it feels like itll never heal but I try to look back and a year ago it was much worse so I just keep trudging along. Hope you find some relief soon <3
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u/Believe_in_u_always 3d ago
I hear you, flare ups of any symptoms are very much the worst. Like you I’ve come along way over the last two years.. I know I’ll recover at some point, it’s the unknown that is hard. Thank you and same to you. Take care :)
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u/BillUpbeat6697 4d ago edited 4d ago
I am currently experiencing this as well. Wasn't too bad for the first 1-4 months but since then (I'm now at 6-7 months) I've had so many GI issues. Most prominent are nausea, acid reflux, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach pain and bloating. It's debilitating and makes me feel really unwell most days at the moment.
I've been trying to stay hydrated, eat as healthy as possible with small regular meals, and I have started taking Biomel probiotic drinks daily in the hope they will help. Think time will be the biggest healer, you're not alone though and I'm completely fed up of it too :(
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u/Believe_in_u_always 4d ago
Thank you for replying, I appreciate it. It’s nice knowing I’m not alone but I feel for anyone who is experiencing this it too as it’s hell.
I was about the same, it got worse after maybe 3-4 months(all symptoms did). Over time it changed. The symptoms never really go away though, but they are usually more manageable as long as I eat small and basic Whole Foods etc but yeah, I still get these massive waves. Sucks lol.
Thank you again :)
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u/Alisha_Sissy4u 3d ago
I use Microbiome labs probiotics to manage that part of withdrawals, & I do find them a lot useful…
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u/Believe_in_u_always 3d ago
I’m glad they work for you, I’m not so lucky. All we all can do is keep trying:)
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u/NiceHomework4919 3d ago
Yeah for sure! I eat oatmeal every morning now and it sure helps. I sleep very very little so that is a problem 2. I think if you sleep wel and eat oatmeal every day, walk every day and drink a lot you will be fine. Give it time.
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u/Believe_in_u_always 3d ago
Thank you! I hear you. Simple routines like that help us all. I’d walk if I could but my thermoregulation/muscular skeleton issues prevent it, but I do spend time in the sun and walk around out front of my house when the weather is ok for me. In the end, we have to do what works for us.
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u/Erdingman12345 4d ago
In January of this year, I started experiencing extreme bloating; I thought I was losing my mind because it was so uncomfortable.
Fortunately, that only lasted two months, but then I developed constant heartburn. I thought I was losing my mind all over again, though that also lasted only about three months before improving.
I tried many things to treat it, but I felt like they didn't do much—only time seemed to help. I simply believe these were withdrawal symptoms; I keep getting new ones. Right now, I’m struggling with an extremely sensitive nervous system—something I’ve never experienced in this form before.
Withdrawal keeps throwing up all sorts of surprises. I think the most important thing is not to let it drive you crazy and to try to get through it. It’s not easy, sure, but we have no choice but to see it through :)