Hi, @regionrat -- we are glad you found this site, too. Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Very sorry to hear about your small bowel obstruction, and also the brain zaps and emotional roller coaster you've experienced with going off cold turkey when you were in "nothing by mouth" inpatient status with a nasogastric tube (NG tube) feeding you.

You've had quite a journey with breast cancer and treatment, fibromyalgia, shingles and anemia. So glad your adult children are taking great care of you through all of this. I love the idea of your 21-year-old watching over you like a "momma bear." That's great.

I'd also suggest you might want to check out these groups here on Connect:

-Breast Cancer group , https://mayocl.in/2tcueq7
- Blood Cancers and Disorders, https://mayocl.in/2uLXbq3

You might also like to take a look at this discussion on fibromyalgia: https://mayocl.in/2hgUGcv.

@regionrat -- has your doctor offered any suggestions about dealing with these side effects from having a cold turkey stop from the venlafaxine (Effexor)?