@farmboy as hard as it is on us, imagine being on the outside looking in and having no real clue how difficult this is for us. People think it should be easy, after all, it's just a pill, how hard can it be? I know that going through this, first with neurontin and now effexor, has made me more empathetic towards others in general.
It sounds like you are pretty special too! It's not an undertaking that many would put themselves through to improve their lives. Kudos to you for being courageous.