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New to living with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
Brain & Nervous System | Last Active: Sep 26, 2023 | Replies (101)Comment receiving replies
Hi,
I am 63 yr old female and have been reading the boards relative to effexor xr withdrawal (highest dose 2015 375 mg), slow taper to May 2018 took last dose of Effexor XR 37.5 mg May 28th 2018, I started to have some balance dizzy issues in April and then by first week in June I had horrible anxiety (not my usual, had to be from the Effexor withdrawal), nausea, jitters, balance, dizzy issues, depth perception problems, was sensitive to light and sound, thought I was losing my mind --long story trying to make this shorter. Over summer through present time I have had gradual relief, still have some balance, dizzy issues, depth perception and mental challenges, which brings me to my latest diagnosis in subject line. (I was and still am taking wellbutrin XL 300 mg/daily for depression). I am not depressed and my anxiety has been reduced greatly (I think in part due to stopping the Effexor quite honestly), not taking any additional medication for anxiety - don't need it! Praise God!
One of the changes I noted as Effexor was tapered was cognitive decline. Having difficulty multi tasking , making financial spreadsheets, challenging to make sense out of complex situations or interrupting the difference between 3 different options for scheduling (as an example--these are all things I have been really good at -- until April/May of this year). Met with neurologist, (primary care ordered brain MRI which was neg), he ordered over 20 labs and they were all within normal limits and he referred me to neuropsych for testing – showed deficits in visual spatial ability, graphomotor reproduction of complex visual figural information, weakness in divided attention in verbal fluency format, block patterns and abstraction ability. "not severe enough to warrant a diagnosis of dementia but not normal, so mild neurocognitive d/o; predominately executive and right hemisphere pattern of deficit present etiology not clear in light of normal MRI. They are thinking perhaps i am having ophthalmologic migranes/seizures (only experience in right field of vision) and this may be part of what is impacting my cognition.
I will have follow up more specific/detailed MRI in May 2019, in mean time I am "to remain concerned but not consumed over these results", call or make appointment if symptoms increase, (balance, dizziness, cognition etc).
Long story shorter I know that wellbutrin is typically not prescribed for people with known seizure d/o; from what i have read and know (i am RN behavioral health) wellbutrin can lower seizure threshold. Can you help me find any research or information that may relate to effexor withdrawal and or wellbutrin potential impact on cognition or correlation with optical seizures impacting brain function. I will have follow up more detailed MRI..not until may 2019, . I have been trying to put most of this puzzle together myself, I had to request initial MRI in June, request referral to neuro, self referred to opthamology and found my prescription was way to strong — leading to some of my depth perception and balance problems — new script/glasses now helping somewhat.
I appreciate any feedback you may have. Thank you, Barb
Replies to "Hi, I am 63 yr old female and have been reading the boards relative to effexor..."
@fiesty76 All the time I put my glasses somewhere at night have to hunt on morning so frustrating same as the remote list it the other night then after a hour of hunting found it .
Good morning @dorty, I just re-read your story and couldn't help wondering how you are handling the prerequisites for a comfortable life. It has been some time since we connected. We are working on Quality of Life issues that will improve the chances for happiness. Do you have anything that you need but just don't permit yourself to aquire. Now is the time.
Here is the post as it was sent. It is not too late.......in fact we all would be better humans if we took better care of ourselves.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/quality-of-life-a-gift-that-just-keeps-on-giving/
May you be free of suffering and the causes of suffering.
Chris
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Greetings...welcome to our first reunion, Sarah, @emyliander, and Ellen @helenfrances. It certainly does seem like it has been a long time since we had an update and a timely conversation? Sara, @emyliander, how is your new home? Are you all moved in? I have to ask.....do you have a garden for your flowers? And I hope your daughter is tucked away at her special school or is COVID19 still mandating that she remain with you.
And how about you Ellen, @helenfrances? You, in June, were waiting to complete a withdrawal from Clonazepam and continuing to do research and some shared decision making about your road ahead with your neurologist.
I think in June, we were all talking about how cognitive impairment at the mild stage was affecting our lives. Do our life partners and families recognize our somewhat staggering memories? I think you were looking at a shared support group or class with your husband Sarah. And I was asking you to get a medicine review to make sure those stomach issues were being taken care of.
I will share with you a couple of medical hurdles that I find challenging right now. I found a tiny crunchy nodule on my sternum which ended up being squamous cell carcinoma and was promptly surgically removed. Now I wait like so many others who receive a cancer diagnosis of any kind.
You're not going to believe this one.....I sure didn't until I had spent several days in what I call an itch bomb. It is called neuropathic itch and does its annoying work inside your body. No matter how hard you try you can't scatch it because you can't reach it. So now I am being a guinea pig for different medications to see which might work best without side effects. At the end of two weeks, I make a switch and we see what happens with a new trial.
So...fill me in and fill me up with news and highlights. It seems like things are pretty quiet with the travel restrictions. I must admit I am hungry for a play at the Gutherie. Dinner at Sea Change.....actually sitting in a restaurant might also be nice. Shoot, I would even go to our adopted granddaughter's softball games if I could remember the day. And that is where I will end for tonight. I am noticing greater difficulty with recent memory especially when I am talking and lose my thought. I see people either trying to help me by feeding me the words or looking away as if they haven't noticed.
How are your memories holding up.........do you have any tricks or hacks to share? As Ellen says...write any time. And I say.....do it now or you just might forget. My very best to you both........I would love to hear from you.
May you have peace and ease.
Chris