Jeremy and Winnebago??

Keep the faith, Winnebago.  It'll all work out.

I can either go off them now and get the withdrawal over with or I can take the chance that Dr. Walton will need me to go off during surgery.  Which time would you choose to go through withdrawal?  Before when you have better control or after when you have no control and you've just had surgery.  I chose now but I'm not myself.  I need the serotonin the drug gives me.  I don't produce enough.

Me too!  I take Celexa and it's one of those serotonin ones.  But why would you think Walton will take you off of it?  He didn't take me off of it.  It will have no impact on your surgery or recovery since it doesn't do anything to your blood.  Did he tell you to go off of it?

Winne - If you aren't able to handle things I would suggest that you definitely stay on this particular med until after surgery.  (I am obviously not a doctor but this is a decision you both should make together).

I was on a pretty high dose of cymbalta prior to surgery and stayed on it up until surgery - they put me on something comparable after surgery that was liquid form for a while and then I went off completely after about 2 months.

In MY opinion, you need the stability the seretonin gives you right now as you complete this process.  Because you are having to jump through some cardiac hoops, you need to be able to control your feelings and moods. 

Hang in there about the hoops - it will work out and the docs will get you to a surgery date.  All things happen for a reason and they only have your best interests at heart. 

Let me know if you need anything dear!!  You are NOT in this alone remember! We are all here for you and you have our thoughts and prayers with you as you progress towards your new life. 
I'm so proud of you getting where you are in such a short time - good things are just around the corner!  ((((HUGS))))

Ruth

The only things that help when I am off this stuff is cheeseburgers, chocolate, and sex.  I ain't getting any of it!

Winne-call Doc and see if there is a replacement med that might get you through that is not extended release - at least to keep the seretonin in your system. I myself would love a cheeseburger, chocolate and sex (I would reverse the order however!)....crapola we are both in the same condition!!  lol

R

It was extended release.  Effexor XR.  We can't take the extended release stuff any more.

Withdrawal is awful and I didn't want to chance it and surgery at the same time.

Ok, I know none of this is my business but...can't you go on something else?  What's the use in us being skinny and healthy if we are sad?  Or maybe you're not interested in going on something else?  No brownie points for trying to tough it out.  (we aren't allowed brownies!  )

The whole point of this exercise is to make certain that if I have to go off of it for a period of time that I can control the withdrawal.  If there's an issue after surgery I don't want to be fighting two issues at the same time.  I was hoping to have a date already and this wouldn't be an issue since I would begin taking it again soon after surgery.  Things didn't work out that way and now I have time to suffer the consequences.  I can take this stuff (venlafaxine) after surgery.  It's a little bitty pill no bigger than levothyroxin that many take.  I *HAD* to get off the extended release.  No choice.  I don't have to go off this but if it's taken away I'll be in worse shape.  I talked all this over with Tina on Friday and she told me I didn't have to go off it unless there's an issue.  I'm playing the "what if?" game.

You're the IT guy aren't you?  Preparing for the worst case scenario.  Not knocking it, just relating to it.  I posted my thoughts on another post, just wanted to pop back in and say I see where you are coming from.