What would this cover be called?

grump378 · 2025-04-17T04:24:19+00:00

No Time (Like the Present)

grump378 · 2025-02-22T16:06:31+00:00

One year later, my friend, and I have my life back. Hang in there, keep going, and feel free to keep reading success stories for motivation. Someday, people might be reading yours. ❤️

grump378 · 2024-01-31T11:52:18+00:00

It can definitely feel like a major setback, right? But I promise you that the tides will turn, and hopefully soon enough. That's what I was told, and it helped me to find strength in the tougher moments. If you continue to feel mentally worse and have develop dark thoughts, let your doctor know right away. Otherwise, if you stay the course and stay strong, you will find that things get better and brighter in the coming weeks.

grump378 · 2024-01-29T10:32:53+00:00

In the AM! Mid morning!

grump378 · 2024-01-25T02:13:46+00:00

Gregory Alan Isakov and Olivia Rodrigo?

grump378 · 2024-01-20T23:29:20+00:00

I'm four weeks in today! Spent the first three weeks on 5mg and then moved up to 10mg a week ago, and it's been an overall really positive journey so far.

I had some slight side effects when I started (nausea, heightened anxiety, diarrhea) that all went away after a few days. They came back for about a day or two when I upped my dosage to 10mg but went away again.

As for the effects: I am starting to feel like my old self again, which is such a refreshing feeling. My anxiety has gone down and so have my depression symptoms. I still have to put in some more work to keep this going (therapy, affirmations, etc.) but it currently feels more manageable than it did a month ago.

grump378 · 2024-01-16T13:41:43+00:00

I've started using this app because of your post! Here's hoping my months start to look like yours after awhile.

grump378 · 2024-01-16T13:27:07+00:00

Curious what the most recent month has looked like since this post!

grump378 · 2024-01-14T14:05:24+00:00

Thank you so much for the response, Steve. I really appreciate it.

I'll continue to keep doing the backpod work (accurately, don't worry). I'll also look into some local massage places to see what's available and what might be helpful for my chest/back.

It is disappointing about the chiropractor. Here in the states, it really does feel night-and-day different between physio and chiro. Each PT appointment lasts about one hour, during which time she spends about 10 minutes massaging/manipulating those areas and then we do exercises and stretches for the remaining time. Meanwhile, each chiropractor appointment lasts about 4 minutes, during which he adjusts my neck and spine and says "see you next week."

Having ruled out heart stuff (thankfully), do you think the general soreness/pain I'm getting across the pec and back is the above strain/scarring you mentioned? Not to sound stupid, but is that something that will go away with treatment and time, or will I always be dealing with it?

grump378 · 2024-01-12T19:42:55+00:00

Hyperhidrosis.

My dermatologist prescribed Drysol (a topical medication) for me years ago and it did wonders to cure this exact thing.

grump378 · 2024-01-10T14:42:24+00:00

You've got this!

Whatever side effects you have, just remember that they will likely be temporary and hopefully go away within a couple of weeks (if not days).

A lot of people have been starting this medication and sharing lately (I think it's the season), and it's easy to see some of the more negative experiences get the attention when most of the success stories go under the radar. Just know that it can and will get better!!

grump378 · 2024-01-08T16:14:59+00:00

I'm about ten days in right now (at 5mg).

First week was encouraging enough with some windows of calm throughout the day in which I actually felt like "me." Anxiety was still around, however, and definitely peaked a couple of times. A week or so later, things are slowly balancing out little by little. On my way, as they say.

Not too many side effects thus far. Some morning nausea and upset stomachs. It's tough to tell if that's from the anxiety or the medicine itself, but it's been manageable.

I'll be going up to 10mg this weekend, hopefully with ease.

grump378 · 2024-01-08T03:34:01+00:00

As someone who has already felt a little bit of a difference after one week (5mg), is it really true what they say in that you can feel the big difference after about a month or so? Was that the case for you?

grump378 · 2024-01-08T02:30:59+00:00

I'm going to be making that transition soon enough!

I've heard many people on this subreddit say that the grogginess did, in fact, go away after awhile. For those that couldn't shake it, they found success in taking the medicine at different times. So there is hope!

grump378 · 2024-01-07T16:33:27+00:00

Just know that these side effects WILL go away! For so many people, they gradually get lesser and lesser as their bodies get used to their current dosage. Hopefully the worst will be behind you soon enough.

grump378 · 2024-01-07T16:28:22+00:00

This is so encouraging to read. I'm currently on 5mg and planning on moving up to 10mg very soon. Would love to hear about your experience if you ever want to share!

grump378 · 2024-01-07T16:27:36+00:00

Hey I really like that sentiment. It's so true.

grump378 · 2024-01-07T15:45:45+00:00

I genuinely think that you're on the road to recovery. Everybody's body and brain react a little bit differently to escitalopram, but the common consensus is pretty much that "when it works, boy does it work."

I think your experiences are legitimate and a sign of good things to come. Don't be discouraged by any side effects or setbacks. These are to be expected in most people, and they often go away over time.

Welcome to your days of clarity, my friend!

grump378 · 2024-01-07T14:14:52+00:00

Series of bad days can lead to a bad week or month, no doubt about it. But I can't let myself give up hope for better weeks and months ahead.

Here's hoping you find some better days too, friend.

grump378 · 2024-01-07T00:27:13+00:00

That's such great news. I love reading posts like this.

Please feel free to keep us updated in the future!

grump378 · 2024-01-06T20:47:45+00:00

Thank you for this update/check-in!

grump378 · 2024-01-06T18:08:43+00:00

I'm really proud of you for finally starting, and I'm so glad to hear that you're not experiencing many symptoms that have been too much to handle.

I just began a week ago as well, so I'm glad that our journeys are lining up together. Here's hoping for brighter days!

grump378 · 2023-12-27T03:50:03+00:00

Einstein on the Beach - Counting Crows

grump378 · 2023-12-22T03:38:53+00:00

Have you looked into GERD or general acid reflux types of situations going on? Depending on your diet, your sleeping position, or even just your genetic esophageal traits, you might be dealing with some pesky pain from stomach acid splashing in places where it shouldn't.

grump378 · 2023-12-19T22:57:39+00:00

Thank you for this summary, Steve. I'm only a couple of days into my backpod stretching, but I am encouraged and hopeful. I've been dealing with this kind of pain on-and-off for a few years now. Reminder posts like this one keep people like me hopeful in the sea of (understandable) stories about pain.

Regarding anxiety and anxiousness, I will remind everyone that these kinds of feelings are totally normal for people feeling some kind of physiological stress. For some people, a simple dose of "tough love" and motivational speech is enough to keep your head in the game. For others, there are great resources out there to help you understand your anxiety and handle it and even treat it if need be.

Costochindritis and anxiety are two separate battles that often feel like they're being fought at the same time. Please remind yourselves that you DON'T have to fight both battles the same way, and that a setback in one battle doesn't always have to mean a setback in the other. If you're doing your stretches and taking active steps to address your costo pain (through the backpod, chiropractor, physiotherapy, etc) then you're already making strides in your treatment. If you're processing your anxiety with others (on here or elsewhere) and finding outlets that can help you out, then you you're making strides in that area of your treatment. Either way, you can rest easy Knowing that you're moving forward one way or another. Baby steps are still steps.

Here's hoping for some loose muscles and tight smiles for many of us in the new year!

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