Hi Raymond, 9 weeks of feeling great is great!!!!

You dropped your dose about 5 days ago right? Hopefully the wave will pass quickly and you will be back to a great WD Normal.

7 minutes ago, Raymond said:

Patience, Hope, acceptance, and a lot of faith and prayers....

Agreed.

Wombat

2 hours ago, Wombat said:

Hi Raymond, 9 weeks of feeling great is great!!!!

You dropped your dose about 5 days ago right? Hopefully the wave will pass quickly and you will be back to a great WD Normal.

Agreed.

Wombat

Yes, I reduced five days ago. It will pass. Overall, I won't complain....

3 hours ago, Raymond said:

06/16/2026- progress continues..

Yesterday was ok day because I experienced few symptoms. I had mild anxiety, and hot sensation during the morning. Then, it turned into mild left side headache for like an hour and as day passed by. It turned into anger sensation.... I haven't gotten this feeling in a long time. Pretty much, my brain felt mild pressure.

This morning, I woke up again at 530am, but little better than yesterday. Same usual symptoms.

I still feel anger sensation, which I have to be very careful in what I say and how I say it, and I definitely won't concentrate in the things that might bothers me ....

So I made it 9 consecutive weeks feeling great, but yesterday and probably today will not be the same. Good thing is that it's not an all day issue. It gets usually better after 9am. One step forward two step backwards.

19 months journey........let's continue in the name of Jesus Christ....we will all heal. Patience, Hope, acceptance, and a lot of faith and prayers....

Nine weeks is a great foundation to work from when the waves hit. You know you can feel better, and now the waves are the exception rather than the rule. A little bump in the road means nothing!

Youre doing great @Raymond keep listening to your body!

06/17/2026- withdrawal after reduction continues...

Yesterday was a withdrawal day. I have noticed the following pattern when I get withdrawal symptoms from a reduction. Cortisol - fade away -anxiouness - emotions- head pressure - headache - feeling better...

On each symptom, it can last between 30 minutes to two hours. I start to feel better in the afternoons with mild headache...

This morning, I woke up again due to the alarm at 6am. I feel like I want to continue sleeping and do nothing, but I am getting ready to work...

Let see how I am going to start the morning.

Before my withdrawals, I had 9 consecutive weeks feeling great even with the mild symptoms, but yesterday and today, I have lack of motivation.....all will pass eventually. Waves are shorter and little weaker too....

In the name of Jesus Christ, we will heal...

2 hours ago, Raymond said:

Before my withdrawals, I had 9 consecutive weeks feeling great even with the mild symptoms, but yesterday and today, I have lack of motivation.....all will pass eventually. Waves are shorter and little weaker too....

Weaker, shorter waves are a great sign, @Raymond . You already know you can handle whatever WD throws at you. And good for you for getting out of bed and going to work. You know the saying-- Fake it till you make it!

2 hours ago, mstimc60 said:

Weaker, shorter waves are a great sign, @Raymond . You already know you can handle whatever WD throws at you. And good for you for getting out of bed and going to work. You know the saying-- Fake it till you make it!

😂 I'm getting good at faking it.....now, I started to feel better than yesterday. Slowly coming back up again ..crazy journey....

06/18/2026- progress continues..

Yesterday was an ok day. I felt unmotivated all day and kind of dizzy. My stomach felt bloated and something I noticed that I felt hungry all the time. I spent the day after work laying on the couch. At one point, I tried to read something I enjoy, but I just couldn't understand what I was reading, so I just spend the time watching tv and world cup. Also, I felt asleep during a nap and woke up with a little panic.l, but it wasn't intense. I guess something is getting fixed in my brain...

This morning, I woke up due to my alarm with no cortisol. I felt mild burning sensation in my face. I am unmotivated and stomach still feels bloated and gasses. The stomach was very good for months, but symptoms came back.

Let's see how things get today.

In the name of Jesus Christ, we will heal...

May today go well for you, @Raymond . Regardless of day to day changes, you are recovering!

This drug is brutal my friend.....we are in this together. ❤️🙏

34 minutes ago, LostinCanada said:

This drug is brutal my friend.....we are in this together. ❤️🙏

Definitely! We will get off and I really hope as we go down, things gets better.

11 hours ago, Raymond said:

06/18/2026- progress continues..

Yesterday was an ok day. I felt unmotivated all day and kind of dizzy. My stomach felt bloated and something I noticed that I felt hungry all the time. I spent the day after work laying on the couch. At one point, I tried to read something I enjoy, but I just couldn't understand what I was reading, so I just spend the time watching tv and world cup. Also, I felt asleep during a nap and woke up with a little panic.l, but it wasn't intense. I guess something is getting fixed in my brain...

This morning, I woke up due to my alarm with no cortisol. I felt mild burning sensation in my face. I am unmotivated and stomach still feels bloated and gasses. The stomach was very good for months, but symptoms came back.

Let's see how things get today.

In the name of Jesus Christ, we will heal...

Update....

Better than yesterday. Dizziness gone, But acting very slow, like a snail, and slow thinker.

06/19/2026- back to sleep more, no cortisol

Yesterday, I improved little more and by the afternoon hours, I felt little better energy. I was able to motivate myself to do some car work. However. I was acting very slow and couldn't think or read and understand something simple, but I managed to do what I needed to do.

I went to sleep around 11pm and woke up without interruptions at 630am. No cortisol and no anxiety or crawling sensation. It seems my energy is better too and improving again so far.

One symptom that I have been experiencing is hunger. In the last three days. I feel hungry even after I eat. This symptom was gone for months now, but I guess it came back as my system heals.

Overall, better morning than yesterday and energy seems to improve again.

Let see how I end up today since I have a lot to do around my yard. Holiday for us in USA!

Let's pray to Jesus Christ and continue this journey. He will heal us soon or later...

4 hours ago, Raymond said:

06/19/2026- back to sleep more, no cortisol

Yesterday, I improved little more and by the afternoon hours, I felt little better energy. I was able to motivate myself to do some car work. However. I was acting very slow and couldn't think or read and understand something simple, but I managed to do what I needed to do.

I went to sleep around 11pm and woke up without interruptions at 630am. No cortisol and no anxiety or crawling sensation. It seems my energy is better too and improving again so far.

One symptom that I have been experiencing is hunger. In the last three days. I feel hungry even after I eat. This symptom was gone for months now, but I guess it came back as my system heals.

Overall, better morning than yesterday and energy seems to improve again.

Let see how I end up today since I have a lot to do around my yard. Holiday for us in USA!

Let's pray to Jesus Christ and continue this journey. He will heal us soon or later...

Update.....

Love when my energy is back..

9 hours ago, Raymond said:

Update.....

Love when my energy is back..

Great day all day

Yay Raymond. So good to hear.

Wombat

On 4/23/2026 at 5:22 AM, Raymond said:

After that, I was able to some how sleep more. I said somehow because I have nine puppies crying all night long. I need to get rid of them and hoping to find good homes for them.

Hi @Raymond , I had just posted my monthly and saw your page, so I popped by to say hi as it’s been awhile! You are doing awesome, slow and steady. God is getting you through this! I am looking forward to you success story. May all those puppies find good homes! 💖🐶

On 6/19/2026 at 9:39 PM, HopePerseveres2.0 said:

Hi @Raymond , I had just posted my monthly and saw your page, so I popped by to say hi as it’s been awhile! You are doing awesome, slow and steady. God is getting you through this! I am looking forward to you success story. May all those puppies find good homes! 💖🐶

Hello @HopePerseveres2.0 . It's nice to hear from you. I hope you are doing great and feeling a lot better too.

I have been well, but back to the struggles after having my first 9 consecutive weeks feeling great. I'm back to my ups and downs and waking up early. Sometimes, I can sleep a lit more, but other times, I can't.

How is your journey so far...

06/21/2026- cortisol up and down...

Well, I have been having ups and downs days after my last cut 12 days ago. Yesterday was an ok day. But I developed the left side headache around my ear in the afternoon. I then it got better by 3pm. I was also feeling anxious and few intrusive thoughts. My neck muscles was intense too, and the hungry feeling continues all this time. I ate a chicken soup around 230pm. By 6pm, I felt hungry again. This is a symptom that just came back again few days ago. I have to watch my eating habits to avoid gaining weight.

This morning, I woke up around 430am with cortisol spike. My brain felt the crawling sensation. I opened my eyes, and it was gone. My eyes felt heavy, but every time I closed them. My brain will just jump a little bit with intrusive thoughts, anxiety, not allowing me to continue sleeping. I feel tired, but can't go back to sleep. I continued feeling hungry. My stomach feels anxious, etc. I also have tinnitus and few body pain here and there, especially, on my neck area and left shoulder.

My mornings back to feel the worst, but it's not every day. So far, my symptoms are not all day or every day...

Today is a long day for me as I have to do few things.

Definitely, on a withdrawal or wave. My 9 consecutive weeks feeling great are gone.

Sorry to hear that you’ve hit a wave @Raymond. I still think that 9 week window is an amazing sign that your body can heal. Hold onto that through this wave, in time you’ll get back to feeling good again.

4 hours ago, Raymond said:

06/21/2026- cortisol up and down...

Well, I have been having ups and downs days after my last cut 12 days ago. Yesterday was an ok day. But I developed the left side headache around my ear in the afternoon. I then it got better by 3pm. I was also feeling anxious and few intrusive thoughts. My neck muscles was intense too, and the hungry feeling continues all this time. I ate a chicken soup around 230pm. By 6pm, I felt hungry again. This is a symptom that just came back again few days ago. I have to watch my eating habits to avoid gaining weight.

This morning, I woke up around 430am with cortisol spike. My brain felt the crawling sensation. I opened my eyes, and it was gone. My eyes felt heavy, but every time I closed them. My brain will just jump a little bit with intrusive thoughts, anxiety, not allowing me to continue sleeping. I feel tired, but can't go back to sleep. I continued feeling hungry. My stomach feels anxious, etc. I also have tinnitus and few body pain here and there, especially, on my neck area and left shoulder.

My mornings back to feel the worst, but it's not every day. So far, my symptoms are not all day or every day...

Today is a long day for me as I have to do few things.

Definitely, on a withdrawal or wave. My 9 consecutive weeks feeling great are gone.

For some reason, when I get anxious, I also get hungry as well. Maybe its the body just wanting to do something with all that excess energy. Having a snack isn't the worst thing in the world. That may also be why you can't sleep--just too much mental and physical energy. Its frustrating because you're "wired and tired". Your body and mind will rest when they're ready. Hang in there my friend!

Sorry to read you have been a bit wavy this last day or so @Raymond all part of this process unfortunately. You have been doing great, hang onto that!

06/22/2026- progress continues...

Yesterday, it was a good day despite the issues during the day. I woke up at 430am with the cortisol and brain anxiety. I felt sleepy,but I couldn't go back to sleep. Around 8am, things improved again and felt more energized

I also felt itchy on face area. As the day continued, I felt better, but I also felt hot in different body area. I was still able to accomplish and enjoy the day.

This morning, I woke up again at 430am with the cortisol and same brain crawling/anxiety sensation, but I felt asleep again until 6am. Currently, I feel like I want to continue sleeping, but I don't think I'm going to be able and I need to get ready to work. I feel Little hot, little anxious, tired, and all those same symptoms I am getting lately between 430 am to 8am.

Let see how I feel again as time passes by. The good thing is that it's only in the morning hours for few hours...then. I start feeling better after around 9am as usual...

5 hours ago, Raymond said:

06/22/2026- progress continues...

Yesterday, it was a good day despite the issues during the day. I woke up at 430am with the cortisol and brain anxiety. I felt sleepy,but I couldn't go back to sleep. Around 8am, things improved again and felt more energized

I also felt itchy on face area. As the day continued, I felt better, but I also felt hot in different body area. I was still able to accomplish and enjoy the day.

This morning, I woke up again at 430am with the cortisol and same brain crawling/anxiety sensation, but I felt asleep again until 6am. Currently, I feel like I want to continue sleeping, but I don't think I'm going to be able and I need to get ready to work. I feel Little hot, little anxious, tired, and all those same symptoms I am getting lately between 430 am to 8am.

Let see how I feel again as time passes by. The good thing is that it's only in the morning hours for few hours...then. I start feeling better after around 9am as usual...

Update...

As morning goes on. I, thanks God, feels always better with energy and motivated, but lazy and anxious. How can two opposite symptoms can be felt at the same time? Weird what these medications do to our system.....

I'm energetic, but lazy....how can that be.....

1 minute ago, Raymond said:

I'm energetic, but lazy....how can that be.....

"Wired and tired" is the cliche. Our bodies are worn out but our minds won't slow down. That's a tough one to deal with. Intellectually, we know we need rest, but that primitive fight or flight part of our brains are on high alert. I try to lie down in the afternoon and just let my thoughts float to something positive, and I can usually get some rest if not take a short snooze.