Lately, I have been misreading words frequently. It is not when reading an article or post but rather when reading a headline. I used to have this problem frequently back during the first 3 or 4 years. Now, it has returned with a vengeance.

I read MiaVita's thread "I am Happy to say" as I am Happy to sex. These are the kinds of misreads. They cause double takes. I will substitute letters that make a single word say something entirely different.

Maybe it is part of the withdrawal effects from getting off Paxil. I have had a number of strange symptoms while tapering off Paxil. I have been Paxil free now for two weeks after a month at 15 mgs daily. My sleeping has been a mess. I have had horribly restless legs. I have odd itching feelings that defy explanation. It is like my body is infested with fleas. I can step out of the shower and feel these creepy crawlies as soon as I dry off. And no, we don't have fleas or bed bugs in our house. My wife is unaffected by these creepy crawly feelings.

But, it is fabulous to be free of Paxil after 14 years. I feel 'light' and free as if a burden has been lifted.

I am not complaining or expecting answers. Just commenting about the strange ride I have been on the past few months.

I get to play with my 8 month old grand daughter tomorrow and Monday. She lights up when she sees my face even if she does not want me holding her. She prefers my wife. I think it has do to mother-daughter similarities. National Guard annual training will be over Friday so she will be back with her dad as he tries to do his college course work. She still smiles with the twisted tongue. So cute.

I can understand the challenges to having PCS and being needed by young children. It takes a good family support structure to moderate the load.

My best to you all.

Hi Mark,
You are such a rock here on the forum. I'm sorry to hear that you are having these symptoms. I'm wondering if those cortisone like creams would help break this cycle?

Warm wishes

Hi Mark,
Sorry you are still going through these symptoms. I also had these types of problems when coming off of Paxil. I was surprised that they lasted so long after quitting the medicine. They will clear up. It just takes more time then you would expect. Hope you get feeling better soon.
So glad you are enjoying your cute granddaughter. She is the best medicine.
Brain

14 years of 60 mgs per day of Paxil could possibly leave a horrendous residue of Paxil in my system. Based on the infinite halving of the Paxil in the body, I bet it will take some time for the residue to leave my system. If Paxil takes up to 6 weeks or more to show an effect yet Paxil reaches peak blood concentrations within 7 days, there must be far more that plasma levels that effect the body. Only time will tell.

Fortunately, I have decades of experience with health issues that take extended periods of time to resolve.

In the mean time, it is great to not feel like I could end the importing of foreign oil with the oil that was pouring out of my face and scalp.

I do feel like I have gone through 9 of the 10 plagues of Egypt. I have had boils, muscle spasms, tremors, insomnia, apnea, chest congestion, dry coughing, and itching. Hopefully, getting past these will add new dimension or wellness to my daily life.

HI mark

So sorry you're going through this. I hope it gets better soon.

Sincerely,

pm

Mark,

Sadly, you may be experiencing a form of SSRI Discontinuation Syndrome, with some persistent adverse effects. (I know its Wiki, but does hold information comparable to other sources on the subject.)

I do so hope not, and hope your doc can be of help for you.

My best wishes to you , you are a rock on these forums, good luck with your recovery in dealing with this.........

I spent 105 days tapering off the Paxil. I knew that being at max dose for 14 years would be a challenge. I included my doctor in this decision. He was as frustrated by the lack of good information available as I was. The wiki is as a wiki usually is, full of poor quality information.

I find very few of my current symptoms are listed on any of the Paxil withdrawal sites.

I would be very hesitant to ask for help from a doctor with the current symptoms I am experiencing. The only reason I included him was in case i had a severe reaction to withdrawal. I wanted my medical record to show that I was withdrawing with medical advise.

Of all the things I miss about my mind and brain, I can remember what I miss the most.

I do that mis-reading thing all the time. It's not from drug withdrawal, never been on anything stronger than tramadol (and that for 3 days, then the headaches hit), officially no concussion, tho my husband got a severe one in the accident and I now have significant trouble understanding what I hear (despite "perfect" hearing on the tests) and placing where I hear things (always opposite, if I hear it on the left, it was on the right, behind me means it was in front somewhere....), and dizziness and eye problems are worse than ever. Eye problems and my head trying to make up for what they are not seeing in coordinated fashion mean I see all kinds of weird things in headlines, the guide on the tv, anything printed.

It has become a running joke in my house that "Torched by an Angel" is showing on TV. Misreads all the time, just like you say, switch a letter to make a different word, or just plain change words, drop words, add words. I think my head tries to "fix" what my eyes are not sending in clearly. It can be rather funny, hubby who does have pcs does it too, we've decided to just enjoy it. Usually makes for a better conversation that what was actually written would have.

It does not make a big difference to get an appropriate diagnosis but most will not diagnose a concussion unless they can identify a physical impact to the head. It is quite easy to get a concussion from just the violent whiplash forces.

It can help you at least put a reason to your symptoms. We are not crazy even though others try to make us feel that way.