u/Leading-Hippo-3541

This past weekend, we attending my nephew’s wedding. I was scared about the fact that I had to be in heels for this event. There was no option, since it was a black tie wedding/reception.

I was psyched up and ready to feel pain the next few days afterwards. I premedicated myself with Tylenol before the wedding. I was going to not dance at all, and if I did, I was going to take off my heels. That didn’t happen. I danced for at least an hour straight with my heels on! I had a blast!

The next day, I was so happy that my back was completely normal. The only thing that was sore were my legs and my butt, as they should be. My back was fine! I was so elated, I plan on sending my surgeon and his staff a Thank You card. I finally have my life back!

This is for those of you on the fence about surgery. I suffered for way longer than I should have, but hindsight is 20/20. If you are on the fence, ask yourself what you have to loose. If the answer is “not much” considering your current quality of life, just take the plunge. You never know….

I was out and about today and notice something about myself, that was sort of refreshing and uplifting. I started Trintellix about 3 weeks ago. I also started iron infusions for iron deficiency. That combo has turned me into someone I do not recognize. Someone who feels good and wants to socialize again.

Im a natural extrovert - always have been. But the past 2 years or longer, I have become super isolated most like due to my depleted energy level. I just didn’t have it in me. But today, my girl is BACK! I was out running errands, chatting with people who were helping me. I even exchanged numbers with the gal who signed me up for a new gym membership. Who am I?! 😂

Anyway, it was a great day despite the rain. I just thought I would share my good day with you guys here. Why not?

I’m giving up my drip coffee. I just can’t do it anymore. I’ve had GERD for years and have been on PPIs for 20 years. There isn’t any amount of Omeprazole that is helping my symptoms anymore, despite taking 40mg twice a day.

I have CREST syndrome, aka Systemic Sclerosis, aka Limited Scleroderma. It’s autoimmune, and it causes chronic GERD. I was finally diagnosed in 2018 when a random knuckle joint swelled up on my right hand and I went through testing for rheumatoid arthritis. But they found CREST instead. At least I know what is causing GERD, and it also has other things it causes but right now, the GERD is my main problem.

So….looking for others in the group that have made the switch from regular coffee to either cold brew or mushroom coffee for the low acidity factor.

This isn’t about Trintellix specifically, but I do think a lot of people in this group would benefit knowing my story.

So I’ve been exhausted for about 2 years now, and all of my labs have been great on my annual physical. I finally begged my Rheumatologist to check some labs, since I hadn’t really bounced back from spinal fusion surgery I had in December of 2025. I assumed everything was normal, since it always has been. Like the exhaustion was real, so I changed from Cymbalta to Trintellix to see if that was the reason. Anyway, my Rheumatologist checked Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, and Iron panel. Well…my Ferritin came back in the toilet at 10 (normal is 11-307), but my Iron, TIBC, Transferrin, and Iron Saturation all were normal. My PCP told me it was an indication of early Iron Deficiency. Iron studies aren’t usually on annual labs, unless you have other wonky labs that would make them check iron studies.

Fast forward 4 days after my 1st iron infusion, and I’m soooo much better. So, the moral of the story is ASK FOR IRON STUDIES, especially if you are tired and keep switching psych meds like I have over the past 2 years.

My iron deficiency comes from taking long term PPIs. I do not absorb Iron thru my gut. Younger women get anemic from heavy periods. So….just a teaching moment from an experienced RN ☺️

Well, I decided not to rawdog life before I start iron infusions. That would have been a bad decision, reflecting on what a good day I’ve had on day one of a new psych med. After coming off of Cymbalta 20mg today and switching to 10mg of Trintellix, I have already noticed some things, even on day one.

First, I wasn’t as tired and brain foggy this morning.
Then this afternoon after I had a burst of energy and cleaned my house (I never clean), I took what I think was a 3 hr nap on the couch (I never nap). I woke up and decided to make dinner (I never cook), and watched about an hour of TV. My husband won’t recognize me tomorrow.

I know it’s only day 1, but I’m very hopeful.

I have struggled with constipation forever. Tapering off of Cymbalta now and have Trintellix 10mg in my cabinet waiting for me next week. This is the biggest side effect I care about. Second on the list of side effects, is sexual dysfunction. Third would be weigh gain.

So….based on those three side effect possibilities, what happens with Trintellex? I’m aware it causes nausea to start, but that leads me to think constipation could be a factor.

Im currently tapering off Cymbalta and it sucks. I’m taking 10mg now for a week and the plan was to start Trintellix 10mg after one week on 10mg of Cymbalta.

Today is day 2 on my taper, and my anxiety is noticeable for the first time in a long time. At the same time I’m exhausted and want to be able to do more. I recently found out that my Ferritin level is very low. Before this knowledge, I was wondering why I’m feeling so tired. Bingo! This whole time I’ve been thinking I need a different psych med, but I’m honestly so sick of meds. I’ve been on something for depression since my late 20’s and I’m 57 now. I have no idea what will shake out if I decide to go without anything for a while. Maybe I will wait to start something new after I get iron infusions, but those haven’t started yet.

Would rawdogging life for a little bit be worth it? I also have unmedicated ADHD, so feel a little all over the place right now. I guess the Cymbalta was keeping me so sedated, I never realized my scatter-brained self was this bad. Wow! Eye opening…

I have been on several meds, for roughly 35 years. I have chronic depression and anxiety, and inattentive ADHD. I was on Adderall XR while in nursing school, but quit after about 1 year in practice. The med that I relied on forever (more than 20 years) was WellbutrinXR, but transitioned to Cymbalta recently due to chronic lumbar back pain. I had a spinal fusion about 6 months ago, and recovering great with PT and walking. But Cymbalta is causing me constipation, and I struggle without meds enough in that department.

Prior to finding Wellbutrin, I had tried Trazadone, Paxil, and Zoloft but found the side effects of all of this unbearable. I need the get up and go that Wellbutrin gave me. I still need a little of that, but I also have autoimmune and I’m iron deficient, with a thyroid problem. Aging and menopause isn’t helping my fatigue. So….trying to figure it all out.

I have been tapering off Cymbalta, and start 20mg for a week then down to 0 Cymbalta and start 10mg of Trintellix. I’m hopeful but also doubtful that I will never find anything that helped me like Wellbutrin for so long. The insomnia, dry mouth, and constipation finally made me look for something different.

Should I cross-over a few days the 20mg of Cymbalta and the 10mg of Trintellix? Maybe if it was 5mg of Trintellix, and could go up to 10mg in a week or so. What do you guys think? I don’t want to get the wrong impression of Trintellix, and give it a fair shot.