Pristiq - what do I expect?

Sorry for jumping in @Primek! Last time you mentioned it I opened it for myself and still have it on my phone.

There's a reputable site that has been recommended - @primek can you assist please?

I am on tamaxifon for the next 4 years a friend advise me to take St Johns wort I asked a chemist who advise me it was OK but I have been reading reputable web sites who advise no IT is very confusing to have conflicting advise I will be seeing my GP next week and I will ask him 

In the spirit of stigma removal and provision of information, I thought I'd report back. After four weeks of taking the 50mg dose I experienced a return of high levels of anxiety. My psychologist said this was common. You get an initial mood raising bump, especially for those who've been experiencing depression/anxiety for some time, but that after four weeks it can fall away. So I saw my GP and having been taking 100mg for four days.

The GP said that increasing the dose can sometimes give you a rise in anxiety until you settle into it. I'm in the run-up to my bi-lateral mastectomy and reconstruction and she does not want to add to my stress so gave me a prescription for Valium (just 2mg). I haven't found the need to take it. My anxiety is not too bad; when it comes it comes in waves and then passes.

After I take the Pristiq I have a feeling of irritation where my oesophagus meets my stomach, like indigestion, which lasts a couple of hours. Must be taken with food.

The psych says 150mg is the usual dose for breast cancer sufferers. I'll see how I go, I don't want to take more than I need.

@sister That would be ideal.

This is really where you need to feed into a ready made system, isn't it?  Diagnosed, treatment planned, here is you complimentary treatment regime sorted.

Ha! No good at rollerskating @sister. I'm taking things very carefully for now, until I'm 100% sure the low bp problem is behind me. I've done three slow gentle walks this week with lots if sitting and resting. My heart works absurdly hard at the smallest of inclines. I live on top of a hill in a hilly area so they're hard to avoid! This is new this cycle of chemo. Thank goodness I'm done. I don't think my body could take much more.

The one stop shop of the oncology rehab centre sounds brilliant. I've put mine together piecemeal. Which is fine, but nice to get them all going together. I think my dietician is fabulous. So useful throughout chemo and really on the ball with cancer stuff. The one thing I'm yet to get to is the exercise physiology & education course. I've been on the waiting list since December. But I think it will be good starting in early June. I'll be five weeks post-op (I think. My surgeons are having difficulties getting their schedules organised...) and itching to go by then I reckon. We're getting there! Slowly but we're getting there.

The limbo reminded me of rollerskating...How are you at that?  Or is the blood pressure still an issue?  If so, maybe a gentle walk (with someone to catch you) in some restful environment.

I've got my appointments sorted out with laser therapy for the cording next week (and apparently it's not a problem to have laser during chemo according to the onc).  I go for a medical assessment to an oncology rehab centre on 17 April (unfortunately after I've done the 4th chemo) who will look at me for exercise programme under exercise physiologist, psychologist and dietitian.  Finally!

Thank you @sister. Haven't got any special times on the books at the moment. This limbo is long. I shall have to see what I can organise.