-
Guidance and support!
Hello
My name is Rania and I am excited to be part of this community. I am 37 years old and I am hoping to get guidance and support with my current struggles. Below is a brief summary of where I am right now and a little background. I would like to apologize for the long question. There might be information missing or repeated, kindly excuse me and feel free to ask for any missing information.
I have a long history of taking antidepressants for over 17 years following the death of my father. I have a long history of anxiety, panic, and fear, all of that got worse over time, and I have been tapering and withdrawing for more than 10 years. I am stuck in PAWS (Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome), one of the many labels thrown my way. The withdrawals have left my nervous system extremely sensitive and dysregulated, stuck in a constant fight-or-flight state. I experience panic, anxiety, and physical tension almost constantly, I also have chronic vertigo. Over the last few months, as I started tapering further, my overall health has worsened due to the chronic state of prolonged stress caused by the withdrawals.
I have been on Cipralex, Nurona, Effexor, Xanax, Valium, Indicardin, and Duloxetine. Thankfully, through homeopathy and a lot of mental support, I was able to withdraw from all of them except my current final one, Duloxetine, which I am still tapering off and have been working on for around two years.
For as long as I remember, I have had gut issues that have fluctuated in intensity over the years. Mainly bloating and food intolerances, along with sensitivity to smells and stimuli, worsened over time, understandably from the stress of withdrawals. My capacity to handle stress has decreased over the years, and my current emotional state is in constant high alert.
Over the last few months, after a further drop in my Duloxetine dosage to 3 beads, roughly equivalent to 0.3 mg, I experienced a significant decline in my health. I have had chronic diarrhea, IBS-D, SIBO, nausea, abdominal pain, got abdominal virus, drastic weight loss (around 15 kgs), and extreme muscle aches and cramps (most of these symptoms come from the withdrawals themselves). I tested for H pylori that turned out to be negative. I must note that I stopped eating at all as well due to everything causing a reaction. Even small amounts of supplements, foods, or homeopathic remedies often trigger reactions. However, even before this final blow, I would often react to supplements as well, and I would go hunting for the safest, most gentle forms. I have almost always had deficiencies in the same nutrients: vitamin D, B12, and iron. Even through food, my body was not always absorbing them properly, again due to being in a constant state of stress from withdrawals.
After lots of desperation and searching, I went to a gastroenterologist and did a set of tests, which according to standard measures looked “normal.” I was diagnosed with IBS-D and SIBO and took an antibiotic called Xifaxan after more than ten years without antibiotics. It briefly calmed my gut but then worsened my symptoms, so I stopped. The doctor had recommended four boxes, but I stopped at two.
I have been taking slippery elm for around two weeks now, which has made a massive difference. It helped reduce my chronic diarrhea and allowed me to start taking food again slowly, alongside my nervous system work. I have also cut gluten, dairy, and sugar completely.
My labs show low vitamin D, iron, B12, and magnesium. My homocysteine is 12, indicating methylation issues. I also have signs of histamine sensitivity. I have tried iron tablets, magnesium glycinate used to work but lately started irritating me so I stopped it, vitamin D in liquid form is tolerable but currently at 5k hurt my muscles, and B12 injections took the methyl form and it sent me into a week of palpitations and intense anxiety.. My body reacts strongly to almost every supplement, food, and remedy but slowly finding a difference since slippery elm and slow nervous system work, but still unable to safely supplement without worrying about getting a reaction.
Emotionally, I feel completely drained, hopeless, and physically unsafe in my own body most of the time. My nervous system is extremely reactive, and I struggle to tolerate normal stimuli. Sleep is minimal, my energy is almost zero, and I am homebound.
I am currently undergoing another round of SSP and doing nervous system work and still doing homeopathy. Right now, I am looking for guidance on safe ways to support my body nutritionally, as I know that my body needs that support, and I am also working on my nutrition through food slowly to get better.
I would like advice on what vitamins and supplements or strategies to safely start supplementing without overwhelming my system or the method to safely take them, and I could use guidance on whether my current approach makes sense.
For now, I am considering a sublingual form of hydroxyl B12, since the methyl form has been too reactive for me, and I understand how much low B12 impacts my nervous system. I also have a liquid Vitamin D3 and K2, but taking 5,000 IU (last week) caused muscle aches. I have Floradix iron tablets for now. I took the liquid before and it was okay, but due to the intensity of my anxiety, I developed a fear of taking anything, so I paused that for a long time. Sometimes when I take supplements, they do not show effects at first but eventually start showing symptoms. I started with one iron tablet yesterday and experienced some reaction, but not as severe as expected. I am also considering a methyl-free multivitamin alongside these, while continuing slippery elm and nervous system work. I am unsure of the best way to supplement, how to slowly and safely open my pathways for proper detox, digestion, absorption, and overall health, while my body is still fragile from ongoing withdrawals.
I am looking for practical, safe ways to start supporting my nervous system and body, including guidance on gentle foods, supplements, and small steps I can safely take to restore some energy and calm while continuing my withdrawal recovery. I am exhausted, any small activity hurts me, and I am constantly fatigued and unwell. What is the gentlest way to start supplementing B12, D, iron, and magnesium safely given my sensitivities? Are there any specific forms or dosing strategies for methylation support?
I am grateful to be part of this community and for any guidance, insights, or strategies you can share. I hope to learn and take steps toward supporting my nervous system, gut, and overall health safely.
Thank you so much
Rania-
This discussion was modified 2 months, 1 week ago by
R-S.
-
This discussion was modified 2 months, 1 week ago by
-
6 Replies
-
Hi @Rania – welcome to B Better! Glad you’re here with us. And thank you for the detailed explanation of your current status.
First off – congratulations on being able to wean off of all of those antidepressant medications. That is no easy feat! And you’re almost free from all of them! They are monster drugs – I won’t sugar coat it. And even the makers of these drugs say that they weren’t created for patients to be on them for years at a time! So I just want to start off by honoring the hard work that you’ve already put in to get off almost all of them after 17 years!
Your approach does sound logical, and it seems you have a very good grasp of the priorities that need to be addressed, but your body always knows best and should dictate the next steps.
If I’m going to categorize the priorities at the moment, I would say nervous system work is priority #1, and in parallel, lots of gut healing therapies. The fact that slippery elm has been a positive experience just proves that your body is craving more soothing foods/therapeutics at the moment.
Given the recent bout of antibiotics, SIBO/IBS diagnosis and nutritional deficiencies, there is likely a lot of gut inflammation which is impacting both nutrient absorption and also the ability to produce DAO (an enzyme made in the gut lining/brush border that breaks down histamine). So with a dysregulated nervous system and a likely inflamed gut, supplements won’t be as effective.
While I agree that nutritional deficiencies should be addressed as another priority, the order in which you do so matters. At the moment, supplementing in the traditional sense may create reactions and absorption seems to be compromised.
So here’s what I would suggest:
1. Prioritize nervous system work: If you can afford to spend $179, I would recommend you purchase and go through my colleague’s course called Mast Cell Nervous System Reboot Masterclass. She was in your shoes too once – different circumstances, but similar sensitivities. https://mastcell360.com/mastcell-reboot/ This course teaches you ways to target the limbic system, parasympathetic system, vagal signaling and structuring. If you are in a constant flight or fight state, nothing else you do will really work. So this is absolutely priority #1. The body can only heal, digest, absorb, procreate, and thrive when it’s predominantly in a parasympathetic state. This is why the majority of the work needs to be placed here, every day, several times a day, to help rewire your brain to feel safe again.
2. Gut healing therapies: at the same time, please watch this lesson from our Gut Health Masterclass course for natural ways to help soothe the gut lining for at least 60 days before attempting to add in supplements again. Given your sensitivities to supplements, it would be best to focus on food therapies like:
- Raw organic cabbage juice, marshmallow root infusion (a tea that’s steeped overnight so it’s much stronger), and slippery elm daily.
- You could try fish and meat stock instead of bone broth, since these are lower in histamine but start with a small amount to test it out first, and increase gradually if tolerated. If that’s not well tolerated, then you can try collagen powder instead.
- Foods that are naturally gelatinous should also be included regularly as well, such as adding chia seeds to your bottle of water, having okra 1-2 x per week, fresh aloe scooped into a smoothie, and Irish sea moss gel (which by the way is also very rich in minerals!). Stewed apples are another gut friendly food thanks to pectin that’s released through the skin (I linked the recipe).
Let me know if you have any questions about how to make or source any of the above!
3. Rapid relief: given your constant anxious state, pain, and the fact that you’re almost done with weaning, I would encourage you to speak with your doctor about the possibility of introducing Tryptophan or 5-HTP to help your body produce more serotonin, our feel-good hormone. Serotonin is not only a neurotransmitter that helps with mood, but it also helps with pain perception, motility, sleep and craving control. Please read this handout on weaning off SSRIs to help you understand why these might be helpful with your case as you finish weaning off.
4. Address nutritional deficiencies (without supplements): until you work on #1 and 2, limiting the number of oral-based supplements is probably a wise strategy for reasons mentioned above. But that’s not to say that we can’t get creative and find other ways to “supplement”.
- For magnesium: consider an Epsom salt bath every night. This is a great way to relax and bring on board magnesium transdermally through the skin. Again, let me know if you need more instructions on how to do this. You can also try the homeopathic cell salt (Schussler brand) called Magnesium Phosphoricum. It melts under the tongue.
- For vitamin D: 10–30 minutes of mid-day sun exposure on a large surface area if tolerated. Otherwise, reduce the dosage of your current liquid vitamin D from 5K to 2K IU per day. If you’re low on magnesium, higher dose vitamin D could be further depleting that. So you could also hold off on vitamin D for at least 2 weeks while replenishing magnesium with Epsom salt baths and the cell salt.
- For iron & B12: I would encourage you to try small amounts of liver pâté daily. It can be spread on a dehydrated seed cracker for example or made into a meal like this recipe. This is the most absorbable and richest form of heme iron you can get, and can help bring on board these nutrients in a way that your body will hopefully accept. You could also add in the homeopathic cell salt called “Ferrum Phosphoricum”. This will help your body absorb iron at a cellular level.
I hope this provides you with some more direction, education, and action steps to support you through this final phase of weaning and healing.
-
Thank you so much for the thoughtful and encouraging reply. I loved the gut-healing lesson you shared and I’m starting the full course now.
Quick context: I’m currently doing SSP (Safe & Sound Protocol) for nervous system support, and I’ll consider the Mast Cell Nervous System Reboot next. In the meantime, I’d like to begin your food-first gut healing suggestions slowly and safely.
A few clarifications so I can implement them well:
1. Layering vs. introducing foods one-by-one Can I layer all the gut-healing foods and remedies, or should I introduce them individually over time?
Plan I’m considering:
Slippery elm powder, 3× daily
Lightly steamed or juiced cabbage
Marshmallow-root overnight infusion
Chia water
Okra 1–2× per week
Aloe
Irish sea moss gel
Stewed apples
Would it be better to introduce each item one at a time (every 3–4 days), or is it safe to combine several within the same week?
2. Low-FODMAP, low-histamine, gluten-free & dairy-free considerations Are all of the above (aloe, steamed cabbage/cabbage juice, chia, okra, sea moss, stewed apples) generally suitable? I saw your note about lightly steaming cabbage and avoiding apples on low-FODMAP. I recently had IgA and IgG tests come back normal, but I’ve continued gluten- and dairy-free for now. Your journal resources have been very helpful—any additional modifications you’d suggest for histamine/FODMAP sensitivity?
3. Okra specifics Do you recommend cooked okra, “okra water,” or both? Any preferred method or amount? I’m currently avoiding the Middle Eastern preparation with tomato.
4. Magnesium I’ve tried magnesium oil on my skin recently; sometimes it makes me feel dizzy, so I’m taking it slowly. Should I combine magnesium oil with Epsom-salt baths (or foot soaks) and Magnesium Phosphoricum cell salt? Any recommended starting amounts or frequency?
5. Vitamin D timing I’m prioritizing mid-day sun exposure and plan to follow your advice for adding a very low oral dose later, after magnesium repletion.
6. Iron & B12 via food Is plain cooked liver as effective as pâté, or does pâté offer an advantage for absorption and tolerance? I’ve started with twice a week; any recommended starting portion sizes or frequency for sensitive systems?
7. 5-HTP / L-tryptophan I’m still tapering off duloxetine. Would you recommend waiting until I’m fully off before trying these, or is a cautious micro-dose approach acceptable under medical supervision? Or should I hold off completely until my nervous system is calmer and natural replenishment strategies have been established? I’m currently safely taking L-theanine and Rescue Remedy frequently.
8. Irish sea moss Do you have a trusted brand or preferred form (gel vs. powder)?
9. Supplement sequencing Is it okay to micro-dose anything, such as low-dose sublingual Hydroxy B12 by Seeking Health, a methyl-free multivitamin, or Floradix iron tablets, alongside the cell salts and nervous/gut work?
Thank you again for your guidance, it’s helping me feel less overwhelmed and more focused on a sequence my body can handle. The resources here are AMAZING.
Warmly, Rania
-
This reply was modified 2 months, 1 week ago by R-S. Reason: Sorry I have had to edit because after posting it, I looked back and there seemed to be sudden lines that said data(with a number) not sure what those are
-
Hi @Rania – I’m glad to hear that you’re diving into the resources and already feeling less overwhelmed. You made my day! 🙂 This is exactly what I want for you and ever other member. Please do spread the word about us if you feel called to sharing!
To answer your questions. I’ll reply to them 1 by 1 in the order you wrote them:
1. Layering vs. introducing foods one-by-one. Low and slow is always the best approach. Introducing 1 new food or supplement at a time for 2-3 days before introducing anything else new allows your body the time to adjust and also gives you time to see if you’ll have any negative reactions.
It’s not necessary to do all of them either. You can try them all and then stick to a few that feel best for you. Or rotate them. Start with a few for a month, then select another few for another month, etc. Many of my clients do well with a combination of daily marshmallow root/slippery elm infusions and cabbage juice only. Those that can’t stand the taste of cabbage juice choose something else. If stewed apples cause a histamine flare – then avoid that. You’ve got lots of options, so choose what is best for you. Listen to your body! It will guide you!
2. All of the gut healing foods are low FODMAP and low histamine, except for the stewed apples which are high FODMAP. Seamoss “may” trigger histamine in some people, but it’s generally considered low in histamine. A small amount of apple may be fine for some, but again, you have many options to choose from. You don’t need to try the stewed apples if you’re afraid it might cause histamine overload. We have guides for both low FODMAP and low histamine.
3. Okra. Keep it simple. Steam it until tender (~100g), drizzle some extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
4. Magnesium oil is not the best form for replenishing a deficiency since it’s magnesium chloride. It’s great for acute situations like muscle cramps for example, and since it’s making you dizzy, just stop that form. You’ll get better absorption with an Epsom salt bath which is magnesium sulfate. You can start with a foot soak to see how you feel, and later try a full body soak for more absorption.
->Fill your bathtub with warm water and stir in about 2 cups of Epsom salt until dissolved, then soak for 15–20 minutes before rinsing off and hydrating with a glass of water. For a foot soak, use ½ cup in a basin instead.
In addition to the Epsom salt baths/foot soaks, you can also take Mag Phos at the same time. The cell salt helps get magnesium into cells better.
6. Iron & B12. Plain liver is absolutely fine – you’ll just have to find a recipe that you like because liver isn’t the best tasting food. The pâté recipe I shared is delicious and makes it enjoyable to take a small amount daily, but it does have butter so if you’re DF, that might not work. Regarding portion sizes, consuming 100g (3.5oz) of liver twice per week is a good sweet spot to help replenish iron stores without going overboard on vitamin A. It’s also rich in folate (B9), B12, copper and biotin. A true superfood. If you can get this in and tolerate it, you’ll be winning! Let us know! Oh and – adding in Ferrum Phos cell salt will also help get iron into cells better too.
7. No – I wouldn’t wait until you’re fully weaned off of your medication to look at adding in tryptophan or 5-HTP. In fact, I think now is the ideal time since you’re at the lowest dose. What happens when someone is on SSRIs for so many years is that the body starts to reduce its own internal production of serotonin. Supplementing with tryptophan or 5-HTP provides your body with raw material to produce serotonin, which will probably help you finally wean off of it with less anxiety, depression, etc. Did you get a chance to read the article I shared? It discusses recommended dosages to start with and explains the differences between tryptophan and 5-HTP.
8. Irish sea moss. I bought this one from Amazon, and make my own. It’s really easy. Rehydrate it by soaking it in water overnight. Rinse it well. Then I add 1 cup of water for 1 cup of sea moss (about a handful of dry sea moss), and blend. Store in a glass jar in the fridge – it’s jelly in consistency. You can also add a bit of maple syrup & cinnamon to flavor it if you don’t like it plain, but it’s very bland and not bad tasting all on its own. I’ll turn it into a recipe for our library this month. 🙂
9. I honestly would hold off on all supplements (except tryptophan or 5-HTP) until you’ve done a period of gut healing. Food therapy can be just as powerful and currently it seems that’s what your body is craving. Between sun exposure, Epsom salt baths/Mag Phos, and liver/Ferrum Phos – you’re covered! Also sea moss is rich in minerals. No supplement can complete with the amount of nutrients in whole foods.
Let me know if you have any other questions in the meantime.
Just reach out when you need it!
-
Thank you so much again for your thoughtful guidance and detailed reply! I’ve actually shared this amazing platform with a few people already, I love how rich the information and resources are and especially your unmatchable guidance 🙏🏼
I’ll follow your advice and rotate the gut-healing foods as you suggested. I plan to start today with the magnesium soak and gradually add vitamin D in about a week or when ready. I’ll also order tryptophan (Is Now Foods 500 mg or Swanson or NutriCost- a good starting point?) and begin that while continuing slippery elm. I’ll also order marshmallow root and the two cell salts, Mag and Ferrum Phos and sea moss True Sea Moss through- due to my location some brands not available through iHerb.
For the cell salts, could you advise the best starting amounts and frequency for each?
Thank you again for all your guidance, it’s helping me feel more organized and confident in taking the next steps.
Warmly,
Rania
-
@Rania thank you for sharing about B Better! 🙏
Sounds like a solid plan. Given your sensitivity to supplements, always check the “other ingredients” used. Cheaper forms often add fillers and additives that may aggravate you.
If you only have access to iHerb, then look at the Metabolic Maintenance brand. Their form of tryptophan also includes a small dose of vitamin B6 which is a good thing but it’s in the wrong form – I prefer that it would be the P5P form, and not the synthetic pyridoxine form. But it is free of additives and fillers, so that could be an option.
And not sure if this could reach you, but B Better members have access to various supplement dispensaries with better quality products. Here is one option from the Natural Dispensary in the UK which ships worldwide: https://naturaldispensary.co.uk/products/L_Tryptophan_220mg_90_s-5142-0.html – It’s also free of additives and fillers. It comes in a smaller bottle too.
You can checkout and sign-up to the different dispensaries here in “Take Action”> Supplements & Dispensaries: https://bbettermembership.com/supplements/
We’re also in conversation with iHerb to provide our members with a discount code. We’ll announce it in our Insider News by email & community forum once we have it.
For the cell salts, it’s 1 cell salt per day directly in the mouth. It melts like homeopathic pellets. Don’t touch it with your hands – same principle as the pellets.
-
I found the Metabolic Maintenance brand on iHerb, will get that one for now and then hopefully be able to access ordering the better brand at another time.
You just keep surprising me with more sections filled with everything good and I appreciate it.
Thank you again and again for your guidance and support, will definitely update as I go and undoubtedly will be back for more when needed.
I really appreciate all your support.
-
-
-
Log in to reply.
