lymph nodes

I noticed three enlarged lymph nodes in my body since cutting down the medication. I also had a slight fever yesterday. The lymph nodes have gotten a bit smaller since yesterday. Perhaps these are symptoms of withdrawal from the medication.

reduction in medication

On September 2, I reduced my medication to 5 mg. Abilify in the mornings. I just cut the 10 mg. Abilify in half, then take half. I have had restless sleep since then and greater fatigue in the daytime, leading to 1 hr. naps. I am very happy about the reduction, however. I decided to go ahead with my original plan, from 15 to 10 to 5 mg. to 0. Though the advice I've read suggests cutting back by between 2% and 20%, I decided to go on with my cutting back of 33% of the original dose. This is, in part, due to the ease with which you can do this. Abilify is available in 5 mg., 10 mg., and 15 mg., so there is no liquid titration involved, which is the method that must be used if one decides to reduce between 2% and 20%. So far, other than a little restless sleep and slight fatigue, I've had no real withdrawal pains. Onward!

a week's progress, a good site

I continued this past week meditation 1-2 times a day, 20 minutes at a time, affirmations, 2-3 times per day, gratitude list at night, and dream journal in the mornings.

past week's progress --

• medication: continued taking 10 mg Abilify in the morning
• sleep: average 10.6 hrs. a night
• exercise: walked 3 days, lifted weights 1 day. doubled walking time from 20 to 40 minutes
• diet: ate when hungry
• weight: 155 lbs.
• mood: ok all days, happy one day