Long term effects of Effexor/Venlafaxine?

Has anyone experienced any long term effects since stopping the Effexor (Venlafaxine)?   I had to go off this cold turkey last December (2010) because the doctor thought I was having an allergic reaction, after having a lump feeling when I swallowed.  As of today (10/19/11)  I am still having the same feeling.  Been to a few ENT's & Gastro doc who all think it is acid related.  This feeling in my throat started while I was on the Venlafaxine.  It doesn't hurt, it just feels like when your tonsils are swollen.  Also the past few weeks I have been feeling dizzy, getting headaches often, nauseous, neck & joint pains, problems with simple words, extreme anxiety.  So I was just wondering if anyone has had any long term effects after going off these meds?  (or if these are just a whole new set of issues??)  Being the withdraw symptoms from going off these med's were so awful to go through...who knows what/if any long term effects.  It was so strange while on the Venlafaxine, if I forgot to take my dose at 8am, by noon I felt sick as a dog.  To some of you going through the withdraw, I was in bed for about 4 days straight after stopping cold turkey.  I felt awful, couldn't get out of bed.  If I could of gotten up, I would of went to the hospital!  I can not believe how this medication effects your body.  (brain zaps, vomiting, body aches, crying...just to name a few of many symptoms)  After 4 days, I was able to get out of bed & go for a short car ride, but then back home to lay down.  With every day after I began to feel a little bit better.  (This was a week before Christmas!!!  But I was able to pull off Christmas dinner for 30-with my wonderful husbands help of course the following week)   So there is light at the end of the tunnel.  I would say after about 4 weeks, the brain zaps, nausea & dizziness began to subside and I was starting to feel a bit normal again!   (although for the previous 2-3 weeks I was able to function, but was about a full month before the brain zaps finally stopped)  And what a bizarre feeling those brain zap-electric shock feelings were!!!  While researching withdraw symptoms, I was shocked & both comforted to find that so many others had been though this very same thing (at some point, you begin to think your going bonkers!!!!).  After reading many posts, It seems that weeing off the Effexor just seems to prolong the inevitable withdraw symptoms.  And so sad to read that many many people have been on this medication for years & years because they can't deal with the withdraw symptoms.  My doctor did offer me other med's to help with the awful withdraw symptoms, but I really wanted to be free of taking any med's and was hoping that the worst of the symptoms were over & I was willing to endure the pain to get this poison completely out of my system.  I am glad that I declined the additional med's because like I mentioned that by day 4, I was able to get out of bed and feel somewhat human again (taking it easy though) & from that day on I started to feel a little better every day.  (and I felt like 4 days of torture was far better than being stuck on this medication for years to come, or possibly forever like some others who have reached out to share their stories)