Posted by SBOATRN on April 2, 2003, at 20:17:11
In reply to Re: Thanks, posted by bretbe on April 2, 2003, at 17:48:53
Oh my dear bretbe, I am so very sorry for all you troubles and how you feel. I have got to believe there is something out there that will help you. Mine is an Anxiety Disorder with Panic. Initially, the doc did try to think it was a mixed anxiety depression thing. We tried SSRI’s times two – couldn’t take ‘em. The side effects were horrible and my physical health suffered. I actually had my first panic attack while on Paxil.(Lucky me) I have a great Dr. and he decided we would try treating the anxiety and go from there. Tried Buspar – yet another nightmare. We decided on Klonopin. Worked great, but as I told you before, I got all caught up with “IT’S THE DEVIL DRUG” and stopped it after 3 weeks. Got REALLY sick after that little adventure. So, I take the low dose and some extra things like Remifemin, Vit E, and Calcium, magnesium, zinc combo and it keeps me good most of the time.
My illness was very situational. Came during a really high stress time and a nest being empty (I’m 43 and had my daughter at an early age for most standards). My symptoms tend to be really physical – a lot of neck tension with pain and real physical stuff like the pounding heart and feeling weird prickly skin feelings. The panic attacks are just a real intense version of the above symptoms. I can relate to the overall crappy feelings. But, almost more that in my mind, it feels more body related. Mine would subside at times and wane, but always seemed to be under the surface. I did have some agoraphobia and still do at rare times. It’s more a feeling of FEARING feeling physically bad while out. I do go through times of a lack of motivation and drive. That really has gotten better. I just need a kick in the a** sometimes !!!
I think we are really hard on ourselves and put a lot of pressure to feel what we perceive as “normal”. I know I think I’m the only one who isn’t having a great life. It’s simply not true and many, many struggle everyday..
I know the pain of your illness is so difficult. I know many that suffer so much. I really wish we could figure out better treatment for all this crap. I wish we didn’t have to have boards like this. The mind is just too complex!
I really hope you can find something that works. Therapy helped me some. I’m the “self help”queen, too … for what that’s worth, I do think some of the stuff I do has helped. The Klonopin has been a Godsend for me. I do wrestle with the issues of its use. I actually can skip a dose and don’t miss it. My Dr. says I really probably don’t take enough of it for it to be making me ok, but who knows ?
I do know I will probably struggle with the anxiety problem from time to time for the rest of my life. I don’t want to accept that, but I do. I am grateful that I do have something that helps me.
Have you tried EVERYTHING…… some old and new ?? I know it’s not a great thing to have to trial and trial, but neither is living miserable, either. I really wish you the best.Sorry for the long post. I never had a problem talking… ha, ha !!
Let me know how you are from time to time. I’ll even give you an Email address, if you care to use it.
sage_526@hotmail.com
poster:SBOATRN
thread:214700
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030402/msgs/215597.html