Posted by Jeffrey on February 4, 2004, at 14:08:56
Dear psycho-babblers,
I have posted a few times over the last 8 months about my anxiety problems. I will repeat and update those postings.
I have a history of reacting to very, very low risk sexual experiences with an obsessive fear that I caught HIV. I could not relax, felt on edge and had panic attacks and a racing nervous mind. I responded well to zoloft and effexor (2 episodes), and clozazpam and xanax as needed while I waited for my test results to come back after 3-6 months. When they came back negative, I stayed on the meds for 6 months and then was in full and complete remission from anxiety and the depression that resulted from the anxiety.
Upon finding out my wife was pregnant with our first child, we remembered she had an x-ray early in her pregnancy in her pelvic area, before she knew she was pregnant. I became consumed with fear that the baby would get cancer, either as a child or later as an adult. After doing lots of research and talking to Doctors, I determined her risk to be very small. Depending on the source, somewhere between 30%-80% more likely than a mother who did not have an x-ray or possibly no risk at all or not statistically significant. In any event, the studies are not conclusive and their methodology is questionable. However, there is some certainty that there is a low risk of the baby getting cancer from the x-ray recevied during pregnancy. This risk is considered lower than spontaneous cancer.
Anyway, I began effexor again. I had a partial response. I worked my way up to 300 mg xr with no further benefit than I recived on 150mg. So I reduced my dose to 150 mg. I added Celexa gradually working up to 60mg a day while, continuing the 150 mg effexor. During this time I noticed marked improvement in my physical symtoms. On this med mix, I am not devestated by the posssibility of my unborn kid getting cancer, or the much more realistic scenario that I will never "get over this" and be able to enjoy my first child. I have these thoughts many times every day. I have not enjoyed this preganancy and feel the rest of my life will be spent worrying.
On my current medical mix, 150 mg effexor XR, 60 mg Celexa and clonazepam about .5 mg a day as needed, I can function normally but still cannot enjoy things very much and remain anxious. I tried augmenting the Effexor with Remeron before I started the Celexa and that was a disaster. I felt like a zombie and very uneasy.
Please advise on what I might try next. I would really appreciate any suggestions that anyone has. Please provide me some hope if you have an idea. I dont wan to suffer anymore. Best wishes and good health to everyone. Thanks.
poster:Jeffrey
thread:309376
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040204/msgs/309376.html