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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Ariel27 on June 11, 2004, at 0:44:43
Hi everybody,I've been lurking around this board for the past couple months, but this is the first time I've posted. I just wanted to share something positive with anybody out there who may just need it right now--I know that a few months ago I certainly did. I have suffered from panic disorder and GAD for as long as I can remember--About six months ago,it became completely crippling.My life became one long panic attack,it literally never stopped--I would wake up every morning gasping for breath with my heart pounding out of my chest and go to sleep at night only feeling worse. On top of all this was, of course, the medication trials, the side effects that only agitated my anxiety...I thought I would die.I found this board and started searching for a ray of hope--I thought I would leave my own for anybody else who might be searching. I have been on five medications in the last six months. One made me completely insane, others caused allergic reactions, at which point I became too afraid to give any of the others a chance. Having gone through absolute hell, I can now say that I truly believe that there is help out there for everyone, if you can just hold on and keep trying. I've been on lexapro for a little over a month, and already the difference is incredible.I can go out, I can enjoy my life, I can unclench my teeth and take a full breath.The side effects were hard in the beginning, but they were far more tolerable than the others I've tried--the point is that lexapro is right for me,but it took me five months and four medications before I found it. Please, don't be discouraged if things aren't better right away, or if the situation seems hopeless--if you need to be on medication, there is some medication out there that you can tolerate and that will help. These past six months have been the scariest of my life,I never thought it would be ok--I know that I would have liked to see something like this when I felt so alone and afraid. Please have hope...if I could find something that I could take, I promise that anybody can! Best of luck to you all!
-Ariel
Posted by Scott in Vermont on June 11, 2004, at 11:49:17
In reply to Lexapro has changed my life!!, posted by Ariel27 on June 11, 2004, at 0:44:43
That was one of the coolest posts I have read here in a while, and I'm 100% with you. I started Lexapro in late March, and after the hellish adjustment period, I felt like somehting I hadn't felt like in years- MYSELF!
Caution, though. Two weeks ago, for absolutely no apparent reason, I crashed. I crashed again earlier this week and saw my pdoc. He upped me to 20mg and we're tracking how it goes. Right now I can actually feel the cycling, I feel like a paddleball in the hands of a very excited 8 year old. But even with the updownupdownupdown I feel all day (and night, my dreams have been reeeeaaallllyyy weird) it's still way better than the crashes I went through.
I'm very happy to see another Lexapro sucess story post here! I hope you keep going and that you maintain control on what you have regained. It's an amazing feeling when you get you life back, isn't it?
Best of luck, and please take my honest wishes for continued success with you.
Posted by Ariel27 on June 11, 2004, at 13:14:21
In reply to Re: Lexapro has changed my life!! » Ariel27, posted by Scott in Vermont on June 11, 2004, at 11:49:17
Thanks for the words of caution--I try to take it day by day and realize that this is not some sort of miracle of drug, that there might be more adjustment ahead of me. It's just good to know that things will always get better, despite all the hell we go through trying to get there. When I was struggling with all those different medications, I read so many similar stories, and I think it's important to share success stories, it can help so much! I'm sorry to hear about your recent crashes, and I hope the increase can help you feel better--by the way, what was your initial diagnosis? i take lexapro for panic disorder and GAD.
Posted by morel1 on June 11, 2004, at 16:45:20
In reply to Lexapro has changed my life!!, posted by Ariel27 on June 11, 2004, at 0:44:43
> Hi everybody,I've been lurking around this board for the past couple months, but this is the first time I've posted. I just wanted to share something positive with anybody out there who may just need it right now--I know that a few months ago I certainly did. I have suffered from panic disorder and GAD for as long as I can remember--About six months ago,it became completely crippling.My life became one long panic attack,it literally never stopped--I would wake up every morning gasping for breath with my heart pounding out of my chest and go to sleep at night only feeling worse. On top of all this was, of course, the medication trials, the side effects that only agitated my anxiety...I thought I would die.I found this board and started searching for a ray of hope--I thought I would leave my own for anybody else who might be searching. I have been on five medications in the last six months. One made me completely insane, others caused allergic reactions, at which point I became too afraid to give any of the others a chance. Having gone through absolute hell, I can now say that I truly believe that there is help out there for everyone, if you can just hold on and keep trying. I've been on lexapro for a little over a month, and already the difference is incredible.I can go out, I can enjoy my life, I can unclench my teeth and take a full breath.The side effects were hard in the beginning, but they were far more tolerable than the others I've tried--the point is that lexapro is right for me,but it took me five months and four medications before I found it. Please, don't be discouraged if things aren't better right away, or if the situation seems hopeless--if you need to be on medication, there is some medication out there that you can tolerate and that will help. These past six months have been the scariest of my life,I never thought it would be ok--I know that I would have liked to see something like this when I felt so alone and afraid. Please have hope...if I could find something that I could take, I promise that anybody can! Best of luck to you all!
> -ArielI'm in Canada and they dont have lexapro here but i am taking Celexa at about 40mg. My problem has always been feeling tired and never haing arestful sleep - so professionals say its a depression problem - eliminating other sleep medical problems - since starting the 40mg my sleep has gotten worse but for a period of three days a felt like myself - i took trazadone before i went to bed - i still slept crappy but when i woke up i felt better. But i haven't felt thast way for a good week now - i guess you have given me some hope. Maybe one day i will feel like you and just feel normal. Not in a sleepy haze and swollen face but just NORMAL. Why should i be any different from you? You got better, so why cant I.
PLUR
Posted by Ariel27 on June 11, 2004, at 22:45:20
In reply to Re: Lexapro has changed my life!!, posted by morel1 on June 11, 2004, at 16:45:20
> > Hi everybody,I've been lurking around this board for the past couple months, but this is the first time I've posted. I just wanted to share something positive with anybody out there who may just need it right now--I know that a few months ago I certainly did. I have suffered from panic disorder and GAD for as long as I can remember--About six months ago,it became completely crippling.My life became one long panic attack,it literally never stopped--I would wake up every morning gasping for breath with my heart pounding out of my chest and go to sleep at night only feeling worse. On top of all this was, of course, the medication trials, the side effects that only agitated my anxiety...I thought I would die.I found this board and started searching for a ray of hope--I thought I would leave my own for anybody else who might be searching. I have been on five medications in the last six months. One made me completely insane, others caused allergic reactions, at which point I became too afraid to give any of the others a chance. Having gone through absolute hell, I can now say that I truly believe that there is help out there for everyone, if you can just hold on and keep trying. I've been on lexapro for a little over a month, and already the difference is incredible.I can go out, I can enjoy my life, I can unclench my teeth and take a full breath.The side effects were hard in the beginning, but they were far more tolerable than the others I've tried--the point is that lexapro is right for me,but it took me five months and four medications before I found it. Please, don't be discouraged if things aren't better right away, or if the situation seems hopeless--if you need to be on medication, there is some medication out there that you can tolerate and that will help. These past six months have been the scariest of my life,I never thought it would be ok--I know that I would have liked to see something like this when I felt so alone and afraid. Please have hope...if I could find something that I could take, I promise that anybody can! Best of luck to you all!
> > -Ariel
>
> I'm in Canada and they dont have lexapro here but i am taking Celexa at about 40mg. My problem has always been feeling tired and never haing arestful sleep - so professionals say its a depression problem - eliminating other sleep medical problems - since starting the 40mg my sleep has gotten worse but for a period of three days a felt like myself - i took trazadone before i went to bed - i still slept crappy but when i woke up i felt better. But i haven't felt thast way for a good week now - i guess you have given me some hope. Maybe one day i will feel like you and just feel normal. Not in a sleepy haze and swollen face but just NORMAL. Why should i be any different from you? You got better, so why cant I.
>
> PLURHi, I would say to just try to give it time. I used to read some of the more positive posts that I could find on this board and think to myself the exact same thing you said to me: "you got better, why cant I." I really think that you can--you just need to give the celexa enough time so that you can see if it's right for you, and if it isn't, you can try something else.I tried zoloft, celexa, effexor, and zoloft again before I finally found some sort of success with the lexapro. It came down to not feeling bad if something wasn't working for me, and just moving forward. As for your sleep getting worse, lots of times the meds are very activating in the beginning, which can make sleep even harder. This goes away with time though,if its the right med for you. I hope this helps somewhat--you should definitely have hope. Best of luck to you!
Posted by Mariposa on June 13, 2004, at 10:43:03
In reply to Re: Lexapro has changed my life!!morel1, posted by Ariel27 on June 11, 2004, at 22:45:20
15+ months on Lex, currently at 30mg. DX - depression and PMDD.
Before Lex - I was a MESS!!! Insomnia, road rage in a little town w/no traffic, customer service job where I wanted to rip everybody's head off, and wanting to *kill* my dear husband for breathing!
NOW = I am mgmt. at Kmart! They have cut payroll so much I can't cover the schedule with the bodies I have available. It's so bad that some days I have only myself scheduled all day, and 2 part timers in the evening for my half of the store. I get this memo saying that me and my *team* are to begin spending 2-4 hours daily doing detail maintenance and cleaning on top of all the other regular duties. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry as I looked around for this *team* they refer to and only see ME! On top of that, I have been placed on 90 day probation because I can't seem to get the job done.
Old me would have curled up in a ball, beat myself up for being so incompetent, and believe that I was worthless and they should go ahead and fire me now.
New me - I went and got my mousy hair colored and styled, getting a perm in 3 days, have an appointment to get my chewed to the quick nails done, I bought a new suit and got my resume updated. I already have 2 interviews scheduled and I'm getting out of that HADES HOLE ASAP!
Have been with the CO. 13+ years and I'm no Spring Chicken, fast approaching 50. My husband thinks I am crazy for wanting to give up my salary (which I must admit is pretty decent, we live well on it and he doesn't have to work), he thinks I should hang in there and try to make it through the probation and keep the job.
I am of a different mind set now, I just want to be FREE from the RIDICULOUSNESS @ the Big K! I just can not believe the strenght I feel and the positive attitude I have maintained and I attribute it ALL to Lexapro!!!~~~8|8
Posted by Ariel27 on June 13, 2004, at 14:31:27
In reply to Re: Lexapro Poster Child = long testimonial, posted by Mariposa on June 13, 2004, at 10:43:03
that's a great story!! Good for you for realizing that you deserve much more!!!!! Best of luck to you!!
This is the end of the thread.
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