Status report? Why not?

[them_apples]

better? good? ok?

hard to say. right now, i feel fine. i'm taking buseprine(sp?) which helps the anxiety a lot. i still haven't slept. if anything, this experience has given me nothing but scorn for the medical profession. i know you guys are busy, but dammit, greg house gets it right. he doesn't just toss people out with advice to take benadryl.

Comments

[dinosaur_act]

I think everybody's different.. Ativan worked wonders for me throughout November and December and into January, and it was definitely more of a short term, as-needed type of drug. I only began to consider a long-term medication when I started needing the Ativan every day for a week straight. I've got a long-term crisis on my hands, and I think Zoloft will help. And if it doesn't, I'll discuss other options. I've never felt comfortable with any kind of medication, so it's a big deal for me.

Either way, I'm glad you're feeling a little better and getting help. Anxiety is terrifying. The brain is terrifying. Around January 14, I was feeling like I'd gotten over my emotional trauma and I'd be moving on, pursuing my normal life. And then my brain found a way to tell me I was wrong.

[them_apples]

you know, i read somewhere that there's been a higher-than-usual number of panic attacks this year. i can't say i'm glad to be in this club with you, but it helps to know someone else is going through something similar.

i'd really like to get some ativan, if just to get some restful sleep. hopefully tomorrow, once i'm chided for smoking, i'll have some answers about my physical condition. like that it's maybe ok. and i don't have hypoglycemia. or... lupus, or a hormone imbalance or something.

anyhow, it's good to hear you're doing better, or will be, and it helps to have people's support with this.

[dinosaur_act]

I have found comfort in knowing that one of my close friends knows what I'm going through. Obviously I'd prefer that you don't have panic attacks, but it's good to know that there's someone who understands how shitty acute anxiety is.

Different but equal

[benbazooka]

well I'd say were all different, to a point. I don't know andy, what the best is for you. You should be cynical of medicine, especially since you have the capacity to do it rationally. I'm sure that getting sleep will help that much I feel confident in. approching the new, (compaired to say asprin, or ritalin, which has been in the news for less than admirable side effects) overly advertised, extremely powerful, and oft inappropriatly used, yet clinically valuable antidepressents with caution is a good thing. Setting your mind at ease is always good, checking with a pharmasist about medication interactions is good, all good choices. run on sentances and putting too much weight in what i have to say, not so great. I don't know much about B-vills resident PCP but finding a doctor who you like, and treats you with respect is very important, especially if they may be managing your anxiety

[them_apples]

shitty indeed. the buspra is whipping the shit out of that motherfucker right now, but i still can't sleep. i'm just not breaking down in tears about it every five minutes. hopefully the cocktail of ambien CR and beta-blockers will slow my heart down enough that i can just drift off into a peaceful sleep. we'll see.

did zoloft ease you out of ativan withdrawal? or did you muscle through that yourself?

I hope you don't mind my butting in

[jesse_lauren]

Maybe contact the Marino Center in Cambridge. They have a great reputation for treating people holistically, listening to patients and using alternative medicines/therapies in conjunction with traditional western medicines. They do a lot of stuff with exercise and nutrition. They have a website (I forgot what it is). It's been recommended to me by quite a few people, actually.