Frippledip
10-03-2007, 10:43 AM
Hi all, I'm new to the board, and I really need some advice regarding my anxiety. Since age 15, I've been plagued by depression, which I have always kept under control (relatively speaking) with medication. About two years ago, I got sick for the first time. I was at a friend's wedding, and luckily it happened after the reception. Anyway I had one glass of wine the whole evening, but by the end of the night I was wretching uncontrolably and dehydrated, I started hyperventilating so much my hands went numb., crying and rocking back and forth...movement seemed to make me more comfortable. I was given some shots in the ER, an IV, and they sent me home. My boyfriend and I chalked it up to food poisoning.
2 years later and I have made 6 nearly identical trips to the ER. They've taken x-rays, a CAT scan, blood tests, all show nothing physically wrong with me. Every time I went, it became more apparent that this is VERY likely an anxiety problem. Almost every time I get sick, I have some kind of stressful event (happy or otherwise) to deal with. The last time it happened (two weeks ago) I was having surgery on an old ankle injury the next day.
I am seeing a psychiatrist as advised by my GP in 2 weeks, but until then I was hoping someone could give me a little advice or input. The biggest problem with these incidents is that I CANNOT stop it on my own. Once I'm throwing up, that's it, it gets worse and worse and the only thing that will end the episode is an IV and anti-nausea injections (including Ativan, which helps more than anything, but I can't keep pills down after I start yaking. There HAS to be another way to stop these episodes when they happen. I am getting married in 2 months and am becoming terrified that I will ruin my own wedding.
The other problem is that if this is anxiety, which I truly believe it is, I don't get the mental symptoms. I might feel a little nervous about something, totally normal, like my surgery, but I don't get the classic panic attacks w/a racing heart or feelings of fear. It manifests almost entirely physically. My doctor gave me Xanax to take when I feel nervous, and it definitely helps, but I continue to have these attacks.
What can I do?
2 years later and I have made 6 nearly identical trips to the ER. They've taken x-rays, a CAT scan, blood tests, all show nothing physically wrong with me. Every time I went, it became more apparent that this is VERY likely an anxiety problem. Almost every time I get sick, I have some kind of stressful event (happy or otherwise) to deal with. The last time it happened (two weeks ago) I was having surgery on an old ankle injury the next day.
I am seeing a psychiatrist as advised by my GP in 2 weeks, but until then I was hoping someone could give me a little advice or input. The biggest problem with these incidents is that I CANNOT stop it on my own. Once I'm throwing up, that's it, it gets worse and worse and the only thing that will end the episode is an IV and anti-nausea injections (including Ativan, which helps more than anything, but I can't keep pills down after I start yaking. There HAS to be another way to stop these episodes when they happen. I am getting married in 2 months and am becoming terrified that I will ruin my own wedding.
The other problem is that if this is anxiety, which I truly believe it is, I don't get the mental symptoms. I might feel a little nervous about something, totally normal, like my surgery, but I don't get the classic panic attacks w/a racing heart or feelings of fear. It manifests almost entirely physically. My doctor gave me Xanax to take when I feel nervous, and it definitely helps, but I continue to have these attacks.
What can I do?