Anxiety back in my life...

[chelseadagger]

Hi all:

I've probably suffered from GAD since 2001; been off and on SSRIs - Zoloft actually working the best.

Good enough that I weaned myself off about a year or so ago. Thought I was doing ok. Think again. Recently, a family member died of cancer and it kicked me in the ass to go see a doc for a checkup; for some reason, I had leg pains that I didn't before. I (at the time), stupidly Dr. Googled and thought it could have been DVT. I go a week later after having a mild panic attack (and I've had them in the past) - and he sends me to get a D-dimer. Normal. That Wednesday, I go back on Zoloft.

Also had to get a biopsy on a funny-looking mole. Was fine; a little anxiety about the outcome and elated to hear the news the Tuesday after. Great? No. Three hours later - full-blown panic attack; heart palpitations, pain, the whole nine yards. Found out I had strep that same Tuesday, but that's a different story altogether. Oh - and the BP? 150/100. I freaked. I've gone back - tested for a week so far, still in the 145/150-95/97 range. I've been pre-hypertensive, but never this bad.

I called the PCP's office to see if there's anything else - "Just wait for the Zoloft to take effect." Great. It came down to me going to the ER last Friday to actually be told that, yes, my heart enzyme's ok; the pulse is ok, the EKG is ok. Got put on Ativan, 1 mg. Knocked me the hell out. Going to probably take it tonight at .5 - not 1. Even the nurse that I talked to today was surprised at 1 mg.

I feel stupid for going off the Zoloft - it actually worked, side effects or not - but I probably hurt my wife/kids by going off of it. Now I worry about that the anxiety's come back worse than ever - and now that I'm going to have to take a beta-blocker for the rest of my life for BP. Guess I got myself into that situation. On the bright side, lost 10 pounds - not the best way of losing it but I needed to and lose a bit more. Maybe the BP will come down then, right? :P

Anyway - thanks for reading - this board, especially the sticky about the symptoms post, has been a lighthouse for me. Oh - and can anyone relate about the high BP? Like I said - I was more in the 122-128/80-85 range before this and then, well, it's high.[/b]

[I MedusaX I]

I am truly sorry for what you are going through. Sometimes people may have to stay on medication their entire lives. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is highly rec. from me. I used to look for that "Magic" pill to fix everything, but nothing. Therapy should always be first, then medication. Stay on the Zoloft if it worked for you. It does take up to a month to take effect however. Until then, if you have serious panic/anxiety, ativan may help, even at .5mg.

I recently had an experience with my BP going through the roof. I have Agoraphobia with Panic Disorder. I went to the ER because my PCP doc wouldn't fill my medication because he insisited I see a Psychiatrist. The Psych was going to fill the meds, but since he hasn't actually seen me yet, he couldn't because of the rules. So he told me to go to the ER. I ran out of medication and the ER was able to fill my meds for 10 days, until I could get in to see the Psych. My BP at the ER was 153/119. I was having an attack. My BP when I saw the Psych was 150/109. I was on the virge of having an attack. So increased BP during anxiety and panic is completely normal.

Hang in there, let the Zoloft kick in if it truly did with for you, and take Ativan (if it works for you as well). Most of all though, see a Psychiatrist to determine your best medication treatment and seek therapy because it works best, at least for me its working best.

Hope that helps.

[chelseadagger]

Thanks; the Ativan they gave me is short term until I see my PCP next week. I will most likely ask for a Pdoc referral. Just hope I can get through to next week. Taking it day by day.