Posted by worrier on May 13, 2003, at 21:49:00
In reply to Re: ativan and axiety, posted by murm on May 13, 2003, at 13:25:39
> yes i liked ativan too but recently went off everything to find out what was really wrong with me instead of covering it up, i had a chest xray and that was clean so they took blood and are waiting on it possibly being my thyroid, i see specialist next week for pulmanary test. yep ativan was the only thing that made me feel myself again. hope i get some answers soon. breathing is gettin better but still get tired easy.
Sorry to see you are still having problems...I don't pretend to know what all is going on with you, but much of what you say reminds me so much of myself, I just have to make a couple of comments. I've done all the thingd you are doing now, seeing lots of doctors having every test in the book (48 hr holter moniter, stress echo, 24hr urine cortisol levels, blood cortisol levels, 24hr urine VMA,catecholamine, and metanephrine levels, thyroid tests...you name it ) everything is normal except for an elevated cortisol level that is probably caused by my anxiety/panic disorder. I honestly wished they'd find something really wrong with me (how sick is that?) rather than face the fact that it is anxiety/panic. I think you might be doing the same thing. The thing to remember and accept is that anxiety and or panic is a real physical problem that can and should be treated. For many people (like me, and believe me it took me a long time to accept this) benzos are the appropiate treatment. They are addictive if misused(abused) but if they treat your problem that is not an addiction. Diabetics are not addicted to insulin, they are dependent on it to be healthy. That is an important distinction. I can't tolerate any of the SSRIs, but xanax allows me to function and feel relatively normal. I think your physical symptoms may well be due to your anxiety, and when you stop the ativan the anxiety gets worse so your symptoms get worse. Are you seeing a good pdoc? One that deals alot with anxiety/panic disorder? If not, please do. I got so screwed up by taking all sorts of meds prescribed by my MD, it has taken me well over a year to regain any sort of life. Be cautious with meds, but don't be afraid of them. Sorry to have gone on so long....but as Bill Clinton might say "I feel your pain"...I really do. Lots of luck, worrier.
poster:worrier
thread:223045
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030505/msgs/226463.html