looking for Fox7,

Hi Lainey! Sorry it took me so long to respond to you, we are going through a family tragedy at the moment, so I've been busy with that.

But anyway, to start things off, I'm 41 years old, married 18 years, and have 3 children and 1 grandchild.

I was a school bus driver but have been unable to work since November of 2011, and I am currently on Social Security Disability.

First I will cover the whole anxiety/panic thing....

I was first diagnosed with Anxiety and panic attacks when I was just 14 years old, and didn't start any meds until I was 18. The first being Ativan, then a few years later tried Paxil. I was on that one for a year and gained SIXTY pounds in that year!

Went off of the Paxil, by myself without docs knowledge, because it was just TOO MUCH weight for me.

Lost about 20 pounds before trying something else, which was Prozac, but that was a mess! Made me more anxious and panicky than anything. Then on to the Zoloft. I took Zoloft 3 times in the past at 50 mgs. and was totally fine each time. It worked like a miracle drug for me. I ended up going off of it and managed my panic and anxiety disorders for over 3 years with no meds.

Speed up to 2010, MAJOR marital problems that sent me into a tailspin that would not stop. I was diagnosed with PTSD, OCD, Panic Disorder w/agoraphobia, GAD, and Depression. I ended up going back on the Zoloft at 50 mgs. Well that wasn't touching it this time. They gave me .5 xanax to take 3 times a day with it. The only thing that worked was the xanax, so they upped my zoloft to 100 mgs. That wasn't touching it either, so the journey began and I went from 100, to 125, to 150, to 175, then maxed out at 200 mgs! All the while STILL having to take the xanax.

So after a little over a year on the Zoloft, and another 30 pound weight gain, after just losing that 30 pounds due to a nervous breakdown, I weaned myself off of the Zoloft. It just wasn't working anymore.

After this, I tried Wellbutrin, HORRIBLE! That stuff is more for depression! I felt like I was on some kind of meth or something! I couldn't sit still for more than 10 minutes, and was a nervous wreck on that stuff!

SO, I am now on Lexapro 10 mgs. and it is working for me, along with the xanax. But I only take the xanax .5 mg twice a day. I would like to eventually get off of it, but I'm not ready for that yet.



NOW..... on to the Fibromyalgia.... I was diagnosed in 2011 with that.

My body was always in pain, I was so tired all the time, and it felt like just doing any ordinary activity would completely drain all of my energy. I'd be laid up for a day or two after doing anything strenuous. The weather plays a big part of it also, especially the cold weather. I take 600- 800 mgs of Ibuprofen 2-3 times a day depending on my pain level. My every day life has been totally uprooted by this. I can't sit for too long, I can't stand for too long, I suffer insomnia and am not able to go to sleep until about 3-4 AM.

I was also diagnosed in 2012 with osteoarthritis in my spine, spinal stenosis, spinal spondylosis, degenerative disc disease, and a bunch of herniated discs in my low back and neck.

To top THAT off, I was just diagnosed last month with Plantar Faciitis in BOTH feet, and am doing physical therapy for that now because thsy gave me steroid shots in my feet and it only worked for a few weeks.

WHEW! That was long, but that is my history. If there's ever anything you need, just let me know. I'll try and help you as much as I can. I hope this message finds you well!

((hugs)) Fox

  Fox, thanks so much for getting back to me, we do have such similar stories, especially with meds and anxiety.

Here's my hx long and NOT sweet:

I have had anxiety for as long back as I can remember, always having gut problems, migraines in my 20's. never took anything for the anxiety until I hit perimenopause in my early 40's

Started having severe insomnia which led to more anxiety. went to PCP and she gave me Paxil right off the back, (15 yrs ago) took that for APPROX 3 DAYS WHEN I WAS HAVING FULL BLOWN PANIC ATTACKS. She said it wasn't the med, it was me and to continue on the paxil with Xanax

I was in such distress my husband made an apt with a new dr. He took me off the paxil and started me on Zoloft..After 6 weeks I was doing good again so after 6 months I weaned off of it (under his supervision) and crashed several months later.

back on the Zoloft for 8 months this time and again came off it, always believing that I was healed of all this. Again crashed after a couple months.

tried Lexapro and Effexor but never gave either of them a real chance to work, was med phobia by now, so back to Zoloft and decided I would stay on it for the rest of my life.

always took only 50mgs and Xanax for initial start up on it but stopped Xanax once Zoloft had kicked in

fast forward to March 2012- I had for almost a year been skipping doses here and there and then got to the point that I only took 50mg every other day DON'T EVER DO THIS!!!!! sent me into a major w/d without me even knowing 

So went to see P/Doc and she had me increase Zoloft as you did all the way until I was at 200mgs, along with klonopin 3xs a day. didn't work so weaned off and crashed worse then ever. we tried Lexapro again and again I didn't give it a fair shake.

after some time we decided to give Zoloft one last chance and so slowly I went back on it until I reached 100mgs..she wanted me to go up more but I told her "whats the point?"  It simply has stopped working for me.

so I am in week three of 50mgs and will go to 25mgs after another weeks.

I have to take clonazepam (klonopin) .5mg a.m. and p.m. I know I am addicted to it now but its the only thing that calms me down and It lasts 8-12 hours.

during all this my gut had been hurting SOOOO bad and I was losing wt. after many months of chalking it up to anxiety I finally went and had an endoscopy with biopsy, lo & behold I had H-pylori!!! had to be on triple meds for 14 days.

After that gut still hurt awful, went and had Hydrogen breath test and was foubd to have Small intestinal Bacteria overgrowth (I'm a nurse and never heard of these ailments) again on antibiotics for 14 days

both gut issues have been eradicated but gut still is bad so Gastro says its now IBS

Now heres the kicker, the Gastro doc was the one who told me I have Fibro!?! I said I didn't and he said go see a RA because you are the poster child for Fibro the way you present

went to RA and she dx me with Fibro.

I too have pain at times that all I can do is cry, I try to take small amounts of Ibuprofen and very rarely because of my gut.

weather does seem to make it worse

my pain is SO bad in my neck, shoulders, upper back I sit with moist heat on it 60% of the day

I see the RA again tomorrow 2nd visit and will see what she suggests. I already said that I cant/wont take anything prescription until I am off the Zoloft.

I have applied for Disability and have already been denied am waiting for my 1st hearing.

 I take 2000mg Vit. C, 5000mg Vit. D, Fish oil, multi Vit for women over 50, Magnesium 400mgs at night along with my clonazepam

WOW talk about long winded. so that's my hx. now you see how I relate to you on so many levels.

lets keep letting each other know how we are doing and what works for both our anxiety and fibro

oh I also have been going to acupuncture and it has helped (I was such a non believer, and was shocked at how much it has helped) also I took a yoga class last week and was sooooo sore the next 2 days. will go again this Wednesday and take it a little easier, the instructor says you have to work up to some of the moves. I was trying to do everything the class was doing...BIG MISTAKE   OUCHIE

my new email is on my profile so we can correspond that way also

I suggest listening to David Fairweather's youtube videos on anxiety reduction. When my anxiety keeps me awake at night a round or two of the fall asleep version knocks me out.

I thought Birkenstocks were the ugliest sandals in the world. But when you can't walk without tears streaming down your face, you will try anything. To my surprise,these worked and now are sooo comfy for me. They stretch the tendons and ligaments that are causing you all the pain. I used to wear feminine shoes with bows on the toes but now my Birkenstocks look wonderful to me. LOL

When I started wearing Birkenstocks they were making my back hurt. I have many problems with my spine but then I realized that the shoes were making me carry myself correctly! So, I only wore them about two hours a day the first few weeks and then I could wear them longer. It took about a month befor I could wear them all day. Now, I'm the most comfortable in the sandals...not barefoot.

They give wonderful support. I like the Arizona style in the Nubuck material. Nubuck is strong, looks like leather, but isn't stiff, and you can wipe them off with soap and water. . My skin is very tender so this is important for me. The Arizona style is one, if not THE, original style. It has two wide straps ane no back to them. I can just slip my feet into them and head out the door. I have never walked out of them and I've worn them even while walking on a glacier. I just wore thick socks and adjusted the straps.

Birkenstocks are expensive but you can have them resoled for about $33. I've had some of my favorites resoled four times so far! They wear like iron.

I now have 22 pairs in many colors and styles. I even have black patent leather for evenings out.

If you google Birkenstock History you can find out all about them.

Ugly? I'm in high style! Below is an article that was in Vogue magazine in July.

http://www.vogue.com/vogue-daily/article/pretty-ugly-why-vogue-girls-have-fallen-for-the-birkenstock/#1

Sherrine