HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

hi everyone - need advice!

Support Forums
>
Anxiety & Panic Disorders
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 5/14/2009 3:28 PM (GMT 0)
I am really glad to have found this site. I am 38. I just had a baby 4 weeks ago and he is in the NICU at the hospital because I had him 2 months early. He is doing well but it's hard not having him home yet and going back and forth to the hospital which is 30 min away. I was sick with my pregnancy and hospitalized a lot and my baby and I almost died. I have another son who is 13 from my first marriage and I have lost 3 babies. I also take care of my sister who is 55 with high functioning downs syndrowme. So my life is full of stress. I am on Zoloft 125 mg and just tried to increase it to 150 mg as I have been full of anxiety since the birth of my son. I have been on it since 1999 when I was married to my first husband as it was full of abuse. I got very very sick so I am staying on 125 mg.  My anxiety level is high now which i think is normal given everything that has happened. Plus I am full of hormones. I have an appt with my dr. tomorrow to get me on Xanax to deal with this anxiety. I was on this 2 yrs ago and it really helped me. I think I may need to be on this for a long time or for life. Would that be bad? Is there anyone that has been on this for a long time or for life? I sure hope this helps me. It did before. I am also dealing with some back pain since delivery which is stress and nerves as I didn't have a spinal and had a lot of back pains during pregnancy. I am hoping the Xanax will help me to relax and help with my nerves in stomach and back. I also deal with IBS but it has been pretty under control since being on Zoloft. Please tell me your experience with Xanax, dose your on and how long you have been on it or plan to be on it. Does it help your anxiety? Thanks in advance.

Bethers

Posted 5/14/2009 3:39 PM (GMT 0)
Bethers - Hi. Congrats on the birth of your little one, so sorry to hear that he's in the NICU. I can understand your recent flood of anxiety. I myself have lost a child, he was 3yrs old. And my second son was born 3wks early & was in the NICU for a week. While my little guy wasn't born as early as yours, it's still a scary experience to deal with when one of your children are in the hospital. I'm not on medication, hence why I've been so frequent here recently. But I have used Xanax before & it helped to calm me down. But I know these hormones & the NICU stay are playing alot into your anxiety right now. They did for me! I was convinced that my post-partum bleeding was really blood in my urine & I had a kidney condition (which was just constipation.) Anxiety certainly isn't nice to us. I hope the Xanax your getting works for you!
Posted 5/14/2009 3:49 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks so much! Zoloft is helping with the depression it's the anxiety now to control. :)
Posted 5/14/2009 4:28 PM (GMT 0)
Also, do kind of remember 2 yrs ago when I would take my synthroid in the morning - and then the xanax would get bad stomach aches. Is there another benz that's easier on the stomach that works as good?
Posted 5/14/2009 4:49 PM (GMT 0)
I take Xanax but not daily. I only take it as needed. Which for me is about 1-3 times a month.

As for other benzo's there is Valium and Ativan. Ativan might be a little heavy for you though as it causes alot of sleepiness. There is another that starts with a C, but for the life of me I can't remember the name. Hopefully someone will be along soon who does remember the name.

Good luck
Gail *Nanners*
Posted 5/15/2009 3:39 AM (GMT 0)
My goodness, your plate is full! Glad you're on the Zoloft and you have the Xanax. Be careful going off the Xanax. Do it with a doctor's help.

I have been on Prozac for at least 7 years and I will remain on it until it peeters out. Not soon I hope. I was on the lowest dose for most of that time and just recently had to go to the highest. I've accepted that I need medication.

Remember to set time aside for yourself. You're so busy taking care of everyone else. Also, don't worry about your son. Medicine today is full of miracles. Your little guy will be home before you know it. Take this time to sleep, sleep, sleep. Let us know how you're doing!
Posted 5/15/2009 4:09 AM (GMT 0)
I think the other benzo Gail was thinking about is Clonazepam (Klonopin).
It is a longer acting anxiety med. It sure has pulled me from a terrible place of late.
Hope things get better for you!
Posted 5/16/2009 12:33 PM (GMT 0)
hi guys, went to dr. she gave me Klonopin (can anyone tell me their success with it) and Vistrail. She also gave me an acid reflux med for my back whenever i eat it travels up my back and i get a horrible backache. :( Yesterday, taking the meds was great. Today a little constipated. I have IBS so i will need to make sure to drink more water.
Love to all,
Beth
Posted 5/16/2009 1:10 PM (GMT 0)

Beth,

Welcome to HealingWell and I think I have all of the same disorders as you but I do not have a newborn............congratualtions on that new baby.

I would like to suggest if you find the anxiety is continuing or you get to sedated on the benzo ( Klonopin) that you talk with your Physician about Buspar which is a medication for anxiety and you can take it daily. 

I use Valium too and it is the longest acting benzo if you are going to use a med daily.

Each person is different and reacts to meds accordingly.  I wish you peace and hope things soon settle down for you.

Kitt

Posted 5/16/2009 3:55 PM (GMT 0)
Bethers just fyi, I have Crohns Disease which is a inflammatory bowel disease and also suffer with some IBS along with it. One thing that helps my constipation alot is stool softners. They are not laxatives, but help to keep the stool soft so it can pass easier. Just a thought!

Good luck
Gail *Nanners*
Posted 5/17/2009 1:02 AM (GMT 0)
hi guys, my other sister has Chrons so i feel for you. Life is not fair sometimes. It can be real painful. So far the vistrial and klonopin is doing awesome. :) i hope it keeps up!

Love, Beth
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply