Hi all, newb sharing my story

Hi everyone. I have posted a couple times and thought that I should introduce myself and tell a bit about my experiences with anxiety. I started having panic attacks in 2003 after suffering a heart attack. They started the day after coming home from hospital. I had a stent placed for the M.I. and at first the attacks I was having were being associated with possible complications with the stent. After three visits to the ER with chest pain, shortness of breath, shaking all over, and overwhelming feeling that I was dying they prescribed Lorazepam which they also gave through IV in the ER. It helped me feel better and calm temporarily. I had such severe anxiety that I was having trouble swallowing. I felt like I was going to choke every time I took a bite of food. As a result of that I was not eating well and lost a lot of weight. They even began to wonder if something was wrong with my esophagus and did an endoscopy, at which time they found nothing. I got so sick that I became suicidal and was hospitalized. I was put on Seroquel in addition to the Lorazepam and was immediately able to eat normally. I took the Seroquel for about a year but eventually got so afraid of developing problems from the medicine that I took myself off of it. You can get tardive dyskinesia and other side effects from it and that terrified me. I have been off of it for a couple years now. I was doing great for a while but I have within the past few months started having painc attacks again, and was given a refill on the Lorazepam. It doesn't seem to be helping me as much as it was before though and that is worrying me. I am beginning to wonder if I will end up having to go back on the Seroquel again, which I DO NOT want to do. It made me a zombie basically. All I wanted to do was sleep, I rarely had any genuine emotions. I have read many of your stories and it always helps to not feel alone. I have some pretty serious health problems since having the heart attack and that in itself only makes my anxiety worse. I developed diabetes and am suspected of possibly having Gastroparesis. I have not been tested for it yet but have many of the symptoms.
Anyway that's my story in a nutshell. I am working hard on getting healthier and staying that way and am very happy to have found this forum.

Welcome Bluerosesix:)

Nice to meet you. I hope you start feeling better. You came to a great place to meet people and make friends:)

Hi bluerosesix

This is Kitt, welcome to the best A & P site on the web.....well I feel it is.   You have come to a place where the members know where your coming from and what your going through.

Perhaps your physician could prescribe a different med for the anxiety, or add a Antidepressant as many of the new ones have antianxiety properties in them. IMHO I don't think you have to jump to Seroquel right away but I am not a professional.

Also are you in therapy of any kind to work through the anxiety, that may be the one thing that will work for you?

Remember we are all here for you and we are all in the same boat.

Welcome aboard, let us help you.

Kitt

Hello Bluerosesix,

I'm so glad you found us here at HW and thanks for introducing yourself. Sounds like you've had a pretty rough time over the last few years. I was hospitilised for anxiety (and concussion - long silly story) earlier this year and I was put in a zombie state for a week. It was not pleasant, and I was fearful they would keep me in there..so I understand your fears.

There are plenty of alternate meds and treatments that can help you live a high quality life without the zombie side effects. I hope you stick around here with us (Kitt is right A/P @ HW is a great place for support and laughs!) and I really look forward to getting to know you better.

Meg

bluerosesix

I understand your concerns about the medication side effects and I a so happy to see you are advocating for yourself.

Also, I am thrilled to know that you have a plan you use to cut back the anxiety when you feel it rising.

Stick with us as we care.

Kitt