ANXIETY.............that just gives me anxiety!

[ClockworkOrange]

Don't expect any replies, just letting off steam as I am thoroughly fed up not being able to ride, swim or do anything!


2008 - Coped with COPD
2009 - Aspergillosis and a year of steroids
2010 - Finally recover after 10 months from a broken back

So I thought roll on 2011! Then the last four weeks have been lousy, first a supposed chest infection, so antibiotics and steroids just in case. My body reacted to the steroids, so it was another 10 days of just tapering off the damned things!

I have been so lethargic, jittery, breathless, palpitations blah blah blah.

Now my GP is convinced it is Anxiety and I must agree, so do I. All my life I have coped but suddenly my coping mechanism has shut down.

Agreed to taking citalopram (citalopram) but did it make me rough this morning, so tomorrow will try half a tablet and take later in the evening.

.................goes off singing "I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike"

[spokewench]

Hang in there Clock - life just sucks sometimes!

[Crankin]

Preface: I am not a doctor, but I am a therapist...
Why does your doctor think it is anxiety? Anxiety doesn't cause a broken back, chest infection,or COPD.
Yes, symptoms of GAD (generalized anxiety disorder) can include sleep disorders (both not sleeping or too much sleeping), irritability, heart palpitations, feeling "off." But, it's also accompanied by a feeling of worry on most days than not, for at least six months. Do you feel worried? Thinking or ruminating on the same thing over and over? Any panic attacks?
Recovering from illness and injury can cause depression and anxiety. Counseling, mindfulness meditation, and moderate exercise are the first lines of treatment for anxiety and depression... particularly when chronic illness is involved.
Citalopram has side effects. You need to call your doctor right away and report how you feel; please don't try to change the dose without medical advice. It is used mostly to treat depression, but is prescribed, somewhat off-label for anxiety. I am not opposed to medication at all, but it's a little unusual to be prescribed an SSRI without a recommendation for therapy and other non-medical treatments.

[NbyNW]

We're here for you, Clock. You're coming out of a tough run and it can take a long time to feel like your old self again. (((hugs)))

[OakLeaf]

(((((Clock))))) What Crankin said. Talk to your doctor and get a referral for counseling so you can get a good diagnosis and treatment.... and possibly ask for a medication that doesn't have so many side effects.

I'm not a doctor or a therapist, but I can't imagine why steroid withdrawal wasn't the first thing he considered, if you were on another round recently. Ten days seems a very short taper for someone who's been on pred in the past. My dad had to taper for a year after his last bout of prednisone. All the symptoms you described could be from steroid withdrawal...

[Catrin]

((((Clock)))) Everyone has such good advice that I can't add to it, but sending you warm thoughts, hugs, and prayers. It does sound like your GP may have jumped to conclusions a little quickly - and if it does turn out that he or she was correct then there has got to be a better medication than an off-label use...

[Crankin]

And +1 to Oak's thought about the prednisone. You were on it a long time; weaning off of it should take along time, too. Everything you described happens when you go off steroids too quickly.

[hebe]

You poor thing. All I can add is don't be too hard on yourself for not riding, it's been a miserable few months for all sorts of reasons, I've barely been on my bikes this side of Christmas. I hope that spring will bring better weather, and hopefully that will help you too. x

[marni]

I second the suggestion that you get your dr. to give you a referral for some couseling. Either a psychologist or a psychiatrist should be able to distinguish between the steroid withdrawal, anxiety and a continuining problem.

If you have to do drugs, citalopram (ie celexa) is one of the better ones for not causing tremors, repetitive muscle tremors.

Good luck with your recovery both physical and mental.

[ClockworkOrange]

I appreciate each reply and the time you have spared in doing so.

Like many, I have gone through all sorts of worries/concerns in my life, generally not directly to do with me but family. I consider I have coped admirably but as I said before, I feel the coping 'thing' has diminished.

Mainly I worry far too much about my grown up son, he has been a nightmare at times but thankfully, he has calmed down and now he and his partner have a beautiful son of their own. I am my own worst enemy, any problems he and his partner might have, I always feel I should be able to wave a magic wand, daft, I know.

If the phone goes generally my first words to him are "whats wrong"? I sometimes feel it is because I was a single parent family from when he was around 13 years of age.

Yup, got to let go but I don't seem to have reached that stage, well not properly anyway!

You see this is not a recent feeling, the problem now is that I cannot control it. Hence after a long chat with my Doctor, she and I both thought this might be the right approach but for a short period.

Only put up this thread to let off steam, so it was a real bonus to have such a response.

Am flying off for a cheapie break to The Algarve, Portugal, celebrating my partners 60th but guess what, rain is forecast for all next week.

Thanks again.