Posted by Elizabeth on June 1, 1999, at 4:50:49
In reply to Nervous about seeing doc., posted by Cindy on May 31, 1999, at 22:41:11
> CAn I ask this question any more diff. ways in one post? Sorry.
Nothing to be sorry about! It's a good sign - it means you haven't lost your sense of humor. :-)
I agree with Alison that it's best for you to find a doctor you're comfortable with. On the other hand, I know that sometimes when I'm depressed I don't really feel comfortable with *anybody*, so that could make it difficult!
I can't say I blame you for being nervous about the meds situation. Side effects of antidepressants can be pretty hard to deal with, and for some reason people with high anxiety seem to have an especially hard time with them. When you start on an antidepressant, you should start at the lowest possible dose and increase it only when you feel okay with it ("as tolerated"). For whatever this is worth, there are some different kinds of meds that you haven't tried and that might work for you.
You might be having panic attacks - I'm not sure. In a panic attack, people have symptoms like racing or pounding heart, shortness of breath, nausea, shaking, sweating, etc. as well as feeling like something horrible is going to happen ("I'm going to die" or "I'm going crazy," for example). A lot of times people will literally believe they are dying (e.g., that they are having a heart attack) and rush to the emergency room only to be told that they're just fine and given Valium! Some people also feel like they aren't themselves, like they're watching themselves from outside, or like the world isn't "real." Does that help? That's definitely something you should talk to your doctor about (whether you decide to see this one again, or somebody new). Panic attacks are an easy diagnosis to miss because they are usually over in a half hour, so the doctor doesn't actually get to see it when it's happening (and ERs tend to miss them a lot, although that's starting to change).
I hope that you can do what you need to do to feel better...it sounds like you are in a lot of pain. Take care.
poster:Elizabeth
thread:6885
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/19990601/msgs/6899.html