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ACB33
Member

Hello everyone.

I doubt anyone will be awake this time of the morning but I am suffering really bad! I've had very good days where I've felt like I've been getting back on my feet but I had a bad panic attack before I came to bed and I'm still panicking now. I know Londoner said the medication made the OCD worse rather than better to begin with but this is a bit of a shock if this is what is meant by worse. I don't know what to do with myself. I'm very tired but scared to sleep atm. Wow this whole illness really does make life a living hell. Anyone else awake and struggling and need of a bit of support like me?
ACB

Mon Dec 19 2011 2:14:25 #
Truddles
Member

Hi ACB,

Sorry that you've had such a bad night.
At the beginning of this thread you said that you'd been taking natural remedies, are you still taking them? If so they could well be interacting with the medication that the doctor prescribed.
Has your therapist shown you how to deal with a panic attack? If not ask them to do so.
Sorry got to dash but didn't want your post to go unanswered.
Trudy

Mon Dec 19 2011 7:40:38 #
ACB33
Member

Hi Truddles, Thank You for your message. No I'm not taking natural stuff now. I'm on 20mg Fluoxetine so I didn't take the other tablets for that very reason that I didn't want them to interact. No I haven't had anything from my therapist about panic attacks. I will have to wait until the new year now. I'm feeling a little better this evening. Still a bit shaky but nothing as bad as this morning.

How are you today?

ACB

Mon Dec 19 2011 19:42:26 #
Truddles
Member

Hi ACB,

I'm glad that you're feeling a little better this evening.
Not had too good a day myself, I was on my way to see my therapist this morning and when almost there got a phone call to say the appointment had been cancelled as they were off sick and that she would see me tomorrow instead.
So much for carefully planning my week so I could fit everything in I had to wait for someone to meet me and when I finally got in have had to do the washing that I'd planned on doing tomorrow. Even then as it was so late when I got in can only do one load, at this rate I'll never catch up with the backlog But hey I've managed to cope - just Bet you wish you hadn't asked?

Mon Dec 19 2011 20:49:39 #
wannabefree
Member

Hi everyone, ACB something someone once suggested to me, I believe is that when you are having a panic attack, you breath in to a count of say four, and then breath out to a count of say five... What this does is slow the breathing down and remove the effects of hyperventilation and giddiness. When we are panicking, it is impossible to think straight or rationally , but if we slow the breathing down, we recover our composure... Not that I'm any good at it of course! I wish I was...
ACB it is good to hear you are touch better this evening, and you Trudy... It isn't easy, but I'm tending to find the evenings a bit easier now...
wannabe

Mon Dec 19 2011 21:17:02 #
ACB33
Member

Yes Thank you. I hate not being able to sleep its the worse thing. It was actually the one thing the OCD hadn't affected until last night but I think the panic attack set it off and after that it was game over sleep wise. Oh no, I'm sorry to hear about your appointment being cancelled, that's all you needed. At least you are going tomorrow though that is good. Try not to put too much stress and pressure on yourself, it's not worth it especially at this time of the year anyway. Haha not at all, it's nice to hear how people are getting on, it takes your mind off your own problems for a while
ACB

Mon Dec 19 2011 21:26:19 #
Unregistered

Hi ACB33,

I hope you're starting to feel a bit better. I would say that in my own case, I was suffering from signicant side-effects for the first 3 to 4 weeks that I was taking Fluoxetine. (However, as I was severely depressed and anxious at the time, it is extremely hard to tell what was caused by side-effects from the drug, and what was due to the depression or anxiety that I was experiencing already.)

I think the best advice is to go to see your GP to discuss any and all side-effects that any medication appears to be having, and to be guided by the GP's expertise. (If in doubt, go to the GP!)

(The GP should be well aware of the pros and cons, and various side-effects, of any medications that they prescribe. So the GP is the person to go to every time you have any fears, questions, or worries about any medication that you are taking.) The GP will discuss changing the medication; raising or lowering the dosage; or stopping taking the medication.

I have cut and pasted below a paragraph from the "GP Card" on the OCD Action Resources page, about medication and side-effects:

"Medication:

An SSRI such as fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline and citalopram may be given to adults either in combination with CBT (including ERP) or alone, depending on severity, and if the patient does not want to have CBT (including ERP), or it is not working. The patient will need to be closely monitored, particularly in initial stages for potential side effects such as akathisia and restlessness, increased anxiety and agitation, self-harm and suicidal thoughts. The medication may not take effect for up to 12 weeks. The patient must be informed about the possibility of withdrawal symptoms if the medication is suddenly stopped. A child or adolescent with OCD may also receive similar treatment with an SSRI, but a specialist will usually be involved."

I have also attached the links for the GP Card; and the Medication Information Pack; and the NICE Guidelines again:

GP Card:

http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/files/2010/03/GP-Card-v04.pdf

Medication for OCD:

http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/files/2011/02/Medication-for-OCD.pdf

NICE:

http://www.ocdaction.org.uk/files/2009/09/nice-cg031-publicinfo.pdf

So be sure to go back to the GP with absolutely any and all concerns you have about any medication that they prescribe for you. The GP may or may not know much about OCD, but they should have very good expertise about medications.

All the best.

Tue Dec 20 2011 14:02:19 #
Unregistered

Hi ACB,

so, just in addition to the above, please note that the cut and pasted paragraph from the GP Card refers to a possible "12 weeks" before the medication takes effect, and it lists some of the possible side-effects during the initial stages of taking the medication.

The most important thing is just to speak to the GP if you have any concerns. That's what they're paid for!

If you are suffering, you might want to ask the GP about lowering the dosage -- and then have a full discussion with the GP, and then go with the GP's advice, whatever that is.

(Be open and honest with the GP; so if you stop taking any medication that they prescribe, or have any worrying side-effects that alarm you, make sure you are telling the GP about this.)

I hope you start to get better soon!

Tue Dec 20 2011 14:10:13 #
ACB33
Member

Hi Londoner. Wow thank you so much for all the help and advice posted above, it's very kind of you to take the time to sit and send such detailed messages. I can tell you they are much appreciated. I think my medication is ok actually. It might not have been the meds that made me feel I'll the other night, I think it was just the panic attack and I just got into a state. I am a bit shaky still and seem to be very tired with little energy but that's nothing difficult to deal with. I have certainly noticed a difference in myself on the meds but I'm hoping they will continue to improve my mood in time as I still feel quite low and get very distressed and panicky still.

How are you anyway?

ACB

Tue Dec 20 2011 19:40:53 #
wannabefree
Member

Hi everyone... Something I do to help me sleep, i a warm drink, but also we switch a favourite DVD on the TV in the bedroom, and switch it to repeat through the night, that way the room is never silent... It is great for getting me off to sleep... I wake in the morning feeling pretty awful, but that is mornings for me... I tend to dream non-OCD, and the morning reality hhits really hard... I'm beginning to think that my meds are starting to work properly now, I got to day centre today, without having a bath before going... And everything went fine... I'm clean enough, so don't need to do more than wash and smarten up a little bit... Some time in the new year I'll return to playing the electronic organ... Creativity is something I love, so I should return to it...
wannabe

Tue Dec 20 2011 21:34:40 #
ACB33
Member

Hi everyone.

I was just looking back at this thread. It's been a huge help actually. I'm half way through taking my medication at the moment. Been on it about 2 weeks and although I'm sure it's helping I'm suffering with really bad side effects. I know Londoner said about expecting an instant relief but blimey it's been like a whirl wind. I can't eat at the moment, lost my appetite and sleeping has been a nightmare. Been waking up in severe panic attacks and although I'm really tired I can't seem to settle because my mind is racing at 100mph! I woke up at 3:45am this morning in a bit of a state. I dread going to bed because I hate waking up feeling how I do but becoming totally exhausted! I really hope it settles down soon. I'm going to the docs on Tuesday to make sure everything is going ok with tablets. Don't really want to change them but if they are making me suffer I may need to look elsewhere.

Anyway thanks again for all your help and advice on above thread. I'm suffering at the moment but hoping it's a sign of recovery. Fingers crossed

ACB

Sat Dec 31 2011 23:15:24 #
wannabefree
Member

Hi ACB, sorry to hear your suffering a bit... Everything has gone a bit slow since the manic time up until Christmas, and then into new year... Should get better though, Summer is only 4 months, that's only 16 weeks away, then we'll have warm dry weather again, well hopefully!!
Wannabe

Sun Jan 1 2012 19:41:02 #