Monday, Feb 27th 2012

[rone rivendale]

I'm in real trouble, guys. I've mentioned my problem with panic attacks in the past. I had a bad one in August. And then 4 months later, I had another bad one in January. Well, after the January one, I was given an rx for Trazidone which I reacted badly to.

The next rx I was given was for Xanax, and that's where things went from bad to worse (I just didn't know it yet). The Xanax made me feel better but a couple weeks later when I went to the Eye Dr. to get some glasses he told me I should quit the Xanax and take Inderol instead. So I started the Inderol, but I was still taking the Xanax too because the Inderol takes 3 weeks to kick in and I still needed the help. After 3 weeks I went back to the Eye Dr. to tell him the Inderol wasn't working. I didn't mention that I was still taking Xanax because he told me to stop it and also because I don't have a rx for it anymore and so I have to take my Dad's Xanax.

The Eye Dr. gave me a new rx for another med which I can't spell but it's another anti-depressant like Trazaodne only this one puts me to sleep. I didn't take the Xanax at all from that Wednesday all the way until Saturday when my headaches got MUCH worse and my chest pain got MUCH worse. I looked up Xanax withdrawal online and found out that quitting Xanax cold turkey can be DEADLY. So I took a Xanax right away and I have taken one yesterday and will be taking one today as soon as I finish my breakfast.

According to what I've read online, it takes a long time to get off Xanax. You are supposed to go down in stages of 0.25mg for each 2 weeks. I take 1mg a day so it's going to take me about 2 months to be completely off of it. And according to testimonials I've read on diff forums, you still feel some of the withdrawals even as you stagger down the dosage. Just from not taking it for those 3 days but having taken it the last 2, STILL feel really bad. My head hurts and my chest hurts. I stopped taking the new med that I can't spell when I started taking the Xanax again because I am also staggering down my Inderol as that also is dangerous to take away cold turkey.

Because I have been taking the Xanax without a rx, I am afraid to tell my Eye Dr. (who is also an MD) I think if I just follow the staggering down of the Xanax correctly I will be okie, but right now I feel so crappy that I am scared out of my mind. Not in a panic attack sort of way but in a real "I screwed up big time" sort of way. I haven't had a panic attack in weeks, but all these meds I've been taking have done a real number on my head and my heart. These stupid Drs should never have told me to take ANYTHING at all. I only had 2 panic attacks over a 4 month period, and now I've taken FOUR different meds over a 2 month period. I am addicted to 1 of them. And my health has never been worse in my life. PLUS, I am more than 6k dollars in the hole with an echocardiagram upcoming on the 7th of March to see if I have developed a heart murmur.

I don't have a QotD, someone else can do that.

[roymond]

All your doctors need to know all of this ASAP. Song Fighters are not doctors. Please come clean with those who are there to help you, not turn you in to the police. Go. Now. Do it.

[JonPorobil]

I suggest you go back to the doctor who originally prescribed you the Xanax and let him know you want to wean yourself off it, and why. He'll probably write you a new prescription and provide instructions on how to manage doses safely. I suggest that you do this immediately.

I hope they're able to figure out what's wrong with you and treat it soon.

[Lunkhead]

I concur with Roymond and Generic. Also it was not clear to me from your post why your eye doctor was getting involved. If you need a second opinion about your non-eye related prescriptions you may want to consider trying to see a second general physician (even if your eye doctor is also an MD). Maybe if it's possible you could also consider seeing a counsellor or someone, to try to help you with whatever psychological component there may be to what you're going through in addition to the physical/chemical component. No matter what, it's really important that you be honest with your doctors, because otherwise they don't even have a chance to do their jobs right. And if you're honest and they're still not doing their jobs right you should look for other doctors, as difficult as that may be. Good luck, hope you feel better soon.

[Paco Del Stinko]

Indeed. Get to a doctor. Xanax is a Benzo and very addictive. While not a doctor, I work at a psychiatric hospital which also serves hundreds of drug addicts a year. A taper will most likely be in order for you, per the manycases I've witnessed. I suggest you follow it and expect some unpleasant moments. But stick with it and remember the horror of addiction to deter you in the future. Yeah, I know you didn't go looking for a high, but perhaps you'll ask better questions of your prescribing physicians in the future. They work for you, and it's your one body and life.

[Billy's Little Trip]

They are getting you on as many meds as they can profit from and they don't care about you. And yes, they profit from your prescriptions even though they aren't the pharmacy selling them to you. it's a racket.

Yoga, meditation and a healthy lifestyle is what you need. And I'm not making a dime for this advice. couple this with beer, and you'll be golden........and intoxicated.

Hope things get better, Rone.

[Caravan Ray]

Yoga, meditation and a healthy lifestyle is what you need. .

No. He needs professional advice and appropriate medication.

As Jon Eric said Rone - go back to the doctor who made the initial prescription and tell him what else you are on. If he is not a specialist psychiatrist - you may want to enquire about getting a referral to one. They are the experts with this stuff.

[Manhattan Glutton]

You will go to jail for taking medication without a prescription! The only solution is to take everything in your cabinet at the same time so as to destroy the evidence.

[Billy's Little Trip]

Yoga, meditation and a healthy lifestyle is what you need. .

No. He needs professional advice

I am a professional.

[JonPorobil]

Yoga, meditation and a healthy lifestyle is what you need. .

No. He needs professional advice

I am a professional.

C-Ray, that was totally your fault. You didn't specify what kind of professional.

In the interest of rocking the boat, can I just say that this is one of my absolutely pet peeviest of pet peeves? Chris, I know you've probably got a lot of faith in your idealistic health care system of "Do Yoga, meditate, and eat your leafy greens," but I can't stand it when people tell someone who is legitimately sick and in need of help that all they need to do is learn some Yoga poses.

My wife eats about as healthy as anyone else I know. She also does Yoga and meditates frequently. She got a bacterial infection last week; she had to go to the doctor and couldn't keep down anything solid for two days. A friend of mine who was a lifelong Yogi just died of cancer last month.

I don't care how spiritual you are or how simplistic your view of health is—sometimes bad things happen to bodies, and sometimes you need a doctor or some honest-to-goodness medicine, not just the sanctimonious ramblings of a hippy who thinks that if you just spend enough time in a Half-Lotus, it'll scare the diseases away.

[fluffy]

Don't worry, Chris watches House so he knows everything about recovery from protracted illness.

[Caravan Ray]

My wife eats about as healthy as anyone else I know. She also does Yoga and meditates frequently. She got a bacterial infection last week; she had to go to the doctor and couldn't keep down anything solid for two days.

That was a waste of time. She probably just needed a good floccing and a backwash. Half an hour with BLT and a Kreepy Krauly would have sorted her out.

[signboy]

on top of all this, doctors can be real idjits. They are usually novice biochemists more than "doctors". M's last doctor had her on experimental parkinson's meds. FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT NECK INJURY. They know more than you do about this stuff, but don't blindly trust them. Ask about what they're trying to give you. Be clear that you want to avoid drugs that'll kill you if you run out. Make it known that you have to be awake/aware during the daytime. They work for you, and although there is a line you can't cross when it comes to doctoring yourself, PUSH IT.

[Billy's Little Trip]

My wife eats about as healthy as anyone else I know. She also does Yoga and meditates frequently. She got a bacterial infection last week; she had to go to the doctor and couldn't keep down anything solid for two days.

That was a waste of time. She probably just needed a good floccing and a backwash. Half an hour with BLT and a Kreepy Krauly would have sorted her out.

Ok, this made me laugh meee arse off. You've gotten really good with your pool terminology. And you're right, there's nothing that can't be fixed with a good flocculant.

And I think you guys are all a bunch of hypochondriacs. Just put some salve on it and walk it off, you big babies. j/k

[fluffy]

on top of all this, doctors can be real idjits. They are usually novice biochemists more than "doctors". M's last doctor had her on experimental parkinson's meds. FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT NECK INJURY. They know more than you do about this stuff, but don't blindly trust them. Ask about what they're trying to give you. Be clear that you want to avoid drugs that'll kill you if you run out. Make it known that you have to be awake/aware during the daytime. They work for you, and although there is a line you can't cross when it comes to doctoring yourself, PUSH IT.

My current doctor is really good about explaining medications, answering questions about them, and talking about pluses, minuses, and potential side effects.

My previous doctor, not so much.

[JonPorobil]

Well, there's also such a thing as Being A Good Patient.

If you're interested in that information, and you're in the room with the professional who knows the facts, then you should probably ask. Yes, the doctor should volunteer the information without being asked, but if s/he doesn't, then you need to take it upon yourself, as opposed to just saying "Okay" and swallowing whatever funny-looking pill the pharmacist gives you when you turn in your scrip.

[Billy's Little Trip]

Well, there's also such a thing as Being A Good Patient.

If you're interested in that information, and you're in the room with the professional who knows the facts, then you should probably ask. Yes, the doctor should volunteer the information without being asked, but if s/he doesn't, then you need to take it upon yourself, as opposed to just saying "Okay" and swallowing whatever funny-looking pill the pharmacist gives you when you turn in your scrip.

Dr House says that there are no good patients and they all lie.

[Caravan Ray]

Dr House says that there are no good patients and they all lie.

I have never seen House (although he does sound a bit like my brother).
It is just too weird seeing Hugh Laurie with an american accent. I would keep expecting him to burst out shouting "Sausage Time!" like the Prince of Wales in Blackadder.

[roymond]

I have never seen House (although he does sound a bit like my brother).
It is just too weird seeing Hugh Laurie with an american accent. I would keep expecting him to burst out shouting "Sausage Time!" like the Prince of Wales in Blackadder.

I've only seen a couple episodes, and I totally didn't even recognize him because he does the accent so frickin well. He's amazing.

But back to the thing about the thing...patients need to aggressively self-advocate.

[Manhattan Glutton]

On one side of the spectrum, we have providers who over-prescribe medications and/or believe what Big Pharma tells them.
On the other side of the spectrum, we have idiots on the internet self-diagnosing themselves and believing in homeopathy.

Never put something in your body without researching what it does.

PROTIP: Not all providers are doctors. Some are physician's assistants or nurse practitioners who, under the law, can prescribe medications. Some of them make less money than you. Sometimes they just aren't as informed as MDs, but can handle your day-to-day concerns just as well. If you have a more serious or rare condition, you'll probably want an actual MD.

PROTIP2: Young providers who are fresh out of school tend to have freer schedules and can sometimes be more ambitious and up-to-date on care techniques.

PROTIP3: If you have a choice, pick the healthcare organization with the better software. Having your entire record at their fingertips can be critical to quick and accurate treatment.

[Caravan Ray]

Never put something in your body without researching what it does.

I have googled "gerbil".

Am I good to go?

[roymond]

Never put something in your body without researching what it does.

I have googled "gerbil".

Am I good to go?

Before, not after.