[AMcCall]

Well I'm a bit scared to do it, but I am going to ask my colon doctor (I know the technical name, but couldn't spell it if I tried...the G doctor, LOL) for some medicine to help calm my nerves when I go on Thursday. I have been very prone to anxiety and panic attacks lately, and I feel like if I don't get help, I'm going to sit in this house forever, and that's not good

So I'm going to ask him about some medication to help. I'm making a list of everything before I go, and plan to list my anxiety attacks on it. Do you think he can prescribe something, or will he send me to a psychiatrist or psychologist (I'm not sure which is which...)?? I'm hoping that he can just prescribe it, so that I don't have to go to another doctor's appointment, seeing as how THIS one has me so freaked out!! What all have you taken to help, and did it work?? I don't plan to ask for anything specific, but just wondered what types of medicines are out there... Also, do they make you really sleepy when you take them?? I want something to calm me down, but don't necessarily want to be fast asleep!! Any suggestions or comments would be greatly appreciated...thank you again for listening!!

 

[Guest]

I suffer from anxiety and take Buspar 30mg/BID for it... It is currently prescribed through my Pdoc because I have no health insurance and I can get it for free... But, you do not have to see a Pdoc to get something for anxiety... Your family Doc has just as much authority to prescribe you something as a Pdoc does... And, it will save you from having to see two Docs for a problem that has many side effects... Hope this helps...

 

[Guest]

Hi A - Yes! Definately you should ask for some anti-anxiety meds. The first couple of doctors I saw when I started to have IBS symptoms were only focused on fiber and nutrition and no meds. And my symptoms never really improved. Well, over time my IBS turned more into anxiety and panic attacks which led to agarophobia. The next doctor gave me first Xanax but I didn't like that. I felt very drugged and out of it. Next I tried BuSpar and besides about 15 minutes dizziness in the am I feel fine. It takes a while to start working so you have to be patient with it. It got me over agoraphobia though. Every month I saw more and more improvement. So please ask the doc about taking anti-anxiety drugs. It will help.Please know I'm praying for you about your doctor appt. I really feel your anguish. You can do this!!!! Think of all us on this board who are pulling for you. Erin

 

[azvessey]

I suffered with all this anxiety stuff for years until I realised that the anxiety was caused by my reaction to the free sugars in my diet. I believe that in my case it has something to do with my cortisol levels. I now go to extremes to avoid all foods containing free sugars and no longer feel the need to take anti-anxiety drugs. When I find that I am unable to avoid such foods I consume them several hours clear of fluids. This seems to achieve the same result. Tony.

 

[saltycat20]

you will prpbably be able to get something temporary to get you through this appointment but then you are going to need something on a daily basis. ther are a lot of drugs out there and different things work for differnet people. I use St. John's wort the Kira brand. It really works for me. Since this condition dosn't usually just disapear like th flu or a cold you will have time to experiment with different therapies to help control the anxiety. Most of us have it and it is a pain. Good luck on Thursday and try to jsut get it over you'll feel better then.

 

[JenS]

My GI would not give me the anti-anxiety medications. He referred me back to my family physican for that. I started Zoloft about five weeks ago along with a weekly visit to a therapist. My friends have noticed a big difference in me. I also take Xanax as needed. Good luck to you!

 

[diamondgirl]

A,

Check your e-mail!

dg

 

[Marier]

A - my endocrinologist prescribed with Prozac along with my thyroid med. Your gastro should be able to give you a script for something without refering you to another doctor. There are alot of good anti-anxiety meds out there, but unfortunately, some people have to experiment to find the right one. Lucky me, I hit it off with Prozac the first time (12 yrs ago) which is why the endo prescribed it for me this time. If your GI does want to put you on an anti-anxiety, ask him or her for samples.

 

[Guest]

Have you ever thought about trying some of the natural herbs and meds to calm yourself down. They dont have near the same sifde effects and they seem to be cheaper if you done have insurance. I have had tremendous success with Natural meds and herbs. Good Luck and Good Health.Jennifer-TX

 

[Mike NoLomotil]

HI AMcCALL.I recommend you check Dr.s Weinstock & Lipsitz IBS Anxiety-Stress Managment Program. It is at www.ibstherapy.com. It is self-directed, on CD, inexensive, and the patient feedbakc we have goten so far has been 100% positive.MNL_______________ www.leapallergy.com

 

[Guest]

I was on Paxil for 4 days and it made me feel more anxious than I did before I was on it. I decided that I was going to try and deal with this without medication for anxiety. So I've been seeing a counselor who has helped me deal with stress and anxiety. It's all about breathing and trying to relax. Try to focus on something other than your IBS. Eventually it will work. Good Luck.

 

[Guest]

I have been on Paxil for a year and it worked the first few months, but lately it has stopped working. Sometimes I take a xanax when I am really upset,but it makes me very groggy and sleepy. Lately, I have been trying to get along with no meds at all. I think that it is better for you to learn to control the anxiety yourself,meds are usually only a temporary solution. Good luck on Thursday, I will be thinking of you.

 

[Guest]

I've tried paxil which I could not handle. Been doing acupuncture a few days a week. For years Which helps sometimes. The xanax is the best thing I take . But only when I can not handle. But I just came back from a class my doctor told me try for anxiety. Wow that was great from learning to handle your stress to breathing. And relaxing. Have a few more to go. . At the end of class tonight after everyone said what there stress was. The Consolers said that If you don't get your anxiety or stress under control you could end up with IBS Like me. I told them all they would,nt want to have this. Aloha and good luck to you all.Hope they find a cure some day.

 

[Tiss]

My Dr.(psychiatrist) decided after working with me for a couple of years, that my mental problems were probably more anxiety than depression. I am taking Restoril at night and have been better the last 14 months than I've been in more years than I can remember. I still have some mild depression and am unable to tolerate antidepressants. He recently put me on neurontin and so far I have responded favorably, even less anxiety and less irritability.

 

[Guest]

Hi--I was just diagnosed with IBS this past July and am new to this group--I saw your message when I was reading through messages I had missed. Even though I was a lot sicker last summer than I am now (I would sometimes have BMs 15 times a day) I didn't really have a lot of anxiety about it until I had an accident at work a couple of weeks ago. After that, I was absolutely petrified to do ANYTHING. I would sit on the couch and watch TV and still be terrified--at what I'm not quite sure. After feeling like this for two weeks, I knew that I couldn't help myself get rid of the anxiety and contacted my Primary care doc this past Monday. She put me on BuSpar (30 mg) and though it is supposed to take 2 weeks to fully work, I already feel like it has been a life-saver. Though I have twinges of nervousness, I have stopped having panic attacks and have been able to concentrate on my homework for grad school. The only side-effect I have experienced is extreme lightheadness, but it's better if I only take a quarter of a pill at a time. I highly recommend BuSpar for anyone who has anxiety related to their IBS. My anxiety was so bad, it was causing D every time I went out. Good Luck!

 

[Auroraheart]

I went to my doctor last week for anxiety...he out me on PMS-Clonazepam R. I think I can see a bit of a difference, but with all going on in my life right now I can't tell what would be "normal" and not.

 

[cadia]

Wow i've noticed alot of people here take Xanax as needed, i tried to ask my Doc long ago for something on an need basis and was told that it was too addictive and that you cant take ANYTHING on an as needed basis, which is WRONG on his part apparently, and if anyone readmy other posts and knowsmy Dco situation, you know that i plan on getting anew doc and see a GI Doc too.I have bad anxiety too, i usually have anxiety attacks while im having an IBS attack, it's like a horrible circle of events i cant get rid of, i ended up in the hospitallast time and they gave me three shots because the first one didn't work.I'm also on Limbitrol which has since ben failing me for my IBS and anxiety so i need to find something else.Limbitrol is a combo med, it's Amitriptiline and Librium, the Librium for the anxiety attacks and the Anti D <amitrip> for the IBS, but i have taken it for four years now and just recently it has stopped working.I also have been on Celexa, Effexor, and Xanax when i could get it.I often have asked people here and myself..Which Came first the IBS or Anixety, but since i had an attack yesterday without an anxiety attack <thank god> i think the IBS came first which brought on the fear which brought on the Anxiety and ibs and Axniety and ibs etc...It's big circle and i know what your going through.-------------------Cadia

 

[Guest]

Hi Everyone! I'm new here...I was diagnosed with IBS 5 months ago. It hit me out of the blue one day at work, and since then I've slowly grown more anxious over leaving my house. I'm happy to have found the site and that I'm not alone out there. I haven't tried any meds yet, I'm nervous that I may become dependant on them. But I started reading some great books on positive thinking and beleiving in ourselves. The book is called "Feel the Fear and Do it anyway" by Susan Jeffers if anyone is interested. Take Care Everyone!

 

[badfoot]

Hi AmThere are two basic approaches to anxiety: 1-Therapy/Support groups/meditation etc., 2 - Medication. Most psychiatrists recommend a combination of the two. Medications are good for the short term and learning how to relieve stress naturally is obviously a better long term solution. Medications come in two main varieties: Antidepressants (ADs) and tranquilizers. Both have good and bad points. Tranquilizers, also known as benzodiazepines (xanax, ativan, valium), work quickly to reduce anxiety; the drawback is possible addiction/abuse. ADs take longer to work, but are non-addictive. Paxil is popular for anxiety and has worked well for me. If you have IBS-D, you might want to consider Remeron, which has a constipating side effect. I also try to use yoga, exercise, and therapy to lower my anxiety. It's a very common problem with IBS and I wish you the best of luck.

 

[eric]

We have a new forum on this bb where I hope we can address some of these issues in moree detail. Please take a look. It is the first of its kind for an online IBS support group that I know of.ThanksIt is in the CBT and Hypnotherapy forum. ------------------ http://www.ibshealth.com/ www.ibsaudioprogram.com