HELP 4 weeks on Sertraline
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Hi I have health anxiety and about 6 weeks ago it completely spiralled out of control. I had blood tests and scans and they found a polyp in my uterus and I had to have an op on Monday to have it removed and luckily all ok. 4 weeks ago I was put on sertraline and first couple of weeks horrible and barely got out of bed which is so unlike me as I also work full time and have a 5 year old. I was really hoping the tablets would start to work at least a bit after 4 weeks, I know they are not a magic cure but I still have a bit of a fuzzy head and a knot of anxiety most of the time. Doc won't Increase me yet and to be honest I don't want to if I can help it. The other main thing is my sleep, I can get to sleep but I wake up after about 3/4 hours sweating and can't get back to sleep which is making it worse Beause I worry about that. I have lost a stone in 5 weeks as I couldn't eat , I am forcing food down as I am desperate to feel better. I also feel numb like can't cry if that makes sense. Please tell me this will get better as I am so scared I won't feel better x
0 likes, 42 replies
scott8888 natalie2608
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chris23342 natalie2608
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natalie2608
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scott8888 natalie2608
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natalie2608
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natalie2608
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scott8888 natalie2608
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natalie2608
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scott8888 natalie2608
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I was always obsessed with health anxiety and thoughts and panic attacks which led to me withdrawing from social life and people. Im still not 100% but im half better now. I used to google every symptom a few weeks ago and thought i had something bad but never google now or think i have a bad thing going on. I went to the docs for a check up on my bloods to see if they was ok and it came back that i had a low white blood cell count when i had the flu and didnt panic one bit but i would of done before these tablets it would of made me ill knowing it was low. Anyways doc wanted to check it again and its back to normal after the flu so all is good. Moral of the story is i was really bad and now im only half bad so they do work but they take time
natalie2608
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wassilly natalie2608
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How are you feeling? Just to reiterate what others have said, 4 weeks is a very short time, so don't take the way you feel now as a sign of how you will feel. The first 5 weeks were hell for me, but I've been on sertraline for over a year now and I don't even think about them anymore. The side effect which were once crippling seem to have simply evaporated.
I am going to suggest something that is counterintuitive. If you doctor suggests upping the dose, go with it. I was in a similar state to yourself when I started takin my medication but luckily I had a very wise doctor who could see that fretting over my health and side effects etc belonged to the world of the excessively anxious. By pushing through the side effects, which oddly includ increased anxiety for the first few weeks, you might be able to deliver yourself to a place where you just don't care anymore.
Just a thought. Medication saved my life
Best
Jack
natalie99981 natalie2608
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I too have lost close to 10 kgs in 5 weeks as I can't eat from the knot in my stomach. This past week I have been able to eat again and I am finding that trying to exercise is helping to relieve a bit of the tension etc. I am still taking a sleeping tablet at night so I get to sleep ok but wake up like a bright eyed idiot at 4.30am. I remember last time this settled down and I went back to loving my sleep after about 6-8 weeks.
Funny story for you my girlfriend that had serious health anxiety heard that parsley was good for anxiety so she was just eating raw parsley !!!! Not sure if it helped but she is now back to her happy self after a rough time going on meds etc and that was about 4 years ago.
Hang in there hun and keep us updated. I will check in regularly and we can support each other through this.
natalie2608
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natalie99981 natalie2608
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50mg was plenty for me when I first had issues about 3 years ago. I actually went down to 25 for a year and was still fine and came off no problems.
natalie2608
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Thank you so much for replying it means a lot to have people supporting you.
I had not too bad a day yesterday. I woke up with the usual churning and anxious knotty tummy which I know when you tell people sounds so lame, but I find it so debilitating. I had to get up because I had a shiatsu appointment in Bath which someone reccommend to me. I have had aromatherapy massages before etc for relaxation but never anything like this but I am so desperate I'll try anything. I drove to park and then walked to the place all the time with this knot, but I carried on. while having the treatment I felt quite relaxed which was good. Afterwards I cam back home where my fiancé ( I am meant to be getting married in February and terrified I won't be well enough) and son and 3 step daughters were and we went for a bike ride, just thought i would try and also see if excerskse helped and might help with sleep too. It was ok and i felt ok. And i also managed to Eat yestedsy properly which is a big step for me after barely eating for 6 weeks and losing over a stone. Watched a film with other half which again is good as I haves shut myself in the bedroom for weeks on my own. We came to bed about 12 and I woke up at 2.30 however I tried not to panic and just tried ro relax. Still havent had much sleep but don't feel quite so stressed about it. Sorry for the ramble but it feels good to talk about it and know there is support and I am trying to be positive and see it as a good day and not panic if I have a bad day x