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Help needed for my wife

Posted , 6 users are following.

Bluetobits
Bluetobits

after three months of test (brain scan,balance assessment,blood tests and even a gastroscope ) she has been diagnosed with two conditions GAD & vestibule migraine 

Her GP thinks getting GAD under control is the priority as she thinks this will help her other condition.

started her on 50mg of sertraline and advised to go to 100mg after one week

she is now in week 4 and symptoms ( trembling,sweating,lack of sleep butterflies In the stomach, nausea) have got worse.

is this normal? She is on the verge of giving up.

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • claire43316
    claire43316 Bluetobits

    Posted

    Hi Bluetobits the symptoms for your wife should start to ease off, but it can take 6-8 weeks for any significant improvement. 

    I found that carrying on with my normal routine as much as possible helped. 

    I think a lot of people in this group would say that going from 50 to 100 after a week is a big jump so she may feel the effects more. 

    I wish her lots of luck on her journey. 

    Claire. 

  • lynn260
    lynn260 Bluetobits

    Posted

    I developed insomnia and anxiety after a chest infection last year. My insomnia got really bad and my head felt so dizzy and spaced out. I was put on 150mg Sertraline and Pregabalin plus melatonin. Nothing worked. After 7 months I came off Sertraline and had withdrawal symptoms so I went back on it. I am now off it for two weeks. My symptoms are the same as your wife’s.  I have been through hell and back. I now firmly believe that my problem is vestibular migraine. Sertraline and the other meds gave me tinnitus as I didn’t have it before. 

    I do not think Sertraline is the answer. I have just posted on the migraine site and have been advised to visit a headache clinic. 

    I am not depressed and my anxiety is due to my poor sleep and dizziness.  

    I am 58 and wonder whether menopause has also caused my problems. Drs just hand out ssris as the default position and tell you to continue is the symptoms are bad in the first few weeks. I wasted almost a year waiting for results and ended up with tinnitus! 

    I am now seeing my problem as vestibular migraine which causes the insomnia, dizziness, butterflies and nausea. Please keep in touch so we can follow each other’s progress and offer advice.

    • Bluetobits
      Bluetobits lynn260

      Posted

      Sounds like you have had a terrible time sorry to hear that.

      my wife started with a feeling of lightheaded ness and has always suffered with migraine attaks ( 3 or 4 a year) so we went down the 'ear' route first then the sweating,trembling nausea permanent headache started which ended with her getting scoped / scanned which was all clear

      I take your point re Drs and rest assured if there is no improvement after 8 weeks will be pushing for vestibule migraine treatment to be introduced.

      my wife is 68 and has never had an illness of any kind so it's difficult for her to deal with it.

      thank you for your response much appreciated

       

  • joe41529
    joe41529 Bluetobits

    Posted

    As far as all the side effects go, yes this is normal I prettty much had all those you described plus a few more. I am a little surprised she was started at 50mg and not 25mg and then a jump up to 100 in a week is mighty fast, no wonder she’s having such a bad time, good news is she is very close to where the major side effects should be slowing down.
    • Bluetobits
      Bluetobits joe41529

      Posted

      Thanks Joe my wife is taking heart from your post -good job all you sufferers are on here giving help.
    • joe41529
      joe41529 Bluetobits

      Posted

      Your welcome bluetobits I hope everything works out for your wife, please keep me posted. 
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