Nervous of starting
Posted , 10 users are following.
hey guys! so I gave birth to my second child 10 weeks ago, ever since I've had crippling health anxiety.. they also think I may have fibromyalgia.. not 100% diagnosed with that yet though as I can't have face to face contact with doctors due to the virus going around. Anyway.. the symptoms I've experienced with anxiety have been insane, chest pain has been my most concerning! Anyway, all bloods are clear, as are head MRI, chest xrays, ecgs and ct scan of the lungs. so anxiety is what it is - and possibly fibro, anyway, docs have been pushing me to try sertraline, because of health anxiety I'm petrified to start them and the side effects.. I just want some reassurance that yes I'll probably get some effects but I'll be ok and it's not as bad as some people say. I'm due to start them tomorrow on 50mg, I'm so nervous!
0 likes, 21 replies
ryan69574 sophies77
Edited
I have been on sertraline for a year and half now. and at the beginning it's a little shaky. you have bad days very few good days. that's just the start tho. after a while the good days will out weigh the bad. and honestly once you get to that point you wont look back 😃 they have worked wonders for me. I could not even leave the house at my worst. couldn't face going to work. but now I'm back working full time. I'm feeling fresh and like my normal self. the stuff just needs time to get into your system took me about 12 to 15 weeks. but everyone is different. it might only take 4 to 6 weeks. but stick with them. they will work and you will feel better 😃
sophies77 ryan69574
Posted
thank you! very reassuring, did you get many of the side effects? I'm hoping they kick in quicker than what yours took, I have 2 small children that need there mummy back to herself. at the moment I'm taking diazepam which is great but short term.. hence starting the sertraline.. let's hope only a few weeks 😃
ryan69574 sophies77
Edited
I did not get many. the main one was the increased anxity. and I got dry mouth and sweats. I'm also on propranolol I take 40mg twice a day. they would not give me diazepam. I think it took a while for me because I was on citalopram first for 20 weeks and that did nothing for me. so hopefully it wont take to long to get into your system 😃
kimberley69393 sophies77
Edited
hi Sofies77
i was put on sertraline 50mg nearly 4 weeks ago i am dtarting to feel better ive had headaches and a lil nausea the first week i just keep palpitations still cus of my anxiety taking it for that depression and OCD things get worse before u get better the doctor should of told u this!! but hang in there chest pains will go away i still get them but as i say ive only been on them for 26 days 27 tonight i find i take mine at night so u sleep thru the effects but everyone is different!! do give them a try it will help im feeling alot less anxiety now and coping better i have a disabled son who is 4 and my daughter 8 and they will get u thru it try eat healthy get loads of u time aswell exercise in the garden helps me worry less.
keep head strong and be positive. hope this helps my lovely x
sophies77 kimberley69393
Posted
yes the doctor did explain I may feel worse before I see any kind of effect and that's what is scaring me, but she said now is actually the best time for me to start because I'm at home with nowhere to go and I have my children to distract me and my husband for help if I need it. plus my doctor is just the other end of the phone if I really need her, she is very lovely. I just hope symptoms subside eventually when I deal better with my anxiety. Thanks for the advice 😃 x
MB3040 sophies77
Edited
Hi,
Have you thought of starting on 25mg for a week? That is what my doctor suggested.
sophies77 MB3040
Posted
my doctor is due to call me tomorrow to discuss the starting of them so I may suggest that. thank you.
louise24797 sophies77
Edited
Hi Sophies77, I can empathise a lot with you, I've suffered from health anxiety since I was 8 and following an illness in Feb then this pandemic, it sent me into a tale spin.
I've always been scared to take meds, I was prescribed them a couple of years ago but didn't take them. This time I decided my anxiety was so bad I needed extra help.
I was so scared to take them, I was sat in bed shaking the first morning I was due to start. I was prescribed 25mg to get me going, then to go up to 50mg after 1 week.
What got me over the line was cutting the 25mg tab in half, so I was taking a really small amount, then by the end of the week I got up to 25mg.
I have suffered a lot of side effects, despite the low dose, but it does improve each week, bit by bit. I'm now on week 5 and still on 25mg as I didn't want to up while I still felt so bad (feeling bad made my anxiety worse). I've read it can take 12 weeks for the levels in your body to settle. I feel so much better than I did, with next to no anxiety (although it still fluctuates). Fatigue and tiredness have been the worst for me, plus increased anxiety at the start which I dealt with by using Beta Blockers, getting out walking or just sleeping.
I've recognise that I have to be kind to myself and rest as much as I need, setting small goals each day.
It's tough, but so is living in the hell of health anxiety. At least you know what you feel will be side effects and it'll get better.
Good luck, be brave, you are strong.
sophies77 louise24797
Edited
that's a really lovely reply, thank you so much!! my doctor is due to ring me tomorrow morning to discuss the starting of them so I may suggest a lower dose first and see what she says.. I already have the tablets and they are 50mg ones so maybe I could just cut them in half if she agrees a lower dose.. but thank you again, I really appreciate the message 😃
louise24797 sophies77
Posted
Good idea to talk to your GP, but don't be afraid to do what feels most comfortable for you, if you're like me it's the lack of control that is hard to deal with so if starting on a small dose gives you that control do it. A GP I spoke to said I shouldn't be feeling anything on 25mg, but I knew how I was feeling so did what I felt was right for me. But your GP sounds lovely.
sophies77 louise24797
Edited
I think I'm quite sensitive to tablets because I've been on diazepam 2mg three times a day and that's taken to me quite well so I think 25mg would work. I'll see what she says, she is a very good doctor and the only one that's actually listened to me since the start.
louise24797 sophies77
Edited
Hold on to her, I find good GPs are like gold dust! 
GodsServant sophies77
Edited
Personally, I think you should start on 25mg. However, you may even want to try natural supplements like St. John's Wort or 5-HTP before even trying sert.
You are anxious, which is natural in this climate. So, since all the tests showed you are cleared, you are cleared. Take care.
sophies77 GodsServant
Posted
I've tried all sorts and I cant stop the bad days, I'm a mess and I need a long term fix to make me realise it is all just anxiety. I may suggest to my doctor a lower dose when she calls me tomorrow. thank you.
Jane859 sophies77
Posted
hi Sophie,
I'm on week 10 of sertraline and i will say my first week or two was not good had every side effect going but they say you have to get worse to get better, anxiety and ocd still fluxulates but over all better. Today really wasn't a good day but the rest of the week has been. Everyone is different and everybody's bodies are different. I started on 50mg but side effects were too severe so went down to 25mg and still there, i'd suggest taken 25mg to start with but everyones response to medication is different. Good luck and all the best!
sophies77 Jane859
Posted
that's really useful info and good to hear, thank you very much. hope you're feeling better for being on it too 😃