Looking for help...

[issa1028]

I just stumbled upon this forum after doing a google search on dizziness and loss of vision focus. I am a 27 year old woman, with an adorable baby boy who is almost a year old and a great husband. Yet, as great as things are, everything in my life seems "off". I was diagnosed with depression before I was pregnant with my son and was put on Lexapro. I went off of the Lexapro when I became pregnant, which at the time everything seemed fine, and then after he was born was put back on Lexapro for Post Partum Depression. I have never been on anything for anxiety until a couple of months ago when the doctor put me on Xanax to take only when needed to help to combat my mind seeming to go 90 miles a hour sometimes. Since then, my physical symptoms, none of which I knew could be attributed to anxiety, have only gotten worse. I have been suffering from constant dizziness now for three weeks. It is worse at times, but always seems to be there. I thought it may be due to drainage from allergies, but I am not having any other allergy related problems. The dizziness is hard to explain, but things will seem to jump or spin at times, esp. if I get up too quickly or move my head from one position to another. Other times, I just feel like I am floating. The back of my head often feels very heavy, along with bouts of neck and shoulder pain. Today was the first time I have discovered the focus problems. I was in a meeting at work with my boss and just couldn't see to look at him, no matter how hard I tried, it seemed my eyes had a mind of their own and couldn't focus on anything. They seem to be looking more to the left side of where I was trying to look. I haven't had any problems with anxiety over illnesses, if anything, I seem to dismiss things often and am normally relatively sure it is nothing.  I don't feel anxious, but get very stressed, very easily. The smallest thing goes wrong and I practically lose it. Anytime I am rushed I get overly stressed and cranky, end up shaking all over and very edgy. At those times I will often take a Xanax and it will seem to calm me down. I try very hard not to take them often because I am worried about tolerance and dependency issues. Overall though, even with the Lexapro and Xanax, I feel very off. I am not myself at all. I really try my best, but I am a shell of the person I used to be and often feel like I will never be that person again. I have major sleeping problems, often not falling asleep until between 4:00 - 6:00 am, and then have to be up at 8:00 am. However, even when I do get a good nights sleep, I still feel no energy to do anything. My brain feels foggy all day and I can't seem to lift out of this hole I find myself in. I go about my day perfunctory, with no real drive or sense of joy. I just do what I feel I need to do to get by.

I haven't had any tests run for the dizziness, vision problems, or heavy head feeling. I am not sure if I should or if this could all be part of anxiety? I also wonder about the lack of energy and tiredness. Sometimes, no matter how much sleep I have gotten I honestly don't feel like I can hold my eyes open or can manage to do anything around the house. I have had some friends tell me I should get my thyroid checked as that can be the cause of having no energy. But once again, I haven't had this done and part of me wonders if I even should. I think the majority of my friends and family think these feelings are mostly in my head or that they are often over exaggerated and I don't really feel that bad. But I do. I am trying so hard, but I just can't seem to shake it. Any suggestions, words of wisdom, etc. In any regard thanks for reading and allowing me to tell my story!

[frue13]

Do yourself a favor and go to the doctor and see what he says. rule out everything  else (thyroide etc.) Then work on fixing your dosage.  I am praying for your I know how this can feal.

[Paxiled]

When I upped my dosage from 20 to 30mg I got insomnia, a clouded head, and more anxious.  

[issa1028]

paxiled...No, I did not have any of these problems the first time I was on Lexapro, though that was at a smaller doseage at the time, 10 mg and I am now on 20 mg. I have been on 20 mg since my son was about 2 months old. At first it seemed to help me sleep, now though I have no such effect. I have been on the Xanax for about 2 months, taken only when needed, at the most 2-3 times a week. Though I do notice with the Xanax the nights I take it I actually sleep better, but being afraid of dependency I try not to take them unless I truly have to. I will follow your advice though and at least go to my doctor to get a work up and make sure everything else is okay. The insomnia and no energy is irritating, but the dizziness, etc. leaves me worried, which of course could just be adding to any anxiety I have.

girl_hope...I really tend to agree with you as far as pregnancy is concerned. The majority of my problems have developed after having my son, aside from the intense PPD I went through, the insomnia, muscle aches, fatigue, and dizziness are worse than anything I experience before being pregnant and giving birth.

[girl_hope]

i to have all these symptoms and they always seem to start after i give birth. it started after my second child and after about a year on lexapro and klonopin i started feeling much better like my old self and later got pregnant again and stopped the meds i felt great while i was pregnant but after delivery it all started over again it went away after about 2 months this time and i felt good for 3 years, but i recently gave birth to twins in may and my symptoms are all coming back again and i am struggling with them everyday so i ohnestly believe it has something to do with child birth.

[Paxiled]

Seeing a doctor would be good, but it could also be side effects of the Lexapro.  Anti-depressants can cause anxiety in some people, though they also can help people with anxiety.  Everyone has a different reaction.  Insomnia is a common side effect of ssris as well.  But it could be something physical; that should always be ruled out first.  Did you have any of these problems the first time you were on Lexapro?