anxiety and the "what if's"...

[momof2jewels]

I'm 52 years old on Triple Treatment: Peg/Riba/Vic for the first time.  Was already on antidepressants years before treatment but doc increased the dosage on week number 2.  I have a struggle with spending every other minute worrying.  The anxiety is intense.  I know the majority of it is coming from the treatment meds but how do you train your mind to combat the nerves?  I have yet to find a fitting "distraction" that doesn't bring me right back to square one.  My doc gave me Ativan for anxiety, which worked like a charm, but my GP said that getting off of it after 28 weeks (1mg a day) would be a nightmare.  Now I'm between a rock and hard place.  The last thing I need after 28 weeks is withdrawal.  Grrr.  Any thoughts?  Is there anything natural that is also safe to take on treatment?

[Dee1956]

Hi there, I was also on anti dep as well as anti anxiety med while on tx.
My doc told me to do whatever I had to do to get through the tx, then we would worry about weaning me off
It was not difficult to do.  Try to just focus on the tx at hand.  I was very anxious during tx, there were days I could not calm down, if I had not had the anti anxiety I do not know what would have happened.  I agree with everyone above.  Laughing is a good distraction as Kristina said, I had much the same experience as she did.
Best of luck to you

[Kristina538]

I was prescribed Zopiclone (Ativan) to help me sleep.  I found I needed only a third or half a tablet and it allowed me to go to bed calm and get some sleep which made each day a lot more bearable and each evening something less to fear off my list of symptoms.    They are also addictive and the nurse suggested I try to go some nights without - at end of treatment I took panadol/paracetamol before bed and managed to stop using them quite easily.

I also took the book 'The Power of Now' by Eckhardt Tolle to bed every night and read it until I was drifting off.
During the day, it was one step at a time, depending on how I managed - but I took time off work and made myself stick to a routine of eating small meals 5 x a day and going for walks (or getting my partner to take me!).  

I had trouble focussing on anything - and would stay up late pouring through postes here.  I think we reallly have to allow ourselves to be 'patients', and try to minimise anything that will be stressful.  I couldn't handle visitors for long and would excuse myself with 'feeling sick' because I couldn't keep up with the conversation.  Be kind to yourself - make no committments - it's not going to last forever, so put everything you can on 'hold', and don't let your thoughts drift into tomorrow.  

Food helps (force yourself), excercise helps (a walk around the block even), rest helps  and keep your fluid intake up.  At my worst I'd light a candle in my room next to a picture of my son when he was a toddler, and just draw on the love I felt from the picture (and I didn't miss an episode of 'Funniest Home Videos' which was the only TV show I could focus on, but the laughter really helped and 'took me away from myself'.   Good luck.

[Idyllic]

I figure if your doctor prescribed the Ativan then he must think you can handle it. He must know if you have a history of addiction as well as familiarity with all the meds you are taking. I do not see what makes your GP's opinion superior to your other doctors if they both have full knowledge of all the facts of your medical condition and background history.

It can be difficult going of Ativan but if the taper is done right and under the supervision of a doctor then you can do it. I know too many people who have treated and taken Ativan and/or other meds in that class with no problem. Please understand I I am not encouraging you to take or not take a particular med but it seems like you were responding well to the Ativan.

On the other hand if you willingly quit taking it then perhaps you lean toward your GP's experience and insight.  Sorry if this sounds flaky. I mean I know I can't take those kind of meds since I am a recovering alcoholic/addict but as I said I have seen many people take them after a traumatic event or at times like this and go back to being normal when all is said and done. As I said, it does require a taper - but then there are many meds in other classes that require a taper rather than stopping them cold turkey.

I hope you feel better and someone has a suggestion on natural things that will help :)

[srw920]

Hi Momo,  I am on the same treatment plan.  While I don't have depression I do have anxiety.  I usually take klonopin and am very stingy with taking them.  Normally I try to manage my anxiety by distraction however I started to increase with this treatment.  I take the klonopin routinely now however I try to cut in 1/2 when not scheduled to work the next day.  I found that listening to music on headphones helps and try not to listen o sad stuff.  I am on wk 9 and have been lucky so far with sx.  I am going to surf the web for food alternatives because my WBC keeps dropping. Bring on the antioxidants!  Best wishes, Sue