My Health

My symptoms, medications, diagnoses, tests

My symptoms

Anxiety – Most days I’ll have at least one panic attack. I’ve become more agoraphobic during this pandemic, but I also don’t know if could have kept my job since I’ve had to spend most of my time at home. Wherever I’ve had a panic attack, my mind associates that place and event with anxiety so just being in that situation again can trigger a panic attack. I cannot drive anywhere with someone else in the car because their mere presence will bring on a panic attack. Meetings at work, even on the phone, are difficult for me. I can take up to 2mg of Klonopin per day and that helps.

Sleep – I haven’t had trouble sleeping since I started taking Remeron and now Seroquel, but it makes me very sleepy during the day.

Gastritis – I was diagnosed with ulcers and gastritis about 6 months ago, most likely due to uncontrolled anxiety. I’m taking over-the-counter Nexium twice a day. I believe my ulcers are gone and the acid reflux symptoms have reduced. I still have occasional flair-ups and my regular doctor prescribed Remeron to help. My Gastroenterologist has performed numerous tests and doesn’t believe there is much more he can do. He believes it’s probably due to stress so I’ve been seeing my therapist more and had my meds increased.

Diet – I haven’t been able to eat anything but bland foods for at least 6 months. As a result I’ve dropped about 15-20 pounds. I made an appointment with a Dietitian on my own to see if I could get any help. She had me on a ‘gut-rest’ regimen where I had liquids for 3 days, and full liquids for 2. I got some relief, although this coincided with 3 days of PTO from my job so that may have had something to do with it. Afterwards, I still felt terrible and she said to see my Gastroenterologist because she didn’t know what else to do. I asked her about vitamins I could take and she gave me recommendations (including a Probiotic), but I cannot consume them without a terrible flair-up. I’m going to see the Dietitian that works at my Gastroenterologists office (who I just recently learned of), so we’ll see how that goes. I miss eating whatever I can eat.

Medications

Klonopin – 0.5 mg in the morning, 0.25mg several times a day as needed up to a maximum of 2mg/day.

Nexium – 20 mg tables once in the morning and once before dinner.

Flonase – For seasonal allergies

Metoprolol – 12.5 mg after dinner for high blood pressure

Remeron – 7.5 mg before bedtime

Seroquel – 25 mg before bedtime. I can take 1/2 a table in the morning and midday as needed, but I haven’t needed that

MiraLAX – Before bedtime

Exercise

My therapist finally told me that I have to exercise and push through any discomfort, so I’ve been taking brisk walks around the block after dinner (~1/2 mile), riding a stationary bike to get my heart rate up for about 10 minutes, and using light dumb bells to help with my arms.

Therapy

I haven’t been doing this very regularly since it hasn’t seemed to help, but I’ve been going back about every 1-1/2 weeks. It’s mainly Cognitive Behavior Therapy where I observe the anxiety as it’s happening and pushing through as best I can. I have homework assignments where I increase the exposure of a problem I’m having (like driving with someone else in the car). Exercise is the other recommendation.

I have inquired about other techniques, like hypnotherapy, but my therapist doesn’t know anything about this. I might look into this more later.

Tests

Colonoscopy, Upper GI Endoscopy (which discovered the ulcers and Gastritis), Barium Swallow, sleep study, Electrocardiogram (ECG), Heart Stress Test

Homework