I knew that my anti depressant was really working when I realized I was watching Dr. G Medical Examiner back to back without giving it a second thought. Never had watched this show, kinda interesting. Seriously, it's crazzzzy!! She does all the autopsies, trying to figure out what people died of. I also didn't obsess that I had any one of the diseases some of these people died from. I even watched the autopsies (dramatized of course). Just a few months ago I couldn't even watch (mush less think of anything medical) Grey's Anatomy or House or any health related show without scaring the bejesus out of myself. I used to love medical shows pre peri. Just amazed I can watch this kind of thing again and be interested vs scared silly. Hmmmm, what a difference a good AD makes....at least for me. As always hope this keeps up. Tomorrow rejoining the work world (maybe) have an interview, another thing I wasn't even thinking about a month ago. I'm not even nervous, what will be will be. I'm going to try to get back to what I did for 9 years before I got out of it 2 years ago. So, wish me luck ladies.

So, when did you know your AD was working?

Mich

P.S. I am still afraid of googling and I don't, lol. Some things are best left uninvestigated,

hello Michuganna,
So funny as when i started googling my symptoms I thought I had MS or brain cancer or spine cancer and the same night House was on and they tought their patient had MS; I got so scared as I thought I had never thought about MS before and now twice in a day, it is a sign. Well like you I like to watch medical shows and I still do. I knew my ad was working when the physical symptoms faded away (tingling : I take Cymbalta) but as well when I stopped looking for answer in the Internet to feel secure that I had no awful disease. I don't feel compel right now to get answers as much as to find solutions to enjoy each day. I have of course, bad days with anxiety. Last week I started a sore throat and a rash (still have it) but I did not panick nor did I go to the ER or a walk-in-clinic. I am waiting for my doctor's office to open this morning and try to fit an appointment to check if I need antibiotics and I am fairly at peace about this. Now that is amazing! My husband was proud of me.
take care
Mrs Buff

Dear Friend
Yes you know when your AD. is working when you realise that you have the strength to cope.Of course there will always be days of anxiety and maybe some sadness.
I think it is very sensible that we know that ADs are designed to help to find some new peace in life.There is no sudden elation or complete joy but that awful doom and gloom starts to gradually lift and we get on with the business of living.
Sometimes it may take a while to reap the full benefits of an AD or find the right one or to take the optimal level for you as an individual but it is worth the try
These Meds. were designed to help and in many cases are very effective too
So I am proud of you too!
All the Best
Elizabeth

Hello -

I have horrible health anxiety and my medication is NOT working!!! This anxiety is driving me BONKERS. I have been taking Buspar (not an AD, just for anxiety) for 4 months. I no longer feel like I am on the verge of panic all the time and my thoughts don't seem to be racing so fast, but all I ever think about is breast cancer. This has been going on since the summer, despite numerous Dr. visits, tests, and reassurances. I even went to see a breast cancer specialist at the big academic research hospital in my city in October. I think I felt relieved by that good news for less than a week before I was back to thinking, "what if the tests/Dr.s are wrong/missed something??" I hate thinking this way!! There just doesn't seem to be any medical test that is going to convince me 100% that I am fine, but I do need to figure out how to live with the little bit of uncertainty. Help!

I think four months is enough time for the Buspar to do some good, if it was going to. Is this maybe not the best medication for hypochondria/health anxiety? I don't really think I am depressed (though thinking about cancer all day is not exactly cheery!) but does anyone know if antidepressants work better for health anxiety? I would LOVE some advice on which medications others have found helpful for this problem. IS there a medication out there that truly helps and makes this go away, or is that expecting too much of a medication??

So glad to hear that some people are feeling better, at least!

Thanks to anyone who has some advice!

Anna

Anna,
I am EXACTLY LIKE YOU! Sorry I hope I did not scream too loud. I have been like this since I was 29 and I am now almost 53. I have had two biopsies and a breast reduction but even this year when they called me back to take more views, I went into a total panic mode. My friend who also has micro-calfcifications do not worry about it. When I ask her how she cannot she says worry for what? I know what I ahve and am been screened regularly for it. It drives me nut!!! My anxiety is reallly really bad when it comes to my breast. I am now on Cymbalta and it works well for me. I did not like celexa, fluoxetine nor cipralex nor effexor.
I am not much help but we can continue on the conversation by pm if you wish too.
take care'
Mrs Buff

Hello Elizabeth,
It is nice to read from you. You always write the nicest post. It is always comforting to read your name on a post as I know it will be to find reassuring, comforting words.
I hope you are doing well.
take care
Mrs Buff

Glad you feeling better. i knew mine was working when i could wake up and not have doom feelings or anxiety. And another thing i noticed is i don't cry when i see Tear jerkers. My hubby does lol.

i think mine i half working. i dont cry over everything and i am less obsessive, except for checking power-surge often (does that count as obsessive? LOL) however i still feel very insecure and have lots of morning anxiety. my dr upped my AD. hopefully it will kick in all the way. if it does not i will just try another one until i am happy with the results. i have to be patient.

Thank you, Mrs. Buff, for your reply. It helps to know I am not the only one who feels this way and that there is someone who understands how rotten health anxiety can be! My poor husband tries to help, but I think you have to really experience it to fully understand.

Do you have a hard time believing your doctors when they tell you that you are fine? Do good test results put an end to your worry about a particular ailment, or do you find yourself second-guessing the test? At the moment, I am in a dither about the fact that mammograms sometimes miss things.

Thanks for the medication advice; think I might need to try something else. Did you ever try counselling?

Anna

I like watching her show. I find it very interesting.

I was like you and Xanax calmed me down initially, but, after trial and error I found that Pristiq has helped me on all levels, anxiety and obsessive thinking. I still need 1mg of Xanax to sleep but other than that, life has become manageable. I know longer spend ALL day thinking about illness. I actually jump in my car without thinking to do what I need to do. Yesterday I actually went on an interview and did fine. My lower back still hurts and my leg tingles and I'm just hanging tough until I have to give in and go to Dr. I give these things time because a lot of peri symptoms cycle in and out. Buspar is just for anxiety but I'm not sure I would use it alone, I would probably use it in conjunction with an AD. My husband used to be on that and Lexapro and it worked like a charm for him.

Mammograms were my first brush with health anxiety. Got called back several years ago, ended up being a cyst, but, you may as well of said I was dying prior to knowing that. Even the radiologist said he didn't think it was anything before I went in for the ultrasound. Didn't have another one for 2 years (no insurance) went in again for mammo crying as they were doing it (oh jeesh) and the next two weeks through me into a panic like no other, post tramautic stress syndrome at it's best. What a blubbering mess I was until I got the all clear. Think I am going to skip this year and aim for next year on the mammo. I have always been concerned with the whole mammo every year thing. Still do BSE's though every month. That's just my position, most likely not popular with most. I'm glad you are feeling better overall Mrs. Buff.

I kinda miss the water faucet sometimes. That is the one downside, I don't get the release of tears. But, I don't miss the doom and gloom or health anxiety feeling. Hope it keeps up.

Your on Lexapro, right?? Power surge is a good obsession, lol. Don't give up if this doesn't work keep trying. Quality of life is so important, well, that and sleep

Of course I don't believe the doctors. I go back home and google forever until I can convince myself that they have missed something on my mammo! I am a basket case!!! However, I promised myself {since last October panic after googling for hours and ending up crying and not sleeping for days (that's when I went back to my doctor and went on AD)}, not to google any longer, and so far, I have not and I am feeling better.
I have tried counselling and behavioral therapy but not much effect on me as I keep thinking all the time : it is not solving my problems with my breast. How much more crazy can you sound!!! LOL
I have those really rare moments of lucidity when I think that i am fine but every year, 3 months before going for my mammo and 2 months after, I am just in panic mode. Will see this year with the Ad. Last year was my worse year as I started all my awful peri symptoms and my health anxiety became worse. I could not function any longer efficiently.
hope it helps.
Mrs Buff

Dear 'mich'
Your position is popular with me!so you are not alone.I have small breasts and that awful squeezing is so painful.
However,when I go to my Gyno. he uses the ultra-sound.It causes no dis-comfort
I also take Xanax as needed and am always able to know exactly when that is
Anyway we are not in any popularity contest-too old for that-so I think we listen to our bodies closely and make informed decisions.
So Good Luck,my friend
Stay Well
Elizabeth

thank you Michuganna,
Isn't it the pits that all mammogram trauma. I don't know how some women can go through that without worrying. Just the process of the test is awful and those call backs are just so nerve wreaking. My doctor told me that 80% of call backs are for begnin issues. She thought I would be ok knowing that and I told her so who is the 20% left? It could be anyone! In these situations, no point in showing the statistic aspect of it. You are just going bananas anyway!
I guess your approach is the best. My doctor wants to send me this year for an MRI. Did not make me feel good. I really thought with meno that the density would be gone but she said with my dense breast an MRI is the best. If you have an opinion on it, wouldn't mind getting a feed-back. I was planning to post a new thread on it later in the month.
Thanks and I hope you are doing well. hugs to you
Hello Elizabeth,
sending you a hug. I think I am going to call you the gardian angel of P.S. Always here to make us feel good.
Mrs Buff

I just had my mammogram on Monday. I go to a doctor that gives you the reading at her office. I had a call back when I turned 40 and nearly had a heart attack! That is why I like getting the immediate results. On monday I am about to get screened and this nurse says the doctor is out today and will read my results tomorrow! At this point I realized my zoloft was working because I was able to stay standing and tell myself it is what it is at this point and I can do this! I was able to get through the day without planning my funeral and sleep that night! The nurse called me about 12:15 on Tuesday with normal results. I also used to doubt the normal results, but again the zoloft seems to work and I am doing fine! I am really glad to see that I am not the only one that goes through this!

hello MrsKrabs,
Thanks dear Sistah. It is good to know. I really appreciate your reassuring post.
I am very happy for you that you results were normal. You see, in Canada, since our health care is free, we cannot dictacte when we get our results. It can take 1 week before you get called back like it happened to me last time. SO you worry for a week and then you have to worry another 2 to 3 weeks until they send the report to your doctor.
hellish!
Mrs Buff

Dear MrsKrabs
I am so happy for you. I am adjusting my lexapro dosage and i hope it will have the same effect as zoloft has had on you. your post is very funny

Hi,
I was on Lexapro for almost a week and had an allergic reaction to it! Very rare, according to doctor. I have now been on zoloft for about two years. My kids don't know I am on it,so when my 19 year old dauhter told me I seemed happier one day, I knew AD was working! I had hyster(left ovaries) in 3/05! Don't know about my cycle! I do know I have plenty of other symptoms! My husband agrees:) he found this site about 3 years ago when I had internal vibrations.

We all need to remember we have each other and this site!!

DOOD!!!! I LUV Dr. G!!!!! I'd probably enjoy it more if I had my AD back...but she's the DEAL! She don't like to get stumped, do she?

Dudette, I just starting watching that show. It is so weird that some people can do these kind of jobs, it sounds creepy to me. I could not saw through someone's head...ughhh!! I do like trying to figure stuff out, just don't want to take the "stuff" out, lol. My AD makes a lot of things possible just not sawing into a human dead or alive... now if peri/meno was a physical being I might saw that off of my body, lol.