Antidepressents/anti-anxiety meds....

Hondo said:

Hi P

I don’t take an antidepressant pill as per say, but I do take a pain pill that does the same thing and gets rid of the pain as well. At first I did not want to take any type of pill but now I find it is what helps me be more normal and feel good.

Tim Hondo

With my 1st recurrence, the ONC gave me an antidepressant (Zoloft) and sent me on my way. I took it a day or two, read the side effects and decided I was going to face this head on so quit it. With that being said, I do have a little .25 Xanax every night to take the edge off and let me sleep. Precancer, I used the xanax occasionally and always woke feeling refreshed so thought why not? Most nights I sleep very well. If I am uncomfortable, rarely, I replace it with a hydrocodone. 

I don't think there is any harm in getting a little help from a friend, it's just finding the right friend.

Hey Phrannie, 

I second "T's" recommendation regarding the combination of cognitive-behavioral thrapy and meds as the most effective, evidence based treatment for either or both anxiety and depression.  The beast, treatment, recovery, and evolving a new normal puts us all through the ringer and then some, so A & D are normal consequences.  If you choose counseling/therapy, make sure that the therapist is trained and experienced in providing CBT.  Wishing you the best.

PATRICK 

I have a perscription for anti anxiety.  My regular GP said for me to take them when I need them.  He said if I took them everyday he would not give me a refill because they can be habit forming....ie addictive.  He said he has a lot of people who will get a 30 day perscription and take about 3 months to take them.  That is exactly what has happenned to me.  I have a 30 day perscription and just take them when I need them.  The perscription ususally lasts about 4 months.  I am fixing to go on vacation and need to get it refilled as I am out.,  I just do not handle stress as well as I used to, but I wasn't depressed and the anti depressants really did not help.  When I start to become really stressed out, panic attack,  I take one pill and it helps.  I only need one every couple of weeks.  This has worked well for me.

I took Clonazapam for the first year post treatment and also had sevearl sessions with a trained Pschotherapist specializing in cancer patients. Best money I ever spent.

Consider the following from "The Cancer Survivors Guide" (2006) Feuerstein and Findley: pg. 144:

"The mind set after cancer is similar to the mind set after a near death eperience. I often counseled men who had survived life threatening situations... They had survived high speed crashes or gunshot wounds or the death of their partners... Some felt they could have prevented what happened if they had done something differently such as helped their partner earlier, or called for assistance or tried to disarm the suspect...When this persisted for more than a month it was clear to me they were suffering from a condition known as post traumatic stress disorder(PSTD)...Many cancer survivors exprerrince features of the same disorder. .. As with the different Officers I had counseled, cancer survivors often relive different aspects of the diagnosis, treatment, and other aspects of the cancer experience over and over. Just as police officers worry about another shooting, cancer survivors worry about the threat of recurrence. We hear about a cancer survivor whose cancer returned or even worse who died...then come the thoughts, "when will it be my turn" Did he have the same kind of cancer I had? Each time we anticipate a negative consequence, such as a followup MRI or CT scan...it triggers a stress response. This is called anticipatory stress or anxiety. The day you learned you had cancer was the initial stressor that can set off PTSD...Now although many of the big decisions and treatments are over, the stress remains" 

I just wanted to illustrate that there could be a lot going on that you may not even be aware of. Do not hesitate for a second to seek whatever will help you heal because the mental aspects of this can linger for very long times indeed.

phrannie51 said:

I LOVE it here!!

You guys are so much help.....it's hard for me not to think I'm the "only one" that has so much trouble just relaxing and enjoying life.  Instead I find myself not even liking/wanting to do the things I've always like to do, and it feels like there is a hamster on a wheel in my stomach all the time. 

Think that I may just go to my PCP rather than wait till August for the Oncologist.....Because of my history.....alcohoic, even tho I haven't imbibed for nearly 30 years........I don't want to take anything that is a known addictive substance (like Valium).....just something that will stop the committee from meeting in my head, and kick that damned hamster off the wheel.  Also will check my insurance and see if it will pay for some counseling.....PTSD is exactly what is happening......I relive the first diagnosis, as if another one is just around the corner and I'm trying to fend it off somehow.....as if I could.

You guys are the BEST.....know I've said it hundred times in the last couple of years.....but it's the truth!!!

p

Phrannie

I have been taking Effexor ER since my diagnosis 3-1/2 years ago.  I think anyone who has been thru the treatments we have been thru would be prone to suffering from PTSD.  I would definitely not hesitate to talk to your PCP.  Even with your history, there should be something that you can take....it will help to settle the "hamster on a wheel" feeling.  (a very good description by the way).

I hope you can find something that can give you some relief.  It is hard enough for us to worry about eating enough, talking so that people can understand us and/or going out in public with our disfigured faces and necks.... we should be able to get some relief from the anxiety.

I take 20mg Citalopram everyday...I have taken this since my surgery, 11/2/2011. I was having some serious issues with guilt, feeling like I brought cancer on myself. It helps and so did a few sessions with a counslor, I no longer feel this way and the meds just takes the edge off everyday ups and downs. 

Hey P,

I have definitely developed some "scanxiety" post treatment. My GP and team have diagnosed me with GAD. I spoke to my GP about it and she prescribed Buspirone. It's a non SSRI anti-anxiety drug that helps take the edge off with little to no side effects (unlike xanax and valium etc.). I start them about two weeks prior to my 3 month check ups and they help take the edge off the stress. I can stop them without any side effects after getting the all clear. I do feel the effect of them but it's mild at best and you can drive and do your everyday activities with little to no issues. 

I also have used and use CBT techniques to help with the mental aspects. There are exercises that have proven to be effective in training my mind to think in a more positive way. I have a plethora of physical side effects from treatment and it's a daily battle to keep them from getting me down. CBT definitely helps but you have to work at it as I do with my swallowing exercises. 

Speak to your doctors about this. It's absolutely common to suffer emotionally and psychologically after treatment. Therapy/counseling and possibly meds can help us cope with the aftermath of cancer. 

Positive thoughts and prayers

"T"

I have thought about it. But, although I loved and got hooked on oxycodone for months during treatment, I am not huge on taking anything other than my thyroid med and a Vit D. Between my job and the afterthoughts of cancer my mind plays games with me all the time. I am having ear issues that is causing me to believe oh f---- its back. But I have managed the mindset that it is what it is and untill I know for sure what the issue is, life just ain't passing me by.

Sounds as though it is working for alot on here, so why not ask the doc. It's like the other day when I banged my shin outside, I told my wife I'm gonna eat a cookie, she said is that going to help? I said no, but it ain't gonna hurt either.

Have a cookie Phran...............enjoy the day.

      Jeff