Why, oh why, is it that one day you can have every symptom known to man and be ok, and a few days later you can have the same symptoms and be out of your mind with anxiety?
I've had a bad headache since early this morning and have a bit of nausea. It's nothing new; I've had it before. But today I'm imaging the worst. Brain tumor is at the top of my list!! I've taken my blood pressure and it's fine. It's just an everyday run of the mill headache, but I'm ready to explode with the anxiety (which I'm sure isn't helping my headache).
I've had lots of anxiety before, and know how to control it, but somedays it just doesn't listen to me. I'm also having my period which doesn't help. I could be doing things around the house. The dust bunnies are going to need bigger places to hide if they keep growing!! But all I want to do is curl up in a ball and go to sleep and wake up feeling 100% better. Like that's going to happen.
The headache probably isn't even related to the SJS, but I have to blame something.
I guess I just needed to vent. Thanks for listening. Just coming here makes me feel better. Hubby will be home soon for supper, so I'll just get a big hug and carry on with the day.
Tomorrow will be better!!
Take care
Nutso in Nova Scotia
Susan
Sydney,
I'm sorry your day has been so bad. Yes, we all have days like you describe. Actually, going to bed may be exactly what you need! It seems to me that things just rock along, and then suddenly everything looms up larger than life, and it seems unbearable (and unending.) I get the headaches, too. If I'm at home, I do cancel everything and try to take a nap. If I'm at work, I drag around, snarl at everyone, and collapse when I get home. Stress is a factor, for sure.
I know that I didn't have any answers for you. Just hang in there, and know that you aren't alone!
Cheryl
Susan, vent away, we are here with love & comfort, if nothing else !
Sounds like your having a wretched day of it, but wether or not it's due to the Sjogrens I woulden't know. as
honestly I haven't heard of many complaining of really bad headache on here before ... Cheryl probably is right in that it may well be stress, now that is something we can all relate to !
My daughter suffers from multiple allergies, and is prone to bad headaches for which I guess stress is responsible..
Try taking painkillers with a cup of strong coffee, they work quicker this way... Best of luck, hope it soon passes. Dolly
sydney
I hope you feel better soon, years ago when i had post natal depression , i also got anxiety and panic attacks, depression and anxiety as so closely linked, are you taking anything for mood ?? Yup i know more meds, but an anti depressant and a councillor sorted me out,its worth a thought.another suggestion is bach flower resue remedy, all floral extracts mixed in an anti anxiety forulma, ive used this on and off for exams, stressful days, just a few drops on the tounge, i read actors were using it before going on stage at one point, its possibly worth a thought
Dolly its sure does help it uptake faster, why anadin extra etc all contain caffiene as the "extra" , only thing is caffiene tends to feed the anxiety and makes it more pronounded in some ppl, i know im sensitive to caffine if stressed, and just stick to herbal teas .
T x
I do take something for the anxiety and I have previously seen a psychologist who was excellent. I felt better in the evening. I even went out to the library to pick up some books. But I haven't been sleeping well for about 1 week, so that is probably adding to it. Last night I didn't sleep 1 minute. I was awake all night and nearly went out of my mind. There is nothing worse than not being able to sleep.
I've only been on Plaquenil about 2 months but notice a bit of difference in my fatigue. Hopefully I will continure to improve and be able to get myself on some kind of schedule.
Thanks for the replies and the caring.
Susan
You know I have been studying this very subject for some time, I have a theory, I think that this kind of anxiety has nothing to do with emotional anxiety. I believe that this axniety is out of our control for a reason, and that's because it is caused by the autonomic nervous system. I think we are a whole bag of hammers and we will never control any one hammer completely. I found some very interesting stuff during my study, it's called dysautonomia. Here is a web addy for their forum just check out the posts...sound familiar? http://ndrf.org/eve/forums
I may not have the the disorder or maybe i just haven't found the right dr/ But I am that through and through it's what i call a flare in sjoggie speak. I still have my reg old bag of hammers, addison's disease, hypotjhyroid, sjs etc and I do pretty well with them until "something" happens. I thnk this something is part or parcel of dysautonomia.
I also think that we are a creative soup of AI symptoms from MS to Sjs to Lupus and on and on....I once had a crazy smart rhuemy in Ottawa Ontario Lupus Clinic tell me "it doesn't matter what it's called because they are all the same" I think he was bang on.
About your problem, the anxiety I feel so for you as I deal with it too, I even see a phsycologist just to be sure "I'm" ok. and I am, of coarse there is some emotional anxiety with any chronic illness as it makes you frustrated when you can't do what you want when you want but for the most part my anxiety roars in my chest but not from my head. Do you understand what i mean? I can be sleeping soundly and peacefully and out of nowhere be jolted awake by the most in your face anxiety in my chest, breathing difficulties and heart issues! It's hard to get my body to settle again toget back to sleep...miserable. It can happen in the datime too, sure zaps my energy too, I head straight for the closest soft incline. here's another good read http://heartdisease.about.com/ca/womensissues/a/dysautonomia.htm Take care, be good to yourself, Sandra
Hi Sandra
I understand exactly what you mean about the anxiety. Mine usually starts in my arms and legs. The tingling sensation. The very first time I experienced it I had huge hives on my chest.
I suffered from extreme anxiety for about 3 months in 2001. Sometimes I insisted that my husband take me to the hospital because I didn't know what was wrong. I'd feel like my legs wouldn't work, I would be gagging, feel like I was choking. Scared the heck out of me. But as soon as I was placed in a room at the hospital, the symptoms would settle down. It wasn't until about a year later that I truly realized this was because I felt "safe". If anything was going to happen I was in the right place.
Since then I have had a wonderful psychologist who fully explained the whole "anxiety trip" to me; what happens to our bodies and the physical feelings and why they happen. One of my main fears was having a heart attack. She told me that if I was able to jump up and down in one place for a bit, that I probably wasn't having a heart attack. She really helped me to see the "big picture" and how to understand the whole process.
One of her favorite sayings was "you'd have these symptoms lots of times; what was the worst thing that happened". And my response was always "nothing". It took about 2 years, but I'm finally able to control the anxiety in most instances.
But I have always said that anxiety is not something I'd wish on my worst enemy. It is a terrible thing to experience. My daughter suffers from social anxiety and it's agony for her dad and I to watch her go through it.
I looked at the website you recommended. There is a lot of info but it is quite interesting. You're probably on to a good thing there.
I used to live in Ottawa (my hubby is retired military) but now live in Halifax. Sometimes I wish we still lived there. I think I would have more options available to me regarding my SJS. Halifax has a great rheumatology clinic but not much else available.
Anyway, I guess we just have to carry on and live the best life we can. My mom died from ALS (Lou Gehrig's) and I know that I could be in worse shape than I am.
By the way, I finally had a good sleep last night. Had to take something to help me, but it worked.
Take Care
Susan
Hi, I find this too and it's always related to something physical going on with me. It doesn't happen too often these days but my Dr gave me some Clonazepam tabs for when it strikes. I only need to take them for a day or two (sometimes less) then I'm fine.
These aren't to be taken on a regular basis as they're addictive...they're related to the Diazepam/Valium family.
Hope you feel better soon,
Lesley (NZ)