I am getting such anxiety over placing my husband. I wonder if anyone has found anxiety medications helpful. My doctor is very reluctant to give me any. I am practicing deep breathing but I could use any help I can get. Is there anything that helps with this? Is it just something we have to go through? I am so spent I no longer cook or clean the house. I have help, but just no energy left.
I had terrible anxiety when placing my husband but took no medications. I just tried to get extra sleep and exercise everyday and ate regular meals. Just remember the anxiety will pass.
I slept, watched dumb tv and bought some cotton yard at Walmart and knitted dish clothes. The patten instructions are inside the label. I give them away as I make so many. Everyone loves them. I also read quite a bit. But sleep was the best thing. I was exhausted. As CO2 said, It will pass
muldi - I found some doctors reluctant to prescribe anti-anxiety meds. Finally I wondered--if they don't think dementia caregivers should have these meds, who are they saving them for? Somebody who is on fire when they walk into the doctor's office?
I think if someone needs a little help for a while, why not? I took them regularly for about a month after DH was diagnosed. (I had lost 10 pounds in about a week and a half. The meds helped me cope.) Now I take one about one night a week, when I know I won't be able to sleep without it. I wish I could say that it takes all the anxiety away, but it doesn't. It just helps. And sometimes we do need a little help.
When I first started noticing all the changes in my husband I suffered from acute anxiety. My DR did not hesitate to order Ativan for me. I only took them when I was revved up like a jet engine. I lost 30 lbs with my body so hyped up. Wasn't good. I agree with Jan K if dementia care-givers are not suitable for anti-anxiety meds who are they saving them for?
I am an RN and do not like to take any meds. And I was desperate despite breathing, exercise, etc etc. Taking an occasional Ativan saved my life. One of the reasons Drs are so hesitant to prescribe something like Ativan is it is highly addictive. Wasn't a problem for me as I only took them when really bad.
And as others have written the anxiety does pass and for me led to deep despair. I refuse to go on anti-depression meds (I know they work wonderfully for many people) and am slowly (big "slowly") working my way to some semblance of a new normal. I still carry the Ativan in my purse but have not needed one in years.
If I were you muldi I would go into a walk in clinic and simply say, "I need help with acute anxiety secondary to my husband needing to be placed." Some Drs understand the huge burden of that. Feeling so anxious is horrid! Oh and your energy all gone. Totally goes with the territory and also horrible.
My husband died in March and for years I had no energy. Still don't except for the very basics. Care-giving with this disease takes a huge toll on us. Take good care of you.
muldi, Why is your doctor reluctant to give you anti-anxiety drugs? Is there a medical reason (allergies, history of addiction, interaction with another drug you are taking) or does the doc prefer to send all patients with anxiety to a specialist? That's what my PCP does. I do have a prescription for Ativan but I rarely take it, not out of principle or anything like that but because I'm afraid it will make me too tired to work. The doctor thinks I should take them more often. I take anti-depression drugs every day and they help with the anxiety. I do not have the luxury of refusing to take them since would be a crying mess without them and would not be able to focus on my work.
Muldi, I would definitely seek out another doctor who understands anxiety and how to treat it. I go to a neurologist and he prescribed Buspirone HCL 10mg tablets. He is also my husband's neurologist so he knew all about Alzheimer's and the effect it has on caregivers. I didn't have to give the whole back story because he knew it. I just had to tell him what I was feeling. At the time, I had more than just my husband deal with so I was just "amped up" all the time. This drug is what he called an "oldie but goodie" because it's been around a long time. You start to feel relief after a few days (vs weeks like some others require) and it had few side effects. I started out 3/day then after a while cut back to 2/day. I eventually stopped taking them as my anxiety subsided and was replaced with feelings of depression. It never hurts to get a second opinion especially if what you are doing now isn't working. You have to take care of you and sometimes that involves medication. I wish you luck that you find a solution that works for you.
I think you all will save my life. I am too sick to drive to the doctor, but I have enough xanex to get through the next few days. My weight has gone from 94 which was ok for my small frame, down to 85 and all I do is eat. I even have to get up to eat during the night. All the calories are going to deal with my stress. I may have to have a temporary feeding tube put in too. So I really have no reserve. My husband yelled at me today that he deserved the chance to life and could drive, cook, shop, etc. Of course he can't do any of those things. I am so grateful to hear what others have done. I wish I could get some Atavan, but at least I have something. I only have one more day to get through alone as his kids are coming Tuesday. I so agree I don't know what the docs are saving those drugs for. This doc actually tried to get me to go off of them during this time I need them most!!! thank you, thank you, thank you.....
This doc just thinks anxiety drugs are too addictive and dangerous. I am taking trazadone for depression and Ultram for chronic pancreatitis. I guess he is worried about overdose. I'm very careful and note down the exact times I take them so I always have 2 hours between any drug that could interact with the other.
Muldi, keep the faith and remember one day at a time. Take that Xanex and find another doctor. The weight loss is certainly cause for concern especially if you are eating. I'm concerned for you that your doctor is not taking notice of all the symptoms you have and treating you properly. There are so many different kinds of drugs out there for anxiety so finding one that's safe to take with your other medicine is something he should be able to handle. If he was concerned about the addictive nature of the med, then he should discuss that with you. I'm glad you will have some relief and help in a couple days.
I remember my wife going through months of not being able to sleep (literally nights in a row with almost no sleep) but the psychiatrist refused to give her a tranquilizer because it could be addictive. I finally convinced her to get a new doctor. A complete change of meds including Trazadone and Xanax made a huge difference to her. We know it the sleep problem was due to FTD. But the doctors seemed more concerned about her being addicted than her committing suicide from not being able to sleep.
Just extreme stress, exhaustion and chronic pancreatitis which has so limited what I can eat. Will be getting a temporary feeding tube which I think will help a lot. Have a good hospital here for basic things. Kids arriving today to help. Sad but necessary.