Help PLEASE

[trixie]

[img]smileys/smilies_16.gif[/img] Anybody reading this .... please help me! I am going to see my Dr on Friday 26th August to 'tell' him about emet and how i have been affected by it AND the fact that because of it, i have got myself into some serious medication problems!! I am on 40mg Prozac, which i think helps me. HOWEVER i am addicted to prescribed Co-Codamol (Painkillers). The reason why..? I like the buzz i get after taking them. I take 2 and then 20 minutes later i am feeling like i don't give a s*** about anything. I am sooooo relaxed and off my face i feel good and for this time my anxieties become minimal.The feeling lasts about 1.5 hours. HOWEVER 4 years on ... i'm finally admitting i'm addicted. My Dr has suggested i might be addicted but i just keep saying i take them for my back pains and migraine. He keeps believing me as i've even invented s*** like 'i keep a record chart..' and ' I know what these things can do to you..' and 'I'd never absuse medication..' besides i have only been with this Dr for 5 months. I was asked to leave my previous surgery because i kept complaining that the Dr there kept saying i was addicted to painkillers! I NOW KNOW I HAVE A PROBLEM! I need your help ........ as fellow emet sufferers (and i hate the word 'suffering' but i believe we do suffer) can you please advise me on the following:
1. Do any of you know of any articles i could take along to the Drs with me about Emet?
2. Have any of you been addicted to painkillers? if so how did you come off them and what was withdrawal like?
3. Do any of you know of any licensed drug i could ask my doctor to prescribe me that will help when i get anxious (i.e when there is a sv in the house - i need something to relax me).
4. Any other useful tips or ideas - i am so scared.
I appreciate any comments, remarks, suggestions, ideas, help ...... anything IT'S TIME I SORTED MYSELF OUT!


Love Trixie x

[ducky-go-lucky]

Good to hear that you've understood that you have a problem.

That IS the first step.



1. FAQ about emetophobia : http://faq.emetophobia.net/emetophobia.html

This is written by a person who has emetophobia, and it has helped me a lot.

My parents and my therapist have read it, and it helped them understand what I'm going through.

You should show this to your doctor.

It's good to be prepared, because most of the people (even doctors) have never heard about this phobia.



3. Medications are so different in Finland (we don't even have Prozac),
that I can't help you with this one. I'm sure your doctor can prescribe
you something to help you with your anxiety.



You'll be fine, just be honest with your doctor.

And I'm sure we're all here for you.



Be brave!


Edited by: ducky-go-lucky

[tcsarah]

Ducky is right - you have made the first step to recovery by admitting you have a problem. It must be a very scary thought coming off something you have taken for so long, I understand your concerns. Don't worry, tell your doctor everything, s/he will advise you on how best to come off the co-codamol.S/he will get you to reduce it little by little so you suffer the least possible withdrawal symptoms and will probably also put you in touch with a therapist/counsellor.


Go here: http://www.emetophobia.org/forum/for...sp?TID=1925&am p;PN=1 'Info to give your doctor or family', take a print out of the page and take it along with you to show your G.P. There can be a lack of knowledge about emetophobia within the health care system, even some pyschologists and such don't know much about it.


Regards other medications you could take to help with your anxieties, your doctor will advise on that. Some anti-depressants have anti-anxiety qualities more than others - I'm not sure whether Prozac has any kind of sedative effect with it, I've a feeling it doesn't. I used to take the anti-depressant Prothiaden which had a very good calmimg effect, but I didn't like the side-effects. The anti-depressant I take now, and have done for the last seven years is Seroxat and it has turned my life around. It is absolutely brilliant at helping with not only depression, but anxiety (I used to suffer terrible anxietyand panic attacks). However everyone is different and what works for some may not for others. It's just trial and error finding the medication that works for you. Maybe you would be better off having anti-nausea drugs (oneI've tried is 'Stemetil')on stand-by - if the cause of your bad anxieties are from worrying about v*ing, just knowing you have an anti-nausea drugs there if need be, may be good enough to calm you down.


There are drugs such as diazepan and temazepan (sp?), which areprescribed as sleeping tablets, but these are addictive so doctors don't like prescribing these. I would only take these if absolutely necessary too - explore other avenues first.


Just have a long chat with your doctor, show him/her the print-out from this site and tell him/her everything - fromhow you are feeling, your worries, anxiety attacks to how it is effecting your daily life. There is help out there and I'm sure with the right medication and the help of a therapist or counsellor, you will get there Trixie!


Take care and good luck with everything.


Tracey x

[SimplyMe]

Good luck w/ your doctor, I agree w/ the advice given thus far and am sorry I don't have anything to add. Anyhow I hope all goes well for you!

[crazy_me_84]

The advice above is exactly what I would have said. Also, just be honest with your doctor. They can help you. If it helps you to write things down- your feelings, emotions, how your problems affect you etc, then it might help if you show this to your doctor. I often find thatmy mind will go blank when I have things I need to say so I write them down to make sure the people trying to help me know how I feel.


All the very best


xxx

[sage]

Thanks for including my link, TCSarah...I feel like I repeat the same thing over and over to everyone about where the info is on this site. So frustrating....


I really need to email John AGAIN and ask him to display it in a more prominent place...even on the homepage or something.


Anyway, ya...go to that link and print out my paper and give it to your therapist or doctor. It will help.


As for the painkillers, that's a tough one. But treating the emet will help you with the anxiety and you won't need that euphoric feeling as much. So you'll be ok. Don't despair!

[alongmoore]

BE HONEST, AND TELL YOUR DOCTOR EVERYTHING. If he/she doesn't understand, find another doctor. Keep finding doctors until you can be competely comfortable talking about everything that you're worried about. Talk until everything is said. Cry if you need to, get angry if you need to, whatever it takes for you to share how you're feeling with your doctor. Don't be embarrassed or ashamed about anything. Feel good about yourself because you're starting a new chapter in your life.

[Jenneh]

i wud have said sages post/story/writing...


but the best of times it comes out of ur own mouth.... even emetophobia as an illness has it's differnces between fellow emetophobes and only you can describe what it's truly like for you.


welldone, though, for admitting you have a problem. that is a huge step. maybe you could print out that thread so that when thing's get tough you can re-read it and realise what you are fighting against... to re-motivate you.


Jen xxx