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Hey Guys,

I'm so frustrated right now I think I just really need to vent. I went to see the internist today that my doctor referred me to since he "doesnt' know what the heck is going on" and she made me feel really bad. I explained to her that I've been having terrible anxiety (so bad I haven't been sleeping, can hardly eat and am literally crawling out of my skin) and she wasn't even remotely sympathetic. She just kept suggesting increasing my dose of Effexor, even though I told her I'm actually trying to get off it because it made my anxiety worse.

Long story short, SSRIs have always made me worse...so far I haven't had any luck with any of them. Plus, my problems are solely anxiety and not depression. Both my parents also had terrible reactions to SSRIs. So I asked if I could try being treated with benzodiazepens (sp?). She said absolutely not because of their addictive potential and because I'm so young (not really sure what that has to do with anything). I was so frustrated...I know they can be addicting, but if the other drugs aren't working and I'm at the point where I'm barely functioning, does it really matter?

Her suggestion was to go on an anti-psychotic!!! (Zyprexa). I couldn't believe it! I said to her, you want me to go on a heavy-hitter like that when my only problem is anxiety, just because you have reservations prescribing an actual anti-anxiety drug because I might get addicted? She refused to budge on the issue so I ended up with a prescription that I won't even fill

There are just too many darn side effects with that kind of drug for me to warrent taking it when I'm not depressed or psychotic.

Plus, she ran some bloodwork and my Cortisol level came back at twice the normal limit (normal range 90-540, mine was 922) and she didn't seem to think that warrented any investigation which I can't understand. She said if I was fat or exhibiting more Cushing-like signs than maybe she would, but since I'm not it doesn't matter. I just can't understand these doctors...shouldn't any lab result that's so far out of normal range warrent investigation? I was overweight a year ago and definately showed Cushing-like signs but because I essentially stopped eating I lost the weight. And now apparently that means I can't get further investigation.

Sorry this is so long, I just feel better getting it out there.
Thanks for taking the time to read my vent

Kelly

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