Freaaaaking out

[linzetta]

I have severe panic disorder and OCD. I have an endoscopy scheduled in 11 days and I can’t begin to describe the state I’m in. It feels like nonstop panic attacks around the clock. It’s hell. I’m deathly afraid of sedation/anesthesia. One of my fears is about having really low blood pressure and the sedation lowering it dangerously low. I really wanted to do it without sedation but they sensed my anxiety and made me feel like I won’t handle it without so they will give me propofol. I’m sick about this, losing sleep, not eating, feel like I’m in a fog. Help

[Kkimm]

Hi linzetta.

I think we communicated a while ago when you posted about this. I was the one who had it done without an anaesthetic if you remember.

It was unpleasant and made me feel a bit like I wanted to panic without and I am generally very low stress about procedures do I think they are probably right to give you some sedation. May I adk😃

[Kkimm]

Hi

I accidentally sent my reply a bit early. I was going to say what is it you are afraid of with sedation. I think these days it is not at all an unpleasant process. You mentioned you have low blood pressure. They will certainly monitor this very carefully to make sure you are in no danger. Have you discussed it with them so they can reassure you on this point.

I remember a light anaesthetic in the distant past and that was very unpleasant but these days it is not at all a unpleasant process

I really feel for you and hope that you can relax a little more about it.

Why do you have to have the endoscopy by the way, is it really essential for your health or could you choose not to have it. If it is causing you this level of stress could it be put off until you have had treatment to desensitize you to it which could be done if available . It would be similar to phobia treatment.

Very best wishes, I hope you are able to feel better soon.

Kim

[linzetta in reply to Kkimm]

Hi Kim,

Thank you ❤️ I’m afraid of reactions to the sedative and something going wrong with my breathing or blood pressure so essentially not waking up.

I had h pylori treated successfully and I still have some panic and discomfort so the doc said I should be feeling better and maybe to have an endoscopy. But she said my bloodwork is fine, I’m not anemic, I’m not vomiting and no black stools so I have no drastic red flags. Just yesterday she actually cancelled it due to my mental state. It’s probably GeRD or gastritis. I started anxiety meds and have been leaning hard on Ativan. I tried talking to the nurse about my concerns and she didn’t say much and made me feel worse. I have never been in such an awful state, I almost feel like I am approaching inpatient status. Thank you for reaching out again. It means so much.

[Kkimm in reply to linzetta]

Hi

Are you on antidepressants at all. They have helped me to recover completely from severe GAD with accompanying depression over a period of a year. I am really great now having been so I'll I was nearly suicidal.

Best wishes

Kim

[linzetta in reply to Kkimm]

I’m on day 3 of Effexor. I hope to one day have a success story similar to yours soon. Thank you for the support.

[Kkimm in reply to linzetta]

Interesting, that is the one I am on also.

Please feel free to message me if you need any advice or support as it can be difficult at the beginning. I have just done a reply today to Jesse I think it was with alot of detail about how I found Effexor if you think it would help you to read it. It can make you feel worse before you feel better but try really hard not to give up on it.

If you want to read it you will find it by looking in my replies for today under my profile. It is very long I warn you but I think people need full information when trying to make a decision about which antidepressants to take.

By the way I am so glad you do not need to have your Endoscopy done, what a relief. It really sounds as if your doc was only offering it because she thought you needed it for peace of mind and unfortunately it was going to and has caused you just the opposite.

I am sure you will do really well.

I adopted a sort of program of activity I had devised based on the Claire Weekes approach which was really useful in helping me get well also.

Feel free to message me if you want to hear more about it.

My very best wishes to you, I am sure you will get there, but remember you need to be very patient to get the benefit.

Kim

[foxglove_pnw]

Hi linzetta ! I can totally relate !

I had to cancel my endoscopy because of the same issues . I still want to do it since I have GERD and I want to make sure everything is good .

I am going through some other tests right now for something else and I am gonna call back and reschedule my endoscopy some time soon.

My blood pressure is usually 96/66 and I also sleep apnea . I want to talk to my ENT first about sedation and sleep apnea .

Look into Transnasal esophagoscopy it doesn’t require sedation . I am gonna ask my ENT about it .

I know it is all in my head but it is still scary .

Good luck ! Keep me posted !

[linzetta in reply to foxglove_pnw]

Can a transnasal esophagoscope check the upper stomach as well? How were you diagnosed with GERD originally? Have you ever had a barium X-ray? Tell me if you find out any info about the transnasal!!

[foxglove_pnw in reply to linzetta]

I have all the symptoms of GERD and I when I had a nasal endoscopy he told me he could see signs of acid reflex on my throat .

Never had a barium X-ray or any other tests. I was scheduled for an endoscopy and colonoscopy but because of sedation I freaked out .

I will let you know !