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bryan3000
USA
513 Posts |
 Posted - 09/10/2011 : 12:17:31
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Hi all,
Yes, another "new here" thread... but I'm not sorry. 
In fact, I'm happy to add one more body to this growing swell of people who are looking for deeper answers to their health concerns. Every new person that joins this forum increases the odds of the next person finding quicker and more accurate answers to MBS issues, imo.
So, thank you for to those who put this all together and thanks for having me.
I'm going to post my "story" in a separate post. It's just an intro. If anyone has comments, ideas, thoughts... I'd be thrilled to have any input. But, at minimum... my background will be out there for others to see - as we all try to help each other out here.
I mentioned Dr. Schubiner in the title. I recently found out he's working on a book geared towards anxiety/depression! This is exciting news for people like me. My primary issue is anxiety, with a secondary issue of sinus (?) headaches. Anyway, I wrote Dr. Schubiner to ask a question about his book, and he ended up inquiring about my anxiety/headaches for his new book. I don't know how long we'll have to wait to see the book, but it sounds like the first MBS/TMS book that will focus primarily on nervous system disorders as part of the equation. (Anxiety/depression, etc.)
Anyway, below I'm going to post (basically) what I sent him... an explanation of my health downfall. It's somewhat long and drawn-out, but I wanted to give him all of the info I could.
Again, thanks for having me. Look forward to learning all I can and hopefully helping others do the same.
-1/2010 - Developed chronic sinus problems. ENTs/Docs can't find anything
-5/29/2010 - Doc gives cocktail of allergy meds which induces first ever panic attack/anxiety.
-7/16/2010 - Anxiety stays/worsens - put on Xanax
2/1/2011 - Began Xanax taper - Withdrawal starts - full body chaos
-6/11/2011 - Last dose of Xanax. Physical/emotional chaos continues for several months.
-Now: Taking it day by day, looking for real answers and ways to heal myself without medical poison. |
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bryan3000
USA
513 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2011 : 12:27:43
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(Below is my letter to the doctor, which serves as a fairly good intro to my situation. I'm very new to TMS/MBS - though a believer in the concepts and believe it could be part of my equation.)
Essentially, for 41 years... I plowed through life. Mostly good. I had a somewhat turbulent childhood being born to bickering/fighting parents who divorced when I was about 9 years old. I had my basic needs met and both parents loved me, but looking back...
I think my dad was a bit verbally abusive and they had me young, so they both were probably just not adjusted enough themselves to be proper parents. Still, despite some turbulent school experiences... I graduated high school, went on to some college and wound up playing music for about 10 years before settling into my current career working in the TV industry for a major network here in Los Angeles. (I work as a producer in post-production audio.) I draw a good salary, I'm married and have one step son
and one daughter... both great kids. My marriage has been good, though we've recently entered couples therapy as my wife is now showing some signs of being unhappy. The last year has been rough with me sick, and she's had her own issues prior to this. (She's had some depression, and is on Zoloft.)
So, at the beginning of 2010... we had just bought our new house and I had taken a full-time position with the network. I was working out at the gym 3-5 times a week, playing sports and in good physical shape. I'd been athletic and active in staying healthy
for about 20 years. I was, however... also working 2 jobs (taking outside mixing work) and the level of stress could have been perceived as high. Now, I didn't call it stress. I was just busy. But, an outsider looking into my situation would have thought it
might have been a stressful life. Sole provider for a family of 4, working 2 gigs... staying active... raising kids, new house, new full-time physical signs of stress that I could relate as stress. I did have long-term IBS issues on and off for about 20 years. But, if you asked me at the beginning of 2010 if I was stressed, I don't think I would have said so, or at least not to a notable, conscious degree.
Around the end of January, I started to have what I was calling sinus headaches. It feels like it starts in the top of my nasal area, and spreads to my forehead. I get congestion, but not discharge. It's more of a swelling feeling. Some wondered if it could be something
in my new house, but it happened outside of the house, too. The headaches would get intense, and no meds seemed to help. I had a CAT scan which showed only a "small" nasal polyp. No infection. I had a basic allergy test, no real help. I saw several
doctors and ENTs, and they found nothing. To this day, I still feel like there must be some kind of physical allergy or reaction going on, but I've yet to find anything.... nor have they. But, given my general distrust for the skill-set of the average doctor, I
didn't completely stop looking.
I finally ended up at an allergist in late May who decided to just give me a cocktail of meds to see what would happen. (Singulair and Veramyst, a steroid nose spray.) I took the drugs together around 7pm, and by midnight was at the ER, believing I was
dying. I was finally told it was just a panic attack/anxiety. I didn't even know what that meant. He gave me Ativan and sent me on my way. (Symptoms: tremor, racing heart, confusion, numbness in face, fear, tingling, dry mouth, etc... very violent symptoms.)
Over the following weeks, I made some improvement and thought I was done with it. But, one day at work... the "sinus headache" problem came back with a vengeance. It was getting worse, and now coming with nausea, some chills and feeling more like a
full body sickness. Somewhere in the midst of being sick again... I started to realize that the anxiety was coming back, and that the panic/anxiety was part of whatever was going on.
Did my anxiety cause or was it part of the sinus issues? I have no clue. No one has been able to connect them, per se. I've often heard people with anxiety complain of sinus symptoms, but people with anxiety complain about a lot. It really taxes our bodies, as you're well aware.
They tried me on an SNRI called Prestiq. Within 2 days I had suicidal thoughts, and I'm a happy guy. Got off that... and they put me on Xanax "as needed." Naturally I needed it daily. Used it in very small amounts, but for 8 months and became dependent on some
level. Despite a low dose and tapering VERY slowly, I got a massive range of WD symptoms including gastritis, major panic and increased anxiety... night sweats, flu-like issues, missed work for 2 weeks, etc. Coming off of Xanax was worse overall than anything I had experienced pre-Xanax.
So, I'm now a few months off Xanax and still trying to get over the WD symptoms, and manage whatever organic anxiety I have, as well. I get a lot more bouts of chemical depression these days. (That's my term for depression seemingly not linked to any current thought.) Anxiety still comes and goes, but I've seen SOME signs of hope. Benzo WD heals in windows, so it's an up and down process.
I'm currently working with a CBT therapist who is helping some, though we've done more talk-therapy than CBT due to the emergence of marital issues in my life. So, I can't really say I'm armed with all of the CBT knowledge I need just yet.
The only meds I take now are a beta-blocker to help control heart rate and Vistaril (antihistamine-small nightly dose) to help with sleep. No real psych meds at this point, and my hope and belief is that I will ultimately heal without them. I'm not shutting the door on use of psych meds in the future, but thus far... it hasn't gone well. Plus, there's an argument to be made that meds got me into this mess.... they're not likely to get me out.
Of course, is there something underlying all of this? I don't know, but that's why I'm interested in looking deeper into your work. I read Dr. Sarno's book and found it eye-opening but frankly, found it to be very lacking in the "what do you DO about it" category.
_____________________________
-1/2010 - Developed chronic sinus problems. ENTs/Docs can't find anything
-5/29/2010 - Doc gives cocktail of allergy meds which induces first ever panic attack/anxiety.
-7/16/2010 - Anxiety stays/worsens - put on Xanax
2/1/2011 - Began Xanax taper - Withdrawal starts - full body chaos
-6/11/2011 - Last dose of Xanax. Physical/emotional chaos continues for several months.
-Now: Taking it day by day, looking for real answers and ways to heal myself without medical poison. |
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Mayita
Spain
29 Posts |
Posted - 09/11/2011 : 05:43:26
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Hello Brian and welcome on board!
Going through your story I see that you've been through a lot of stress recently.
As you say, you did not think about it because you seem to be the strong, achiever kind of person who puts on on your back and shoulders and keep on walking no matter what.
Most of us here pretty much the profile... and this is when our body complaints and says No..
I also suffered the negative effects of some drugs when stopping them and it was awful!
I am happy that you are in contact with Dr. Schubiner and am sure he will be of great help to you. He is so professional and caring...
Here in the Forum there are many nice people sharing their knowledge and experience.
Have you read Sarnos books?
Let us know how you do. Zthere is hope!!
All the best!
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bryan3000
USA
513 Posts |
Posted - 09/11/2011 : 08:40:47
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Hi Mayita,
Thanks so much for the response.
Yea, a friend started to suspect TMS when he looked at my situation a while back. I am indeed the type to believe I an put anything on my shoulders. (2 jobs, a new house, a new child, etc.) I definitely have "something to prove" in life, which is a trait I'm working on fixing. (Among many others.)
I have indeed read Sarno's MBP a while back. I liked it, but thought it lacked solutions. So, I'm now seeking out the best ways to start approaching these issues.
I'm doing the education program at TMSWiki and ordering Schubiner's first book. Also watching a lot on Youtube and reading here. Any other suggestions are much appreciated.
Thanks again for the input! I hope you're doing well.
_____________________________
-1/2010 - Developed chronic sinus problems. ENTs/Docs can't find anything
-5/29/2010 - Doc gives cocktail of allergy meds which induces first ever panic attack/anxiety.
-7/16/2010 - Anxiety stays/worsens - put on Xanax
2/1/2011 - Began Xanax taper - Withdrawal starts - full body chaos
-6/11/2011 - Last dose of Xanax. Physical/emotional chaos continues for several months.
-Now: Taking it day by day, looking for real answers and ways to heal myself without medical poison. |
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Mayita
Spain
29 Posts |
Posted - 09/11/2011 : 10:06:10
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Hi Bryian,
I just finished MBP last night and fpund it so revealing.. Ifelt as if I was reading my biography... Mine is a c lassic TMS ( low back pain).
Previously, I have been through all the traditional medicine mistakes ( wrong diagnosis, unnecessary surgery and so on).
I just felt so happy to find all this info. I also ordered Dr. Schubiner's program which should be delivered in the coming weeks.
If you are suffering anxiety too, this book might of interest to ypu:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0451167228/ref=pe_113430_21046310_pd_re_dt_dt6
I have heard it is very good.
Best
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bryan3000
USA
513 Posts |
Posted - 09/11/2011 : 11:00:34
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quote:
Originally posted by Mayita
Hi Bryian,
I just finished MBP last night and fpund it so revealing.. Ifelt as if I was reading my biography... Mine is a c lassic TMS ( low back pain).
Previously, I have been through all the traditional medicine mistakes ( wrong diagnosis, unnecessary surgery and so on).
I just felt so happy to find all this info. I also ordered Dr. Schubiner's program which should be delivered in the coming weeks.
If you are suffering anxiety too, this book might of interest to ypu:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0451167228/ref=pe_113430_21046310_pd_re_dt_dt6
I have heard it is very good.
Best
Thanks so much for the suggestion, Mayita... and it's funny you mention Claire Weekes. I'm a huge fan of her work. I have all of her books (that I know of) in print, as well as all of the audio she's produced. (She's passed on. So, your instincts are 100% correct in that any of us suffering with severe physical anxiety should own and read her books. I read/listen to something of hers almost daily. Even if just a few blurbs.
I think I'm going to order Dr. Schubiner's book, as well. Seems like possibly the best way to get started with an actual program of dealing with TMS disorders, unless anyone here has another suggestion of a better way to start.
Thanks!
_____________________________
-1/2010 - Developed chronic sinus problems. ENTs/Docs can't find anything
-5/29/2010 - Doc gives cocktail of allergy meds which induces first ever panic attack/anxiety.
-7/16/2010 - Anxiety stays/worsens - put on Xanax
2/1/2011 - Began Xanax taper - Withdrawal starts - full body chaos
-6/11/2011 - Last dose of Xanax. Physical/emotional chaos continues for several months.
-Now: Taking it day by day, looking for real answers and ways to heal myself without medical poison. |
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New here - Intro plus some Schubiner info...
