How to deal w/chronic illness?

anxiousk · Post by **anxiousk** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 8:40 am

I have been struggling with my anxiety for about 2.5 years now and in that time have had a lot of health issues that seem to be chronic.

I have asthma and allergies ( I have to take 3 meds daily for this ), PCOS ( 1 med for this), and now I guess I have acid reflux issues that I'll need another med for.

Each day I wake up, I feel constantly sick. It's always something -- if it isn't one ailment, it's another bothering me.

I'm only 24 and I can't believe I feel like someone MUCH older.

I try to take care of my health -- eat right, exercise, work the program but my anxiety is as high as ever.

I can't tell myself it's "just anxiety" because I actually have health issues that cause pain and discomfort and I'm having such a hard time being able to feel like I can even be a regular part of the human race.

All of my anxiety and panic is health related and when this all started, I didn't have many health issues -- but now I have many and I'm scared and I feel like each day I wake up sick as a dog, my anxiety can just go.. see you ARE sick, you SHOULD be anxious.

What can I do? I hate this and feel like I've tried it all.

Jenni15 · Post by **Jenni15** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 9:18 am

Oh my gosh you are going through similar stuff that I am going through! I can totally relate to you. Chronic conditions do not go away and they do cause anxiety, especially in anxious people. I think the key is finding ways to making the diseases manageable. I feel like I am always at the doctor trying to find the right medication regimen. I have asthma and GERD. I am a healthy 25 year that eats right, exercises, and is at healthy weight for height. I never feel well either. I do not do a lot of things because I never feel well. In the last year I have had atleast 6 infections. I think all of my issues are stress related. It is so hard to deal with sometimes because I constantly worry about having an asthma attack. I hate being this way. I will not exercise by myself because I am afraid of having an attack. I think anxiety is much worse when you have a chronic disease. My asthma started when I was 14 and then I went on prozac and it seemed to go away. Prozac caused some of the GERD related issues. I have been off medication for the last 6 months and I feel as if my asthma is worse. I watch what I eat and that really does help control my GERD. I limit chocolate intake, alcohol intake, no caffeine, tea, coffee, speariment, peppermint, tomatoes. It is really hard to limit sometimes and when I eat those foods I usually pay. What medications do you take? Write me back I would like to hear more of your story. How did you know you had PCOS? Have you considered an antidepressant?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 9:27 am

For my asthma I take Advair 250 (which helps tremendously). For allergies I take Claritin and Singulair.

For PCOS I take Metformin.

For Acid Reflux I was taking Aciphex, but I had an allergic reaction so I'm waiting to find out what else to take.

It's good to know there's someone else who can understand. When my husband says oh it's just anxiety -- well I can never be sure!

The shortness of breath and choking feeling could easily be asthma/acid reflux so I really have no clue and it's harder to turn off those scary thoughts when there's potential that it's true.

I found out I had PCOS because I wasn't regularly getting my time of the month. I had a million hormone tests and glucose tests done and I have slightly raised insulin levels which can throw off monthly periods, so I take 1,000 MG's a day and it's supposed to regulate that.

It's still up in the air or not if it's working!

I know what you mean about being afraid to work out alone, I get that way too! I won't even walk around the block w/o my rescue inhaler.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 9:39 am

I was allergic to Nexium and Prilosec. The best medication is Pepcid. Minimal drug interactions and comes in chewable form (EZ-tabs). I am very sensitive to medication. I would talk to your doctor about that one, that is the only one that is mild enough but gets the job done that I can tolerate. Do you watch intake of those foods I listed above-chocolate, fatty foods, coffee, tea, peppermint, speariment, fruit drinks, tomatoes? The reason I know a lot about meds and nutrition, I have a masters in nutrition and have a pharmacy background. I am studying to be a registered dietitian. Yeah I think the best solution is to try to get your stress under control. What is stressing you out? That is what I am trying to do. My stresses include: moving out of my house, studying for board exam, just graduated college looking for a job, and health issues. Just hang in there. I hope this information helps. I think that our society is way overstressed and that is why there are soo many chronic diseases out there! It sucks so bad

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 9:43 am

Oh good, I have Pepcid here so I will give that one a try!

This is the first med I've ever been allergic to! Both times I took it, I broke out in hives, so scary!

I do eat a lot of tomatoes, I won't lie -- since I started eating a lot healthier they are one of my "veggies" of choice. I also eat altoids a lot and also usually have something w/chocolate once a day.

I'm mostly stressed about my health, dying, not feeling able to work or go about my life, wanting to go back to school and make something of myself -- to be care free like I used to be

.

I agree, there is so much stress in this society.

KevinL · Post by **KevinL** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 9:43 am

I am assuming you know what the Lower esophageal sphincter is or had it explained to you in its relevance to GERD. The spinchter is a valve between your esophagus and stomach and tends to stay open with individuals with GERD and certain foods can cause it to stay open. Try to avoid those foods if you can, garlic also can cause issues with GERD. Sorry forgot to add that! GET BETTER!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 9:48 am

Honestly no one explained GERD to me and the only thing I remember from looking it up online was that your esophagus can swell shut (of course that's all I'd remember).

I will definitely work on avoiding some of those foods and thank you so much for chatting with me, it's been one of those days!

Shal416 · Post by **Shal416** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 9:55 am

Hi there. I hear you on this. I have anxiety and pure O which feels to be worse than my other serious conditions I have. After learning about these two things for over three years now I feel good and strong!

A little about me is this, I am 33, I have stage four endometriosis, supraventricular tachycardia of the heart, Mitral valve prolapse of the heart which I take meds for, an iron deficiancy, hypothyroid and bone spurs.

As I said before having anxiety and ocd seems worse than all the above at times, even though I know how serious of a condition my heart is in.

I take it a day at a time, for two weeks out of a month I feel drained, but I still work and play, i refuse to let life get in the way of life

Bakedpears · Post by **Bakedpears** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 10:05 am

I am sorry to hear that Mel! Hang in there. You are a stronger for person for what you are going through.

pecos · Post by **pecos** » Mon Jun 16, 2008 10:08 am

AnxiousK, I figured no one explained that to you. If you stay away from those foods it will help. When you have reflux, the reflux can irriate your bronchial tubes due to the reflux back up into your throat. So if you try to control your diet and try a different med, it should defintley help! Please keep me updated!