Hi ive not been on for a while as i have been experiencing severe panic attacks which are absolutely horrible !
I think it has a lot to do with me coming off sleeping tablets which i was on for 19 months, i have been suffering from anxiety for a while now, i started feeling like i was going mad, but didn't realise that it could be to do with stopping the tablets, i even had one in the hospital when i was waiting to see the consultant and thankfully he could see how distraught i was, he has put me on beta blockers to make me relax, my mum even rang NRAS to find out if anyone else had experienced this , they told us to ring Roche the company that makes Rituximab and the lady there said it can cause anxiety , it explains a lot as i was never like this before i started this drug, my mum has also been dx with rheumatoid Arthritis and is seeing my consultant next month, think we new one day she would get it as when i was dx 15 years ago her and my father had blood tests , mums esr was higher than mine at the time but they said it was not active, she has had a lot of stress the last couple of years and i think this is what has triggered it, she is not in sever pain but is stiff in the mornings and has no strength in her hands, hope every one is doing ok,

Sophie x

Hi Sophie

Good to see you posting again but sorry to hear about the anxiety and panic attacks. They can be so unpleasant but hopefully with the beta blockers things will settle down quickly. Are you still on the Rituximab?

So sorry to hear about your Mum and hope her consultant appointment addresses her needs. Glad she's not in a lot of pain but the morning stiffness and hand weakness certainly warrants attention. Perhaps acting at this stage will save her a lot of distress in the future.

How's your little one Sophie?

Look after yourself, and your Mum!

Lyn x

P.S. This is what happens when you type slowly! Someone else asks the same questions as you then you look like a complete dope!!

Hi Sopie, sorry to hear about the panic attacks, I know just how scary they can be. I was suffering the same thing and was having a minor panic when I saw my GP - my blood pressure was all over the place. Do you take any anti-inflammatories? I was already taking tablets for BP and GP recommended I stopped taking Naproxyn (been on it about a year). Also put me on an antidepressant called Citalopram. All the RA stuff is still as bad but the panic attacks are almost non existent now.

So sorry to hear about your mum too - at least you can support her through this.

Take care.

Julie

Thank you all for your lovely replies , yes Doreen they are so disabling i have not had one since last week but am still full of anxiety worring if one will come on me when im at the school or if im in the shops, Lyn Jonny was sick last week with a chest infection but is better now thanks , as for the Rituximab the consultant said because im doing good on it he does not want to consider stopping it yet, and i may not need another go for a year or more now, Julie thats very interesting because my sister and my father both have suffered panic attacks and where both put on the drug your on , no one has mentioned me taking it yet but i go back the doctors on monday he wants to have a chat with me, ive been referred for cbt and should get my appointment in the next 2 weeks so hopefully this will help too, my mums appointment is next month she is worrying what she will be able to take medication wise as she comes out in hives if she takes any tablets and can only have powdered paracetamol if she needs a pain killer,

Sophie x

Sophie

I am so sorry to read that you are going through the mill. I know panic attacks are awful as my Husband suffers from them. He started CBT yesterday and even after the first meeting, he had hope that he would be able to conquer them. He said it was good to talk to people who suffer from them and compare symptoms and suggestions on how to deal with them. He is also having counselling for controlling anxiety and relaxation techniques. Hopefully by the end of it I will have a "new" man. I hope that you also get some benefit from your CBT.

Take care

Jackie
xx

Hi Sophie,
Sorry to hear you are experiencing panic attacks, they are truly awful. I experienced them a few years ago, for what seemed like a prolonged period. I received CBT, and although it was hard work, especially at first, it did help. I very rarely have them now, but strangely enough it's usually when I'm unwell with joints etc., when things then seem out of my control, that I feel anxious again. Hope you feel better soon, and your CBT comes through quickly.
Candy

Arhh a good thing is to make sure you are not hyerventalating

a phyiso at hospital can help lots .
an quite half hour of compleate ralaxing will help as well done every day .

there should be courses on helping people like you may be called stress manganment class/s

christine