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Original poster

Could this be anxiety?

15 replies

TheFuckfaceWhisperer · 23/02/2019 02:07

Just got back from A&E with DS. He’s 19 and autistic with bad anxiety. He just started Sertraline 10 days ago, 50mg, half dose of 25mh for six days and now on the full tablet daily.

Tonight he had an episode in the bath. His face was bright red, sweating, could barely move and he was talking funny, like he couldn’t open his mouth very wide and couldn’t say S, he said it felt funny, almost numb inside his mouth. When he got out of the bath, and for a couple of hours after, his arms and legs felt weak.

I actually took him to hospital as I thought he had had a small stroke or something (I’ll probably get slated for wasting time etc...it was scary when your child suddenly can’t speak or stand) but they did all tests and bloods etc and couldn’t find anything wrong. The doctor couldn’t explain why his mouth wouldn’t work. Just said keep an eye on him and if it happens again take him back.

Is there any way it could have been a really bad anxiety attack? I’m unsure what to do for him for the best really

OP posts:
MajesticWhine · 23/02/2019 02:50

I am sure you did the right thing taking him to hospital. I don't recognise those symptoms as a typical anxiety attack but they could be a reaction to sertraline - there are some quite bad side effects eg seizures for some people. Did hospital rule this out?

Decormad38 · 23/02/2019 02:55

Yes could be a side effect. Or the side effect has made him anxious.

UnperfectLife · 23/02/2019 03:13

Dry mouth and sweating are 2 side effects of Sertraline. Perhaps the heat of the bath combined with the medication had some effect? I don't know . But you were absolutely right to have him checked out immediately. It's sounds frightening.
I'd get to the GP asap ( or whoever prescribed the Sertraline). It's really important to monitor people carefully in the early stages of taking an SSRI, especially young people.

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EnidButton · 23/02/2019 03:13

Low blood pressure because of the hot water? I have very low blood pressure that drops suddenly and sometimes I slur my words and can't move my mouth properly. It makes me feel weak and heavy limbed and sweat. Presumably they checked his blood pressure so if it was that then it might just be his body was extra sensitive to the temperature change.

Total speculation though. Check the side effects of his meds. Is low blood pressure on there maybe?

Glad he's ok now and they ruled anything serious out. Hope he's ok after his scary evening. And you too Flowers

BrizzleMint · 23/02/2019 03:17

You were right to go to hospital. I'd have probably called an ambulance as it sounds really bad.

Original poster
TheFuckfaceWhisperer · 23/02/2019 10:16

Thanks everyone.

The doctor mentioned his Sertraline but didn't say much else about it. When he first started it he was getting headaches and dizziness as side effects, but no dry mouth. This was like he couldn't talk. His actual lips were barely opened. You know like a really bad ventriloquist where the lips are slightly apart and speaking through their teeth?

His blood pressure was fine I think, they didn't mention it or look concerned.

I have a GP appointment for myself Monday morning for something relatively
minor (review from previous appointment) so I'll just swap it over online and give it to DS.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheFuckfaceWhisperer · 24/02/2019 20:09

So... He's just said he can't remember anything that happened in the bath. He can remember being at hospital but not the actual episode.

I forgot to mention in the original post, he also said it felt like the whole of his face was twitching.

Doctor's appointment at 9.40 tomorrow, see what he says.

OP posts:
MajesticWhine · 24/02/2019 21:17

I hope you get some answers

Original poster
TheFuckfaceWhisperer · 24/02/2019 21:22

Thank you MajesticWhine

OP posts:
UnperfectLife · 25/02/2019 06:59

Let us know how you get on with the GP

Original poster
TheFuckfaceWhisperer · 25/02/2019 12:06

He said it's hyperventilation, a bad attack that sent his body into spasm, the printout he gave me said the symptoms can be similar to an epileptic seizure. Been prescribed Propranolol

OP posts:
UnperfectLife · 25/02/2019 17:00

What does Propanolol do? Is it something he takes constantly or only in the event of an 'episode'?

labazsisgoingmad · 25/02/2019 17:17

i take propranol isnt it a beta blocker

MillyMollyMandie · 25/02/2019 17:29

OP, Im mum to a young man who's now almost 28. He's severely autistic plus a few other things to boot. He was diagnosed with epilepsy in his late teens and not the kind we all think about when we think of epilepsy. He has frontal lobe epilepsy that manifests itself in episodes of violence and aggression amongst other things but the point I'm making is that many of those on the spectrum go on to develop epilepsy with the teen years being some kind of trigger for it. Now, whilst Im not suggesting that your son has developed Epilepsy the reality is that it should always be considered when our loved ones develop new symptoms.

As for anxiety - its also extremely common for our loved ones to develop anxieties the older they get and my son has been medicated for it since his late teens also.

A quick unmumsnetty squeeze to you just because. x

MillyMollyMandie · 25/02/2019 17:29

Ah I see we cross posted re seizures.

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