Please help

[Helpme5367]

I feel like I’m having a nervous breakdown. I’ve been to the doctors and they prescribed citalopram. I cannot function I feel like I’m going to die. My husband has gone back to work and I’m at home with the children and due back at work myself next week.

Blue - I’ve had the prop before and have always been fine with them so I’m not sure they have caused anything.

Zoflora - I will watch that now, thank you for your support.

You’ve almost got through an hour since you first posted. Just take the day in small sections. So for instance work out how many half hours it is until your dh gets home. Mark them off on a piece of paper as the day goes on. I find this helpful especially as it gets less the later the day goes on.
What do you have planned for the day? Do you need anything at the shops? What are you doing with the children today?
In the next half an hour, make a cup of tea, have a shower. In the next - get dressed and have breakfast. Slowly does it.
You are a brave strong woman who is raising two children. You are reaching out for help and that’s the hardest thing To do.
It will get better

@Helpme5367 just want to say I understand how you are feeling. Life can be very overwhelming at times.

Have you ever tried the app Calm? There are some good meditations on there for anxiety?

As others have said just take it moment by moment and try and do some breathing exercises to help you get back to the now. Not easy I know and I have to keep doing this at times myself.

Did you take the citalopram last night?
I had a terrible two/three weeks initially after taking them, heightened anxiety, nausea, poor sleep but slowly things improved until one day I too woke up feeling brighter.

Break today into sections, first up, the children need breakfast.
Have a shower and get dressed.
Lie on the sofa and dose while the children watch tv.
Lunchtime
Sit out in the garden for 15 minutes, get some fresh air.
Teatime, something quick and easy.
Husband can take over when he gets in.
Listen to a podcast, music, relaxation app. Practice deep breathing techniques, try the 4-7-8 technique.

It's ok for the children to have a quiet home day of movies in their pj's and snacks. It's also ok for them to know mummy is having an off day and feeling under the weather.

Try and eat a banana, toast and sip fluids.
Be kind to yourself.

Periods of ill health like a UTI can heighten underlying anxiety.

Chocolate thank you - husband is home at 3 so not a long wait but seems like eternity when I’ve been roaming the house all night. I’m going to try and eat something in a bit as only managed a tin of soup yesterday so will try some toast.

I wasn’t really planning on doing anything with the children as don’t feel up to it. I had loads of plans of what I would do to fill the days with them and it’s all turned to shit!
I feel like I’ve ruined Christmas for everyone.

Hi there 😊
Very normal to feel worse before you feel better when you start antidepressants
BUT if you start to get thoughts about life not worth living, self harm, speak to your GP urgently and tell your DH
Try to disengage from all the worries about your health, feeling like you can’t cope etc
Get some colouring, cross stitch, word search books etc to fill the time and help you disengage from the anxious dialogue in your head
Tell yourself you WILL get through this
Just do the basics at home,
Just be good enough
You are poorly at the moment, it’s not your fault, it doesn’t mean you are a failure or weak,
It’s a illness, and with time and treatment - medication and counselling you are going to be feeling a lot better soon
I know all this, because I’ve been there
Take care x

what do you take prop for?
prop and citalopram, do they suit each other?
can you take smaller doses of citalopram at this starting period?

Peanut - I’m downloading it now 😊
I do have some stuff on my phone but it’s only music and the chimp paradox.

Schmoozer - prop is for times when I have a panic attack, interview or presentation and I’ve been prescribed it with citalopram in the past.
I have just taken 10mg of citalopram yesterday and today but could really do with some sleep.

you can either crack them to 2 or take every other day, after 1 or 2 weeks you can increase to 10mg.
as prop is calming you down, citalopram having similar purpose both of them might have such side effects if taken together. btw i am not a medical professional, this is from just guess and experience.

is citalopram a different brand?

Definitely take medication as prescribed
Don’t meddle with dose etc
Just get through today
You should sleep tonight
If you don’t, ring GP tomorrow and request emergency appointment

Thank you Blue - will check with GP today to see if I can take them together 😊

I came off antidepressants over a year ago now, and was doing ok until I had a course of nitro, I had horrendous anxiety with the to the point I didn't know what to do with myself.

I don't know what it triggered but I told the doctor and they said I had some kind of reaction and they put it on my notes never to take it again.

Try the antidepressant but there are others if that one doesn't settle down, I had to try a few

Just to refer back to the furadantin, it is a truly horrible antibiotic, and I'm at a loss why they've only given you 3 days, from memory you need to continue taking it for three days after feeling better... normally a week or so. But it makes some people feel foul.

Meanwhile, poor you having so many things all at the same time. Loads of info from pps... but I'd really question that dosage of antibiotics. If you can bear it, maybe find a moment to call a pharmacist for advice.

Oh, and agree to trying different brands if after 3 weeks you're not settling on citalopram.

I found Venlafaxine really great with PND, but am most comfortable on escitalopram.

FWIW, I've just had a terrible time and the pharmacist put it down to a different generic version. I always get the cheap brand, but this one looked very different, and it took weeks to make a link!

Iborgia - I thought I need more of the antibiotic to be honest but the doctor (newly qualified) said 3 days will sort it.
I will ring my local pharmacy when they are open and ask for advice.

As daft as it sounds, drunk plenty of water. Firstly it will help with uti. If you’re uncomfortable, sit in a warm bath. Take paracetamol and ibuprofen if it causing you discomfort.
The water can also help you psychologically. I have no idea why, but it has something to do with effect of stress chemicals,
If you can’t get a gp appt, for your Mh call your hv. Tell them how you’re feeling.
I’ve felt like you before. I felt like a drunken rabbit in headlights. It’s awful. You can feel so weak and pathetic.
But you must remember, it’s just a feeling. It’s NOT you. A feeling can go and it will. Just take an hour at a time.
Your kids are fine. I found just having an hour to myself helped.
Explain to your kids mummy is feeling really poorly and needs to have a bath undisterbed. But assure them they can call you in an emergency. Set them up with movie, snacks and offer a reward once your done. Then off you go, and just breathe, take time to listen to how you feel and just acknowledge it. It’s just a feeling. Please don’t lie there over thinking things. You can do this. If you live in Devon, drop your little ones to me

Ozzie - yes I’ve been drinking loads but feel if the antiobiotics haven’t got rid of it then it’s something more serious. You are right with the drunken rabbit feeling - that’s exactly how I feel 😢

Go and see your GP asap or at least a pharmacist if you cannot get into the doctor.

I am not medically trained, but I have taken propranolol before, not for panic attacks but because it can be prescribed for high blood pressure. Common side affects of blood pressure medication is weakness, dizziness etc.

On a quick Dr Google search for two meds together, the first articles is from drugs.com and says that the citrolopram can increase the effects from the propranolol, so it may be the two are interacting and the propranolol is causing the side effects. Again, not a doctor but have had plenty of blood pressure med side effects over the years and that sounds possible.

The dry heaving and horribleness is probably from the cocktail of extra meds interacting.

The doctor may need to adjust your dose or try you with a different medication. If it isn't clearing the uti then they need to look at the cause again.

@lborgia it's not furadantin; it's nitrofuratonin. That is taken for three days.

I've taken it regularly; it does take some time for things to feel "settled" afterwards and that pressure sensation is horrible. It won't have helped that you've taken it with other antibiotics, your immune system will be struggling now! Plus you shouldn't have any unfinished antibiotics, and you should throw away any old ones anyway.

Citalopram and propranolol can affect each other, so you may need to pick one to get through this period and then slowly reintroduce the other one.

Have you had any help for your health anxiety? I have a friend who has it badly, she can convince herself she has awful symptoms and they feel very real to her until she's over the episode. She has talking therapies which has helped her but wasn't an instant solution; and she has an app where she can chat to a therapist when she needs to, as well as Calm and Headspace. They might help you too?

Today will pass much quicker if you can keep yourself busy and keep your mind off this.

Anchor - thank you for the advice it’s much appreciated. I have just started with a counsellor, I had one session before Christmas and the next one is next week.

I was in different antidepressants for years and none of them really helped me to feel 'normal', but started on propranolol a couple of years ago and ditched the antidepressants and that has been the way forward for me.

If you're ok taking propranolol, maybe try taking the full dose you were prescribed (e.g. 3 times per day or whatever it says on your sticker) rather than ad hoc, as that might stave off your panic symptoms more quickly than the citalopram will start to work.

I know it's hard but can you at least get everyone out for a walk? I absolutely relate to the feeling that it's impossible, but I know I always feel better after getting us all out somehow, even if at the time of feels awfully difficult and pointless.

The Mighty - thanks for the prop advice. I’m seeing the doctor later so will ask for this. I’m going to try and get out to the park so hopefully that will help - if I can manage it.