Sertraline buddy required!!!

[Vml12345]

I’m in day 2 of taking sertraline and could really do with some support as feel horrible 😕

My health anxiety is having an episode today! Leukaemia. I have a slightly odd bruise on my leg. Also have diarrhoea, night sweats and tiredness. Yesterday i was seeing them as side effects of Sertraline. Today, cos of the bruise I am worried about leukaemia. I've also been worried about MS, HIV, cancer and brain tumours in the past. My DH also has mental health issues (depression and social anxiety) so understanding in one way but not able to be supportive sometimes. His kids both have anxiety too. DSD panic attacks and anxiety. DSS has anxiety and disassociative disorder. We're like the mental health family! My DS is the only sane one of us!

After my blip on Tuesday I'm actually feeling a lot better in general. Did I mention the 'it's just a feeling' website before? That's been so helpful. I've not really had much success with therapy long term. I'm going to keep going with the Sertraline for now. See how I go.

@Mumma1984 I'm the same! I don't worry about anyone in my family's Heath! It's awful! Feel so selfish but I'm also proud that I've avoided passing on to DS16. He's really laid back thankfully!

Really hoping my kid will be that way, my stress is most my worst symptoms only last a couple months (on and off) then everything goes so I align it with ms again! Doctor is so sick of reassuring me I'm sure!

@Hairydogmummy how are you today? I’ve stopped the sertraline today and a bit apprehensive but the diarrhoea and night sweats got too much so in balance decided to stop. Xx

On day 4 now, don't seem to have had any issues yet with side effects only stomach pains on day 2 that have gone.
Since seeing GP Monday was feeling happier, until I got an email today asking for a quote. I explained it's the wrong email but they carried on anyway, sending me plans for something, that I didn't look at incase it's got a virus attached. Obviously messing with my anxiety/OCD now as am worried that either they're scammers or someone's using my email for fraud and I'll get in trouble for it.
My OCD always evolves around getting in trouble for something I haven't done.

I'm okay thanks @Vml12345 I've started to get a bit anxious just now as we are off to Ireland on a late flight tonight. I'll be sad not to have you and @Mumma1984 as Sertraline buddies but if it's the right decision for you, I guess you have to go with it.

Glad that you're doing okay so far @M4shy sounds like you might get away with the side effects!

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you’re all doing ok and I want to thank you all for your support over the last couple of months! It’s got me through some really difficult dark days! Enjoy time with your loved ones and stay positive 🎅🏻🎄🥂😘

Merry Christmas @Vml12345 and to the rest of you as well. I will second that. It's been so so helpful. Thank you all for the support. I'm not having a great day...full of cold and not feeling very Christmassy and pressuring myself to feel it and worrying that I'm not. Some days I'm not sure Sertraline makes any difference, other days I'm sure it does!

Happy Christmas xx

Hello can I please join?

I used to take Sertraline for post natal depression, it saved me.

I had very similar symptoms as you've all described.

I'm considering starting back on them after my mums recent breast cancer diagnosis which has made me fall apart.

Going to see the Dr on Monday. I've still got a week off work to try and get through the side effects.

Anxious about feeling worse before feeling better but I absolutely can not go on as I am as I'd rather not be here.

Trying to stay strong for my mum, dad, DH and DD.

Hi @SeaShell33 welcome! So sorry to hear about your mum. That's rubbish, not surprised you're not coping. Hope you don't find the side effects too bad second time on them.

@Vml12345 how are you now? Diarrhoea gone? Mine is awful. I'm having to take two immodium every day. Worrying tho cos you're not meant to take it for more than 48 hrs and I've been on it 4 days. I'm hoping it's okay cos I'm only having 2 a day. Still haven't been to GP. Sure he's going to tell me to come off them and then I'll have to take something else...

Thank you @Hairydogmummy
I did find some of my old ones 50mg still in date so am going to start tomorrow so get in a full week before being back to work.
Already feeling very anxious about starting them again.
Going to take down the Christmas decorations tomorrow then go see my mum so hopefully will take my mind of the Sertraline.

I didn't experience Diarrhoea last time I took them but massive loss of appetite. I've already got no appetite from the anxiety. Feel paranoid that everyone is monitoring my lack of food intake. I normally LOVE my food.

@Hairydogmummy how are you? The diarrhoea is better but had a little blood on the toilet paper this morning which sent me into melt down!!! The dr said it’s fine to take Imodium so you’ll be ok! I was taking one a day for five day’s whilst the sertraline got out my system! To be honest I feel ok without the sertraline so I’m now convinced it wasn’t having any positive effect which is disappointing. Has your diarrhoea got any better xxxx

@Vml12345 that'll be a split (anal fissure) cos you've started having harder stools and not used to it. I had one about 2 weeks ago before the bad diarrhoea started and it hurt like hell and bled quite a lot. It's gone now but I panicked at the time. Mine is somewhat better today thankfully but I reckon the Sertraline can't have been stable in my bloodstream with all the diarrhoea I was having. Everything was going straight through me. I've been very up and down mentally. Still very tired. Sleeping 9-10 hours a night.

@SeaShell33 how's your first day going? I don't have good appetite either. I don't when I'm v anxious anyway but the Sertraline definitely doesn't help.

@Hairydogmummy @Vml12345
I also had an anal fissure years ago. Hairydogmummy is right it'll be your stools becoming too hard. You can get over the counter suppositories and creams which should help.

@Hairydogmummy that makes sense that you might not have been absorbing the sertraline evenly. Sorry to hear you're feeling up and down right now. What dose of Sert are you on?

I've had a not too bad day today considering for the first sertraline day. Took mine at 6am and got back in bed and fell asleep for an hour. Have felt quite brain foggy and tired this morning. I did feel a sense of calm that has lasted until about 2pm when I felt a creeping chill like sensation of anxiety. This has been on and off since 2pm and trying to focus on my breathing to make it go away.

I don't know if I'm being paranoid but I thought DH was being off with me this morning. Last time I was on Sert he didn't want me to take it. He's been pretty quiet about me going back on them. I asked and he said I was just irritating him. I still think he's annoyed at me being back on ADs.

I've got to go to the DRs tomorrow to ask to officially go back on the Sert as I've taken my old one today. Feeling really anxious about going. I'm also going to ask for some counselling.

I also had a returning experience of Sert this morning when something really upset me and I felt incredibly sad but didn't cry. It's so weird.

Tried to eat more today because I know the eyes are on me.

What week is everyone at now? Anyone feeling a benefit? I'm week 7 200mg

Hey all. Hope you don't mind me joining. Been on 150g sertraline for a few months and 100g before that. Previously been on citalopram which just messed with my head. I fee ppl the effects of the sertraline but escalating factors in my life in last few months make life seem impossible despite the anti depressants that have worked so far. Does a higher does of sertraline work? Im under the nhs mental health service for me area but it takes time. Im not suicidal but life is hard.

Hi @MissLLM
Sorry to hear you're having a bad time. Could you see your Dr about upping to 175mg?
I know people on lots of different doses of Sertraline so I'd say that for some people it does definitely work at a higher dose. Best thing is to speak to your Dr about a higher dose and keep talking. This thread has been a huge help for me!

Had the dreaded insomnia last night. Took two paracetamol and codine tablets and eventually went to sleep at 3am. Just really hope that like my last experience once the Sert calms my anxiety I'll be able to sleep again.

Took today's tablet at 6am. Feeling relatively calm.

Hi, can I join the group?

hello to Seashell33 from the anxiety thread!

Took my first tablet last night, 25mg. Was prescribed them 3 months ago, but like many of you I have been too nervous to start taking them because of potential side effects. I've been feeling increasingly worse and getting myself into quite a state at times, so I think I need to give them a go.

I do think there's a strong chance that I'll give up on them if the side effects get too bad (even though I know they usually settle down after a couple of weeks) So it's good to have the support of others going through the same thing.

Hi @Mooserp there are some pretty positive stories on here. I keep reading them to try and soothe myself while I pace the room!

Hi @Mooserp and @MissLLM welcome! Hope you're able to persevere with them. I know lots of people who has a bad time at first but they worked in the end!

I'm not sure if they're working for me or not. I'm 8 weeks in now. Went from 50 to 100 at 4.5 weeks. The diarrhoea has got worse and has been awful for over a week now and I don't think the drug can be very stable in my system. I'm still getting ups and downs. Rang the GP today and thought was getting a phone consultation until they rang back to say I'm not classed as urgent enough so I'll get a call tomorrow! I'm also doing mindfulness and self help books. I love the 'it's just a feeling' website too. I've had so little help from doctors. One phone consultation in 8 weeks after being diagnosed with severe anxiety disorder. Like @Mooserp I put off ADs for years as I knew I couldn't get through side effects but as it turned out I had very few and was so desperate for a solution that I was prepared to weather the storm. I don't want to go back to being on nothing now so if I have to come off Sertraline, I'll try something else. I would have asked to go to a higher dose of Sertraline but the diarrhoea would only get worse if that's possible!

How are you on the 200 @irrationalrainbow?

@Hairydogmummy sorry to hear how poorly you've been with the diarrhoea.
I hope you can get some answers from the GP. I do think sometimes it's just not classed as important mental health.
When I rang for an appointment I was told Monday next week, I said I needed to see someone urgently this morning and they got me in. Shouldn't be this way.

Currently so tired I could cry but my evil brain won't go to sleep! Anyone taken sleeping tablets with Sertraline?

Feeling tremendously guilty right now. Reason for going back on Sertraline is to cope with my mum's breast cancer diagnosis. I have no coping skills. I want to go to her and tell her how I feel but that's me being a selfish bitch burdening my mum with my lack of reliance. She's doing amazing getting on but I'm falling apart clinging to my dad and unable to look after 2 year old DD.

Also feel like I'm driving DH away with my crazy selfishness.

Only done two days on Sertraline and already feel like dying

Hope you managed to get some sleep.

I know what you mean about feeling guilty or selfish, but it's not a choice you've made to feel this way. It's an illness like any other.

@Mooserp I managed about 3 hours after taking codine.
Am meant to be going NYE party at soft play with my mum and Aunty but feel so tired and anxious. Don't know what to do.
Just want it to all end.