I Hate Dialysis Message Board

Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: General Discussion => Topic started by: sullidog on November 04, 2011, 05:31:52 PM

Title: anxiety on the machine?
Post by: sullidog on November 04, 2011, 05:31:52 PM
What's the best way to deal with or treat anxiety on the dialysis machine? Some times I have days where I don't wanna be on the machine, and just get anxious about coming off and not wanting to be there, however, I know I'm there for a reason so I just stick it out rather then do the alternative. Does anyone else have this issue and how do you treat it?
Title: Re: anxiety on the machine?
Post by: boswife on November 04, 2011, 06:39:24 PM
Bo occasionally took oxazepam just before going to the center... It's for anxiety and worked for 'those' times.  Another friend takes Atavan (not sure of that spelling) Occasionaly now at home treatment, he'll take it and it relaxes him and he sleeps through the treatment.
Title: Re: anxiety on the machine?
Post by: Adam_W on November 04, 2011, 07:56:54 PM
i have anxiety during dialysis when I'm in the hospital, and they give me Zanax (sp?) which helps a lot. I just dose through the whole treatment.
Title: Re: anxiety on the machine?
Post by: cassandra on November 05, 2011, 02:40:44 PM
When I mentioned anxiety to my GP years ago when on PD, he was surprised I hadn't asked for something earlier. Since then I take Diazepam when I am really thinking that I really don't want to do this. Which is sort of every day. Ok so it's addictive I guess. Bad luck  :sos;
Title: Re: anxiety on the machine?
Post by: fearless on November 05, 2011, 04:31:45 PM
I have extreme (!) anxiety about my hemo sessions.  It's still very new (only maybe 5 or 6 treatments so far?) and I think some of the symptoms i had the first time, which the nurses approached as drawing off too much fluid, were actually a great big panic attack.  I try self-hyponosis, but it's very hard to keep the focus i need to do that.  After the treatment, i feel extremely depressed - a side-effect of prolonged anxiety once it lets up.

What to do?

i feel jealous of the patients who are sleeping or watching TV - by the time I've been there an hour or so, I am way to keyed up to do anything much at all.
Title: Re: anxiety on the machine?
Post by: rsudock on November 06, 2011, 01:04:41 AM
I could NEVER sleep through treatments. I took Lorazepam and tried to stay busy while on D. There were days though I would sit in the chair and just shake my feet and legs, while closing my eyes and counting because my skin was crawling...phew that was a horrifying feeling!

xo,
R
Title: Re: anxiety on the machine?
Post by: Whamo on November 07, 2011, 09:19:07 AM
I felt anxiety at first, but now it is fairly routine.  I do get nervous near the end as I near my dry weight.  I hate cramps and headaches from being dehydrated.  I usually sip some water during the last 5 minutes.