View Full Version : Retching.
Still happening on a daily basis, there is no rhyme or reason to these attacks. I am considering going back to my GP and requesting another round of blood tests. Apart from endoscopy I wonder if there are any other tests I could have done to "look inside me"? CT scan/ultrasound, etc?
Any ideas/thoughts very much appreciated.
Can I ask if you're still drinking alcohol?
Can I ask if you're still drinking alcohol?
I wont lie. Yes I am, it varies though, from a couple to five.
In the same way anti-depressants help people control their symptoms alcohol does for me.
I wont lie. Yes I am, it varies though, from a couple to five.
In the same way anti-depressants help people control their symptoms alcohol does for me.
It helps control your symptoms and totally contributes to your retching the next day. How long has this been going on and didn't the retching stop for a while when you stopped drinking the last time? The sooner you figure that out, get professional help and change your behavior, the sooner you'll gain relief of your retching issues.
Positive thoughts
It helps control your symptoms and totally contributes to your retching the next day. How long has this been going on and didn't the retching stop for a while when you stopped drinking the last time? The sooner you figure that out, get professional help and change your behavior, the sooner you'll gain relief of your retching issues.
Positive thoughts
This retching symptom has been going on since 2011.
I used to go through long periods of not drinking and I felt slightly better but the retching was still on my mind 24/7 even when I wasn't drinking.
Maybe I have some form of sub-conscious OCD ritual related to having to retch and gag who knows?
"Still on your mind" . Calum, you don't want to try meds, you don't want to try therapy, you don't want an endoscopy done and you still want to drink.
Thing is, it may well appear to calm you, but it may well be contributing to the problem you have. I'm not an expert in OCD, but having something and doing nothing to deal with it will get you precisely nowhere. Its down to you to make the first move isn't it?
"Still on your mind" . Calum, you don't want to try meds, you don't want to try therapy, you don't want an endoscopy done and you still want to drink.
Thing is, it may well appear to calm you, but it may well be contributing to the problem you have. I'm not an expert in OCD, but having something and doing nothing to deal with it will get you precisely nowhere. Its down to you to make the first move isn't it?
Meds scare me and I am not willing to risk the serious side effects.
I was on my way to therapy but had to cancel because I'm agoraphobic.
I went to have my endoscopy done but went hysterical and had to cancel.
I don't want to drink, but if it is the only "remedy" that gives me temporary relief then I don't see why I shouldn't use it for relaxation purposes.
Honesty coming up. As someone who experienced long term agoraphobia, I understand the fear. BUT - If you want to move forward, you have to keep trying to challenge yourself. Your flat answer of "I cancelled because.." doesn't cut it with me. What are you doing to get through your phobia? Are you looking into therapy online, researching ways to get back out again? Or is it easier to say "I can't"?
You're scared of meds. Not uncommon and your decision not to try - even though you are suffering at present - has to be respected. But you can also understand why people say you should try.
You went for the endoscopy - the test that would probably give you a definitive answer - but you cancelled as you were terrified. Probably 15 mins of being scared and uncomfortable, vs years of worry. Again, what are you trying to get past this fear, are you still discounting it completely?
Lastly, the alcohol. You asked the question so I'll answer, give my opinion anyway. You know that stopping drinking drastically reduced the problem of retching, the very thing that you complain about. You use it as a tranquilliser and become almost defensive when asked why you continue to do it. My opinion is that while you continue to make excuses, you will get nowhere. In all recovery, there has to be responsibility, the decision to move forward, to try. It happens in different ways for us all, but we have to change behaviours if we want to get better - you have to make those changes. The ball is in your court.
Honesty coming up. As someone who experienced long term agoraphobia, I understand the fear. BUT - If you want to move forward, you have to keep trying to challenge yourself. Your flat answer of "I cancelled because.." doesn't cut it with me. What are you doing to get through your phobia? Are you looking into therapy online, researching ways to get back out again? Or is it easier to say "I can't"?
You're scared of meds. Not uncommon and your decision not to try - even though you are suffering at present - has to be respected. But you can also understand why people say you should try.
You went for the endoscopy - the test that would probably give you a definitive answer - but you cancelled as you were terrified. Probably 15 mins of being scared and uncomfortable, vs years of worry. Again, what are you trying to get past this fear, are you still discounting it completely?
Lastly, the alcohol. You asked the question so I'll answer, give my opinion anyway. You know that stopping drinking drastically reduced the problem of retching, the very thing that you complain about. You use it as a tranquilliser and become almost defensive when asked why you continue to do it. My opinion is that while you continue to make excuses, you will get nowhere. In all recovery, there has to be responsibility, the decision to move forward, to try. It happens in different ways for us all, but we have to change behaviours if we want to get better - you have to make those changes. The ball is in your court.
What caused your agoraphobia and how did you recover?
I manage to get out. I am not fully agoraphobic but I would say I am 90-99% agoraphobic.
As for endoscopy I was offered further tests but the specialist didn't think I would be able to tolerate them.
I did cancel the therapy because of agoraphobia so when I said "I cancelled because" it was a literal happening and not an excuse.
I had it for many years, there wasn't a definitive cause. I ended up nearly housebound as well as suffering from GAD. I decided I didn't want to live that way anymore and realised that fear of what was beyond my panic was holding me back. It had become my life and I was scared to try and challenge it.
But I believed that I could feel better than I did. I looked into the reason behind panic, the physical effects of adrenaline release and how it was actually harmless. I read a lot and most importantly, didn't look for a miracle cure - I knew that I would have to put myself in situations that would terrify me. I knew that even if I failed, I would have to keep going, no matter how long it took. I had to put the desire to move around freely above my fear of the crippling effects of panic. I did it gradually, not always successfully but put myself in places until the terror got to much and drove me home. As soon as the fear subsided, I'd get back out and do the same thing.
Have faith in yourself, and your ability to take back control over your own life. As one part gets better, others get better - we separate the issues but they are all really the same - we are scared. I know that you had to cancel, and I'm not saying that was an excuse. What I'm saying is an excuse is doing nothing, then complaining that your situation doesn't change. You have to be the change you want x
I had it for many years, there wasn't a definitive cause. I ended up nearly housebound as well as suffering from GAD. I decided I didn't want to live that way anymore and realised that fear of what was beyond my panic was holding me back. It had become my life and I was scared to try and challenge it.
But I believed that I could feel better than I did. I looked into the reason behind panic, the physical effects of adrenaline release and how it was actually harmless. I read a lot and most importantly, didn't look for a miracle cure - I knew that I would have to put myself in situations that would terrify me. I knew that even if I failed, I would have to keep going, no matter how long it took. I had to put the desire to move around freely above my fear of the crippling effects of panic. I did it gradually, not always successfully but put myself in places until the terror got to much and drove me home. As soon as the fear subsided, I'd get back out and do the same thing.
Have faith in yourself, and your ability to take back control over your own life. As one part gets better, others get better - we separate the issues but they are all really the same - we are scared. I know that you had to cancel, and I'm not saying that was an excuse. What I'm saying is an excuse is doing nothing, then complaining that your situation doesn't change. You have to be the change you want x
Were you young when you had agoraphobia?
Yes. Suffered for many, many years. Enough about me though, better to concentrate on how you can feel better ...
I agree with many of the points medicine states.
I have had varying degrees of GAD/agoraphobia for over 40 years.
The ONLY thing that has helped me is exposure therapy.
I too have a fear of taking meds incase the the side effects cause hysteria.
And make me physically ill.
My crutch for years was valium, as yours is alcohol. Both are addictive, or at least can build tolerance, so that eventually you will need higher doses more often, just to cope with fewer 'crisis''
For me, medical tests are something I do not run away from....but it takes months of anxiety before I approach my GP. Because in general, they will send you for exclusion tests, so you have t get yourself in a position thst you can be able to travel/stay in hospital for them.
My biggest help was my local mental health team. And exposure therapy. I used valium to help me get out and about with the support worker. I would not advise valium at all. Addictive.
But I would advise beta blockers which help reduce adrenaline.
It will be hard. Very hard. I do understand. But you have to do this exposure. Meds may help the initial exposure in order to give you the confidence to do it alone.
I agree with many of the points medicine states.
I have had varying degrees of GAD/agoraphobia for over 40 years.
The ONLY thing that has helped me is exposure therapy.
I too have a fear of taking meds incase the the side effects cause hysteria.
And make me physically ill.
My crutch for years was valium, as yours is alcohol. Both are addictive, or at least can build tolerance, so that eventually you will need higher doses more often, just to cope with fewer 'crisis''
For me, medical tests are something I do not run away from....but it takes months of anxiety before I approach my GP. Because in general, they will send you for exclusion tests, so you have t get yourself in a position thst you can be able to travel/stay in hospital for them.
My biggest help was my local mental health team. And exposure therapy. I used valium to help me get out and about with the support worker. I would not advise valium at all. Addictive.
But I would advise beta blockers which help reduce adrenaline.
It will be hard. Very hard. I do understand. But you have to do this exposure. Meds may help the initial exposure in order to give you the confidence to do it alone.
Hi dally, what beta blockers were you on? Why is Valium so addictive?
I was prescribed propanalol. They are not prescribed for people with asthma or low BP.
Which is why I had to stop. But they did reduce my adrenaline/anxiety
Valium is a benzodiazepine, any benzodiazepine is addictive . If taken regularly for 2-4 weeks continuously. However, a slow taper will allow you to come off the drug with minimal withdrawals
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