Hi. I'll try to keep this short but there's probably some background needed to understand. I've been dealing with anxiety and panic attacks for many decades. Sometimes under control, most of the time not. Been on Prozac for 30 years at the same dose. Worked well for a long time, not sure if it does anything anymore. I carry tranquilizers with me for times when my anxiety and panic gets bad but don't take them every day.
Recently my doc suggested I add Gabapentin. I think I really like it! I have become a social butterfly where in the past I avoided interaction like the plague. I actually am starting to ENJOY accepting invitations and social gatherings which I NEVER have because of anxiety. I'm able to stay more focused at the office, too, focusing on only three or four tasks at hand rather than the usual 8 or 9 tasks at at time.
So, I should be happy, right? Well twice in the past two days, I have pretty much been taken out of two social events by debilitating fatigue. I was at my sister's house celebrating my husband's birthday, just the three of us. Wonderful dinner that I normally love. I was too tired to eat, or even stay at the table. I had to excuse myself and go sit on the couch. Yesterday evening I was meeting with three other couples at the casino (my favorite place) for dinner and some play. By the time we got to playing, my fatigue was so bad that I couldn't really speak, couldn't keep playing, and had to excuse myself to the ladies room to rest my head (which felt like it weighed 300 pounds) against the wall.
WTF???? I was looking forward to the events. They were things I enjoy doing. Yet they were both ruined, not by an actual "panic attack" but by my body completely giving out on me. Here's the mysterious part: last night at the casino I tried several things to bring myself back to life: I tried a few sips of an alcoholic drink. If anything, made it worse. I downed 2 cups of coffee. Didn't help. I used Afrin nasal spray thinking my head was clogged up. Didn't help. Out of desperation I popped a tranquilizer. Bingo, I came back to life.
Sorry for the long post but can you think of any reason why my symptoms of anxiety would change so much? I now feel like I WANT to go to these events, but once I get there, my body makes me go home. So frustrating! I thought I was finally starting to get a life, and now I'm afraid to commit to anything again for fear I will have to go lie down.
Thanks in advance for any thoughts.
Sue