Desparately Need Advise! Can't Sleep, Can't Function, Help! - Anxiety Message Board

MMS1 · 03-28-2005, 10:23 PM

The beginning of February this year, I "for no apparant reason" and all of a split second lost the hearing in my right ear! After going to the ENT a few days later, I was diagnosed with "Sudden Hearing Loss". At the time, the hearing test showed I had a loss of 85db (the human ear takes in a total of 95db) so I was almost deaf! I've had massive anxiety and panic attacks from the onset of this thing, where as I've been taking a (.5mg) dose of Xanax to get me to sleep every night.
Although it does'nt keep me asleep for more then two to three hours at a time, then I'm up either trying to fall back to sleep again, or need to take a quarter or half dose of the (.5mg) pill. I've been supplementing this with two or three Valerian root capsules. I had an MRI which came back with no problem. The doctor feels I just got a viral infection on the Auditory nerve. I was on Prednisone for ten days after the onset of this and got a little hearing back by time I was off the steroid.
Since then, I recently had another hearing test and seems I've regained a nice amount of hearing since the beginning but things still sound muffled, low and dull, so I have a ways to go. I have the tinnitus which varies from day to day. The most annoying and concerning symptom which has gotten worse as the hearing has improved some, is a distortion in my voice and peoples voices when talking anything above a low level. Sounds like a cheap radio stuck between stations. Kind of like a doubled, electronically synthesized sound.
My worry is even though I'm on a relatively small dose of the Xanax for a short time,, that I'm becoming physically dependant on it to sleep!
I don't want to get into the "drug regime" syndrome and keep trying different pills with their side effects and dependancy or weaning on and off programs, it's enough that I'm on the Xanax for two months for sleep! Although I spend all day and night from the moment I wake up till I go to sleep, fighting horrible anxiety,, I'm afraid to get hooked into more drugs. The other night for the first time in TWO MONTHS for no apparant reason I felt calm. I decided I was going to go to sleep without taking the Xanax (felt for the first time since I started that I did'nt need it). Well after laying in bed waiting to fall asleep, even though I was still up over an hour later, I still was'nt stressed out. I finally felt drowsy and my eyes started closing. Just then I felt like a jolt which snapped me out of the near falling asleep state! This happened a couple more times within a half hour, but then I finally did fall asleep. The only problem is, according to the last time I looked at the clock, I only slept for about 45 minutes!!
It was then I started getting all jittery, realizing my body won't fall asleep without the Xanax! So, I got up, took my pill and shortly after fell asleep. Although, I woke up only three and a half hours later (Xanax's famous short time limit)! Now I'm worried that although it seems I'm not mentally addicted to the drug (otherwise I would'nt have gone to bed without it) it seems my body won't sleep without it, therefore,, am I already physically dependant on it? I don't want to feel I have to take it if I'm not nervous or anxious, but also don't want to worry that if I don't take it,, I WON'T SLEEP!
Would welcome any suggestions or similar circumstances.

My BEST WISHES go out to ALL!

MMS1

hry33 · 03-30-2005, 01:43 PM

the xanax dose is small and I wouldnt worry about it, try melatonin for sleep it helps sometimes
try to learn how to relax and to calm yourself
theres lots of info about tinnitus on the net and coping with it

MMS1 · 03-31-2005, 12:29 AM

Hi Hry33,
Yea, I've even gone the melatonin route, I think a "placebo" has more potency. I realize it works for some but did absolutely nothing for me. It's really not the tennitus that's bothering me,, it's a distortion that I get, sounds like talking through a comb covered with tin foil and I get the same sound from people talking around me (have'nt read anything similar to that symptom). But the constant anxiety which keeps me a "basket case" day and night is what's totally turned my life upside down! Then the fact that I can't stay asleep for more then a couple hours, then I take more Xanax (small does as it may be) along with two to three Valerian (think I'm overdoing the Valerian), and wake up feeling like I have'nt slept. I have to Force Feed myself just to maintain an ongoing weight loss that has me worried (always jittery and nauseated so can't eat).
I'd love to learn how to relax and calm myself, but everything I read on this board is starting to get depressing, because of the hundreds of people who are suffering similar conditions, are overwhelmed with Anxiety, panic, and depression,,, yet,, with all the drugs and doctors suggestions,,, most of these people are still suffering for weeks, months and YEARS! There's no shortage of doctors who will suggest MULTIPLE drugs or just tell you "if your pill is'nt working,, take MORE of it"! After all,, we're just guinea pigs to them!!
Self meditation to me is great for someone who is'nt that strung out with Anxiety to where they can calmly sit, focus and actually just tell themselves to "relax". And I've heard quite a bit from people who say,, "focus on something else", or "keep occupied". Also great idea if you have something to keep you focused or occupied constantly (most, including me,,DON'T). I know I sound as though I've got a "defeatous" attitude,, but it's just so far nothing's worked to calm me down, get me to sleep, take the edge off the Anxiety and I'm wondering if I'm just going to be a canidate for a "higher dose" of medication to get me though this. I'm still searching for other "natural" remedies to help rather then the drugs. There's alot out there including alot of worthless remedies, or remedies not geared towards this high a level of Stress, anxiety and depression. Still searching though!
Thanks for you reply and BE WELL!!!

MMS1