Severe Anxiety at Work

[Blue4me2]

I have serious anxiety and panic issues due to having IBS-D. This anxiety and panic was affecting my ability to function at work (until Dr. gave me Xanax), and I am in my 1st nursing job after nursing school. My family doctor prescribed me Xanax which has really been helping with the IBS and the anxiety, unfortunately she will no longer write me a script for it ( I have only four pills left) and has given me a script for Buspar. I do not know if Buspar is going to work for me.

I am very sensitive to medications and am unsure when I can even begin taking the Buspar in case I have any horrible side effects (was given paxil a year ago and developed horrible diarrhea and cramps for three days from just a small dose - could not be far from a toilet). I am now anxious about losing my job if I have to miss days because I am not well because of the IBS-D or the new medication.

I have only been working as a nurse for one month and am still in the probationary period. I do not really get adequate time off to try a new med that might give me problems ( days off are usually Wed & Sat one week the Fri & Sunday the next week). I am so stressed out at this point and I just don't know what to do.

I know nursing jobs are hard to come by for new grads which just adds additional stress because if I do get fired for missing time I will probably not be able to find another job. I have been considering asking for less hours until I can get this worked out, but since they are short staffed already, I fear that this may not be a good idea. I also do not want to disclose this medical condition because most people just don't understand it at all even those who work in healthcare.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what to do?

[paddler]

That does not sound fun. I have had issues with IBS also and it makes for a stressful day. I haven't tried any medications though, just deal with it. I find it's much worse when I'm stressed which sort of compounds and makes the problem worse. You are under no obligation to share your medical issue with your employer, but it may be best for you to do so given the circumstances. Tell them the problem and the predicament you are in, and lay out a couple of suggestions that you think may help. If they are short staffed they probably cannot afford to lose you altogether, right? (I also just wanted to say, as a comment, that your post with the big type face was really difficult to read. Sorry.)

[paddler]

Thanks for fixing the font... It's not so bad now. :) What did you decide to do?

[MomRN0913]

I see you do have a very high level of anxiety. What I think is best is if you speak to a therapist. You are already giving yourself side effects of a medication you haven't tried yet, and are thinking you are going to need all this time off to deal with something that probably won't happen if you don't get yourself all worked up over it.

Try the med. Guess what, you probably won't experience side effects. Getting yourself all worked up over what MIGHT happen isn't going to help you much.

Best of luck to you.

[classicdame, MSN, EdD]

have this issue too but controlled now with meds. Do what the MD says and try not to worry so much. I know that is hard, but you have my permission to let it go.

[Lucky724]

Most people tolerate Buspar very well...if you did ok on Xanax there should not be an issue w/the new medication..I assume you work 12 hr shifts..start the medication on a day you have off and take it from there. I'm sure the IBS is a stressor for you but you also seem to have high anxiety overall so the suggestions of seeing a therapist may not be a bad idea. As far as the Paxil and the issues it caused...there are other meds available and it's not unusual for SSRI and SNRI's to cause some stomach/GI upset/issues for the first few days. Hang in there..good luck.