I'm on my own.

[TattooedJared]

Well, I saw my Doctor last week as I had mentioned. He perscribed Ativan. He suggested i take a test run with it which I was going to do anyway. I did so and it did absolutely nothing for me.
I called today to see if he could give me something else since it didnt work(the pharmacist told me Valium is what he honestly felt I should have because it has a better success rate). I even told them I would give them the Ativan I have if they could give me something more effective.
He called me back and basically told me he wouldnt give me anything else, and I better bring some sorta game to take my mind off panicing, and straight out admitted theres a good chance I have a panic attack. "Thats what flight attendants are trained for".

Needless to say I am pretty annoyed, since I have no insurance, so I had to pay for my visit to see him last week, and paid for pills that are about as useful as eating PEZ. I can think of alot better uses for the money I just wasted on this guy. I could see where hes coming from if I wanted to hang onto my ativan AND get new pills. I thought maybe he would be understanding with my history of anxiety disorders. Trying to get out of a moving car in traffic because of a panic attack isnt exactly normal.

Anyway....I now face my fear without help from a pill.....or the security blanket comfort of knowing I have a pill I can take if I panic. I hope I can stay on the plane. And not cause a scene, embarrassing myself severely.:cry:

[noflyingfan]

I can understand your annoyance, but like Monica said; your doctor was probably just being cautious. And possibly practicing a little tough love as well.

I wouldn't rule out relaxation exercises. They take concentration and practice, but they help, and they're cheapter than pharmaceuticals. :tongue:

[MarcoAviator]

Anyway....I now face my fear without help from a pill.....or the security blanket comfort of knowing I have a pill I can take if I panic. I hope I can stay on the plane. And not cause a scene, embarrassing myself severely.:cry:

I am not ready to criticize your need for the pill ... as a crutch or securty blanket, because god only knows how painful and gut wrenching panic attacks can be.

I have had my own shares of mind-obliterating panic shocks and when they come, they are like freight trains, after they run you over, you don't know what hit you.

But ... in all my FOF-er life, I never took a pill. I dealt with my panic, as is, stark naked and sans-pills.

It's hard. Sometimes I don't know where to run to. But I always managed to resist the temptation to give in and make a scene (even if I came close!) or bolt away and leave the flight.

It can be done.

You can fly without pills. It will be tough but your mind is stronger than your body. I am living proof of that.

If I Marco "The Wimp" can do it, so can you!

Say it:

Screw it! I'm Going!

[Barb-SAN]

I dealt with my panic, as is, stark naked and sans-pills.


Marco...have you been omitting some details in your trip reports??? :lol:

[StPeteMark]

Well, I saw my Doctor last week as I had mentioned. He perscribed Ativan. He suggested i take a test run with it which I was going to do anyway. I did so and it did absolutely nothing for me.
I called today to see if he could give me something else since it didnt work(the pharmacist told me Valium is what he honestly felt I should have because it has a better success rate). ...Both drugs are in the same family, but are prescribed for reasons the doctor feels appropriate.

The fact that ativan " it did absolutely nothing for me " is not necessarily bad; it only means that the prescribed dosage will probably not adversely affect you. When prescribed in the proper dosage, these drugs are meant to make you feel normal while working on your brain chemistry in the background to reduce anxiety and panic.

In your test run, you probably got your "something" and didn't know it. Google "ativan" and you'll find it to be a very effective med for anxiety and panic.

Don't let this no-reaction add to you case of reasons for not flying since it's very likely to be unfounded. Using this med along with your other tools will give you the potential for an enjoyable, panic-free flight.

If you really need a greater sense of comfort, please get a second opinion...BUT this time from an MD therapist (psychiatrist). All they do is treat conditions of the mind and, in my opinion based on personal experience as a patient, they have a better understanding of meds for mental conditions.
.

[MarcoAviator]

Marco...have you been omitting some details in your trip reports??? :lol:

Oh yeah ... I forgot to mention the thong ... :blush:

[LuxEnuff]

Jared, this means that you need to broaden your toolset as you work on the problem. (Though I like StPeteMark's idea that the medication may simply be operating "in the background.")

Aerobat posted excellent advice on how to do that (#14) in the "my newest worry" thread. Go there and read it again! In my own case in dealing with panic (my big problem too) I've benefitted (so far) from a book I found suggested on anxieties.com--H. Reid Wilson's "Don't Panic; taking control of anxiety attacks." It's only fifteen bucks new. I doubt everything in the book will be tailored to your specific situation, but I'm giving it a positive review.

Lux

[mirimont]

have you ever tried bach flowers rescue remedy? you put 4 drops under your tongue and let it stay as long as possible, or you can put 4 drops on a bottle of water and sip it during your flight it works for me and I am scared of flying too ,you can buy this in natural food stores

[Barb-SAN]

Jared, I remember your first post here, because it struck me that you said that you were very "Anti-Drug", but were considering asking your Dr. for Valium. I've linked the post here for reference.
http://www.takingflight.us/forums/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=63723

Is it possible that your philosophy about drug use is part of the "problem"?

It was a problem for me...I got my Dr. to prescribe Valium, but then I was afraid to take it and run the risk of being "out of control" or a zombie on the plane. Plus I just didn't like the idea of relying on a drug to do something (fly) that I was once able to do comfortably without drugs. I did take a benzo the last flight I took years ago before grounding myself for 13 years , and I felt anxious with a racing heart the entire flight. That made ME wary of relying on drugs as a "solution".

I'm curious...do you feel relaxed when you go to have your hair cut? I find I usually get so relaxed I almost fall asleep. I think the reason is that I sit VERY still so that I won't get cut by the scissors by accident. Those "still" muscles tell my brain that I'm relaxed....and I soon feel very drowsy.

One of the fear of flying videos that I used showed a relaxation technique especially for fearful flyers. You tighten your leg muscles for about 20 seconds, then relax them, and don't move them again. Then tighten your biceps, hold for 20 sec., relax, and don't move them again. Then, just sit there, without fidgeting at all. That's telling your muscles that there is no work for them to do, they can relax, and let you get sleepy. You could try that as a little experiment, and see if you can let yourself fall asleep sitting up in a chair as if you were on the plane. If you try it now, and it works, you've got a quick and easy, natural relaxation tool, with no risk of side effects or loss of control.

A lot of us have posted tips for you in the last week, of things that have helped us. It's up to you if you want to try them out, and see if ANY of them are effective. You also have to BELIEVE that it's possible that they can work, and WANT them to work for you. A positive outlook can work miracles! :thumbsup:

[ylwbrckrd]

Jared - I have major fear of flying issues and my doctor prescribes Ativan to help me through it. A lot of the time I don't "feel" anything from the medication - I'm not to the point of passing out, not slurring my words etc. But for the me the Ativan does help to ease my anxiety enough for me to get on the plane and stay there. The one thing I do recommend is that you don't wait too long to take it. If you do then the anxiety can take hold and is much more difficult to deal with. My most recent flight from VA to Utah in April was very successful - coming home much better than the flight out because I waited until I got to the gate to take the meds. My goal is that one day I will not need Ativan to have successful flights - I'm working on it but it's hard when you don't fly very often. I don't think that using anxiety reducing meds is a crutch. Some people just need a little help and a few positive experiences under their belt.
I also highly recommend that you talk to the pilot, gate agent, and attendants. I took that advice from this site, along with the letter that you can print, and I honestly think that might have helped more than anything. People really do care and want you to be comforatble on the flight. I hope this site helps you as much as it did me. Good luck!

[PositiveAgain]

I agree with St. Pete Mark wholeheartedly.

Don't let this no-reaction add to you case of reasons for not flying since it's very likely to be unfounded. Using this med along with your other tools will give you the potential for an enjoyable, panic-free flight.


I have suffered from Panic Disorder in varying degrees for over 25 years now. I take Ativan when I fly. I'm sitting here at my desk at work not feeling nervous at all right now. If I took at Ativan now I wouldn't feel any effects really. When I fly though, a 1 mg. Ativan at least an hour before my flight really helps to take the edge off. I'm not sure how to describe it but it's almost like the Ativan helps to "absorb" the anxiety. It's not the only thing I do that helps me, but it's an extra tool.

Also Lux mentioned H. Reid Wilson's "Don't Panic"... AWESOME book! If you don't have it, I highly recommend that you get yourself a copy.

IMO, I think it's best to get on the flight knowing that you might have a panic attack and then dealing with the panic when it happens. In my experience, it hasn't worked out well for me to say to myself, "I WILL NOT have a panic attack".

I'd say take the Ativan anyway, even if you don't think it does anything. You might be surprised.

[Barb-SAN]

I'd say take the Ativan anyway, even if you don't think it does anything. You might be surprised.

Just a reminder that the final decision of whether or not to take any medication should be between the patient and his/her doctor, and not based on advise, recommendations, or others' experience on an Internet website.

[noflyingfan]

Just a reminder that the final decision of whether or not to take any medication should be between the patient and his/her doctor, and not based on advise, recommendations, or others' experience on an Internet website.

Are you saying that information obtained on the internet isn't always 100% accurate and trustworthy? :tongue:

Just kidding. I think we all realize that we're all just regular folks telling about our own personal experiences -- we're not doctors or therapists (well, except for Spiffy and Monica, who, for the purposes of this board, are just regular folks too). Positive Again's experience is as valid as anyone's, and Jared is smart enough to make his own decision based on conversations with his doctor. :thumbsup:

Perhaps that's why Mark still hasn't taken my advice to get ice cream from Coldstone Creamery; he's waiting for a professional opinion. :tongue:

[Barb-SAN]

It is good to share experiences and folks here do really know what they are talking about. Of course, the Dr has to be the final word.

Jared, I just hope meds or no meds you are getting ready for that trip.

Lest my words were misconstrued, I was not implying that people here don't know what they are talking about. We certainly can all speak authoritatively about OUR OWN EXPERIENCES, positive or negative, with or without drugs.

My issue really was with PositiveAgain's comment to Jared, "I'd say take the Ativan anyway, even if you don't think it does anything". In my mind, that is crossing the line between talking about her own experiences, and making a medical recommendation to Jared. None of us knows Jared's medical history, and none of us is qualified to make that recommendation for him to take the medication, or not take it. THAT is the issue best decided between him and his Dr., with a second opinion from another Dr., if he feels it is necessary.

Certainly, it's worth being aware of examples like Capt.Ray posted last week about the woman who was denied boarding because she was acting intoxicated from taking more than the prescribed amount of Xanax. And it's important to know of the dangers of combining alcohol and xanax. There is a great deal we can learn from each other...but I think when it comes to prescription drugs we need to be very careful to not make specific recommendations, especially which drugs, what dosage, and whether or not to take them. That is a very individual matter that needs to be decided and supervised by a Dr.

And speaking of Jared, where is he, anyway??

[noflyingfan]

Barb, I don't think anyone misconstrued your comments. I was just being cheeky with my post anyway, and I think Monica said essentially the same thing you did about personal experience stories being great when taken as personal experience stories, but official advice having to come from a doctor. :thumbsup:

And woe to anyone who would actually TAKE medical advice from a stranger on the internet, even if they ARE a doctor. Nothing against Positive Again, because of course all she meant to post was this worked for me and it might for you. But no matter what people post, there has to be some responsibility on the reader too. Any one of us could say, hey, Jared, you should take the whole bottle of Ativan at once and chase it with Cherry flavored NyQuil and some Tylenol PM. And if he's dumb enough to actually do that, there's not much we can do to help the poor lad no matter what we say. Luckily, he's smarter than that. :)

I think we all understand the boundaries, and when it comes right down to it, we all just have to use common sense, posting and reading.

I love how we are all so careful to explain ourselves here, though. We're all so careful not to offend -- it's actually quite refreshing, considering the tendency of some people to suddenly forget to act human when they go online, just because the people they're talking to can't see them. :rolleyes:

[Passenger Mark]

Hi Everybody!

http://www.worldwide-web.com/JeffreyBabad/Simpsons/Nick/nick.jpg

That's what Dr. Nick says on the Simpsons!

But wait... I'm not a Doctor... even if I stayed at a Holiday Inn last night... I would STILL not be a Doctor.

As far as I know there are only two Doctors here on the board.

So.... I have this odd policy for Taking Flight that recommending medication here on Taking Flight is strictly a big NO-NO!

It's not that people making such recommendations are evil mean representatives of the pharmaceutical industry, but that they are not qualified to make such recommendations. Who is qualified? Well... the member's doctor. Their doctor is the one and only person that is qualified to make any type of medical recommendations... including medications.

So... I already see the hands waving in the air...

"But Mark... what is the difference in sharing our experiences, and making recommendations?"

Good question Mary Jane! If you come on and say...

Ativan works for me, it takes the edge off. My Doctor prescribed .5 mg which I take about an hour before my flight. Before using it on a flight, I tried it at home just to see how I would react to it. But please... check with your doctor to see what they think."

Or, as in the case of this thread...

"Test runs don't always work for me either. For me... Ativan has a noticeable effect when under stress. However, when I am calm... I don't usually notice anything either"

These types of statements are fine.

But if you come on and say...

Go get you some Ativan and start popping those puppies till you see green dragons and yellow submarines!

That is the big NO-NO!

Awww... I see more hands a-waving!

"Oh come on Mark... what's the big deal. It worked for me... and I just want to share what works for me, just like you share your experiences."

Another good question Billy Bob!

The problem is that we don't really know each other that well. Some medications are not clean, in other words that can have negative side effects when interacting with other meds the person may be using. Some peoples chemical make-up does not tolerate certain medications. Again... who knows someone's medical history best? That's right... Their Doctor!!!!

I would be wreckless in my responsibilities if I allowed folks to dispense medical advice here vs discussion of their own experiences.

OK... one last question....

"Mark... ummm... why are you bringing this up? Did I write something wrong?"

No... not at all. I have read the thread and don't see anything wrong. I have had some folks contact me thinking that we may need to clarify the whole medication issue, and how we handle it here.

It really is not that difficult. When it comes to medications, stick to reflecting to your own experiences, and always end with "Check with your Doctor".

As for our two REAL Doctors here on the site... they can be an excellent resource in giving history, and explanations on what these medications are, and how they work. They also can explain where the member's doctor may be "coming from". Why they do or do not do certain things. That is not recommending anything, merely sharing their knowledge... which is appreciated!

And now... if there are no more questions... The disclaimer!

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</IMG>

[CaptainStark]

Jared was prescribed Ativan. He can have it available if need be. His dry run indicated no ill effects but he also didn't see any benefit. Chelle's comments about it's effect to calm anxiety seems to answer why he saw no relevant "feelings" after trying it because he was not in an anxious state. That may come the morning of his trip.

I think we have given Jared a host of suggestions and tips. This is a self-help site and Jared is now the Captain of his own destiny, like many of our members who have gone before. It is my feeling that Jared is again the victim of Pre-Flight Anxiety and he will find the actual flight 95% less anxiety stimulating than his pre-departure brain believes is possible. I believe this because almost to a person, this is the recurring story once people get on the plane and fly.

Hopefully, Jared will pop back on the board in awhile to tell us his experience was typical. Until then....

:ray:

[Barb-SAN]

We CANNOT determine how an anxiety (or any other) drug is going to affect you. I like the fact that that's one of the reasons we don't like to spend a lot of time in here talking about it.
Debbie

I'd like to second that thought...and would also prefer to spend most of the time here talking about all the OTHER ways to deal with FoF.

[Barb-SAN]

P.S. Are we still talking about this? Hasn't Jared's flight left already? :)

He said in another post it was on Friday...I'm wondering where he is also.

[StPeteMark]

...Actually, I'm still waiting for a couple of plugs that I requested almost a year ago!plugs?
.

[TattooedJared]

Im still here. LOL. I was in panic mode trying to take everything in I think.

I am starting to calm down slightly. I hope it stays this way until Friday when I leave!

Sorry, I didnt mean to go quiet. I was just reviewing everything and trying to figure out my best course of action to deal with my anxiety when I get to the airport.
Im just praying I get on that plane and stay there on Friday night :rolleyes:

[TattooedJared]

Jared was prescribed Ativan. He can have it available if need be. His dry run indicated no ill effects but he also didn't see any benefit. Chelle's comments about it's effect to calm anxiety seems to answer why he saw no relevant "feelings" after trying it because he was not in an anxious state. That may come the morning of his trip.

I think we have given Jared a host of suggestions and tips. This is a self-help site and Jared is now the Captain of his own destiny, like many of our members who have gone before. It is my feeling that Jared is again the victim of Pre-Flight Anxiety and he will find the actual flight 95% less anxiety stimulating than his pre-departure brain believes is possible. I believe this because almost to a person, this is the recurring story once people get on the plane and fly.

Hopefully, Jared will pop back on the board in awhile to tell us his experience was typical. Until then....

:ray:


Im really hoping this is the case. I keep telling myself that hopefully I will enjoy flying.
Yet I still have that worry that I will have a panic attack at takeoff.

I have access to a computer during my stay in England, so I will definately pop back on to let everyone know if I made it to England, and when I return home I will give a detailed report of both my flight there and back :thumbsup:

[spiffyone]

Hey, I just noticed the keyboard doesn't have a "cent" icon on it anymore...when did they get rid of that?
(probably 1984, which was the last time I would have looked for it)
Anyway - if Ray's opinion is worth 2 cents, mine is probably only worth 1...
I would just say that, even though I know how awful panic attacks feel and sympathize with wanting to avoid them, I think we focus too much on not having them...like it will only be a successful trip if we do it AND don't panic.
It's a successful trip if you get on the plane, and stay on it, until it takes off (and you therefore make it to your destination).
In the past I've beat myself up a lot for flights that have had more anxiety/panic symptoms than others...and now I think a lot of that has to do with other stuff going on in your life, and your mental state when flying will vary and it's not a verdict on your courage or your ability to "be strong" if you are anxious when flying.
So now I plan to be anxious...I remind myself that I am going to have these feelings/symptoms, they don't correlate with any real danger about the flight, it's just because of the way I am...it doesn't mean anything, and it is a successful flight if I don't get off (I've never gotten off).
When I stopped beating myself up about the "bad" flights, I realized I have flown 18 times in the past 6 months - half of them alone. Um, I consider that to be success.

[TattooedJared]

Jared - geez, you had us worried for a minute!

Anyway, you're only in your own little Preflight Anxiety Hell-Hole. That's fine. We've all been in it! Not for you to worry about.

Sounds to me like you're good and ready to go. You will NOT have a panic attack. You WILL remember everything you've learned here. You'll review the information you received. You'll print out everything that you think pertains to you. You'll concentrate on all the junk you've got in your Goodie Bag.

Ray's right. This is a Self-Help Forum. We give you tools and YOU build with them. We can't tell you how to hold the hammer. We can only give it to you.

But now you know just what to do with it, right Jared? You're gonna smash your Fear Monster right over the head with it!:lol:



I sure hope I can smash it! LOL. I had an odd thought that helped me. I thought "I am getting to do something that people who lived so many years ago never got to do". I lucked out to live at a time when flying is possible, and I can experience what those who lived before flying could only dream of.
I am still scared, but thats a great thought I had. I have my CD player ready. For some reason, even though im not a big AC/DC fan, the song Thunderstruck has been motivating me! I will be listening to it on the plane! :thumbsup:

[CaptainStark]

EXCELLENT POST!

You ARE the Spirit of Taking Flight!:thumbsup:
You ROCK!:tiphat:

:ray:

[Barb-SAN]

It's a successful trip if you get on the plane, and stay on it, until it takes off (and you therefore make it to your destination).
In the past I've beat myself up a lot for flights that have had more anxiety/panic symptoms than others...and now I think a lot of that has to do with other stuff going on in your life, and your mental state when flying will vary and it's not a verdict on your courage or your ability to "be strong" if you are anxious when flying.

So now I plan to be anxious...I remind myself that I am going to have these feelings/symptoms, they don't correlate with any real danger about the flight, it's just because of the way I am...it doesn't mean anything, and it is a successful flight if I don't get off (I've never gotten off).


I totally agree. Even though I've taken quite a few flights in the last three years, as well as all those Cessna lessons, I STILL have my moments of anticipatory anxiety in the days and hours leading up to the flight. Sometimes it's been more noticeable than others, but every time it completely disappeared by the time I actually got on the plane. So now, if I feel a little nervous, I just try to distract myself and keep on packing, going through my checklist for closing up the house, do some exercise, etc. (proven strategies for me), and have faith that the anxiety will fade if I don't "feed it" or focus too much on it.

Jared, are you going to post your flight details on the tracking forum? Have you been able to track your flight yet? That will be great, to see your enthusiastic post once you arrive in England and see your friend. I think you will be just fine. Anyone who can sit through hours of tattoo needles has been proven to have a lot of courage!! :thumbsup:

[StPeteMark]

EXCELLENT POST! You ARE the Spirit of Taking Flight!:thumbsup: You ROCK!:tiphat: :ray:YEAH!!! Everyone of us who gets on the plane ROCKS!!! :banana: :spot: :banana:
.

[PositiveAgain]

Spiffy... your post is SO key. I LOVED it! And you know what, I'm flying on May 18th and for some strange reason I have started to have more anticipatory anxiety then I've had for a long time. Your post really helped me put things in perspective.

I AM SO SORRY GUYS THAT I MISSPOKE!

I will try to be more careful in the way I word comments about medication. I think most of you understood what I was trying to convey.

Anyhoo... let's move on!

[noflyingfan]

say "WHEEEE" when the plane's speeding up down the runway. It's such a blast!

Debbie
That reminds me, Debbie -- I swear I heard someone say "wheeee" on one of my honeymoon flights. I thought of you immediately; it was all I could do not to yell "Debbie? You on here?" :lol:

And Mark, thanks for clarifying the medication thing. I'm sure we're going to get lots of questions in the future from people who are trying this or that and want to know how it worked for other people, so it's good to have the policy, as it were, all laid out.

[StPeteMark]

I agree with St. Pete Mark wholeheartedly.
I have suffered from Panic Disorder in varying degrees for over 25 years now. I take Ativan when I fly. I'm sitting here at my desk at work not feeling nervous at all right now. If I took at Ativan now I wouldn't feel any effects really. When I fly though, a 1 mg. Ativan at least an hour before my flight really helps to take the edge off. I'm not sure how to describe it but it's almost like the Ativan helps to "absorb" the anxiety. It's not the only thing I do that helps me, but it's an extra tool. ...
IMO, I think it's best to get on the flight knowing that you might have a panic attack and then dealing with the panic when it happens. In my experience, it hasn't worked out well for me to say to myself, "I WILL NOT have a panic attack". I'd say take the Ativan anyway, even if you don't think it does anything. You might be surprised.Pos and me are in a small minority here...we have suffered from "chronic" panic disorder for over 25 years. Chronic is the key word since we have to deal with various situations on nearly a daily basis for the rest of our life, just not FOF when a trip is planned. This disorder is like any other physical condition that needs medical attention. For me, meds are not an option; they are necessary like meds are necessary for a heart patient. We try to narrow our opinions and suggestions based long-term experience. But, anyone reading our posts, or any others, the bottom line is to see your doctor before taking ANY action. We share what works with us; we hope our experience will help you understand you are not alone and help is out there to get you to a successful conclusion to you goal.
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