emphasema and anxiety

[nlighten]

A few months ago, i was having such chest pains that i went to emergency room, thinking i must be having heart attack, although my heart wasnt beating fast. After x rays, they tell me i have lung issue smoking related to go to my primecare dr. I take the xrays, shes says she doesnt see anything to be to concerned about , i have a smokers lung. I ask for ct scan, and find out i have Emphasema in the top lobes of both lungs,and if i quit smoking all will be ok. I go to pulmanary dr, he says he would not say i had E....i quit smokeing with chantix...I am on no drugs for the E. I have been having anxiety and my dr gives me xanex for this.. now , after 4 mo of being on chatix, i have stoped it, i had quit smoking within a week of taking it, but stayed on the med to be sure i didnt crave it. Now , im still stressed out and my dr gives me lexipro,10 mg... my gyno puts me back on premarin, 0.625, as i had  a total hysto 14 yrs ago, i am 50 now. I had been off the premarin becasue i was a smoker. I just want to hear if anyone  has had sucess with lexipro for depression and anxiety, as i am very stressed,depressed and now i dont really trust what my dr tells me...and i still have the chest pains...like pins sticking my lungs at times...

[magen7984]

your lungs are probley healing that is the feelings you are having i take xanax but my friend was on lexapro and she said it helped her

[396SS]

I hear that quitting smoking is hard, so kudos.  But the quitting is probably hard on your nerves, so try to be patient with yourself.  I know people that started smoking for anxiety reasons, but I will not start that habit!  Anyhow, a friend of mine is on Lexapro and it helped him with depression, but I don't know about anxiety.  I read an article about that American Idol contestant - Kat, who had anxiety/bulemia and Lexapro helped her, but she says she still gets a little anxious every now and then.  Honestly, no pill takes it all away, so I try to use other techniques (deep breathing, exercise) to help.  Still gets me sometimes (like this week).  Xanax didn't really work that great for me, but valium or ativan does. It really depends on the person.  I don't know much about emphysema, but I do know that I get chest pain all the time with my anxiety (again, have it right now).  Never smoked in my life.  Hope this helps, take care:)

[nlighten]

thank you for your support .ive been on the lexipro now for a few weeks and can tell a big difference, although, im going to have to get back on chantix, as im again craving smoking,insane as this sounds, after being quit for 4 mo......it is a struggle, im so thankful for this forum!!!!