I'm heading to the doctor's myself, tomorrow afternoon. Some of it's the standard yearly check-up (about two years late--oops). Some of it is getting shots for my Senegal trip in December. But I'm also thinking of asking my doctor whether going on some anti-anxiety meds for a short while might be a good thing. I've found myself staring off into space hyperventilating more than once lately, and attempting to self-medicate with food and, occasionally, booze. Which doesn't strike me as terribly healthy. Does anyone have any suggestions, comments, stories of joy and/or warning about this sort of thing?

Anyway he said because I am heavy for my height that I would only need to gain 10-15 lbs when pregnant. Is he on crack? I've never heard of gaining so little weight when pregnant.

I was very overweight during my pregnancies and my doc recommended I not gain over 25 lbs, which is what I did with Nate and with Abby, it was only 21 lbs. They don't want you increasing your risk of gestational diabetes.

...who works on Labor Day? Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk I'm sorry.

Thanks flea and Barb. I still want to lose weight and get in better shape before getting pregnant, but that's good to know.

Calli, I stress eat a lot and I haven't felt the urge to do that since starting effexor, fwiw.

Does anyone have any suggestions, comments, stories of joy and/or warning about this sort of thing?

Well, I'd only recommend anti-anxiety meds if you had some huge stress in your life. Like a sick parent....oh, riiiiight.

In all seriousness, (1) you *do* have a significant amount of stress on you now, which (2) is what Xanax/Ativan is for.

Yes, you can try meditation, chanting, etc. -- I don't discount their very real effect on lowering anxiety -- but seriously. Significant parental illness is a massive stressor. If you need anti-anxiety med, by all means, call your doctor and get some. I'm sure your doctor will agree.

I should add that Ativan has been helpful for me; I know other Buffistas have taken it, and I think it's been helpful for them, too.

Anyway he said because I am heavy for my height that I would only need to gain 10-15 lbs when pregnant. Is he on crack? I've never heard of gaining so little weight when pregnant.

I only gained about 15 lbs during my pregnancy, and then lost about 35 as soon as D was born. Apparently pregnancy followed by being off hormonal birth control really agreed with me.

Xanax and effexor. OK, thanks. I'll look into those. Thanks.

Calli, effexor is an AD not an anxiety meds. I just mentioned it because it really does help with the stress eating.

OK. I expect if I get these panic attacks and whatnot under control through whatever mechanism, stress eating will be less of an issue. But thanks for the clarification.

The thing that helps with my stress eating is cutting out refined sugar.

It hurts like a bee-yotch to go off (headaches, serious jonesing) for about a week with three really bad days in the middle...

But once the job is done my eating pretty much stops being compulsive and boredom/stress related.