New rider on this roller coaster of anxiety

[buckeyegirl]

Hi All,

I am fairly new to suffering anxiety / panic issues and this is the first time I have joined any type of forum. My doctor suggested I talk to others who understand the things I am currently struggling with. She felt this may be the best medicine for me. I have read through many posts before but this is the first time I have taken the big step and actually posted something myself. Needless to say I am a bit nervous.

I have been struggling for around 6 weeks with pretty frequent anxiety issues. I have made 3 trips to the ER, once for "heart attack" symptoms, once for extreme headaches, and once for being so dizzy I could not function. I have already been through the constant chest pains, heart palps, inability to swallaow, fear of going anywhere alone, neck pain, headaches, weight loss (17 pounds), extreme uncontrolable shakes, extreme dizzyness....I feel like it is a never ending cycle. And after multiple tests and blood work the docs say everything looks ok, just have the anxiety, gee thanks doc...i feel better already :(

Well for just over a week I was feeling quite a bit better. I changed to a new PCP, wonderful lady, tried 2 different meds, both made me sick so I stopped taking them. I actually went shopping for fun. Symptoms seemed to be subsiding. I even had company over (I have always loved summer and summer parties!!!)....then dun dun dun....

Now I have been having pain in my left calf, left knee and left inner thigh for the past 2 and a half days. The pain is not terrible but its not fun either. Its kind of dull and a little burning. Of course I have already googled this and have all but convinced my anxiety ridden brain that I have a blood clot in my leg. It took everything I had not to go to the ER again last night but I stuck it out. It seems that every day its something new, some new symptom for me to mull over. Now it will be Wednesday before I can see my PCP about this, I just hope I can control my brain from racing until then.

I know that things will get better, I am trying very hard to get to the bottom of what may be causing it. Trouble is my situation has actually vastly improved in the past 6 months. I am doing better all around than I have in years. So why now? Why is it coming on now? Its so frustrating.

[Enduronman]

Do you really want the real answer? The truth? It may sound extremely complicated, but its actually quite the opposite..I will TRY to make this as easy as possible to understand, please bare with me as my attempt to promote comprehension may be quite futile. I will number them in order of importance.

1. You must understand that the previous situations that created extreme stresses and conditions within your life, the moments that you lived and survived through, the issues you saw and dealt with..were all processed by your eyes, brain, mind, thought.
2. These situational stressors were then transmitted to the glands in your neck for clarification, verification, certification.
3. These codes were then sent to (all internal regulating systems, endocrine system, adrenal system)
4. During times of "chronic to intense to extreme external stress inputs from the outside world', all of these systems are regulated by the main control panel and provide your body with a desired and directed amount of chemicals necessary for stability in your life, to keep you alive.
5. Your body performs as a finely tuned killing maching, even though theres nothing, or no one to kill. It does not know the difference as to whether its an argument with a bus driver, or an attack from a viking..it is not selective, it has no clue. Nor would it function differently if it did. It is all perceived as being "that same".
6. It is when things seem to be "vastly improving" that your internal regulating systems are the most baffled. It does not understand nor know how to de-regulate the complex workings of its own systems, just because things got better. It was functioning at "Overdrive" during all these stressful events,whether known or not, duration + degree which of course = "Total stress load"..
7.This is where the systems that are so finely tuned, go out of control..during a "Lull in the action". What you are experiencing is called a "21st Century Stress Syndrome" or in other words that only our ancestors could understand a "nervous breakdown" because of all accumulated internal failures and overwrites...
8. The pain you are experincing is being caused by your own body. The scary version is that you had better get this under control ASAP or it will leave permanent damage. It not only attacks your muscles and joints..it also attacks your organs. This is an (autoimmune system) disease that you must figure out, learn about, study, acknowledge, and understand. The quicker you stop its attack, the better off you will be. You're not going to die, but this make your life a living hell. I've been here.. I've been everywhere I believe, and not real sure why I had to go there either as I didnt enlist or sign up for it.

So, I kept it short. NO reason to overwhelm you with things that are not crucial at this point. I only wish to know what the Dr's "opinions" are and what medications theve got you on too?..It is also very helpful to know your age, physical shape, BP, some vitals...I dont need a name, just some things about WHO you are, and I will know if this is how you got to where you now are..

PS: DO NOT feel weird or odd about joining a forum, NO threat, NO reason, NO harm,..only knowledge. and we're all just like you anyway so just roll with it.

Your Dr. made the right suggestion to reach out, now lets see if we can get the Dr. to do as he or she is going to be asked to get you back to a life you once knew...;)

Enduronman.

[buckeyegirl]

Thank you so much for your reply, I wasnt sure this posted the other day, so I posted a new thread. I will get the hang of this soon I am sure. I am 32, I am 5 foot 3, I am now down to 119 pounds, not something I have been since high school and a smoker (I know, I know LOL). The doctors have given me xanax which completely floored me and made me instantly sleep, then the next day I was a dizzy mess. Then I tried Buspar which gave me severe insomnia and horrible dizzyness as well. I am in the life/safety industry and can not live life in virtual sleepy fog so have been unable to get past the start up phase of either medication. I stopped taking the medication. I have been trying to take one day at a time. Getting plenty of rest and just taking it easy. I have spent time talking with my father who is a pastor / counsellor which did help me when I was in the middle of an attack. I have been 2 weeks with out a normal panic attack. Now I am just dealing with the physical side effects I guess you could say. The pain in my arm and leg are the concern now. I had an ultrasound on Sunday checking for DVT but my veins are clear. My blood pressure is elevated only when I am having an attack. The highest it has been is 130/100, My pulse/ox was high at those times too although I don't know what it was. Of course the docs want to medicate me and for me to start seeing someone to talk about my issues. I have been working so much that I have been unable to do this yet.
I know I need to get this under control. I am trying to. Thanks again for your reply.

[Enduronman]

There you are!! New posted reply available on your other post too...:) Hey, yer a double-poster type!! Thats the problem right there...LOL!

Enduronman.