Hello Everyone

[jfs]

Hello,

Here is my story as complete as I can get it. I need to start exploring ways to treat this and having a place to talk to people with similar issues. This is my first time reaching out for any help in a forum or group discussion. Please offer any advice and know that I am planning to make this forum a regular part of my life as I've heard this type of thing can be more useful than seeing a therapist. Sorry for writing a book, but here it goes...

I am a 27 year old male from upstate NY and I've been having a hard time with anxiety for the past 4-5 years. Over the past few years I have experienced many different symptoms of anxiety. I have only recently, very reluctantly, admitted to myself that what I have is an anxiety disorder and not a life threatening physical problem. I have convinced myself that my symptoms have pointed to a cardiac related issue but testing has continually proved my heart is healthy. About 5 years ago I was experiencing a constant discomfort in my left shoulder blade all the way around to the center of my left rib cage. It felt like squeezing more than pain. I had been dealing with this discomfort for a couple of weeks before something different accompanied this discomfort. I was eating lunch with co-workers and when I finished I began walking and suddenly became light headed to the point where I passed out. My co-workers called an ambulance at my request and I was carted off to the hospital and treated for a heart attack immediatly. They gave me nitro which didn't help at all, if anything made my feelings worse, ran blood tests, took chest xrays, pumped me full of saline and kept me for a few hours and watched me before shipping me home with a diagnosis of ANXIETY. I was so furious and full of disbelief I insisted further testing once I followed up with my family doctor. So my doctor sent me to have an echocardiogram performed to look for any signs of irregular heart rate or blockage etc. Everything came back good so I was told again I had an anxiety problem and I should start taking meds. I tried several different drugs, lexapro, buspar, prozac etc., before they finally caved and gave me Xanax. The Xanax seemed to help me with these attacks so I took it as needed for about 2 years. After a while most of my symptoms had subsided or I had just come to terms with the discomforts and diziness and stopped taking Xanax all together for about 8 months. Over the past couple months I have began to notice tingling and numbness in my left hand at random times. It only took a few weeks and I was back in the emergancy room again with chest tightness, numbness/discomfort in my left hand/arm and I felt as if I could pass out at any point. One more time blood tests, nitro, chest xray, sent home with clean bill of health. So I followed up with my new family doctor and he suggested that I take these symptoms seriously and he referred me to a cardiologist. They ordered a stress test and a heart monitor to be worn for two weeks to start. Well the Friday before THanksgiving I had the heart monitor hooked up and went on my way. At about noon that same day I had to pull over several times in my car because I felt really faint and my hand was tingling. I drove myself to the emergancy room once again and they kept me for the whole weekend. They performed stress tests on me, blood testing every couple hours, monitered my heart rate for 48 hours and checked vitals non stop. Once again, nothing. So at this point I go home, take the two week heart monitor off and just accept that I am having panic attacks again. I have yet to follow up with my family doctor again but I will be over the next couple days.

I am overweight, I smoked cigarettes for 10 years (up until 13 days ago), I use marijuana maybe 2 or 3 times a month and drink heavily. When I was younger, 18-20 I used cocaine, LSD, several different pills. I am very aware that a lifestyle change is in order and have begun by kicking cigarettes and limiting my alcohol intake. I have read in some places that the heavy alcohol consumption could be dehydrating me to the point where I am very faint and lightheaded which causes me to panic, any insight on that?

I have so much more I want to talk about but I am going to start cruising the forum and handling things one at a time. Thanks to anyone who took the time to read this and I hope I can get and give something good out of joining here.

[mylittlenook]

Sounds very similar to my issues. I have always had anxiety but now at the age of 28 I started getting panic attacks 5 months ago. Just a few nights ago I had the left arm tingling, stiff neck and tight jaw I started sweating like a fountain from the anxiety thinking I was having a heart attack. I have been in the ER enough times in the past month for a concussion, panic attacks - so I refused to go back. When I initially started having panic attacks I had a 24 hour halter monitor hooked up to me to check my heart and like you all my tests came back good. But yet weeks later I'm freaking out because my left arm hurts HOWEVER that can be a symptom of anxiety and tension from the anxiety. So when I had that episode, I refused to go to the ER and I kept reminding myself that my heart was ok and the tests were ok that it was the anxiety. And I managed to get to sleep and I woke up the next morning! Imagine that! :) my body is super sensitive to sensations because that's what happens with panic attacks - on edge, fight or flight and that makes you're body tense. Anxiety and panic can really manifest itself in a number of ways in your body. So my solution that night was, accepting that it was probably a panic attack and if it was a heart attack there was nothing I could do to change that. I just waited it out because I KNEW all my cardio tests came out healthy. I hate how I can't trust my body's sensations anymore but I can't afford to keep going to the ER, you know? So I try to fight my anxiety ridden mind with common sense. It doesn't always work but it's a process of changing your way of thinking, taking care of yourself and getting well. Best wishes xx