ANXIETY ? LET'S MAKE A LIST OF SYMPTOMS AND TESTS TAKEN TO HELP EVERYONE.

[Lightwise]

Reading everyone's concerns on this message board (along with my concerns) I thought it might be a good experiment(and a helpful reference guide for everyone) to list ALL the symptoms they have had and ALL the tests that have come back normal and ALL the specialists they have seen that have concluded that it was all anxiety. If you can put it in a LIST FORM with no back story so it is easy to reference that would be great. The idea here is that we can help eachother by revealing the range of symptoms that anxiety can produce ... this might ease all of our minds and help us get back to the life we were intended to live ... HAPPY and HEALTHY : )
Here is my list:

SYMPTOMS:
FATIGUE
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
FOGGY HEAD, CONCENTRATION PROBLEMS
FREQUENT URINATION
PINS AND NEEDLES FEELING
IMBALANCE WHILE WALKING
HEAVY HEAD
PAIN BEHIND THE EYES
COLD TOES/COLD FINGERS
PALPITATIONS
SOME SHAKINESS/CLUMSINESS
FLOATERS IN VISION

TESTS TAKEN THAT CAME BACK NORMAL:
ECHOCARDIOGRAM
EKG
BRAIN MRI
EYE EXAM
EAR EXAM
EMERGENCY ROOM EKG
4 BLOOD TESTS
STANDARD PHYSICAL

DOCTORS/SPECIALISTS I'VE SEEN WHO SAY IT'S ALL ANXIETY RELATED:
MY PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR
NEUROLOGIST
NUTRITIONIST
THERAPIST
CARDIOLOGIST
EMERGENCY ROOM DOCTOR
PSYCHIATRIST (FRIEND)

[rasticle]

Here is my list:

Symptoms:
Palpatations
Tightness in Chest
Dizzyness(Vertigo)
IBS
Hypertension
Insomnia
Fatigue
Brain Fog
Trouble Consentrating

Tests:
Chest X-ray
Echocardiogram
EKG
Holter Monitor
Abdominal Ultrasound
Blood Studies
Urine metanephrine assay
MRI of Brain
Liver Biopsy

Doctors:
Endocrinologist
Cardiologist
Interist
Psyciatrist
Gastroenterologist
Counselor

This all means Anxiety = $$

[PlateletGal]

Do you have anxiety ?

[rasticle]

I have anxiety and hypertension.

[tanns]

SYMPTOMS:

nausea
chest pain
shortness of breath
dizziness
palpitations
horrible headaches

TESTS DONE:

EKG (4)
ER visit (2)/test for lung clot, EKG, blood workup,
Echocardiogram(3)
CT-Angiogram
Stress Test
Nuclear Stress Test
HIDA Scan
Small bowel series
Endoscopy
Colonoscopy

DOCTORS WHO THINK ANXIETY

Cardiologist(3)
Family Practitioner(3)
Gastro
ER docs

Unfortunately, after a year of tests and a small fortune, I still am unable to completely accept anxiety as my diagnosis.  

My chest pain is too real and happens BEFORE the anxiety starts.  

[Lightwise]

Is your dizziness all the time or just when you panic ?

[tanns]

It doesn't seem to be related to anxiety or panic attacks.  It just will happen.  For no apparent reason.  It's just another reason why I can't accept the anxiety diagnosis.  Also, I have shortness of breath that happens out of the blue.  For example, I was just brushing my teeth and started to feel so out of breath.  This is crazy.  I was just brushing teeth, not stressed about anything or feeling any anxiety.  But once the shortness of breath happened my mind goes nuts.

[rasticle]

The scary thing about anxiety is that you can have symptoms anytime anywhere.  They can all happen independly and seem unassociated.  Thats what was happening to me... but realizing its just anxiety and taking meds really helped me out a ton!

[baskets145]

I have anxiety attacks.  I saw a therapist to help me find out what causes them and found out that most times it is a chemical imbalance.  I found out I had 3 times the testostrone in my body.  Also, ended up having a dermoid on my ovary.   The therapist helped me to manage the attacks.  Also, since I have leveled my testostrone levels and had the dermoid removed I have done better.  Anxiety is when your body gets too much of the chemical that causes your fight or flight senses.  I also realized that there were some things in my past that also triggered them.  Please continue to seek help.  I now take Zoloft and spirotalactin (sp) and it has helped me so much.  

Good luck.

[Aruba417]

Symptoms:

PALPITATIONS
HEART "THOMPING"
FAST HEARTRATE
HEADACHES
NAUSEA
JAW TIGHTNESS/ACHINESS
ACHES IN BACK/CHEST/SHOULDER (LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE)
TINGLING IN FACE/EYES
TINGLING IN ARMS/LEGS
CHILLS
TREMBLING
FEELING LIKE I'M ABOUT TO DIE
RESTLESSNESS

Normal tests:
EKG
ECHOCARDIOGRAM
HOLTER MONITOR - 2 WEEKS
STRESS ECHOCARDIOGRAM
BLOOD WORK
MRI
CT SCAN
CHEST XRAYS

[Aruba417]

Doctors/Specialists Seen:
Cardiologist
Psychiatrist
Neurologist
Primary Care

[Aruba417]

My chest pain also happens before any other symptoms. I feel that first, THAT'S why I start to panic.

[Jenny Wren]

My symptoms:

LEGS/BACK TINGLING
FACIAL TINGLING
INTERNAL VIBRATION
HEART PALPITATIONS
MIGRAINES
STIFF NECK/SHOULDERS
FATIQUE

Tests that I have had done:

UPPER GI SERIES
HEPATIBILIARY SCAN
COLONOSCOPY
LUMBAR MRI
C-SPINE MRI---BULGING DISK FOUND
BRAIN MRI W/ AND W/O CONTRAST--SINUS INFECTION
BLOODWORK INCLUDES;
EBV---POSITIVE
CMV--NEGATIVE
CBC--NORMAL
SED RATE--NORMAL
ANA--NORMAL
CHOLESTEROL--NORMAL
THYROID--NORMAL
METABOLIC PANEL--NORMAL
EKG--NORMAL
CHEST X-RAY--NORMAL
LUNG SCAN--NORMAL
ARTERIAL BLOOD GASES--LOW BECAUSE OF HYPERVENTILATION
LYME DISEASE--NORMAL

I just wish the bug crawling feelings would go away, and stay away forever.  Next round of testing will be EMG, SSEP, AND VEP.
Hopefully I don't have to get the lumbar puncture, I'm not to fond of needles.

[Jenny Wren]

Forgot to add docs visited:


CHIROPRATORS
PHYSICAL THERAPY
FAMILY DOCTOR
NEUROLOGIST
HOPEFULLY I CAN GET A SHRINK ALSO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lightwise]

What Lyme test did you take and with what kind of doctor. If you took the basic ELISA test, that is not enough. You need to get a Westen Blot test done by a top lab like Igenex. I know this sounds like I'm being too picky, but that is the only way to test for Lyme correctly. Also, you need to see a Lyme Literate Doctor (usually referred to as an LLMD). What area of the country are you in ?

I hope and pray you feel better.

[Jenny Wren]

I already have an appt at a LLMD in Jan.  I live in PA.

[suzi-q]

SYMPTOMS

HEADACHE
PANIC ATTACKS
DIZZINESS
LIGHTHEADEDNESS
NAUSEA
TREMBLING
TINGLING IN HANDS AND FEET
TINGLING IN FACE AND MOUTH
HEART PALPITATIONS
(I am sure there are more!)

TESTS

EKG
CAT SCAN OF BRAIN
MRI OF BRAIN
BLOOD WORK TO INCLUDE:  lymes disease, lupus, AIDS, MS, (and many other diseases I don't know!)

DOCTORS

REGULAR PHYSICIAN
HEMOTOLOGIST
CARDIOLOGIST
OPTHOMOLOGIST
EARS NOSE AND THROAT
ALLERGIST
NEUROLOGIST (two of them!!)

finally:  PSYCHOLOGIST and her husband, a PSYCHIATRIST!!!

[anxietyellie]

For all of you looking for a list of anxiety symptoms here is a really good website for you to check out:
www.anxietycentre.com
Click on the Anxiety Symptoms Page and scroll down.  You won't believe what symptoms it can cause!!!

[AWadd]

My List:

CONSTANT SYMPTOMS:
-Fatigue
-Joiny, Muscle, and Tendon Pain
-Tiredness
-Balance Problems


EPISODIC SYMPTOMS:
-Throat Tightness
-Dizziness (Severe)
-Palpitations
-Fear
-Nausea
-Chills
-Hot Flashes

[tazmaniac67]

My Symptoms:
Flush feeling in chest
Elevated heart rate
Feeling like I can't get my breath
Sense of doom

Tests I've had that were good:
EKG (2)
48 hr. Holter
Treadmill Stress Test
Chest X-Ray (2)
Full blood panel

Dr.s Seen:
E.R. doctor
Cardiologist
Family Physician
Occupational Health doctor

[MominCanada]

Hi, it was nice to come across your posting.  I keep thinking I have the same diseases that others people feel they have (ie, lupus, MS, chronic fatigue syndrome, lyme disease, fybromyalgia) with the same types of symptoms.  I go on Feb. 1 for an MRI (that day can't come soon enough) and then to the Neurologist on Feb. 6th.  I am HOPING it is only anxiety...isn't it sad to wish that...but it is much better than what I am imagining these days.  I don't know how long the waits are in the USA for MRI's but this has been the longest 2 months in my life.  (and that is a very SHORT time to wait for an MRI in Canada)

SYMPTOMS ARE:

-Fatigue (lots--worse in a.m. gets better thru day)
-Leg, foot and arm on left side has occasional heaviness that comes and goes
-muscle twitches all over body
-heart palpitations
-migraines (have had 10 yrs +)
-sore muscles
-muscle weakness
-cold hands (sometimes clammy)
-cold feet (sometimes clammy)
-excessive armpit sweating
-vivid dreams
-hard time falling asleep and staying asleep
-lost 14 lbs in 2 months
-loss of appetite
-one eye seems unclear at times
-glands on back of head sometimes pop up and get sore
-unbalanced
-clumsy (feel like hands don't work properly sometimes)

TESTS DONE:

-Blood (incl. thyroid)-normal
-Yearly Eye exam-normal
-CAT scan -normal
-Chest x-ray-normal

DOCTORS SEEN:
-Family Doctor
-ER Doc who did CAT scan with migraine
-2nd ER doc when I went in with the symptoms above (she thinks it is stress related)
-Pshychologist (who agreed that lots of those are anxiety related but did not dismiss until other tests are performed)
-Nurse friend (thinks it is anxiety or Chronic Fatigue)

[karatekid123]

Sypmtoms:

Headaches
Muscle tension in neck and chest
dizziness/lightheadedness
irrational thoughts/fears
dry mouth
racing heart
cold extremities
depersonilization
weakness
shaking/trembling
trouble concentrating/thinking
blurry vision
hand/feet/face numbness or tingling
nausea
muscle pains


doctors seen:

ER docs
family doctor
psychiatrist
2 therapists

[jennifer24]

Hi my name is Jen 26 yrs old, and i have had an anxiety disorder since i was 19yrs old.I have also seen alot of Dr's about heart palpatations, sweating pain in chest, and shortness of breath. I have also gone for tons of test blood test, heart test, and they tell me its anxiety as well.
My biggest concern now is i still get heart palpatations, chest pain and now for the past week I can't breath, cant get enough oxygen, this has happened to me before and eventually I got back to normal, i don't know is it underlying stress that is causing this breathlessness??? I don't have a racing heart, and i'm not really worried about anything! I'm afraid to go back to the dr's just for them to think that i am a hypocondriact,my file must be huge with all the visits.
I was at work the other day and i couldn't catch my breath it was like i had just gone running...it was so difficult to breath and embarrassing because i was always gasping for air i could barely talk with customers. Has anyone experienced this before or give me advice on what i should do? Thank you

[Derelict]

SYMPTOMS

PALPITATIONS-- (RANDOM FLUTTERS EVERYDAY EVEN WHEN ITS NOT FULL BLOWN PANIC)

CONSTANT FEAR OF "THAT ONE FATAL PALPITATION"

DIZZINESS

HYPERVENTILATION

FEELING LIKE I COULD DIE AT ANY MOMENT EVERYDAY

SHORTNESS OF BREATH


TESTS DONE

ER EKG    NORMAL

ER BLOOD WORK    NORMAL

ER CHEST X RAY    NORMAL

STRESS ECHO   NORMAL

ABOUT 4 OTHER EKGS   NORMAL

OTHER BLOODWORK    NORMAL


WHAT THE HELL IS CAUSING THESE PALPITATIONS!  THEY SAY STRESS AND PANIC CAUSES PALPITATIONS BUT ITS BECAUSE OF MY PALPITATIONS THAT I HAVE STRESS AND PANIC!  SO YOU CAN SEE THE PROBLEM I HAVE ACCEPTING MY ANXIETY IS THE CAUSE!  

DOES ANYONE KNOW IF UNDERLYING STRESS CAN CAUSE DAILY PALPITATIONS UNRELATED TO A DIRECT PANIC EPISODE?  

DOCTERS SAY -- PANIC = PALPITATIONS
MY REALITY -- PALPITATIONS = PANIC  

PLEASE ADVISE          
THANKS    DEREK

[Kaylar88]

This is so old but I was curious if by some chance you'd answer and update how you're doing.

[lavenderlady4556]

Here's my list:

Heart pounding-fast heart rate
chest pain (no always- not recently)
hand and feet pricks, numbness
dizziness
shortness of breath
unable to focus- kinda dazed feeling
stomach upset
Hot when attack and cold after
Shakes
Uncontrollable fear of the worst thing happening (pass out, die, go crazy)

Tests I had done
Complete physical- normal
EKG- normal
24h Holter monitor- normal- though fast
Echo- normal
Tilt test- POSITIVE- i passed out after drugs were in me
(DX: neurocardiogenic syncope but when looking it up it just doesnt fit my symptoms. Treatment was nothing, to lie down if about to pass out and that it should correct itself on its own)

DR's Ive seen
2 PCP
cardiologist