Anxiety Symptoms

[Bambi1979]

Does anybody think that anxiety could present itself with same symptoms as Meniere's Disease?  Doctor diagnosed me with Meniere's, but after I had normal ENG, he now knows it's not Menieres.  

[savygaby]

what are your symptoms?

[Jerzeegal]

Hi Bambi,

Yep anxiety can make you feel the same way as Meneires BUT so can a condition called labyrinthitis and benign paroxysmal vertigo. Both can cause vertigo and nausea if those are the symptoms you are referring too.

[Bambi1979]

My symptoms are dizzy, lightheaded, bouncy feeling as I walk, off balance, nervous/jittery, can't go into stores or shopping because I feel like I will pass out, zaps/shocks in brain?, problems with eyes-like they are not getting enough O2, eyes shaky, things don't look real when I look at them, I feel like I'm out of place, not sleeping at nights, can't drive, can't concentrate or focus.  I have been to several ENT's and they have done an ENG and those things are normal.  I rarely get nauseated.  I feel the vertigo feeling constantly.  These symptoms last 24/7 and only get better if I take a Xanax.  That is the ONLY medication I take right now.  I just always feel weird, like I don't belong here and like I'm looking at the world thru someone elses eyes.  It's hard to explain.  I am VERY sensitive to light and noise.  It can be the slightest noise.   Like talking on the phone, my own voice, chewing-those things adjitate (sp?) me.  It feels like it runs all thru the nerves in my head.  ENT's don't think it's inner ear problems.  My eyes are the most bothersome.  Like something is wrong with the nerves behind my eyes.  Can anxiety do this to you?  

[amish1979]

Lord I hope it's anxiety because that's how I feel and I'm treating it like anxiety.

Sometimes it feels like my feet are going an extra 3-4 inches into the floor, you know?  Like I'm trying to plant my foot but it's planting too early (still in the air).  Is that like your "bouncy" feeling?  I don't get the severe bouncy feeling all the time, but probably about 2-3 times a week and only at work.

1979 was a good year

[sue3708]

That was one of my first diagnosis....it wasn't right though.

[Bambi1979]

What have you been finally been diagnosed with?  Are you doing any better?

[Bambi1979]

What are you taking for yours?

Yes, that's the bouncy feeling i'm talking about.  Except for I feel like that ALL the time when I'm out.  It feels like the same thing is going on in my head too?!?!

1979 was a good year, I have a twin sister also!!

[amish1979]

Does your twin have anxiety too?

I won't say it's good that you have that bouncy feeling but I'm glad I'm not the only one.  It truly is a very weird feeling, sometimes I have to hold onto the wall while I'm walking when I feel that way.

I don't really have anything for my anxiety other than lorazepam as needed.  It would be really nice if I could take it every day since that's the only thing I've tried (medication-wise) that makes me feel pretty good.  As it is I only take it maybe once every other week, and I'm trying to get that down too.  For instance last night I really could have used one but I didn't take one.

I also have a beta blocker (metoprolol) that was prescribed last week but I haven't started it yet, I am doing pretty good with therapy and self-help and I'd rather not take any more drugs.  It was an SSRI (paxil) that initiated my first panic attack so I don't want to take anything, I'm kind of scared that way I guess.  So I'm giving it another 3-4 weeks with just therapy and reading some good books and we'll see what happens from there.  If I do decide to use these beta blockers I'm going to need a refill on my lorazepam because I'm already scaring myself over taking those beta blockers. :(  Stupid anxiety.

[sue3708]

Still really do not have a diagnosis...my doctor calls me an emigma.  A whole lot of weird symptoms but no real condition found.....this has lead to anxiety.  I took prozac for a week but my stomach has been so bad I  (with my doc's permission) have decided to stop.  I do have GERD and gastroparesis.  I apparently look like a healthy 37 year old women to most people but don't feel like it.

Oh, forgot to mention....I do have an eye muscle disorder which can cause some of the symptoms you describe.  I think it is called superior oblique palsy.  They tell me i can have surgury on my eye muscle to help it but i don't think i will.  I initally went to ENT's and got nowhere, then i read somewhere that dizziness is not always an inner ear thing  the eyes have a lot to do with it too.

[Bambi1979]

The drs. don't think it's just the anxiety that is causing all of your symptoms?

[sue3708]

They think it contributes but I do have gastoparesis that was diagnosed on a gastric emptying study and they don't think that is caused by anxiety, it certainly doesn't help it though.  The esophagitis I have is both as a result of reflux, the gastroparesis and the anxiety.  They have found physiologic things wrong with me but no reason for them to be happening.  At one time I had urinary retention (couldn't empty my bladder)  They did scans and couldn't find a reson for it.  After 9mo to a year that went away and another sx started.  They have done MRI's of my brain and spine to look for MS but didn't find any lesions.  I just keep hoping that these sx'x will go away as have the other ones.  

Going to try and make it through work today....I had to leave early Tues and spent yesterday in bed.  Maybe the prozac was making me feel so sick?  i hope I have a better day.  I'm very weak from not eating much.  Hope you have a good day.

Sue

[Bambi1979]

No, I don't imagine all those other things going on would help much.  I had the same problems with urinary retention and they were never able to find a reason for mine either.  Mine also finally went away after a couple of months.  I've had all the MRI's done and 2 spinal taps done to look for MS and those were all normal.  All bloodwork has come back normal, so I started thinking maybe all these symptoms are caused from anxiety and depression.  I hope so anyways.  I just want to be normal again.  

I do hope you feel better today.  I only took prozac for a couple of days, so I'm not sure how it makes you feel?  You need to eat something though, that only adds to feeling bad!!  You are in my prayers.

Bambi

[sue3708]

OK now i am really freaking out...I asked my doc to check some hormone levels and my prolactin level is 165 very high, he thinks i may have a benign pituitary tumor and I am scared.  I am waiting for an appt with an endocrinologist now.

[Bambi1979]

Hey!!  I just posted on your other comment too.  Don't let yourself get worked up over this until you find out the final diagnosis.  What symptoms would a benign pituitary tumor cause and how come you got checked out for it in the first place?  I think I need to have my hormone levels checked also.  I am gonna pray for you and please let me know what happens. Maybe you will get an appt 2moro and get good news.  Just don't freak out yet.  I know that you probably still will, because I do myself, but I've learned it does me no good to get worked up over things until I know for sure.  Please know that your are in my prayers, and that the power of God is awesome.  He has the final say so, not these drs.  

[Use_Condom]

My symptoms are dizzy, lightheaded, bouncy feeling as I walk, off balance, nervous/jittery, can't go into stores or shopping because I feel like I will pass out, zaps/shocks in brain?, problems with eyes-like they are not getting enough O2, eyes shaky, things don't look real when I look at them, I feel like I'm out of place, not sleeping at nights, can't drive, can't concentrate or focus


When I read this I felt shocked. I thought I was the only person in this world having those problems.After five years of every single death like days I went to a doctor and diagnosed Anxiety Disorder. I used Cipralex or smth like that and Atarax. The drugs didnT make any use but only a blank mind. I quit the drugs and got over that terrible enemy alone by understanding what anxiety is. I am now %80 better. It damages your daily life that's a truth. I found the cure in Sunshine, nature and muscular exercising.

[savygaby]

I believe you have anxiety, all tour symptoms are anxiety, have you been to a psychiatrist. I believe if except that you have anxiety and learn how to deal with it you might start to feel better, you should read Dr Claire weekes books, I think they would be helpful to you. It is a very hard thing to except, but seeing all the tests you have had it seems anxiety is what you have.

[Bambi1979]

I went to a psychiatrist for the first time today. She put me on Paxil and Klonopin.  I am trying to accept that all of my problems are stemming from anxiety and depression, it's just so hard because I'm always worried that it's something more.  All of my tests have come back normal, but it's so hard to believe that anxiety can be causing ALL of my symptoms.  But like I've said, I have gone to EVERY type Dr. I can think of and have had EVERY imaginable test done.  They find NOTHING wrong.  So, that's when I started to think, maybe it IS anxiety and depression!!  Hopefully these meds will help me get back to normal!!

[Bambi1979]

So, you went to the dr with all of those SAME symptoms?  They diagnosed that as an anxiety disorder for you?  I though I was the only one feeling so WEIRD ALL THE TIME.  I've been going thru this for 9 yrs now and I think meds will be the only thing that will help me right now.  I'm just to the point right now that whatever works, I will try.  Have you tried any herbal meds that have helped you any?

[savygaby]

Good luck I hope you feel better soon, I understand what you are going threw and I also had a hard time excepting that what i was going threw was anxiety, I still sometimes have a hard time believing it. I think we will make it threw these hard times.

[Bambi1979]

Thanks for the vote of confidence.  I'm starting to come around and believe that it is anxiety and depression.  I just lost my mother to cancer so suddenly that I was just sure the drs. were missing something with me too.  By the time they found her cancer, they gave her 3 wks. to live.  But I have my faith in God and not in drs. so I do believe we all can make it through these difficult times!!!  

[Use_Condom]

Dear Bambi1979 donT worry the symptoms are all the same in every body. Especially that weird feeling was the worst of all. A feeling that is impossible to describe.It feels as if you are watching the world from a step behind your eyes, from your brain window :D. It is still making me nervous.After the diagnose of Anxiety and Depression I made an insight look of me and Anxiety diagnosis made really a good sense. Remember a time of yours for example. Especially a time that you were in fear and anxious but in an intense situation.You will realise that it is the same feeling, the only difference is that we are living it all day.This is a vicious circle. Before realising this that weird feeling was making me anxious and anxiety was forcing this feeling. Now you are about to break the circle. Sorry for my English. Best regards. I will be here to debate about this and help you identify the best weapons against that illness.

[Use_Condom]

BAmbi I forgot to tell you that the meds at the first few days will make anxiety worse. Keep that in mind and help medicines by accepting that your problem is anxiety and try to understand what anxiety is by measuring your feelings. Best regards

[Bambi1979]

Hey!!  That's all I need for these symptoms to get worse (when I start taking the meds)!!!!  It's driving me crazy as it is.  So do you feel your symptoms 24/7?  Does yours affect your eyes alot, kinda like the nerves behind your eyes are haywire?  That is the most bothersome thing to me is my eyes.  Anxiety and depression only make sense to me now ONLY because I've had every test possible done and every thing comes back normal.  Did you try anti-depressants also?  And meds for anxiety?  My main concern is my eyes bothering me ALL the time.  I know anxiety affects your central nervous system.  Maybe mine went untreated for so long (9yrs) that it now affects my eyes.  What do you think and do you have the same thing going on with your eyes.  It makes me worry that I'm going blind, even tho I can still see.

[Use_Condom]

Anxiety symptoms, as my doctor said can be in many many forms that will bereally hard to list down. For eyes yes I have eye problems. In bright white light my eyes are getting really tired, I feel sleepy, I want to go somewhere dark and my vision is foggy but those are of course an outcome of the problem that is urging your mental system. Don't worry you will not use your eyes lol. Try to make some peacefull places for yourself in your house and use warm lighting or maybe dark. Try to feel relaxed and turn to yourself and think about how you feel when you are a child and how you feel now. Try to understand what has changed. DonT worry thinking the good days that you werenT an anxietic.It is really important to understand what the problem is and then you will achieve an acceptance level and then comes the cure itself.

Coming to the medication, depression meds will not be your main issue(That is my thought) They will inflame anxiety. The first drug that I used was Xanax. It is built for reducing anxiety to zero. When I took it all the symptoms were gone no weird feeling,no dizzines,no tiring. But as you may guess that med is higly addictive so I never took it again. Its use for me was that the understanding of my illness.