Anxiety; de-realization; loss of control in hands and face

[vinny08]

Hi, I am new to this forum but have been watching for a number of weeks.. I am a 23 yr old male, fairly fit and healthy. Was happily employed until August 08 when the building trade collapsed, leaving me unemployed... About 6 weeks ago, I had a very strange attack in which I had experienced similar before.. Whilst driving, my face started to tingle, hair felt like it was buzzing on end, and then my hands. My hands started opening by themselves, fingers rising out of control, it got to a point where I couldn't open one hand with the other. I had a sensation similar to pins and needles sweep from my stomach downwards to my feet, and upwards over my entire body.  A gentleman had stopped passing by and called me an ambulance when he could see there was something not right, and when the ambulance staff/paramedics arrived, I could barely express my words for the skin on my face was so tight, I could not talk properly. I had a similar attack days after and the same effects, paramedics told me that it was where the co2 and blood oxygen levels were out of balance, and the rush of adrenaline encountered was the fear an panic.

I have since not experienced as terrible as that, however, I have a daily fear of a reccurence, and have the occasional tingly face, racing heart palpitations, and the laying in bed at night wondering if my heart is racing too fast, or are my hands starting to curl. It is driving me crazy!
My GP has put me on Propranolol 10mg which have not worked in 4/5 weeks of usage, and today has prescribed me Paroxetine 20mg, for depression/anxiety. I am awaiting a referral to Cognitive Behaviour Therapy as this is suppose to relieve my mentalness of the issue!!

I have read many posts on this site recently and have experienced some of what others have, but don't think anyone has experienced the hands and face thing like myself. (I may be wrong, please speak up if you know what I'm talking bout)!! I wouldn't wish these feelings on anyone, but I pray there is someone on here that has or is experiencing the same and can help me in some way.

I welcome any comments that you may have and I am grateful for you taking the time to read this.

Vinny

[greenlydia]

What tests did your doctor do to rule out an underlying cause for your "attacks?"
While the majority of your symptoms are classic for an anxiety/panic attack, I would hope that your doc gave you a thorough vetting before handing you a DX of anxiety.
The propranolol is an antihypertensive, so did he diagnose you with high blood pressure? You say you've been on it for 4-5 weeks but don't think it's working. Are you having your BP checked on a regular basis? Most of us with high blood pressure aren't even aware we have it, which is why it's called "the silent killer." Even being on BP meds, unless we check our blood prssure, we won't actually "feel" anything. (With the exception that your BP was so incredibly high it was giving you headaches, flushing etc) One of the off-label uses for propranolol is anxiety, but in my humble opinion, this is a very poor choice to control symptoms of anxiety. Please, whatever you do, DO NOT just stop taking this medication! It has been known to precipitate life threatening dysrhythmias and you MUST taper off this drug!
He has also put you on paroxetine (Paxil CR) which is an antidepressant but is often used for anxiety and panic disorders. The therapeutic effects of this drug may take anywhere from 1-4 weeks to be reached, so give it time to work.
While I can relate to a few of your symptoms, there are some I can't, but hopefully someone else here will know exactly what you're talking about.
If you continue to feel that these meds are not working for you, do not stop either of them, but do see your doctor again.
I wish you well.
Peace
Greenlydia
  

[ILADVOCATE]

   Here's a fair suggestion for starters. Buy a blood pressure machine. They are not very expensive. I own one and the medication I am starting on is an alpha blocker (a form of blood pressure pill) but in me its used to control dystonic spasms. I monitor my blood pressure every day to make sure it doesn't go too low as its titrated up and I inform my doctor. Now from what you described they did seem to believe you had hypertension (high blood pressure) and anxiety disorder as well. Both can work together but not in a good way. When your anxiety level goes up your blood pressure does too. You can monitor your blood pressure and keep a record but also since you are now on medication speak to them about additional means to control the anxiety, talk therapy is good but targeted behavioral therapy has been very helpful and for some people guided meditation or yoga.
     I have a family member who has cyclothymia (mild bipolar) and high blood pressure. The last time she went into an agitated mixed state she drove her blood pressure up so high she had to rest on the bed. She is speaking to the doctor about prescriptions for high blood pressure and she will be seeing a psychiatrist but in the meantime she is talking with her therapist about standard techniques of talking down the intermittment explosive episodes that happen and not letting them lead to this.
  So keep track of your blood pressure each day. That would be helpful to your doctor. And keep track of when you have panic attacks and what specifically sets them off. Some situations can be avoided and others there can be coping strategies so you don't develop a panic attack. You are dealing with two different disabilities, one psychiatric and one physical and the blood pressure you can't voluntarily control but if you get a handle on the anxiety attacks while staying on all the prescriptions it will help with the high blood pressure. And they can see what caused the high blood pressure to begin with and even if it was an inherited condition seeing a nutritionist to modify your diet will keep you healthy overall and reduce specific risks for high blood pressure such as excess sodium intake and fat, charbohydrates and sugar as well. But they could give you more specifics.

[vinny08]

Thank you for your comments so soon. Everytime I have visited my doctor, he has not checked my BP, not once. On both occasions with Paramedics they have done so and was high, and also checked my Blood Sugar levels, which were a little low I think due to not eating much before the episodes kicked in. I am beginning to think that this is just something I am going to have to live with, but I hope not!