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Neuropathy - Panic Disorder?

Can Panic Disorder cause Autonomic Neuropathy?

Symptoms I am having are very similar to CFS and MS.

Tachycardia - worse on standing and walking, palps while walking.
Unequal Pupils - Horner Syndrome? Anisocoria? Dilated pupil worse in dimmed light, in normal daylight they look normal, they alternate too.

Nerve pains, twitches, spasms, neck spasm, hot sensations, cold sensations, palm and foot sweating, one cold hand one warm/normal.  Raynaud's symptoms. Floaters/Flashes in front of eyes, black spot in front of eyes.
Pressure sensations on skin.  Pressure sensations on head.
Trouble swallowing food.

Twitching etc... worse when I am tense.

Can you damage your peripheral autonomic nerves with Anxiety/Panic Disorder.

This has all started in relation to anxiety.  First time it happened I was due to give birth and had panics relating to that, then I got an infection after the birth and seem to have daily (sometimes more than once daily) panic episodes.

The tachycardia is on-going, being treated with beta blockers, but rates are elevated.  Worse when standing or walking.
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Avatar universal
I had an attack in August while driving and thought I was going to pass out.   Shaking, tunnel vision, sick to stomach.  Trip to ER twice that weekend, multiple Dr. Visit is and tests.  Two months of no driving before diagnosed through tests that I have autonomic neuropathy which causes damage to the "fight/flight" nerves along with other issues.   Began driving again, avoiding the interstate, bridges and middle lane.   All going well the. Boom two attacks the same evening.  Now on meds for panic attacks and seem to be working.   However, the damage to the nervous system are still there.  I have to watch my exercise, exposure to temps above 90's and take vitamins while increasing salt and caffeine intake.   Tests can determine nerve damage and nerve damage can cause other problems including oz I cissies.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Yes anxiety CAN cause neuropathy. I too had ME/CFS for 23 years and while getting well from this disorder I had a sudden crash after an emotional upset. The result of this left me with autonomic neuropathy. I was rushed to A&E 7 times and admitted twice to hospital when my liver and BP was showing up abnormal. Then I spent months trying to function normally again. It's affected my from my toes to my throat and the buring/prickling and deep nerve pain, plus weird sensations. I couldn't walk or use my hands and felt frightened about my future. Luckily I have learnt to keep calm, I take high doses of Gabapentin and Nortriptyline for nerve pain and also I take supplements; Alpha Lipoic Acid, vitamin B...especially Benfotiamine...I keep as mobile as possible and mentally keep on top of the pain. I can now walk and move around pretty well, I live as stress free as possible and look after my diet. I think learning NLP and the Lightening Process has been a huge factor in my recovery, which I know will not be 100%, but I can still enjoy my life. Good luck to you!
Helpful - 0
248167 tn?1220363690
AAAAND if u r sitting infront of the mirror staring at ur eyes and comparing pupil size...
That should tell u something else. We tend to look for things that are off. We look for stuff to feed off. Like kalmkidd always says, STOP googling symptoms!!!! its only going to drive u crazy! Think about it. Its impossible for u to have everything on ur list:
Autonomic Neuropathy
Horner Syndrome
Anisocoria
MS
Fibromyalgia, Lupus & CFS
So its true, stop looking up symptoms. I know its hard because I've been there myself. Still get tempted at times, but its best to try ur hardest. Just wait 'til u get to ur doctor. I know its easier said than done but its worth it.

Uneven size in pupils, huh? Thanx for that. I bet I'll catch myself checking mine. Yea, thanx, lol.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
anxiety can cause you to have anything you think or read.. POINT BLANK.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
According to my doctor I am Healthy exept for Anxiety. My Anxiety causes many sypmtoms of Nueropathy and Diabetes. I have gon to the doctor many times complaining of these symptoms and they do their tests and say that I am not Diabetic and dont have Nueropathy. My symptoms that I have are

01. Burning sensations in the feet and legs
02. Numbness and Tingiling in Feet, Legs and Fingers
03. Erectile Dsyfuntion
04. Heart Palpitiations
05. Loss of Sensation in Feet
06. Occasionaly on the computer I see sparkles of Light
07. Dizzyness and unsteadyness
08. Cold Feet
09. Insomnia


I am wondering can Anxiety cause to you to have symptoms of disase that you dont have?





Helpful - 0
193579 tn?1211853013
I have uneven pupils too that are more noticable in dim light.  I' tried dating it back in pictures and it looks as if I had it several years back...but for some reason..it's got worse.  Like, when I have anxiety..  light seems bright in that eye.  Do you think anxiety can make the pupil larger in the one eye..say if I had tonic pupil or something?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
My name is Lance miller, I am 19 years old and about 2 to 3 months ago i had a severe panic attack, it dint just last for minutes it last almost 8-10 hours. Ever since then I have had extreme anxiety and depression. also feel like i am going crazy at times,  but the worst thing is that I know feel like i cannot see or focus like I used to, and with the weird pressure/ dizzy feeling in my head. I have tried an tried to cure it.  Just a few days before that I had tried ectasy, and before that recently experimented with cocaine.  I regret doing those drugs every day. I pray I could take it back.  Also just after the panic attack, i had fell an hit my head and the docter did an cat scan, an told me that i had a brain anurysm witch scared the livin hell out of me. I just was not ready to die. and that also made me have another panic attack. Please some help me.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
If you have to sit on a waiting list, I would strongly reccomend heading into ER so you can get scans and so forth immediantly done. I am having somewhat the exact symptoms the pupil size is the most frightening off all and have being having them for almost 3 months now, Its horrible and has really stopped me from being able to do much in life at the moment. Im waiting for my bloodwork to return at the moment.

Hope everything turns out normal for you and you get better very soon

Peace
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
quillswriting - You may have a viral induced central nervous system disorder (VICD).  It affects people differently, as does ME.  Your sudden onset based on an infection is a classic profile Dr. Jose Montoya has profiled.  Please read the web site describing VICD.

http://www.vicd.info/index.html

Good luck and may you soon be well.  
Helpful - 0
215289 tn?1253623341
goodluck on the waiting list quill.  i waited around 2 month just to get a letter saying i should have an appointment in 6 weeks *been 5 now* hope its soon cause my head feels like its gonna explode. hooray for another s*** day.  hope you get better.

hope everyone else is feeling better.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks for your reply.  I am trying the B12 because my RDW level was raised.  My doctor failed to inform me but then I got the result the lab had highlighted that level in bold.  I asked someone who is in a professional capacity what it meant and she said it is the beginnings of B12 and Iron deficiency.  My doctor just tells me I have anxiety and fobs me off.

My symptoms are more than anxiety - I have discoloured fingernails, unequal pupils and all sorts.  I am waiting to get my neuro appt.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
The answer to yoru question is "no".  Panic/Anxiety disorder cannot cause other diseases.  Even though you may feel like it is, panic will not hurt your body.

i would also like to say, to please be careful when experimenting with supplements...many times they can do more harm than good.  You should consult with your doctor before starting any supplemental program.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi, thanks for your message back - it;s crazy isn't it?  It seems that they do all have an agreeance that if they can't find the cause they blame anxiety.  However, I know I am tense and anxious all of the time at the moment and have been since I started feeling ill - so I haven't a clue either.  I seem to have symptoms of MS or worse, even a tumor which scares me so much.  

I get spots in front of my eyes all day, I have one big pupil and one small one.  Yesterday I felt cold all of the time.  I do feel the cold all of the time and it's summer here in the UK.  And when I warm up I feel fine, but last night I did notice that the muscle on the back of my neck was very very tight and I wondered if all the pains etc... were down to autonomic neuropathy as a result of continual stress I had put on my own body?  I don't know.  

I also have signs of autoimmune disease though - like itchy rashes and "crimson crescents" in my throat (redness in throat just after back teeth, either side of the bit that hangs down, it is a defining sign of Fibromyalgia, Lupus & CFS).  

I am trying an experiment... I am going to take B12 supplements and multivitamins with Iron - my blood work did indicate the "start" of B12 and Iron Anaemia - and B12 repairs the nerves and relaxes the mood.
Helpful - 0
213375 tn?1202403800
Your symtoms mirror mine exactly!

Daily palps (pounding racing heart, extrabeats)
Heart rate increases dramatically when standing sometime with faintness
Pin n needles in hands forearms feet calves
Internal tingling (randomly in body cavity, not surface)
Muscle spasms / twitches
Hot flashes, followed by chills
Raynauds on fingers and entire palm
Flashes and floaters in vision
Transient difficulty swallowing
Heat intolerance / heat edema
Decreased sweating

And the list goes on... and on... and on...

I worry too about having autonomic neuropathy, but all my doc's have said it's anxiety.  Sometimes I wonder if they really know what they're doing, or if there is an unknown creed amongst doctors "If you can't pinpoint a definite disease then tell them it's anxiety!"  It's  so frustrating when you feel like **** and fear that you're dying everyday to be told to "just ignore the syptoms and you'll get used to it".  I am sorry that I don't have any answers for you.  I just wanted to let you know that I know exactly how frustrated you are (pissed off to be exact) and I hope you feel better soon.

Helpful - 0
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