No idea if it's anxiety or what...

[Nascasho]

I don't want to write up a long story here so if there's some gaps lemme know and I'll try to fill them.

Basically about a month ago I was watching a movie and all of a sudden I felt an extreme shortness of breath, I let it go for a bit thinking it would go away and it didn't so I freaked and after googling a bit most results turned up as possibly heart attack related. I could breath, but it was like that certain breath of air wasn't giving me oxygen or something. I got my mom to take me to the ER same night. While waiting for the doctor symptoms got extreme, even had the chest tightening occur and thought I was going to die or even pass out. Doctor checked me out, saw no problems. Listened to my lungs, did the EKG thing and gave me an X-Ray and they gave me a clean bill of health which left me puzzled and they released me.

This occurred again about 3 days later with same symptoms and chest tightening so I was SURE it was heart related so we went to another ER. This time they did a little more testing and kept and eye on me for like 4hrs. Happened while I was there and they found nothing wrong. What even confused me more was that they have this little thing they put on your finger to monitor if you're getting oxygen or not and it read 100%. At this point every possible situation or disease is running through my mind and was freaking out. Gave me an IV, CT scan with some contrast, listened to lungs, etc found nothing wrong. Doctor assumed I "probably" had pleurisy and sent me home with a prescription for some 500mg naprosyn. Lucky me, that didn't work one bit. I did some research on pleurisy and it's usually accompanied by some sorta pain which I didn't have. So I let it go for another 2 weeks and see if it subsided but they never left. I occasionally had the moment of relief, but when I did I didn't even remember if I actually had the shortness of breath or not.

After those 2 weeks one night I had a horrible sensation on my left arm, left side of neck and chest. It was a kinda pressure pain that was different from the chest tightening that I had before and felt as though my arm was getting cold, neck kinda felt strained and chest like... well can't describe it because it didn't hurt too bad. Went to the ER again (same one) and they checked my history this time the nurse started asking me questions about stress and crap, which I guess I have but who doesn't and it's not extreme. He gave me some ativan 2mg and man... shortness of breath feeling I had I forgot about lol. He prescribed some 0.5mg to take every 6hrs or so and I haven't been taking it like I should so it's hard to tell if it's actually working because every time I take it, I mysteriously forget about it unless that what it's supposed to do, but hard to tell. Reasoning is because I only had like 12 pills I think and wanted them to last till my doctors visit so only took them in extreme cases so far.

I'm 23yr old male, lightweight and live with my mom and money is extremely tight so going to a doctor is out of the question. She extremely irresponsible and it took her 2 weeks of bothering to actually get me to see a doctor at one of those free health clinics which is marked for Apr 5th visit. She assumes that all I need is some benydrl or some stupid crap or work out, which mind you is hard as hell to do when you can't breathe. I don't worry about anything or freak out about it, not consciously anyways. I do in fact start feeling as though I need to think about breathing to actually stay alive and when this happens I do feel like this is my last normal day as a human or something. Can't sleep, won't lie, if this keeps happening I think I'm gonna lose it. I have no idea what this is and can't stop thinking about it and no idea what to do. My apologies if you guys think this is the wrong section. I have no idea what to do and many stories on here make me assume this place is somewhat active. Any help or ideas is appreciated.

[Nascasho]

Thanks a bunch amy, b-day is on the 7th so hopefully it's not a shortness of breath field day lol.

You guys at the first signs at least googled (or w/e search engine you prefer) what your symptoms were and after you found out it was anxiety searched for more information on it, pretty sure at least that's how a few people found their way to this site, at least I did anyways.

I remember one site I ran across that asks you to take a test and gives you a little number that was your "potential" anxiety levels were or something like that. After that I think the site asks for an email or something, forget the site. But basically he goes into some BS marketing on making cash and then helping you (which imo, helping someone should be free). Anyways basically I been reading the emails from the subject calling himself "Ryan" with his marketing spam. But last email I actually read it and made some sense as to what causes the shortness of breath and the anxiety symptoms which seem to be from too much oxygen, also gave a breathing exercise I thought I'd go ahead and post and see if it works for you guys if you're reading this:

Quoted from email:

What you should do is breath in this ratio:
inhale one count, hold four counts, exhale two
counts.
  
   If you inhaled for four seconds, you would
hold for sixteen and exhale for eight.
      
   When you breathe, you should start from deep
in your abdomen, like a vacuum cleaner that's
getting rid of all toxins in the blood system.

So here's the first key to eliminate your
anxiety physical symptoms. Stop and take ten
deep breaths, in the above ratio, at least
three times a day.
  
   Once again the ration is: One count inhale,
four counts hold, two counts exhale.
  
   For example, starting in the abdomen, take a
deep breath through your nose while counting to
seven (or pick a larger or smaller number based
upon your ability). Hold your breath for a
count four times that of your inhalation, or
twenty eight. Then exhale slowly through your
mouth for a count two times the length of your
inhalation, or fourteen.
  
   You should never strain yourself.
  
   Take ten of these deep breaths three times a
day, and you'll experience a dramatic improvement.

Try it and see what happens for you guys, just got the email today so trying it myself, only time will tell but at least it's something that seems hopeful. :)

[amylove21]

Maybe some posts are a bit scary because of the anxiety but I peronally feel it helps to read them so I hear how other people get through it and it does help to know I am not alone. Oh and I hope you have a good birthday and things arent to bad at the doctors.

[mammo]

I didn't want the posts to scare you, just let you see that anxiety can and does create some real symptoms.  I think your tests are probably over, but keep us posted on what you learn, we're always here for you!  Stay strong and make the best of your birthday!

[Nascasho]

After reading some others posts it's kinda scary reading what some of them are going through and made it this far.

I really appreciate you two helping me on this, hopefully it is anxiety and the doctor visit isn't going to end up taking pints if blood and sticking me with needles to figure out what's wrong... This is going to be one crappy birthday :(

[mammo]

Yes, this is normal.  Read some other posts and you will be reassured that you're not alone with this.

[Nascasho]

Man you guys are making me feel a lot better, need to read the other posts in here to see symptoms.

Btw, is it a normal symptom for it to be acting up for like hours at a time, sometimes feeling like the pain and shortness of breath lasts basically the whole day until I fall asleep?

[amylove21]

Sometimes my anxiety tends to trigger for no reason too. Othertimes if I am worried or scared or thinking about something that can cause it. I'm not sure why it does that but some mental issues cause physical symptoms and anxiety is one of them. So I think trying to get help with it is a good idea because if it is anxiety seeing a therapist and sometimes meds can help.

[Nascasho]

Thanks for the response. The only thing I have a hard time grasping is how something mental can lead to physical symptoms, it's weird. Then again I have a hard time still believing it's anxiety and why it just happens out of the blue. Like just sitting in one spot then BOOM, it's like your body is saying "Oh you're relaxed? Well not anymore!!!" followed by some evil laugh or something,

Arrrgh... just don't know anymore :(

[mammo]

Hi, I feel you're in the right place here.  You've had a very thorough work-up and came out with a clean bill of health, so it may be time to look at anxiety as being your problem.  Anxiety can present with some pretty severe symptoms, even those of a heart attack.  When our anxiety is high we can have trouble getting enough air, but that's because our anxiety makes us breathe more shallow than usual.  The next time you get this feeling, pay very close attention to your breathing, and try breathing deeply and slowly thru your nose and out of your mouth, this should help.
Anxiety feeds on our fears and worries, and the more you dwell on this, the worse it will be.  It's not always so easy to do this and that's why you need to see someone regarding anxiety.  What you're experiencing is very common with anxiety sufferers, so know you're not alone with this.  With therapy and medication, you can get this under control.  I know it's very scary, but it won't hurt you..... just scare the daylights out of you!  The more you can relax.....the better.  I'm sure when you see the doctor  anxiety will be discussed as the cause of your symptoms.  But keep us posted on what you learn, and we're always here for you.  Take care.