Not my normal panic attacks--something else??

[Kat03]

I am diagnosed with a panic disorder and have had anxiety throughout my entire life.  Recently, on top of the almost-daily panic attacks, I have been experiencing feelings of, and this is hard to explain, but I feel like I'm about to burst.  I get really shaky, my heart races, my blood pressure rises.  I feel like I can't stay still, I feel like I'm about to explode.  It's kind of the feeling that you get when someone sneaks up on you, but it lasts for hours and it makes me feel like I'm going crazy.
It is not typical of my panic attacks or my regular daily anxiety.  I have been taking a small dose of Ativan when it starts, but it really hasn't been helping much.  
I am wondering if my constant panic attacks and anxiety could be leading to this--wondering if it could have to do with stress response hormones or something like that.  I don't know what to do--my doctor will only tell me to relax if I ask her, and would just tell me to take my ativan when these occur.  They are now on a daily basis and are very distressing.   I can handle the panic attack feelings and tell myself they will pass, as they do, but this is almost unbearable.  Also, I have noticed that this sometimes happens when I haven't eaten or drank anything for a while, although not always linked to this.  I get very tired after one of these "attacks", have to urinate constantly afterward, and often get diarrhea during these episodes as well.  
I have discussed this with my doctor in the past, but she just shrugged it off, said it was probably just anxiety and from being tired all of the time, and to "relax."  I have never had any blood work or tests other than thyroid levels (which I asked for because I had been told my thyroid was enlarged, but she didn't seem to think it was a big deal), which was borderline low (0.35).  I don't go to the doctor often and the only reason this was brought up to her was because I was there for an injury and just happened to bring it up as I was there.  I'm not taking any medications for anything other than ativan for emergencies.  I take a multivitamin, calcium, magnesium, flaxseed oil, vitamin C, and vitamin D as supplements.  

[marshmallow]

Find another doctor.
Get them to check you for diabetes and thyroid.
They are all in the endocrine system.
Diabetes will cause the feeling of fullness and thyroid if hyper will cause the shakes and rapid heart beat.
I am not a professional, but have both these conditions and the symptoms you talk about.
Get a complete physical if you can somehow.

[Kat03]

Thanks for your answer.  I have been questioning my blood sugars for a long time, especially since I get so tired and dizzy sometimes after eating.  I used to have low blood sugar, but haven't had my glucose tested ever, except for when being pregnant, and I wasn't having this problem then.  I have been looking into other doctors for quite some time since we are not happy at all with our current.  She used to be so good until the practice got bigger, she got busier, and it seems like she doesn't even care anymore--burnout, I think.  
I don't have health insurance, so I can't afford to be coming in for visit after visit only to get nowhere, so I'm thinking that I might just go directly to an endocrinologist, since I am sure that many of my problems are hormonal.  I couldn't get pregnant for 3 years and had been told that my thyroid levels were low, but not low enough to be treated.  I know that many of my symptoms are hormone-related, but just don't know which hormones, or how to get them tested seeing as my doctor now won't even order labs and just tells me to "relax."  
Anyways, thanks for the information and I will definitely check into those things because that is what I had thought all along as far as what could be wrong.  

[Faex24]

Find another doctor (2). Atypical panic attacks are often caused by hormonal changes.
I am not certain that what you are describing are hormonally-induced but good medical
help can help you fine the answer There can be other causes as well.
Marshmallow is right on target. I just want to add my voice. I have seen doctors make light of atypical panic attacks and it doesn't any get better until the patient gets some
a good second opinion. It's bad enough we have the regular kind.

[greenpaisley]

Thank you for describing what you're feeling. This is my first time on the site and am going to mention some of the responses to your post to my doctor. I too have suffered from anxiety my entire life. I have been on every anti-depressant on the market and although they help at first, I just don't like being dependent on these drugs. I feel like there has to be another resolution. I have recently been perscribed Klonopin because of my daily panic attacks. After years of allowing myself to accept that I am just a nervous person, I am deciding to take a more proactice approach to my health. I just had a lot of blood work done on Friday to look more into a reason for my issue. I am newly married and although we do not wish to have children just yet, if we do one day decide to, I can't continue to get by with these medications. Thanks to all who share your stories and for taking a moment to read mine. Has anyone heard of stress causing numbness to feet, legs, or arms?

[DremoraLord]

I've only recently started having panick attacks, as you probably know, and I feel the same way. It doesn't last for that long, but i too feel like i'm about to burst, and usually after eating/drinking, especially fizzy mineral water. My heart is racing, i feel it when lying down, when trying to sleep, sometimes... I think you should go to a second doctor, and please, after you do, tell me what he said as well. E-mail me if you can because i might not be able to check this topic: ***@****

About the numbness, i do feel it as well, usually while having panick attacks, but it goes away as soon as i realise they're not really numb.

[Kat03]

Thanks for all the input everyone.  I just wanted to add that I get the numbness and tingling as well in my mouth, face, arms, legs, and I do believe that it is because of the panic attacks.  I have heard it can be from hyperventilating, which I know I do when I am in stress mode, and when I first started having panic attacks full force, that was my first sense that I was about to have one.