Physical Symptoms of Anxiety

[nerko]

I don't know if any of you have these symptoms, but I have had them for about 4 months now and I am getting a little tired of feeling like this.

Here is the list:
-Fatigue
-Chest Pain
-Head Pain (different areas)
-Numbness in arms and legs (intermittent)
-Weakness in arms and legs (intermittent)
-Physical symptoms bring on additional worrying and stress
-Feeling like I am going to die
-Sweating too much
-Strange, vivid dreams
-Non-satisfying sleep
-Waking up during the night
-Intermittent Trembling
-Easily agitated, startled
-Arm falls asleep sometimes when sleeping

Here are the tests that I have done and all came back OK:
-MRI with and without dye
-Stress Test
-EMG - I think that's what they call it (when they monitor the brain waves)
-Blood work including thyroid test
-Sinus CAT scan

I have seen a cardiologist, neurologist and a family doctor, the neurologist believes that I have anxiety and he prescribed 12.5mg Paxil for me to take.

Does it sound like I have anxiety?  Do any of you have similar symptoms?

Any input would be appreciated, thanks!

[nerko]

Thank you for the reply.  It sounds wrong, but it makes me feel better that I am not the only one going trough this.

[ronna1978]

Hi, My name is Rhonda and yes, I have every symptom you listed and more!! They are very scary, but the docs say it is your body reacting to the anxiety and you produce the symptoms. There is a website called anxietycenter.com that has helped me out a lot. You should try it. There they list all possible symptoms and why you have them. If you ever want to talk I'm here.

[nerko]

Thank you for the advice

[deltaairsick]

Yes, yes and yes.  All of your symptoms can be caused by anxiety as hard as it is to believe.  Although it's important to communicate what you're going through to your docs, its just as important to take the steps in managing a anxiety disorder once all your tests check out okay.  Even if you are in good health now, not managing the anxiety, as in continuing to feel this way, will lead to health problems down the road because having panic attacks and general anxiety all the time really breaks down your body.
I have been going through this similar stuff for about a year now and so when you sayt hat you are tired of feeling this way, I'm right there with you.  When it first started happening, and in the beginning I really got hit with a tidal wave of frightening symptoms, I was so afraid because I thought something was physically wrong with me. Feeling convinced that I was dying in that moment, only to to make it to another day and look back on the experience and think "how did my body do that?"
Whaty really has helped me to a point is educating myself on what anxiety and panic disorders are and furthermore the fact that I'm one in millions of people who suffer from these feelings.  I good website to read is: http://www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety-symptoms.shtml
It'll tell you all about the physical and mental/emotional symptoms of anxiety and what happens to your body during a panic attack.  One thing that is comforting to kno, although its def. hard to convince yourself of when an attack is happening, is that a panic attack CANNOT kill you.

About the Paxil:  I would avoid taking an SSRI right off the bat before you have come to understand what you're going through better, especially since it was a neurologist that prescribed it.  It should really come from a trusted, understanding psychiatrist who has had a chance to sit down with you and learn your history, because it may turn out that you don't even need medication.
Once you start to do your homework about this stuff you'll see and hear many times over that exercise and good eating habits, stress reduction activities will really put a dent if not elliminate these feelings, but I can't stress enough what good advice that is.

Good luck,

K