This can't be anxiety - please help!!

[jess990]

I have posted many times on here before but I am really so lost. I take no meds, I see a therapist once a week. I have been dealing with full blow anxiety for 2.5 years, but it started 7 years ago. I was good for a few years then it came back after my youngest started school in June 2006. In the past 2 years, I have seen 3 general doctors, 2 nerologists, 2 ENT's, 3 therapists, numerous trips to the ER, sleep study doctor, cardiologist, homeopathic doctor, gynochologist. I have had: EKGs, stress test w/echo on my heart, overnight sleep study w/watching functions of everything, MRI, blood test panels, 4 ultrasounds of my abdomen, chest xray, chest ct scan w/dye x2, Lupus test, hepatitis test, diabetes test, blood sugar tests including c peptid, kidney and liver function tests - several, nerologist did eye movement and all mechanical neruo tests, vitamin deficiency test, horomone test. I think that is all. But I still feel like ****. I go for a few days okay, then, wham, I can't even move right. I get so tired I am in a fog that I can't function, but I do, I just feel like **** all day, I feel feverish, but I don't have a fever, I feel achy, but no flu or cold, I feel like I am going to die at any moment, then I feel okay, I wake up naseaos for half the day, spacy, achy, out of it, anxious, then I am okay mid day, then it comes back around 3-5, then okay, sometimes, sometimes I am icky all day long for several days, it feel like I got run over by a mack truck. What is the deal? My head gets so foggy I don't know how I can function, drive, work, take care of the kids sometimes. I am so tired of this, I don't know what to do. Am I missing something, are the doctors missing something? Has anyone felt this bad with anxiety for this long and had nothing work? What do I do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bee_ryan]

I think you're just stressed out; anti anxiety meds aren't like anti depressants (personally i like the tricyclics over the ssris myself--more tolerable side effects).  With xanax, klonopin, or any benzodiazepines they are basically just relaxing, but very addictive.  Take the least amount you need to get the job done.  Any medication has side effects, but comparing zoloft with klonopin is like comparing pain pills with vitamins...they're just not the same thing.

Anyway, pop a benzo, go for a walk everyday and realize some people have to deal with stress a good part of their life, but with meds and good diet and exercise it doesn't have to overwhelm you like what you're experiencing.

POP TARTS RULE!

[Hope75]

I have had all of those symptoms and several of the same tests that all came back normal.  My diagnosis is anxiety and or panic disorder.  I had one this morning.  Nausea, chest pain radiating down left arm.  Yep, it all feels like you are having a heart attack or are going to die.  The best thing I've done is take meds, and to take a run during an attack.  It helps to get the nasty chemicals out of your body that is telling you to take flight or fight.  It *****, but you won't die and it's manageable.  I have to constantly remind myself that there is nothing wrong with me, just getting worked up over things and my body makes a mistake and goes into fight or flight.  I agree that the wrist thing stinks.  Doesn't work.  The main thing is to not focus on your physical symptoms.  I take my meds and I am now functioning, but I couldn't even work due to it five years ago.  You can beat it.  Don't let it take you down.  Take care

[Caveman24]

Alright you know that you are ok, so lets try relieving that stress. Yesterday I went to the chiropractor and to a massage therapist and I feel like a million bucks. No anxiety no panic attacks it been a wonderful 24 hours I hope it lasts but I really feel that it comes from stress and if you can find a way to get rid of some of it your anxiety will go down.

[jess990]

I am very scared to take medication, I tried Zoloft once and I climbed the wall so I quit it. I do talk therapy once a week. But it has been 2 years and I still feel ikcy every day. I went to the ER today with chest pain, they did and EKG and monitored my  heart for about an hour plus a chest xray - same old story, nothing wrong except my chest walls are inflamed, they say from stress, that is causing the pain. But I still feel ikcy, used to be I could go to the dr, get reassurance, and be good the rest of the day and for days afterward, but I am not feeling that way anymore. I leave there now still sure something is wrong.

[cnote]

I'm glad to hear you are having better days.

You still didnt mention though if you have talked to your Dr. about taking any sort of medication to help with your anxiety?

You may want to try it out... and maybe some talk therapy?

It can really help. =)

Whatever you do, you will succeed! There will be a time when you feel better I'm sure! So just focus on that!!!

Try excersing! Try a hobby that takes your mind off of it... I know it's hard to do, but it will start helping. =)

Good luck, and we are so glad you are here at the forum. Please keep us updated! =)

[jess990]

Thank you so much for your response! It is so relieving to have this site to help me through this. I don't think that wrist blood pressure thing is good, it is never accurate with the doctors and it does freak me out more if it is off or something.

[Caveman24]

Just breath in through you nose and out through your mouth use your stomach to help for some reason it helps relieve it. Don't be concerned about the wrist blood pressure thing those things don't work at all. All your doing is feeding your fears and that is the worst thing you can to in a panic attack. I know and still do it like driving home tonight I had a pretty bad attack and of course I felt like I was going to die wich made the attack that much worse. Another thing you can do is when you have an attack go for a run if you can get your heart rate way up there, the doctor recommened that to me I tried it yesterday and it seemed to help a little bit.

[jess990]

Thank you for your responses. I was feeling a bit better yesterday, but am feeling icky today. I am achy again and very anxious, feel like crying. I took my blood pressure with one of those wrist things and it went all wacky a few times and now I am panicking, thinking I am having a heart attack. Maybe my thing is off because it takes a normal reading then goes to like 199 over 183 or doesn't take it at all, then it is normal. But I felt okay before I took my blood pressure but it sent me into a panic. Should I be concerned? Where do I go from here with this anxiety?

[Caveman24]

I have all the same problems they started for me a couple of months ago, I thought I was having a heart attack, but my body just wasn't doing what it should do in a heart attack. I started searching around on the internet and found this forum and read all the sypmtoms everybody was having and realized this is what is wrong. So I went to the doctor a couple days ago and he agreed with me and prescribed me xanax and citalopram. The xanax is for those panic attacks that I can't control and the citalopram is for everyday use to keep me mello, they say I won't feel the full effects of it for a couple week but I feel it working and it helps. All I can say is try not to let your mind overwelm you I know it's hard it still gets to me about once a day but it's better than it was just a week ago when it seemed like I was in a neverending panic attack.

Good Luck

[lynn57]

I had all the same probs as you and at least as many tests.  My doc was convinced it was something other than anxiety.  Klonopin was my salvation.  I take Celexa, but without the klonopin I can depend on a couple of panic attacks per week.  Like you, between 3 and 5 is the worst. This feeds into the syndrome since you are constantly waiting for it to creep up on you. I have improved and take .5 mgs of klonopin two times a day.  Half of what I took durinng the worst times. I hated the nausea more than anything.  A doctor gave me an ativan during an attack and it helped within 15 minutes.  Diagnosis....panic disorder.

[jess990]

still waking up feeling naseaus and lightheaded, achy, feverish. it seems to go away mid day and I start to feel better. Is this all just anxiety?

[cnote]

You said you don't take meds. Have you tried an anti-depressant? I feel achy, especially my back, I feel feverish too when I'm not when I'm having anxiety. Lots of symptoms on top that! It's terrible. So It's probably anxiety for sure. Is that what the Doctors think it is? I mean, with all those tests, seems like you've got a clean bill of health.

Talk to your Dr about an antidepressant. They can help! They helped me big time! =)
Just a small dose is all I needed.

Good luck, welcome to the forum! Keep in touch with us! =)

YOU WILL SUCCEED! =)

[jess990]

I've had my thyroid checked a couple of times and they said normal. I can't find that lab right now but it was okay. I will check the numbers on Monday though and make sure they were in that range.

[azqtpies]

Have your TSH and throid panel tested! The TSH should be betweem .05-1.5 only.. the lab range is way to high! so dont let them tell  you are normal if your are above the .05-1.5 range and the T3 should be in the higher half of the range! The symptoms you explain could all be thyroid related as it controls your WHOLE body and every cell!

Make sure to insist on a copy of your results as way TOO many dr think if you come back within the labs range of normal that it is good! WRONG!!! most people are NOT normal with that range I have a great endo who insist that drs need to be more informative, and not so narrow thinking!

Good luck I hope this is your answer..  my body has a huge range of symptoms that you have when my TSH is over 1.0..... so check it out!