What is it?

[chrisp119]

About four years ago, I had my first "panic attack". I was drinking my usual morning coffee while driving to work, when all of a sudden, I lost my peripheral vision - almost blacking out - then my whole body went numb within seconds. I thought I was going to die. I pulled over to the side of the road (barely) and slapped myself across the face and didn't even feel it. It was scary as hell. Ever since then, I haven't been right. I feel like every day is a dream and I have a constant chest tightness, like I’m starving for air and can’t get a deep breath. I’m constantly trying to yawn to get that refreshing deep breath, sometimes sending me into a hyperventilate state (this has only happened three times). Over the last four years, I have had sudden near syncope spells, without a racing heart beat and without the racing thoughts. I’ve gone through many doctors (neuro, endo, pulmonary, cardio, GP, etc.) only to find that I am slightly hypothyroid. My thyroid levels were just a little below from what they need to be, so I am on the lowest dose of synthroid. I have had numerous tests from tilt-table and EKG to spirometry and sleep study. I do not have asthma and I am not depressed. My GP finally put me on xanax (after going through all of the SSRI’s and SNRI’s) which helps only because it makes me relaxed - even more than I should be. My questions are these: 1) Could it be in fact anxiety even though I have never been an anxious person - as I am pretty laid-back and calm most of the time? I ask this because, like I stated earlier - I have badycardia (because of the hypothyroidism) and I am never in the “fight or flight” state when my symptoms occur - mainly around noon to three o’clock EVERY day. 2) Why is it that every time I have ANY type of stimulant (which I completely avoid anyway), it acts like an extremely powerful tranquilizer. If I take a couple sips of coffee, I instantly feel like I’m going to fall over dead, again, without the racing heart/mind.

[chrisp119]

I haven't talked to a therapist yet, probably because I am still in "denial" somewhat. I keep thinking that I have some kind of chemical imbalance that is underlying. I just don't know for sure that it is anxiety because I never get excited or scared when it happens. Also it happening daily, about the same time everyday, I can not figure out the trigger, consciously anyway. Around noon to three o'clock everyday, all of a sudden, I feel like I start going into "dreamland" and everything feels artificial. I experiment with it daily, to see how long I can go without taking my xanax (.5mg's) and it gets progressively worse - not to mention the constant tightness in my chest. About ten years ago, I would take ephedra supplements (for my job) which would help my breathing and alertness tremendously. Would it be crazy or even idiotic to try ephedrine (an asthma med) to help the breathing? Also, does this feeling of hard breathing and "derealization" effect anybody else - gets worse - while trying to work out?

[dizzyhairs]

It sounds like anxiety to me....anxiety does weird weird things.  The coffee thing is probably your subconscious relating your first panic attack with the coffee and giving you the same feeling after drinking it.  The mind is a very powerful thing!  Have you tried talking to a therapist

[Rich99]

""""Could it be in fact anxiety even though I have never been an anxious person"""
if all that testing revealed no physical abnormalties and doctors say your health is fine then yes,  it certainly could be anxiety.     You suffered a panic attack which now causes you to be 'on guard and anxious' that it could happen again.    Four years is a long time to be anxious so it will take time to develop confidence that you will be fine,  and that you can put this behind you and move on.