eighteen year old boy, not feeling right, pretty scared, please help

[joeyx3mcr]

Im worried about  brain tumors and heat problems, Im eighteen years old and I had an anxiety attack about 2 months ago, and ever sense then I have not felt right.


I have kind of a pressure feeling on the bridge of my nose, and it seems like I have a wierd vision problem. It might just be me but im not sure.



I also have some chest pain occasionally.


Someone help me out please.

[RCA7591]

Joey,

Sounds like it may be Sinusitis or chronic Rhinitis. Would suggest seeing an ENT (ear, nose, throat) doctor about your complaints.

What type of chest pain are you having (ie: what is the location of this pain)?

-Ryan

[joeyx3mcr]

Hey,

its not really pain, but it does tend to flare up a bit, its not like its going on all day...


but sometimes itll be to the right, sometimes to the left, sometimes around my ribs.


ect ect ect.

[BethanySublime]

this weird vision problem...is it like sort of like you feel like you have to squint or you won't be able to focus, or like your vision is slipping away?  but you really don't SEE any vision change?

[joeyx3mcr]

kind of like my vision is slipping away and kind of feels like im going crazy.

[BethanySublime]

ok i think that we have the same thing!  and i've had other ppl say that they get it too but it never really sounded the same until you.  so that makes me feel SOOO much better knowing i'm not the only one!!  does it feel like you're not really yourself?

[joeyx3mcr]

yes, not myself at all.


I kind of have a pressure in my head, its not really an ache but its more so just a pressure feeling.

[BethanySublime]

well i don't have that.  which should be good news to you, since i have the vision thing which i'm almost positive is from anxiety (i haven't been to the doctor about it though, i'm just realizing that it happens most when i'm feeling anxious so i assume that's why).  but of course for peace of mind you could always go to the doctor and get a CT scan or MRI.  you sound like you could use some peace of mind.

[joeyx3mcr]

yeah I guess...
im scared of what the doc might say though
im afraid to hear that I could have like...a heart condition..
or...idk...
a tumor
or something....

[BethanySublime]

well i promise you won't feel better NOT going.

[joeyx3mcr]

Yeah, i guess



im only seventeen
how rare is it for people my age to have heart problems or tumors?

[hatgal]

Well you won't know anything, and will literally drive yourself nuts speculating, unless you go to the doc as soon as possible.  Go to the ER if you have to and tell them your vision issues along with the pressure in your head. They will most certainly do a CT or MRI right there. These tests will show everything like a sinus infection, ear infection, etc. Or it may show you have a perfectly heatlhy brain, which is my bet.  But you have to ease your mind and not knowing is the worst part of it.  

When I'm in full-blown anxiety, I  have the vision thing also.  I thought one was coming on the other day while I was cleaning the floor b/c it was like I was getting black spots erratically for about a minute, but then they went away.  I just had a brain MRI a few weeks ago and all was fine.

So, go get yourself checked out as soon as you can, like now, and go on living life to the fullest; boy I wish I was 18 again!  I know, easier said knowing now what I would have liked to have known then (LOL)!

Are you having any social anxiety issues? As much as I'd like to be that age again, it is a life-turning age and is hard.  My best to you........

[joeyx3mcr]

yeah it does suck..


how rare is it for someone my age to have something like that?



and i dont know...
i dont get out too much.

[RCA7591]

Pretty damn rare. At age 18, the last thing you should be thinking about are brain tumors and heart disease, unless these conditions are familiar (run in your family).

Now I'm going to be honest with you (I am not judging you, only offering advice from the info given):

The last line says it all "I don't get out much". That is 99% of your problem. Isolation leads to social phobia, anxiety disorders, development of somatic complaints over health, and other mental health problems. Spending a great deal of time on the internet or computer is not helpful either.

I would suggest that your mother take you to see a board-certified psychiatrist (not a psychologist or therapist). A properly trained psychiatrist will use a combination of drugs and CBT to alter your anti-social tendencies. The sooner this is done, the better, as these types of conditions are progressive. This type of behavior is abnormal, and needs to be treated while you are still young. If you do seek the advice of a psychiatrist, do not withhold any information from him/her. Mention everything that is disturbing you.

Whether or not the visual disturbances or nasal pressure are somatic in nature is unknown. To me, it suggests a sinus infection, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, allergies, or similar type of problem. You should see your family physician over these concerns if they persist. If it's a sinus infection, a course of antibiotics would be required. You can also try an OTC preparation containing Phenylephrine Hydrochloride (Vicks Sinex or 4-Way nasal spray), and see if this improves the symptoms. Do not use these products for more than 3 days, or more often than every 4 hours. If the symptoms improve with the OTC products, a prescription for a corticosteroid nasal preparation may be beneficial (Rhinocort, Flonase, Beconase).

Having your family physician perform a complete physical would also be a good idea. This would also include vision screening, hearing screening, blood work for glucose/CBC/thyroid/liver function. This would be useful to exclude a physical or organic condition.

The chest pain you describe is atypical, non-cardiac in origin.

In the mean time, do not "symptom shop" by looking up diseases on the internet. This will only add fuel to the fire. YOU are your #1 enemy.

Best to you,

Ryan

[joeyx3mcr]

Thanks.
My mom basically tells me the same thing...


I just feel like ABSOLUTE ****.
i feel like...
im not myself?
if that makes sense?



You seem very smart ryan...
are you a doctor of some kind?



If so, kudos to you.


let me know man, I could DEFFENITLY use the advice.

[jgoo]

hey, joey im 26 and i feel those same things, feels like your squinting to see and you just dont feel like your in your body, like your there but fully not there, dont feel alone i went to the doctor over these things, I think what you are suffering from is the same thing the doc told me which is Anxiety...dont worry and just try to relax when you feel this way and take deep breaths and relax, i know it feels wierd ive had this off and on for years and always when i go to the doctor its always the same thing anxiety, i know its scary but it will be ok..good luck to you

[JKAM]

Hey you.

I was just surfing the net, and somehow I came across this.

My brother had some of these problems. Your own anxiety is the biggest one. RCA7591 was abslutly correct.
Take some deep breaths, i dunno what religion you are but pray a little, eat some good chocolate cake.

Or your cake of choice:)

I promise it'll help.

-Anon.

[JKAM]

Oh, and good luck to you.
It'll get better, I promise.

[kcdem]

you have anxiety, depression, and 18yr olditus. listen to ryan and seek professional help, stay off the internet, i am old i have a little more of an excuse.

anxiety can make you go blind. go see a psychiatrist, if you are going to be on the net take the time finding the best shrink or psychiatrist in your area. highscholl even if you are just out, and trying to get laid and the like,can crush just about anyone, you are not the first. anxiety hits many in college, high school finals, etc...

listen to ryan, i dont think you need nose spray though, but a md could tell you. ryan is spot on your fears are irrational and you need to get out, get help and maybe get..........

[my__sweet]

Yes anxiety to the max by the sounds.  Thinking you are going mad and all the symptoms you are saying are just like what my darling son had many years ago.  He had panic / anxiety. He would say he thought he felt things crawling in his brain, he felt like he was looking at himself, not involved in life, he had so many symptoms and it was all anxiety.
I would rush him to the hospital. They would give him tests and say "Go home panic / anxiety" In the end they wouldn't even test him they'd just say Go home panic / anxiety!
So, take the advice of being busy and relaxing!
The worse thing you can do is search the net and diagnose yourself. That's what I do and I too have anxiety to the max and I always think I'm dieing of something - including now and the docs can't find what's wrong, but my eyes are flashing black when I go into bright rooms, like my bathroom, toilet and shops.
Our body will create something for us to worry about WHEN we get into the habit of worrying... it's a vicious circle O
Break the circle - get happy - get a life - you're going to be around for a looooooong time yet : )

[beffqwerty]

Hi joey,
I'm 18 and i have an anxiety disorder and depression. The vision problems you're having may be because you are panicing, if you hyperventilate then it will give you these chest pains and vision problems purely because you aren't taking in enough oxygen. This is perfectly normal. You just need to chill out when this happens rather than panic more as it'll just make it worse. I have chronic sinisitus, which means it comes back often, and the above people are right, it does sound a lot like it, Its not always if ever painful, its just pressure and antibiotics can clear that right up and have you feeling better in no time.
As for the anxiety, get yourself to a therapist or counsellor who can help you with it. If you can't do this because you're too worried or anything like that, then get a close friend you can talk to and let it out. If you don't get out enough to have someone you feel that you can do this with, then by all means find someone on the forum, we're here to support and help you with your problems. I've only recently built up the courage to go to my doctors and ask for help with my anxiety, and it was a huge relief when they told me that i wasn't going crazy and its perfectly normal. Loads of people have the same problems and feel the same way, it just takes that bit of courage to come out and say that you need help.
Also, never assume the worst about a problem. Vision problems and pressure are not a sure sign of heart problems at all, neither are chest pains, These things could mean a lot of things, from you having migraines to an anxiety problem. You need to stop thinking about the could be's and get the problems looked into so you know for certain what is going on. It'll help a lot with the anxiety when you find out what's up trust me :)
I know it can be incredibly stressful and even scary to go to the doctors or the ER because it feels like there could be something really bad wrong with you, but 9 times out of 10 its just a regular problem that can be sorted easily. As it is, if you leave it too long it may just get worse.
So out of all that blurb, it simply comes down to this.
1. Go to your gp and ask for an examination, tell them what you think may be wrong and they will tell you if they think you're right, although they will more likely find a more regular problem and sort it for you.
2. Either ask for counselling/therapy or find someone you feel you can relate to or talk to about your problems and go from there. Even if you can only let out a small amount of stress and anxiety at a time its a great place to start.
3. Don't let yourself get over worried about something that is more than likely not what's actually wrong.
4. Try and get out more often with friends as this will relieve your anxiety. It should help to distract you from it slightly, therefore giving your mind a chance to rest.

Hope all that helps :)