Allergies, Nose Problems, Anxiety? All Three?

[Nasal_Problems]

Hello Doctor,

I have had allergy problems since I was a youngster. When I was young, I had my nose drained frequently and my parents took me to an allergy specialist. I was allergic to many things. Over the past ten years (I'm 28) I've also experienced what I would call generalized anxiety... most of which (if not all) has to do with my fears of breathing/breathing problems.

I pretty much stopped seeing an allergy specialist once I was in college because I was no longer covered under my parents health insurance. I have frequent sinus infections, which would lead me to a local psysician, so I would frequently be given antibiotics. At any rate, I haven't seen a specialist because my coverage didn't cover it.

Recently, I went to a ENT, however. They gave me nasanex and thought that I should consider surgery. In basic terms they said the inside of my nose (tissue) is slightly swelled... that's what the nasanex was for, and they said that my nostrils collapse when I breathe in.

As I mentioned, I now suffer severe panic attacks... basically all day long. I don't know if my problem is mental or physical. I really want answers now. I will get health coverage again July 1 and head to get the CAT scan the ENT recommened... just wanted to know a doctors opinion in the meantime... is there something I'm missing? What are your thoughts?

[National Jewish Health]

Your description suggests 3 problems:  allergies, chronic nasal and sinus disease and panic attacks.

Before agreeing to nasal surgery, the indication for which is not clear, you should await the CT scan.  Then seek a second ENT opinion from a person unaffiliated with the first ENT.  Your rhinitis, also called nasal inflammation, may be on an allergic basis.  If so, medicine and environmental control should relieve it, with allergy shots and nasal surgery likely to be unnecessary.  The CT scan will shed light on what might constitute effective therapy for your sinus disease.

Finally, chronic anxiety with panic disorder is a common problem.  This frequently causes a person to experience other physical illness and makes a person’s response to treatment for the physical illness less effective than it would be otherwise.  Panic is a very treatable condition.  Pharmacotherapy is very effective and you should not have to go through life, handicapped by recurrent panic attacks.  When your health coverage is activated in July, you should arrange to see a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist.

Good luck.

[geist11]

I had a nose injury last year, and combined with my allergies to paint and mold which I was exposed to, my nose would close up making it difficult to breath and I would have panic attacks . I had never had panic attacks before this and haven't had them since the swelling and exposure to the allergens had gone.

[Nasal_Problems]

Thank you very much for your assistance. I will take your advice and let you know how it goes. Thanks again.