Need Help Please?

[dragongt]

I worked in a convenience for 3 and a half years since 2001. It is a very busy place, busier than others. In the beginning of working there I was still in high school and working part time, in the summer full time. I am very anxious person, get nervous, panic attacks, stressful and shy unlike any other person. I had fear of talking to people and had difficulty controlling my nerves. While working weekends I started to smoke 2-3 cigarettes every weekend, sometimes I did'nt smoke for a month but I kept this routine for about 2 and a half years just quiting and smoking ect, I noticed I became exrtremely unpatient and nervous while I was'nt smoking and when I was'nt smoking I experience nasal problems and muscles weakness (general weakness) and dry mouth symptoms. I was drinking sums of coffee during the time also but as I started to quit smoking gradually I became addicted to coffee so much at work, I drank 8-12 cups usually fri-sat-sundays and 1-3 cups of coffee at home from mondays-thursdays. Basically I was drinking an overdose of coffee and a combination of smoking as well. During the time my anxiety level was as high as anyone could possibly imagine, it sort of became chronic or some kind of habit. Overdose of coffee and high level of anxiety (excitement) made me have the following symptoms, numbness in hands and legs, rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, adrenaline was as high as ever also for long period of time, dry mouth at night almost persistently, little red spots on arms.Since I was a little kid about the age of 13 or 14, the time since this anxiety really started, I progressed into a habit of biting my nails and my interior lips when I was anxious and when I was not. This went on until 5 months ago when I decided it was a really stupid decision. While working at the convenience I bit my nails frequently or just once in a while and when I was more anxious with the coffee and cigarretes to my own anxiety problem I was biting my nails all the way down to my skin, somethimes caused little cuts which were bleeding. Most of the time I put badages on or just used my T-shirt until my finger stopped bleeding but sometimes I did not have time to cover with anything.Well, nail biting made me calmer and was pritty much soothing when I felt pain. About 1.5 years ago, I had bronchitis. 6months later had worsen numbness in arms and legs and because of lower back injury had some back pain.My heels felt pain from standing and just gradual muscle weakness.I went to get physical test done 3 times  and everything was perfect. Currently I have symptoms; burning eyes (contacts), peripheral neuropathy (not sure though), sweatiness (drink lots of water and vitamins), muscle weakness, thick lips(skin), white stuff on my anus with little red rash, sometimes difficulty swallowing. I went to the doctor, response; was anxiety, anxiety,anxiety...took paxil now and fell a little better.Never had sex or needles in my life. Could this be a sign of something serious?

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

It sounds like anxiety that is made worse by caffeine and nicotine, which are ways of self medicating that don't work and make matters worse.  Stick with paxil, and look for ways to calm yourself, and stop using coffee, or at least drink decaffeinated.

[isabel927]

HI.  I am not a doctor, but an RN. Have you tried seeing a therapist or enrolling in a program? It sounds like it is anxiety and every doctor you have seen has agreed. Caffeine is a natural diuretic which can cause increased urination and dry mouth leading to increased thirst. It is good that you cut down on the coffee you were drinking, it is way too much for anyone at any age and porbably just added to your anxiety problems. Anxiety can be controlled, but it sounds to me that you need more than just your primary putting you on Paxil. If you take care of the anxiety properly, once that is under control, you can look at your other physical complaints clearer... if they remain to be there. Good luck!

[dragongt]

I just want to add to my post, if I have a cut on my finger would there be a chance I could get infected by some sort of disease while dealing with money with cash register. My doctor told me it is relatively impossible and not probable that I could contract something and I asked if I would need to do a blood test for specific symptoms, she said even if I would do a blood test, she knows for sure that I don't have any type of disease, only anxiety is the cause. My additional symptoms I would like to add is muscle twitching, heels hurt under pressure of skin, profuse sweating when training and just the ones I've mentioned at the end. I also went to a neurologist 4 months ago and he checked me for 1 minute and told me everything is fine. I heard that adrenaline can cause your immune system to drain or overwork itself therefore can weeken it. I feel relatively okay throughout the day now, I still feel these symptoms though even though its gotten a little better after I stopped drinking that much coffee(seemed to be allergic to coffee now), have'nt touched a cigarette for half a year, quit my job and have much less anxiety now also 6 months ago. My symptoms seemed to be getting better but new ones are arising such as the rash. Whats going on?