Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

can anxiety cause this?

For seven months now I have been totally stressed out over my health. It all started with a stomach twitch and has gone on from there.First the stomache twitch and I just knew something must be wrong so I went to doctor and she found a urinary tract infection gave me antibiotic and sent me home. I still felt pain in lower left side of stomache and lower left side of back so I went back. She checked and said I di not still have infection but hadyeast infection and tenderness on one ovary . so she gave me medicine and scheduled sono of lower pelvic area wich showed nothing. I was convinced I must have kidney stones because that was something I had before. I was really worried because we were leaving for vacation and did not want to ruin it. Then I started to get a really bad one sided headache. About 2 days later I was leaving my house to go mow my parents lawn and it felt like my arms went weak but I kept going and while I was driving I got this burning sensation that I found out was my trapezious muscle then I felt like I was going to pass out so I went to the emergancy room. I told them what happened and about the pain in my lower left stomache and the did sono and took some urine and said I was fine. By that time it felt like my whole left side was burning and asked doc and he said i dont know could be fibro but that would be on both sides.His thought was that the pain in my stomache was from spasm.He gave me anti inflammatory and sent me home.I was sure something was wrong that they just didnt check to be honest at that point I was thinking brain tumor.I took the anti infammatory and it made me totally sick to my stomache and spent the next 2 days in bed with bad one sised headach and sick stomache.So I went back to doc and convinced her to test for kidney stones.At that point i really felt weak dizzy headache like I was going to pass out and vision blurry.Went to test and couldnt do it cause I am allergic tpo iodine.I was leaving for vacation the next day so I was freaked that I had a brain tumor or something else and I was dying.I went on vacation with this feeling like I was going crazy and this horrible headache and what I now know was my scalp twitching . the headache was one side of neck and one side of head. During this vacation I had continual headache diareah bouts of blurry vision and some tingling in fingers and toes I also woke up with mumb hands.I felt the weak arm sensaton like blood drained from them and it felt like tiny pin pricks in my eyes too. I have to tell you I also had 2 of what I am sure were panick attacks.I was extremly worried the whole time.My whole body shook a couple of times,On the way home continued to have eye sensation and headache and felt my muscles tightening. I got back home thinking it would get better but did not.I was now waking up with pain in jaw so much it was almost locked up and then various muscles in my body started to twitch wich terrified me so I went back to doc and convinced her to do cat sc
17 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
I have been struggling with the same issues with health anxieties.  I have been to different doctors numerous times and am now seeing a therapist and taking Lexapro.  I believe the Lexapro has started working.  I have been taking it for three weeks and the difference I notice is the obsessing on a specific thought or disease or dying is much less intense and when a thought does occur, it seems to go away more quickly.  I do not know what caused this state of anxiety but I do know that it takes time to undo and the physical side effects it causes are very real. My biggest physical side effect is a nervous stomach that makes me need to use the bathroom frequently as well as dry mouth and some twitching. My dry mouth began before taking Lexapro so I do not know if they are related or if Lexapro causes dry mouth.  It was comforting to see that what I am experiencing is not an isolated issue.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi. I know exactly how some of you are feeling. This started with me in 2000 just after my dad passed away. It scared me so bad to watch him slip away that everything I saw and felt just got to me. It felt like something snapped inside. Now every ache or pain I get is something that I swear I'm dying from. I've been checked over by my doc as well. Same doc I've had since 1979. I do trust him when he says there's nothing physically wrong, but for some reason this crazy notion sticks in my head and causes me to panic. I constantly think about dying from some horrible, painful, death. The thoughts of illness just fill my day. Seems like they play over and over and I can't think about anything else. I started taking Lexapro but got no relief after 3 weeks. Now I'm on Celexa and things are a little better. I've only been on that one for 8 days now. At least I'm not trembling as bad at night or early in the morning. It is just a terrible feeling to be controlled by these thoughts. I'm going to see a counselor for the first time tomorrow. I'm hopeful he can get me on the right track to recovery, or at least management of this terrible anxiety and panic. Thanks everyone!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I guess we all need to be thankful for each day we have with them ones we love, its has been great for me and I am comforted to know I am not alone in this fight for "normal" best of luck to you as you battle on and thank you I will check out the web site. best wishes wendy
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
wendy, thankyou for your reply. We sound so much alike in this. I want my life back too. I like you had this happen when my life got a little easier and I dont know why. That is why it is so hard to believe this is stress.I would think if I was going to lose it it would have been so many other times instead of when it did.I am really trying to work through all this and it is so hard to do . I also look at my kids and pray that I will be able to raise them they are my life and I worry without me what would happen.I do know that I have health anxiety even if there is possibly something else wrong. I dont know if you are interested but there is a really good web site called health anxiety.com that has really helped me through some of this it is other people who specifically suffer with health anxiety and I really see myself in all of them. I hope that we can all get through this and reclaim our lives and come out stronger and more wise because of the experience.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
DEAR BARBO36
I SIT HERE KNOWING YOUR FEARS. BEING A MOTHER/PARENT IS THE HARDEST THING, I THINK WE ARE ABLE TO HIDE OUR PAINS AND WORK THROUGH THEM FOR JUST SO LONG AND THEN OUR BODY AND MIND JUST SAYS I NEED A BREAK.  I HAVE BEEN SO ACTIVE MY WHOLE LIFE I LIVED WITH STRESS, ITS ALMOST A COMFORT TO ME BEEN THROUGH SO MUCH WHEN ALL THE SUDDEN IT ALL CHANGED YOUR LIFE STOPS AS YOU KNOW IT THE PERSON YOU USED TO BE IS GONE AND AT LEAST FOR ME I CANT REMEMBER WHO I WAS BEFORE ALL OF THIS HAPPENED. 10/13/03 MY LIFE CHANGED AND I JUST WANT IT BACK.  THOUGHT I WAS HAVING HEART ATTACK ALL THE SIGNS AND THEN SOME, I HAVE BEEN IN ER
TWICE HAVE HAD EKG'S, BLOOD, ECHO, TREDMILL,CAT SCAN OF HEART AND LUNGS ALL OK, DOC SAID STRESS I SAY "HOW CAN IT BE, NOW?" THIS TO ME IS THE EASIEST MY LIFE HAS BEEN.  I AM NOT ONE TO TAKE MEDS NOT EVEN FOR HEAD ACHE BUT AFTER MY FIRST SCARY PANIC ATTACK I SAID OK PUT ME ON ZOLOFT FOR 2WEEKS NOTHING THEN IT CAME BACK, ITS JUST THE SCARIEST THING. ANYWAY I JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW YOUR MIND AND BODY ARE STRANGE ORGANS, I KNOW YOU JUST WANT SOMEONE TO LOOK AT YOU AND SAY YES I FOUND OUT WHATS WRONG WITH YOU, AS FOR ME I KNOW SOMETIMES I FEEL ALONE AND THAT I AM LOSING MY MIND AND EVERYONE AROUND ME SAYING IT SALL IN MY HEAD, I JUST WANT TO FEEL NORMAL.  I LOOK AT MY KIDS FACES AND AM AFFRAID THAT I WONT BE THERE FOR THEM WHO WILL. BEST WISHES YOU ARE NOT ALONE. WENDY
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I didnt have adoc tell me that for 4 months after seeing 3 of them all I kept hearing was we dont know whats wrong with you. Wich of course really scared me
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
What you have does sound anxiety related.  At one time I thought I was having a stroke.  My entire left side was tightening up, vision problems, dizziness.  I had had some vestibular disturbances and it generated into my thinking that I was going to have this stroke I was so sure of.
I went to the hospital and was examined carefully by a great doctor.  He did every physical test he could.
Then he looked me in the eye and told me maybe I should see a mental health individual, that it was a severe depression, and that I was having anxiety attacks.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
no I havent had anyone die when I was a child so I really dont know what happened to make me feel like this. It is all so confusing for me but it is definatley a fear of death I have
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
hi, I think I have had some similar issues. I have not been able to breath right for two months now. Had pulmonary fuunction test, echocardoigram, stress test, blood work, etc. I refused to believe it was anxiety until recently. I have a young daughter which I am raising alone (20 months). In talking to a therapist, I have realized I am obcessed with dying since I had my daughter. My own mother died when I was 4. Therapist says I am re living the whole thing and anxiety will probably get worse as she gets near that age of 4 unless i work on it. I started lexapro 12 days ago. Not helping yet. Also taking Ativan as needed until the lexapro kicks in. Have you had an sort of family death when you were young?? Having kids can cause feelings to come up that you have never had before. Part of therapy is ruling out all physical problems. Take it easy, use the meds if you need to. good luck, Kelly
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
You are most certainly not weak. The strongest action we can take is recognizing we have a problem and take the steps to do something about it. It takes a lot of courage to do that. I wish we could just make it go away, too. I have found that doesn't work for me.
I think anxiety as a stand alone diagnosis is underrated. It always seems to be grouped with numerous other emotional disorders and many times is comorbid with other disorders... but not always. I have an Anxiety Disorder and treating THAT made all the difference.

I do wish you well.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
No depression hasnt even really been talked about but I do know that I have had different levels of depression since I was a teenager. I always just got over it though , I thought. Anxiety I have had on and off not as much as depression. I have always been a worrier. I remember commenting to a friend that I always have a worry or problom I have to solve and I obcess about it till I solve it then within 2 seconds I think of another one.I really am trying to work through all this but it is the hardest thing to do. I was on a web site called healthanxiety.com and it was reasuring in the fact that there are many people out there that worry about death and disease like me. There was also an article on something called bfs that would explain my symptoms and it is not an illness it seems rather a stress syndrome. I thank you for your help and replies as I dont get much support elswhere. I have been called weak and told I am doing this to myself wich couldnt be farther from the truth. I hate this and I only wish for it to go away.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Sounds like you are on the right track. In my opinion, your therapist should work with you to recognize "issues", thought patterns, behavior, etc... the meds should be left up to your doc. The effort is a coordination: separate, yet together. From my experience, your problem sounds like anxiety, which is a symptom of what's going on with you. Anxiety is a symptom of a faulty "flight or fight" response. Therapy and meds treat this, but it takes time and effort.

Has depression been explored as a possible diagnosis?

Maybe, your therapist is waiting for you to stablize on your med to begin your work of exploring. I wish you good luck.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
HI, Thankyou for the advice. I wasnt able to finish my post so I figured I would.In shortened version I have had cat scan of brain mri of brain and top of spine 3 complete blood counts tested for auto immune diseases also thyroid and diabetes.All came back normal.I have gotten myself so worked up about it being als or ms or something like that.My new doc swears its anxiety and wont even refer me to neurologist but has refered me to therapist. I am currently taking klonopin just a small amount wich does seam to help but I still get alot of the physical stuff I think it is just helping to keep me sane. Do you know how anxiety just pops up on you like that with all of this physical stuff? I have been scared to death since first muscle twitch about it being something deadly. I have 4 kids and that is what scares me the most I dont want to leave them till I am old and gray not while they still need me. I also have to admit I just plain dont want to die I love life too much. So why this fear of death? I dont know. The therapist so far has only concentrated on meds wich if it is anxiety I would like to get to the root of the problom and start working on getting better. Any thoughts?
Helpful - 0
242532 tn?1269550379
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
This is definetly what happens in anxiety reaction...yes, you have to check out organic disease if something really looks that way to your doctor, but now you should deal with anxiety through therapy and medication.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi,
  I just went through some similar issues and have had anxiety problems for years.  But the physical affects were so extreme (and not panic attacks) that I was sure I had some sort of disease.  I have a great doc who didn't blow me off but sent me to a neorologist after running a series of blood tests where they did a catscan and an mri on my brain.  All came out normal.  I feel much better and even though I still get these strange pains, headaches, twitches all over, shooting eye pain and other weird stuff, I don't get so anxious over it.  Its worth finding a doctor who will take you seriously and help you get peace of mind by ruling out any other health problems.  And if all is well, don't be affraid of getting on medication.  Serious anxiety problems don't generally go away on there own.  Although some people are only able to treat and control their anxiety, there are also many who are able to completely overcome it with medication and counseling.  A combo of both is usually best.  Medication isn't always a long term solution, but a short term help while you and a counselor get to the cause and resolution of the problem.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Panic disorder.Seek the help of a good therapist.Do not take medicines.You will get over this.Practise  meditation.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Generalized Anxiety disorder and Panic disorder can cause any number of strange and weird symptoms. Do some research on both and you'll be surprised to find the extent and extremeness of the physical symptoms plus you find you aren't alone with this problem. You need to have a complete physical exam to rule out a physical problem causing you symptoms and go from there. It seems you have had some test done, others may be necessary. Find a good Dr. willing to work you and put together a treatment plan. If an anxiety issue is found, there are a number of good treatments. I have found my medication to be a Godsend. The combo of therapy and meds can be very effective. I believe these disorders can be effectively managed, but not necessarily "cured". Good Luck.
Helpful - 0

You are reading content posted in the Depression/Mental Health Forum

Popular Resources
15 signs that it’s more than just the blues
Can depression and anxiety cause heart disease? Get the facts in this Missouri Medicine report.
Simple, drug-free tips to banish the blues.
A guide to 10 common phobias.
Are there grounds to recommend coffee consumption? Recent studies perk interest.
For many, mental health care is prohibitively expensive. Dr. Rebecca Resnik provides a guide on how to find free or reduced-fee treatment in your area