Anxiety?? Stress??

[Gregor]

I am a 33 year old biochemist/medical biologist. It has been quite a stressful couple of years, finished my PhD, had a lot of stress at work, not enough sleep or holidays. I started having tinnitus, costochondritus, heart-pounding, tachycardia, nausea, weight-loss, unrealism, etc and panic attacks and became agoraphobic. Most symptoms subsided after 5-6 months. I became more active, enjoyed life, was planning for the future (post-doc) and was under the impression that I was recovering. However, last June I woke up one morning with a completely irregular heartbeat. It scared the hell out of me. I ended up in hospital, but the results (ECG, stress ECG, echo, telemetry etc) all came back negative, except for a slight tricuspid valve-insufficiency. I am currently seeing a psychiatrist for the PNE. Four months have past, I haven’t had any major panic attack and have managed to overcome most of the agoraphobia, but I still have these skipped heartbeats. They exclusively occur during waking and falling asleep. I have a vibrating sensation in my chest and I can clearly feel my pulse skip beats. They are hindering my recovery and I feel that I am making little progress lately. So I have a few questions: 1. Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Did I develop PNE because of the heart problems, or does the PNE induce the skipping beats. 2. I (and my psychiatrist) would like to avoid using SSRIs or benzo’s since I have managed so well without any Meds. He did put me on inositol and vit B complex. Any other suggestions with regard to supplements?? Many thanks in advance. Greg

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

It sounds to me as if you are in very good hands. I don't have much to offer except to ask you to reconsider your language re heart problems. It is most likely that you are having heart symptoms because of an underlying high level of anxiety. You have chopped off the peaks (phobia and panic) but haven't yet lowered the base.

[kell26]

Unfortunatly I had a good friend in grad school that had similar symptoms. Her Dr. put her on Paxil. She wasn't too thrilled with the idea at first, but with time she realized it was the right choice. She feels like a new person and is slowly coming off the drug now. Perhaps you may want to give SSRI's a second thought. Good luck!  Kelly :)

[Gregor]

Pardon my French .. Let me rephrase that: "scares me alot"!!

Thanks for your reply

Sincerely ours,

Greg

[Nebula]

Hi, I take Paxil and hate it for somewhat the same symptoms as you had. (I'm a student of OT) What is inositol? I take a multi-vitamin and would love to switch off of the Paxil and be treated with vitamins and stuff (especially since I want to have a baby soon).  (Plus I'm exploring using light therapy, since my symptoms only occur during the winter months in the Midwest).  {The doctor has NEVER once responded to anything I posted and asked him to respond to in this forum.} :(

[Gregor]

Hi Nebula,

without going into the biochemistry of it all: inostitol is a key constituent of cellular membranes and plays a role in signal transduction within the cell. The bottom line is: inositol has a suiting effect on the axiety producing parts of the brain. B vitamins are important cofactors in the production of 'happy' neurotransmitters, such as serotonin.

Read the FAQs on nutrition and supplements:
http://www.algy.com/pdi/FAQ/faq.cgi

for a good forum on PNE/PAD see Dr. Shipko's forum: http://www.algy.com/pdi/index.html

Here you will find alot of info on the do's and don'ts of using Meds and alternatives.

Also, all questions are answered here :)

Hope this helps! feel free to mail me if you have any questions: ***@****

Bye!

Greg