Anxiety and physical symptoms

[Jani34]

Hello,
I’m 34 years old Swedish male, I hope I can get my English somehow understandable.. My problems started last October – almost a year ago. Before that I was healthy, no health problems whatsoever. In October 2003 I started getting these fatigue attacks, only way to describe it is that I felt really, really tired and my arms and hands felt especially weak. I’m computer programmer and days at work were really hard.. It was like my hands were losing their power. I went to doctor, they checked my blood – everything ok..
I tried gym, exercise 3 or 4 times a week and hoped that I would soon feel better.
Well, in January things just got worse. I was tired all the time. And this problem with hands – it was getting worse. I checked the net with Google and started to panic as all my symptoms seemed to point at ALS. Weakness of arms,  fatigue.. I couldn’t sleep. Went to doctor, old friend (family doctor). He did a complete neurological check and found   nothing to worry about. But he still advised me to go to see a neurologist since he could see I was not convinced. I did that and the neurologist agreed with my doctor, nothing to worry about. Except my shoulders – exercise! He also advised me to take EMG test to get rid of the ALS scare. I did that and the result was completely normal. I was also checked very thoroughly for other diseases, very very complete check of my blood as my doctor said. This was in March. Well, since then my symptoms have remained. Occasionally, many times during the week – I get these “fatigue attacks”. I just feel I have to sit down. And I’ve been doing sports all my life.. Also I have slight tremor or twitching in my right hand, between thumb and index finger. Almost always when I stretch my thumb. Other symptoms are “red face”. I get this every now and then, I feel really sweaty and I have really red face. With no reason whatsoever. It is like I had flu.. but I can’t have flu all the time!.. Slight tremor in hands. Slight “internal tremor” in legs. Almost all the time, also in the mornings after a good sleep.  When I try to look for reason from the net.. It just gets worse.. All kinds of neurological diseases.. ALS…Parkinsons.. Finally, a week ago I checked this site and was really, really relieved to read some postings with people with same symptoms and talking about anxiety. It seems I fit in every way to the classic anxiety patient.. Maybe here is the key to my problems..
My question ( and I’m sorry it too so long ..) finally is : How long can the anxiety symptoms last? How long can I wait for them to go away? I still feel sick: slight tremor in hands when using the muscles ( no rest tremor), fatigue, arms feel weak. When I hold my hands on the keyboard they shiver “internally”. I also have muscle ache in the neck and shoulders.  Doctors have said I’m ok, but this was in March.. I get the symptoms every day.
Is is really possible that anxiety symptoms are SO REAL, so physical? I do not feel the anxiety mentally, it is just the physical symptoms. As for my “mental life”, no problems. Except for this panic having a serious neurological disease... No medication, no problems in the family. My parents are really supportive as is my girl friend. I just feel really bad for making them so worried for my health. I have always been  “a worried person” though. This I have to admit, I worry extensively about the health of my family: girl friend and parents.. Also 2  years ago, I had really though times as a good friend of mine died of cancer. But this was, like I said, some time ago and my problems started later, last autumn. I understand anxiety can cause physical symptoms but generally how long can these last and especially when there is no reason to be anxious about. I know I should be happy after every test result being ok.. Thank You very much for all the advice you can give.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

I wrote a book that might help you get a perspective on what I am about to say. It is called Transformations; Growth and Change in Adult LIfe. and you can probably still get it on Amazon.

At your age people naturally begin to explore the deeper mysteries of life, especially their internal life and what life is all about.  YOur friends death is a vivid reminder of limited time, and for a worrier, a reminder of unpredictable dangers. These are the kind of things that cause this kind of deep anxiety to surface.  Your best approach would be to find someone, a therapist, to talk too during this period. In addition, anti-anxiety medications would be useful, but only on a temporary basis.  The more you approach this with full consciousness, the better.  This definetly sounds like an anxiety reaction.

[blueyze]

Not a good idea to self diagnose yourself, this is getting you so worried and anxious..just go with the facts (the physical symptoms) and family history and present this to your Dr. As a nurse, when going through school, I thought I had everything I was reading about...and yes you feel panicked when your reading into the medical world...It's good to be educated, but don't diagnose your illness yourself please...the internet (google) can be overwhelming when you start to read about signs and symptoms of certain health problems...and will cause a frenzy reaction...leaving yourself thinking, I show this smyptom of that..and this symptom..and wow I have that symptom of another thing...Take the actual physical facts to your Dr. and if your not satisfied with their answer, and still insist something is wrong...get a second opinion..or third..etc..but look deep into the family history and then compare your symptoms to that...(not google) this is vital information for the Dr.
Good Luck...and your not alone :)

[NervousRN]

Hi there.  Just wanted to give my input here.  I, too, am an RN.  I am currently in grad school to be a Family Nurse Practitioner.  I had a panic attack last fall -- probalby from the stress of working and going to school full time.  I did not realize at the time that I was having a panic attack.  I was convinced I was having heart problems.  After I got over that thought, I decided I had ALS or MS or something.  It's too easy to let yourself believe you hae a terrible disease.  Anxiety takes control of rational thoughts sometimes.  Last May I finally realized that I must have anxiety.  I started on Zoloft.  I am doing much better now.  Not perfect, though.  The meds have made it so my thoughts aren't centered around my health and what must be wrong with me.  I still get tingling in my fingers and toes, and I get muscle spasms.  I have these even when I don't mentally feel anxious (or don't think I feel anxious, anyway).  Have visited many sites like this one.  Very reassuring to know others have these same feeling, don't you think?  I mean, we can't all have MS, ALS, etc, can we!?!  I am not sure what symptoms are caused by anxiety and which may be side effects of the meds.  All I know is that this is something that is part of my daily life and I must discover ways to deal with it.  For me, just continuing with what I need to do helps keep my mind off the physical symptoms.  I hope that someday I will be better and this won't be something I have to deal with daily for the rest of my life.  
Hang in there.  It will get better!

[polaro]

Hi my name is Jennifer and I am 29 yrs old. Last week for no reason at all I started having anxiety attacks bad ones I lost 5lbs. in a week over them, I thought I had every disease going, I thought I had Cancer, thyroid problems heart problems you name it I thought I had them, When I get these attacks my arms go weak, and I just feel strange, the only thing that bothers me about them is that I have 2 babies that need me and I just can not believe that I am going through this I am scared and I just want them to stop, I dont know what brought them on the only thing that has happened to me is that my grama past away 2 yrs. ago and a friend of our just died of cancer and in May my father almost died, but it is 3 months after and they just started.

[platinum]

After a period of time, things build up and that is when the attacks begin.  If you are a worrier like I am, they seem to come harder and you can't get them out of your mind because you are worried about it happening again.  Well I have not taken the SSRI prescribed to me yet but after much research on cognitive therapy, I have found that if you "run" from them and keep saying you just want them to go way, it makes it worse.  I am right there with you so I know first hand.  You have to tell the attack "that you are not afraid, come with it in full force and I cvan pretty much guess that the attack will not come.  I do this and it works for me.  The anxiety is scaring you so you are giving it more power.  Belief me it is hard to do this because all you want is for it to go away but if you go about it the "wrong" way they stay longer.  I hope this helps a little because like I said, I am right with with the little children and all.  Be well and good luck with everything.  If you need anything else, I am usually checking posts everyday or you can email if you choose.

[polaro]

Platinum I woke up fine this morning actually a little bit better then I have and now here it is 11:00 and I am having those feelings again I told them that I am not afraid of them but they are still here I am at my wits end with them I dont know what else to do. I am sick and tired of feeling Like this I look terrible, and the only thing that is really scaring me is my weight and my face looks pail and I dont know if this is normal or not I called my Dr. 3x's yesterday and he never called me back

[platinum]

I also find that if I stay busy I tend to "forget about it".  By no way am I saying it's easy.  Can you think of what it is that is creating the anxiety.  Are you afraid of something (besides dying) that is scaring you or stressing you out?  When my "stressors" are present and I know I am streesing or worrying about it, I give the problem my full attention, think it thru and let the anxety "know" that I am in control.  Also this may seem strange to you but you say you are afraid of dying which is part of the anxiety.  You asked why this is a symptom and I am looking forward to what the doctor says.  When you get the thought, immediately offset it with yeah I am going to die and I'm ready to.  If you are not afraid to die (so to speak) then the fear of it happening can't be there.  I know it's strange and believe me I didn't see me saying that but for me it works.  This theory is a part of cognitive therapy and it supposedly helps with the intrusive thoughts.  You are fueling the power of the anxiety by giving it your undivided attention.  I KNOW how hard this is and that is why I am trying to help.  Best of luck and I hope you can get a past this real soon.

[Jani34]

Thank You all for your comments :-)
It is really a big relief to read stories about people having the same symptoms and going through the same thing.

[lilyellen]

Hi there i my self suffer from panic attacks well i think i do i havnt bin the docs yet. I think i have everything wrong with me cancer, heart attack, lukemia,brain tumor everything you can think off its so scary i just feel that i am gona die.

[Trudy2]

I sure feel your pain, Platinum.  I have been to the doctor til I am blue in the face over tiredness, anxiety,and mostly anger & fear of everything.  I was diagnosed with menapause & depression.  The antidepressants either knocked me out or caused weight gain & hair loss.  Wellbutrin was the cloest thing to help that I found but it caused my hair to start falling out so I have been taking nothing for over a year.  I hate how tired and short fused I feel but I hated the pills even more.  I would love to hear from anyone who could give me some insight.

[mickidee]

I to have anxiety and a lot of the symptoms that you are feeling especially the twitches and trembles.  It is awful to feel like you don't have control of your own body.  I have started doing some relaxation techniques including listening to a meditation tape a counselor gave me, also doing deep breathing has really helped.  My doctor says as you get older you just can't cope as well with stress.  He did give me Xanax which I take only once in a while when I start to feel overwhelmed or the tremors coming on.  However I found a natural product called Rescue Relief that has helped too, since taking it I haven't used Xanax at all.  Mostly the deep breathing helps, and getting to know the symptoms and what triggers my attacks has helped me to deal with it and calm it down.  There is hope.

[mentalhealthhelp.org]

http://www.mentalhealthhelp.org/anxietydisorders/Anxiety.html

[jcu]

I recently had panic attacks & I went to the er because I didn't know what is was.  I went to the cardologist & it was determined that I have mitral valve folapse.  I also had a ct prior to this because I kept getting dizzy, they said that was vertigo.  Since these incidents I have anxiety every day.  There are days I get up & feel out of breath & I feel like I can't even move because I'm so out of breath.  I also felt like I couldn't take deep breaths & this was continually.  I had the full panic attack but these things happened on a daily basis.  I was told they are symptoms of anxiety.  I also have been dizzy recently & I don't know if it's the vertigo or something else.  I'm getting myself more nervous because I think something else is wrong with me.  Are these symptoms of anxiety.

[undercover madness]

Hi all.I am a 46 yr old grandmom..i started having anxiety when i was 27 yrs old..i think it started  because i have thyroid disease...sweats,numbness in left arm,tingling in fingers and toes,shortness of breath,chest pains..sharp pains in differents parts of the body....i truly thought i was going to die....I have been to every Dr.that i can imagine..i had stress tests done, cat scans,mri's  blood work and nothing was wrong with me..so i went to see a therapist..i have been on prosac,effexor,zoloft,buspar,trazidone,and some  i cant remember the names of....all had reverse effects on me...but ofcourse  i managed to gain  tons of weight...finally one day  my shrink  told me..he didnt have anymore tricks in his bag for me,and recomended  that i try shock treatment....well that was a hell no...so i went cold turkey  for a yr  and i was fine...then all of a sudden  they came back...and with the fear  of nobody being able to help me..i learned to control it my self..the mind is a powerful thing...so i decided to count backwards  from 1,000..i washed walls  ect ect  and actually told myself  Knock it off  its only a panic attack...so  everytime i would get the symptoms..that is what i did....NOW..the symptoms started to change  and i said  whoa  this isnt anxety..so i had to go to the dr  and repeat tests again  and still nothing was wrong......i felt like i was back to square one again....Rushing to the Er  several times  within months  ect ect....its a hard thing to deal with  and to understand..anxiety is very scary
and i have  and am learning to live with it...You see  im having an anxiety attack now  and its passing,because i get on the net  look up anxiety  and find im not alone  and the matching symptoms reasure me  that im not having a stroke  or heart attack..and once i  get past that..i am usually ok..feel like a Mactruck hit me...but compared to an anxiety attack  thats ok too...just figured i would share..have a great day all!

[soldierswifey25]

I am feeling the same way . My anixety attacks started shortly before my husband deployed to Iraq, so I figured it couldn't be the stress of that because he wasnt gone yet. I have had numerous EKG's a chest xray and blood enzyme tested and the dr's say my heart is perfectly healthy. My husband has since been deployed for four months so far and some days i'm ok and then others I feel like  my chest is weighed down, I have periods where im teary eyed , like im going to cry at any minute and currently I am suffering from achiness in my shoulders and back and on some occasions pain in my left arm. In some ways I know its anxiety because when I go out and take my mind off of things im ok and I have energy. The minute I hit the house though its like I have the flu or something and I just feel like life is ending. Can someone please help me?