Anxiety panic or lyme ??? Other ???

[rsp308]

I'm 34, 6ft, 165lbs. I've been undiagnosed for a year now. Symptoms started with sweaty palms, numb tingling fingers/hands, heart racing, chills, nausea and stomach issues. I've had mri's, ct's, blood tests, thyroid,ultrasounds etc and all came back normal. Over the last 6 months symptoms have somewhat changed to just headache(left temple) dizziness, eye burning, numbness/tingling, flu like symptoms & hangover symptoms, jitters, chills, sweaty palms,heart palp/heavy beats, nausea- but no major stomach problems- mainly head pain wierd head pains/ shooting pains and a general "not right" feeling.

Been to ENT, Neuro, Gastro- all normal findings and I'm healthy on paper. Been treated for complex/complicated migraines but still had these episodes!

These episodes have taken over my life and I've had to quit work and severe attacks have me doubled over on the floor.

The latest PCP said anxiety , OCD but while I have my reservations I'm taking paxil per his request(1 week) I don't really care what it is or might be I just would like to live a normal life again.

I'm getting tested for lyme at Stony brook- not sure which test they will use ?
Getting an MRI of the neck just in case of pinched nerve

Whatever it is it has something to do with my nervous system

Any help, comments, stories or opinions are welcome

[rsp308]

Very interesting...I just got the blood draw last night for the heavy metal test-I'll post the results.

My cut wasn't real bad but it was deep and took 3 stitches. Still can get a sharp pain if I move/press on it the right way.

I have been feeling better every day since I started the paxil 20mg a day. Hope it's(anxiety) the cause of everything and there's not an underlying cause like lyme or ???

Still haven't got the elisa results back yet-today???

I would look into anxiety-getting meds. It was the last thing I thought it would be-I'm not a worrier/very laid back-it must be subliminal-I don't feel any more stress or worry than I did years ago.
My neuro is getting these other tests done just to make sure we are not missing anything and we can rule out the major stuff and any underlying causes.

your story is nearly identical-please post any new findings

rsp308

[Jenny Wren]

I just read your post again, that is exactly how mine started, with the nausea, sweaty palms, faint feeling, it was awful, it left me with 3 months of nausea.  Then after the nausea subsided, the tingling started.

[Jenny Wren]

I was reading your posts, I have been dealing with really weird stuff for the last 5 years, have had so much testing done.  What strikes me funny is you said that you cut your finger before all these symptoms started, me too, I can't believe when you wrote this.  I cut it pretty good, my husband had just sharpened the knife the night before with one of those sharpening rods, I don't know what is on this rod, but this is very odd that you and I have the same things going on.  I also stepped on a board with a glavanized spiral nail sticking up through it about 3 months before the knife incident.  I am going to mention this to my neuro in April when I go back to see if there is some kind of blood work that can be done.  So far, I have had brain MRI, c-spine, and lumbar, blood work for, thyroid, lupus, multiple myeloma, sed rate, ANA, IPEP/SPEP, cholesterol, hormone levels, and probably more that I am forgetting.  Oh yes, lyme, but just the ELISA.  There are no abnormalities anywhere in my blood or through the MRI, except a bulging disk in my neck.  I'm going to look into this though. Thanks, Jen

[rsp308]

I was treated for migraines with pamelor-doc said that was a firstline prevention for migraines and 2nd for anxiety. Since i had another episode he switched me to Paxil which is a 1st line anxiety and 2nd migraine.

I seem to be getting better the last 4 days-still have some slight symptoms but no major episodes.

Dragon- yes to all of your questions. Very strange symptoms- from what I have read and talked with docs it seems the only possibilities are lyme, anxiety/panic attacks or ms.

I have confirmed with my doc that i was screened withe the ELISA test for lyme-he is ordering the blot test. Test will be at Stony brook not igenex lab.

I have also talked with him about an injury that I had just prior to this all happening- I cut my finger/possible still brass or galvanised stuff still in there and he ordered a heavy metal blood screen. Don't know if that would have any effect or cause any of this but he is eliminating possibilities.

He also ordered another MRI since it has been 3 months- to check for possible lesions etc for MS or any changes.

Thanks for all of your comments, etc...

I'll let you know when I hear more-should be getting the ELisa test results back today

[tory2457]

Hi and good luck with getting a diagnosis.

May I suggest that you insist on having a test for Lyme done by a lab that tests for all the bands? There is a lab in Palo Alto California that does just that.

You more than likely will get an ELSIA test done, and you more than likely will test negative...even from the lab in California, testing negative is VERY common!

But, the difference is: when a lab can break down the bands, a doctor informed about Lyme disease and the co-infections, along with your symptoms, can Clinically diagnosis you...

If you are seriously considering being tested for lyme seek out what is called a Lyme Literate Medical Doctor..

Google Lyme and you will find an informative website that is very helpful understanding the difficulty we as patients face....just to get the correct diagnosis!

Best to you,
tory

[DragonTU84]

You seem to have a lot in common with what I am going through now. I am not sure if they are panic attacks or what they are. Does the tingliness/numbness seem to spread to other parts of the body? Do you ever get this tingly feeling in your head when you get these attacks?? Do you get pressure in one part of your head? Does it make you feel woozy, dizzy, make your limbs shake, get clammy/sweaty, feel like you are going to have a stroke or seizure or something, etc.?

I hope to hear back from you! If this sounds like you, then you can e-mail me. I am also talking now with another member who has the exact same issues I do. You can e-mail me at: ***@****, and we can discuss this further. Maybe we can figure out the culprit this way. ;)

[Numzy]

It's probably good you're getting tested for Lyme--I've heard people say that when something goes undiagnosed for a long time, it might be Lyme. Is it possible that your conditions are a combination of panic attack and migraine symptoms? (Even though you were treated for migraines--maybe the treatment doesn't take them away completely, and when you get some migraine symptoms, maybe you panic and that makes it worse?) Recently I started having numbness in my lips and I'm hoping it's pscyhosomatic.