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Avatar universal

Anxiety or more?

Hello, I am just wondering what is wrong with me. I have very VERY frequent spells that usually have one or more of the following:

Shortness of breath
Chest Paints - sharp and usually up on near shoulder and sometimes in the back
Headaches
Dizziness and Faintness
Feeling weak, as if my body weighs thousands of pounds - so weak I can't even open my eyes
Heart palpitations
Cold sweat
Shakiness or trembling - sometimes inside as well as visibly
Legs or body parts go numb or fall asleep
Tight squeeze in my head
Head numbness or tingling
Heartburn
Sensations in stomach or chest
Blurry vision
Trouble speaking
Nervousness
Random pains in parts of body

I have had panic and anxiety before. The last time I went to the ER (for medication that didn't react well to my heart), the doctor said I have an irregular heartbeat. My symptoms were bad then, but they seem to have gotten worse and come out of nowhere, and then my brain races 90 to nothing and they get worse.

These spells can last from 10 minutes with lingering effects to hours and hours. I mostly take hydroxyzine to just knock me asleep so I don't have to deal with it. They're so frequent and severe that I cannot work or function normally. I'm too poor to go to the doctors so we've contacted congress to try to get me some help. I'm a 23 year old female...I do have polycystic ovarian syndrome and terrible hormonal imbalance. I live under lots of stress, but I've never had these attacks before this badly. I used to work out regularly, but these attacks have stopped them cold, and now I can barely do anything I used to. Its making me miserable...

What could it be? Just Anxiety that suddenly blew to a larger proportion or something else? I'm wanting to get tested for everything possible.

- K
4 Responses
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Avatar universal
EKG and heart tests came back fine. They said I had some sort of benign tachycardia, where my heart will speed up at times, but its isn't damaging my heart at all, and that this tachycardia is from stress or anxiety maybe. I go to the doc's on Wednesday to have glucose test and other various tests, likely including a brain scan of some sort. My mother strongly believes I'm having fibromyalgia or what its called. I'm just not sure anymore of what it could be. I'm going to keep it updated for those who may look at this and get similar symptoms.

- K
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks for the replies! I get into the doctors late this month for both heart and brain tests, plus a few more of the works... I am most worried about possibly developing diabetes (runs in both sides of the family...) than anything else. I have been checked for anemia and other blood-related tests and things seem fine there. I can deal with the pain symptoms... it's the dizziness, feeling faint, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, tingling head, numbness and weakness, etc. all weird feelings that pretty much paralyze me. It's now to the point where I can sometimes talk myself out of them, and today one led to a full blown, although very short-lived, panick attack. Which leads me to believe it is anxiety probably from my severe hormone imbalance.

I've always had trouble with cysts bursting left and right, so I experience missed periods and horrific pain in my abdomen. The doctors I have talked to with the symptoms believe that it is all related to my hormone imbalance causing everything, including cysts and all. I'm still having the extra tests when I can to make sure. This...whatever it is...is really putting a hamper on my life, but I just raise my head and thank God for the things I'm blessed with. It helps a little, but there's still those times where the symptoms just hit me like a sack of bricks. I'll keep you updated! Especially when tests come back.

Also, another symptom leading me to believe more in the anxiety direction: I wake up at night with sweating, heart pounding, full blown panick attack, etc. Quite disturbing and annoying. These attacks mostly make me very mad more than scared.

- K
Helpful - 0
875426 tn?1325528416
You might try posting this on the dysautonomia forum on medhelp.  I hope you can get to a doctor who is willing to work with you financially.  Medical conditions should be ruled out by professionals before chalking up symptoms to anxiety.  I hope you have had your iron level and ferritin blood levels checked to make sure you are not iron deficient (a normal CBC does not always mean no anemia).

A psychiatrist once told me that valerian root is like natural librium (a prescribed tranquilizer).   Valerian root is sold over the counter and you might try using it as it directs to see if it calms your nerves any.  If you know the Lord, cast all your anxieties on Him, for He cares for you!
Helpful - 0
906759 tn?1275957620
Hi.  Only a doc can tell you what is going on.  

I have similar issues that have lasted for over 6 months now.  I have had Almost every heart test done and nothing has been found wrong with my heart.  My docs have said anxiety from the beginning.  It has taken me about 5 months to control my anxiety.  The only problem is i am still in pain ALL DAY, EVERYDAY!!!!  The only time i am completely pain free is when i sleep.  

Go see another doc.  You cannot put a price on your health.  Go and look at the anxiety community here and read some other posts.  It may help.

Good luck and let me know if you need anything.
Helpful - 0
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