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Anxiety, low BP, slow/fast heart rate and all other 'joys of life'
I'm online researching all of my symptoms using all possible combinations of keywords... That's how obsessed and anxious I am. I've been suffering from generalized anxiety, panic attacks and depression for the past almost five years, and been on paroxetine for the same length of time.
I have a terrible, constant fear of dying... I am a complete hypochondriac which is ironical as my life style is hardly healthy - I smoke, eat junk food and am very overweight (my weight went from 67kilos before paroxetine and onset of panic attacks/anxiety/depression to a whopping 136kilos). Since February I lost around 5 kilos but that's it.
I've been monitoring my blood pressure and heart rate on and off for a while now, recently I've become obsessed with it, measuring it like 20-50 times a day. Up until 2-3 weeks ago my normal BP averaged at around 115/75 and pulse around 70-75. About a month ago I started to work, and my job requires me to be physically active (I'm a horse riding instructor and trainer). After working for a week (ant it was a physically demanding week) I started feeling rather dizzy, tired, weak, getting sweaty spells. Started taking my BP again - and it was around 100/60 (as low as 95/55 on few occasions), with a pulse of 50-55 (was as low as 44 at one point).
Then - my BP remained really low, even at work, but resting pulse during daytime, at work, became around 80. Then in the evenings my BP would come up to 120/80 but my pulse would come down to around 60. So low pulse+higher BP and high pulse + lower BP. Even when I take my BP at work, straight after doing some physical activity, it's never over 108 or 113 over 65 or 70, and in about 5-10mins drops to about 105/65 or 100/60.
On my days off (like today) my heart rate often goes low (and BP is low, too) and it feels really uncomfortable, and I feel palpitations along with the slow rate, my chest feels kind of heavy and I am short of breath. It gets my so anxious I cannot function properly. I'm tired, slightly dizzy, disoriented, very anxious and frustrated... On top of that I have a toddler who's almost 2yrs old and requires A LOT of attention a.t.m., which I can not give to him as I'm constantly worrying about my heart and dying from heart attack, cardiac arrest, etc, and keep taking my BP... My husband is frustrated with me as well which doesn't help.
Today I was feeling so helpless because of all my symptoms I was crying my eyes out... I feel like I'm on a rapid road to death and I don't want to be...
A week ago I had an EKG, which stated I have 1st degree AV block, but was otherwise normal. My doc said it was nothing to worry about. Easy for her to say... I also had lot of blood tests done last week - my thyroid hormone levels are fine, so is my blood sugar, potassium, magnesium, iron, etc. But that still doesn't make me feel better - i still feel dizzy, have low BP and very varying pulse, palpitations...
What the HELL is wrong with me... Are all of my symptoms controlled by my anxiety??? Why has my BP dropped so much since I started working? I'm not exactly athletic (although I used to be) or anything, just normally active now...
Should I get more in depth tests done on my heart?
I have a terrible, constant fear of dying... I am a complete hypochondriac which is ironical as my life style is hardly healthy - I smoke, eat junk food and am very overweight (my weight went from 67kilos before paroxetine and onset of panic attacks/anxiety/depression to a whopping 136kilos). Since February I lost around 5 kilos but that's it.
I've been monitoring my blood pressure and heart rate on and off for a while now, recently I've become obsessed with it, measuring it like 20-50 times a day. Up until 2-3 weeks ago my normal BP averaged at around 115/75 and pulse around 70-75. About a month ago I started to work, and my job requires me to be physically active (I'm a horse riding instructor and trainer). After working for a week (ant it was a physically demanding week) I started feeling rather dizzy, tired, weak, getting sweaty spells. Started taking my BP again - and it was around 100/60 (as low as 95/55 on few occasions), with a pulse of 50-55 (was as low as 44 at one point).
Then - my BP remained really low, even at work, but resting pulse during daytime, at work, became around 80. Then in the evenings my BP would come up to 120/80 but my pulse would come down to around 60. So low pulse+higher BP and high pulse + lower BP. Even when I take my BP at work, straight after doing some physical activity, it's never over 108 or 113 over 65 or 70, and in about 5-10mins drops to about 105/65 or 100/60.
On my days off (like today) my heart rate often goes low (and BP is low, too) and it feels really uncomfortable, and I feel palpitations along with the slow rate, my chest feels kind of heavy and I am short of breath. It gets my so anxious I cannot function properly. I'm tired, slightly dizzy, disoriented, very anxious and frustrated... On top of that I have a toddler who's almost 2yrs old and requires A LOT of attention a.t.m., which I can not give to him as I'm constantly worrying about my heart and dying from heart attack, cardiac arrest, etc, and keep taking my BP... My husband is frustrated with me as well which doesn't help.
Today I was feeling so helpless because of all my symptoms I was crying my eyes out... I feel like I'm on a rapid road to death and I don't want to be...
A week ago I had an EKG, which stated I have 1st degree AV block, but was otherwise normal. My doc said it was nothing to worry about. Easy for her to say... I also had lot of blood tests done last week - my thyroid hormone levels are fine, so is my blood sugar, potassium, magnesium, iron, etc. But that still doesn't make me feel better - i still feel dizzy, have low BP and very varying pulse, palpitations...
What the HELL is wrong with me... Are all of my symptoms controlled by my anxiety??? Why has my BP dropped so much since I started working? I'm not exactly athletic (although I used to be) or anything, just normally active now...
Should I get more in depth tests done on my heart?
Just had an EKG done a week ago (1st degree AV block found, doc said nothing to worry about), blood tests came back normal (thyroid, magnesium, potassium, iron, sugar, etc) - however, I feel far from fine... I am taking potassium and magnesium supplements and Omega 3 fish oil capsules.
It could be your med making your BP and pulse jump around. Is there anyway you can get in to see your Dr? Mine was doing almost the same thing as your and I went to see my Dr. She thought maybe I was low on potassium and magnesium. I started eating foods rich in both of those and my BP and pulse are great now. You can have a somple blood test done to see what your levels are. I would also ask about your iron levels and thyroid too.
I know it can be easy for us anxiety sufferers to just say all of our symptoms are indeed from anxiety but there can be a cause many times.
That's where I would start, is with some testing. If all comes back fine then you may want to think about changing meds and getting in to therapy. If you get into therapy and find the root of your anxiety and learn coping skills you may be able to get off meds altogether.
I know it can be easy for us anxiety sufferers to just say all of our symptoms are indeed from anxiety but there can be a cause many times.
That's where I would start, is with some testing. If all comes back fine then you may want to think about changing meds and getting in to therapy. If you get into therapy and find the root of your anxiety and learn coping skills you may be able to get off meds altogether.
The readings are low, no matter if I take one or several within about 5 minutes... And so is my pulse, I can feel it beating uncomfortably slow and skipping beats in my chest.
I've been taking 20mg of Seroxat for the whole 5 years, it was working quite well for the first 2 or 3, but when I got pregnant I started getting more and more anxious and depressed, especially towards the end of my pregnancy. I told myself it must be the hormones, and I would feel better once my baby is born, but I never did... I'm wondering if it could be the fact that my weight has doubled since I first started taking Seroxat and that could be the reason that it's not that effective anymore?...
I really don't want to increase the dose - in fact, I really wish I could stop taking AD all together but I know that now is not the right time bearing in mind I'm not in the best mental or physical shape and have not been working on finding the roots to my depression and anxiety...
I've been taking 20mg of Seroxat for the whole 5 years, it was working quite well for the first 2 or 3, but when I got pregnant I started getting more and more anxious and depressed, especially towards the end of my pregnancy. I told myself it must be the hormones, and I would feel better once my baby is born, but I never did... I'm wondering if it could be the fact that my weight has doubled since I first started taking Seroxat and that could be the reason that it's not that effective anymore?...
I really don't want to increase the dose - in fact, I really wish I could stop taking AD all together but I know that now is not the right time bearing in mind I'm not in the best mental or physical shape and have not been working on finding the roots to my depression and anxiety...
It's best not to take your BP that many times a day. Also, if you take it several times within a few minutes you won't get a correct reading. That could be one of the reasons you've been getting the low readings. You need to take it after sitting quietly for about 5 to 10 minutes with your feet on the floor.
Have you been on Paxil for 5 years? Has it helped any at all or are you getting these symptoms recently with your BP? I'm asking because sometimes we need a med increase or these meds can quit working altogether and we need to find something else that does work.
Have you been on Paxil for 5 years? Has it helped any at all or are you getting these symptoms recently with your BP? I'm asking because sometimes we need a med increase or these meds can quit working altogether and we need to find something else that does work.
Just had a stressful and embarrassing episode... My heart rate started to drop and my BP went up to 140/90, I started panicking, getting pains and heaviness in my chest, shortness of breath so I called the ambulance, sobbing like crazy.
Of course, when the doctor came he said I was perfectly fine, my pulse was beating well and my bp was 120/80. Basically, I wasted their time...
I'm really considering hospitalising myself for my anxiety and depression... I can no longer see the joy of life through all of this crap I have to go through every single day...
Of course, when the doctor came he said I was perfectly fine, my pulse was beating well and my bp was 120/80. Basically, I wasted their time...
I'm really considering hospitalising myself for my anxiety and depression... I can no longer see the joy of life through all of this crap I have to go through every single day...
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