Anyone Else Have CONSTANT PHYSICAL 'Anxiety' Symptoms?

[crazyhayz]

Ok, so i rarely feel anxious, worried, etc etc. But I have been getting panicky feelings literally out of nowhere for no apparent reason since 'overdosing' on cocaine on new years eve. Heart has been checked, all ok! Basically what im asking is, how can someone have CONSTANT physical anxiety symptoms?? I dont know how but I do!!

1) Dizziness/Lightheadedness CONSTANTLY (i never feel not dizzy or lightheaded)
2) Pressure feeling in head (not headaches, but almost like theres water on my brain or somethings building up!)
3) Pressure, earache (this comes and goes) Hearing loss (this also comes and goes but i havent been able to hear out of my left ear all day today)
4) Blurry/Unfocused Vision - This is the main one that is starting to really affect my life. My eyes seem to not be able to focus on things properly, and takes me a couple of seconds extra to focus when i move my eyes to look at something. Also, if im looking at something, everything else around it is blurred, apart from the actual object im looking at. I sometimes think i see flashiness when i turn and look around but this could be my imagination lol.
5) Feeling generally 'off'. And getting weakness in arms and legs.

But the dizziness and blurry vision is the biggest factor. I never ever get a break from this but the doctor has said its anxiety. Seriously though, shouldnt you only get physical anxiety symptoms when u are actually feeling anxious?? Im on Diazepam, but its not this as it was happening constantly before I started on this.

[HEALTHFREAK1988]

omg sounds like me!!! just did another mri today now awaiting for the results constant dizziness and vision disturbances ambulace call all the above!! i cant believe this actually happens to other people as i would not wish this upon my worst enemy your story really helps me alot these sites actually make me feel better although i still google symptoms which is the biggest mistake of my life my anxiety has taken a toll on me lasting almost three years constantly with new symptoms arising cant seem to shake it NO MATTER WHAT

[crazyhayz]

Right guys, im back. After over a month!! Sorry if u dont remember me, but i was the one fretting over my health problems after i had done cocaine....well i wanted to share my update with u all....so here goes:

Ok so i had my eye test, she said i had swollen optic nerves so she booked me in to see an Eye specialist at Hospital that day. i was panicking like mad as i thought that meant something was putting pressure on my eyes! Eye specialist checked them and said they r fine, slightly swollen but nothing to be concerned about. By this point I had been in A&E the night before with severe dizziness where i couldnt even stand up. Headache, throwing up, You name it. Blurred vision, shakes etc etc. So they booked me in for a CT Scan that monday.. whole wkend of waiting. Awful. Was having around 10 panic attacks a day, had my whole family around me, as i couldnt move or talk or eat.I was a complete wreck and felt i had cracked. Monday came, i got to hosp crying with worry. Had a panic attack in the scan room. Cried sooo much it was horrible. Staff were great though, as i told them i suffered with anixety disorder so they were so wonderful. Had to wait 4 hours for results. But...............................................................................................................

Everything was CLEAR :):):):):):):) xxx I cant even begin to describe to u all what that was like. I almost hugged the neurologist and kept saying 'ru sure????!!!' hahhaa!! I got to have a look at the scan too, and oh my, the brain looks incredible. I was astounded. And just so pleased to see and hear that everything was fine and i didnt have some nasty brain virus or a big ol' tumour lurking in there!! Anyway, i was fine for a few days after that, then i got stressed with money and personal problems, and then suddenly started getting tightenings in my chest, weak legs, and severe cripplng pain right where my heart is. I called an ambulance. I couldnt breathe properly and felt i was guna faint. They said i was just hyperventilating and they soon calmed me down. I was fine after they left. lol. Its so odd panic attacks, they rly do make u feel like ur dying!!!!!

Ive had 6 ECG's in 4 months. And all of them have been 100% fine, but u still r not convinced when the pain is so real.. and bad!! Anyway, i have had the odd panic attack here and there since then, and my anxiety was still bad but not debilitating. I have started CBT Therapy with my local Mental Health Team. Theyve been brilliant, and understand how much the physical symptoms have affected my life and how much i cant handle them. They scare me so much i just make myself worse by worrying about them! hyperventilation = lots of strange bodily symptoms!! thats what ive learnt from CBT!! Theyve taught me breathing exercises and i find just talking helps me loads. They r changing the way i think, negative to positive, it really is great, but got a long road ahead!

Anyway, about 3 weeks back, I again had the sharp crushing chest pain, and breathing was so painful. I was being sick too. So i was really worried. And because the pain was unberable in my heart area of my chest, i called an ambulance out - yes again lol. This time though, they decided to take me in. Even though my on-site ECG at home was normal. They said it could be lung. So off to hosp i went. I was having ectopic heartbeats too, or what i thought were ectopic heartbeats! they were actually muscle twitches in my chest wall muscles!! lol!! Anyway, 4.5 hours on a constant ECG, and a chest X-Ray, bloods etc, revealed............ NOTHING. And funnily enough, when i got the all-clear, the pains went. Completely.

Since that night i am a changed person. IVE FINALLY ACCEPTED I HAVE NOTHING WRONG WITH ME, AND ALL THESE SYMPTOMS ARE CAUSED BY ANXIETY/PANIC DISORDER. I havent had a single panic attack since that night, and im so happy. Still doing CBT every wk, and its helped me soooooo much. And im on 20mg Citaopram which is amazing. Cant fault it. I told the hosp and my CBT therapist about the drug use last year that i was worried bout,, and theyve all assured me that unless i was an actual drug abuser, theres no way one night of cocaine use after so many months of not touching it, would do any damage to my brain or heart. and ive had that proved to me with countless ECG's, Bloodwork, Chest X-Ray and a Brain Scan.

I am on the mend and although id say i get odd funny anxiety feelings at least 3 times a week, i laugh to myself when i get them coz i know its the horrible anxiety creeping through trying to beat me. It hasnt...and it WONT. I can promise anyone that :)

[Julie359]

HIya Just wondering how the eye exam went, did all come fine???

[MrGreen]

I knew there was a method to my madness last night with my words. Just couldn't find the way to put them. What exactly I was trying to say that I think the OD has a massive effect on the symptoms that are been felt. Even if the person is not feeling anxious and imagines themselves to be cool as can be. Hate using the word paranoid, but I would descibe the feelings in a paranoid sort of way. As the drug can have that kind of effect on the mind. Leaving its mark, so ro speak.

Didn't need Mammo after all. She was too busy running her cartel in Columbia to even read the post. LOL.

[Julie359]

Hi again StormyRenee really could be onto something here, with Migraine type attacks.  The overdose of Cocaine may of caused a chemical disburbance in ur brain causing these dizzy, pressure feelings.  

Good-luck with the eye exam and just so you have an idea of what may happen i will let u know so u can feel better and more relaxed about it.  If they do a retina exam, by turning off the lights and shining a bright light into ur eyes, they will be able to see if there is any swelling in the Optic nerve or Retinal detachment, they may put eye drops in to dialate the pupils so they can have a full access to the back of the eye, so i would firmly recommend taking a pair of sun glasses with you, as after the test even dull light can cause discomfort due to ur pupils not being able to contract until the drops wear off.  

Also they may do a pressure test of placing eye drops in ur eyes to numb them and then they use a machine to measure the pressure in ur eye they can rule out a condition called Glycoma... all the tests are painless, your only discomfort may come from the bright light.  But these tests can be a good indicator of whether you have any swelling, pressure or fluid build up within your cranial cavity ie skull.  

The test should last roughly half hour to one hour long, depending on the throughness of the doctor.  It is important you tell the doctor the reason as to why your having these problems ie the cocaine overdose as it could influence the way he treats you, ie medication wise, if any is needed and making a proper diagnosis.

Anyway, good- luck again and hope all goes well.  You will be fine and trust me the tests are nothing to be scared about!!

All the best Julie

[StormyRenee]

Hi,
I suffer from anxiety . But I also suffer from migraines and weird migraine varients (Hemiplegic,Acephalgic,Optical) Acephalgic are certain types of migraines that do not cause actual headaches .I have an astigmatism in my right eye and some vision problems aswell. I have alot of the same symptoms you discribe.
Now while some of my problems are aggrivated by the anxiety they are not all caused by it. I am under a neurologists care and have been properly diagnosed. I really recommend that you see a Neurologists because the majority of your symptoms DO NOT sound related to anxiety.Also you need to see an Opthamalogists and have your eyes checked.
Good Luck...

[Noelieboats]

I have constant tightness in my chest with dizzy spells and sudden electric shocks through my system, bad heartburn suicidal thoughts and the feeling of going crazy text book stuff really. Living hell.

[crazyhayz]

Thanks for the responses. Ive got an eye test tomorrow morning so i will let you know how i get on. The thing is thats bothering me, is it has only been happening since i overdosed that night on New Years Eve and had a huge panic attack. I was a completely normal girl. I never had anything wrong with me whatsoever. Infact, i cant remember the last time i was ill or anything. Ive always been a bit of worrier but not to the point where it affected me mentally or physically. It is literally since overdosing that night that i have had all these problems. Im worried sick ive done something serious :( Ive had 4 ECG's and my heart is fine :) But i get a vibrating feeling in my heart all the time (im guessing these are palpitations which are 'apparently' normal?!) But i havent had a ct scan or anything yet so maybe thats my next move. Im just so worried. And its almost as if i dont want to know if ive got something wrong with me, coz im scared, and i have a little 16 month old son :(

[Julie359]

I have to third what has been said, even though i think MrGreen has been on the irish whiskey tonight hahaha...mwah dude luv ya. Yeah this don't sound typical of just anxiety, you need to go back and insist on being reffered to a neurologist, someone who can give you a proper full check up.

My doc LOVES to throw the 'it's only anxiety' card at me, but each time i insist on having tests done something always comes back abnormal and then he has to eat his words... you think he would of caught on by now hey.

Or i know it's a little immoral to suggest this but put the symtoms on a touch and go to the ER or A n E, where ever you are, and make out ur having bad pain in ur head along with all the other symtoms, this way they may do a series of tests then and there to rule out anything serious.  But thats if you are only really desprate and need to know asap.

Sometimes you need to exagerate a little to get what u need.

P.s....No one read this OK!! SHhhhhhhh

[Paxiled]

I agree with greenlydia that some of this doesn't sound like anxiety, but it does sound like what many report when they're in withdrawal from drugs both illegal and legal.  Now, you're not in withdrawal from one experience, but cocaine affects three major neurotransmitters in the brain.  I expect this will all rebalance, but for some people it takes some time.  I would agree you should look and see if something else is up, but I also think this is just your body having difficulty getting reoriented.  No sense making yourself more anxious about it, that just makes it feel worse.  (And I know this is easier said than done).

[RubyWitch]

Personally I would suggest you see your doctor again about your symptoms. While a couple of your symptoms could be related to anxiety, many of them are very uncommon in people with anxiety/panic.
Earaches, hearing loss, the CONSTANT dizziness and visual distubances, seeing "flashiness" when you turn your head...........these things I think your doctor needs to evaluate for another source than anxiety.
And I'm not talking brain tumor, I'm thinking more of an inner ear infection which could produce many of your symptoms as could a sinus infection. You vision may need to be checked which would explain some of your symptoms.
I would also talk about your anxiety which the diazepam does not seem to be helping.
Wish I could have given you a better answer, but I seriously think you should see your doctor again.
Let us know how you're doing.
Peace
Greenlydia      

[MrGreen]

Well with anxiety, if you ever went through a bad panic attack, the body always stays on high alert. Even at times we think we are calm. Like me sitting here now. Writing away without a care in the world. But I know my subconscious mind is still on full guard. Because of past events. And this can make me feel certain ways. Even though I am not sitting here anxious. I think you put your mind through hell with your OD. I am no doctor and don't know the full effects coke has on a person. Though I did just read Ozzy Osbourne's book and learned a lot from that. Jasus. The damage it done to him. With you it is only three months later. Maybe you are expecting things to clear up a bit quicker than they really do. Again I don't know if the OD would have a lasting effect. Maybe not one you can see. But subconsciously. Might have put the body on guard. Oh I am taking thrash now. No idea what I am saying. That is nothing new for an Irishman. But we can have odd things happen even when we don't think we are anxious. That is the bottom line of what I am saying. I'll leave it at that.

( Passes it over to Mammo......LOL.....j/k )