anxiety or something else?

[alex74alex]

i've been battling anxiety since the end of June of last year - fast heart rate, hyperventilating, shortness of breath, numbness, tingling etc. I've almost gotten used with the symptoms, also, I've learned to "accept" my panic attacks for what they are despite my heart beating out of my chest and some extreme, excruciating chest pains. What I have a hard time figuring out are my new symptoms. Lately I have chest pains almost around the clock - the painkillers and antiinflamatories prescribed (Tylenol 3 and Celebrex) don't always help so it's quite common for me to wake up in the middle of the night "screaming" in pain, also I have an ongoing headache (I would have thought that with the amount of codeine and Tylenol in my body that should not be a problem, still.....), plus lately my arms and legs hurt really bad - muscles, joints, bones the whole 9 yards. Sometimes it's just the knees, sometimes just the ankles, it's quite random but extremely painful. Also, at times my whole body shakes (it's not always visible, it's more like a tremor, particularly at night or upon waking up), at times I get a burning/itchy kind of sensation allover my body - as if someone were poking me with hot sharp needles. But the "main" point is that I haven't had a symptom free day in a very long time.
none of the doctors I have seen have an answer for me, meanwhile I am spending most of my days in bed, in pain swallowing pill after pill and praying that the pain will stop.
Even the psychologist I have spoken with (who happens to have a medical background as well) is puzzled by the severity of the pains I am accusing and somewhat questioning my stories.
I've tried vitamins, supplements (valerian, passion flower, l-theanine, gaba, magnesium, iron, omega 3, zinc), i'm even taking ativan (as needed) even though i am fully aware of its side effects, the risk of becoming addicted, withdrawal symptoms, etc.
anyone there with a similar experience? Anyone who can help ?
I'd really appreciate your input.
thank you.

[alex74alex]

thanx for checking on me guys.
i am still confused about my health.
been hospitalized for 4 days, loads and loads of tests - they drew lots of blood, plus cardiac stress test (again), pulmonary investigations, echocardiogram (again), chest xrays, ct scans, ultrasounds, tilt table test, and more ... Horrible 4 days, still no diagnostic - they suspected adrenal insufficiency - the tests turned out negative for that, the doctor is still watching to see my response to the newly prescribed meds some of which i have already been told to discontinue taking, for some others i'm having the amounts adjusted and readjusted ... There is a possibility i could have POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) - still under investigation,  i also have a low vit D level (22 ng or so) so i.m taking 5000 iu a day. There is also the possibility of simply being weak and deconditioned since i spent a lot of time in bed lately.
conclusion - i am an interesting case (so i've been told), i'm keeping my dr posted about my health, i try to exercise more, i try to adjust to the new meds (and their side effects of course), but i still don't have a concrete or a definitive answer.
i'm trying to stay positive, take things one day at a time, and for now follow doctor's orders as best as i can.
thank you for being here for me, i could always use your help and support and hope to be able to return the favor.
blessings, alex

[theaddict]

yeah, i would love to know how you've been doing as well. any updates?

[cheeky01]

Hey how are you doing? hope things are ok x x

[alex74alex]

thanks cheeky,
i've already given up coffee, carbonated drinks, most of the chocolate, green tea, etc.
like you're saying there are days when i feel scared thinking the doctors might have missed something...
i guess I'll have to start exercising - more precisely i'll have to start forcing myself to exercise - if only the pain and the rest of my physical symptoms would subside, at least for a while.
thanks again and good luck - you seem go be on the right track here.

[cheeky01]

Thats ok! I thought i had every disease going and was scared that the doctors had missed something. I started doing exercise and keeping myself busy then i would stop and realise that i was getting any physical symptoms and that used to reasure me, i go swimming and running, also try cutting out caffine, tea coffee ect, its only been the last month that im starting to feel good again so was battelinh for 11 months

[alex74alex]

thanks for getting back to me and for your encouragement.
on one hand i want to believe it's all anxiety rather than some nasty Disease (as if this is not nasty enough), but i have times when i second guess myself and think of some terrible illness the doctors have a hard time diagnosing.
if i amnot asking for too much, what helped in your case?
looking forward to hearing from you.
ps i bet others would appreciate reading about possible solutions to their torments.

[cheeky01]

Hi. i know exactly what your going through ive been batteling health anxiety for a year now, i had pains everywhere possible and had every test going done and all was ok. i experienced what you are going through and trust me you will get better. I thought id never start to feel better, i was put on medication and that made my symptoms even worse so i stopped it. no amount of pain killers will help. Your mind is creating all this its very powerfull and can do allsorts to your body and cause alsorts of physical symptoms. im now on medication to help me sleep and im feeling loads better, i was at the doctors all the time but now ive not been for 2 months and am finally seeing it is anxiety i have. your not alone in this, here if you want any help .

[alex74alex]

thank you for your response.
i am full aware of the side effects of the pills i am taking, but having to choose between excruciating pain and some bearable level of pain - i'll choose door #2. My biggest issue is that no one can tell me what is causing my pains. The psychologists i have seen didn't help a bit, and all i am left with to help with my anxiety (if that is the real problem) is lorazepam (and boy do i know about it being addictive, about side effects and withdrawal symptoms).
i have no idea where to turn for help anymore. I borrowed books from the library, purchased several of the online offered anti-anxiety programs and none of them helped. I haven't had a good day in months and i see no improvement in my condition whatsoever.
this whole thing ***** - i have never been sick before except for minor things, and now i've seen more doctors and had more tests done in 6 mo than in 36 years before this.

[mammo]

If your chest pain is from anxiety no amount of pain medication will help and the Tylenol is hard on the liver.  You need to worry more about the side effects of these drugs than ones that will help with your anxiety.  You have a medical condition for which there are medications to control the symptoms.... why not take them so you can feel better?  These two medications are wreaking havoc with your body, please see someone who can treat your anxiety so you can get some relief.

http://www.drugs.com/sfx/tylenol-side-effects.html

http://www.drugs.com/sfx/celebrex-side-effects.html