What is wrong with me?

[EMT9549]

Hi everyone thanks for reading:
   So about 5 months ago alot has fallen down on me. My grandfather died on my dads side, then my grandfather on my moms died about two weeks later, then I was starting to feel dizzy and when I would sit in class I would feel panicky. I went to the doctors office and they checked my thyroid because it runs in the family, and it was Hypothyroidism. I went up and down on my thyroid hormone, and now that it is leveled off, I still feel dizzy and brain fog. I went into the doctors office and they said that it is anxiety and personally I work in mental health and its embaresing to me because i was then prescribed Zoloft. The main symptom I have is dizziness, lightheadedness, the room is not spining but I feel like I am moving and rocking back and forth when i know I am standing still! ! ...Do you really think this is anxiety? or could it be something else...my symptoms are: trembling, when hot i get spiky feelings around my body, when cold I am COLD, dizzy, lightheadedness, nervous, scared when my roommates leave the apartment because I am scared ill get sick... whats going on with me?

[alohalani1977]

You should talk to my husband he is going through the samething only thing is that he drinks alot, but he has been to doctor and now a psychiatrist. He has all of the symtoms you are having. Maybe he can help you and you can help him. He is my only friend on my profile akchevyman.

[katemom]

As I've posted everywhere trying to get answers, I'll ask you. EMT is freezing all the time. I feel that, too. ALL THE TIME. I was never a cold person, but now I'm cold, body cold, all the time. And I seemed to have lost my appetite, for real. I never feel hungry and I eat when I think about it or everyone else is eating. It doesn't even cross my mind. My doctor has me on some meds, and I wondered if this was all pretty normal. I take 12 mg Klonopin, 150 mg Trazadone, and 40 mg Paxil. My doctor says everything is fine with me physically, even sent me to a neurologist for my shakes. After an MRI, he said I was fine. No thyroid problems, she keeps telling me I'm fine and I don't feel bad, just completely different than I did before my 40's and all these weird emotional things started that nearly gave me a breakdown. They call my meds theraputically  dependent. Does that translate into addiction? I don't feel at all bad, just different. Does that make sense? It's really hard to describe. I've only admitted in the past few months that somehow something went wrong with me, and after pleading for three years for somebody to tell what's happening to me, I have to accept tht something just did, and that's that.

[lonewolf07]

Hi

I am definitely not an expert but it sounds like your body is responding to your emotional pain at your losses.  Grief manifests itself in many forms.

You said you had "dizziness, lightheadedness, the room is not spining but I feel like I am moving and rocking back and forth when i know I am standing still".  That is exactly how I felt when I posted that "Sense of Dread" message.   Like the walls were moving, that everything was moving even when it wasn't.  The same with being fearful when I am left alone.

It sounds like a combination of anxiety and depression with grief thrown in there too.  That, along with the thyroid and the Zoloft is a lot for a person to carry around with them.  I really believe that body, mind, emotions and spirit have to be in harmony, if one is broken, the others break down too.  That's what I was taught (am Native).

Why would it be embarrassing to be taking Zoloft because you work in the mental health area?  Would an endorcrinologist be embarrassed to take thryroid meds?  Maybe your dose of Zoloft is too high or the drug itself just isn't for you.

I'm sure I sound unsympathetic but I'm not.  Just hate to see a person add to their pain, which is quite understandable considering your recent experiences but you have to look out for you and not worry about what anyone else thinks.

Hugs ....

lonewolf

[RubyWitch]

Well, what happened to you in the fitting room sure sounds like a panic attack. Which tells me that you do need to talk to your doc as soon as you can. Zoloft is for depression and can actually cause some anxiety as a side effect. Perhaps you could discuss with him/her a mild anti-anxiety for SHORT TERM use while the Zoloft has a chance to work and you should probably mention the recent deaths and the other odd symptoms you're having. Could be Zoloft isn't the right AD for you at this time. It's a real struggle for some of us to get the right med(s) on board to deal with all our baggage!
Just know you're gonna be OK.........OK? You'll get this figured out and get on with it.
Just keep fightin' the good fight!
Peace
Greenlydia

[EMT9549]

Hey Thanks for reading. Ya I was just prescribed zoloft three days ago and yeah I am getting the side effects of the trembeling and nervousness, and some nausea. But when I was in a fitting room just yesterday I totally freaked out and thought I was going to pass out so I threw on my pants and ran out the store, once in the parking lot I started to calm down. I dont know personally I really dont know what is going on all I know is that I dont feel like my self and this dizziness and lighteadedness is getting annoying..

[RubyWitch]

Hmmmmmmmm. Hard to say, as it's quite the stew you got going there. You say you have your hypothyroidism under control. Are you sure? I know nothing about that condition so you might want to check out the Thyroid Forum for some really expert advice since this seems to be a new issue for you, even tho you say it runs in your family. I don't know what sort of side effects one can get from thyroid meds, so can't begin to guess if these may be the cause of your symptoms or adding to them or not relevant at all.
Most of the other symptoms you tell us about can be related to anxiety, and while you say you do get "scared" when your roommates leave, I don't get the sense that you are feeling any real panic. And trust me, you'd know the difference between "anxious" and "panic!"
How long have you been on the Zoloft? Because alot of the symptoms you're describing can be attributed to the side effects of that particular SSRI. The therapeutic effect for Zoloft is normally reached in one week, so if you've been on this med longer than that, I would certainly get back with my doctor and discuss what is going on. You may have a sensitivity to the SSRIs. If it's been less than a week, personally I'd give it a few more days, but it sounds like your kinda freaking right now, so why not pick up the phone and have a chat with your doc or his PA or his RN. Or call a pharmacist, they ARE Doctors of Phamocology and can tell you if the symptoms you're feeling are "normal" or if you should get in to your doctors.
Oh, and just because you work in the "mental health" field, don't think you are immune to what ails the rest of us mere mortals! Think of it as "on the job training!" You will have a much more personal approach to someone with mental or emotional problems if you've ridden the same horse.
Keep us posted, OK?
Peace
Greenlydia