I feel anxiety...docs have not mentioned anxiety though...what direction do I take?

[mommyofabunch]

Hi, I'm new here, and this may be long, I'll try to make it brief and tolerable...
It all started a few months ago....I was at work and life was good, I work with a residential cleaning company and deal with a bunch of chemicals, anyway, I was wiping down something metal when my thumb touching the metal started burning really bad, scared the hell out of me...I blamed it on the cleaner and metal together causing a reaction and bought a pair of rubber gloves. it never happened again, but I think it sparked an anxiety issue, ever since then things have gotten worse, in the next few days I started feeling like i was having shallow breathing, and constantly felt like someone was strangling me, one day I woke up and I had zero appetite, felt completely lethargic and slept on average for 18-20 hrs a day.... couldn't even enjoy or smile for Christmas, in ten days I went from 124 lbs  down to 104 lbs!!! i went to the emergency and they put me on I.V. did blood tests, urine samples, x rays and stool sample...everything seemed fine but they said if i continued to "starve" myself I would die, so I forced food and the er doc referred me to an internal specialist, she couldnt find anything either but she sent me to a surgeon about my swollen lymph nodes that have been swollen for years, I just had a biopsy done and everything is apparently fine. now i dont feel strangled anymore and my breathing is good...with few exceptions, but these new things popped up...I keep getting a weird rash, i cant sleep, i feel sad, i cant eat much but i can eat turkey sandwiches ( silly i know) i keep burping and puking in my mouth a little, im constantly feeling bloated and have very irregular bowel movements...i know this is alot....i feel freaked out by every little thing that happens to me and i have no energy....I just want to feel normal again....does this sound like anxiety to anyone? am i just a basket case?...

[mommyofabunch]

Thank you so much for your replies and insight, I didn't post everything, but I should also mention that after my weight loss episode I actually quit my job to try and manage my health, but I'm not so sure that was the right thing to do, I now seem to focus on my body constantly, I actually wake up every morning almost looking for something to be wrong, lately it's been this burping thing, I feel that I can't get a good breath until I burp, and it's always followed by this vomit thing. I feel that I have to force myself to burp, and sometimes it wont happen, so I keep trying until I do burp, which I'm sure can't be good for my body either. I think I will see my doc soon, but I worry that he will just prescribe me meds, which I really don't like, they actually kinda scare me, a therapist sounds like a good idea. I HAVE been dealing with an extreme amount of stress lately, about the time the burping thing started, my mom was diagnosed with a tumor on her portal vein, its inoperable and she was given 6 months to a year to live, I moved her in with me so I could take care of her and spend more time with her, but things are stressful, and I get nervous I think because of her health issues and scare myself figuring that this bad stuff can happen to anyone, especially when we least expect it. so I guess another question I have is if anxiety can bring on GI issues then does that mean that they are not permanent?  ... again Thank you so much for the responses it feels great to talk about this stuff and know that I am indeed among friends, I have a hard time talking about these things and it feels good to finally "get it out there"!  

[nursegirl6572]

I agree with specialmom, that perhaps you need more protection from the chemicals you work with.  Not to say that is causing your current issues, but just generally speaking.  Ammonia based products especially are very caustic, and I would imagine you are probably working with a few products that contain ammonia.

It sounds as though you also may have some GERD (reflux) issues going on (just my opinion).  Anxiety can sometimes cause GI issues, and vice versa.  I would recommend talking with your doctor about that.  You may need a short term course of something like Prilosec to help manage the GI symptoms.

I agree with you that you're dealing with anxiety and probably also some depression, based on your descriptions.  I would urge you to seek out some professional help for these issues.  A lot of times, therapy is enough to get a person back on track, learning how to cope and learning how to help oneself.

If you're not seeing the desired results from therapy alone, then a medication might be indicated.  Most certainly the symptoms are severe enough where they are affecting your daily life and your health.

Please keep in touch with us, let us know how you're doing.  Please reach out for some professional help.  You're among friends here and are not alone.

[specialmom]

Hi there and welcome.  Do you think the chemicals you clean with are having an effect??  I wonder about that especially since you meniton rash.  Could you wear a face mask?  I know, not the most comfortable or cool, but breathing in less of the cleaners may help you feel better.

But sure, you also could have symptoms of anxiety along with depression as some of what you describe sounds depression related as well.  To be diagnosed, the symptoms are usually present for a period of time.  Every day for at least two weeks.  Sounds like this is the case with you.  I would go back to your general practitioner or internist and discuss again that you feel you possibly have anxiety.  You are the patient and while you may or may not have clinical anxiety or depression,  you deserve to be heard.  

I do wish you well sweetie!  Let us know how it goes.