Aa
Just wanting a second opinion
Hey there! 20-year-old white female here, 5'3", been obese and struggling with my weight all my life (I'm around 220 lbs last time I checked about a week ago), but otherwise not many health problems except I frequently get upper respiratory infections and colds. About a year ago around this time I experienced my first, what I and everyone else assume to be, panic attack, along with random abdominal issues. Since then I've been to the hospital three times in 2014 and my GP a few times. I've had about 6 or 7 EKGs and they've all come up as "abnormal", but each time the doctors didn't seem too worried about it and figure maybe it's my normal heartbeat. My first hospital visit I had a CAT scan done for my stomach and not much came up but traces of a stomach virus, and I was left to stay overnight for observation. I had a few chest x-rays done and an ultrasound of my heart, and they didn't really tell me if they saw anything or not so I assume there wasn't anything bad.
Anyway, the second time I went to the hospital, they straight up told me it was a severe panic attack. My heart rate was near 150 I believe, my bp was high, and I started to go numb around the mouth and fingers from hypervenilating so much I almost thought I'd pass out in the ER. This visit was at around 1 am, the time of night my symptoms usually occur. I either am up (I stay up late and generally have always had trouble sleeping) or am woken up by feelings of intense panic. I experience intense palpitations, hot/cold tingly feelings, chest and left arm pain, hot flashes, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, and a whole host of other symptoms. Sometimes I also feel I have an urgency to have a bowel movement. I go multiple times and get chills that accompany it, but it's always normal and never diarrhea.
My third hospital visit they did multiple tests and pretty much determined yeah, I have bad anxiety. I forgot to mention along with the EKGs they've done multiple cardiac enzyme tests and they all were fine, also. Anyway, I was given a two week supply of 10mg of Lexapro, one a day, and a 8 pill bottle of .25mg Xanax as needed for when I feel an attack occur. Thankfully I got accepted for Medicaid so my medications are covered, so I went to the doctor and I've been taking the Lexapro every day (only missed about three days total) since around September. For the first few months I felt great, super happy even and seemed to have lost some weight though I think I'm gaining it back. Right now I do still think it's working, makes me more balanced, but I do still occasionally experience a panic attack and while I've been told that's normal, I think I might want to up my dose.
Before taking the Lexapro I lived every day in constant fear I was going to have a heart attack, and while that feeling has lessened it still gets me sometimes. There is some family heart disease (my uncle, still alive, had a heart attack around his mid-thirties, my grandma has a-fib and has had three strokes, and just had a pacemaker put in, and my granddad on my mom's side had a quintuple bypass) and most of my dad's side of the family has diabetes, including him.
I know this is long-winded and kind of directionless, but basically I wanna ask; should I be worried about my heart, even though multiple tests proved me wrong? Is it just my anxiety ripping me apart?
Anyway, the second time I went to the hospital, they straight up told me it was a severe panic attack. My heart rate was near 150 I believe, my bp was high, and I started to go numb around the mouth and fingers from hypervenilating so much I almost thought I'd pass out in the ER. This visit was at around 1 am, the time of night my symptoms usually occur. I either am up (I stay up late and generally have always had trouble sleeping) or am woken up by feelings of intense panic. I experience intense palpitations, hot/cold tingly feelings, chest and left arm pain, hot flashes, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, and a whole host of other symptoms. Sometimes I also feel I have an urgency to have a bowel movement. I go multiple times and get chills that accompany it, but it's always normal and never diarrhea.
My third hospital visit they did multiple tests and pretty much determined yeah, I have bad anxiety. I forgot to mention along with the EKGs they've done multiple cardiac enzyme tests and they all were fine, also. Anyway, I was given a two week supply of 10mg of Lexapro, one a day, and a 8 pill bottle of .25mg Xanax as needed for when I feel an attack occur. Thankfully I got accepted for Medicaid so my medications are covered, so I went to the doctor and I've been taking the Lexapro every day (only missed about three days total) since around September. For the first few months I felt great, super happy even and seemed to have lost some weight though I think I'm gaining it back. Right now I do still think it's working, makes me more balanced, but I do still occasionally experience a panic attack and while I've been told that's normal, I think I might want to up my dose.
Before taking the Lexapro I lived every day in constant fear I was going to have a heart attack, and while that feeling has lessened it still gets me sometimes. There is some family heart disease (my uncle, still alive, had a heart attack around his mid-thirties, my grandma has a-fib and has had three strokes, and just had a pacemaker put in, and my granddad on my mom's side had a quintuple bypass) and most of my dad's side of the family has diabetes, including him.
I know this is long-winded and kind of directionless, but basically I wanna ask; should I be worried about my heart, even though multiple tests proved me wrong? Is it just my anxiety ripping me apart?
Hang in there, the lexapro is a good choice. I started taking it when I was 17 and due to the calming I was able to loose 65lb in 5 months, which then took my panic attacks way down. I have since then gained the weight back after 2 kids and the panic attacks are back. I believe weight loss is the key to help control panic disorder. Good luck!
Thank you for the advice CRSeaside. I know I need to lose weight and eat a lot healthier, I suppose it doesn't help that I live with my parents and have to rely on what they buy and make. I don't exercise, though, and that's my fault anf I know it. I have to step up my game.
Dear Lake. I recently lost 40 lbs over a 6 month time frame. All my bipolar & anxiety challenges are easier to deal with since the weight loss.
This could help you too. Concentrate on weight loss. I was almost 200 & 5' 10". I'm about 155 now. It really has made a big difference. I've better self esteem now too. I watch every portion control. Every calorie. Get more exercise. Maxy
This could help you too. Concentrate on weight loss. I was almost 200 & 5' 10". I'm about 155 now. It really has made a big difference. I've better self esteem now too. I watch every portion control. Every calorie. Get more exercise. Maxy
Yeah I asked him the first time and he mentioned something like oh MAYBE you have mild myocarditis and then never touched it again. For awhile I was freaking out about that, but considering that was months ago I doubt I had that lol and yeah, my friend taught me breathing exercises and I do think it helped, though it took a long while for me to calm down.
Have you asked your GP about the results of the tests that you have had? From what I have been told, they will keep you at the hospital if the tests show something wrong.
From personal experience, my anxiety use to make me feel nauseous and feel like not wanting to eat. Have you tired doing any meditation or relaxation stuff?
From personal experience, my anxiety use to make me feel nauseous and feel like not wanting to eat. Have you tired doing any meditation or relaxation stuff?
Also figured I should mention my stomach symptoms for the past year or so have been: constant nausea after eating almost anything, frequent burping and making myself burp (it feels like there's gas or something stuck in my throat a lot), occasional acid in throat, heartburn? (Hot/cold tingling in middle of chest that's through upper body), bloating, frequent gas, irregular bowel movements (some days I go A LOT of times a day, though still not diarrhea or even loose, sometimes constipation), straining (I've always had this problem actually), mucus in stool almost every time, and lower stomach pain. My dad suggested I start taking Omeprazole every day and I've been doing that for a few weeks and I HAVE noticed an improvement with my nausea, but not much else. I was wondering if anxiety and stress can do this, and if I may be developing acid reflux or IBS?
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