Tingling in hands, feet, face, SOB, burping, lightheaded, predomidantly after exercise

[anxious_athlete]

I was a competitve bodybuilder for 5 years and trained daily up until recently when I felt like I was short of breath, tingling in my hands and feet, and lightheaded after my workouts. I then began experiencing tingling around my face and hands so bad that on a few ocassions my hands would actually curl and  I felt like I was going to faint. This lead me to all out panic attacks like symtoms after my workout and now during just light exercise and on occassion while driving.  Even during light exercise (10 min elliptical, 50 - 100 pushups), Ill get tingling and lightheaded, I always have too burp alot. My heart rate at night can drop as low as 43 bpm and I know when it does because I feel SOB, but my doc insists that this is normal because of my athleticism. This has made me avoid exercise for for the better part of one month and Im now getting agoraphobic due to the fear of having these symptoms, my life is a wreck. I had a job opportunity that paid extremely well but required I fly out for my training and drive a mere two hours from home once a month, both of which I just cant do right now. I even gave up the opportunity for a speaking part in a major film ( I have done films in the past), because I couldnt fly to California. I am AGAIN going through testing with my physcian to rule out any physiological issues that might be going on, but so far all blood work and heart exams (ekg, echo) have returned normal. They noted a wenkebach arrythnia but were adamant that this cannot cause my symptoms, it is a benign condition.  I am scheduled for my final exam next week (holter x 3days) and if this comes back unremarkable then I am assured that I need to get an anxiety issue under contro, but I cant help but to wonder if it is still cardiological or even pulmonary. I go to one of the best hospitals, MGH in Boston MA, but I cant seem to get any answers other than to take anxiety meds. I will do that if they would rule out other possible answers. It is just hard to believe that my exercise tolerance one day was great allowing me to perform moderate to intense cardiovascular exercise for 40min to 1hour and weight training for an additional 35 to 50 min with heart rates upward of 160 beats per minute and than a week later I can barely tolerate 15 - min of exercise and heart rates of 125bpm. My heart rate returns to 70 - 90 bpm within a minute or two but remains there for about an hour after exercise even though my resting heart rate is around 50 - 55 bpm and can drop in the 40's near bedtime.  Please I need additional input on this because Im unsure whether or not to seek the help of another physician.

[Get_Fit]

I know he posted this 6 years ago, but I would like to know what he found out. I have something similar. I used to be pretty formidable in the gym, but feel dizzy and weak and tired too much to lift. I also have intense stomach/digestion problems. As soon as I start to exercise I start belching and then feel short of breath. Squats are the worst. My 1RM has gone down 135lbs and my endurance is horrible. I don't feel like I'm over training because I haven't lifted like I used to in nearly a year. Now, maybe 3x a week. I do have asthma, but it has actually improved the past 5 years.

I have had all the tests... heart ekg, echo, upper GI x rays, gallbladder ultrasound, blood tests for low iron/sugar/etc, chest xrays and all come back fine. I'm scheduled for an upper GI endoscopy in two days, but really considering canceling because I have a fear of being sedated. This is no way to live however.

I suppose it could be anxiety, but is it really that powerful that it can affect all of that? I'm not sure. I'm skeptical. Though I have struggled with anxiety all of my life and have been on and off meds. Did the meds help? Hmm, at first for a year or so. But they really just mask the problem I think. Plus they dulled my thoughts and emotions while on them. My Grandfather and beloved childhood dog passed away while I was on them and it didn't really effect me like it should have. Had a major panic attack on anxiety meds while on a road trip to Breckenridge, CO to ski. That gave me agoraphobia and sent me into a deep state of depression for awhile. Finally went off prescription meds about 7 years ago and have been taking 5-htp since. Have had my ups and down bouts with it still. I still also have agoraphobia, but not near as bad. I was confined to my house for about 5 months, then just my town for about a year. Driving for more than 30 minutes away would send me into a panic attack. But have made strides in the past 5 years against this. Have been out of state numerous times and finally went to the beach last summer for the first time in 12 years. I hope to fly on day and see the world, but I make no progress and shrink back to my depression when my body starts having health issues like the one I'm currently happening.

Now when I look back on these issues, my breathing/exercise issue actually started about 10 years ago I would say. I'd lift and couldn't breathe for a bit and would have to focus and relax for about an hour. But this happened rarely. Then it disappeared and I got really in shape. Then about two or three years ago whenever I'd train, I'd start belching and having problems breathing, but seemed like I could quiet it by taking a rolaids. This would release more gas, but I'd feel better and like I could breathe. Then they eventually weren't enough. I've been on and off of GERD meds but they seemed to help at first, but the same symptoms came back. Went to a chiro and he got me off the meds and now I take enzymes. I gotta say, I very rarely get heartburn anymore, but the breathing problems are still there and gas when I exercise.

I guess the next step is to watch my diet. Just started a wheat free diet this week. May also take dairy out to see if that makes a difference. I get depressed every so often, but know for a fact, that it would go away if I'd just feel better physically. My quality of life is horrendous currently. I'm an outdoors type, but can't even go on a little hike for fear of this condition. My friends have stopped inviting me to do things. At least I have an awesome girlfriend and 6 mo old son to make me laugh and motivate me. But I want to be healthy for my son and for her. I want us to go on adventures. If I feel this terrible at 31 years old, how am I going to feel in ten years? Or twenty? I feel like an 80 year old man and it ***** biiiig time. I just want my health back. And a good life.

I'll keep you updated on anything I learn. This message was originally meant to be a paragraph, but kept growing.

[danmanca]

I'm having these symptoms as we speak. What was your resolution?

[riprock]

Hi there,

I've been bodybuilding for about 4 years as well and i too suffer from this anxiety ****, or have for about a year now. for me the anxiety usually gets worse after a bout of weight training, im at the point where it's hard to go to the gym because i get so anxious etc...

Anyway, i've been thinking that in my 4 years of heavy sets i've never really taken a week off or anything so perhaps overtraining is to blame... there are lots of articles on the topic that overtraining leads to anxiety etc... i'm so vain and passionate about my working out that i havent given it a break through this entire ordeal but today is my first day off to see if it helps.

I'm guessing that you're just getting the anxiety while working out now because you've conditioned yourself to feel that working out  ='s anxiety..

My first attack occured when i  was eating food at a mall foodcourt, so now eating at the mall really messes with me

"Overtraining may lead to physiological and psychomotor retardation, chronic fatigue, depressed appetite, weight loss, insomnia, decreased libido, muscle soreness and elevated depression and tension. In addition, other metabolic, hormonal, muscular, hypothalamic, and cardiovascular changes often accompany the overtrained state (Morgan, et al, 1987). Overtraining is characterized by negative affective states such as anxiety, depression, fatigue, anger, lack of self-confidence, and decreased vigor (Murphy & Fleck, 1990)."

Good luck man