Is it related to anxiety??

[zaragregory777]

Hello,

My name is Zara, I'm 35 years old.  I had an ear infection last March 2008.  My eardrum had erupted and the infection had penetrated through the bone.  I was on heavy antibiotics and thank god the surgery was a success.  I was also given a pik line for 7 days after I left the hospital.  Shortly after that, I started to develope anxiety attacks.  Which I have never had before.  The experience has left my mental and emotional state of mind...sort of "up in the air".  I have all the classic symptoms of anxiety.  Lately, I get these tingling and pin and needle-y feeling about my left shoulder and left breast.  It only comes and goes once in a while...but I hate having them.  I have had at least 3 EKG's...normal, and one ultrasound of the heart and stomach done...and it too was normal.  Phewwww!!  My other concern is that I get this tighness around my stomach, right underneath my rib cage.  Can you tell me what you may think this is?  I am keeping an open mind about it all.  I read a lot and do breathing exercises and try to eat well.  My have 3 really wonderful kids and a supportive husband.  I know that this is something that I will over come...but I just wanted some insight from you guys.

Thanks,
Zara

[amish1979]

Shallow breathing due to the body's fight or flight response to anxiety could be causing this discomfort your lower chest/diaphragm area.  Definitely continue with the breathing exercises.  Do belly-breathing as much as possible, whenever you think about it.  I have also found it helps when I get that feeling to take a REALLY deep breath and hold it in while I tense that part of my body as much as possible, and then release that flex/tension as I slowly exhale.  It helps me focus on that part of my body and how I want it to feel....relaxed.

I had that tightness feeling for months NON-STOP until my therapist taught me those two tricks.

That tightness feeling feeds your anxiety, which feeds that tightness feeling.  Try to break the cycle.

[theotterone]

What a thing to go through!  When your inner ear is affected, it can affect your balance and this can cause you to be very uncomfortable.  I am not a medical professioinal, nor do I play one on TV or anywhere else, but it sounds like you are hyperventalating.  You can talk to a medical professional and see what can be done to help your anxiety and they can also help determine if that is what is going on.  Medication may or may not be an option.  I am 34 and have been on meds for years, but my 31 year old sister has been on meds once or twice, and only for a short time.  It is great that you have a supportive family and you realize that you need to take care of YOU to better take care of and enjoy your family!  As moms, we sometimes forget that...

Best of Luck!