Please Help...I could no longer go on

[ALybella]

Long history, here I go

[mekkie]

I have had the same the tightning of the jaw and teeth and the burning and tingeling sensations in my chest lips and hands, this is all caused by hyperventilation, well thats what i have been told...its a horrible scary feeling that you cant get your breath and you feel like your losing your mind and at the same time having all those symptoms..I went on zoloft because i just couldnt handel it any more ..now since 3 months i have stopped with zoloft and still having those symptoms only this time its due to withdrawal form zoloft, i wish i had never taken this drug

[dawgs1]

Some advice please? I am 42 and have been living w/ anxiety for most of my life. I have went from one disease to another. m.s has been a scare since I was 18. Tons of symptoms such as burning , tingling sensations , muscle twtiches and spasms. I have had repeated Brain and Back M.R.I's and Neuro exams that showed nothing! Lately I have beeen waking up in the middle of the night w/ palpatations, panic, shaking uncontrollably and belching. My legs will shake and twitch. I feel like I'm dying. I have to get up and walk around until it passes. Sometimes it will return as soon as I lay back down. It only happens at night. Last week I also had exploratory surgery. I had some sort of reaction to the meds and had severe shaking, jaw locking and panic. What in the heck is this? I have had normal e.k.g's, stress test and holters in the past.I have just also went through several blood test, MRI's and c.t's. I'm very scared and frustrated. Last nigth I also had severe reflux and tightness in my jaw. PLEASE HELP?????????

[love4mom]

MY MOTHER HAS NOT YET BEEN DIAGNOSES WITH AN ACTUAL MENTAL CONDITION. SHE IS A TOTAL MESS AND WE ARE TIRED AND FEELING PRETTY HOPELESS. SHE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A COMPULSIVE AND THOUGH NOT DIAGNOSED A HYPERCONDRIAC. SHE RETIRED TWO YEARS AGO AND THAT IS WHEN SHE GOT REALLY BAD. SHE HAS NEVER HAD ANY HOBBIES WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MEDICAL OBSESSIONS AND OBSESSIONS OVER LIFE IN GENERAL. SHE HAD A FEW CRISISES LAST YEAR AND THATS WHEN THE REAL PROBLEMS BEGAN. EVERYTHING SHE DID WAS MAJOR!! IF SHE GOT A BILL AND HER MIDDLE INITIAL WAS LEFT OUT SHE CALLED THE COMPANY, NOT ONCE SEVERAL TIMES. THE RECEPTIONISTS WERE BEGINNING TO ASK HER IF SHE WAS OKAY. THEN THE MEDICAL OBSESSIONS BEGAN. SHE WOKE UP ON NIGHT WITH A TINGLING SENSATION GOING UP THE BACK OF HER HEAD. THAT WAS FOLLOWED BY TINGLING FEET AND HANDS AND "MUSHY FEET". SHE WAS CONVINCED IT WAS A STROKE IN LIGHT OF ALL THE STRESS SHE WAS UNDER. HER MD SAID IT WAS ANXIETY AND PUT HER ON KLONAPIN AND LEXAPRO. SHE INSISTED THAT SHE HAD HAD A STROKE SO HER MD GOT HER A CAT SCAN. NO STROKE, SHE DIDN'T BELIEVE THAT. THAT WAS FOLLOWED BY NOSE CANCER, HEART FAILURE, DIABETIS, KIDNEY FAILURE, BRAIN DAMAGE, LUKEMIA, MANY MORE, ALL NEGATIVE. SHE MADE 5 OR MORE TRIPS TO THE ER WHERE SHE HAD CAT SCANS AND MRIS THE DOCTORS SAID SHE WAS EXTREMELY HEALTHY EVERTHING SHE WAS EXPERIENCING WAS ANXIETY. MORE MEDS!! SHE WAS REFERED TO A PHYCHIATRIST TO BE TREATED, I CALL HER THE "PILL PUSHER" WITHIN A 15 MINUTE APPT. SHE PRESCRIBED MEDS, CHANGED MEDS, CHANGED MED SCHEDULES AND SET UP THE NEXT APPT. NO THERAPY JUST MEDS! THERE WAS VALIUM, KLONOPIN, AND LEXAPRO. UP MILLGS. DOWN MLG. SHE WAS ON A MEDICATION ROLLARCOASTER. SHE BEGAN PACING AND SCREAMING SHUT-UP AND OTHER UGLY WORDS. SHE LOST 30 POUNDS AND WAS NOT SLEEPING VERY WELL. THE "PILL PUSHER" DIDN'T SEE ANY CASE FOR ALARM. SHE NOW WAS WORSE NAD WAS TOTALLY CONVINCED SHE HAD STILL HAS A STROKE OR THE  MEDS HAD DISTROYED HER ORGANS AND BRAIN. SHE CONTINUED TO CALL HER MD ALMOST DAILY EVENTHOUGH HE HAD REFERED HER TO THE "PILL PUSHER" SHE WOULD STOP AND RESTART HER MEDS WEEKLY SO SHE WAS CONSTANTLY WITHDRAWING, WHICH SHE THOUGHT WAS A MEDICAL CONDITION, SHE DOESN'T THINK SHE GOES THROUGH WITHDRAWALS. AS A FAMILY WE DECIDED TO PUT HER IN A MENTAL HOSPITAL, IT WAS OUR ONLY OPTION AND HOPE. THEY TOOK HER OFF OF VALIUM, PUT HER ON RISPERDOL, REMERON, CEROQUIL, LITHIUM. AFTER 30 DAYS(THATS HOW LONG THE INSURANCE COVERED HER STAY) SHE WAS SEDATED BUT NOT RESPONDING. THEY PREPOSED SHOCK THERAPY, WE DID'T WANT THAT. SHE WAS RELEASED AND SENT HOME. SHE SPENT THE FIRST MONTH PRETTY MUCH SLEEPING AND PACING WHEN AWAKE. SHE RETURNED TO THE "PILL PUSHER". SHE IS NOW CONVINCED SHE HAS A TOXIC REACTION TO THE COCKTAIL OF MEDS SHE HAS BEEN ON FOR THE LAST MONTH AND HAS GIVEN UP ALL HOPE. MY DAD EVEN TRIED TAKING HER OFF ALL THE MEDS BUT THE MD PUT HER BACK ON CEROQUIL, LITHIUM AND REMERON. THIS WEEK SHE IS ONLY ON 15 MGS. OF REMERON(TO MAKE HER SLEEP) AND VALIUM. WE HAVE NOWHERE TO TURN AND WE ARE ALL STARTING TO BREAK DOWN. I AM ON THE PHONE AND COMPUTER TIRELESSLY TRYING TO FIND WHAT MY MOM HAS AND HOW TO HELP HER. THE DOCTORS CAN'T HELP THEY JUST KEEP CHANGING HER MEDS. SHE HAS YET TO RECEIVE ANY COUNSELING AND IS GETTING WORSE DAILY. MY ONLY HOPE IS THAT MAYBE SOMEONE OUT THERE HAS WXPERIENCED THIS AND HAS SOME ADVICE. THIS ENTIRE EPISODE HAS BEEN OVER A 7 MONTH PERIOD. I FEEL THE MEDICAL COMUNITY LAS LET US DOWN AND MY PARENTS ARE GOING BANKRUPT. HELP!!

[puttsy]

hi I can truly relate to you. because i do have MS and panic attacks. my panic attacks when i first had them. would whomp me down for 2 days. i once couldn't walk for a day, they drain you of your good oxygen and etc. as for the ms you can read a lot of things and some true some not so much, i really think yours is anxiety tho, if the tingling etc keeps up insist on mri.and a spinal tap. that is the only way you can tell 100%. and for heavens sake pleeeze relax a little. I have ppms.only 10% of people get this kind. and ya its crappy but not the end of the world. so you hang in there and slow down. puttsy

[bosnian]

I was laughing while reading your story because i was and still am experiencing fear like you. As diagnosed with depression and exiaty 14 years ago when i was 12, I always thought I have a serious disease and I feared going to doctor. A few months ago I thught I have every symptom of HIV and went throug a mountain of stress till i did a blood test. After that I developed some red dots on my body and feared leukemia and had to do blood work. After that I found dozens of symptoms for various diseases and went to see a doc sometimes 3 times a day.

I was going nuts. I quit work as i thoought why to work when I have a deadly disease. I had headache and dizziness for a couple of years and diagnosed my self with brain tumor.

Getting an appointment with a neurologist and waiting for a brain scan would take some time and I'd go crazy waiting and worrying.

I went to emergency and pretended that I was really sick and that I see double and what not. My point was to get an immediate brain scan which I did and it was negative.

Then sometimes I have feeling that police is after me because long time ago I stole something not worth police investigating but I had fear and went to a PD to see if they have a warrant for my arrest.

I went to a shrink and he gave me something for paranoia which can also be used for schisophrenia and I freaked out if I am schisophrenic..

Yesterday I was sure I have MS but I dont worry as MS is usually not fatal

So after all my tests were negative I am going to get some serios psychological therapy and I sugest that to you as well.

[Aruba417]

I'm on Effexor, and I get heart palps, too. But I had them before so they're actually better ON the Effexor. I don't know if that makes you feel any better or not, seeing as either way they're still scary, just wanted to point that out. They might go away after you've been on it a few months. Good luck!

[kidgeon1]

I've been taking effexor for the last 3 weeks and it has helped. However, I get heart palpatations in the morning and my heart rate goes all the way to 54 beat per minute. which makes me worry.

[BZ1983]

You are not alone and it is good to know I am not either! I suffer from GAD and Panic Attacks on a daily basis. I too hyperventalate alot during the day. I get the same tingle/cold sensation/pricking sensation anywhere from my head down to my feet. So maybe your doctor is right is saying it is just the hyper. b/c if anything I know that having GAD and PD is hard to get yourself to realize that you are okay. I go to the doctor for EKG's and other tests to ensure my health too, coming from someone who never went to the doctor no matter how sick I was. You must realize that you are not alone, it is still very hard for me I just do it day by day minute by minute. Never say can't b/c you can! (Hope this helped)

[fallingalone]

IT FEELS REALLY GOOD TO KNO THAT I AM NOT ALONE... THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO WHO HAS MIND OVER BODY ILLUSIONS.. NOTONLY DO I OBSSES OVER PHISICAL HEALTH. I STRESS OVER MENTAL HEALTH AS WELL.. IT HARD TO EXPLAIN BUT IT IS SO REAL AND THE FACT THAT DOCTORS/ SHRINKS/ NURSES/ I CANT BELEIVE THEY SEE OR FIND ANYTHING OR EVEN FEEL ANYTHING I FEEL. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO READ YOUR THREADS AND THANK FOR MAKING ME FEEL NOT SO ALONE IN AWAY

[fallingalone]

IT FEELS REALLY GOOD TO KNO THAT I AM NOT ALONE... THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO WHO HAS MIND OVER BODY ILLUSIONS.. NOTONLY DO I OBSSES OVER PHISICAL HEALTH. I STRESS OVER MENTAL HEALTH AS WELL.. IT HARD TO EXPLAIN BUT IT IS SO REAL AND THE FACT THAT DOCTORS/ SHRINKS/ NURSES/ I CANT BELEIVE THEY SEE OR FIND ANYTHING OR EVEN FEEL ANYTHING I FEEL. THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO READ YOUR THREADS AND THANK FOR MAKING ME FEEL NOT SO ALONE IN AWAY

[SHOTSY]

I think everyone has excellent advice.
I, myself have also struggled with the symptoms you've described and the thoughts that go with them. and I'm no where near as fit and busy as you.
One thing that you could do is play the what if game.
If you did have MS wouldn't you just live life as vigourously as you are or more so? Would you just take up a wheelchair and quit? NO! Not you- you have too much to do and so much to get done. Remember tomorrow will take care of itself. Today take care of you.

[KOTH]

You know...you might be trying to do too much right now...and thus overloading yourself.  You said you are obtaining a masters degree, working full time, and trying to raise a family (which is in itself a full time+overtime job :) ), not to mention you are working out when you aren't doing these things....you might be just WAY overextending yourself.

What I would recommend is take a couple days off and just chill...relax...read a book...do some meditation, whatever...but the main thing is too RELAX!!  I can see how your so worked up right now...your not giving the body and mind time to rest.  

What worries me about your post is that while anxiety can't harm you physicaly...you sound dangerously close to having an emotional breakdown...that can be alot worse in some aspects..esp. around kids.  You might want to get in touch with a therapist about this as well.

Best.

[Aruba417]

Believe it or not, I've had panic episodes that have lasted for a week or so also. My doctor said that we actually can relapse and remit, just like cancer or MS or any other disease. It's a very real disorder that can be very scary! And I agree with fullmergavin, researching makes it way worse! I did it myself. That's how I found this forum. I came to this website thinking I had a heart condition. I was on the heart forum and the neuro forum every day. Now, I KNOW that this is anxiety, and I don't research anything else anymore, because I know I scare myself. It's an ugly, ugly thing. A vicious monster, and we can fight it by supporting each other, and getting the medical/mental help we need! Good luck and God bless!

[momnurse]

I started having chest pain,right over my heart and Left arm, tingling & pain a few years ago. It would come and go ,like go away for 6 months then start back. I did this for about 2 years before I found out it is a pinched, or inflamed nerve in C3- C-5. If you ever were to look at a nerve chart, these are the nerve areas that affect the areas I was having the problems. Meanwhile I was put on Paxil due to anxiety in Neuro Office, he was such a smart***. I  can't get off of it now. It makes me made that I gave into the neuro MD saying to take something I didn't really need. It made me feel like my old self again because I didn't worry as much and felt confident again. But I sure wish I had not started it.

[LukeL]

Mine only lasted for about 10 minutes but this was because I was in the ER and all my tests came back negative so I was in a sense of calm. But it wouldn't be uncommon to have them come and go for days or even weeks as I had chest pain for weeks but this was because I was clenching every single muscle in my torso for hours on end and not realizing it.

It could be you are clenching your fists so tightly for hours and you are having spasms because of it (this can even occur in your sleep much like grinding your teeth).

I also have mouth pain from clenching my jaw and arm pain from checking my pulse every 5 minutes, so with chest, left arm pain, and jaw pain you can see how I panic about my heart even though I am 20 years old and am otherise healthy other then anxiety.

Here is a site that has a lot of symptoms of anxiety

http://www.anxietycentre.com/anxiety-symptoms.shtml

please only go to this if you can understand that all of these symptoms are a result of anxiety and you can put it into prespective.

[ALybella]

I am so releived that you understand about the cold pricks, have you really felt them after severe anxiety, even after a coupke day???????  They usually last about a week after several weeks of attacks and when my nerves calm down or I'm reassrured I'm Ok they magically go away.  
Mental disease has followed me throughout my life like a vicious monster.  I fight it everyday working, going to school, coming home and giving my family all the love hugs and kisses one can give.  God give us all the strength to just have piece of mind, that's all we need.  
Thanks to you all, I'm starting to get convinced that these sensations are all  about hyperventalating, like the Er doctor explained.  He said even if I don't notice it, for days I am not breathing properly, which will make all these weird sensations come on.  Also, once before an agonizing  month of thinikng I had lymphoma, I also had the tingles and my potasssium was really low in the ER

[ALybella]

Oh God this is the best news yet, you do know about the cold pricks, have you really had them?  cAN THEY USUALLY LAST EVEN DAYS AFTER A HORRIBLE ATTACK (MY ATTACK LITERALLY LASTED ABOUT 3 WEEKS)?  Other than that I feel more stregth in my body than ever.  I pray for all of us, for gOD TO GIVE US THE STRENGTH TO OVERCOME THIS DISEASE.  aLL i WANT IS PAECE OF MIND.  yOU ARE ALL WONDERFULE PEOPLE THAT TAKE THE TIME TO MAKE A NUT LIKE ME FEEL BETTER.  i APPREACIATE ALL YOUR RESPONSES.

[LukeL]

I can also say during a bad panic attack I would get the sensation in my fingers that is like when you are holding an eletric toothbrush or palm sander. This would often happen hours or even days after the inital attack. The ER docs were not conerned when I pointed this out.

Which is often the problem if doctors would sit down and explain for even 3 minutes why we feel the way we do it would be a huge comfort to most people. Also if they would go over things like an EKG or imaging results and show why we can't have what we think we do it would help our anxiety.

That is why I like when a physician's assistant or a med student examines me as they are more hands and willing to explain things to you.

[kloedanser]

Hi there.  My name is Melissa (I post by Kloedanser) and I am an RN in Oklahoma City, OK.  First off, on your questions about MS.  My first advice, as a health professional, is see a doctor.  My personal advice is brought to you by personal experience with panic disorder ONLY.  It IS NOT medical advice. Okay? Okay.  My first personal advice bit is this: (and it may not apply to you) If you drink Diet anything that contains Nutrasweet, either in brand name or generic form (aspartame) STOP.  It has been recently clinically proven to cause symptoms of MS in women.  (Not the disease, just the symptoms).  It is dangerous and Coca-Cola Co. has been sued (and liberally and rightfully so) Because of it.  Ever wonder why they are switching to Splenda? That is why.  My second bit of advice is this.  I think I may speak for many people with panic disorder when I say this, tingle, tingle, tingle. My hands and feet tingled incessantly.  I mean, of course your docs are right.  When you have a panic attack, the body goes into what is called the "fight or flight" syndrome where for some unknown reason (some think it is from "pre-panic breathing" which means you are breathing shallowly and less often, or shallowly and faster, and you don't get enough oxygen into your brain. You are unaware of this happening, which is why panic feels like its "out of the blue") Regardless of why, your brain thinks that you are being suffocated by some outside force, and kicks your flight or fight syndrome in.  In short, your brain dumps a shitload of chemicals into your system, and you panic.  The lack of oxygen causes the tingling. And the shortness of breath, and the tight throat, and the dizziness, dreaminess, and in general a feeling that things have just gone terribly wrong. Trust me on this one.  Been there, done it.  *kloe sighs* Most people think, ohmigod, heart attack, (I know I did) because the first place you feel it is in your left hand.  Think about this long enough and you will reason out why. Then its both hands, cold pricks, tics, numbness, and all of these symptoms just make the panic even worse.  Then your flight or fight REALLY kicks in even harder. Anyway, I went through all this,too. All the visits to the ER, all the tests, all the diseases that I was sure I had, all the doctors telling me I am fine.  And I should have (or felt like I should have, anyway) known better due to my medical education.  I was embarassed and confused.  Finally, my GP gave me some klonopin, which is a benzodiazepine (think valium or xanax) but not as addictive. (read:still adiictive, just not as addictive.) It is essentially a sedative.  I would suggest usuing this med for a) only as prescribed and b) not longer than six months.  It worked wonders for me.  Now that I am able to have a handle on my day to day life, (family, school, work,etc.) I am able to look into other forms of long term therapy, after the Klonopin.  You essentially have two choices: drugs, or natural therapy.  Once you are able to sit down and focus without checking your heart rate every five seconds, LOL, research the web for remedies.  Find posts from people whom you really relate to, and consider thier choices and make your own with your doctors help.  I think you will find that the sedatives alone will help for the first month or so because they will calm you down without the inevitable side effects of the SSRIs or other types of anxiety drugs, which can make panic even worse. (NOT knocking the drugs, people, I have seen them work wonders for others and am currently researching to see if one will be helpful to me)I hope I have helped you a little, and I hope you find a caring doctor who is willing to listen to you and to help you. Let us know how you are, and keep in touch.  This website has been a godsend, to know I am not alone.  You are not alone, we have all been there (or are there ) .  Feel free to email me at ***@**** if you need personal support.  Good luck, and take it easy.
With care, and hope for everyone,
kloedanser

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

yes, yes, yes  ....anxiety is written all over everything you wrote.   You should see a therapist and get to the root cause of all of this.....

[ALybella]

I know, I have not had an MRI, the MS thing is new.  The tingling always starts after a sever week long episode of anxiety.  It's weird, I feel just some small litle tingle in tiny parts of my extremeties for about 1 second.  I did go to a Neuro who said my physical exam was great and to go to a psych.  I really hope this is just anxiety.  It's just ever minute I am worried about gettting a damn sensation.  Thannks to all who have responded.

I pray every moment that this nightmare goes away.  I know my post might sound ridiculous, but my feelings are very real and my agony is constant.  I hope the Zoloft starts taking effect and that the little tingles are just from hyperventalation. I think if it was MS I would have other syptoms?

God Bles

[Sweettooth356]

"Can these paresthesias be caused by anxiety"

***Yes it can.

The only thing you are suffering from is an overactive imagination.  You keep sensitizing your nervous sytem because of all your nervous *thinking*; you've got to change your thought life or you will continue to suffer needlessly.  If you had all those cancers you'd be dead.

Sweettooth

[ALybella]

SOmeone in the mdical field please answer my questions regarding, sever chronic panic disorder and sensory symptoms

Please someone hHELp.  I can't focus at work, i have gone from a 4.0 gpa at school to someone who doesn't even turn in her assignments.

[Aruba417]

I can say that I know EXACLTY how you guys feel! I've been in the same boat. While medication is not for everyone, it worked for me. I saw a Psychiatrist who said that my GAD, panic disorder, and OCD tendencies were not due to some emotional problem, but rather a chemical imbalance. I know not every one agrees about chemical imbalances, but I certainly do. We tried therapy, and I had a full psych evaluation, and I was told that it doesn't stem from anything other than a chemical imbalance. After trying several medications, I finally found one that works, and I feel so much better. Sometimes I still get the ocassional "weird" symptom, like chest pain or tingling. But now I don't obsess over them. I also had the full physical work up! Heart, brain, blood tests, etc. My father and my uncle both have MS. But I was actually hoping it was THAT and not my heart or something worse. My MRI DID show that I had some abnormal spots, but in 6 months if they have not grown or changed, the doctor will write it off as normal. Spots showing up on an MRI is actually quie common. But seriously, the medication is really starting to work. I personally tried Paxil, and it did not work for me. But Zoloft worked for me and so has Effexor. It just depends on the person. What works for one won't work for the other. Good luck and God Bless!