Depression, Anxiety, Fatigue, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Heartburn, etc....

[Petrucci914]

Well hear is my life story...

All of my symptoms started about 5-6 years ago.  At that time I was diagnosed with Mitral Valve Prolapse and they said my anxiety was to blame.  I suffered from extreme fatigue and sleepiness during the day.  I ended up getting several sleep tests and nothing showed up except a few hypopneas.  They fitted me with an oral appliance but that did nothing.

I then started getting treated for Depression.  A few meds helped but they only lasted a few months.  I've been on just about every antidepressant and nothing has helped me.

Med list: Lexapro, Zoloft, Wellbutrin, Effexor, Cymbalta, EMSAM, Savella, Strattera, Abilify, Prozac, Pristiq, Provigil, Neurontin

I'm now on: Vyvanse, Buspar, Aplenzin.

I've also suffered from sinus problems during all of this.  I've had sinus surgery but I still wake up congested, and have a loss of smell.

I keep researching things and I'm starting to think that there is some connection between all of this: Depression, Anxiety, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Heartburn, Sinus Problems, Hypokyphosis (Flat back).

Where do I go from here?  I've seen a handful of Psychiatrists and they all feel that they will fix me, but nothing helps.  Do I try to see a cardiologist?  Do I try seeing more ENTs, or sleep specialists?

I'm getting close to giving up.

[RANDO88]

Hello, you don't say if you are male or female, but I experienced a lot of the same symptons. Have you had your testosterone checked? I did and found mine was very low.  Just started taking testosterone replacement (weekly injections in my case) about 3 weeks ago. I am starting to feel much better, but full results usually take 4-6 weeks. Might be worth a blood screen to check. Good Luck, Rando88

[Thereareanswers]

I've got very similar symptoms (see my profile).  Go to www.scholastic.com and search maltreated. My anxiety comes from brain damage due to infant/early childhood chronic abuse - my brain overreacts to feelings, tries to "run away" by going to the "fight or flight" area. Buspar is controlling it, but I hope my psych will prescrbe something better. Wellbutrin gave me my energy/motivation back after 13 years of SSRI's and terrible lethargy and fatigue (it affects dopamine specifically, unlike the SSI's), but it also opened the chemical door for the anxiety to return, which is why I'm also taking Buspar.

Sinus problems - take guafenesin (generic Mucinex) daily, keeps your sinuses from clogging up. I take it daily, works great.

Because I If you have organic anxiety due to childhood abuse, I can finally stop thinking of myself as "crazy" and defective. Sure, the anxiety may never go away completely - it's like being a diabetic, who always has to monitor blood sugar and take meds - but at least I don't have to be afraid of myself

My abuse was chronic, daily emotional abuse - my parents never touched me unless they had to, for feeding or changing clothes or when  I was sick. Also, my mother was a scary drunk. By the time I was 4, I was afraid of everyone, and it really got bad when puberty came and my body wanted intimacy, and my brain was terrified because my parents taught me that touching and caring are bad. Anxiety is suppressed feelings. And I was trying to suppress all of mine, because any strong feeling made me feel out of control and scared.