Please help!

[atrayne33]

Back in April of this year, I had an episode that made me feel as if my entire body was shutting down. While driving to work, I felt myself slipping out of reality and I found it was very hard to breathe and my heart was racing. My fingers began to go numb, then my feet, and my lips and face began to feel tingly. I thought for sure I was dying. Since then I've quit smoking, drinking caffeine of any sort, or alcohol of any sort because I thought that was the problem. After a trip to the ER following the episode, I was given an antibiotic for Bronchitis. It did nothing but wreck my stomach.

Currently, I'm still having a head time with breathing. My chest feels heavy with a dull but persistent pain right between my ribs. I occaisionally find my heart beating really hard. I often wake up in the middle of the night for no apparent reason as i did the couple days before i had the attack. I struggle to get out of bed in the morning. I'm constantly fatigued and hungry, yet I never feel full. My hands often tremble and I'm very clumsy, sometimes feeling dizzy or off balance. I simply don't have the energy i used to. I have very low libido or interest in anything.

I've been diagnosed with anxiety, but I know in my heart that isn't true because I have symptoms when I'm at rest physically and mentally. I've tried 2 different SSRI's, Xanax, and I'm currently taking Wellbutrin, which doesn't feel like I took anything. SSRI's made me feel terrible. I've been trying for months to figure this out, any help would be very much appreciated.

[sstitanic2]

You may not have COPD. x rays and a good lung doctor could help more than a regular MD. I don't cough a whole lot unless I have an exacerbation. then I am treated with pregnozone. My regular treatment is spiriva, pro air, symbicort. I take 2 mucinex and 1 loraterdane. please excuse spelling.  Good luck and God's speed

[atrayne33]

Thanks for responding! I guess it's just so difficult for me to comprehend that it's anxiety. I truly don't worry about anything (except why i feel so terrible, and I certainly didn't worry about my health before my episode.) I acutally read some things about COPD and I'm not entirely conviced it's that either. Every doctor I've seen so far has asked me if I cough alot, and I hardly ever cough. I did when I smoked, but I don't anymore. Do you cough alot? And assuming it IS COPD, how are you being treated? Also, do you have attacks with COPD?

[sstitanic2]

It  could be anxiety. Anxiety can come on a person when nothing is going on and when you are at rest. Anxiety fits all you describe. If the meds are not helping either they are not right for you or it is something else.

Have you had your heart and lungs checked out? I ask because it could also be a lung problem. You said you smoked and you have a pain in your ribs.  You could have COPD. You will also have Anxiety and tiredness. It will be the same awake or at sleep. I have COPD and I feel the same as you most of the time. It may not be real severe yet. You should go see a lung Doctor just to rule it out. The more you learn the better off you are.  

good luck and God bless