dizziness and anxiety

[want to be normal again]

O.K, here is my story:
last year I started having episodes of shortness of breath, where my hand would be shaking, and i had no control over my self. Also no apetite. Went to the ER several times. They did all kind of tests EKGs, Blood (including thyroid), urine, etc. Everything O.K. I was prescribed with xanax by two different doctors, but I didn't take it (completely against medicine). I kept having the symptoms and started to have new symptoms: palpitations, like I couldn't swallow (or a feeling tha i would swallow my own tongue), dry eyes, etc. Kept going to the ER and they kept sending me back. I must say that in all these episodes, I woulkd always feel better, actually symptoms free, the minute I got to the hopsital. Anyway, the last time I went to the hospital, the found a little abnormality in my EKG,and to make a ling story short, I ended up having and cardiac cath at age 23, along with all the possible heart exams (echocardiogram, blood tests, etc.) They didn't find anything wrong. I went home after two days in the hopsital, and gradually understood that my symptoms were caused by anxiety, and even though i keep feeling them, it is easier for me to calm down and not go into a panic attack.
My problem now is that about 6 months ago I had a terrible episode of dizziness, and for some reason I've been feeling constantly dizzy ever since. Doctor says it's due to anxiety, but it just hard for me to belive it because vene when i don't feel anxious, i'm dizzy. I don't get the sensation of spinning, I feel like I'm going to faint, or fall. Any comments, anyone???

[dazed28]

Wow, I'm so glad to find so many others out there experiencing the same thing I am!  I don't feel so alone in this battle with myself.  I had my first panic attack 5 years ago, after my son was born.  I have been through all the tests, and the only thing they found was GERD.  It is under control now, and has helped a little, but I still get sudden strange feelings out of nowhere... dizziness, feeling detached from myself, dreamish, jumpy, unable to breathe... I almost want to jump out of my body and wait until the feelings pass.  I do take an occasional xanax, and it does help tremendously - especially when driving or in confined places, where I can't take the time to concentrate and try to mentally control it.  Anyhow, in addition to the anxiety/panic, my Dr. thinks that I may be B-complex deficient.  He has put me on a prenatal level supplement, we'll see if it helps.  I noticed a couple of other posts on here that mentioned problems starting after the birth of a child... I'm starting to wonder if there really might be a connection to the vitamins.  Afterall, pregnancy & child birth do deplete your system.  Not to say that others can't have deficiencies - it can happen to anyone at anytime, even if you're pretty careful about what you eat.  Any thoughts?  Has anyone else had any help from taking extra vitamins, or suffered vitamin difficiencies?  

[valeriev30]

I have GAD and Panic Disorder and have experienced ALL symptoms you mention.  Specifically, the dizziness is caused by hyperventilated.  You may not realize you are taking short shallow breaths which is really what hyperventilated is.  I never realized it until I was in the ER laying in the bed and about every 5 minutes the nurse would tell me to take deep breaths from my diaphram because my resp rate was showing I was hyperventilated.  Normally, it leads to the panic attack.

[Jessie_72@1]

Hi,  Went to see the neurologist last week.  He checked me out and feels pretty certain it isn't anything to worry about.  I do get a lot of headaches so he thinks that what I am getting is a type of repeated migraine where all the muscles in my scalp and neck are going onto spasm.  We do have a strong family link for migraines but i can't quite believe this is just migraine?!  He has put me on a type of anti-epileptic medication which has been liscenced also for migraine in the last couple of years.  I have been on it since Friday but don't feel any different yet but i suppose it will be a slow process.  I am also booked to have an MRI but that could take up to 3 months to come through on British National Health.  I had blood tests on friday.  Still cant help worrying though.  Just want to feel normal again, instead of just pretending to be to everybody.  How is everyone else doing?

[Ametrine]

When I was in my 20's, I thought I was having panic attacks. It turned out that my blood sugar and blood pressure were low. Once I was able to get treated, I stoped having them. Turns out I have autonomic dysfunction, that drops my blood pressure, makes me dizzy and causes fainting sometimes. Also low body temp, slow intestinal motility, and heart arrythmia. Something that can be worth checking into. The anti anxiety drugs only dropped my blood pressure more and made me faint. A tilt table test is used to diagnose it. That was no fun, because for me it stimulated the same reaction I had when I was told they were panic attacks, but at least it got diagnosed.

Don't get me wrong. It could be anxiety as well, but I say check all your options, just in case.

Ame

[kbrad11]

For the last couple of days I have been trying to take an advil when the dizziness gets really bad. It seems to be helping.

[Jessie_72@1]

I went to see the senior doctor yesterday and he thinks that it definately could be the muscles in my scalp tightening up and going into spasm as they are all over the scalp.  He has referred me to a neurologist for advice and i am going on wednesday (I paid privately for the first visit so i get seen quicker).  I, like you, don't feel particularly stressed at the minute.  Have you tried a tension headache tablet like Syndol or Boots tension headache tablet?  I was wondering if they helped with you.  I will let you all know when i go next wednesday.