Question:
I'm 36 years old and only have had a mild episode of panic attack only once about 10 years
ago. I had pulled some muscles and that was it. But after a few days I started feeling pain
in the middle of my chest and muscular spasms specially on the left side which was scary
enough to trigger massive episodes of anxiety and panic attacks.
Has anyone experienced this symptoms ?? Should I be asking to see a
psycologist ?? Medication ??? What else can I possibly do ??
Answer:
I am unsure what tests were ordered or what means of diagnosis used-but if it
were me I would schedule an upper gi and gastroscopy to see if you have hiatal
hernia, I would have serum antibody blood tests to see if you have any
arthritic conditions that may be inflaming the soft tissues around your abdomen
or chest, I would order a cat scan of the abdomen-if any of these have ben done
and no organic illness is found, then yes indeed do see a psychiatrist or
psychologist
Same here. I only had PA's if I felt something physically wrong first.
My anxiety rarely involves nervousness :) I've been checked out many times,
2 EKG's, blood work (3 times), CAT Scan, blood sugar level, X-rays,
neurology check up, etc., and they found nothing wrong.
I've experienced the same chest pain (I mean severe!), and tightness right
above my stomach, for over a week before I finally had a PA. I drove myself
to the ER thinking I was dying! The pain in my chest just stopped all of a
sudden, then I had this feeling that my brain was shutting down or
something. That;s the only way I can describe it. Well anyway, I ran into
the ER thinking I was having a heart attack, but when explaining my symptoms
to one of the nurses there (faintness, hard time breathing, chest pain,
feeling of my brain shutting down, dry mouth, weak, fatigued, sweating,
etc.) I remember one of the nurses saying that I was probably having a PA (I
didn't believe it at the time :). I also had a sinus infection, and a cold.
Certainly didn't help :) This was back in March, and I'm still here,
so....:) I'm 27, and have been a hypochondriac for years, which I believe
caused my anxiety in the first place. Maybe your same way. Hypochondriacs
can actually cause themselves to have physically symptoms, some people don't
realize that, and in turn cause themselves anxiety :) Maybe that's why you
(and myself) have anxiety only after feeling something physical first. I
still have that tight feeling my chest once in a while, but nothing compared
to what it was. I've been on Xanax since April, and doing fine, with a
little setback when I switched to Paxil in July :( Ahhh. Big mistake! :)
Let me ask you something. After you were told there was nothing wrong, and
it was anxiety problems, did your symptoms get less intense or go away for a
few hours? If so, then your probably in the same boat as me. Everytime I
would run to ER (9 times total) I would feel great that day, then the next
morning, it would all start up again.
By all means, if your unsure about something, go get a full check-up. But if
still have problems after being told by many doctors there's nothing wrong,
that's classic signs of Hypochondria :) Welcome to the club, sucks, don't
it?
I'd see a psychiatrist and get a diagnosis and suggestions for treatment.
Sounds like you have an anxiety disorder of some sort. Possibly panic
disorder.
The worse of my anxiety is thinking exactly what you said, almost passing
out. I had that many times, and that's always the reason I ran to the ER. I
have a big fear of passing out. I never have, ever! I remember one of the
times in the ER I was laying there hooked to that heart monitoring thing,
whatever it's called (measures your blood pressure, heart beat,etc.), and I
had the feeling I was going to pass out for nearly 6 hours. That was the day
I had the CAT scan. They thought I was having seizures. Well anyway I could
see my heart rhythm on the monitor going all over the place, and it scared
the hell out of me, and this would make my anxiety go up and up. I could
barely talk, I was so nervous, what was happening to me. I had thoughts I
was only going to leave there in a body bag! That was 6 months ago! As for
your vision problem. I had so many instances where I have blurred, shaking
vision, and even at one point I couldn't stare at something for too long or
I would get extremely dizzy or just feel plain crazy! It's so hard to
describe these feelings sometimes :) Even to this day, when I look at
something on wall or whatever, it shakes a little bit. I know it's hard to
ignore this feelings, but it sounds like you've had more tests than I have
:) I've had anxiety for nearly 7 years, and I haven't felt normal since, but
I'm not sure what normal is. It's been so long :) ya know? I can feel my
heart beating in my chest, sometimes real hard almost every day, but once I
ignore it, I don't feel it anymore.
