I have a question for you guys. Out of no where last weekend I started feeling really anxious and my arms and hands were tingling and my heart was racing...i thought maybe i was dying or i had something wrong with me neurologically so i went to the ER. Well after doing a neuro check the MD said that I was suffering from anxiety attacks, he said the tingling was realated to the anxiety and being as young as i am (24)that anxiety was def. the culprit..he gave me some atavan and i went home. well the tingling went away but the anxiety did not.
Then Monday I went to see my reg. MD and he started me on LExapro and told me that I would feel relief within 3-5 days. Its been 5 days and im still pretty anxious...not quite as bad as last weekend but im wondering, what if this med doesnt work? What if I never feel normal again? Im so worried, it was so sudden and I just want to feel like myself again. I think some of my anxiety stems from the fact that im worried about all these diseases we learn about. For awhile I was worried I had cancer (I went to the MD and she told me i have a small fatty tumor in my back and its nothing to worry about.) Then I was worried that I had or was starting to get MS as I had all the tingling in my arms and back....well the MD check my neuro system and said I was fine. My arms don't really tingle anymore and the MD said it was normal in anxiety attacks and that it was basically my nerves being frazzled. I guess it would be easier if i knew why i was so anxious.
I have been taking the Lexapro for 5 days now and ive noticed that ive been clenching my jaw, is this a normal side effect? I read the info on the drug but it didn't mention that...also my anxiety attacks only seem to come on mid morning..dont know why...ive also been taking Atavan prn...im worried about becoming addicted...sorry so long...just looking for some reasurrance i guess. I go back to the MD in 3 weeks...
Would you say the vast majority of the "anxiety attacks" are while you are at work? Do you feel a bit better when you are away from the environment, esp. if you've had a couple of days off?
The reason I ask is because I was experiencing the same thing. Heart racing (RHR was 120), dizziness, difficulty breathing, general tingling throughout my body. This went on for months, but I never said anything because I knew people would say it was anxiety (even though I knew it wasn't). Then I started getting severe upset stomachs, a sore throat, watery eyes. Of course everyone said I was having panic attacks. I told them that I didn't have anything to feel anxious about though.
Then, I started to get a rash and severe itching over my entire body. The dizziness, heart palpitations, upset stomach were getting worse.
I finally went to 2 different MDs and they put me on Doxipen, Singular, Alavert, Zantac, Ativan, Benedryl, Atarax...the list was endless. They told me to do relaxation exercises, watch my diet because it could be a food allergy and change to a mild soap and detergent. The drugs were so sedating I couldn't even walk. I finally went back to employee health completely frustrated and in tears. They finally did some blood tests.
I came back with a Type 1 Latex Allergy. My numbers were so high that they said I was at the beginning stages of anaphylactic shock (hence the dizziness, heart palpitations, dizziness, upset stomach). I was sent home immediately. I have been out of any latex environment for numerous months now and I feel like a new person. No anxiety, no rash, no problems breathing, NO PILLS! It is truly incredible. Get tested...it can't hurt!
I have been taking the Lorazapeme (sp?) prn and it seems to help, im very afraid of develping an addiction to it but the pharmacist said that with such a low dose it would take awhile to develop an addiction, I am only taking .5 mg prn. At the most if I am having a really bad day, i'll take two, but not at once. I have only been taking them for a week and as soon as the Lexapro kicks in, im going to stop.
::)
Elk,
Glad to hear you're feeling better. I will say that I developed some anxiety during nursing school and I know it was because the stress had finally got to me I became prone to becoming anxious. (Also, anxiety can be general where we don't know why we're anxious. It just comes and goes).
About the Lorazepam, don't worry about addiction. You said you take it PRN. Addiction is really only a concern if you were to take it several times a day every day for a long time. Tolerance to the medication would happen first anyway.
Good that you're back on Advair. I think the whole wheezing/respiratory thing could have easily exacerbated your anxiety as anxiety and respiratory problems are often so closely related.
So..........how's it going with the Lexapro? Are you feeling much better yet??
Im so glad to hear that the Lexapro is working for you. I am scheduled to see my MD back in about a month. It is ok that it will take awhile, i never planned on going off of it, I just didn't know that it would take that long until I got home and read the little info packet...I think my school has a counselor but since its summer, t hey arent on campus..we are the only students on campus right now...the school nurse isnt even there. I really would like to talk to one though. Also, my insurance wont pay for the Lexapro, does anyone know how to get it a little cheaper? I was told that it would be 71/mo...i dont work and we are barely scraping by as it is...sigh...
So..........how's it going with the Lexapro? Are you feeling much better yet??
Well, I've been taking Lexapro for more than 6 months and I'm very enthused about it. The anxiety and despondency I had gone through at my worst seem vague memories now.
So..........how's it going with the Lexapro? Are you feeling much better yet??
I am doing sooo much better thanks for asking! The Lexapro has kicked in and the anxiety is pretty much gone...The Lexapro makes my hands shake but I called my MD and he says this is normal bc of the elevated seratonin levels in my body.
In response to the poster that suggested I get therapy, it is good advice and I have been getting therapy. Ive always had anxiety but never wanted to take meds for it bc I thought I could control it. I never really thought that it was a big deal....just thought i was a worry wart. I have never had physical symptoms before though and that made me even more anxious then everything just seemed to spiral out of control to the point I couldnt do anything! It was sooo frustrating...it was like I didnt know what to do with myself...wasn't sure if i wanted to get up and go somewhere but where? and then it was like i just couldnt move...ugh...ive never had panic attacks that bad and i had always been able to calm down in the past...anyway..now that i'm taking the Lexapro I realize just how much anxiety controlled my life before...geez...
my prayers go out to all of you who have expierienced this...its the most awful feeling!
Very cool you guys, I wish you the best!! Add me to the Lexapro list, started today for GAD and depression. Feel OK so far, no debilitating side effects yet. I hope it will work miracles for me too....:) Take care, and as always,
GOOD LUCK IN SCHOOL!!!
I am doing sooo much better thanks for asking! The Lexapro has kicked in and the anxiety is pretty much gone...The Lexapro makes my hands shake but I called my MD and he says this is normal bc of the elevated seratonin levels in my body.
In response to the poster that suggested I get therapy, it is good advice and I have been getting therapy. Ive always had anxiety but never wanted to take meds for it bc I thought I could control it. I never really thought that it was a big deal....just thought i was a worry wart. I have never had physical symptoms before though and that made me even more anxious then everything just seemed to spiral out of control to the point I couldnt do anything! It was sooo frustrating...it was like I didnt know what to do with myself...wasn't sure if i wanted to get up and go somewhere but where? and then it was like i just couldnt move...ugh...ive never had panic attacks that bad and i had always been able to calm down in the past...anyway..now that i'm taking the Lexapro I realize just how much anxiety controlled my life before...geez...
my prayers go out to all of you who have expierienced this...its the most awful feeling!
I hope it will work miracles for me too....:) Take care, and as always,
CFwoman
12 Posts
Would you say the vast majority of the "anxiety attacks" are while you are at work? Do you feel a bit better when you are away from the environment, esp. if you've had a couple of days off?
The reason I ask is because I was experiencing the same thing. Heart racing (RHR was 120), dizziness, difficulty breathing, general tingling throughout my body. This went on for months, but I never said anything because I knew people would say it was anxiety (even though I knew it wasn't). Then I started getting severe upset stomachs, a sore throat, watery eyes. Of course everyone said I was having panic attacks. I told them that I didn't have anything to feel anxious about though.
Then, I started to get a rash and severe itching over my entire body. The dizziness, heart palpitations, upset stomach were getting worse.
I finally went to 2 different MDs and they put me on Doxipen, Singular, Alavert, Zantac, Ativan, Benedryl, Atarax...the list was endless. They told me to do relaxation exercises, watch my diet because it could be a food allergy and change to a mild soap and detergent. The drugs were so sedating I couldn't even walk. I finally went back to employee health completely frustrated and in tears. They finally did some blood tests.
I came back with a Type 1 Latex Allergy. My numbers were so high that they said I was at the beginning stages of anaphylactic shock (hence the dizziness, heart palpitations, dizziness, upset stomach). I was sent home immediately. I have been out of any latex environment for numerous months now and I feel like a new person. No anxiety, no rash, no problems breathing, NO PILLS! It is truly incredible. Get tested...it can't hurt!