6 years of light-headedness, panic attacks and visual distortion

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I have suffered with a so called anxiety disorder now for about 6 years. It started when I was on the train home from university and all of a sudden I lost some of my vision, felt very light-headed, pins and needles all over and thought I might pass out. This was the first time I had ever felt like this and before this incident, I was a very outgoing and independent person. However, since this I have has 6 years of constant, 24/7, light-headedness with severe panic attacks. I cannot go out, I cannot be left alone so my life is basically non-existent.

I have had every medical check there is - bloods, MRI, EEG, ECG - and all sorts of differing meds - citalopram, sertraline, lamotragine, pregabolin and the list continues. All tests have come back negative and none of the meds have made any difference really. I have also had many diagnosis - depression, GAD, depersonalisation disorder, agrophibia and even an inner ear issue. I have had counselling, CBT, hypnotherapy and all haven't made a difference.

Has anyone else had any of these experiences and does anyone have any answers? I feel like I am coming to the end of the road.

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  • Posted

    Hi Suit,

    Yes know where you are had all those tests , so frustrating but we have to accept its anxiety

    (Hark at me) you will see from my post that Iwas in A&E yesterday all afternoon with chest pains same test all clear which is good,do I feel any different NO even with results.We have to take each day as it comes small steps I have had this episode nearly 3 years.Keep posting on here at least we know we are not alone.

    Good Luck

    Joan

  • Posted

    Hi suit

    I too have had these same symptoms and others which are impossible to describe. Light headedness for well over 6 years, trouble focusing on things, flushing pins and needles sensation in my arms and recently my mouth, intense feeling of pressure in my head like it will explode. Plus v sporadically I have seizure,s 2 and half weeks ago were my recent ones. I have had every test under the sun as you and I have just come to accept this is me now. Im on 150mg sertraline and 10mg amitriptyline which was helping but now not so much. Im waiting for appt to come through for cbt as although I have accepted it it does mean im not going to still try and gain back control. I too have felt like you at times that im coming to the end of the road that I cannot bear to live like this anymore. Luckily I have all the inspiration I need in my 6 yr old daughter to battle on and just take 1 day at a time. Please don't give up it seems to me if none of the meds or the counselling have helped you need to be referred to a psychiatrist who can really offer you high intensity 1 to 1 therapy. Also they have access to some drugs the doctors don't and which you may find more beneficial. A GP are as they are described and unless you have one like myself who has a keen interest/understanding of mental health you aren't going to be ever given the right advice. Im not going to tell you its easy ive been in this place for 15years and its a long hard slog. All you can do is keep going keep fighting and remember your not alone out there are people out there who can help and understand. Even if its just somebody to tell you although these things you are feeling are uncomfortable and scary. They are normal for the mental illness you have your not mad your not going mad mentally you are unwell and you need proper help. Sitting down with someone and talking, but them not giving you any response or explanation is not therapy and is completely unhelpful. A psych or a psych nurse is where I think your answers lie. I wish you all the best and I hope your feeling better than you do now.

    Natalie

    p.s sorry my grammar, punctuation and spelling is atrocious. Thank goodness there are such things as teachers or my daughter would have no hope!!

  • Posted

    Natalie,

    Thankyou ffor replying have had the psych offered same meds., as GP which I could not take have had CBT for 6 weeks did no good at all ,get better results on here gave me nothing constructive to do if I went for 6 years I would not have got anywhere but that's my result,hopefully you will get better results I think if you have things to bring to the table which you can not tell anybody else they must be great but I have nothing deep rooted then others have said they swear by it

    .we are all different thank god the world would not ho round if you were all like me.LOL

    Thanks Again

    Joan

  • Posted

    Hi Suit24, I too suffer from severe anxiety which manifests itself in a long list of physical symptoms. Pounding heart, Stomach cramps, diarrhoea, zero appetite, feeling nauseous, insomnia, inability to concentrate, constant agitation, inability to perform basic daily tasks. Basically I am worse than dead when it reaches its peak. The only thing I can suggest that helps me is dosulepin it is a tricyclic anti depressant that isn't often prescribed these days due to the small margin between therapeutic dose and fatal dose but it is a really good antidepressant in my opinion, especially if you suffer from anxiety as it is sedating once it gets into your system. Your doctor may not prescribe this one but the other newer version is Mirtazapine which is also sedating or trazadone is another one you could try. Also while you are trying to get settled on a medication that works for you it is perfectly reasonable to ask your gp to prescribe you some diazepam for a short time as it is a life safer for anxiety. I really hope you start to feel better soon, Lisa x
  • Posted

    Thank you for all your replies. Natalie, I certainly feel that GP's do not have a good understanding of this type of ailment which is worrying. From personal experience i know that both anxiety and depression are becoming more and more prevalent in young adults.

    I did wonder though if there were any signs in younger people, as up to the age of 19, I never, ever experienced any issues. It literally came out of the blue. Did anyone else lead a totally normal life at one point and then get blindsided by this??

    Thanks again.

  • Posted

    Yes Suit

    I did upto 3 years ago went to the gym drove the car shopping on my own just normal things now nothing but existing have just managed a 20 Minuite walk and I feel terrible but that's better than some days when I have stayed in bed all day,so some brownie points today such a little thing but I suppose small steps at a time might do the marathon this year.LOL

    Joan

  • Posted

    Hello suit and joan

    Well I was 15 when my anxiety began. It only got worse when my daughter was born.. I'm expecting that when my loved ones begin to pass away then it will get worse but I'm really trying to gain control back. It's a tough illness to treat and you get years of relief and then bang something bad happens and your thrown off course again only this time the symptoms worsen. I'm hoping CBT will help but as pessimism is part and parcel of anxiety I'm not expecting much. I find in general you get peaks and troughs sometimes years in between sometimes days. I unfortunately am not a believer in all this holistic meditation herbs bollocks and I certainly don’t have the cash to spend on private treatment or residential rehab type help so I keep popping the pills and do what I can to get through a day at a time. Just getting to the end of the day without feeling like I'm going to fit is an achievement for me at present. Going back to work tomorrow so anxiety levels are on there way up. Anyway I hope you can get some help from another source a proper mental health professional. MIND might be a good place to start as they will have lots of info. Where I live I have a service called IAPT who assess your needs and put you in touch with the right people. Its based in Coventry and Warwickshire area must be something similar in other parts of UK. Plus its self referral so external to GP.

    Natalie

  • Posted

    Hi all,

    Up till 4 years ago I was a totally independent nurse, running a full time job, single parent with 2 kids and so was responsible for everything in a day. I suddenly collapsed, felt like I was walking on marshmallows, very dizzy and faint. This has gone on for years now. Every test in the book done too, took up meditiation etc which helps a wee bit, but came across a good treatment - Eye Movement Desensitisation Resistance which is all to do with tapping and eye movement. It's had great success. I've tried all the pills and treatments so far with no effect. Looking back, my first bout of anxiety did start when I was 18 and saw my first patient die. Didn't realise it at the time but it usually can be traced back to a situation which triggers the feelings. Suit - have you looked back at what's been happening over the past few years? I'm in the same boat, I feel I can't go out without my family now, I struggle to go anywhere but I do it if I have to. I've not been into town for over 4 years now and not had a good shop!! Each day I struggle to do the things that others take for granted as I feel so dizzy and faint and then I panic I can't get home. It is improving though and I look towards alternatives to medicines if possible as I'm lousy at tolerating them. Good to know though that others are the same.........keep positive

  • Posted

    Hi ya I know exactly how you feel.ive been constantly lightheaded/ giddy since dec 2012 it all started with chest pain which I thought was a heart attack then constant sickness for 3 months tiredness tingling pain all over ect.do you literally have lightheadedness all the time mine never goes its so bad I can barely stand at the moment.i too haven't been out much in all this time I have to try and get my little boy to school which is awful but at the moment I can't even do that.alot of people say they have it constantly but then say they work I can barely walk to the kitchen let alone work.i like you have had lots of tests and lots of meds that I have allergic reactions too so can't take them.i have been diagnosed with anxiety and in 2011 uncompensated labarythytus but this wasn't a problem il I got all the other symptoms.i also have pain in my ears and fullness feeling .joan sorry you've been bad again nice to see you back on here xx
  • Posted

    Hi Mango6,

    What a nightmare. Sounds like we have a lot in common. Mine has improved over the 4 years but at first I couldn't function at all, even walking round the house like you. I certainly couldn't work. I need to eat something every 2 hours or I totally flag. This is going to sound bad, but going private was the best thing I ever did and I've workded for the NHS all my life. They have to pay so much more attention to your symptoms. If you're bloated, have they checked out all the bowel tests? I had every test known to man, was told I was suffering from anxiety alone, but after years of being sent to psychologists etc, they did a test - a hydrogen breath test, and a 7 alpha blood test for calprotectin, which I'd never heard of. They came up positive. I'll always suffer from anxiety as life has been really trying, but this private doc really looked outside the box. Might be an idea to check that angle out as can cause all sorts of symptoms.

    Good luck!

  • Posted

    Hi Mango & Meg

    This is such a pest this head problem mine is not so much giddiness but the pains in the head ,day in bed yesterday got the G P at 11 50 today he will want me to take Anti Depressants which I cannot take,was in hospital all Saturday with chest pains ECG bloods a Chest X-ray everything clear but it's so real the pains now chronic headache,just give up cannot believe this is anxiety. Sorry my rant for the day.

    Love to you Both

    Joan

  • Posted

    Aw Joan, really feel for you. Keep strong and believe in yourself. You symptoms are very real, anxiety or not, it still produces the same pain. Ask you GP if there are any rehab programmes for people with health problems at your local gym. In our city there is a special programme specifically for people with heart probs, diabetes etc and so if they keep telling you it is anxiety and definitely not heart etc, maybe some gentle exercise might reduce the stress? Ask them what your options are if they are going to stick with this diagnosis and you clearly cannot live like this.

    Take care

  • Posted

    Hi all,

    I am shocked that so many symptoms can come from an anxiety disorder (if that's what it turns out to be). I do totally agree with Meg in regards to exercise. I try to go to the gym as much as I can with a friend and it does really help in the short term. There is certainly some truth in a shit ton of endorphins being released after exercise. I am trying to make an appointment now with an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist to see whether I actually have something wrong with my inner ear. Hopefully I do! I really am hoping for a physical issue as they are so much easier to fix...

    All the best to each and every one of you.

  • Posted

    Hi meg222 how long were you constantly giddy lightheaded for days weeks months? Luckily the

    One thing I don't suffer with is bowel issues I did have the constant nausea for 3 months but a camera into the stomach ruled out any problems and I had a ct scan of the abdomen all clear.i truly believe if my head issues would go I could deal with all the other physical stuff.toight I've got really bad chest back and arm pain but I think it's just were I'm so tense all the time.i did manage the school run today but it was hell hi Joan how you doing now xx

  • Posted

    Hi Mango,

    Well done getting your son to school,well GP was very understanding yesterday and as put me on nortriptyline much to my regret but Hey Ho he was so nice and wants to see me in a fortnight so I will give it a go and see hopefully side effects are not bad have tried so many for all of a week and give up.This morning cannot move my back and hip just one thing after another.But the sun is shining so a bit brighter than all that rain.

    Keep posting all of us it does help to rant and know we are not alone.

    Joan xxxx

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