1. Community
  2. Mental health
  3. Anxiety Disorders

Extreme aches and pains (upper arm and legs), head pressure and dizziness. Is it anxiety ? worried!

Posted , 32 users are following.

Ameli98158
Ameli98158

Okay so a year ago I had a very bad experience with cannabis where I had extreme panic attacks and I thought I died and so much happened that day even the ambulance came and everything I was traumatised so much. So after that night I was never the same. I would often get panic attacks and have constant anxiety and thoughts of death would make me so panicked I would experience sweaty hands, cold sensations, heart palpitations and extreme fear. So now that has improved a lot since last year however I could feel I was getting fatigue over time for no apparent reason and that would bring my anxiety back on. It wasn't until last month I had a viral Infection which was so bad. I mean it was really bad that I thought I had a killer disease which would kill me (again death thoughts). I went to the A&E three times in such a panic. Once thinking I had toxic shock syndrome. I mean I didn't care all I cared about was my health and I would do anything to find out what I have. Had blood tests done and it was all clear. Been to the gp like every week and they said I was fine too after taking bloods and urine samples. I also thought I may have an sti so I got checked at a sexual health clinic and again tests came out all clear. 

So my viral infection started with a lump under my jaw and constipation. I then experienced night sweats, chills, disorientation, shortness of breath, a lump in my upper neck, Photophobia which was so bad it would give me migraines and I couldn't go out at night with all the lights outside, panic, fever, extreme body aches and extreme fatigue and extreme dizziness. This lasted 3 whole weeks and every time I would get all sorts of symptoms. So I would panic and go to the gp and sometimes A&E and all they would say was it's just an viral infection. Plus before my infection I was constipated and I had bowel problems too. In the 4th week my flu symptoms stopped. Such as sweats, chills, disorientation (I would get up feeling like I can't feel my body or like I'm leaving my body, it was SO weird, I would shake myself to gain consciousness or wake my sister to feel better) thankfully that has gone. 

So It's the 5th week now but I'm still not well my fatigueness (which includes aching upper arms and legs) has not gone, neither have my headaches I get pressure in my head an ears still and I occasionally get dizziness and shortness of breath. I also feel a lump in my throat which the go said is normal however I don't. I mean I can't function properly anymore I get extremely exhausted after 3 hours of work where I work as a sales associate. My body feels like it's giving up on me. I'm in extreme pain even at this moment my arms are paining so bad. I've got an appointment for an abdominal scan and I want some other scans done too because at this moment I feel as if I have something which is causing all this pain and discomfort. Maybe then I'll be in peace that it's nothing serious and it's all down to my anxiety. I hope it is. However I don't know how to tackle it. I wake up during the night feeling strange, short of breath or I can hear my heartbeat beat so fast or hear a heartbeat in my head when I sleep. Yes I'm so paranoid and worried. My aches and pains are not going. 

I need some help out here. Has anyone experienced something similar. Please get in contact. It would  make me feel so much better 

Thank you 

1 like, 37 replies

37 Replies

Next
  • rachel18350
    rachel18350 Ameli98158

    Posted

    Hey! I have experienced everything you have and still do on a daily basis! It's been confirmed that I have an anxiety disorder and depression and I'm starting therapy next week and meds. I still can't help thinking that it's more then that, I think to myself anxiety can't cause this much pain and discomfort but it can! Please feel free to have a chat I am going through the exact same as you!xx
    • Ameli98158
      Ameli98158 rachel18350

      Posted

      If it is anxiety. Neither can I, how can a mental condition affect your health so bad. aw I'm glad you know what it is and your dealing with it and being treated I hope it goes well. How did your anxiety come about? Plus how old are you may I ask ? Sorry but it's just so good to have someone understand your symptoms so well. No one ever does my gp is so confused. She's still investigating me sad xx 
    • rachel18350
      rachel18350 Ameli98158

      Posted

      I know I really can't understand it😞 me too it's always comforting to talk to someone who is going through the same as you! And my anxiety was due to a lot going on in my life the past 2 years or so il fill you in but not on this it's quite personal but if you wana chat privately il be happy to do that have you got Facebook? And I'm only 17 years of age😞 way too young for all this😞xxx
    • Ameli98158
      Ameli98158 rachel18350

      Posted

      Yeah it really is. Though I've been doing my research lately and the fact that our body's go into fight or flight response when we are anxious causes the sore muscles because our body prepares for battle in a sense. I feel the best way to tackle this is to tackle the anxiety. Maybe then this will all go away? Because we've had our tests and everything is normal. I need to go speak to my gp about all this. Aw I'm 19, would love to talk to you personally. However I dont want to give my personal details out here. How can we contact one another? 
    • lisalisa67
      lisalisa67 Ameli98158

      Posted

      It is labeled under mental condtion because its from your mind. Your brain. It needs a new label. It was not always under mental condition by the way. It is a mal function. Yiu fire off fight or flight adrenaline rushes too fast. Adrenaline rushes causes all different symptoms it effects seventy oercent of your body at a time. Have you seen an endocrinologist? Would your gp give you a referral. Theres many hormones that can get messed up that he is not familiar with. Did you have mono!? 
    • jen30854
      jen30854 rachel18350

      Posted

      Are you still dealing with these issues? I just starting having a ton of the same symptoms
  • alex_1986
    alex_1986 Ameli98158

    Posted

    Yes it sounds exactly same as what I have had and experiencing 
  • ray06999
    ray06999 Ameli98158

    Posted

    Hey Ameli your story sounds just like what I went thought really, I have GAD and if it is bad enought can have the same symptoms of panic disorder, but with GAD the symptoms remain constant. The only think that work for me is medications, not saying to go on them just what work for me.
  • Aspinan
    Aspinan Ameli98158

    Posted

    The mind is a powerful thing and anxiety will focus on any insecurities about health and blow them into massive pre occupations which exaggerate the symptoms often making you believe they are something which they aren't. Anxiety effects the whole body but not necessarily showing symptoms in the same way for example a feeling of tightness around the scalp or head, tingling sensations, racing heart, how sweats, burning sensations, aches and pains, stomach pain. The tight head or tingling down the arm is a symptom of anxiety but the anxiety focuses on your health anxiety and you straight away believe it's something you fear, rational goes out of the window because that's it's nature as when your fighting or fleeing from danger your brain switches off rational thought as that part of the brain at that stage is not needed to function when in danger.

    The feeling in your stomach is the blood being diverted from the digestive system to the muscles as again you don't need to digest food when in fight or flight response.

    thats the science bit... The empathy bit is that we all have similar experiences so your not alone in your feelings and thinking.

    keep posting N 

  • richard89308
    richard89308 Ameli98158

    Posted

    I had a gastro enteritis virus which left me in bed for three days too ill to call a Dr or an ambulance.  I had migraine headaches stomach ache and diarrhoea.  I could not eat anything apart from toast and drink water.  Eventually I called an ambulance and got some tablets to cure the virus and headaches.
  • Memoooo7
    Memoooo7 Ameli98158

    Posted

    About 7 months ago, I had a horrible experience with marijuana... I ate a tiny piece of a weed brownie ( which was high concentrated thc) I didn't know it was... Well when it finally hit me, I felt a werid sensation where I stopped breathing... When I noticed it and I jumped out of my chair sacred and then I start hyperventilating really bad. I actually thought I was having a heart attack... I also thought that was it for me, I was gonna die... I'm 21 years old male. My life before this was chill, no worries or stress.

    Go out and party, be adventurous, I'm Athletic guy so play a lot of sports.

    Well every since my experience with marijuana my whole life changed... Since that day I haven't Been the same.

    I been dealing with a bunch of symptoms... Panic attacks, heart palpitations which scare the crap out of me... Feeling like I'm gonna die, body feeling very weak, chest pain, headaches that don't go away, dizziness, eye problems, lost weight, arm and leg pain, burning sensation through my body, a lot of breathing problems, pressure on my head and ears, throat also feels werid, I couldn't feel my legs and arms for like a second which also scared me...

    I space out sometimes, sleep problems, get chills, night sweats... Probably a lot more you name it... But what you just said sounds exactly like me... It is very strange and scary... Kinda hard to believe it's anxiety.

    In the past 7 months I been to the doctors, urgent cares, and even been to the emergency a lot of times... I got checked out... Everything came back normal and I that I'm healthy ! Blood test, ekgs, chest x ray, oxygen was fine, eyes checked. I might even ask for a head MRI.

    Doctors say it just anxiety...

    The thing that kills me is... Doctors don't believe me that I was a normal guy before all of this... They think I was stressed and anxious before all of this... But I never experienced any of these symptoms before...

    Anyways just wanted to share my story, till this day I'm still struggling... But life goes on and I hope you beat this !!!

    • alan49719
      alan49719 Memoooo7

      Posted

      Hey mate.

      im 27 male. Same as you. Chilled out no anxiety exact same symptoms since the day i 'thought i was dying'...

      7 months on... how you coping..

      I wake up after 1 hours sleep with my head burning. Legs and arms tingling. 5 hours sleep a night.

      Spaced out talking to people.

      Whats the go?

    • Anxietyfreak
      Anxietyfreak Memoooo7

      Posted

      I'm going through the exact same thing as you... I'm writing this message just after having all those sensations yet again and waking up at half 7 in the morning freaking out looking of symptoms and came across this page... After reading all the comments mainly yours it has relaxed me and they have slowly went away...I used smoke weed when I was younger started at like 18 up until I was about 20 didn't smoke it day in day out but would have 1/2 joints a week... Suddenly one night I had it went into a giddy bang and then felt a pain in my chest and had those exact same symptoms you described... Ever since that day I've never been the same again and that was 3 years ago... Always regretted ever taking weed because it's done this to me it must have triggered something in my brain to make me this paranoid... I've brought myself to hospital like 5/6 times in the space of like 5 months absolute joke... Any tips on how you deal with it? Would appreciate big time thanks
    • timtheturtle
      timtheturtle Anxietyfreak

      Posted

      I'm the exactly the same - but learning to deal with it better knowing that it's anxiety. Accepting it is the hardest part but try it for a month and see how you get on. When your body is in fight / flight mode there is a very physiological response that happens and prolonged periods of this (or even 24/7) will cause pain and keep you feeling awful. RE the lightheadedness make sure you are breathing properly. Oxygen flows away from the calculus part of the brain into the primitive fight/flight portion when anxious. Google some breathing exercises.

      Also try not to focus on your symptoms. I did this for 8 years and only recently have I started researching anxiety. Guess what...Im at least 50% better. Understanding why these symptoms occur is half the battle as they're very real and very frightening! Here are some coping tips that have worked well for me.

      - Sleep in a dark room. Good wake/sleep routine. Lavendar oil. Earplugs.

      - Exercise every day (this uses up some of the excess adrenaline etc)

      - Good balanced diet.

      - Take anxiety therapy / CBT

      - Google what happens in fight/flight response.

      - Breathe

      Weed didn't f*ck you up, it just triggered an unhealthy thought pattern that is unfortunately really tricky to get out of. Don't smoke, avoid caffine and follow the above. I promise you'll feel much, much better. I finally do but it's still a hard cycle to break and will take time. Don't beat yourself up about getting better right away. Good luck man, let us know how you get on.

    • rafael95204
      rafael95204 Memoooo7

      Posted

      Oh man your experience is exactly what Im experiencing. I had all those test done except an CT scan or mri which I'm prolly going to ask for as well. These symptoms are very paralyzing. Stops me from enjoying everyday activities. Hope all is well by now with you.

Back to top
Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.