Feeling off lately. It started about 3 months ago with a major “panic attack”(?)
Posted , 5 users are following.
im a 26 year old female.. not diagnosed with any major medical conditions in the past. i had a major what i was told "panic attack" in september 2018. ive always been a nervous person so i didnt think it made sense that i had a panic attack because i would handle my everyday anxiety in different ways. to describe what happened to me that night, i woke up after an hour of sleep and jumped out of bed feeling like all the blood in my body rushed to my head. i felt my heart racing and i had an urgent feeling that i needed something out of my body. i was trembling and shaking, screamingvfor my family to call 911. i started to go diarreha and then started forcing myself to throw up. the ambulance arrived performed an EKG and they said nothing abnormal was showing. my BP was elevated but nothing that caused them concern. i had a party that weekend that i didnt want to miss so instead of going to the hospital i slept an hour and went to the party. the next night and the next 4 after that i kept waking up feeling like i couldnt breathe and i would jump in a cold shower to lower my heart rate which felt like it was at over 140 and pounding. i would tremble and scream feeling like i was going to die of a heart attack . each of those episodes lasted about 15-30 mins. i would wait for my heart rate to lower. these "panic attacks" occered about another 15 times the month of october and november in total. from nov 9th until now january 7th i have not experienced it to the point of where i needed to run in the shower and scream etc. BUT for the last few months i feel VERY off. dizzy and off balance. lightheaded. tired alot . i feel like my heart slowed down but it pounds at times, especially at night. sometimes though, it will randomly start beating fast and it freaks me out.. i have increased floaters in my vision. i feel like im falling backwards at times. i have shortness of breath sometiems. ive had multiple EKGs done came out all normal (sinus arrythmia for increased beat of 107-113 at times, not recenrly though as ive noticed my beat is slower now) , bp checked and its low at times but healthy , oxygen 97+, chest xray came back good, thyroid blood test came back good, thyroid sonogram good, hospital panel blood test good, heart sonogram good. those are all the tests ive had so far. i even went to the ENT and he said he thinks its vertigo but im still stuck thinking its my heart. im wondering if anyone deals with this constant off balance feeling and just overall tiredness and if it is panic disorder or is it my heart or head?
0 likes, 17 replies
maybeitsanxiety
Posted
i forgot to add that i also feel numb at night sometimes in my legs. i also notice my carotid artery pulsates fast and is sometimes noticeable. i also get upper left back pain and feel discomfort in the middle and left side of my chest at times. i forgot to mention my height is 5'2 weight 121.
jen86183 maybeitsanxiety
Posted
Panic attacks are terrifying and very real. Very often you think you have everything wrong with you and when your heart is racing and pounding away, heart attack or stroke can be on your mind. When a panic starts try and do something you enjoy to distract your mind away from the panic and occupy yourself, sit and deep breathe to bring your breathing under control. I know it is hard but you need to try and control the panics before they control you. Good luck.
PS
I do not know if you can buy it in the states but we have a product called Bach's Rescue Remedy, it is herbal, you put some drops on your tongue and it helps to stop the panics.
maybeitsanxiety jen86183
Posted
thank you very much! I see everyone thinks its panic, i just keep thinking its something else because i feel like im actually sick. I feel like i could fall over every minute but i try to occupy myself. i work a stressful job as well so im sure that doesnt help (accountant and financial advisor) and also relationship issues. but thanks again ill consider the bach's rescue.
jen86183 maybeitsanxiety
Posted
Stressful job, relationship issues and the fact you have always been nervous can eventually take it's toll and cause a breakdown. You sound like you are either having a breakdown or very close to it. Understanding it now can save years of disruption of your life. I am 62 and had first panic attack at 14, you do think you have everything wrong with you, I sometimes think my leg feels numb but it is all part of a panic attack. Maybe a mild tranquilizer would help for a short time.
maybeitsanxiety jen86183
Posted
thank you! i should you have any recommendations bc i wasnt crazy about xanax .5 mg.
moon53540 maybeitsanxiety
Posted
Are you taking any medications or supplements?
maybeitsanxiety moon53540
Posted
no medication. i took 4 xanax throoughout this and the hospital gave me 1 valium but besides that, no meds for anxiety. ive also taken meclizine twice for the vertigo. im anti med /.. ive been drinking alot of tea lately, chamomile and valerian root to help me sleep.
moon53540 maybeitsanxiety
Posted
Have you ever taken the contraceptive pill? You mention you get numb legs, do you get any cramping or pain?
maybeitsanxiety moon53540
Posted
ive taken the contraceptive pill (plan b) once in 2016 but had no side effects at that time. this happened in 2018. i get cramping at times but mainly a numb feeling.
moon53540 maybeitsanxiety
Posted
Have you had a d-dimer blood test to check for PEs or DVT? If you are having issues with breathing, palpitations, chest pain and issues with numbness in your legs, all of which you say feel different to anxiety you have experienced before, it wouldn't hurt to get checked.
maybeitsanxiety moon53540
Posted
no i havent, ive also had my aortic artery checked on a sonogram and they said no aneursym appeared. is that the same thing? or do i have to get something else done to check for that?
maybeitsanxiety
Posted
aorta in the stomach* was checked last week
maybeitsanxiety
Posted
i had a chest xray last week also and wouldnt PE show up there?
moon53540 maybeitsanxiety
Posted
Only really big PEs show up in chest X-rays. The way you usually find out is from a CT scan with contrast or a VQ scan. A pulmonary embolism is when you get a blockage in an artery in your lung. It is different from an aneurysm. Just ask your doctor for a d-dimer and ask them to check your legs for a DVT. If they think think there maybe an issue, they will then probably suggest a CT.
If you really feel there is a problem, you need to pursue it.
If nothing shows up, maybe ask for a 24 hour holter monitor. It may pick up something missed at the hospital in your heart rhythm. I think they may even do week long monitors.
Do you find your time of the month has any influence on your symptoms? Like do you get palpitations when you are ovulating or just before your period?
maybeitsanxiety moon53540
Posted
ahhh ive worn a holter minitor for 72 hours in november also and no issues/ abnormalities found . i will ask about the PE and DVT thanks! im surprised the cardiologist didnt pick this up to test for. so crazy