Never Have I Had Such Anxiety In My Life..constant Panic All Day, What Is Going On ?

[Guest GaryRN]

It's just been the last few days like this and I've been to the ER twice, yesterday and again today. I went to two different hospitals so they didn't recognize me.

I hate this so much. I feel like a psych patient. The only thing is that my head was actually clear today while all this is going on.

Some have suggested Histadelia or Pyrouria. Does anyone know anything about these conditions. I am eating Xanax and Klonopin like candy and getting very little sedation as if the benzos are just neutralizing the adrenaline and nothing more.

Before, the Benadryl was helping, but today it's not doing squat.

It seems like it's getting worse every day just when I thought it couldn't get any worse.

My folks try and talk me down on the phone, but there is no talking me down as it feels like my heart is going to jump out of my chest.

I can handle brain fog, confusion, 3rd personing, even though these arn't pleasant, but Pure adreanaline that turns into panic is just terrible and I just can't believe how long it all lasts. I'd give the discomfort at 20 out of 10, thats how bad it's getting.

I've got 1mg of Xanax and 50mg of Benadryl on board and still have a lump in my throat, and the anxiety is down a bit, but not enough that I'm gonna move from this chair.

Can anyone here relate ?

[mae]

How long is it lasting? constantly for days?and is all the meds a good idea?

[runningshoe]

I don't have an answer for you and I don't know much about you (only visit the forum on occasion these days). But this I do know. The worry/why is this happening/oh no not this again/what should I do differently/ etc. about symptoms only add to the original symptom. This is true for me whether it be pain (I have IC) or Pots. Although it is not easy to do, you must befriend your body, recognize the symptoms as telling you something and try to bring some comfort or peace to your body. Of course you should always check with your dr when something is alarming or different. Once you get the everything is okay from the dr and you agree with him/her, take some time to heal and restore. Watch a funny movie, call a friend, lose yourself in a book, pray, meditate, listen to music, whatever calms you down. Repeat "I am ok" to yourself until you start to believe it. Give your body a chance to settle by settling your mind. I am not suggesting that this is easy to do. It is an ongoing struggle with a chronic illness. Don't for get to breath.

Sending you healing wishes,

lina

[Guest GaryRN]

I think I'll have to stick with the praying for right now. The other stuff doesn't work as I don't bring it on, it just comes out of nowhere.

And I've never had it come on so strong and last for so long... Tomorrow is another day, perhaps I will awake feeling better. This is what I hope and pray for now every night since this stuff started.

Trying to talk it down is like talking to a rock. The hyperadrenergic screwed up CNS doesn't listen to me.

I'd rather have a knife in my arm all day and deal with that kind of pain than all the pressure and tightness in my chest. I'm just wait for my hear to fly across the room.

I hope to write better tomorrow. Thanks for the kind words folks.

Gary

[MelissaCrystal]

This happens to me if I'm under a deadline or something, or just experiencing too much stress over something. I sort of meltdown for a week and then recover. But going off meds (all different kinds) can cause this too. Withdrawal is horrible.

Experiencing any unusual stress or med changes?

If you have a bunch of chest pain, take pain killers for it. When I'm about to have a panic attack, I often get costalchondritis (I spelled it wrong..) and they just give me some IB profin at the hospital.

[juliegee]

Gary,

My heart is breaking for you. I'm sorry for all you are going through. I looked up the 2 conditions that you listed. They sound like they could be possibilities... and both are diagnosable with laboratory tests. Be very careful about treating yourself without a DX. Something is very wrong and adding excessive supplements may further disguise or mask the problem.

I remember when my symptoms were out-of-control like yours. Very scary. Keep on going back to your PCP (or whoever is overseeing your treatment) until you find answers. The answer may be another specialist. Keep following this wherever it leads you. I know you are frustrated because your symptoms appear to be phsychological rather than phsyiological. Rather than running from this, go see a good psychiatrist. Tell your story. Ruling out a mental disorder may be the first step to getting serious help. Too many physicians too quickly chalk everything up to stress, panic disorder, etc. without doing the hard work of trying to figure out what exactly is causing your body to behave so extraordinarily. With a clear psych report, you may be taken more seriously.

When my son was unable to eat (following a virus ) at age 12 y/o, the pediatric GI, who we travelled to see, who we pinned all of our hopes on, who was supposed to help, declared that Mack was mentally ill- that's why he vomited every time he ate. As his Mom, I KNEW this doctor was dead wrong. I knew my son was sick. Unable to find help, I marched him to a good psychiatrist who found him to be mentally quite stable. He stated that Mack's stress resulted from his unability to find help via his physicians. We found help via forums like this and great doctors at Hopkins (not in the ER!)

Forgive my rambling. I just get the feeling that you're trying to do this all alone. Find a caring physician to help you. Open your mind to all possibilities.

I'm keeping you in my thoughts and prayers, Gary.

Julie

[wareagle]

You may want to ask you doctor about trying Clonodine (catapress). It's used for high blood pressure but also is really good at relaxing the sympathetic nervous system. Is there any way that taking all these bezos and mixes of sedatives could be causing some sort of reverse reaction for you? For example, I know some people actually get 'wired' when taking things like Benadryl when it's usually sedating. The only other thing I can think of is trying some sort of Biofeedback therapy. I know that some people have been able to calm their systems down to a degree utilizing this.

I hope you find some relief soon.

[Guest GaryRN]

I tried Clonodine 0.1mg and I was walking around feeling drunk. That drug is just too sedating.

And for the record, I believe this is Physiological and not psychological as far as cause goes. Yes, it definitely has psychological consequences.

I have some propanolol here, and I might give that a try.

The only thing I can think of is that I have been weaning down off some Tramadol I was taking, and I cut my last 50mg dose down to 25mg the other day, but I really don't think it would cause all of this, but you never know. I am very med sensative.

The benzos have always been my friend and so has the benadryl. I'm just taking extra through this hard time, so I don't think I have to worry about building more tolerance or blood levels thats will once again fall when this is over with.

I'm not ashamed of any of this, but when all of this started 2 years ago, I went down the psychiatrist/psychotherapist road and after failing all sorts of meds (SSRI's, SNRI's, etc.) which all made things worse for me, I decided to stick with the first line treatments for anxiety which are the benzos, and that is fact. Yes they are addictive, but I will come off of them when I beat all of this, whenever that will be.

The only other thing that could be causing this is from my last Rife session, which was 11 days ago. I did have a delayed Herxheimer reactions and I did extend my exposure time. Many with Lyme develop POTS and I've been reading a few that have this Pyrouria.

I'm going to try the Zinc and B6 P-5-P as this is the protocol for Pyrouria. And it can't hurt. A b6 deficiency in itself can cause anxiety. So many things can cause anxiety, but something is definately staring me in the face and I'm just not picking up what it is.

No matter what, I will not let it overcome me. When I got ill with Lyme, I was warned about the battle to get well. Everyone told me I would get worse before getting better, and so far they have been right.

Can't wait to turn the corner on all of this..

Thanks again for the replies everyone,

going to bed..

Gary

[mjan]

OH Gary I am so sorry you are struggling with all this crap. Of course its physical and I am not sure many MDs can figure this out.

But I finally got past getting help and just rest..saying this will not kill me..talk myself down. I guess.

BUT dont forget the ART (Autonomic Response Testing ) or NRT (Nutritional Response testing) evaluation I told you about..either from a nutritionist or chiropractor TRAINED in this kind of eval. Its amazing what they can give you for remedies..to detox and build up your system. ITs worth EVER penny.. as they can figure out things NO ONE else even knows. They get to the source. ITs a help at least.

You MAY be detoxing from the Tramadol..and maybe going to fast. You may... of course I am not sure..think about it ok?

BUT I will pray you find some answers..and soon..

[summer]

Hi Gary,

Sorry you are going through so much difficulty. The kind of anxiety you are describing sounds torturous. I agree with Julie that you need to be careful about self-medicating and adding supplements - especially about adding or taking things away too quickly. You can end up in a situation where you don't know what's helping, or what is making things worse. I agree that you need to continue to seek out a compassionate doc who will persevere with you and work on a plan that treats your physiologic condition.

Living with chronic illness is so stressful. Even though your illness is physiological, this does not mean you will not experience psychological fallout. Many of us do. Have you considered talking to a good counselor or psychotheripist who could help you learn good coping stratagies for the anxiety? This REALLY can help even though the anxiety may be a symptom of your condition, and caused by an ANS that is out of whack. I agree that you can not always just "relax" away the kind of anxiety you are talking about, but there are real cognitive strategies that can help.

Please do not misunderstand me. I am not suggesting that a counselor the solution to your problems. You need a good doctor to treat you physical condition, but in the meantime, a good counselor might help to get you through this really difficult and stressful time. You might find this more helpful than having more meds thrown at you. Gary, I truely hope you will have a better day today, and many more to come. Take good care.

Summer

[juliegee]

Hi Gary-

Hope today finds you a bit better. I just wanted to clarify my post. I truly believe your problem is physical, not psychological. Proving that via a professional may be helpful and you could find a new ally in your search for answers. I'm keeping you in my prayers.

Julie

[ramakentesh]

Dude - ive been there. Its all POTS Im afraid. I will explain it below.

I had it when i first got POTS and my recent crash - in my stomach all day long churning and those levels of norepinephrine and epinephrine are impossible to deal with, live with, think with, its completely incapacitating. Total panic and anxiety without any external reason at all.

Sure most POTs patients are jumpy but something to remember is that not all POTS get this symptom so not everyone may be able to relate to it. ive met two POTS patients who get no anxiety related symptoms at all, and then there are ones like me who have very high NE levels on tilt.

When i was bad they gave me xanax and it didnt even dent it; Mazis were also quite hopeless. I got some slight relief from kava kava and valarian and in the end beta blockers were the best for it - but the dosage was high and you wont be able to do much walking around from it.

The current theories on this symptom are - 1. an adrenalin/epinephrine response to the blood flow disregulation that is the hallmark of POTS, which results in anxiety but is unsuccessful in restoring normal blood flow so it goes on and on. \

2. just part of the impaired norepinephrine reuptake phenotype - too much NE causing anxiety symptoms.

But mate, I promise you no matter how hard it is, it WILL eventaully PASS. It always has for me so far and ive only ever heard of one person who had this symptoms constantly. Its a shocker.

[ramakentesh]

Dude your looking for all these other reasons for your anxiety. POTS CAUSES ANXIETY because it causes excessive sympo-excitation. Since that is what youve been diagnosed with Id go with that as the cause.

[Angelika_23]

Gary.

I have to echo some others on here about you changing and dropping meds so quickly, and adding supplements on top of them. I understand your frustration, but you may be making things worse by the continuous changes.

I have been diagnosed by one doctor with having the hyperadrenergic form of POTS. I went through some extremely bad times until a new doctor put me on Toprol XL. I had had other beta blockers, and they all made me worse. I was seriously considering not taking the Toprol because I was afraid to, but now I'm glad I did. Aside from some weight gain, I haven't had any side effects. Historically I am extremely sensitive to drugs, and have more bad reactions from them than good.

So I guess what my point is, just because one type of something didn't work, don't discount all types.

I have found if I chug a big glass of water very quickly, it will slow things down for a little bit, enough for me to get some rest. Have you tried that? I wouldn't do it all day long, that could cause more problems, but once or twice a day wouldn't hurt.

I just recently went off my beta blocker prior to testing. It was awful. The adrenaline surges were back. The trembling as well. I didn't sleep one full night, I was a mess. But I kept reminding myself it wasn't going to kill me, even though I was miserable. My friend, who is an RN, has been studying up on this stuff probably for me, and when I'd call her in tears, she'd talk me down, saying I know it's horrible, but it really won't kill you, just hang on and things will get better. So this time, knowing it won't kill me didn't make the symptoms better, but it made my anxiety about them better. I read, watched TV and played on the laptop in bed and tried to make the best of it until it wound down.

Good luck,

Angela

[Rene S.]

It's just been the last few days like this and I've been to the ER twice, yesterday and again today. I went to two different hospitals so they didn't recognize me.

I hate this so much. I feel like a psych patient. The only thing is that my head was actually clear today while all this is going on.

Some have suggested Histadelia or Pyrouria. Does anyone know anything about these conditions. I am eating Xanax and Klonopin like candy and getting very little sedation as if the benzos are just neutralizing the adrenaline and nothing more.

Before, the Benadryl was helping, but today it's not doing squat.

It seems like it's getting worse every day just when I thought it couldn't get any worse.

My folks try and talk me down on the phone, but there is no talking me down as it feels like my heart is going to jump out of my chest.

I can handle brain fog, confusion, 3rd personing, even though these arn't pleasant, but Pure adreanaline that turns into panic is just terrible and I just can't believe how long it all lasts. I'd give the discomfort at 20 out of 10, thats how bad it's getting.

I've got 1mg of Xanax and 50mg of Benadryl on board and still have a lump in my throat, and the anxiety is down a bit, but not enough that I'm gonna move from this chair.

Can anyone here relate ?

/quote]

Gary, you could be me! Lately, I don't know what to do with myself with this anxiety. I saw a psych last week who told me to keep upping the klonopin. It doesn't do anything but intensify the anxiety! I pace back and forth and have the horrid chest pains. They've been so bad that I'm going in at the end of the week for a cardio cath since the last time I was in the ER my cardiac enzymes were slightly elevated. The cardio there said I could have had a coronary spasm or cellular damage. That was the night that I couldn't get my b/p under 190/90 and heart rate at rest was in the 90's. Everything sets off my anxiety. Talking on the phone, hearing the phone ring. I've done the same as you - gone to two different ERs. Even when I saw the cardio this week he said you are filled with anxiety. I've never been this way. Even when I took zoloft in the past it worked this time it has the opposite effect. It's revving me up like I've had ten cups of coffee and I don't drink anything with caffeine! After 6 days I've taken myself off of the zoloft. The klonopin is useless. And I can't take benadryl since it does the opposite - wires me! I also do not get the sedation from the Klonopin and I take 1/2 mg three times a day. It's useless. I sit here and shake!

I'm so sorry that you are going through this. It's awful. I'd rather endure pure physical pain than this.

Sorry I don't know about the two conditions that you have mentioned. I pray we both get relief from this. I do find that occasionally by 5pm I've calmed down (maybe it's the atenolol) and I can get a few hrs of relief.

Stay in touch and let us know how you are doing.

Rene

[futurehope]

The only thing I can think of is that I have been weaning down off some Tramadol I was taking, and I cut my last 50mg dose down to 25mg the other day, but I really don't think it would cause all of this, but you never know. I am very med sensative.

The benzos have always been my friend and so has the benadryl. I'm just taking extra through this hard time, so I don't think I have to worry about building more tolerance or blood levels thats will once again fall when this is over with.

I'm not ashamed of any of this, but when all of this started 2 years ago, I went down the psychiatrist/psychotherapist road and after failing all sorts of meds (SSRI's, SNRI's, etc.) which all made things worse for me, I decided to stick with the first line treatments for anxiety which are the benzos, and that is fact. Yes they are addictive, but I will come off of them when I beat all of this, whenever that will be.

I hope you can get answers real soon. In my opinion, do not underestimate withdrawal from meds. When I had been on benzos, the withdrawal was horrible. Also, the pain medicine you took (Tramdol) probably affected the nervous system.

[janiedelite]

I'm so sorry you have to go through this, Gary. I remember last summer when my feet started burning from the neuropathy, and within a week it had spread upward to my hands, face and mouth, and to my whole body. I had no idea what was going on! Then the POTS symptoms hit, and I felt like I was dying. Like you, I knew my body was messed up and I tried to react as calmly as possible, especially in front of my doctors. But I couldn't help feeling so out-of-control... no doctor knew what was going on, although I remember telling my PCP that I felt like my sympathetic NS was on overdrive all the time!

My husband took tramadol 50mg for a few months after a car accident and had so much pain and anxiety while weaning. What helped him was when his doc put him on a 1-month course of nortriptyline. It seemed to reset his nervous system. Don't underestimate the side effects of weaning off meds, especially when your adrenaline is already on overdrive.

Keep trying to find a doctor who can help you. We all believe you, that this is a result of a physiological problem. I did start seeing a counselor last summer, just to help with coping with my pain and horrible symptoms. She did help me during the worst of it. What helped me the most, though, was resting when my body was on overdrive. And, getting answers at the Mayo clinic. They reassured me that I wasn't dying.

[mjan]

SEE??? Withdrawal can also make POTS worse. So..just a suggestion but see a psychiatrist who is a certified ADDICTIONOLOGIST!! They have amazing ways to help people in withdrawal. The withdrawal symptoms make them USE again..so be careful.!!

I know.. I worked in AODA for 20 years

Good luck

Jan

[Lenna]

Gary, have you ever been evaluated for pheochromocytoma? This is a tumor on the adrenal gland. It can cause some POTS-like symptoms, along with a lot of anxiety, palpitations, chest pains, vomiting or nausea...My niece was diagnosed with it last summer after spending her entire life looking for a diagnosis. By the time they figured it out, the tumors were so large that both of her adrenal glands had to be removed. But, she now feels better than she ever has in her life.

[valliali]

hi gary,

a year ago, i could have written your post myself. i too firmly believe that the constant sheer panic i was experiencing was entirely physiological. never, a day in my life, did i have anxiety, nor did i have anything at that time to be anxious about. but my body over-reacted to EVERYTHING, and mostly, it overreacted to itself. it is a vicious cycle. once you become nervous about the physiological feelings, the adrenaline ups, and if your body is sensitive to adrenaline like mine, then it gets worse, and then more adrenaline is produced, and so on and so on.

my life was definitely at the lowest when i was experiencing what you are describing, and i agree that it is like the worst thing ever. i found that xanax made me more anxious, and i couldn't tolerate any meds really.

then i found propranolol, a beta blocker. it gave me my life back and i haven't had a panic attack in five months, let alone the constant panic in awhile now.

beta blockers don't work for everyone, but i think it is a much safer reliable drug than taking all kinds of supplements, stopping them, relying on benzos, etc. it might be worth a try for you.

[Guest GaryRN]

Gary, have you ever been evaluated for pheochromocytoma? This is a tumor on the adrenal gland. It can cause some POTS-like symptoms, along with a lot of anxiety, palpitations, chest pains, vomiting or nausea...My niece was diagnosed with it last summer after spending her entire life looking for a diagnosis. By the time they figured it out, the tumors were so large that both of her adrenal glands had to be removed. But, she now feels better than she ever has in her life.

Yes, I have had that ruled out. I'm curious as to how she lives without adrenals. She must supplement like crazy.

Gary

[jenwic]

Gary,

I had to add my agreement about the withdrawl thing. I tried to go off Florinef and almost died. I was so sick I couldn't sleep, bathe myself, or hardly eat more than a few bites for 2 weeks. My heart raced constantly, day and night, and my blood pressure skyrocketed. This was after missing ONE pill then reducing my dosage from a whole pill to half a pill.

The dr. added Zoloft which only confused the matter and made me feel worse. Then they put me on a benzo which didn't even touch it.

The combination of weaning off medicines while adding new meds into the mix can be unbearable.

[Lenna]

Gary, have you ever been evaluated for pheochromocytoma? This is a tumor on the adrenal gland. It can cause some POTS-like symptoms, along with a lot of anxiety, palpitations, chest pains, vomiting or nausea...My niece was diagnosed with it last summer after spending her entire life looking for a diagnosis. By the time they figured it out, the tumors were so large that both of her adrenal glands had to be removed. But, she now feels better than she ever has in her life.

Yes, I have had that ruled out. I'm curious as to how she lives without adrenals. She must supplement like crazy.

Gary

Wow, you have no idea. She has Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia, Type 2, which can lead to pheochromocytoma, thyroid cancer and hyperparathyroid. Thank goodness she did not have cancer, but she had both her adrenal glands, her thyroid and 3 of her parathyroids removed. She is on a boatload of supplements, hormones and steroids. BUT she feels great, at least compared to how she felt for the first 19 years of her life. Now we're in the process of evaluating my son for this since it's a hereditary condition. His symptoms don't closely match my niece's but there's some overlap.

[Guest GaryRN]

I am so glad for you that you at least found this out. Many Dr.'s won't even check for this because it is so rare. I didn't know it was hereditary though. So long as she is feeling good. I hate taking pills, but if it meant feeling great over a miserable life full of internal torture, I think we'd all choose the first.

Gary