yikespanic

Hi all, Been having a hard time dealing with anxiety, Dr gave me Klonopin wafers 0.25 mg to be taken at bedtime. Took the first one last night. Felt very sleepy this am and a little doppy. After going online and reading alot of sites, some scarry!, I'm feeling a little cautious about taking this med. I don't want to have another problem. Like having to have withdrawls or a bad time when I might want to stop taking it. I have enough to deal with as it is. Do any of you take or have taken this med. What has been your experience? Kim

http://www.medtronic.com/reveal/new.html Stumbled across this one, has anyone every had this or heard about it? Every time I wear the monitor for a day or two it never catches anything, this device reads for up to 14 months! ???? Kim

I often wondered about this to! Some of you are very creative! YIKESPANIC --- well my very first episode happened to me on my way to work while driving! It was very scary and I didn't know what was happening to me, (Later found out that being dehydrated, I was sick, brought out my POTS symptoms) I had to pull my van over to a very deserted Metroparks Lot and had a very long Panic Attack. I thought I was dying right then and there. The Panic Attack made it even worse. I eventually made it to work, thank God I worked with my sister, she drive me home, I was to scared it might happen again. When I got home, I went on the internet, and a site expained panic attacks, so when I made up my screen name for the site, I though YIKESPANIC was very appropriate. Kim

Yes it was Dr. Fouad. And yes, she was so nice and helpfull at my first appointment, my testing and my first follow-up. What happened to her!!! I've even talked her up to others on previous posts. Oh well, that's what I've gotten from just about every Docter so far. I didn't know about Dr. Grubb's helper, that's a great idea, maybe I can get in sooner. I really have had it with Cleveland Clinic, they pass you around so much, and you never really get anywhere. Dr. Fouad gave me a script for cardiac rehab, but my insurance won't pay for it. My husband went out and bought me my own set of wee little dumb bells all the way up to 20 pounders. He has been helping me start working out at my own pace for a couple of weeks now. Walking got me to fatiqued, but the light weights seem to not affect my dizzyness. Just my muscles, there sore. Just 3 days per week, alternating upper and lower body. Like Tues/Upper Thurs/Lower Sat/Upper and then the next week Tues/Lower and so on. This way each area gets a break. I'm going to try the exercise bike on the off days as soon as I'm not sore. Kim

Thanks for the support. I am still thinking about what I should do. I should have been more assurtive while I was in the office, but I'm just not like that. I just take it. I know that from now on I need to.

Hi everyone, Just saw my Doc at the Cleveland Clinic Friday for my follow up appointment after being diagnosed in August. Very disappointed. I have be complaining of feeling worse after taking my beta blocker, it seems to be lowering my BP and making me feel worse. I had been experimenting with taking only half my dose for the past 2 weeks and it seemed to help. Around Thanksgiving after seeing my primary care dr for a sinus infection and complaining of feeling very down and depressed my primary care dr gave me entax and nortryptline (spelling?) After taking the nortryptline my BP got very low and I could hardly stand up, several times I just fell to my knees and had to sit down. Called my Doc at Cleveland Clinic and she said stop taking it!!!! Both drugs were dangerous for me. She must have contacted my primary and let her know, because when I called primary the nurse told me If I wanted a new script I'd have to go to a psychiatrist whose speciaty was with meds. I thought she could have just checked what was safe to give me, I felt she just past me on. Well back to Cleveland Clinic, my doc was acting funny, she wanted to ask all the questions, about an hours worth. Every time I tried to ask a question she said when she was done, I could. Well finally when she was done she stood up as if to leave, I got up and started to ask my questions. My first was, what should I do next time I'm sick, my primary doesn't seem to have an understanding of my condition or she wouldn't have given me the wrong meds. Before I could finish my question, which would have been, should I find another pcp, and if she had any suggestions, she just threw up her hands and said "I am not going to talk about this" and she walked away leaving me standing there!!!! I couldn't believe it. I felt like crying but I was also to mad to. I had to wait an hour after that before they brought out my rx refills. She never did answer any of my questions or come back. I feel so alone with this. It's like not even doctors have feelings for their patients. Going there felt like such a waste of time. I don't feel that I'm getting proper treatment by any of my doctors. I feel like I'm a hot potato being past around and just not worth the time or effort. I could go on and on whinning, that's how I'm feeling about all this. I hope to see Dr. Grubb late this summer, maybe he'll be the one to care enough to treat me like a real person. Kim

Back in Dec 04 when I was so sick they did a mono test, came back neg, but they also ran other tests and they showed I had had mono in the past I had antibodies to it. But I never remember having it. Kim

Hi all, Just read our community newspaper the Parma Sun Post. On the front page is a heartbreaking story about a family who's been plagued by illness. The mom in the story has POTS, and breast cancer. I've got the link if anyone wants to read it. http://www.cleveland.com/sun/parmasunpost/...6030.xml&coll=3 When I read how much they'd as a family have gone through it was so sad. I got there address and thought it would be nice to send cards and let them know people care. If anyone wants it just e-mail me, I didn't know if it would be appropriate to just post it. Yikespanic@yahoo.com to e-mail me directly. Kim

Thanks everybody, I got through another rough day. I really hate meds to. I really only take my Xanax when I really feel extreamly unable to get through the anxiety. Then I have them all cut up into quarters and only use 1/4 of a pill, just to take the edge off enough to make it home. It has the opposite effect on me. Once it calms down my escalating anxiety I usually feel much better the rest of the day. It's like putting out a fire with water. It's to wet to re-ignite for awhile? At least that's how it seems to me. I don't use them every day. Maybe that's why they are so effective. I think some of you are right, it's mostly anxiety. It was better this afternoon, I decided to just accept it and not to let it get to me. It was easier. I just have this big fear of not being able to make it home. I think I get scared at the first sign of OI symptoms and think "OH NO" instead of telling myself I will be ok and thats where my anxiety grows. It's me scaring myself! Thanks for being there for me today, it really helps. Kim

Hi all, This is my newest dilema..Feeling symptoms but take BP and it's in an ok level for me. This is so nerve wracking!!!!! I need to drive my kids to school so I drink my gateraide all morning before we leave (24oz) and take water in the car. Eat my banana, bring along my salty pretzels along to get more salt, carry my cell phone just in case, drop son off at school, go home, pick up daughter and go all the way back and take her to work near the school (she starts 1 hour later than son), eating pretzels and drinking. Only to get all the scarry feelings which escalate when I'm alone in the car on the way back so I pop 1/4 of a Xanax under my tounge and make the frieghtening journey home. I don't know how to tell if it's my OI or anxiety, or maybe both. It's so crazy, my BP's ok but I'm still getting scared. Do any women out there experience worse symtoms just before and during your period. I'm thinking this has something to do with it? I gotta pull myself together, I have to take my mother in law to a Dr. Appt this afternoon. Kim

Hi Tracy, It's nice to hear someone's doing better. I hope your on your way to feeling better. I am a patient of Dr. Fouad also, she is so sweet! I see her on 12/30 for a follow-up appointment. She did all my testing. Is she going to see you on a long term basis? She told me she will see me untill I find a Dr. who will see me long term, as she dosn't normally see patients beyond initiial testing and diagnosis. I asked her for a referral to Dr. Grubb in Toledo. We just went through a similiar thing with my 16 yr old son. He was having headaches quite frequently. The first MRI should cysts, and an atrophyed area. Very scarry. At his 6 month follow-up repeat MRI nothing was there! Here his braces in his mouth distorted origional MRI because of the metal and he was ok. That was such a blessing. Just thought I'd mention it cuz Cleveland Clinic didn't catch it during the first MRI. Sometimes they never ask if a kid has braces (there supposed to) and they interfer with image taken. Have a Great Day! Kim

Carmen, I wore a monitor for 2 days this summer after a scary night of racing heart. Nothing showed up out of the ordinary. It seems never to happen when I need it to!!! Take Care Kim D4q7 Yeah, next time I should whip out my BP minitor right there in the store, I felt funny doing it in the store. Feels like everybody's watching me. Kim

Thanks Carmen, Did you ever have this feeling happen? """I got this heart flutter feeling and it felt like I couldn't breath for a split second. Another wierd symptom to scare the bejebbes out of me!!!""" I never even thought of that. I know when I take my BP I can take it several times over about 10 min and there can sometimes be a big difference between readings. I knew when I was in the store I had been there to long. I sometimes just want to get out there and do what I want to to. Then overdo it and feel wiped out later. Kim

Had the wierdest thing happen this am. Today is my grocery day, so I filled up on extra salt added gateraid, ate breakfast and as soon as I dropped off kids at school and went shopping. After about 1 1/2 hrs (I love Marc's and it's great to get out!) All the sudden it hit me, felt like I was going to check out. Hurried up and paid went out to the car to take my BP (I carry one of the wrist ones with me in my purse) it was ok 107/75. Does anyone else have this happen. I've been having this happen and it's frustraiting. It's like all the sudden feeling like I need to go lie down. It's the same kinda feeling I get when my BP drops. I ate a donut in the car and drank more gateraide and slowly drove the 2 miles home, which felt like 10 cuz I was scared. When I got home I got this heart flutter feeling and it felt like I couldn't breath for a split second. Another wierd symptom to scare the bejebbes out of me!!! Anyone have any of these things happen? It has been such a blessing to have a place to go a vent my fears and frustraitions. And knowing others can relate and have been there. Sometimes friends and family mean well but I can tell they get tired of it. I don't even feel comfortable bringing it up except to hubby and kids. And it really bothers me sometimes cuz I sit and listen for what seems forever when they go on and on about thier lives and problems. Kim

Hi, http://www.clevelandclinic.org/staff/getst...asp?StaffId=637 Cleveland Clinic Foundaton-Main Campus Fetnat Fouad-Tarazi, M.D. Phone: (216) 444-5828 Mail Code: F15 appointed: 1979 medical school: University of Cairo Faculty of Medicine Cairo, specialty training: Fellowship - The Cleveland Clinic Foundation Cleveland OH Internship - Cairo University Hospital Cairo Egypt Residency - Cairo University Hospital Cairo Egypt other education: specialty interests: cardiovascular disease, syncope, hypertension This is the Dr. who ran all my testing and made diagnosis, she is very compassionate and is a very good listener! She mainly does testing and will continue to see you untill you find a Dr. for continued care. She trained a MD I believe his name is Watar? I will check on spelling and post again, he is in Westlake I believe. Kim

Are all orthostatic hypotensions in the same catagory? Do they all fall under Dysautonomia? I've got so many questions.... Thanks Kim

Hi, Can someone explain about the adrenaline rush? This is a big one for me! Kim

Hi everyone, After reading through alot of the site and posts and signatures I noticed alot of anxiety sufferers? I too have been suffering since last year with anxiety. It sometimes seems to come out of nowhere! Sometimes for days, then just as it came, subsides. Is this common? I have mentioned to Dr and she doesn't think it has anything to do with each other. I am seeing a Pschologist trying to deal with it and it has helped knowing the anxiety won't hurt me, it's just VERY uncomfortable. It's sometimes like an adrenaline rush feeling, like someone just scared me. I am afraid of this more than the feeling of I might faint. Anyone else with similiar symptoms. Kim

Hi bamagirl, I'm new to forum, but not new to night time heart palps. I also had a bad night, went to bed around 11:00 pm. It seems that mine start after I lay down. Feels like my heart is pounding, but when I take my bp it's ok, 107/75, which is good for me. I wish I knew why they happen, asked my Dr and she said if they get to much maybe she'd add a third dose of beta blockers into my day. Mine don't happen every day but they really are horrible when they happen. I do notice that if I have an especially busy day, which I had yesterday, they seem to happen more often. Maybe you over did it yesterday? I do hope you feel better. Take Care Kim

http://www.tchain.com/otoneurology/disorders/bppv/bppv.html Hi Becky, I had this in my favorites, it's a manuver to help with vertigo. A friend of mine tried it and it worked for him. I havn't tried it yet, but it's worth looking into. It might be of some help. Kim

Hi Becky, Thanks for the encouragement. I have not passed out completely, (only seeing stars and having a feeling like I am losing my hearing and having to sit down.) only one time, and that was when I was 8 months pregnant with my daughter. It was in church after having been standing for quite awhile. This was 18 years ago, long before my diagnosis. I have always had low BP and Dr said when I told him about this one episode that it might have very well been there but not to the extent it is now. I think my problem with driving is mostly anxiety. Since being treated and knowing about keeping myself hydrated and increasing my salt intake and being on beta blocker I have not had the extream lightheadfeelings except for Thanksgiving and my reaction to the antidepressent I tried. It really lowered my BP to much. My fear of the Panic feelings fuels my fear and increases Panic feelings. My Dr thinks I might have developed agoraphobia. I am afraid of the Panic and accociate it with the car because thats were my first Panic attack happened. By avoiding the car I am reinforcing my fear. If I face my fear and continue to drive I can slowly get over my fear. At least thats whats suppossed to happen. If I feel dizzy due to BP in any way I can have someone drive the kids. I'm sorry your expreriencing vertigo. I know how horrible this can be. I saw an ENT and he sent me to a vestibular specialist. Our ears do a lot more than I ever relized. They truly are remarkable. I know I shouldn't let what other people say bug me but its hard. I would like to feel better and get back to being me. I am just trying to be positive and make the best it. Thanks and Take Care Kim

Hi, I'd love to meet others in my area! I am in Parma in the Cleveland area. Just let me know when and where. Kim

Hi, I'm new to this forum and have so many questions. I had a bad virus last Dec 04 which left me with a long lasting ear infection which progressed to dizzyness and vertigo. Not quite spinning but very dizzy and had continual car sick feeling and fatigue. Underwent vestibular testing at the Cleveland Clinic. They said my ears were sending my brain one signal as to my balance and my neck nerves were sending a conflicting signal thus the vertigo. At this same time I was complaining of not only dizzyness, but when I would stand up, reach up with my arms for something, or stand in one place like in lines I would feel the blood rushing from my head seeing stars. It was happening while I was driving, and scareing me horribly. I began to have panic attacks during this time also. Finally after being bounced from several specialists, one even telling me it was my immagination, I was sent to a rheumitologist at the clinic. After telling him all my complaints, he took my BP, and continued to take it while I was in several positions over time. He told me he thought I may have positional hypotension. Finally something, a name. Maybe I wasn't crazy and immagining all this. He prescribed Atenolol. I was sent to Dr Fouad at Cleveland Clinic. After many tests, (tilt table, blood volume, medicated stress test, and a few I don't even know the names of, over two days.) She diagnosed me as having orthostatic dystolic hypotension, and rapid blood flow heart rate. Because I was on Atenolol at time of test, there is the possibility that I also have POTS as I was borderline for this and the Atenolol may have interfered with results slightly. My Atenolol was changed to Lopressor because the Atenolol seemed to make me feel depressed. The problems I am having is that now I am feeling depressed again and I am afraid it might be the Lopresor. I went to my Internal Med Dr and she said she understood about my condition and put me on Nortriptyline. I took it for about a week and noticed at Thanksgiving I couldn't even stand up without feeling like I might pass out. Called Dr. Fouad and she said STOP taking it, it isn't safe for me. Now I don't feel comfortabe with my internist. She prescribed something that she shouldn't have. I changed to her because after explaining my condition to my old Dr. when I had my physical she said it wasn't necessary to take my BP positionaly. I couldn't believe it. Why arn't Dr's aware of this problem and it's care? Where is someone to turn? I heard of a Dr in Toledo, Dr. Grubb, I am sending him my medical records, but they said no appointments till late May early June 06!!!!! Does anyone know of a Dr in Northeast Ohio, who understands these conditions and can properly treat? Dr. Fouad doesn't normally see patients only tests and diagnoses. She said she'd see me until I found a Dr. Even a bad sinus infection I had recently was a problem, cuz my internest gave me entax, Fouad said not to take it, it would increase my heart rate that is already to high. YIKES!!!!!!!!!!!!It's so frustrating!!!!!!!!!!! The other side of it is this. Everyone asks me my don't I go back to work! I don't look sick. They don't understand how I feel on the inside. Some mornings I am so fatiqued, I can hardly drive my kids to school. Then I am afraid of getting dizzy while driving. Then I'm franticly making sure I have eaten something saltly enough times throughout the day to keep BP up to keep bad symptoms down. Then because I've gotten dizzy while driving and it triggered panic feelings I have developed anticipatory anxiety even before I get in the car. I feel like how did this happen to me!!! On top of all this, about the time I orginaly got sick in Dec 04 I have been under alot of stress. Somehow I feel this has played a part in doing this to me. When I saw this site I was so happy to see that there are others in the same situation. (I'm not happy your all having problems, just that I am not alone.) I don't know a single person who has this type of problem. I feel like I am on a merry go round of symptoms, fear, panic, anxiety. I'd appreciate any suggestions Kim