NOT SURE

Hello all. Thanks for reading my post. My problems started on July28,08  I had an anxiety/panic attack while driving...shaky, nervous,thought I was going to pass out.This happened2 more times before going to the MD.  He quickly diagnosed me with an anxiety/panic disorder & put me on Xanax.  I told him I didn't want to go that route and held off for weeks. We had to go out of town for Labor day.  I was starting to get chest pains by this time and was going to cancel the trip.  My husband told me to take the Xanax and I had a very good time- glad I went.

Upon returning home, I resisited once again on the Xanax..felt it was something else. Costochondritis immediately popped into my mind since I had it 10 years ago. My doctor to rule out things sent me for EKG, Upper GI and sonagram for Gall bladder. All came back OK except acid refluxshowing on the Upper GI...so he put me on Prilosec.

 

I'm at my wits end. The pain is always there but the severity changes.There are days I feel pretty good.Other days, I'm feel like I have the FLU and don't even want to get out of bed

 

This is what I currently take:

 

Ibruprophen - for the chest pain 600mg when needed

Xanax - for the anxiety( I'll take 1 pill a day-.5 - that's it) it does seem to help but I am afraid of the addiction factor.

Prolisec -acid reflux- 1 pill

 

I have been so heathy and this is making me wonder if others go throught what I am..taking meds without an real diagnosis. I've read about Fibromyalgia and wonder if this is a possiblity.  What helps Fibro??Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

Gail

Hi Gail and welcome to the family!

Diagnosing fibromyalgia is hard but once you feel it you definitely know what it is. It's as if someone beat you up with a baseball bat...all over. Like you'd been run over by a truck. Like you have the flu and you can never get over it...and more. It wases and wanes but it's always there. There is no cure and some doctors are afraid to treat it well. Be watchful with your medical team. If they brush you off, get someone who is educated. This is a very serious disorder but some medical folks are still in the dark ages.

Keep your spirits up and keep posting.
Chutzie

Hi Gail and welcome. I've been where you are at. All my problems started with anxiety and panic attacks. I had a problem driving for quite awhile but over came it xanax and self talk. Anxiety causes our bodies to dump too many chemicals in our systems and that causes physical symptoms that scare us so our bodies dump more chemicals in our bodies which causes even more physical symptoms til we are in an out panic attack. I am not anxiety free and I do take xanax everyday. I have been on the same dose for 10 yrs if that eases your mind about getting addicted. I have over came a lot of the anxiety over the years by sure determination that it's not going to win and keep me from living my life the way I want to live it. I also realize I bring a lot of it on myself by self expectations that I can't live up to. The best medicine for me is to keep busy and accomplish something everyday to feel good about myself.

 

The pain came on gradual for me and I went through many test cause fatigue was the biggest factor at the time. It did take an all out, been beaten with a baseball bat flare for everything to click into place for my doc. At that point he had already eliminated everything else it could be.

 

I also had reflux problem for many years and that in itself can be scary since it does cause chest pain. I ended up having surgery mine was so bad but that was before all the other stuff started.

 

Fear and stress can dump a lot of acid in your stomach also that makes the reflux worse.

 

Your doc is eliminating everything it could be so put your mind at ease and try to relax and hopefully you will get a dx of something soon.

 

I know that is easy for me to say but stress and anxiety only makes fibro worse if that is what you have.

 

luv and hugs

Marlee

Hi Gail,

I wanted to welcome you to the fibromyalgia forum. Also wanted to mention that there is a thread called fibro 101. It is the second thread on the first page. It has so much wonderful information in it. If I were you, if you haven't already, I would look at that thread. I think that you will find it interesting.

Stay with us, we will be here for you. Also as I think was stated above, we have a wonderful anxiety forum so you might want to post there too.

Wishing you a painfree day,

Hugs, Karen