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Health anxiety beating me up AGAIN

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Posted 3/29/2009 10:37 PM (GMT 0)
Friends,

Sorry as usual for not being on much these days.  My health anxiety is attacking me fircely these past 2-3 weeks.  sad I try not to let it get me down, but at those times of the day when my symptoms appear out of nowhere  - a sense of shortness of breath or throat tightness - I just freak and think that I must have something going on that will kill me before my next breath. shocked

For those of you who don't know me, I have had some very good work-ups with many doctors: allergists, pulmonologists, my regular doctor, cardio test, thyroid tests, sleep studies.  The only thing we've found - and a VERY good ENT is clear that all my issues are highly consistent with this - is acid reflux up into my larynx.  For months, my reflux meds had that well under control, and I could feel comfortable with the diagnosis, telling myself when the symptoms occurred that they were scary, but couldn't really hurt me.

Now, starting about a month after my nasty allergic reaction to an antibiotic, my reflux-like symptoms are happening many times each day.  That's so unusual, that it makes me worry that something else is going on.  I've not changed anything else about my health - still take my meds, eating is no different - and yet these symptoms are back with a vengeance.  I spent half of church this morning terrified that I have some condition that will kill me.

I hope I haven't triggered anyone else's HA.  My special trigger seems to be these throat symptoms - they're coming on right now, in fact, after a whole afternoon of nothing. 

Help!

percycat

Posted 3/29/2009 11:03 PM (GMT 0)
Percycat, what medicine do you take for your reflux? I take Prevacid, which has helped wonders. However, I still get the occasional reflux that rears it's ugly head. I know that the sensation is frightening, but NOTHING bad will happen to you. It throws me off, also. Many of my Crohn's symptoms really make my anxiety worse, so I can certainly sympathize. I just want to let you know you are not ALONE. I am sending big hugs and prayers your way. Blessings, Julie
Posted 3/29/2009 11:43 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Percycat,

Maybe you need to have your acid reflux meds adjusted or increased. I have been taking proton pump inhibtors for a long time, and I have had to either increase of change them at times because the med I was on quit working. Give the doc a call and let him know things are worse.

Hugs
Gail *Nanners*
Posted 3/29/2009 11:43 PM (GMT 0)
 im sorry that this happened at Church, I used to have them when i was a Usher, and the days that I didn't usher i still had to stand up so i wouldnt have an attack.This Forum on anxiety has been help,because i didnt know there were so many form of Anxiety.I m on Xanax 1mg 4x's daily. Some days i take more and some less, Im also going through menopause W/periods.at 49yrs old its not nice at all.I have all the symptons mentioned on every post i've read. I try to find certain triggers for my anxiety attacks, so far i've found a deffinant 4, so these i can control.the others are random, But Xanax works for me,with a cup of hot tea and a quite place. the diffrent thoughts of dread, such as death ,fainting lightheadedness,clots,tumors, dumb DR'S,the gauntlet of emotions. I try to remember if i've had this symptom before and if i did,i survived it. I know its hard to do when your heart is racing and your pulse is throbbing in your chest and head,and your short of breath, please try.......I also stoped explaing myself I just say I need to Go.as i've said your at the right place at the right time.THOUGHTS OF LOVE ARE SURROUNDING YOU RIGHT NOW> FEEL THEM.OH it is snowing yeah
Posted 3/30/2009 1:10 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Percy.  I am sorry to hear your health anxiety is rearing it's ugly head again so strong.  Coming from who knows, I can totally sympathize with you.  I can tell you (and I don't know if it will help you feel some anxiety relief or not) but when I am on antibiotics, my stomach gets pretty bad and thus the reflux gets bad.  I have something called gastritis (stomach inflammation) and when I am on antibiotics it gets aggravated (I'm on antibiotics for a bladder infection right now).  If I were you, instead of worrying and making yourself sicker with worry, call your gastro doc (if you have one, if not you can probably get the name of one from your primary) and it is most likely as simple as adjusting your meds.  That always works for me.  What med do you take anyway?  Is it a pill where you could cut one in half and take a dose and a half to see if it helps?  That may be all it takes.  Again, I am sorry to hear you are going thru this.  Health anxiety just stinks doesn't it.  We are here for you.  I hope you can soon get relief and get back to feeling healthy again.  You said it yourself, the symptoms are scary but can't hurt you.  Just keep repeating that over and over.  I do it a lot.

Posted 3/30/2009 6:19 PM (GMT 0)
Percy, hang in there! Anxiety is probably making your acid reflux symptoms worse. You mentioned that the symptoms are back full force yet everything else is the same, ie; your diet. Make sure you're meditating and getting plenty of sleep. Don't eat too quickly or lie down right after. I know you'll feel better soon. Please feel free to e-mail me if you need to talk more. Carol

Avistan, I hear ya. I just turned 50 yesterday and I've been peri-menopausal for a few years. It's not fun but we'll make it through it! Be good to yourself and learn some relaxation techniques.
Posted 3/31/2009 12:48 PM (GMT 0)

I am here my friend and I am reading so know my thoughts are with you.  You are an important person to me.  ((((((((((((((Percy))))))))))))))

I wish you peace and happiness..............

Kitt

Posted 3/31/2009 1:13 PM (GMT 0)
Thinking bout you Puss Puss
Hoping you get this HA to the roadside

LYN
Posted 3/31/2009 3:45 PM (GMT 0)
smilewinkgrin percy we are here for you, skitt is great to talk to and anytime you want to keep posting in here so we can help you along with anything you ask ok?
Posted 3/31/2009 3:55 PM (GMT 0)
uh i tried to post to you percy so here it is again, you r a good person sorry this happened to you, but step into the sunshine and travel the road to happpiness we will help, remember the cup is half full not half empty, big smiles for you
Posted 4/3/2009 9:59 AM (GMT 0)
Percysis,

I am praying for you and think about you often. I wish you a wonderful recovery and hope that you get back to feeling better again. . . I am always available by email if you want to chat sometime my friend. I'm glad you have found great peer support here on our A/P forum. We have so many great members here with us.

Your Bro Sam :)
Posted 4/5/2009 1:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Percycat


Sorry to hear your HA is giving you problems at the moment I hope things improve for you soon and we are always here to support you through the rough times like you have helped so many of us.

Take Care

Ben
Posted 4/6/2009 2:12 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Percycat,

I hope you're starting to feel better! I always enjoy reading your posts and seeing how supportive you are to others, and I hope the support on here for you has helped with all that you are going through. :-)
Posted 4/6/2009 5:28 PM (GMT 0)
Friends,

Thanks so much for the supportive words, thoughts, feelings, and prayers. I'm trying to let go of the HA, but it takes spells. For instance, the other day in the middle of a meeting, I had one of my shortness of breath episodes. I needed to finish explaining my thought, so I barged right on through, and within the 60 seconds it took me to finish speaking, the S.o.B. was over - I felt proud of myself for fighting through it. I still get this irrational fear that something's happening that my doctors haven't recognized - and that's even after reassurance from an allergist/immunologist and my own great ENT this past week that what I'm feeling is completely consistent with just reflux.

I agree with them. For instance, Saturday night my stepson and husband were camping with friends and invited me to the site for dinner. I'm spooked about breathing in the woods now (SoB episode last week, that went away within 5 minutes, while I was still in the woods and continued to stay there for another 30 minutes). ANyhow, for the first hour of sitting around the fire, I was edgy and constantly monitoring my body and my breathing. At one point, I started to feel I couldn't breathe, got that rush of adrenaline/giddy feeling you have when you're scared, but not light-headed at all. That really freaked me out, so I took a walk down the lane to the restroom. I was so scared that I was having an allergic reaction to the leaves or things in the air. Anyhow, shortly after that I took my Nexium, and then I was able to spend another hour and a half very comfortably and unafraid right back at that same campsite in the same exact part of the woods. So I felt proud about that.

I tell myself cognitively that I can't be having breathing trouble from an allergy because it wouldn't come and go that quickly, and it wouldn't go at all if I'm still in the same environment. The allergist will test me for trees and pollen and stuff (we ran a couple of dozen tests 3 years ago, and they were all negative), but neither of us really expects to find anything. I've also chased around in the woods looking for lost cats without ever having trouble, so it's clearly just in my head. I'm hopeful that the test will give me information that can help me to put down my anxiety even more.

Sorry to vent for so long. I've developed this phobia surrounding (non-existent) allergies, and don't really have anyone who truly understands to share it with most of the time. My friends and hubby are supportive, but thank goodness they aren't experiencing phobias like many of us here do.

Love to all,
percycat
Posted 4/6/2009 8:30 PM (GMT 0)
Percycat, as you know, this is the best place to discuss your phobia! I have had the same symptoms. I suffered with the shortness of breath (still do sometimes) and the tightness in the throat. It's not fun but I'm so proud of you! You stayed in the meeting and at the campsite without running away and screaming! You're making progress even though you don't know it.

Do you have Dr. Clare Week's book? She lists all symptoms of aniety disorder and why they happen. It may do you good to read about the shortness of breath and the throat tightness. Stay with us and remember we're thinking about you!
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