Somatization and physical symptoms of anxiety...

This is really long but any help would be appreciated. I have been suffering from physical symptoms for a year that are complex and always changing. It started a year ago, I started getting a lot of nausea, especially in the mornings, dizzy spells, and fatigue. Then in April of 2012 I came down with what seemed like a viral illness with nausea and vomiting, pain in my back and ribs, fatigue, weakness, and dizziness. I got better, or so I thought, then a couple weeks later I started getting dizzy spells, then throwing up every morning. I had no appetite, was constantly dizzy and lightheaded, and felt awful. I spent most of the summer in bed. I had good days and bad days, but mostly bad.
The symptoms started to morph a little bit, and were improving in the fall. I developed symptoms that mimicked hypoglycemia... I started getting lightheaded if I didn't eat every two hours or so. My gas and bloating started getting worse and I had severe gas pains sometimes. I kept the constant vague lightheaded feeling but it wasn't quite as bad. I still had good days and bad days but the good days were lasting longer. I felt so good that in January I was able to move to a new apartment almost by myself which was a lot of physical work. I was going to class once a week and doing online classes and I was just about to get a part time job, then I started feeling worse again.
I basically started going really downhill at the end of February. I was getting weak and fatigued and didn't have an appetite, and I had an infection in my finger so I thought that might be causing some of the symptoms. I took antibiotics and started feeling better which was probably a coincidence. I felt better for probably two weeks, saw my GP on March 6th and got a clean bill of health, then tried to convince myself it was all anxiety and tried to go about my life. I did okay for a little bit but then I started going downhill again in the middle of March. It was basically the same symptoms I'd had in February but the morning nausea was starting to come back and the lack of appetite was worse. I started feeling a bit better and went to my dad's last weekend, where I decided to try buspirone which I had there and had been prescribed a few months ago and never tried. I felt awesome over the weekend, then on Saturday I ran out of the buspar since I'd only had 4 pills to try, and I couldn't refill it until Monday. Sunday I started feeling awful but I thought it was because of menstrual cramps, I woke up that day with the worst cramps of my life. Monday I woke up feeling really lightheaded, tired, and nauseous but I tried to push through and go to class but I still felt horrible, my class was cancelled so I went home and started feeling worse. I didn't feel better until probably 3 or 4am. I usually feel better around that time which is why I stay up late. I should also add that Sunday evening I breathed in cat litter from changing the box and had chest pains and shortness of breath that evening, but I was fine from the time I went to bed until Monday afternoon, then when I walked from the parking lot to class and was taking deep breaths my chest felt tight again and throughout the evening I started getting back pains and underarm pains. Yesterday and today have been even worse. I went to a walk-in doctor (not just a quick care clinic, they do a walk-in internal medicine clinic where my regular doctor is) and he said he was almost sure it was anxiety. He said he couldn't think of any illnesses that would have the number and pattern of my symptoms. He prescribed Zoloft so I will be starting on that and seeing how I feel.
I know this was long but I was wondering if anyone else has been through something similar. I have been to doctors and had all normal blood work, and I'm only 22.

Thanks so much!! Have you had any of the symptoms I've had? It's rough. I never realized my anxiety was so severe but today I got a little stressed out in the afternoon and paid attention to how my body responded, it wasn't good.
I did tell the doctor about the Buspar and he told me to stop taking it, but I think I'm going to call my regular doctor and ask because I'm worried with taking the Zoloft at night I won't have anything to help my anxiety during the day. This is my first time with an SSRI. I'm kind of scared about the side effects but I'm sure they won't be worse than any of the symptoms I have already experienced.

Yes, I have had many of the same symptoms. Besides the panic, the overall feeling of malaise was what was so difficult. Therapy was the key to recovery for me...along with posting here and having such a great support community.:)

As far as your timing/medication concern

When you take an SSRI is not so very sinificant (to my understanding) because this is a long-acting medication...however taking it regularly is important to keep the levels steady in your system. So in other words, if you are taking your pill at night, it is not going to wear off during the day because it does not have a short half life like some anti-anxiety meds.

Try not to anticipate any side effects...you may not have any, but if you do, keep in mind that they will most likely be mild and temporary...and the worst case senario, if your first med is not helpful, then you can try another within the same classification that will work really well for you.

Best wishes and keep us posted.:)

Lindsay, You need to read as many other posts as you can stand to, you will find your symptoms plus many
more that are all anxiety related, I want to assure you that if you start fighting back you will move forward
some of the bad feelings will fade others may try to insert themselves, the main thing is you will begin to move toward some controllable levels of a normal life, there is nothing fatal about anxiety, but it can rob you of the important (NOW) in your life. We must all learn to live in the now instead of the what if, it may be difficult to be free from anxiety but you can sure learn how to defeat it every-time it raises its ugly head!
Read the Moderators suggestions and move forward.

Larry ***

Low blood sugar can even trigger PAD so start trying to eat something hi protein if possible, one thing I use
to do was make up some peanut butter and crackers and carry them in a baggie, when you feel a little
weak or nervous have a couple, peanut butter is an excellent blood sugar stabilizer, anyone would benefit
from a diabetic diet, hi protein low carbs, low fat (animal) fat.
When I first wake up my balance is really bad, not dizzy but fogy just give yourself a slower start.
Stop processing the short film loop of what if's, and move more in a direct process of objective and
solution, the Moderators here have excellent systems to break the obsessive thinking.
Climb in the boat with us there's plenty of room.
Larry ***

Have you tried Ensure shakes? Lot of nutrients and protein...easy to sip, even when you don't feel like eating.

S.C.

p.s. also, have you asked your doctor about a multi with iron?

Slim Fast with two scoops of Brams Vanilla Bean Ice Cream yumyum! lol

I am a chunky monkey!

Larry ***

Lindsay
That was before, from this point on you can get better, even better than you can remember.
This is just a journey there are some steep, dangerous places, many rocky roads, very tiring
because it seem all up hill, but ever so often a beautiful grassy meadow filled with wildflowers and trees
the trees are filled with song birds, the air is clean, the sky's is robins egg blue with cotton candy clouds.
Thats the place where you can call out to those of us who still struggle in the rough place's, "Hurry up
I made it, its so awesome here"!
You'll make it girl, just don't stop in the rough places.
Larry ***

Hi foreveranxious and welcome!

Thank you so much for sharing part of your story with us. I am glad that you have now come to a place of recovering and feeling more free of your anxiety.

It is great that you have the gift of your grandaughter...and I am sure that she is equally blessed to have you.:)

Blessings on surviving your cancer dx...what strength to go through what you had to do to be well. I wish you continued and long lived health!

Keep posting with us, and know that you can both give and receive great support and care here!

Talk to you soon,

Scaredy Cat

Lindsay you really need to read the posts that other members have made, you will find your symptoms mentioned several times, you might even want to offer some re-assurance to someone else who you find
suffering, trust me, it will make you feel good.

If you have allergies they might trigger anxiety or panic, I know when mine are bad I have a swallowing
problem.

Lindsay in order to get better you will one day have to take steps to your own recovery, you will find that
taking some sort of positive action will begin to make you a little stronger every time you try.

Larry ***

Lindsay,

I don't have panic attacks anymore...but I still various symptoms. They are not constant...but I have had a lot of practice at dealing with them...

...so yes, you can definitely by symptomatic without being in a panic attack.

The farther you get along in your treatment...the fewer and far between the symptoms will get.

Keep up the good work.:)

S.C.

Yeah, I have had the weakess in my limbs that comes and goes.

I have also had a feeling like my head is too heavy for my neck to hold up, and that I am almost being forced to lie down.

Anxiety symptoms can be really crazy!

...and just when you get used to one, another one can pop up...

That is why it is important to deal with it at the root of the cause (anxiety)...rather than ruling out every new sensation with a bunch of medical tests (unless your doctor agrees that something needs to be checked out.)

I hope that the rest of your evening is a relaxing and calm one.:)

S.C.

Lindsay, is it more difficult for you to admit that your doctors are right and you do suffer from PAD?
Or keep denying the problem and not getting better. We all want you to start getting better, we would
like for you to have a long talk with your Dr about meds and treatment, once you take this path you can
start to ignore some symptoms and build your strength and resistance to others.
I wish you much luck!

Larry ***