Dizziness, fatigue, trouble focusing, tremors

In October '06 I got what felt like really weird, isolated flu symptoms. My head was very heavy, I had a LOT of fatigue (feeling like I needed to continually close my eyes and put my head on my desk), and "non-vertiginous" dizziness. I also had truly bizarre sensations that my body was shaking when it wasn't shaking at all--especially after lying down awhile--something I've since read termed "internal tremors"--but I don't know if that really is the accurate term for what I was describing.
The symptoms ultimately lasted almost a month total, but during the time I felt ill I had a lot of blood and urine work done--all of which came up negative. When the lab tests didn't show anything, it was suggested that I had anxiety/depression and I should visit the psychiatric clinic.
When the symptoms passed I was extremely relieved because living with them is extremely difficult. Unfortunately, the dreaded symptoms returned Thanksgiving day and so far haven't waned yet--so I've been sick for yet another month with little hope the symptoms will pass again soon.
I probably should point out that, indeed, I'm coming off the worst and most stressful year of my life. I had some stomach flu symptoms in March '06 which led to a CT scan to be sure I didn't have appendicitis. That precautionary scan expectedly didn't reveal that condition--but unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your perspective) they did find a cancerous tumor on my right kidney. I was quickly scheduled for surgery and wound up having my right kidney removed. After the biopsy I was ultimately diagnosed with T1 kidney cancer which was estimated to not have spread due to its very small size and early diagnosis, etc. I was given quite high survival odds--about 90% (cancer never has a 100% survival rate)--but I'm 34 and had a (at the time) 6 month old daughter (she's about 15 months old now). On top of that, in September I developed an ulceration/open sore in my mouth due to excessive inner mouth bone growth that was unable to heal, which led to a fairly barbaric dental bone removal surgery which I was ill-advised to only be under local anasthetic for. Perhaps the second surgery paled in comparison to the kidney removal, but it was still no picnic by any means and the experience shook me up pretty good--especially after my major surgery earlier in the year.
My first bout with the symptoms I'm having trouble with now developed about 2-3 weeks after this aforementioned dental surgery. They lasted about a month as previously mentioned, then went away until Thanksgiving (almost 2 months), and have now returned.
Mentally I can say that before and after the onset of these symptoms, of course I was and am stressed by my recent health concerns and newfound focus on mortality. I indeed am quite afraid to die despite the good prognosis as I am not a religious man, and have lots of little aches and pains to provoke recurrence fears (I have a foot-long incision across my right side that will perhaps be tender the rest of my life as a result of the surgery). Still, I don't believe I'm dwelling 24/7 on this and felt fine for months after the cancer surgery and for weeks (twice) after the dental surgery.
And despite these obviously new mortality-related stresses, I don't have in comparison to others a highly stressful job--and my family/domestic situation is good. I really don't feel "depressed"--and I do believe I know what depression is and believe I've definitely experienced it. I also am not experiencing panic attacks at this point.
Anyway, It appears I'm going to get little help from primary care doctors at this point in relation to my current symptoms as they're content with a dignosis of anxiety for now. And docs don't believe there's any possibility this has anything to do with my previous cancer diagnosis (although a CT scan of my *head* was never actually done).
Treatment-wise, going away with an anxiety dignosis I was prescribed Celexa, which I've been on for about 3 months now. Honestly, I felt and feel no effects at all from the medication--and they obviously have absolutely no effect on what I'm experiencing now. I'm not seeing much point to staying on this medication right now.
I truly do feel physically ill though. I actually, at times, do wonder if I am actually dying from something currently undiagnosed as I experience these symptoms. The non-vertiginous dizziness sensation, which is with me almost all the time, along with the trouble I have occasionally focusing mentally and fatigue does give a personal impression of a serious, serious condition. I don't have headaches really, sometimes just a full pressure sensation or dull ache on the forehead or back of the head.
I guess my question is--do these symptoms sound like they really are caused by anxiety? Can you experience such symptoms without the perception that you are indeed anxious--i.e., have anxiety on some subconscious level that would cause such symptoms to manifest themselves?
I'm starting to wonder if the diagnosis was questionable and/or if I should be demanding a CT head scan or other treatments. Or would another anxiety drug treatment perhaps be effective?
Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Hi there, I have not posted here for a long time - the last time I talked about the parasite that I had and how it effected me. Because of the stress of this prolonged illness, I developed GAD.  The symptoms that I have are very similar to yours.  The mornings are the worst for me, and I tremble, and it feels like it is coming from inside.  I don't get dizzy per say, but I end up in a "head fog" - like the head is not working quite right.  Sometimes I tremble from the outside.  And from time to time I feel panicy.  Usually by the afternoon, it starts to go away, and usually by evening, it is OK.  But one upsetting thing can make me tremble, and my head feel spacey.

I have been on Ativan, which really works for me - but the doctor says that I have to come off this, as it is just a temporary solution.

They have put me on EFFEXOR, which I have only been taking for a short while.  But so far I do not like it.  My head is even more in a fog - and I tremble more, and very tired.

They say that the drug will not kick in for a few weeks - and that the effects that I am getting from the Effexor will pass with time.

Question: Does this sound right.  I just want to quit this stuff, but then again, I have probably not given it enough time????

Thanks, and happy new year to all

Gary

Thanks to you both!

the doc has also given me an addition supply of Ativan, which kicks in fast, and really does the trick.  He said to continue to take the Ativan until the other stuff kicks in....I just hope that I can hang in there, the Effexor sure makes my head feel funny, and I really don't like it.

I wish that I could just stay on the Ativan - cause it really worked, got rid of the anxiety, with absolutley no side effects...darn!!!

Again thanks,

Gary

I have been putting this anxiety thing off for quite awhile, not excepting the fact that I have what is called General Anxiety Disorder.  I have never had a problem with this before, however my doctor says that I do, just did not know it, and it now has surfaced due to lots of stress and worrying about a medical condition that I had.  I have been told that if you have more than usual stress, and it is not treated, then it can lead to an anxiety disorder. I denied the stress, and more so denied the anxiety - but it has happened, and now I have to get it treated. I would not accept it, as I wondered how it is that I could feel so crappy in the morning, and as the day went by, it diminished to the point that by evening, I was generally OK. Only for it to start all over again the next morning - not every morning, but most mornings.  I'd wake up trembling inside, a pit in my stomach, and then my head would feel spacey, etc, etc. M wife even tells me that I shake one leg while I am sleeping sometimes.  The certain things were happening that I was ignoring, like a near traffic accident sent my head swirling and began to shake (not the norm for me - I was a police officer for 28 years and this never effected me before).  If I get into a confrontation, I begin to trremble...again not me.  If I get into a dispute with one of my kids, I get all upset, tremble and head spaciness... it all started to add up, and I had to resign to the fact that I was stressed/suffering from Anxiety.  I was convinced that it was a medical probelm, which stressed me out even more. I have had every test imaginable, including CT and MRI - which all came back normal.

Ativan is a drug that is in the Lorazepam family.  It is used for the short term releif of accessive anxiety by slowing down the nerves (central nervous system).  To me, and everyone is different, it really did work, and works fast - with no side effects.  My doctor tells me that it is addictive, so I cannot stay on it for any length of time - and further added that the longer you are on it, the more you have to take in order to achieve the same effect.  Funny, I have not noticed this yet!!!

Gary

Hello. General anxiety is a funny thing. It causes more anxiety if your not sure it is anxiety. Okay that was confusing lol. Thinking you might have some undiagnosed illness will cause you to feel even worse. Just because your hearts not racing and your not externally shaking, doesn't mean it isn't anxiety. Everyones experience with it is different. My symptoms change all the time and like you I can think and think until I actually make myself worse. If the medicine you are currently taking feels like its not working for you switch it up with something else. Tell you DR. and they will help you find a medicine that works. A lot of people have to "find" the one that works well with them. BTW anxiety shows physical symptoms so feeling "pysically ill" is something that comes with the territory.

And despite these obviously new mortality-related stresses, I don't have in comparison to others a highly stressful job--and my family/domestic situation is good. I really don't feel "depressed"--and I do believe I know what depression is and believe I've definitely experienced it. I also am not experiencing panic attacks at this point.

DEATH ANXIETY - That's what I have. Very stressful to feel like you are getting up every day for your last day. TIme will cure most ills. You need to talk it out. Make sure nothing is medically wrong, find the right drugs and take your time. Anxiety is not relieved in 2 weeks. It could last the rest of your life.

Managing stress and learning the signs from your body will help you cope. It comes and goes. Mine reoccurred after 2 years of being symptom free. I will say a prayer for you tonight.

I went to the psych doc today, and she wants me to double the dosage of Celexa I was taking (20mg to 40mg) and take Klonopin while that's taking effect for a month to see if I feel any better. If I'm not, I'll probably be switched over to Effexor, but at that point I'd be referred for more CT scans to check for cancer, tumors, etc. I almost get the sense my psych doc isn't totally sold on the anxiety diagnosis, but that could just be the usual doctor's lets-wait-and-see cautiousness. I guess they don't ever make promises--but it's clear odds-wise what I'm going through is much more likely to be anxiety or something else than a cancer recurrence or brain tumor in my case. My sister had a benign brain tumor though--so who knows.

I really hope this works...I'd definitely rather the anxiety diagnosis be correct than have to live out the alternative--we'll see how these meds go for another month.

Post Edited (tomjonesrocks) : 1/3/2007 2:06:29 PM (GMT-7)

Lyn, are you around today.....

Gary

Feeling ill is part of it, from upset stomach, to headaches, to dizziness, to feeling in a fog, to shaking, you name it....Go ahead and get the CT Scan to determine if there are any further medical issues, and to relax your fears that you are still sick.  But I have a hunch that they are not going to find anything wrong.

Also just as a reminder, if you are under lots of stress/anxiety...this eats the heck out of blood sugars, and part of your anxiousness and stresses and symptoms (foggy head, dizzy, shaking) MAY be contributed to low sugars.  make sure you keep yourself fueled up with proteins and some carbs!

This happened to me, and when I learned the symptoms of low blood sugar, and acted upon it, lots of the symptoms went away...Just some more to think about!!!!

Gary

It seems like many of you are describing the symptoms similar to mine as episodic--if I'm mistaken please let me know. My symptoms (dizziness, head fog, whatever you call it--along often with a sort of dull or heavy forehead) is with me nearly 100% the time--although the internal tremors or whatever do come and go.

Are your symptoms more sporadic or consistent/continuous like mine?

And just to clarify--others of you are actually having similar symptoms while you don't think or feel you're stressing or having anxiety? Oftentimes I don't feel tense or stressed or anything. Just sick. Just want to confirm those who have experienced these symptoms are having them stick around when they think they are relaxed.

Post Edited (tomjonesrocks) : 1/4/2007 11:46:00 AM (GMT-7)

Hi there, in many ways we are the same.  I had some medical problems last year, involving surgery, and then I was stricken with a parasite that caused me nothing but problems - rapid weight loss, liver problems, blood sugar problems, etc etc.  No one could determine what was going on, and with this, I became very afraid that I was seriously ill - and that I was going to die before anyone figured out what was going on.  I went thru months of stress worrying about my health, and then with this lost lots of self confidence - where I was struggling at work, did not want to go out and have fun, just wanted to be at home.  I was not depressed, I just feared doing things in case I did not feel well.  The next thing I knew, I was worried about this, and that, and everything, and here I am today with anxiety.

It is usually always worst in the morning.  I wake up, and while I am laying in bed, it feels like I am jittering from the inside.  I get up, and sometimes I have the shakes, not always, but sometimes.  the I start to worry - how is my day going to be, how am I going to be feeling, do I have meeting to go to today, etc, etc.  Next thing my head feels spacey, my stomach is upset, etc etc.  This is not as bad as it was before, but then again, it depends on the day. 
So I take Ativan first thing in the morning, and I begin to calm down, and by the time I get to work - I am usuallly a quite a bit more grounded.  Another thing that I fight is fatigue, that seems to wonder in and out throughout the day.

When I am going home after work for instance, I can just feel the pressure leave my shoulders, my head, etc, and usually when I get home, I feel OK, and stay that way for the remainder of the evening. (home is my safe zone - I even went thru a period of time when I stressed when I knew I was going to be home alone - but that has sinced passed) In additional to all of the above, sometimes I have vision problems, and I have had sore neck muscles and headaches for months.  Back of my neck hurts right at the base of the skull, and there are times when my head feels so full, it feels like it is going to explode.

All contributed because I worried too much about my health and unwanted outcomes.....

Gary

Thanks friend will give it a shot 'Nothing to lose rigth
Hope you are feeling better I repiled to your other post kk
Luvs to you and wife '
LYN

It is sporatic.  If I recall correctly, you had surgery recently - and according to the neurologist that I see, this can cause an inner ear thing to happen.

Do a web search under BPPV - or inner ear disorders, and you will see that the symptom include all of what you are experiencing - not with standng the fact that you likey too are looking at some form of anxiety as well, due to all the health problems that you have experienced as of late.

I had gall bladder surgery last year, and had some complications with a parisite, and with all of that, became quite anxious about my health, etc. But the neurologist suggests that I have an inner ear thing going on as well - if you check under BPPV, you will note a couple of exersises you can do at home, and they do seem to work.  Also try standing without weaving - with your head tilted back and your eyes closed.  I didn't realize until I tried a couple of these things that it felt like someome pushing me from behind when I tried this.  Depending on how I turn my head, may bring on some symptoms as well.  Occassionally I get a spin feeling, but for the most part, it is just a head fog thing going on.

Now I also take prevacid for stomach acid.  I have just learned recently (thanks to the various web chats going on here) that this may cause a B12 deficiency - that can cause all of these symptoms as well.  So I have some narrowing down to do as you can see.

Have a great day,

Gary