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Hi, new to this forum and need help.

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Posted 6/1/2010 2:20 AM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone, I have been lurking here for the last few months and finally thought I would introduce myself.

I am a 28 y/o female and mother of two young kids and I'm not sure what is going on with me.

I was perfectly fine up until December. I was at my in-laws house getting ready for dinner when suddenly I felt very weak and my heart started to palpitate. I felt blood rushing to my head and my neck felt tense. We called 911....went to ER and had every test done and everything was fine. I kept having these attacks about once a day after that.

\The week after, new symptoms started to appear: muscle twitches, "burning" sensations, nausea and extreme fatigue. I live in a lyme endemic area and immediately thought of that. I got tested and was positive. I've been on antibiotics for it for almost 4 months. All of the weird sensations have gone except for the anxiety.

I get attacks where I feel things in my head. Sometimes it feels like there is a parasite moving inside my brain...other times I get brain aches. My heart starts to palpitate and I get very frightened. I think I am either going to have a heart attack or stroke. My doctor said that anxiety is a rare manifestation of lyme but it does happen. I just don't know. Lyme is such a controversial disease to have because everyone wants to tell you it's something else. The testing for it is not very accurate.

So, I'm at the point where I do believe I either had lyme or still have it. The panic attacks I get are very disconcerting. Right now all I have been prescribed is xanax. When I feel an, attack coming on I take between .5 to .75 mg. I'm not sure it does anything except make me a little drowsy. I've always been a pretty rational person...so every time I get these attacks I tell myself I am not going to have a heart attack I am not going to have a stroke. But, however hard I try to keep it at bay I still get them at least once a day.

It's hard because I've never had to deal with any medical crisis before. I never thought I would suffer from anxiety and I am so sorry for those who do. It really is a lonely illness.

I'm afraid to try any other medications after the disappointment with the xanax. What is the next drug usually prescribed when it doesn't work? Do they just up the dosage?
Posted 6/1/2010 3:39 AM (GMT 0)
My father took upwards of 12mg a day of xanax for his severe panic disorder. That's a ridiculous amount, as I'm sure 2mg would knock me on my ass. But yes, they up the dosage, or switch you to a different 'emergency' medication like ativan..any anxiolytic really. Benzodiazepines are more habit forming, and the withdrawl symptoms are your reason for taking them in the first place...severe anxiety but x 100, so some doctors won't give you much..I'm on sublingual ativan (which if you're not familiar with it, works a lot faster), and usually 1mg is enough to at least relax me a bit, if not slow down the palpitations right away.

I personally am not on any anti-depressants like many are, but may turn to them sooner than later if my own condition doesn't improve. Maybe you can talk to someone about that, if it's an option for you.

Good luck, and welcome to being an active memeber of the forums :D
Posted 6/1/2010 10:22 AM (GMT 0)
Hi and welcome to the forum
i hv tried xanax and for me it wasnt the med that helped i have had acute a/p for so many yrs its the norm for me

i now am on cipralex an AD as well as ativan
i went totally deaf about this time last yr but the nerves are still connected so i hear a constant noise in head akin to tv going off the air
for this im rx valium 2wice a day if needed
i will soon hv the operation to cut those nerves and then be of the valium but stay on ativan
i rarely take the valium as i dont want to go thru hard wd from it when time comes

you can ask your doc to increase the dose or see if he/she is able or willing to rx ativan for you
allso an AD might help
just a thought
lyn
stay with us
Posted 6/2/2010 2:03 AM (GMT 0)
Wow, thanks for the replies. At least I know what the possibilities could be. I hope you both feel better soon.

I had another attack today and I really wanted to go the ER, but I know they can do nothing for it.
Posted 6/15/2010 2:53 PM (GMT 0)
lylaso,

You mentioned "burning" when you first started having symthoms. Could you please describe the burning? I have that too, mine has gotten better but will flare sometimes. I live in an area where lyme disease is common. I have been tested for it a few times and it came back negative. I have been having all kinds of strange things going on which has caused aniexty and stress for the last few years including the palpitations...all have gone undiagnosed. You called anxiety a lonely illness.......how right you are. It's great to have a site like this with people who know what it's like.
Posted 6/15/2010 3:04 PM (GMT 0)
yes it definitely is a lonely dd but here is where we come to share care and support one another...
we will get thru it
together
hugs
ln
Posted 6/15/2010 4:01 PM (GMT 0)
Hi.. I actually had an attack today at work. I haven't had one since September! It started with a strange feeling in my chest. Either gas pain or palpitation. That's when the cycle began. Hot, dizzy,out of sorts..... I walked into a different room to walk around. I got so dizzy I thought I was going to pass out so I sat on the floor so I wouldn't fall and hit my head. I couldn't even call out for help. My arms were on fire then hands tingling. Not a fun flashback!! I'm home now on my couch because I'm totally drained. I took at half of .25 Xanax. I'm also on Zolot 75 mg. I actually thought that I wouldn't have an attack again since being on he zoloft. Scary.
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