Hi eh!

Hello all--I've been lurking for a week or so, just after I bit the bullet and pretty much accepted that I've got anxiety and panic problems.
I started on Paxil a month ago when I went again ask for coping skills to deal with what I called my new normal, and I didn't like it.
I've had PACs and PVCs (premature atrial contractions/premature ventrical contractions) since I was in my early teens but was told I had mitral valve prolapse instead-no problem though at least I knew what it was and harmless and could keep staying active in sports (mostly hockey and ringette).
I started having problems however in my late twenties when I started having larger palpitations that scared me and often included pain in my left shoulder. Later I developed this quick forsight that a big palpitation was coming and would brace myself emotionally for it. I guess I was getting pretty familiar with how my body was working? I had weeks of large palpitation episodes and weeks of none and was fine, so how does that happen i thought so I started to adjust my diet to see if it was something I ate that prompted these palpitation times. In my early thirties I started to notice these little 'brown out" split second feelings and later again 'power up split second feelings with and without the palpitations. There were days I was sure I was going to drop dead with a heart attack because of the length and violence of the palpitations. Did the cardiologist thing and the halter monitor thing but it seems, for me those are the sure cure for palpitations until they discharge me when it all starts up again.
In my late thirties the, as I now know to be, anxiety/panic attacks began. One night I'm sound asleep when I'm suddenly awoken and have this rush wash over me and I'm out of bed and running to my husband who was working downstairs--I basically climbed on top of him telling how I had had these feeling of flight or fight and I had to run and that my mind had centered out my heart--was I having a heart attack? Wave upon wave of panic washed over me while we were on the way to and at the ER. Nothing came of that visit and panic attack was never even mentionned so was still pretty much in the dark about things. I had other panic attacks and it took awhile before my doc and I knew for sure but it was now the anxiety attacks that were getting me. Huge weights of anxiety, like waiting for something to happen. The attacks were washes of tinglies and anxiety and fear like the transporter effect from Star Trek (ha ha) they wash over me either from head to toe or toe to head but never mixed and that's what made me see my doc last week after one week on 10 mg paxil, we had hoped to low dose but now I am at 20 mg and have been well except for the "getting used to" effects.
It has been a hellish summer for the anxiety. Last summer was bad for severe reflux burn in my upper esophagus and am dealing with this as well still but am basically ok.
I've been reading through this forum and wish I'd have known more about A/P sooner, despite my doc mentionning it to me before. I have found here more things on one page that relates to me and what I have been experiencing than anywhere. I was convinced these were weird things--I even kept stressing to my doc that I am not trying to be a hypochondriac about this, it's definitely real, not in my head and very physical and she has been great! She's sent me to the cardiologist, the thyroid guy, the reflux specialist pretty much the typical pre anxiety diagnosis specialists so now I know. She is keeping a close eye on me to, I am very lucky.
Anyhow there is other stuff, this is the reader's digest version --kinda interesting to see it layed out in front of me to.
I hope to be able to contribute while I get my head around all this.
Thanks ahead to anyone for having a read thru.

welcome patty

your story is familiar

be assured that the panic attacks and heart palps wont do you any harm

a beta blocker med would calm the heart, especially of you have high blood pressure

the brownouts are likely derealisation, read about it on the net, stress causes it abut it wont harm you either

reflux or GERD is a common anxiety problem, I think some of the new ulcer meds help, also dont eat for a while before bed and no midnight refrigerator raids

paxil will help a lot, if it works ( sometimes it doesnt) your dosc could be further upped to see what happens

get some panic disorder and agoraphobia recovery self help books and follow their advice

basicly you shouldnt tense up or fight back, but relax and accept

get a book on home massage and ask husband to massage you for stress reduction

stay with us and read all the posts and see how you arent alone

Hi Patty

Glad you joined us, I haven't been here very long, but so far I have felt very welcome and the support here is great. I'ts nice to meet you and I hope your Paxil kicks in quickly.

Judy