Question:
I have been experiencing many strange symptoms lately and am
wondering if these could possibly be attributed to PD/severe anxiety or if I
should have other concerns. I have been to the doctor a couple of times and
have had exhaustive blood work performed to rule out (if that's possible)
serious illnesses. Because the symptoms persist, I am skeptical about the
doctor's 'good news.' I have always figured that these symptoms (especially
the new ones) are attributed to some serious underlying problem(s) that is
still developing. I have felt anxious and a reluctance to go to public
places for the last 17 years (began in Grade 5 with home troubles and an
ongoing conflict with my teacher that year.) The list of symptoms are:
-nausea (within last year)
-sharp pains in scalp (variable locations)
-pressure above, behind and in the ears (within last 6 months)
-a feeling of pressure on the throat including pains (within last 6 months)
-chronic sore neck muscles & stiffness that sometimes results in
uncontrollable shakiness
-mild headaches
-strange tastes in mouth (within last 6 months)
-tongue numbness and burning in one or two spots (within last 6 months)
-occasional geographic-like tongue (within last year)
-IBS symptoms (for last 17 years)
-sore muscles and joints
-fatigue (energy level quickly declines in afternoon) (within last 6 months)
-regular acid reflux (heartburn)
-soreness below the ribcage near the solar plexus
-back pains (central & lower)
-tachycardia
-insomnia
-impaired concentration
-general overall ill feeling (within last 6 months)
-social phobic (not really agoraphobic though)
Do these sound typical of a PD sufferer? I have never been diagnosed with
PD but the last time I was at my doctor's office (for the third time in 1
month complaining about these things and my fear of dying) she offered me
Zoloft. I am very hesitant to take this medication as the SSRI's are still
too new on the market to know the long-term consequences of use. I am
graduating from university this spring and will be starting a new job at one
of the big six accounting firms as a CA student. My family seems to think
that this new pressure is a big one and has probably exacerbated my anxious
condition (anticipatory anxiety, etc.) Comments/ideas/suggestions and
advice welcome.
Answer:
Yes, it's possible that what you are experiencing is related to
anxiety/PD. But it's also possible that it's not. As an arthritis
sufferer myself, I particularly noticed your mention of pain/soreness
in your joints. Have you been evaluated by a rheumatologist?
While you seek the necessary evaluations from a medical standpoint,
consider the input from your family/friends. Yes, the life changes
you are going through can serve as antecedents to this kind of somatic
experience of anxiety.
Why not pursue some counseling from someone competent in
CBT(university student health services can be good places to start),
and at the same time look again at SSRIs - they really are well
accepted and not as risky as you fear. If you find out that there is
an underlying medical reason for your symptoms, then the SSRIs are
easy to come off, and the CBT will help you deal w/your stressors more
effectively (skills you keep for life).
I can relate to a lot of your symptoms and problems and have been diagnosed
with panic disorder... I will give a rundown of what we have in common....
I have experienced that pretty much every day...goes along with Irritable bowel
syndrome and stress from what I hear.
I have inner ear problems (too much fluid in inner ear) that has resulted that
cause the pressure I experience, it also seems to lead to dizziness and
vertigo. and I have also heard that this can be a result from stress
constricting blood flow to your head or something like that.
Once again this is due to tension and can cause constriction of blood flow
resulting in pain..from what i've heard.
Have had this for years, it is supposedly related to my IBS, I have actually
found that taking about 6 capsules of acidophilus a day (found in most vitamin
sections in stores) can help this to subside.
I experience all of these too....but have been given a clean bill of health
after practically every medical test and xray known to man... I have panic
disorder is all they can find, and like you I was very leary of taking SSRI's
due to their being so new, and still unsure if in the future it may turn out to
have problems that they don't know about yet, but after suffering so long I
gave in and went on Paxil and Klonopin, it's been a little more than 3 weeks
now, and honestly I am starting to feel GREAT, these medicines really help and
it is so wonderful to feel I have my life back again, try to get past the fear
of the meds, they really can improve your quality of life.
Anyways, sorry for being so long winded, but I know what you are going
through, and I have found relief from it through an SSRI, so you really may
want to give it a try.
