Anxiety Attack

I have vertigo and there are different kinds. Yours sounds like the kind that you get when an infection falls into your ear (hence the fluid). An audiologist can help. They will test your balance, eyes and other things to determine what kind of vertigo you have. With the kind of vertigo that I have (virus fell into my ear)it usually only lasts 2-3 weeks and taking anti-vertigo medicine can actually make the vertigo last longer. However, I said usually as sometimes it takes longer. I've had it now for years.

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I went through the same thing. Everytime I had one I would always think that it was a heart attack. I finally got put on Lexapro and it helped tremedously. I wish you the best.

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I am in the menopause stage myself, but had some anxiety issues lately. My heart seemed to race with palpatations so when I was at the doctor she prescribed a dietary supplement called GabaMax which is a neurotransmitter support supplement. It is made my Neuroscience, Inc. (www.neurorelief.com). She told me to take 1 tab twice a day. It really helps me sleep at night as I take one of them before bed. I found if I took two at once it really zonked me. So I tried the one at night and if I really need it, I will take one in the morning. It has seemed to help. I have been dealing with a full-time husband (due to retirement) and it has sort of changed my routine not to mention added some frustration to my life. The thing I like about the GabaMax is that it isn't a "drug", but a dietary supplement. You will have to ask your doctor for them (if they are into the natural supplements) or you can buy them through a naturopathic doctor. Maybe some supplement stores may carry it or you could just check the company's website listed above. Hope you feel better.

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First, when you say they checked out your heart, did they do an EKG??? Sticky things to your chest of sides with cables attached??? I know terrible question but my mother didn't know what it was when I asked, said yes they did and 2 days of this found out she was having a heart attack...many other symptoms though!!! Chest discomfort, shortness of breath...typical symptoms for women, not what you are reporting. Maybe call your doc and ask for something for anxiety...if that helps then could certainly be your culprit. Women take on so much that when our bodies have finally had enough we hit rock bottom. It could still be the fluid on your ears...did you get a med for that?? Sudafed works to dry my sinus' up. Just a recommendation. Hope you feel better and hope it's something simple. Take care!

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I don't think "anxiety attack" means that you are actually anxious about something which causes the attack, but that something happens that makes you feel anxious and nervous. One man I know of had anxiety attacks that ended up being due to diabetes he didn't know he had. He was convinced he was having a heart attack, and made his wife take him to the ER numerous times.

I recently had a horrible dizzy spell, so looked up vertigo, etc., online, and one thing I read said that dizzy spells like this seem to happen soon after getting a cold -- somehow it messes up the inner ear balance mechanism. So this is probably what yours is. In my case, I think it was more due to neck strain (perhaps sleeping wrong? there was nothing I could remember doing), but the dizziness lasted all day, and was finally relieved by a neck massage.

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K., one thing for you to think about is your age. If you are somewhere in your 40's or higher, you could be getting into peri-menopause. I have dizzy spells, and they are part of this. Not all women have all peri-menopause symptoms (Thank God!), but mine include night sweats that constantly wake me in the middle of the night, hot flashes over and over throughout the day, and the dizzy spells. I'm so jealous of my mom - she only had migraines - none of the other stuff (not that I think migraines are fun! I just hate feeling like I'm gonna pass out and have a constant furnace belching inside of me!)

Some women even start this earlier in life. Your doctor can do a blood test to check you if you aren't on birth control pills (being on synthetic hormones masks the accuracy of the testing). Check that out before accepting anxiety medication.

All my best,
D.

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I have been known to occasionally have anxiety attacks. The trigger to mine seemed to be after I had my thyroid removed, but do notice that they usually come on now during periods of high stress. I remember the first time I had one, I felt like I couldn't breathe...I was gasping for air and of course I was post op about 24 hours, so in my head, I started thinking maybe they didn't sew everything up in my neck right and that's why I can't breathe, and that made it even worse. It sounds crazy, I know. Since then, I've never had a full blown attack, but I do start to feel tingly and sweaty and my breathing gets faster, but I know to control it I just have to close my eyes and concentrate on taking deep breathes at regular intervals. The feeling passes fairly quickly. I felt like I was crazy and was embarassed about this, until one of my doctors told me that about 80% of people have anxiety at some point in time or another, so don't feel crazy about it. They also have meds that can help if you have them frequently-I used to be on lexapro. Anyway, good luck!

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Here are 4 different cases.

One daughter had anxiety attacks and it turned out to be a reaction to an asthma medication. cold & sinus meds can do the same thing.

A friend had anxiety attacks and was sent to therapy. After 6 months without it helping, someone suggested getting checked medically. She had an adrenal tumor causing the anxiety attacks.

Another daughter had anxiety attacks. Raising thyroid level and switching to a T3/T4 dessicated thyroid combo, along with changing diet, completely eliminated her anxiety attacks.

And the last case was my best friend. She kept thinking it was her heart. Went to the E.R. twice. They found nothing. FINALLY, it happened while IN the emergency room, and this time she almost died... and that's when they finally found the cause - it was not anxiety. She had a congenital heart defect that simply took until almost 50 years old to become life-threatening. She had tachycardia (rapid heart beat) but it was intermittent. But NOT anxiety. She ended up with a heart operation.

In other words, "anxiety" can be a symptom of many different problems and different approaches may be appropriate. Some may need diet change, some may need B vitamins, some may need an operation, some may need hormones, some may need therapy, some may need to stop a med... and some for whom nothing else is found, maybe a psych med can help.

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Hi K.....you could very well be having anxiety attacks. I was diagnosed with having anxiety a few years back. I thought one night I was having a heart attack...tightening in the chest, shaking, felt scared cause I did not know what was happening to me. I had several tests done for my Dr. to monitor my heart to find out that I was having these attacks. My Dr. told me you can be stressed & have no idea that you are. I would recommend going back to the Dr. & talk to him/her about your episodes. It can be so scary when you feel like this. your Dr. can prescribe medications for you to relax & get this undercontrol. I wish you all the best of luck & hope you feel better soon. I know exactly how you feel...i know how scary it was for me & now i feel a lot better.
Blessings-
K.

HI QUEEN of anxiety here.... the tingling and dizziness does sound like anxiety. sometimes the symptoms are worse sometimes its jsut a dizzy spell. talk to your PC doc and ask for a refferal to a psyc. who can perscribe something. you want to nip this NOW. I was diagnosed with anxiety at 6 had my first panic attack at 12 i am now a stay at home mother because i have a heard time leaving the house. I have not driven in almost 3 years because of my anxiety. the worst thing you can do is stop doing what you are doing when you have the attack whether its driving walking around the block being in crowds ect... Talk to your doctor TODAY you dont want it to get worse truse me!

I am a psychiatrist and treat anxiety disorders. My philosophy centers on caring for you in a comfortable, warm environment, and addressing your individual needs in a professional manner. I take the time to listen to you and answer your questions.

You can visit my website (http://www.capraleigh.com) and get more information.

You have gotten a lot of good advice. I would like to share my experience. When I was 22 I started as a new teacher in an inner city school. I didn't feel like I was under a lot of stress or anything, but it was tough. To top it off, my husband worked an opposite schedule and was not home in the evenings. I would feel my face get hot at times, I would sweat, and my heart would race. The school nurse found that my blood pressure was very high for someone my age. You should really talk to your doctor. My doctor put me on a very mild anti-depresant and it REALLY helped. I eventually stopped taking it and was fine.

I'm sorry to about this. I'm not sure if anxiety and panic attacks are the same thing. I have had unpredictable full-blown panic attacks for about 8 years now. They are so bad i feel i'm having a heart attack. I have fainted in 1 and get breathing in 2. My heart get to almost 200 beats per min. , i start shaking, sweating, can't get enough air. And can't swallow - even saliva during these times. I am taking ativan, as needed for these and i believe i am becoming immune to them. These are very scary. I belive a panic attack is the worst possible thing a humam being can experience.

Anxiety or "panic attack" can come out of nowhere and have no real identifable cause, though they tend to come out when you are under a lot of general stress or just after a large amount of stress has ended. I used to have them for a period of about a year. Every once in a while I get the beginning feelings of one, but I know how to handle them better now. Two options that might help - visit a therapist trained in cognitive behavioral therapy for a few sessions to learn the triggers (if there are any) or at least learn how to deal with them when they are starting. You can also ask your regular doctor about some medication - they may prescribe something short acting like Xanax or Ativan to take when one is coming on, or something longer term like Zoloft to break the cycle of attacks. Often you may not have to take it for very long, but it depends on the situation. If your doctor doesn't have much experience with this, you can go to a psychiatrist who is specially trained in these sorts of issues and meds. If you need referrals for either, send me a message. There are also some good books out there that could be helpful, but it's usually better to see someone in person.

Do your best to get plenty of sleep and rest and try to relax. Try, try, try to not worry about anything. It will ALWAYS work out. ALWAYS. On another note, I have vertigo and you go through stages where you will be dizzy for a week and then it will go away for a year. You may even have meneirs which I have, a step up of vertigo. If you have that, it is an inner ear infection that depending on which side you are getting dizzy is which side is affected. You can go to an ear, nose, and throat specialist to get tested. The meclyz works but not so great. You need to figure out what makes you dizzy and try not to do that. I get dizzy when I am tired or on certain OTC meds. I also get dizzy when I lay down and turn my head to the right. Get some sleep and relax for a few days and see if it subsides. If not, go to an ENT. I didn't see where you live but if you live in Nash, TN, I have a great ENT to refer you to.
W.