Constant fear

[jlk1992]

Im new to this, I have never posted anything like this.
My name is Jake, i'm 22 years old, I've been suffering with anxiety for about the past month. My whole life I have been worried. I am an asthmatic and my doctor put me on an inhaled corticosteroid called Dulera. it was very expensive, so a different doctor put me on symbicort. Since starting the symbicort my anxiety started to surface. Yesterday they took me off symbicort only because I complained and put me on advair. I am very nervous to start the advair.
I constantly find myself googling to try and find answers to my problems. I now convinced myself that I have adrenal dissfunction from stopping the dulera.
My doctor put me on lexapro 10 mg, I am on my 5th day of it. Since starting it, I have had stomach pains, back pains, and diarrhea, all of which are a sign of adrenal dissfunction.
I went to the waalk-in yesterday and they did an ECG because I could not get my heart to calm down. I was running about 150 bpm, and I could feel like heart pulsating in my stomach as I often do, which scares me.
My anxiety symptoms include tight chest, shortness of breath, sometimes my hands go numb I think from hyperventilating, and my heart starts beating out of control. I struggle staying asleep all night, I usually sleep about 4 hours and wake up. I never used to have trouble sleeping, but I have an anxiety attack everytime I wake up at night. The doctor gave me hydroxyzine, which seems to make my heart beat like craxy and I can feel it in my stomach again, freaking me out. I am pretty thin and only weigh about 145 pounds. I have not had an appetite the past week since I started the lexapro. I have an appointment scheduled for Thursday, so I hope my doctor will be able to put me at ease that I do not have adrenal dissfunction.

This is all so new and scary to me, I often convince myself that it is not just anxiety causing these problems with me. Has anyone else that has taken lexapro had similar sideaffects as me?
Thanks for reading
-Jake

 

[janemariesayed]

Hiya @jlk1992 Jake. Firstly, when you have a panic attack it is because you have been shallow breathing prior to the attack. Your heart now has to pump faster to get air around your body. As soon as you feel an attack coming on, take a deep breath and hold it in for a few seconds. Then let it out slowly. Then do the same again for a few minutes. You will feel better immediately as you would have got air around your body. As for the adrenal dysfunction, you really need to talk to your doctor about that. If he is poo-pooing you, then go and get a second opinion. You really need to tell him that you don't feel like eating as he can put you on meds that will help. He doesn't know if the meds are doing you any favours unless you tell him. Good luck and let me know how you get on.

 

[Kelculator]

I haven't taken lexapro, but have experienced tight chest, the rapid heartheat, difficulty breathing, and basically most of what you have described. I have had GAD since childhood, and about a year ago had in intense flare ,and all of those applied to me. I went from doctor to doctor, and even a cardiologist. Everything came back normal. Note that I was experiencing palpitations every other beat for an entire week, and low grade fever, and chest pain. I turned out fine, it really could just have been anxiety. All the best to you, and welcome to the community.

 

[jlk1992]

Thanks for the Replys.
I went to see my doctor today, he believes I may have hyperthyroidism. This is very scary, but hopefully very manageable. Waiting on the results of the blood test to know for sure.
-jake

 

[Peacelily]

Jake, if you have hyperthyroidism, that's easy to treat. You will be put on Synthroid or Levothyroxine to slow down your thyroid function. It takes about 3 to 6 weeks for the medication to fully function. By then, you'll notice a huge difference in how you feel. An antidepressant won't slow down your overactive thyroid, so you may want to consider stopping it, and letting the thyroid medication take over. Good luck. I have a low thyroid disease, so I know how you feel.

 

[Kelculator]

While it is not ideal to have thyroid problems, like Peacelily said, it is easy to treat, and it will be okay. It shouldn't be a very serious issue even if it isn't that.

 

[jlk1992]

Thanks for all the support. I was a little relieved when my doctor told me he thinks it's the thyroid.
The only worry I have is I've heard the anti thyroid medication can be damaging to the liver. My doctor mentioned the option of killing the thyroid and supplementing for the rest of my life, but that also sounds scary. I will find out more later this week . Meanwhile the anxiety is getting a little better. I'm learning to control it better by breathing or taking a walk. Although I still do occasionally get panic attacks.

 

[Peacelily]

jik1992, glad the support helped ease your fears about the thyroid. If you are hyperthyroid, you will soon feel SO MUCH BETTER after you start thyroid medication.

These are the medications your endocrinologist will discuss with you, as well as dosage. Remember it takes the body a while to adjust. You'll have your TSH levels tested every few months then eventually every 6 months then eventually once a year.

• levothyroxine sodium (Levothroid, Levoxyl, Synthroid, Tirosint, Unithroid)
• liothyronine sodium (Cytomel, Triostat)
• liotrix (Thyrolar)

I can attest that my liver is just fine; I've been on Synthroid for over 20 years. Don't let your doctor talk you into removing your thyroid. That will only cause more problems since the thyroid regulates the body's hormones and organ function. It's basically the body's carburetor, to use an automotive analogy because it has several functions.

The thyroid is an endocrine gland that controls the body's hormones, which affects every organ in our body and determines how well our organs function. The thyroid also regulates the body's metabolism. So, the thyroid produces, stores, and releases hormones into the body's bloodstream to help the body's organs function; much like the way a car's carburetor acts as the heart of the car which can't run when the carburetor breaks down. Our body needs thyroid hormone to function. When the thyroid becomes hypo (slow) or hyper (fast), it messes up how well our body functions and we feel it through multiple symptoms.

What you will have to keep an eye out for, if you are hyperthyroid, is what's called a "goiter." Symptoms include swelling in the neck and a persistent cough, and trouble swallowing. The goiter grows when the thyroid overproduces hormone. Of course, your endocrinologist can tell you all of this too. But I'm trying to make you feel calmer about discovering that your thyroid may be the reason for your anxiety symptoms.

Don't worry about it affecting your liver; you can get regular blood tests or ultrasounds if you experience pain on your right side where the liver and pancreas and gallbladder are located in the body.

And its great that you went for a walk and are using breathing techniques to help calm yourself down. I did that today; went for a walk, and I also use hot baths and self-talk and breathing techniques. Sometimes that works, and sometimes it doesn't work so I come to an online forum and post, or I call up someone I trust to talk through my anxiety. Hang in there. Once you start thyroid medication, you'll feel so much better. I promise you.

 

[janemariesayed]

Thanks for the Replys.
I went to see my doctor today, he believes I may have hyperthyroidism. This is very scary, but hopefully very manageable. Waiting on the results of the blood test to know for sure.
-jake

Good luck Jake, I hope it all goes ok.

 

[jlk1992]

I just called my doctor and the only thing wrong with my blood tests was an elevated hemoglobin, which they said wouldn't cause my symptoms. My t4 reflex came back in the normal range as 0.84. They told me the normal range is 0.45-5.6 or something.
So now the conclusion is anxiety. I'm continuing the lexapro, and trying to not use the kolonopin the gave me unless it's absolutely necessary.
It had been a week since I slept a full night onSaturday, and my brother suggested smoking weed to help me stay asleep. I smoked a little before bed Saturday and Sunday and I slept a full night finslly!
This was great, but I am worried because if I smoke too much my anxiety goes crazy. Possibly i will try edibles so I'm not smoking, as that is what freaks me out.

My doctor does not seem concerned about me now that he knows it's not my thyroid. They didn't tell me to make an appointment or even call me with the results, I had to call them.
My panic attack the last couple days have seemed to be less often, and also a little more mild than before.

 

[Peacelily]

That is good news that it's not your thyroid, Jake. Did the anxiety attacks start before or after you started the Lexapro? Sometimes, SSRI's side effects can cause anxiety and panic attacks.

Why don't you look into getting off the SSRI and instead get qualified for medical cannabis? If smoking it helped you sleep a full night, that's a sign to me anyway, that it may better suit your anxiety and panic than an SSSRI can. There are no negative side effects to Cannabis really.

 

[jlk1992]

That is good news that it's not your thyroid, Jake. Did the anxiety attacks start before or after you started the Lexapro? Sometimes, SSRI's side effects can cause anxiety and panic attacks.

Why don't you look into getting off the SSRI and instead get qualified for medical cannabis? If smoking it helped you sleep a full night, that's a sign to me anyway, that it may better suit your anxiety and panic than an SSSRI can. There are no negative side effects to Cannabis really.

The anxiety attacks started before the lexapro.
I've had my medical card before, not for panic or anxiety. I have used it for about 3 years, I stopped recently because I thought it was triggering my anxiety. Everytime I would smoke my panic would come on, so I stopped. This was about 3 weeks ago. Then this weekend i smoked again and didn't have a panic attack(i think because i didnt smoke much) but I was able to sleep. This is hard to talk to my doctor about, he is an awesome doctor, but he doesn't believe in cannabis as a treatment. I think they key for it with me is moderation. Posibbly I will mention it to my doctor.

 

[Peacelily]

The anxiety attacks started before the lexapro.
I've had my medical card before, not for panic or anxiety. I have used it for about 3 years, I stopped recently because I thought it was triggering my anxiety. Everytime I would smoke my panic would come on, so I stopped. This was about 3 weeks ago. Then this weekend i smoked again and didn't have a panic attack(i think because i didnt smoke much) but I was able to sleep. This is hard to talk to my doctor about, he is an awesome doctor, but he doesn't believe in cannabis as a treatment. I think they key for it with me is moderation. Posibbly I will mention it to my doctor.

Hmm. So, smoking too much medical cannabis caused your anxiety attacks, but if you smoke a smaller amount, you're fine. Well, then what do you need the Lexapro for? I'm anti-SSRI despite having been on Celexa in the past (the side effects annoyed me when I was on it). I think you need to make a decision; either stay on the Lexapro and stop smoking the cannabis, or get off the Lexapro and regularly use a smaller amount of the cannabis to help you sleep, just enough that won't bring on your anxiety and panic attacks again.

Oh, and find another doctor who is pro-cannabis. Get rid of your current doctor. You don't owe him anything. Your doctor is supposed to be supportive of your health and well-being, not against it. If his beliefs don't mirror yours, he's not the right doctor.

I got rid of my internal medicine doctor recently because he had the gall to literally shame me for my hypochondria and anxiety problems. He's a douche bag. So, now I'm searching for a more empathetic doctor.

 

[jlk1992]

Hmm. So, smoking too much medical cannabis caused your anxiety attacks, but if you smoke a smaller amount, you're fine. Well, then what do you need the Lexapro for? I'm anti-SSRI despite having been on Celexa in the past (the side effects annoyed me when I was on it). I think you need to make a decision; either stay on the Lexapro and stop smoking the cannabis, or get off the Lexapro and regularly use a smaller amount of the cannabis to help you sleep, just enough that won't bring on your anxiety and panic attacks again.

Oh, and find another doctor who is pro-cannabis. Get rid of your current doctor. You don't owe him anything. Your doctor is supposed to be supportive of your health and well-being, not against it. If his beliefs don't mirror yours, he's not the right doctor.

I got rid of my internal medicine doctor recently because he had the gall to literally shame me for my hypochondria and anxiety problems. He's a douche bag. So, now I'm searching for a more empathetic doctor.

I have an appointment with a different doctor coming up to hopefully get a different view. When I wasn't on lexapro and was only smoking, I would still get the panic attacks. Then occasionally when I smoked I would get a panic attack, maybe that's because a little too much. I never tried the cannabis when I was having a panic attack, I was using it more recreationally. The side effects of the lexapro have pretty much subsided, but I still dont like the idea of being on a pill the rest of my life. I'll have to get a second opinion and definitely mention the use of cannabis. I haven't even mentioned to my current doctor how I smoked and it helped me sleep, I will discuss that with him my next appointment and see if he thinks its beneficial.

Thanks for all your help, it does help to talk things through with someone who knows how difficult it is.

 

[Peacelily]

The problem with being an an SSRI or any opioid is the addiction factor, and how absolutely horrible it is to try to get off the medication after you've been on it for months or even years.

People's physiology adapts to these medications to the point where they have to go into a 30 day rehab to get the medical support just to get off the medication they were prescribed for their mental illness or pain for an injury. It's a nasty Catch-22.

Glad to read that you're getting a 2nd opinion from another doctor. Trust yourself. After all it's your body. So, you know you best. I know some people depend on SSRI's and believe those help. But research and studies show that is not always the case and can really put people through hell, when they decide they want off their antidepressant, but can't because the withdraw symptoms are worse than the side effects. I know for me personally, if I could move to a state that issues medical cannabis for anxiety I would, but my state doesn't which I think is ludicrous. Big Pharma and the GOP want to make synthetic cannabis which will be full of all kinds of bad stuff. If that's the only way to get access to it, I'd rather move to a state where I can get the natural kind.

Anyway, good luck and keep me posted.