Is this what anxiety feels like?

[feistychicken]

I’m hoping to get some sound advise from those that might have been through something similar - bear with me, it’s a little long!!

FIL died a year ago. We are a very close family and it has hit everyone hard. Around that time I started becoming a bit concerned about y own health - I had a couple of incidents of feeling dizzy/spaced out in shops and busy places. Started to worry it was because I was ill. Had some blood tests but nothing found other than low potassium and low ferritin.

Have been feeling rough on and off all year, random headaches, feeling dizzy/spaced out, muscle tension in neck. All bloods normal or their than this mentioned above.

I have always had a slightly high heart rate but last week I had two days of it flying along at about 125, and it hasn’t really settled since then. I’m waking at night with the fast heart rate and sweating al lot at night in the chest/back area, between my boobs.

Had the heart rate checked out, ekg normal, booked in for a 24 hour bp monitor next week and a 48hour hear monitor.

Checked out at a&e last week because of heart, no obvious cause found, they have suggested anxiety as a cause or possible thyroid though thyroid levels (TSH, T3 & T4 normal). Have been referred to an endocrinologist.

However anxiety seems to be the likeliest cause, triggered by FIL death and a bust life.

I don’t feel anxious, apart from anxiety about the physical symptoms!

I have three children 6 and under, and a part time job that I enjoy but that does come with a high level of responsibility.

Anyone with a similar experience?

Thanks in advance!!

Sorry forgot to preview 🙄

Funny you should post this I'm suffering from something similar...
I've been having palpitations for years but recently having dizzy episodes.
I passed out on Thursday and the next day my heart was still racing so saw GP on friday who sent me straight to hospital treatment centre
Chest xray ecg and bloods all fine but heart rate of 120 all day. They've referred me to a cardiologist. Havent seen them yet but the treatment centre did ment a condition called Inappropriate Sinus Tacchycardia (spelling?) which might be worth you a google.

Thank you for responding DMW (great name!), sorry to hear that you are also feeling rough!!

I will look up Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia - I know the doctor mentioned Sinus Tachycardia but no mention of “Inappropriate”.

By palpitations, do you mean you have always been able to “feel” your heartbeat, or that it has always been fast?

Absolutely! I've suffered for the last year since having some abnormal ecgs, and having to have further tests, thank fully all came back normal after a very long wait, I was doing OK again but a friend has passed away and it's set it off again! I just wanted to let you know, that all the symptoms you are feeling are most likely anxiety, I get the racing heart, palpitations, headaches, just feel wired, or sometimes spaced out, like I'm not really here! Go back and talk to your gp, they are so understanding about mental health I've found. But please don't Google, it doesn't help at all, if anything it makes me feel worse, but do see your gp.Good luck🍀

Dear Feisty,

DO NOT LOOK UP ANY CONDITIONS. I mean that. Don't. Do. It.

You have anxiety which is manifesting as health anxiety. I have it, too. Your symptoms sound exactly like mine: dizziness, breathlessness, heart rattling away...

Go back to your doctor BUT do so to get medication to help you with anxiety. You will be so glad you did.

Anxiety IS a medical condition, and it is the only one you need to get treated at the moment. Please get yourself something to help. It's the best thing you can do for your family. Don't allow them to witness your anxiety, as it can be catching (looking at you, mum).

Good luck

xxxx

Dont worry you can look up IST it's not dangerous! It may well be caused by anxiety.

I agree with LaLoose, please don't fall down the rabbithole of potential conditions you might have - it'll make your worrying so much worse.

Yes, anxiety can absolutely manifest physically, even without the more obvious mental symptoms. It's difficult to deal with but once you understand what it is, there are some great coping/grounding methods out there to be able to deal with it (breathing exercises, meditation, medication etc). Good luck

How old are you? I get many of your symptoms and I’m 99% certain it’s peri-menopause. I’ve been tested for heaven knows what and everything is clear. I also get particularly anxious at certain times of the month. The best way to describe it is “screwed up”. I’ve recently given up caffeine and it has helped immensely. My stomach is a lot more settled, I’ve had no headaches and no palpitations.

Did you get treatment for the potassium and ferritin because your symptoms can be down to that.

Hi, yes what you're describing is anxiety - as I've experienced it. There is a good site called NoMorePanic which is a really useful resource www.nomorepanic.co.uk Lots of info, advice and help available.

I went to some meetings with other people who had anxiety. Just about everyone of us said they noticed how bad things are when we started freaking out in supermarkets. Having to suddenly get out, dizyness and all that.

Thank you all for your replys. I’m currently taking iron supplements and been recommended to increase potassium intake. I’m breastfeeding at the moment so apparently my potassium needs are higher than normal. It is low at 3.3 but it has been consistently sitting at that point for 6minths so could just be “me”.

Ferritin is slowly climbing.

I’m super nervous of taking any medication, I would really like to try cbt or similar.

Does anybody find symptoms are worse at night? I just don’t seem to be able to sleep deeply, and these night sweats which have turned up over the last week since the heart rate increase are also interfering with sleep.

Meant to add i’n 37 - periods returns 5 months ago after last baby. This time around I have had night sweats in the days before my period too.

I didn't want to leave this unanswered. Try to take as objective a look at your mental processes as possible. You know what your heart rate is. You talk about your symptoms. Both these things suggest you are monitoring your health more closely than is normal. It is (thankfully) rare to receive bad diagnoses at your age and - when it does happen - it's usually a shock to the person involved. It wouldn't be a shock to you, because you're expecting it. Really, truly, this is health anxiety. There is nothing wrong with your body. You are exhausted with a (second?) young baby and anxiety will rear its ugly head when you're extremely fatigued.

I can, of course, understand a fear of medication. I can only offer my anecdotal advice: I didn't get pills until I had suffered for 18 months. Looking back, my life - and the lives of my family - would have been immensely improved had I gone to the GP earlier. Also, I was on them for 6 months, then stopped. They worked from the very first couple of days and it was the perfect answer for me.

Take care of yourself.

Take the medication. You can't think straight when you're full of anxiety, and you can't make good decisions when you can't think straight.

Once you're not anxious, plan out what you're going to do. Don't wait six months for a CBT referral, you'll be all to pieces in the meantime.

Thank you both. I know that is good and I’ve and it is my intention to follow it.

Your kind words and sensible advice are very very welcome. 😊

Good luck! Things can only get better.

UPDATE

Hi

I wanted to update following my comment above in case someone finds this useful...

Saw the cardiologist on Tues following a 72 hour halter. It turns out I have atrial fibrillation. My episodes are caused by arrhythmias, and are not anxiety related in any way. I have been started on anti-arrhythmic meds and am awaiting a heart scan with view to having heart ablation surgery if I'm a suitable candidate. If not I will likely need a pacemaker.

I'm in my 20's with 3 kids under 6. And a bit scared. And a bit pissed the GP has been fobbing me off with an anxiety diagnosis for the last two years and telling me to try CBT. I realise anxiety is the cause most of the time but it my case it wasn't. I don't want to scare anyone, it's just I was so convinced it was 'just anxiety' and I needed to 'learn to manage my feelings' I almost didn't go to the GP even after I collapsed.

Please see your GP if something doesn't feel right xx

@DailyMailWankers what medication was u given? Xx