Health anxiety, general unwell feeling
Hi all, 47m
Just needed to vent and let it out.
I've been dealing with panic and anxiety for over 20 years. For the most part it's been somewhat under control with medication and some therapy. I don't do so well with therapy unless is just talking and letting it out like I'm doing now. My anxiety is focused on my heart and having heart attacks(never had one). I've had my ups and downs with it and currently I'm on a down swing. I also have pvcs that were pretty much under control but last summer after a mild bout with covid I noticed they started getting worse. My primary switched me from atenolol to metoprolol ER. Didn't feel much relief. At the same time I had a new psychiatrist and she started weaning me off of a benzo I've been taking for a few years because "it's not good long term" and their office doesn't prescribe them long term. She prescribed me gabapentin instead which did absolutely nothing. Fast forward to April/May, I was starting to feel burned out and didn't pay much attention but my anxiety was creeping up on me. I started to get panic attacks while driving to work, fatigue and general malaise. I also noticed I was having stomach issues and loss of appetite. My anxiety and depression was getting worse and I told my psychiatrist so she added buspirone to the mix. That seemed to help ever so slightly for a little bit but I was calling out sick from work because I couldn't get out of bed in the morning. I've lost a little over 20 pounds since May. Eventually psychiatrist took me off of paxil and buspirone and switched me over to Lexapro. I found another psychiatrist that doesn't have a problem prescribing benzos as long as it doesn't go over a certain dose and I'm fine with that. I don't abuse drugs and I always follow the doctor's direction. I'm 3 weeks into Lexapro and I feel slightly better. I still have anxiety and fatigue but not as bad. I've been to the cardiologist and had a 7 day monitor and it did show pvcs but not enough for concern. I also had an echo of my heart and that was ok. Im still concerned with my heart, I still get anxious and restless about my heart. I'm constantly checking my pulse ox and doing research on my symptoms. I'm just to the point where I don't know what to do. I feel desperate for some relief. I keep feeling my pvcs and have all kinds sensations and feelings. Anyway, sorry for the long rant.
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart Rhythm Conditions Support Group.
Live in Faith, not in Fear.....
easier said than done,
I know, huh?
It's is but I've been trying. I've got helpful passages marked in my Bible. I try to read my Bible and pray every day.
I feel your angst. I also have anxiety particularly around cardiac issues. I am a pretty healthy 61f but with high LDL and a family history of cardiac disease. I’m in the middle of preparing for a long distance move, very stressful, and I am hyper focused on every heartbeat it seems. The best I can tell you is that you’re not alone in your anxiety. I try to redirect my thoughts or divert my attention to something else when it gets bad. I have a jigsaw puzzle game on my iPad that helps. I hope you feel better.
Thank you so much. Good luck on your move. Remember to take a step back and breathe when it gets to overwhelming.
I, too, have found that when I am in the midst of great anxiety, a puzzle game on my iphone or ipad helps greatly. I have to focus on the game and move fingers/thumbs quickly to work the game or puzzle. I was never good at a Rubik's cube, but it would serve the same purpose for someone who is. Anything that helps divert my focus off ME and my anxious thoughts can break the cycle.... at least until the next time!! Thanks for sharing your story, @writer413