Anxiety: bouts of nervousness, dry flushing and nausea

Posted by annedodrill44 @annedodrill44, Jan 16, 2018

I have been experiencing intense bouts of nervousness, dry flushing and nausea for months. These “spells” come on quickly and pass quickly. They happen a few times a week, which doesn’t sound like a big deal. But this feeling is so frightening! I’ve had heart, blood and urine testing. Everything comes back “normal”. I am a fit 70-year-old woman, so I can’t blame this on hormones! I’ll be at Mayo for my annual physical next month thank goodness. If my symptoms have a name, they’ll know it!! In the meantime, I’d appreciate hearing from anyone who has similar issues!

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annedodrill44 | @annedodrill44 | Feb 6, 2018

In reply to @kdubois "Hi @annedodrill44, have you started any new medications lately or around the timeframe when these symptoms..." + (show)

Forgive the tardiness in responding to your question, Lisa. No ... no new meds are causing these feelings, but I’m certainly going to ask Mayo if I can cut back my Synthroid in case that’s causing the problem. And I also hear adrenal issues could be a culprit. I’ll be in Rochester in a week thank goodness!

annedodrill44 | @annedodrill44 | Feb 6, 2018

In reply to @gailb "@annedodrill44 I also welcome you to Mayo Connect. We are here to help each other through..." + (show)

@gailb

@annedodrill44 I also welcome you to Mayo Connect. We are here to help each other through our experiences with situations that may be similar to yours and relating what worked or didn't work in resolving or helping things improve.

I have symptoms similar to yours that turned out to be panic attacks, and anxiety attacks. I don't know if you've had your tyroid checked, but if not, I recommend that. One time when I was having the same symptoms, it turned out that my Synthroid medication was too strong for what I needed. It was causing my anxiety. Other times, I have truly had anxiety to the point of panic. These sessions lasted 20 minutes or so, and I felt as if I might be going crazy. If i was in any store, where this happened often, I would have to leave, hoping I didn't show signs of what was going on with me. I figured if anyone noticed, nurses would come in white coats, put me on a gurney and take me to a mental hospital.

I basically treated myself during those years by reading Born to Win, Women as Winners, Your Erroneous Zones, and other self-help books at the time. I was in a therapy/counseling group at the time, but was even afraid to tell them about my "sessions". I endured the anxiety most of my life, but learned how to meditate and relax, and did Yoga over the years, which all relieved the symptoms most of the time. Certain situations were impossible for me to control my fear in, such as flying, being in "breath - taking" views of valleys, bridges, heights in general. I would literally get nauseated and my heart pounded out of control. I learned that a small dose, 1 mg, of Lorazepam would help calm my anxiety when it was out of relaxation control. I didn't like taking it, but needed it in order to fly. Then about 10 years ago I saw a friend of mine who was always high strung in the grocery store. She was very relaxed and happy and very different from the person I had known. I asked her what she was doing in her life that had made her change so dramatically. She told she had been put on antidepressants and they had changed her life. I made an appointment with my doctor and asked for antidepressants telling him my long experiences and my lifetime of abuse, neglect, etc. He prescribed Citalopram, 20 mg to start. After 2 weeks, i began to feel the difference in my anxiety. I am still taking 40 mg of Citalopram and I am so thankful for it. My irrational fears and anxieties are gone and I am free to live my life.

Everyone is different and what worked for me in my situation may or may not work for others. You may not even have "anxiety" issues. I hope you will be assertive in pursuing an earlier appointment with Mayo. At our age, quality of what's left of our lives is very important.

Warm regards,
Gail
Volunteer Mentor

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Thank you so much, Gailb, for sharing your similar experiences. It’s so comforting to realize I’m not the only one suffering these symptoms. And I’m grateful to hear there are meds that may help. My complaints are so vague that a diagnosis may never happen! If that’s the case, I will go for quality of life and take those pills too! I’ll let you know what Mayo tells me following my physical In 2 weeks.

annedodrill44 | @annedodrill44 | Feb 6, 2018

In reply to @parus "Anxiety seems a way of life. I roll with them and do the best I can...." + (show)

And that’s exactly what I’m fearing, @parus. That I won’t get a definitive diagnosis, which to me means having to live with these “spells” of mine forever.

Jim, Volunteer Mentor | @jimhd | Feb 6, 2018

In reply to @parus "@ccdc I know this feeling. I scare myself at times. Mornings are the worse for some..." + (show)

@kdo0827

It usually takes up to 6 weeks to assess the benefit of an antidepressant. I had to try several before I found one that worked for me. It was a long process. Most of them have warnings about the possibility of suicidal thoughts during the first several weeks, which happened to me with one that I tried. Going through the trial periods can be really frustrating. But it helps to know what to expect. I finally settled on Wellbutrin, and have been taking it for 12 years now. I think your doctor would encourage you to be patient, but if you experience serious side effects, you certainly should tell the doctor.

Jim

Jim, Volunteer Mentor | @jimhd | Feb 6, 2018

In reply to @parus "@ccdc I know this feeling. I scare myself at times. Mornings are the worse for some..." + (show)

@gman007

Gary, I took Cymbalta for a year or so for neuropathy pain, but it wasn't helping. All it did was to cause ED. I stopped taking it a few months ago and libido soon returned, thank God.

Jim

kdo0827 | @kdo0827 | Feb 6, 2018

In reply to @parus "@ccdc I know this feeling. I scare myself at times. Mornings are the worse for some..." + (show)

Thanks @jimhd. I had a seizure today followed by hallucinations. Scared me to death. I see my dr on Thursday. Thing is I don't know if I should take it again or should I let her wean me off? Don't want a repeat of today.

peach414144 | @peach414144 | Feb 6, 2018

In reply to @parus "Sure would be nice to not always be tied in knots within. Antidepressants increased my dark..." + (show)

dear gman and parus, thank you for caring. i am doing better with age. not so many responsibilities now. just trying to work with the old age arthritis pains. but still dancing while sweeping the floors. and keeping the music going. good luck all.

peach414144 | @peach414144 | Feb 6, 2018

In reply to @parus "Sure would be nice to not always be tied in knots within. Antidepressants increased my dark..." + (show)

dear gman, again i thank you and i salute you. you seem to have a good i.q. with much experience and caring for others. yes, i have learned to admire myself for the achievements i have made and the horrors i have overcome. What i think helped me was when i gave birth to my son who was born with a cleft palate and lip. (double). there was so much to be done for so many years to overcome this birth defect. it kept me so busy and i knew he needed me so very much that i had to be so very, very strong. there was much suffering on both our parts but we both overcame. i know god gave him to me because he knew i would love and take care of him. sometimes we do not realize how strong we can be. love to all.

Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Feb 6, 2018

In reply to @parus "@ccdc I know this feeling. I scare myself at times. Mornings are the worse for some..." + (show)

Hi, @kdo0827 -- terribly sorry to hear you had a seizure and hallucinations today. Even though you are going to see your doctor on Thursday, did you by any chance call her today and let her know about these side effects?

Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Feb 6, 2018

In reply to @kdubois "Hi @annedodrill44, have you started any new medications lately or around the timeframe when these symptoms..." + (show)

Hi, @annedodrill44 -- did anything come out during your appointment related to the possible adrenal issues or the Synthroid you were planning to ask about?