Is it Anxiety?

[Chavo60]

Found this website by accident while googling my symptoms. I’ve experienced dizziness for about a year but since May (it’s now July) it’s gotten very bad. Almost passed out on three occasions. Hospitalized on two.

I feel dizzy all the time. After my faint spells I feel a spacey feeling in my brain. Tightness on my scalp. Cold sweats. Uncontrollable shivers. And Nausea.

The sensations gets better after each night of sleep but last 2-4 days and then I’ll have another “episode”

I’ve gotten EKGs, CT scans, MRI... seen a GP, cardiologist, neurologist, ENT. Wore a event monitor for a month and All tests have been normal. One doctor told me it’s anxiety. I don’t feel stressed so don’t understand the reason behind the anxiety.

I haven’t completely given in to the diagnosis (self) but the symptoms sound familiar with those others are experiencing on this website.

How do I deal with this? I’ve become more antisocial and all I want to do is sleep since it makes me feel better. I just want to feel normal again.

Any help, advice, guidance is TRULY appreciated. Thank you

[Agora1]

Hi Chavo60, on those 2 occasions when you were hospitalized what was the diagnosis? You say one doctor told you it was anxiety. What did the other doctors say? Anxiety symptoms do cross over with physical issues. So we can't always blame anxiety on this symptoms. The fact that you have almost passed out several times is not that usual for the anxiety prone patient. We may feel like we are about to lose it but never do. You say you are not anxious to begin with. The fact that you are calling these "episodes" makes me think more along the lines of a physical issue.

If this were me, I would pursue the problem until I was assured of what I was dealing with. Please keep us updated on your progress. I can only related to your issues by comparing them to my own experience over the years with anxiety and agoraphobia. Wishing you well. xx

[Chavo60 in reply to Agora1]

Thanks for posting! On both occasions the exams came back normal. I was given Valium and monitored over night. Was told to follow up with my GP, cardiologist and neurologist. I’ve done it all and still no diagnosis.

I never really passed out. Just felt like I was going to.

[Agora1 in reply to Chavo60]

I know how frustrating this can be in not really having a diagnosis. In order to get better we need to know as well as believe what we have so we can go forward.

Where do you stand right now with the doctors? Are you on medication? Are they going to follow up with you in a few months to see if anything has changed?

I do hope you get some answers. Don't give up. This is your life and you deserve to live it fully. xx

[peanutbuttercup]

I have to tell you mine started the exact same way...a different set of physical symptoms but I did the same thing. I had everything checked out...couldn’t understand what was happening to me. I’ve never had anxiety or depression before in my life, but guess what. That’s what it is. I’m just starting to come to terms with it. How was the Valium for you?

[Chavo60 in reply to peanutbuttercup]

Haven’t taken the Valium even though it was prescribed. Trying hard to avoid becoming depended on it.

When they have it to me at the hospital I went straight to sleep and woke up feeling better.

[peanutbuttercup in reply to Chavo60]

Yeah, your post sounds all too familiar. Anxiety and depression. Still doesn’t make sense to me either. I’m still trying to come to grips with it. You’ve probably seen every kind of doctor there is except maybe the one you need to see...a psych. Go see one and describe your exact symptoms...see what they say. I’d love to hear back on what happens. Good luck.