Flares of Nausea, Panic, Chills ..

[medsoph]

Hiya! I'm at my wits end and I really don't know who or where to ask.

I was diagnosed with PCOS at 14, Endo at 21 and have had a total of 5 operations and am now 31. I was told after last operation things were 'ok' but to go on Zoladex. As my problems have been lifelong and Zoladex is only a temporary solution (plus horror stories attached) I decided to go with nothing. I react very badly to hormone pills. I tried depo injection and wasn't able to walk for the second two months so came off of it. I also had many neurological events while on Mirena and Cerazette.

In August last year I began to get bouts of nausea for about 3 days prior to my period, mostly in the evening. With other neurological problems seemingly tied to 'time of the month' I thought I would try a monophasic pill (loestrin) to level hormones as a test. The side effects were awful, mood dropped way down, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, paranoia, fear, severe nausea, diarrhoea ..and then very aggressive thrush same time each month (for three months). I couldn't bare the side effects so I came off them and I am really not right, ovulation is awful and my periods start including a week long migraine (with aura + I smell either burning or dog poo just before the attack).

During ovulation (like clockwork): sudden uncontrollable diarrhoea (to the point I've had to poop in front of my bf on the side of busy motorway!! Sorry TMI :() flu symptoms, nervous/fear, severe headache/migraine, hip pain, very low mood, abdo pain.

Period: All of the above yet longer lasting. Migraine (with aura) for a +/-week. What really worries/bothers me is this huge wave of nausea I get, it hits several times throughout the day and then welcomes in intense panic and fear. I also shake feeling VERY cold, like suddenly my blood is made of ice (temperature shoots down to 35 degrees), my body feels cold to others, yet its no cold in a room. Whats worse is now I have an intense phobia of being near other people that are unwell. If I know someone is sick then it sets this chain reaction off too (only the nausea and panic bit).

I don't understand whether the nausea (and has an underlying cause) sets off the panic or the other way round. I had a simple hormone test done last week but apparently that's fine. I don't know whether its my hormones (endo or PCOS) messing about.. or to try depo injection again.. surely the side effects of that are better than this.. last night I was so panicked that I was determined I should dump my bf and had many suicidal thoughts.

The symptoms are less during the month but still there on and off. I go to Mindfulness group and counselling but neither are making a difference.

If anyone has similar feelings or can offer advice I would really really appreciate it! Thanks

xx

[Hidden]

Have you talked to your doctor about how you're feeling emotionally? It's very important to speak to your doctor and friends and family about this as much as you can, make sure you do to get support. Xx

[medsoph in reply to Hidden]

Hiya, yep I mentioned it to my GP back in November before I started the Loestrin but the 'mood' issues really didn't seem that much of concern to her.. 5min appointments, there's only so much she can do I guess. I self referred to Mind and they sorted out counselling and a therapy group but those are now coming to an end and really haven't changed much :(. Thanks for your reply!

[Hidden]

That sounds like a panic attack, I had one once when I took a high dose birth control pill, panic attacks can happen from hormones levels however not always the ones that you think would. In your cases they've checked the hormones associated with your reproductive system however there are 3 hormones in your brain known as endorphins: seratonin, dopamine, and oxytocin, when these screw up you can get a panic disorder.

I would talk to your GP since there are treatments to help with panic attacks, one of my friends had social anxiety so bad she'd have panic attacks, however she found a medication that helps her manage and goes to therapy. Try therapy 1st and see how that goes.

[medsoph in reply to Hidden]

Hi Hannah, thanks for the reply!

Glad to hear things worked out better for your friend and thanks for the advice.

I'm already on Lyrica (for pain but its also a GAD drug) and amitryptyline - low dose for migraine but I was advised by the lupus clinic to stop due to heart stuff.. I will go to the Dr asap to ask if I can increase the Lyrica.. I avoided doing this as I didn't want to become dependant on higher doses and the withdrawal was very bad when i previously came off them years back, so avoided ever going on higher dosages.

As I mentioned, I see a counsellor and I go to therapy groups but these haven't made a difference.

I've had many panic attacks which have left me incapacitated, however this feels very different, though the panic does become intense because I'm terrified of being sick crapping myself infront of people, like what's already happened due to this. The nausea is almost constant, my weight has dropped significantly from avoiding food. I thought it was pregnancy at first but that came out negative.. Maybe I just get morning sickness..all the time!

Many hugs!

[Hidden in reply to medsoph]

Could you maybe see a psychiatrist instead of a counsellor? They have more research under their plate and could probably better help you with the social/sickness anxiety. Panic attacks are not normal and you shouldn't have to accept that they are, a psych can help you work out a few routes on how to prevent them and how to manage them when they do happen.

My friend saw a counsellor 1st and then they were referred to a psychiatrist and things got better.

Painkillers esspecially Narcotics can be bad for your health overtime, increasing Lycra may cause more issues since what hormones may make a person more calm may make another mad, sad or anxious, tell your doctor about your symptoms and ask to get your endorphins checked since they can better treat anxiety through that route.

[medsoph in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Hannah, Lyrica isn't a narcotic as far as I am aware. It's an anticonvulsant, but used in the treatment of neuropathic pain, epilepsy and GAD. Its not really an option to come off of them (even though I don't want to take them!!) but when I was first on them years back (for anxiety rather than now, for which they treat constant electric shocks in my face and pain caused by lupus related things) it was a psychiatrist that prescribed them. I have also been on them for several years, the rather violent nausea only started later last year.

You're right though, I think perhaps a trip to psych might be worth suggesting to the GP, thanks. Whether she listens or not is another matter.. *sigh*..