How my everyday panic started..

[MichelleFl]

I had suffered with mild anxiety since I was 36 years old and I was getting along pretty well with not many attacks in a month.  In January of 2007 I had surgery to remove my gallbladder and everything was well.  Then in December of 2007 I had my entire thyroid removed.  After I woke up in my room my whole body had the shakes on and off again for 3 days straight.  That very first night I asked my nurse if my shakes were supposed to be this bad and she looked at me and said with a puzzled look.. I think so... She had no idea if it was normal or not.  Everytime I tried to go to sleep that day of the surgery I would awaken to choking and gasping for air.  It happened everytime I would fall asleep sitting up so I did not sleep for 4 day straight.  After that life fell back into place and healing began.  2 weeks later I began with dizziness and related it to the new medication I was starting I also became very fidgety and could not sit still.  Doctor told me that once my thyroid levels normalized out that would go away.  Well here it is 9 months later and a new symptom has happened.  I get dizzy, try to eat solid food and choke.  Since I was told about an inner ear inbalance and that Xanax sedates the inner ear I thought that was why I was having these symptoms as indeed the dizziness went away.  Now with the choking issue as soon as I take my half tablet of Xanax that goes away too.  Finally after 9 months I know it's anxiety and am contemplating which medication I should take for this because Xanax is addictive.  My brain must now be wired from those first few days of choking in the hospital that any little sensation in my neck sets me off.  Everyday my neck is tight and the muscles just will not relax.  I relate it all to this surgery and hope one day I can rewire my brain to forget it.

[Kayteecatt]

A doctor rushing me to the E.R. twice within a month for things that I did not have are what started my anxiety.  I have characteristics of both PTSD and hypochondria now.  It's just amazing what our brains can come up with.  I have been afraid of Xanax, but I know others who swear it's okay as long as you only take it on the days that you can't function without it.

Best of luck to you.