First Post

[Jeff]

Hi, found this site yesterday and really need someone to talk to.

About 6 years ago when I was discharged from the military I began feeling these skipped heartbeats.  Needless to say, I was very freaked out.  The doctors put me on Atenelol for high blood pressure and later Paxil because I couldn't get over the fear that I was going to die from this.  Well I did great for about 4 years, but because of cost I had to ween myself off the meds, without insurance they were more than $100 a month!

I have been good for the last two years until about 3 weeks ago.  Yes my heart has been "jumping" again, my heart rate is around 100bpm with just normal activity, and my blood pressure has gone up.  The difference this time is what I call adrenaline rushes out of the blue.  Even on my good days, I am getting these nasty rushes of adrenaline and a racing heartbeat.  It's most problematic because it's keeping me awake at night.  I will sleep for a few hours, but then be jolted awake by one of these "Rushes" at about 4am and from that point on I lay wide awake thinking about it, when I start to drift back to sleep, it'll happen again.  I get up shaky and nervous feeling like I could run a marathon.

I have gone to the doctor twice now, but it's a new Doctor and new opinion.  The first visit he told me to exercise and relax, the second he put me on 10mg of Celexa (my choice of celexa over paxil was because of the sexual side effects I experienced with paxil).  Anyway, I have been on the celexa for 10 days now and I am still having these rushes.  Sometimes I get them and feel this burning sensation in the gut or back of my neck. 

Have any of you had similar symptoms?  I am going back to the Dr. tomorrow for a follow up, I wonder if I should ask him to put me back on my old regimen of atenelol and paxil (since the celexa seems to be giving me the same side affect I was trying to avoid).  He told me on my last visit that he was hesitant to put me back on atenelol (not sure why).  He seems to think the HBP is just because of the anxiety, I'm guessing.  But it seems the 10mg of celexa isn't helping.

Thanks for any input

Jeff

[basketcase]

Jeff,
  Hello and I hope things are doing better for you. Living with anxiety has been the hardest thing. I too get the skipping heart thing but my doctor hasn't given me anything for it. I too have high blood pressure which I feel isn't helped by having anxiety and I take 2 different medications for the blood pressure. What have you found out since your last posting? My doctor wants me to take Celexa but since I've tried Prozac and Paxil with little effect but worsening anxiety and nausea I hate the thought of starting something new. I also saw a therapist for the first time last week but it was just an hour of me talking about all kinds of things so the therapist could get an idea of my situation. Have you tried talking to a therapist?
   I wish you all the best and hope that you can find a solution. I've suffered with my anxiety for 10 yrs and have watched as my world slowly became smaller and smaller. Now I find it hard to go out unless I've taken my anxiety medication which is Klonopin.....I was on xanax but my doctor switched drugs saying Klonopins effects last longer. I haven't seen that it does though.
   Do write again if you want to. I think it helps sharing with others who are going through the same thing.

Take care........Valerie