What is going on?

[clill]

About 5 years ago, I was diagnosed with Panic Disorder....I took Paxil and Klonopin and my attacks stopped....so did my sex drive, but that is another story.  :-)  I eventually weened off the meds...well, almost, 2 mg of Paxil and .5mg of klonopin

Recently, I took a new job in Paris, working long hours, and I started getting these new sensations, unlike what I had with Panic Disorder.

-constant stomach distress...dry heaves in the morning, loss of appetite or increased appetite...
-electric like shocks that begin in my eyes and radiate throughout my body
-pins and needles throughout the day
-various parts of my body that fall asleep
-lightheaded
-hot flashes in my head
-headache
-my balance appears to be off---like I'm going to faint or fall down.

I had every test run possible for the stomach, and there is nothing physically wrong.  Now my big concern is MS.  I am obsessively thinking about it 24-7, and I'm letting it control my life.  Do my symptoms seem like MS?  Can stress bring about the disorder?  I'm really scared and thoughts of dying occasionally come to mind.  I can't afford to get an MRI to look for a brain tumour or MS at this time....

Part of me says, "let it go, its stress.  go and see a psycotherapist".  the other side is saying, "its likely MS, and I should go and get a confirmation"

any thoughts?

[apple]

Truely get confirmation...I don't know about MS but its best to know what you are truely dealing with...its the only way to get help.  the sooner you know what your dealing with the sooner you can make a plan.

Whatever it is thats making you suffer, better to rule out the MS by a doctor than to just rule it anxiety...especially if its not.

Hope you figure it out soon

Apple

[clill]

Michelle,

I would like to hear about your experience.  I had a few days that I thought I was going to completely fall off the wagon.  I think the self-diagnosing on the internet made it worse.  I refuse to read anything about MS, Diabetes, etc.

[Denni]

Whe did you stop to take Paxil? How quickly did you wean off it??

I'm asking this because I stopped taking the drug after being on it for about 1.5 years. I knew that stopping suddenly might cause some dizzyness and flu-like symptoms but figured I could ride those out since I wasn't working. I could not (ended up with a psychotic episode and nearly in jail--definitely not recommended!)

Some symptoms, setting in  2-3 days after stopping Paxil can  include: dizzyness, buzzes in the head (a bit like on-coming fever), gait instability, electric shock sensations, feeling feverish, shaking and commonly (but not in my case) nausea. The list goes on. It seems in large part to overlap with what you are experiencing.

Even if you taper the drug, these symptoms can set in when you reduce down from 10mg and again from 5mg. You need to taper more slowly than that.

If your problems may be due to discontinuing Paxil, resume taking it imediately. It can get much worse. Consider weaning off with the help of the liquid form which can be dosed with a syringe.

I hope that Paxil withdrawal isn't the cause--it's a real bitch.

[craynation]

I can almost guarantee that it is not MS, see my post below.... I haev gone through similar symptoms and its because of my Dad dying and my anxiety with my new baby, the way my Mom has been etc..... I had the MRI's , the Cat Scans and was sent to a Psychaitrist who has determined it is definitely Anxiety coupled with some depression.
Do not worry, you are physically fine.... read my post....


Chris

[clill]

Michelle,

How did you take care of the problem?  Are you stable now?

[clill]

I'm not a doctor so I can't advise you on what to do, but isn't is just frightening what the mind is capable of doing?  Sometimes I don't know who I am....