Anxiety Issues

[HotDiggityDog]

Hello,  I am Erin.  I posted this on the main board but figure this might be a better place for it.

I had my first panic attack back when I was 19.  I am not sure of the trigger but figure it was either because of a car accident (very mild one) or an asthma attack.  Anyways I ended up in ER a few weeks later convinced I was having a heart attack. All tests came back normal, and the doctor put me on Zoloft.  It took me awhile to face the fact that the problem was psychological and not physical.  Anyways eventually I was well enough to go off of Zoloft and although I get anxious I had been okay.

That is until of late.  About 3 weeks ago I got sick.  I thought it was a bad chest cold and whatnot and was in bed for a week or so.  Finally I decided to go to the doctor because I was so fatigued.  They told me the cold was in fact a bad asthma attack (which never has been that serious).  I spent 2 hours or so in the doctors office freaking out before I was brought to the hospital.  There I continued to be nervous as I was unsure what was going on.  I ended up being admitted for 5 days.  They have no idea what made me so sick (infections, asthma, whatever)  I was petrified the whole time.  Before I was released they told me they found that I had hyperthyroidism, but that I would be okay to go home and get treatment in a few weeks.  However, later that week at a followup doctors appointment he found my heart rate to be at 160.  They immediately sent me back to the hospital, where I had to be placed on heart monitors etc.  They said all of the nervousness and heart racing were caused by the thyroid. 

I am home now but a complete mess.  I have seen the specialist and they arent sure that it is in fact just my thyroid or that I have severe anxiety.  I have been placed on Xanax but I feel like it only gives me temporary relief and makes me very sleepy. 
I am worried about everything.  My heart, my breathing, pains.  I am scared to get up and move around for fear that my heart will race again, or that I will have trouble breathing.  The doctors have said that these are controlled and that it is the anxiety that is getting to me.

Anyone have similar symptoms:  Exhaustion from being on their feet for a few minutes, heavy coughing and then short of breath, tightness in the back, shoulders and upper body (tension), constantly checking your pulse.  I am scared to get out of the house for fear something is wrong and do anything strenous.  With the panic attacks they used to come and go, but now I am anxious and uncomfortable every second.  Anyone have any advice?

[apple]

I read somewhere that anxiety is one of the symptoms of thyroid...maybe once you get that sorted out you may have less anxiety?!! :-\

Sorry things are so tough right now

[HotDiggityDog]

Thats what I am hoping that the thyroid is making me so unsettled.  However, since my endocrinologist isnt even sure anymore it is the thyroid that makes me more anxious.  They say that my general anxiety attacks/panic disorder really make symptoms worse.  I just hate feeling tense all over.

Does anyone get anxiety attacks like many times a day?  Right now its every couple of hours something I have never felt before.

[NorthernRC]

Boy diggity, last month I could have written your post! I thought for sure that I was a goner! I went the hospital twice in one week with Heart attack symptoms. It's hard because you can't convince yourself that your not about to die a painful death. The only thing that helped me what to have EVERYTHING checked. I had three EKG's, two blood test and a full echo stress test.  I also have benefited allot from therapy and being involved on this board ;). I too was but on zoloft and xanax for about 6 weeks. Now I'm  on effexor and BuSpar (not so addictive and not as much weight gain). I also go to the therapist every other week. Exercise also helps but it's hard if your worried about having a heart attack to exercises. Keep checking in. We're all here to help!

[mbabynz]

welcome i 2 am i sufferer of panic anxiety the last couple of weeks ive had a real bad run in with panic attacks almost hourly anxiety all the time so i know the feeling im getting on the right track now they say patience but that i havnt got instant cure i wanted.good luck and where here to listen (read) and help when we can
take care
mbabynz