Zach82782
17-12-11, 04:02
I've been suffering from severe panic attacks in addition to anxiety on and off for 11 years now. I have had thorough medical examinations in the past that include multiple ECG's and an ECHO when I first started having issues at 17 (I'm now 29 years old). I have never had a stress test or a holter though. I have not had any issues until February of this year. I had a bout of the flu and went into the hospital emergency care center to see if I needed an antibiotic. The medical staff rushed me into this chair to take my vitals and I became extremely nervous and my blood pressure went through the roof (170/100), causing the nurse to be concerned, questioning if I was having cardiac problems.
Since that initial attack all year I have been having problems with panic attacks and irrational fears. I'm always worried about my blood pressure in addition to my heart. I'm constantly checking my pulse and I become scared during routine checkups when they are about to put the cuff around my arm (always expecting the worst). I'm sure like a lot of others I equate my anxiety symptoms (lightheadedness, palpatations, tightness in chest, back/chest pain, cant sit still, shaking, sweating, racing heart etc.) to some physical problem. My psychiatrist prescribed me effexor xr 150mg in addition to .25 of xanax on an as needed basis. The crazy part is I run distance 3-5 days a week approximately 3-4.5 miles a day and when I cant run I do vigorous aerobic exercise for 45-50 minutes without stopping. I have no family history of heart disease. My blood pressure has been elevated during each doctors exam (130/80 range) but this is probably due to panic. I had a full blood workup and my doctor commented that my cholesterol is good.
At one point I purchased a blood pressure monitor for at home but I had to get rid of it because I was taking It all the time and It was creating more anxiety. Worrying about my blood pressure spiking during panic and anxiety is actually raising my blood pressure. I cant seem to shake this phobia.... I had an additional ECG in March of this year and everything turned out normal yet I'm still worried every time I get a panic attack that It was a cardiac event or the onset of heart disease or some sort of undiagnosed condition. All day I am fatigued from adrenaline overkill, I cant sleep due to worry and when I'm not having panic attacks I am generally nervous all day causing my mind to race.
I apologize for the lengthy post. I had to vent. It has been very rough the last few months.
Since that initial attack all year I have been having problems with panic attacks and irrational fears. I'm always worried about my blood pressure in addition to my heart. I'm constantly checking my pulse and I become scared during routine checkups when they are about to put the cuff around my arm (always expecting the worst). I'm sure like a lot of others I equate my anxiety symptoms (lightheadedness, palpatations, tightness in chest, back/chest pain, cant sit still, shaking, sweating, racing heart etc.) to some physical problem. My psychiatrist prescribed me effexor xr 150mg in addition to .25 of xanax on an as needed basis. The crazy part is I run distance 3-5 days a week approximately 3-4.5 miles a day and when I cant run I do vigorous aerobic exercise for 45-50 minutes without stopping. I have no family history of heart disease. My blood pressure has been elevated during each doctors exam (130/80 range) but this is probably due to panic. I had a full blood workup and my doctor commented that my cholesterol is good.
At one point I purchased a blood pressure monitor for at home but I had to get rid of it because I was taking It all the time and It was creating more anxiety. Worrying about my blood pressure spiking during panic and anxiety is actually raising my blood pressure. I cant seem to shake this phobia.... I had an additional ECG in March of this year and everything turned out normal yet I'm still worried every time I get a panic attack that It was a cardiac event or the onset of heart disease or some sort of undiagnosed condition. All day I am fatigued from adrenaline overkill, I cant sleep due to worry and when I'm not having panic attacks I am generally nervous all day causing my mind to race.
I apologize for the lengthy post. I had to vent. It has been very rough the last few months.