Kinda lost and confused...

[kia-kaha]

Hi all,

I am a 39 year old male, who is very lost and confused right now.

Nearly 3 months ago, I collapsed at work (never blacked out, just got really dizzy and couldn't keep upright) and had to be rushed to hospital with elevated blood pressure and ongoing dizziness and nausea. I was discharged after a number of tests (blood tests, heart scans and checks for a stroke) with no real diagnosis. Everything looked fine.

I took two weeks off work and rested to try and bring my blood pressure back down to normal (in the hospital it was 150/110).

I have had nearly every test possible, but they still can't find the cause. Hearing was fine, heart echocardiogram (still waiting for results), heart x-ray was normal, blood pressure is now medicated and down to 128/88 (within acceptable limits).

Since then, I have had many "attacks" of this dizziness, but have never collapsed. But these post-collapse attacks have been a little different and have me wondering if they are panic/anxiety attacks.

I feel a numbness/tingling in my lower legs and feet, the lightheadedness (which scares me into thinking I'm going to collapse again), a tightness in the chest, instant loss of appetite (if I am eating when it happens, it changes suddenly and the food makes me feel sick), and a prickling/tingling sensation down the back of my neck. These are the things I have been conscious of anyway.

My doctor has just started me on Fluoxetine (Prozac) to help with some of the anxiety associated with collapsing and I am now on day 4. I had a couple of massive "dizziness attacks" today and thought I was going to collapse again.

The doctor hasn't diagnosed me with panic disorder / attacks / whatever, and is still looking for a physical cause for the problems, including Menieres Disease (I have to wait 4 more months before the ENT appt for this).

Thanks for reading! Please let me know if these symptoms sound typical for what you have faced with panic attacks etc, as I am starting to think that I am going crazy with all this.

[Notsoskinny]

Hi Kia,
Sorry to hear of your problems. If at all possible, I'd try and put a positive slant on things by suggesting that of all the tests you have had so far, they have come back negative, and a number of them tests would probably be welcomed by many of the readers of these posts !! You now know you need to keep an eye on your blood pressure ( which you didn't before ) and you are still "in the system" for further tests to try and sort it out.

I've found with my own condition ( which is also still to be diagnosed fully ) the more I looked up my symptoms on the internet the more concerned I became, especially when the subject of a possible Cancer got mentioned. When I discussed these concerns at the hospital, the specialist told me that the most common causes for my condition, tended to be the most common !!! , with Cancer being at the very extreme end of the spectrum of my searches. I must admit to drawing great comfort from that levelling statement, Ha.

It's good that your Doctor hasn't diagnosed you with Panic/Anxiety etc and is still looking for a cause, as if he had done so, you could now be living with something else that you don't know about !!!
I hope that when you do find out what it is, you don't find it too debilitating and can continue enjoying life unhindered by it.
Take Care,
Notso.

[kia-kaha]

Hi NotSo,

Thanks for your reply. I do see the bright side of a lot of it, but another part of me just wants a diagnosis, so I can start moving forward a littler

If it is panic disorder, I can start to relax when I get the dizziness and know I definitely won't have a problem. But at present, I am left a little unsure as to whether to run back to a safe place or stay and face it.

I hope you get the relief you need too :) best wishes