desertraven
24-03-17, 18:21
Just when I thought I was doing okay I started feeling anxious last night and did not sleep a wink. I was convinced that every time I would lay down I cannot breathe. I have a pulse ox and my O2 is always normal. I try using that to calm myself but to no avail.
My PE fears started two weeks ago. I had a bout of bad reflux and had an endoscopy there was no active erosion but I did have a hiatal hernia. Dr put me on protonix and said all is good. I have felt short of breath since before the endoscopy and up until now, off and on. I had a chest x-ray:normal. I had a d-dimer blood test: normal. I have not had swollen calves or redness, etc and O2 sats are normal. I do not smoke, drink, and am not on birth control pills. I can't beat this feeling that I still have a PE and the d-dimer is somehow a false negative, even though everything I read about that test says it's an excellent indicator to rule out PE. The Dr in the ER said that if I had a PE I would not be carrying on for weeks with moments of feeling fine. He said I would know for sure I had it and my vitals would reflect that by now.
Can my anxiety really cause shortness of breath for weeks??? WEEKS!? It comes in waves and I also have no appetite. I feel like a wreck. I have an appt next week with my GP to discuss going on an SSRI and I am actively looking for a therapist. What else can I do? I feel ridiculous running to the ER every time I feel like I am dying only to have normal vitals signs and the Dr saying "you are feeling the effects of extreme stress". I work, go to nursing school full time, have a family, weekend clinical rotations so yes I am stretched thin. I am worried that if I can't get it together I am going to end up inpatient somewhere to get stabilized.
---------- Post added at 11:21 ---------- Previous post was at 10:42 ----------
I totally forgot to add that I went to urgent care this morning and the Dr there actually listened to what I was describing and thinks I have mild asthma induced by allergies. She gave me an inhaler and some steroids and said lets try that and see if it works with your shortness of breath before you meet with your GP. Fingers crossed that it was this the entire time and will get better over the next few days.
My PE fears started two weeks ago. I had a bout of bad reflux and had an endoscopy there was no active erosion but I did have a hiatal hernia. Dr put me on protonix and said all is good. I have felt short of breath since before the endoscopy and up until now, off and on. I had a chest x-ray:normal. I had a d-dimer blood test: normal. I have not had swollen calves or redness, etc and O2 sats are normal. I do not smoke, drink, and am not on birth control pills. I can't beat this feeling that I still have a PE and the d-dimer is somehow a false negative, even though everything I read about that test says it's an excellent indicator to rule out PE. The Dr in the ER said that if I had a PE I would not be carrying on for weeks with moments of feeling fine. He said I would know for sure I had it and my vitals would reflect that by now.
Can my anxiety really cause shortness of breath for weeks??? WEEKS!? It comes in waves and I also have no appetite. I feel like a wreck. I have an appt next week with my GP to discuss going on an SSRI and I am actively looking for a therapist. What else can I do? I feel ridiculous running to the ER every time I feel like I am dying only to have normal vitals signs and the Dr saying "you are feeling the effects of extreme stress". I work, go to nursing school full time, have a family, weekend clinical rotations so yes I am stretched thin. I am worried that if I can't get it together I am going to end up inpatient somewhere to get stabilized.
---------- Post added at 11:21 ---------- Previous post was at 10:42 ----------
I totally forgot to add that I went to urgent care this morning and the Dr there actually listened to what I was describing and thinks I have mild asthma induced by allergies. She gave me an inhaler and some steroids and said lets try that and see if it works with your shortness of breath before you meet with your GP. Fingers crossed that it was this the entire time and will get better over the next few days.