zenwin
18-09-09, 09:34
Hi all - I just found the forum and have been reading thru so much. This is such a wonderful resource! I am so happy to have found it.
A little about me. I'm Leslie. 44. I'm from the States -- from Louisiana to be exact. I'm happily married to a wonderful and understanding man (thank goodness) for going on 13 years now. No kids, just the furry four-pawed, barking kind. I had a hysterectomy 2 yrs ago for severe fibroids and a risky ovary and sadly, I am about 35 lbs overweight -- altho I do cook "healthy" (whole grains and olive oils, etc) and go bicycling every day.
I have battled anxiety since I was in my early 20s (so roughly about 20 yrs now). It had gone into "remission" if you want to call it that until I was 38... then my older brother died of a sudden heart attack (he'd just celebrated his 40th bday). That was 6 yrs ago and for these past 6 yrs, my anxiety seems to have worsened. My BP shot up to about 170/98 and they put me on BP meds. I went to a cardiologist where they did an ultrasound of my heat and told me I had Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP) and the BP meds they put me on (Toprol 100 mg) also helped with the MVP and the palpitations, etc. Well around January, I started getting short of breath and told my doc I thought my childhood asthma had returned. I was always out of breath and just felt BAD all the time.. like my muscles weren't getting enough oxygen to them and I was wheezing on the exhale. She changed my meds, the new meds made me crazy, we went back to my prior meds, I got an inhaler, then I got Simbicort (a long-lasting inhaler that cost $200 per month.. sigh)... and everytime I go to the doc, my BP is still up... like 160/90-something. So I went 2 mos ago, they did a chest xray on me -- all clear -- I got a mammogram (mother is breast cancer survivor for over 17 yrs now) it was clear... doc tried once more to change my meds to another BP med and I went home... took it 3 times for 3 days and I felt worse than I ever did. So I just said ENOUGH! I stopped taking my BP meds (something I would NOT recommend going cold-turkey on it caused horrible headaches and my anxiety went thru the roof). But I take my BP regularly with my arm cuff and it generally runs 125/81 -- much lower than it ever was on 100 mgs of Toprol (which I was on for nearly 5 yrs).
Anyway, lately, I've been having a resurgence of anxiety and I have no idea what set it off. For the past 3 days I've had horrible palpitations in the evening, usually following a meal. I feel full after eating just a little (and I'm not used to that!). I have horrible reflux. I eat Tums or down an Alka Seltzer after my evening meals and I know this is too much info, but i feel better if I belch or pass gas... yet, I can't most times. And the fluttering... it goes on and on for hours. Then it'll stop. Then back to it again. Sigh. I know it's just anxiety... but it drives me nuts. I don't want to go back on a Beta Blocker (which they say helps the flutters -- the MVP) but if it keeps up, I guess I'll have to.
Long intro, I know... sorry! I'm just happy to be here and happy to find so many helpful folks. :hugs:
Thanks!
Leslie
A little about me. I'm Leslie. 44. I'm from the States -- from Louisiana to be exact. I'm happily married to a wonderful and understanding man (thank goodness) for going on 13 years now. No kids, just the furry four-pawed, barking kind. I had a hysterectomy 2 yrs ago for severe fibroids and a risky ovary and sadly, I am about 35 lbs overweight -- altho I do cook "healthy" (whole grains and olive oils, etc) and go bicycling every day.
I have battled anxiety since I was in my early 20s (so roughly about 20 yrs now). It had gone into "remission" if you want to call it that until I was 38... then my older brother died of a sudden heart attack (he'd just celebrated his 40th bday). That was 6 yrs ago and for these past 6 yrs, my anxiety seems to have worsened. My BP shot up to about 170/98 and they put me on BP meds. I went to a cardiologist where they did an ultrasound of my heat and told me I had Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP) and the BP meds they put me on (Toprol 100 mg) also helped with the MVP and the palpitations, etc. Well around January, I started getting short of breath and told my doc I thought my childhood asthma had returned. I was always out of breath and just felt BAD all the time.. like my muscles weren't getting enough oxygen to them and I was wheezing on the exhale. She changed my meds, the new meds made me crazy, we went back to my prior meds, I got an inhaler, then I got Simbicort (a long-lasting inhaler that cost $200 per month.. sigh)... and everytime I go to the doc, my BP is still up... like 160/90-something. So I went 2 mos ago, they did a chest xray on me -- all clear -- I got a mammogram (mother is breast cancer survivor for over 17 yrs now) it was clear... doc tried once more to change my meds to another BP med and I went home... took it 3 times for 3 days and I felt worse than I ever did. So I just said ENOUGH! I stopped taking my BP meds (something I would NOT recommend going cold-turkey on it caused horrible headaches and my anxiety went thru the roof). But I take my BP regularly with my arm cuff and it generally runs 125/81 -- much lower than it ever was on 100 mgs of Toprol (which I was on for nearly 5 yrs).
Anyway, lately, I've been having a resurgence of anxiety and I have no idea what set it off. For the past 3 days I've had horrible palpitations in the evening, usually following a meal. I feel full after eating just a little (and I'm not used to that!). I have horrible reflux. I eat Tums or down an Alka Seltzer after my evening meals and I know this is too much info, but i feel better if I belch or pass gas... yet, I can't most times. And the fluttering... it goes on and on for hours. Then it'll stop. Then back to it again. Sigh. I know it's just anxiety... but it drives me nuts. I don't want to go back on a Beta Blocker (which they say helps the flutters -- the MVP) but if it keeps up, I guess I'll have to.
Long intro, I know... sorry! I'm just happy to be here and happy to find so many helpful folks. :hugs:
Thanks!
Leslie