craigos27
30-11-09, 01:10
Hi all. I have been reading many posts on this forum and i thought i would share my own experiences in the hope that i can convince myself that i am not going mad, or that i dont have a serious illness!
My 'illness' began about 3 months ago. I began having sensations that i could not breath properly. It mostly occurred on a night when i was going to sleep. This sensation did not really bother me as it was not always there. I just continued with my life, i felt 'normal'!
Then (about 2 months ago) i was going to America on holiday. The night before i went i suddenly woke in a state of panic - it felt like my heart stopped beating for a short time. I assumed I was anxious due to the fact I dislike flying. Whilst in America I was physically un-well - sore throat, fever. Had some sensations of feeling breathless - ignored these and carried on with life!
About 2 weeks after America I spilt with my long-term partner. I also changed jobs. I then began to feel really stressed and low. And then it all began.....I have never been the same since! My breathlessness sensation increased in frequency and duration. I began having 'pains' in my heart. My pulse rate went really fast. I felt ill. I began obsessing over my 'symptoms'. Went to the GP (first time in years) - ECG and Bloods took. ECG was fine. Bloods revealed a raised White Blood Cell Count. This FREAKED me out. I assumed all sorts - Cancer, HIV, Leukemia. My mind went crazy. The GP stated that I have had some form of infection - I believed it was something more severe. The GP stated that my breathlessness etc was due to anxiety. I never believed (and still don't to some degree that anxiety could make me feel like this). My bloods were re-took 2 weeks later - White Blood Cell Count lowered. I continued to think something was wrong however.
My 'anxiety' symptoms continued. Whatever was going on affected all areas of my life - work, home and so forth. For instance I had to walk out of a meeting at work because I felt like I couldn't breathe. This then made me feel poorly. I was (and still are to some exent) OBSESSED that I had some major physical illness.
My symptoms continued. I also began feeling physically poorly - a lot! One night I felt ill - fever, temperature. I assumed it was Swine Flu. I contacted the NHS helpline - told them my symptoms. Swine flu was diagnosed and Tamiflu was prescribed. Looking back I actually question if I had Swine Flu. Maybe it was anxiety making me feel ill?! Who knows?!
I went back to work after my 'Swine Flu', yet I felt different, never felt like me! The sensation of not been able to breathe continued. I was obsessed that I had some form of lung disease / problem (I am a light smoker so this didn't help!). I then began feeling really detached from the world. Felt spaced out. Felt like the world was functioning and i was watching it happen. This detachment would come and go. But then it started increasing. I had to leave yet another important meeting as I felt weird. Felt dizzy and light headed. This dizziness continued. My symptoms got so bad that I spent a lot of time in bed. I knew something wasn't right. I done many of searches on the internet, looked at my symptoms. In fact I became (and still are) obsessed with doing this. I then started to read about a condition called Labrynthitis (an inner ear infection caused by a viral infection - could explain my raised White Blood Cell Count?). This condition affects balance, makes people 'dizzy', makes people have vertigo and importantly, can induce high levels of anxiety. I was adament that I had this condition.
I went to see my GP (again!). I was diagnosed with Labrynthitis. I was sceptical of the diagnosis though, mainly due to the fact that Labrynthitis is a very hard condition to diagnose. I tried to believe however this was the reason I have been so anxious. I continued to experience many dizzy episodes / detachment. Going outside was (and still is) a horrible experience - my detachment / dizziness / anxiety increases dramatically when out.
I have become extremely anxious - possibly due to Labrynthitis. I am OBSESSED that something is seriously wrong with me. I have become aware of every sensation in my body. Anything that feels unusual makes me instantly assume that I have a serious illness. If I Look back over the past few weeks I have led myself to believe that I have had:
-Cancer: lung cancer / male breast cancer.
-Hodgkins Lymphoma.
-Brain Tumor.
-MS.
-OCD.
-Psychosis.
-Schizophrenia.
-Parkinsons Disease.
-Heart Failure.
-and many more.
My 'symptoms' have been:
-Shakiness
-Sickness
-Loss of appetite
-Lung ache
-Chest Pain
-Palpitations
-dizziness
-vertigo
-breathlesness
-headaches
-sinus problems
-temperature
-tingling sensations
-body twitching / jerking
-feeling 'on edge'
-detachment
-freezing cold feet
-fatigue
-aches and pains
-and many more.
I have become constantly obsessed with checking / looking at my body. I keep feeling for lumps, bumps and much more. I sometimes make myself believe that I have found lumps / bumps or feel pain. I feel neurotic and out of control. Its destroying my life.
So my questions are:
-is this 'normal' for someone with anxiety?
-What can be done to help me?
-Will I ever feel 'normal' again?
I apprecite to some extent that I have been poorly, and possibly are suffering from Labrynthitis and anxiety. Somedays I feel like I am getting better, other days I feel dreadful and out of control. I intend to re-visit my GP and discuss dealing with this horrible state of mind. I also intend to ask for a chest x-ray as i feel this will 'help' me.
I hope and wish that any sufferers of anxiety find peace at some point in their lives. I have never appreciated how anxiety can debilitate someone.
Good luck to everyone x
My 'illness' began about 3 months ago. I began having sensations that i could not breath properly. It mostly occurred on a night when i was going to sleep. This sensation did not really bother me as it was not always there. I just continued with my life, i felt 'normal'!
Then (about 2 months ago) i was going to America on holiday. The night before i went i suddenly woke in a state of panic - it felt like my heart stopped beating for a short time. I assumed I was anxious due to the fact I dislike flying. Whilst in America I was physically un-well - sore throat, fever. Had some sensations of feeling breathless - ignored these and carried on with life!
About 2 weeks after America I spilt with my long-term partner. I also changed jobs. I then began to feel really stressed and low. And then it all began.....I have never been the same since! My breathlessness sensation increased in frequency and duration. I began having 'pains' in my heart. My pulse rate went really fast. I felt ill. I began obsessing over my 'symptoms'. Went to the GP (first time in years) - ECG and Bloods took. ECG was fine. Bloods revealed a raised White Blood Cell Count. This FREAKED me out. I assumed all sorts - Cancer, HIV, Leukemia. My mind went crazy. The GP stated that I have had some form of infection - I believed it was something more severe. The GP stated that my breathlessness etc was due to anxiety. I never believed (and still don't to some degree that anxiety could make me feel like this). My bloods were re-took 2 weeks later - White Blood Cell Count lowered. I continued to think something was wrong however.
My 'anxiety' symptoms continued. Whatever was going on affected all areas of my life - work, home and so forth. For instance I had to walk out of a meeting at work because I felt like I couldn't breathe. This then made me feel poorly. I was (and still are to some exent) OBSESSED that I had some major physical illness.
My symptoms continued. I also began feeling physically poorly - a lot! One night I felt ill - fever, temperature. I assumed it was Swine Flu. I contacted the NHS helpline - told them my symptoms. Swine flu was diagnosed and Tamiflu was prescribed. Looking back I actually question if I had Swine Flu. Maybe it was anxiety making me feel ill?! Who knows?!
I went back to work after my 'Swine Flu', yet I felt different, never felt like me! The sensation of not been able to breathe continued. I was obsessed that I had some form of lung disease / problem (I am a light smoker so this didn't help!). I then began feeling really detached from the world. Felt spaced out. Felt like the world was functioning and i was watching it happen. This detachment would come and go. But then it started increasing. I had to leave yet another important meeting as I felt weird. Felt dizzy and light headed. This dizziness continued. My symptoms got so bad that I spent a lot of time in bed. I knew something wasn't right. I done many of searches on the internet, looked at my symptoms. In fact I became (and still are) obsessed with doing this. I then started to read about a condition called Labrynthitis (an inner ear infection caused by a viral infection - could explain my raised White Blood Cell Count?). This condition affects balance, makes people 'dizzy', makes people have vertigo and importantly, can induce high levels of anxiety. I was adament that I had this condition.
I went to see my GP (again!). I was diagnosed with Labrynthitis. I was sceptical of the diagnosis though, mainly due to the fact that Labrynthitis is a very hard condition to diagnose. I tried to believe however this was the reason I have been so anxious. I continued to experience many dizzy episodes / detachment. Going outside was (and still is) a horrible experience - my detachment / dizziness / anxiety increases dramatically when out.
I have become extremely anxious - possibly due to Labrynthitis. I am OBSESSED that something is seriously wrong with me. I have become aware of every sensation in my body. Anything that feels unusual makes me instantly assume that I have a serious illness. If I Look back over the past few weeks I have led myself to believe that I have had:
-Cancer: lung cancer / male breast cancer.
-Hodgkins Lymphoma.
-Brain Tumor.
-MS.
-OCD.
-Psychosis.
-Schizophrenia.
-Parkinsons Disease.
-Heart Failure.
-and many more.
My 'symptoms' have been:
-Shakiness
-Sickness
-Loss of appetite
-Lung ache
-Chest Pain
-Palpitations
-dizziness
-vertigo
-breathlesness
-headaches
-sinus problems
-temperature
-tingling sensations
-body twitching / jerking
-feeling 'on edge'
-detachment
-freezing cold feet
-fatigue
-aches and pains
-and many more.
I have become constantly obsessed with checking / looking at my body. I keep feeling for lumps, bumps and much more. I sometimes make myself believe that I have found lumps / bumps or feel pain. I feel neurotic and out of control. Its destroying my life.
So my questions are:
-is this 'normal' for someone with anxiety?
-What can be done to help me?
-Will I ever feel 'normal' again?
I apprecite to some extent that I have been poorly, and possibly are suffering from Labrynthitis and anxiety. Somedays I feel like I am getting better, other days I feel dreadful and out of control. I intend to re-visit my GP and discuss dealing with this horrible state of mind. I also intend to ask for a chest x-ray as i feel this will 'help' me.
I hope and wish that any sufferers of anxiety find peace at some point in their lives. I have never appreciated how anxiety can debilitate someone.
Good luck to everyone x