turtleonaleash
13-03-10, 06:23
Hi All,
In November 2009 I had H1N1. This was before anxiety took over my life. I was sick and I stayed home for eight weeks. I wasn't deathly ill, it was just like an annoying flu. I felt better after the eight weeks but I had a persistent cough for weeks and months following. My lungs have always been a weak point for me because I was born very premature and my lungs were not fully developed when I was born.
I had a panic attack just before Christmas and I became agoraphobic. I was convinced I had pneumonia and my Dr. listened to my chest and told me my lungs sounded fine, he sent me for a chest x-ray and it came back fine. He told me I would be prone to picking up infections for a few months and my body would not begin making anti-bodies against H1N1 for 6 months - 12 months. So I could pick up H1N1 again.
When my chest x-ray came back fine I recovered quickly, my cough and symptoms went away rapidly but my anxiety remained. My dr. upped my dosage of mirtazapine and I began therapy. I am still having a terrible time with my anxiety and I am starting to over come my agoraphobia (very slowly.)
Fast forward to now. Sunday I accidently left my window open and a small bird flew in my car. It crapped all over and made quite a mess. I was terrified to clean up the feces. I was convinced I would get avian flu or some other kind of disease from the bird droppings. I washed the droppings off using a towel and soap and Lysol. I then drove the car to the store and I purchased Clorox wipes and Lysol spray. I wiped all of the surfaces with Clorox and I sprayed the entire car with Lysol spray.
Monday night I went out with my boyfriend. It was a very challenging evening. I was very anxious all evening.
Tuesday I had to go to the dentist which caused me to feel very anxious.
Wednesday I drove myself to the therapist. Driving by myself I feel very anxious.
Thursday I went out early with a friend. Again, I drove by myself.
Friday (today) I woke up feeling terrible. My chest was so sore and tight. I started coughing (only in the morning.) It hurt to take a breath. I became very anxious. I began really focusing on my breathing, I was afraid I would forget how to breathe. I had a dentist appointment and I really did not want to go but I had already canceled many times. I pushed myself to go out. I went to the dentist and everything was fine, I then went to the store and on my way home my chest was so sore... I had terrible stabbing pains.... I drove home as fast as I could and I got into bed. I then had a bath and I had absolutely NO chest pain in the bath.
I still feel off. I feel warm to the touch, my head is sore, I am very red in the face and my chest is achy.
My question. Could I have picked up avian flu or some other disease from the bird droppings? Or is my chest just sore from being so tense from having a very anxious week? It seems like a muscle thing since the hot bath made it feel better... but I just don't know. It's the weekend and I have no way to reach my doctor.
In November 2009 I had H1N1. This was before anxiety took over my life. I was sick and I stayed home for eight weeks. I wasn't deathly ill, it was just like an annoying flu. I felt better after the eight weeks but I had a persistent cough for weeks and months following. My lungs have always been a weak point for me because I was born very premature and my lungs were not fully developed when I was born.
I had a panic attack just before Christmas and I became agoraphobic. I was convinced I had pneumonia and my Dr. listened to my chest and told me my lungs sounded fine, he sent me for a chest x-ray and it came back fine. He told me I would be prone to picking up infections for a few months and my body would not begin making anti-bodies against H1N1 for 6 months - 12 months. So I could pick up H1N1 again.
When my chest x-ray came back fine I recovered quickly, my cough and symptoms went away rapidly but my anxiety remained. My dr. upped my dosage of mirtazapine and I began therapy. I am still having a terrible time with my anxiety and I am starting to over come my agoraphobia (very slowly.)
Fast forward to now. Sunday I accidently left my window open and a small bird flew in my car. It crapped all over and made quite a mess. I was terrified to clean up the feces. I was convinced I would get avian flu or some other kind of disease from the bird droppings. I washed the droppings off using a towel and soap and Lysol. I then drove the car to the store and I purchased Clorox wipes and Lysol spray. I wiped all of the surfaces with Clorox and I sprayed the entire car with Lysol spray.
Monday night I went out with my boyfriend. It was a very challenging evening. I was very anxious all evening.
Tuesday I had to go to the dentist which caused me to feel very anxious.
Wednesday I drove myself to the therapist. Driving by myself I feel very anxious.
Thursday I went out early with a friend. Again, I drove by myself.
Friday (today) I woke up feeling terrible. My chest was so sore and tight. I started coughing (only in the morning.) It hurt to take a breath. I became very anxious. I began really focusing on my breathing, I was afraid I would forget how to breathe. I had a dentist appointment and I really did not want to go but I had already canceled many times. I pushed myself to go out. I went to the dentist and everything was fine, I then went to the store and on my way home my chest was so sore... I had terrible stabbing pains.... I drove home as fast as I could and I got into bed. I then had a bath and I had absolutely NO chest pain in the bath.
I still feel off. I feel warm to the touch, my head is sore, I am very red in the face and my chest is achy.
My question. Could I have picked up avian flu or some other disease from the bird droppings? Or is my chest just sore from being so tense from having a very anxious week? It seems like a muscle thing since the hot bath made it feel better... but I just don't know. It's the weekend and I have no way to reach my doctor.