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What Causes Panic Attacks, Heaviness In Head, Weakness And Headaches?
Question: hi i have panick attacks a heavy head type feeling weakness headaches and just genereally feel crappy
It started two years ago i was coming home from prayer when i suddenly felt a rush of weakness and dizziness and heart palpitations I immedietly called 911 and was rushed to the hospital only to find out nothing was wrong with me according to their tests anyhow i rested home for a month due to headaches and weakness and was afraid the panic attack would come back i felt slightly better after a month and went back to work when a couple months later i had another panick attack and after that more severe sypmtoms such as brain mass heavy like feeling in the head headaches weakness fatigue trouble sleeping at night having trouble focusing extremely anxious and worried about myself testicular pain swolen glands furry grew tongue loosing balance when driving or walking ive had to pulll over several times because i would feel extremely dizzy and tense stomach pain indigestion ive been to over 7 different doctors and done over 24 different tests from ct scan of my head to ultrasound of my stomach and scrotom have had anxiety meds antibiotics nothing works its taking my life away from me i cannot drive anymore out of fear i cannot focus on work i am not the person i used to be please help me i am desperate
It started two years ago i was coming home from prayer when i suddenly felt a rush of weakness and dizziness and heart palpitations I immedietly called 911 and was rushed to the hospital only to find out nothing was wrong with me according to their tests anyhow i rested home for a month due to headaches and weakness and was afraid the panic attack would come back i felt slightly better after a month and went back to work when a couple months later i had another panick attack and after that more severe sypmtoms such as brain mass heavy like feeling in the head headaches weakness fatigue trouble sleeping at night having trouble focusing extremely anxious and worried about myself testicular pain swolen glands furry grew tongue loosing balance when driving or walking ive had to pulll over several times because i would feel extremely dizzy and tense stomach pain indigestion ive been to over 7 different doctors and done over 24 different tests from ct scan of my head to ultrasound of my stomach and scrotom have had anxiety meds antibiotics nothing works its taking my life away from me i cannot drive anymore out of fear i cannot focus on work i am not the person i used to be please help me i am desperate
Brief Answer:
Anxiety disorder
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I am sorry about the symptoms you are experiencing.
The fact that you have had many tests coming out normal is great as it means there is no threatening condition to fear. The description of your symptoms is typical for anxiety disorder with panic attacks.
The management has two parts. One part is medication. Unfortunately you do not specify what medication did you exactly take and in what dosage so I have to speak in general. The most used class are the antidepressants of the SSRI class like citalopram. They need several weeks for their effect to take place so often in the first weeks are accompanied by benzodiazepine class of drugs like Clonazepam for a couple of weeks.
The other part equally as important is not drug related. It consists of psychotherapy, of cognitive and behavioral psychotherapy. The first helps understand how these emotional responses are generated, the first better equips you to deal with them with relaxation techniques.
Through the proper combination of medication and psychotherapy you should feel much better.
I remain at your disposal for further questions.
Anxiety disorder
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I am sorry about the symptoms you are experiencing.
The fact that you have had many tests coming out normal is great as it means there is no threatening condition to fear. The description of your symptoms is typical for anxiety disorder with panic attacks.
The management has two parts. One part is medication. Unfortunately you do not specify what medication did you exactly take and in what dosage so I have to speak in general. The most used class are the antidepressants of the SSRI class like citalopram. They need several weeks for their effect to take place so often in the first weeks are accompanied by benzodiazepine class of drugs like Clonazepam for a couple of weeks.
The other part equally as important is not drug related. It consists of psychotherapy, of cognitive and behavioral psychotherapy. The first helps understand how these emotional responses are generated, the first better equips you to deal with them with relaxation techniques.
Through the proper combination of medication and psychotherapy you should feel much better.
I remain at your disposal for further questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
what about the discomfort in my throat the swollen glands the testicular discomfort the stomach pain indigestion i also forgot to mention anus itching and blood on my toilet paper when i wipe this is not anxiety its something people are too lasy to diagnos im loosing it im at the verge of giving up im only 22 for godds sake
How do i ask for further testing could i be allergic to something im a welder in profession and deal with alumnized tubing pipe and other metals could it be that something that is wrong with me triggered anxiety and anxiety alone isnt the problem because anxiety will only give you panick attacks and headaches what about all the other symptoms and for the head could i monitor my brain on mri is that a good approach
How do i ask for further testing could i be allergic to something im a welder in profession and deal with alumnized tubing pipe and other metals could it be that something that is wrong with me triggered anxiety and anxiety alone isnt the problem because anxiety will only give you panick attacks and headaches what about all the other symptoms and for the head could i monitor my brain on mri is that a good approach
Brief Answer:
Read below
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for your feedback and providing new information.
Now I think it is a little unfair to blame doctors for being too lazy when you said yourself you have had over 24 different tests and all sorts of imaging. It was based on that that I went straight to anxiety, as I assumed other causes had been excluded. You do not give a lot of information on these other tests, so I had to assume that causes of possible gland enlargement like infection or blood tumor have been tested for, conditions like testicular cancer, stomach cancer, colorectal cancer have been evaluated through imaging and excluded.
Of course anxiety doesn't render you immune to other issues like hemorrhoids which can explain analysis itching and blood, or upper respiratory infections, so some of those symptoms might be due to those causes and not anxiety.
It is a good thing you brought up toxic exposure, however all those symptoms do not fit into common ones like aluminium, lead, asbestos exposure. Of course if there are other substances you have been exposed to, please tell me what they are and I will consider their effect as well.
As for the MRI I do not think that would add much, yes it can provide more info than CT on conditions like MS, infections etc, but that whole array of manifestations wouldn't be explained by them anyway, you do not mention any pure neurological symptom. So there would be no justification for it.
As for anxiety giving only panic attacks and headache that is wrong, it has been related with many other symptoms and conditions. Symptoms like throat discomfort, gastric discomfort, bowel movement alteration etc are pretty common, the only symptom of those you mention really which doesn't correspond to anxiety is the bleeding, which is why I mentioned being examined physically for hemorrhoids and through imaging for intestine cancer.
So please try to relax, it is obvious that whether completely or partially anxiety is an important contributor to your symptoms. Remember that while us doctors and tests are not infallible the simple fact that it has been two years by now does prove that there is not life threatening condition as it would have evolved by now.
I hope to have been of help.
Read below
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for your feedback and providing new information.
Now I think it is a little unfair to blame doctors for being too lazy when you said yourself you have had over 24 different tests and all sorts of imaging. It was based on that that I went straight to anxiety, as I assumed other causes had been excluded. You do not give a lot of information on these other tests, so I had to assume that causes of possible gland enlargement like infection or blood tumor have been tested for, conditions like testicular cancer, stomach cancer, colorectal cancer have been evaluated through imaging and excluded.
Of course anxiety doesn't render you immune to other issues like hemorrhoids which can explain analysis itching and blood, or upper respiratory infections, so some of those symptoms might be due to those causes and not anxiety.
It is a good thing you brought up toxic exposure, however all those symptoms do not fit into common ones like aluminium, lead, asbestos exposure. Of course if there are other substances you have been exposed to, please tell me what they are and I will consider their effect as well.
As for the MRI I do not think that would add much, yes it can provide more info than CT on conditions like MS, infections etc, but that whole array of manifestations wouldn't be explained by them anyway, you do not mention any pure neurological symptom. So there would be no justification for it.
As for anxiety giving only panic attacks and headache that is wrong, it has been related with many other symptoms and conditions. Symptoms like throat discomfort, gastric discomfort, bowel movement alteration etc are pretty common, the only symptom of those you mention really which doesn't correspond to anxiety is the bleeding, which is why I mentioned being examined physically for hemorrhoids and through imaging for intestine cancer.
So please try to relax, it is obvious that whether completely or partially anxiety is an important contributor to your symptoms. Remember that while us doctors and tests are not infallible the simple fact that it has been two years by now does prove that there is not life threatening condition as it would have evolved by now.
I hope to have been of help.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
so what is the conclusion here where do i start is there any chances for me to be a 100% normal agian like driving riding a roller coaster playing sports staying up late nights with freinds possibly getting married?
Brief Answer:
Read below
Detailed Answer:
The conclusion, well since nothing physically wrong has been found with you on those tests then there is no reason until now to think you can not do any of those things really.
I would really consider psycotherapy in addition to the medication you have been given, do not forget that, it might give you the means to deal better with your situation. Try to exercise, I don't see any obstacle from what you mentioned to participate in sport activities, activities like yoga might be beneficial as well.
I hope to have been of help.
Read below
Detailed Answer:
The conclusion, well since nothing physically wrong has been found with you on those tests then there is no reason until now to think you can not do any of those things really.
I would really consider psycotherapy in addition to the medication you have been given, do not forget that, it might give you the means to deal better with your situation. Try to exercise, I don't see any obstacle from what you mentioned to participate in sport activities, activities like yoga might be beneficial as well.
I hope to have been of help.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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