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What is happening to me (Anxiety?)

I an desperate for some help here. I have no idea what is happening to me. I went to see a doctor I had never seen before because I was feeling weird in the head or what I think feels like sick in the head. I did not feel like myself, but somebody else, headaches for days on end, nausea, dizziness and just flat out could not function or focus on anything. He did not do any tests, but gave me a script for Celexa and told me I had anxiety. I took it for 2 days and when I woke up the third day with the dry heaves and so sick with the headaches that I could barely see. The headaches would move from one side to the other from hour to hour. I went to the ER and they did a CT scan, blood work, gave me two shots to stop the pain and said I was fine and had acute headaches, sent me home with Fioricet, and Phenergan and told me I might want to see a neurologist. Now 1 1/2 weeks later, I am still not able to function. I am not depressed either. It feels like a stack of books are on top of my head and pushing down real hard. I can't concentrate on anything, shaky inside and I feel like I am losing my mind or going crazy. Out of all this time that has passed, I only had one day where all of a sudden, I felt like my normal self like nothing was wrong for 8 hours and then everything hit me like a ton of bricks again. I am scared out of my wits and it makes the anxiety worse because I am afraid of what is wrong with me although the ER said I was fine, no tumors or anything. Has anybody else ever gone through this? I don't know who to talk to or what to do. I don't have insurance and just going to the ER for 5 hours was $8K. I don't have the funds to just go to every doctor around and nobody seems to be able to tell me what is happening. Any advice would greatly be appreciated.
 
I'm sorry you're feeling so awful. Here's a link about different kinds of headaches.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/headache/basics/causes/sym-20050800
I used to get migranes. Now my case may be completely different from yours, but you said they did not find any physical cause in the ER, so it could be worth looking into. I went to an allergist for stomach pain and hives, and had the skin testing done. It came back with a bunch of allergies, one of which was aspertame. I stopped drinking diet pop, and my headaches disappeared completely. If you suffer from anxiety, could it also be tension headaches? I hope you find some answers soon. :ghug:
 
It definitely sounds like migraines to me. My first migraine ever was the WORST kind - basilar. It made me feel like I was having a stroke or something. Doctor gave me Imitrex after performing a neuro exam to make sure my symptoms weren't stroke related. I've never had a basilar migraine before or since that episode (it was at my uncle's wedding, to top it off). If you're having trouble seeing, it could be the aura that usually accompanies migraines. Topamax is a newer drug that was originally prescribed for epileptic seizures, but it is also used for migraines now. My mom used to use Zomig but never got full relief. Topamax killed the migraines before they started since it was a preventative drug - it will not stop a migraine once it's started.

I believe mine were caused by my antidepressant I was taking at the time - Zoloft - and gluten since I am a Celiac but didn't know when I started having migraines.
 
I'm sorry to hear that :( Have you recently switched meds or looked into the possibility that it be a side effect of any of your crohn's medicine?
 
It definitely sounds like migraines to me. My first migraine ever was the WORST kind - basilar. It made me feel like I was having a stroke or something. Doctor gave me Imitrex after performing a neuro exam to make sure my symptoms weren't stroke related. I've never had a basilar migraine before or since that episode (it was at my uncle's wedding, to top it off). If you're having trouble seeing, it could be the aura that usually accompanies migraines. Topamax is a newer drug that was originally prescribed for epileptic seizures, but it is also used for migraines now. My mom used to use Zomig but never got full relief. Topamax killed the migraines before they started since it was a preventative drug - it will not stop a migraine once it's started.

I believe mine were caused by my antidepressant I was taking at the time - Zoloft - and gluten since I am a Celiac but didn't know when I started having migraines.
I suffered from Migraines since I was 6 years old, but back in 2006 when I was diagnosed with colitis before the crohns, they went away completely. I used to take Mepergan back in the day for the migraines which worked great, but you had to go to sleep because they made you very drowsy. I stopped at the local health food store and talked to the naturopath doctor and she said if I am not gluten free, that she is 99.9% positive that is what the problem is or if I have leaky gut which I don't know if I have leaky gut, but I bet I do from stomach pains I have. She said anything neurological is usually from gluten sensitivity and I did not know that. Learn something new everyday, so now I have to try and get gluten free. Thanks for your input.
 
I'm sorry to hear that :( Have you recently switched meds or looked into the possibility that it be a side effect of any of your crohn's medicine?
I honestly don't think it is a side effect from my crohns medicine. I have not switched meds at all. I have been on Lialda for 8 years now with no issues and I had the headaches before I started the Celexa as well, but since I have only been taking the Celexa for 9 days, I am going to wean myself off it. The naturopath doctor warned me with extreme caution that the depression medicines are horrible to get off of and I am definitely not a depressed person by no means. Always happy and laughing wherever I go. She told me many true stories of others who she has treated that were coming off them and it made me wish I had not started taking them, but since it has only been 9 days, I believe I can wean myself off pretty easy. Thanks for your input.
 
I suffered from Migraines since I was 6 years old, but back in 2006 when I was diagnosed with colitis before the crohns, they went away completely. I used to take Mepergan back in the day for the migraines which worked great, but you had to go to sleep because they made you very drowsy. I stopped at the local health food store and talked to the naturopath doctor and she said if I am not gluten free, that she is 99.9% positive that is what the problem is or if I have leaky gut which I don't know if I have leaky gut, but I bet I do from stomach pains I have. She said anything neurological is usually from gluten sensitivity and I did not know that. Learn something new everyday, so now I have to try and get gluten free. Thanks for your input.
Believe me, it's not easy. You have to check labels on EVERYTHING because gluten is in the most unlikely places such as candy (Twizzlers has wheat in it). I've been gluten-free for over 4 years and I'm still learning what I can and cannot eat. I would recommend speaking to a dietitian about the healthiest choices because there are a LOT of gluten-free foods that are not healthy - most conventional GF foods have less fiber and more calories than regular counterparts so I actually gained a lot of weight. I didn't have a dietitian since I did not have health insurance when I went GF.

I have to tell you, though, I wouldn't change anything because of how much better I feel. It really was systemic for me and affected strange things like sinus infections, facial breakouts, migraines, irritability, etc. Even if I don't get GI symptoms, I can usually always tell when I've been "glutened" because my face breaks out in zits. I also had a weird chicken-skin rash on the back of my forearms that disappeared (keratosis pilaris) and the red bumps disappeared (dermatitis herpetiformis). I used to get DH on my face and thought they were zits. :(

This is a really good diagram of symptoms that can be related to Celiac disease but can also be involved in non-Celiac gluten sensitivity.

 
Believe me, it's not easy. You have to check labels on EVERYTHING because gluten is in the most unlikely places such as candy (Twizzlers has wheat in it). I've been gluten-free for over 4 years and I'm still learning what I can and cannot eat. I would recommend speaking to a dietitian about the healthiest choices because there are a LOT of gluten-free foods that are not healthy - most conventional GF foods have less fiber and more calories than regular counterparts so I actually gained a lot of weight. I didn't have a dietitian since I did not have health insurance when I went GF.

I have to tell you, though, I wouldn't change anything because of how much better I feel. It really was systemic for me and affected strange things like sinus infections, facial breakouts, migraines, irritability, etc. Even if I don't get GI symptoms, I can usually always tell when I've been "glutened" because my face breaks out in zits. I also had a weird chicken-skin rash on the back of my forearms that disappeared (keratosis pilaris) and the red bumps disappeared (dermatitis herpetiformis). I used to get DH on my face and thought they were zits. :(

This is a really good diagram of symptoms that can be related to Celiac disease but can also be involved in non-Celiac gluten sensitivity.

Wow, thanks for the information. So are you still on anti depressants? I don't have health insurance either, but made an appointment at our local clinic, but they can't see me until Aug 30th and they go by how much income you have, so I am hoping it works out. I have not see my GI in a couple of years because she said there was nothing else she could do for me until I got a colonoscopy. It has been 8 years since I had a colonoscopy. I just cut the Celexa in half last night and will keep taking a half for 9 days and then down to a 1/4 until I am off it. Right now I am having so much anxiety, I feel like dying so I can escape it. Not that I meant I have suicidal thoughts. Just saying I want to get away from this feeling. This is horrible and all I want is to be back to normal. I just don't see how I can be fine for so long and wake up one day with all the anxiety.

I have heard that gluten is in so many things and I was also told that if you shop only the outside perimeter of the grocery store you should be alright as far as gluten free goes, but if your walking down the isles, then that is when you will find the gluten containing products.
 
Wow, thanks for the information. So are you still on anti depressants? I don't have health insurance either, but made an appointment at our local clinic, but they can't see me until Aug 30th and they go by how much income you have, so I am hoping it works out. I have not see my GI in a couple of years because she said there was nothing else she could do for me until I got a colonoscopy. It has been 8 years since I had a colonoscopy. I just cut the Celexa in half last night and will keep taking a half for 9 days and then down to a 1/4 until I am off it. Right now I am having so much anxiety, I feel like dying so I can escape it. Not that I meant I have suicidal thoughts. Just saying I want to get away from this feeling. This is horrible and all I want is to be back to normal. I just don't see how I can be fine for so long and wake up one day with all the anxiety.

I have heard that gluten is in so many things and I was also told that if you shop only the outside perimeter of the grocery store you should be alright as far as gluten free goes, but if your walking down the isles, then that is when you will find the gluten containing products.
Yes, I have chronic depression due to a chemical imbalance. I've tried several different antidepressants (Zoloft, Lexapro, Effexor, Cymbalta, Paxil) and didn't function well on them or they gave me unbearable side effects. The only one that I've tried that works for me is Wellbutrin SR. I've been on it for almost 10 years and it works. With any antidepressant, there is a waiting period of the medicine accumulating in your system before you notice any difference. It takes about 2-3 weeks for you to feel effect and about 6 weeks for it to completely take effect. Serotonin is made in your gut, so it makes sense for people who have gut disorders to also have low serotonin which then leads to depression. You have to work with your doctor to make sure you get the right balance that works for your body and brain. Not everyone is the same.

Yes, it is true that the perimeter of the store is mostly gluten-free but be sure to stay away from processed foods as much as possible. That's the exception to the rule. Formed hamburger patties and uncooked meatballs both contain gluten and they are found in the deli section. Make sure you only buy unprocessed meats. I would recommend reading a book called "The Gluten Connection" which contains information from a leading nutritionist and has all sorts of recipes and tips to help you get started. It takes a while for your body to "detox" from gluten so don't expect a quick fix. You will feel better, but I didn't completely feel better until a year of eating gluten-free.

https://www.amazon.com/Gluten-Connection-Sensitivity-Sabotaging-Control/dp/1594863873
 
Yes, I have chronic depression due to a chemical imbalance. I've tried several different antidepressants (Zoloft, Lexapro, Effexor, Cymbalta, Paxil) and didn't function well on them or they gave me unbearable side effects. The only one that I've tried that works for me is Wellbutrin SR. I've been on it for almost 10 years and it works. With any antidepressant, there is a waiting period of the medicine accumulating in your system before you notice any difference. It takes about 2-3 weeks for you to feel effect and about 6 weeks for it to completely take effect. Serotonin is made in your gut, so it makes sense for people who have gut disorders to also have low serotonin which then leads to depression. You have to work with your doctor to make sure you get the right balance that works for your body and brain. Not everyone is the same.

Yes, it is true that the perimeter of the store is mostly gluten-free but be sure to stay away from processed foods as much as possible. That's the exception to the rule. Formed hamburger patties and uncooked meatballs both contain gluten and they are found in the deli section. Make sure you only buy unprocessed meats. I would recommend reading a book called "The Gluten Connection" which contains information from a leading nutritionist and has all sorts of recipes and tips to help you get started. It takes a while for your body to "detox" from gluten so don't expect a quick fix. You will feel better, but I didn't completely feel better until a year of eating gluten-free.

https://www.amazon.com/Gluten-Connection-Sensitivity-Sabotaging-Control/dp/1594863873
Oh I understand. The problem is the doctor I went to was a primary doctor, but since I have not seen a primary doctor in years, he listened to the symptoms I told him I had and then just handed me a script for Celexa. I was only in the office for a maximum of 7 minutes. I would have thought he would have wanted to do tests, but when he asked if I had insurance and I said no, he changed his attitude towards me which upset me. I mean I am human just like anybody else and deserve the same treatment whether I have insurance or not. The problem is this Celexa is making me feel stranger than I felt before I was on it and I don't like the effects at all, so I am going to call the office in a little while and tell him I am tapering down on it and if that will work and also if he has another suggestion. I feel like I am going crazy in my head and I am a happy go lucky person all the time, so I know something is off. I also was told it would take up to 4 weeks for it to go into effect, but it doesn't make sense to me why I am feeling worse instead of better. I have been on it since July 30th. I didn't know about the serotonin thing. That is why I can't sleep which is making things worse. He told me to take Melatonin, but it made me feel drunk the next morning. Horrible feeling.

Gosh it takes that long when your trying to get off Gluten to feel better. That doesn't help matters, but not saying I don't appreciate you being honest. I guess I have a long road ahead. I don't ever eat processed foods, meatballs(frozen) or processed meats either. I have always eaten healthy, but just not gluten free. Thanks for the link. I am so lost with this gluten thing, I will end up starving myself until I learn how to fix gluten free meals. I sure wish there was an easy way to go about this, but I know there isn't. I am 51 and in the menopause stage and just thought that maybe my hormones are off as well. Maybe I should get a saliva test to see where my hormones are at. They may be causing the anxiety as well. Thanks so much for your help.:thumleft:
 
Oh I understand. The problem is the doctor I went to was a primary doctor, but since I have not seen a primary doctor in years, he listened to the symptoms I told him I had and then just handed me a script for Celexa. I was only in the office for a maximum of 7 minutes. I would have thought he would have wanted to do tests, but when he asked if I had insurance and I said no, he changed his attitude towards me which upset me. I mean I am human just like anybody else and deserve the same treatment whether I have insurance or not. The problem is this Celexa is making me feel stranger than I felt before I was on it and I don't like the effects at all, so I am going to call the office in a little while and tell him I am tapering down on it and if that will work and also if he has another suggestion. I feel like I am going crazy in my head and I am a happy go lucky person all the time, so I know something is off. I also was told it would take up to 4 weeks for it to go into effect, but it doesn't make sense to me why I am feeling worse instead of better. I have been on it since July 30th. I didn't know about the serotonin thing. That is why I can't sleep which is making things worse. He told me to take Melatonin, but it made me feel drunk the next morning. Horrible feeling.

Gosh it takes that long when your trying to get off Gluten to feel better. That doesn't help matters, but not saying I don't appreciate you being honest. I guess I have a long road ahead. I don't ever eat processed foods, meatballs(frozen) or processed meats either. I have always eaten healthy, but just not gluten free. Thanks for the link. I am so lost with this gluten thing, I will end up starving myself until I learn how to fix gluten free meals. I sure wish there was an easy way to go about this, but I know there isn't. I am 51 and in the menopause stage and just thought that maybe my hormones are off as well. Maybe I should get a saliva test to see where my hormones are at. They may be causing the anxiety as well. Thanks so much for your help.:thumleft:
Do you live in the US? When I didn't have insurance, I was approved as a patient for a state-run behavioral clinic where I had access to psychiatric help as well as therapy. It is a sliding-scale fee so it is based off your income. I suggest using this tool to find a clinic near you.

http://www.samhsa.gov/find-help

I have insurance now, but specialists are so expensive on my HMO plan, that I'm actually still seeing my psychiatrist at the clinic. I gave them my income information now that I'm working full-time and it's only $5 more than I was paying before and MUCH cheaper than it would be on insurance.

As far as the melatonin, it didn't work for me either. I took a very low dose one night (1 mg) and woke up the next morning feeling groggy and my blood pressure was low. I felt incredibly dizzy. Not a good feeling, so I don't take it.

I hope you are able to find some help. Primary care doctors are not specialized in psychiatric treatment, so I'm not surprised that the doctor didn't really discuss all your treatment options. While they may be OK prescribing low dose "well-known" antidepressants, there are newer, better medications out there. Wellbutrin is very inexpensive. When I didn't have health insurance, the clinic put me on the indigent drug program (IDP) and I was able to get a month's worth of my antidepressant for $5. :)
 
When I had low B12, I had terrible anxiety, racing heartbeat, shakiness, etc. Sometimes bloodwork doesn't accurately show it. Sublingual (under tongue) B vitamin liquid brought relief very quickly.
 
Do you live in the US? When I didn't have insurance, I was approved as a patient for a state-run behavioral clinic where I had access to psychiatric help as well as therapy. It is a sliding-scale fee so it is based off your income. I suggest using this tool to find a clinic near you.

http://www.samhsa.gov/find-help

I have insurance now, but specialists are so expensive on my HMO plan, that I'm actually still seeing my psychiatrist at the clinic. I gave them my income information now that I'm working full-time and it's only $5 more than I was paying before and MUCH cheaper than it would be on insurance.

As far as the melatonin, it didn't work for me either. I took a very low dose one night (1 mg) and woke up the next morning feeling groggy and my blood pressure was low. I felt incredibly dizzy. Not a good feeling, so I don't take it.

I hope you are able to find some help. Primary care doctors are not specialized in psychiatric treatment, so I'm not surprised that the doctor didn't really discuss all your treatment options. While they may be OK prescribing low dose "well-known" antidepressants, there are newer, better medications out there. Wellbutrin is very inexpensive. When I didn't have health insurance, the clinic put me on the indigent drug program (IDP) and I was able to get a month's worth of my antidepressant for $5. :)
Yes I am right outside of Pensacola, Fl. The Santa Rosa clinic we have here is run the same way and they go by your income. That is where I have an appointment on Aug 30th and I sure hope they can do something for me. I appreciate the link and will definitely check it out. Thanks so much for your help:>)
 
When I had low B12, I had terrible anxiety, racing heartbeat, shakiness, etc. Sometimes bloodwork doesn't accurately show it. Sublingual (under tongue) B vitamin liquid brought relief very quickly.
Very interesting. I completely forgot that I ran out of my sublingual B12, so I need to get some. If that was my problem, I would have to give you a hug:>) Thanks for the reminder. SO much going on and I can't remember everything.
 
Well here I am a month later and I still have the following symptoms and no doctor can tell me what is wrong. They all just want to hand me a depression prescription and send me on my way.
Complete brain fog, feel so sick all the time although I never throw up, no appetite what so ever and I am one who loves to eat all the time, extreme fatigue and not one doctor can tell me what is wrong and I am ready to give up myself. I'm going absolutely nuts and nobody can tell me what is going on. I have never had this happen before in my life and I know it is not depression. I'm not having the anxiety as bad as I was a month ago and I am definitely not depressed. I have always been a very happy, outgoing, laughing person to the point, sometimes people ask me why I laugh so much. I just like to laugh and I have not laughed at anything in over a month because I feel so sick. The only time I feel ok is when I am laying down and after I am up about 3 minutes the same thing starts right back over again. I cannot tell you how miserable I am especially suffering for a month like this. The few friends I have are at their wits ends telling me I need to go do something and try to come out of it. Well I have done that and it does nothing for me. It's like I am in a bubble that surrounds my whole head and I can't focus. I am up on all the vitamins crohns patients are supposed to take and at this point I am completely lost. I don't have any pain from my crohns and no crohns issues actually right now unless what I am experiencing comes from the crohns but I don't know. Please if anybody else is still experiencing these same symptoms or close to it and found out what the problem was, PLEASE TELL ME. I am miserable.
 
Three unrelated things that help my sense of well being, which calms me down:
1. hot baths, maybe even with epsom salts
2. metamucil--even a half teaspoon dissolved in water calms my gut and slows the big D
3. meditation--repetition of a meaningless word tricks your mind into dreaming, and then you go back to your word over and over for 20 minutes to half hour. Its a shutting down that's deeper than sleep.

These things bring me back to even keel emotionally, remove stress and I feel I even think better, when I do them regularly. Of course I don't, so I know about the roller coaster that goes up and down.
 
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