strange pain/attack

[justme1226]

I've had issues with anxiety in the past.  I've gone through the whole nine yards, my face uncontrolably turning red accompanied by sweating, embarrasment etc. I'd say I've had some pretty strong panic attacks in the past, mostly in college and right after but I have since been able to control it by mentally taking over and doing exercises to calm myself, breathing exercizes etc. and have been fairly successful with that over any form of anxiety drug.  I've had a high stress job for the last two years and have not had many panic attacks but I have had blood pressure issues and problems sleeping.  With all that being said, I have had something happen twice in the last month that I would not consider to be a regular panic attack or anything I've ever experienced.  The first time, I was running late for a funeral and did not eat breakfast.  I ended up missing lunch as well, then I went to run errands. It was around 4pm.  I stepped out of my car and got the most excruciating pain in my abdomen (more in the upper region just below my chest). It was so powerful that I became lightheaded and weak and keiled over a bit with the pain.  I quickly bought a snack realizing it was probably due to lack of food.  The pain started to subside but I was still lightheaded.  A few minutes after eating, my arms turned red and blotchy, my chest, face ears and head turned bright red.  My head felt like it was on fire.  It went away after short time but was replace by my arms itching.  The pain in my stomache lingered a bit but it was a dull pain.
The second time was today.  I was working and was very stressed about how much I have left to do before leaving for a vacation.  I felt very overwhelmed but was just typing away and the same thing happened... started with a very strong pain in the stomach followed by redness (the redness was worse this time- my whole upper body stayed red for a while) It felt like my hair was burning off my head.  I started getting scared because of how bad it was getting and that seemed to make it escalate leading me think that it had to be something to do with my overactive sympathetic nervous system but I am just concerned that this may be something other than anxiety, possibly something more serious.  Any thoughts? (Also, I don't have any allergies and did not eat anything out of the ordinary today)

[justme1226]

Thanks Lynn,
I actually just bought Niacin because I had heard it was good for heart health.  I think I've only taken it a few times.  I know that the second time this happened I had taken Niacin and B-12 about 30 minutes to 1 hour prior to the attack.  I looked around online to see if it could be either of those suppliments.  I have had bad reactions to medicine and generally do not take anything.  I bet it has something to do with it.  I will follow up with a doctor as soon as I return from my vacation.  Thanks for your advice.

[justme1226]

thank you very much for your comments.  I really appreciate what you have to say and I completely agree about CBT.  I haven't been to a therapist for it but I just try and do things on my own but I am sure that I would greatly benefit from a professional.  

[lynn57]

I don't think this sounds like a typical panic attack.  The excruciating pain in the upper abdomen bothers me as does the fact that you have high blood pressure.  Are you taking Niacin by any chance?  That can sometimes cause the flushing etc.  I definitely would not ASSUME that these are panic attacks.  You need a work-up from your doctor.  It would be great if you could get to an ER when the attack is happening.  It would be easier to diagnose.  You could have an EKG, a look at your gallbladder and several other tests.  Good luck and get yourself to a doctor!

[benthic_man]

    This could very well simply be anxiety manifesting in a new and dramatic way. Everything you're describing has happened to me from anxiety, although not all at once!

  Flushing, like you're describing, accompanied with the sweating, would explain the blotchiness and itchyness. Your body will sometimes dump histimines when you flush rapidly (happens to me if I shoot whisky on an empty stomach- I turn red as an apple and my blood pressure rockets).
     I've been in treatment for anxiety for about 8 months, but it's been an issue that's been escalating for a couple of years. In hindsight, gastric distress was my first symptom- when my anxiety level runs high enough to the point where I need to perform relaxation exercises and a cognitive gut-check, I always get cramped eventually.

   I'd suggest going to your doc for a checkup to rule out any physical causes for this new issue- it will make you feel better having one less thing to worry about.

For what it's worth, I'm in a high-stress job that doesn't allow me any leeway for taking prescription anything- relaxation techniques and Cognitive Behavioral therapy have been doing a great job in keeping the anxiety down. You absolutely need to work with a therapist, however, to get maximum benefit from CBT in the shortest time.
Everything you've described is so familiar, it's a little comforting, in a morbid way. Whenever my blood pressure spikes, I start glowing in the dark.