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Could this be anxiety/panic attack?

I had respiratory infection in April that was treated with Doxycycline. This drug destroyed my gut. Can't see gastro doc until end of July. Doing treatment for possible LPR until I see him. Having intense pressure that builds in back of neck/shoulders, up into side of neck and into ears/Eustachian tubes. I can walk around my house full speed but if I leave the house this pressure hits me hard to the point of becoming breathless and faint. If I stand still or sit down it goes away. It does not seem to be in my chest and my heart doesn't seem to be pounding. I had a short stint of panic attacks when my change of life started a few years ago but after taking just a few Xanax and become clear-headed enough to realize this wasn't my heart it resolved. I took a total of 5 out of the 20 Xanax pills prescribed by the ER and a year later threw the rest away. I have a son graduating from high school, my daughter's bridal shower and wedding all within the next two months. Can anxiety attacks be this intense?
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Avatar universal
I would go to the emergency room or walk in clinic and have a test for  bacterial infection.
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Avatar universal
The one thing about anxiety attacks is they go along with intense anxiety -- if you're not thinking anxious thoughts in a pretty obsessive or prolonged way, you're probably not having an anxiety problem.  It's the thinking that comes first.  If it lasts a while or gets very intense, you get an anxiety attack.  It seems to come from nowhere the first or second time you get one, and it might be from nowhere -- lots of things can cause anxiety attacks, including lack of sleep, lack of hydration, disorientation, all kinds of things, but when you get chronic problems that's when you have an anxiety problem -- almost everyone has had an anxiety attack, but most people don't end up with a chronic problem and move on.  You don't say you're thinking anxious thoughts.  I'm also confused when you say the antibiotic destroyed your gut.  It can certainly cause a lot of trouble down there by killing off the beneficial organisms along with the harmful ones, but your gut is still there -- it just needs to get back in balance and the inflammation reduced.  Usually this can be done with natural ways, such as taking probiotics, eating cultured foods that are very good nutrients for probiotics, and using gentle remedies that help reduce the inflammation in the gut until it settles down.  Medication usually suppresses normal action, which over a period of time can lead to a permanent imbalance, so again, not sure your gut is destroyed. it may be just way overstressed and needs to be settled down.  As for the rest, antibiotics, especially if taken for a prolonged time, can mess up the immune system, which can lead to allergy problems, slow healing, and inflammation all over the place.  Doesn't usually happen, but when it does, it does.  Again, an anti-inflammatory diet, gentle remedies, and some gentle exercise and the like can help with this.  But the main point is, you know when you're anxious because you're scared.  You're nervous.  You're not just feeling physiological stuff without the thinking part if you're having chronic problems and not chronic anxious thinking.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
The one thing about anxiety attacks is they go along with intense anxiety -- if you're not thinking anxious thoughts in a pretty obsessive or prolonged way, you're probably not having an anxiety problem.  It's the thinking that comes first.  If it lasts a while or gets very intense, you get an anxiety attack.  It seems to come from nowhere the first or second time you get one, and it might be from nowhere -- lots of things can cause anxiety attacks, including lack of sleep, lack of hydration, disorientation, all kinds of things, but when you get chronic problems that's when you have an anxiety problem -- almost everyone has had an anxiety attack, but most people don't end up with a chronic problem and move on.  You don't say you're thinking anxious thoughts.  I'm also confused when you say the antibiotic destroyed your gut.  It can certainly cause a lot of trouble down there by killing off the beneficial organisms along with the harmful ones, but your gut is still there -- it just needs to get back in balance and the inflammation reduced.  Usually this can be done with natural ways, such as taking probiotics, eating cultured foods that are very good nutrients for probiotics, and using gentle remedies that help reduce the inflammation in the gut until it settles down.  Medication usually suppresses normal action, which over a period of time can lead to a permanent imbalance, so again, not sure your gut is destroyed. it may be just way overstressed and needs to be settled down.  As for the rest, antibiotics, especially if taken for a prolonged time, can mess up the immune system, which can lead to allergy problems, slow healing, and inflammation all over the place.  Doesn't usually happen, but when it does, it does.  Again, an anti-inflammatory diet, gentle remedies, and some gentle exercise and the like can help with this.  But the main point is, you know when you're anxious because you're scared.  You're nervous.  You're not just feeling physiological stuff without the thinking part if you're having chronic problems and not chronic anxious thinking.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Anxiety can happen at any time. Being sick for an extended period of time is depressing and also anxiety inducing because you wonder if it will ever resolve, and because anxiety and depression work in a vicious circle escalating the problem it can be very confusing trying to figure which is the problem.

Everyone is different so unfortunately the victim is the one has to figure what is wrong. It doesn't make sense that you could physically be mobile in your house, but not outside it so something mentally needs to be worked on. Therapy is the best way to get help since this has been going on for  a few months.
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