Is this all anxiety? Need opinions.....

[Terri4556]

Hello.... I am a 24 yr old female. I was always on the go, lead a normal life, extremely energetic, fought off colds, sickness, etc. A little over a year ago I started developing a number of symptoms which lead my regular doc to believe I was having nocturnal panic attacks. I'd wake up in the middle of the night completely startled, my whole body shaking, extreme nausea, and sweating. After having blood work done and my doctor found nothing, I found a therapist and saw her for a few weeks. My symptoms did not improve, they got worse. She suggested I see a psychiatrist because all day I felt nervous, shaky, heart palps, on edge, nausea, weakness, lightheadedness, the whole nine. I found a psychiatrist and she diagnosed me with Generalized Anxiety Disorder along with Panic Disorder. Started on 0.5 Ativan, took not even 1 pill a day for about 7 months because if I took a half of 0.5 I felt woozy.. until I went through a bump in the road with my boyfriend and felt like the Ativan wasn't helping.. My doctor switched me to Klonopin... She and most of my doctors always believed I was very sensitive to medication, so I really can't take too much of anything without feeling some side effects. I took the Klonopin for about 2 months and felt extremely tired all day long even after sleeping for 10 hours some days. I went back to my regular doc for a full check up.... I told her everything I've been STILL feeling (nervous, shaky, heart palps, on edge, nausea, upset stomach, weakness, lightheadness, tired)... she ran a ton of blood work and I was found H. Pylori positive. I went to a gastro the other day and he wants to to do an endoscopy to check that the H. Pylori is still there because blood tests aren't the most accurate way to test for it. He also wants to check for Celiac.

I am at a loss! Everyday I feel a variation of physical symptoms. My psychiatrists thought it could be a little depression due to my father passing away a few years ago and a recent breakup. I've tried Lexapro and Zoloft, but couldn't tolerate them since I already have tummy issues and tummy issues are basically their biggest side effect :/..... I'm back on the Ativan, 0.5 daily. Some days I feel like it helps, other days I feel like it doesn't do a thing. I was never one for pills.. and it's been over a year now and I can't seem to shake any of this. I feel like my doc thinks I'm nuts because I'm so young and constantly complain to her. Some days I wake up feeling great, others I don't. Some days I feel 10 different things, others I feel 2. To be 24 and feel all of this is horrid. I've altered a lot of my life this past year and even feel like I'm losing friends. I was always out, now I always have to "see how I feel".... Lately, my biggest symptom is fatigue and feeling like I just want to sleep alot.... I'm not anemic. I want to know if anyone else diagnosed with anxiety/panic disorder has ever experienced something like this? I need some opinions. Thanks.

[Terri4556]

It completely stinks.. I hate it! Ahhh I'll talk to my doc again I guess.. Here we go again... Hope everything goes well for you. God bless!

[Brooder]

Since you have had several tests ran, it does sound like intense anxiety/panic. Anxiety will make you think something is physically wrong, when their really isn't. I have the same problem! I always have physical symptoms, and i take 1mg Klonopin which helps to calm those feelings down. In fact, i just took one 20 min. ago. If you do not think that the ativan is helping, ask your doc to increase your dose, or put you on another anti anxiety agent. hope this helps! God Bless!