Is this anxiety?

[lynnbrook177]

Hi,

I have a chiari malformation which has given me severe anxiety over the past five years. Recently, I have begun to experience wooziness, particularly when sitting or laying down. I could describe it like a vertigo inside my head (rather than the room spinning around my head).  I also get true vertigo when slightly turning my head to the right, most often when laying down. I am unable to be physically active without extreme fatigue. I believe that a lot of bending of my spine or using my stressed out upper body muscles can bring on exhaustion, neck ache, and upper back and spine ache as well as dizziness.

Are these anxiety symptoms? (I don't really believe so, but thought I'd ask since my NU believes I have an anxiety disorder). Thanks for your input!!

[Joel78]

Last week, I was also diagnosed with Type I Chiari, by my endocrinologist. My physician, or I should say nurse practitioner since I've never been privileged to see an actual physician at this point, also blames all of my problems on anxiety, which I'm certain it isn't. The onset was too rapid, and too related to medicine that was shoved in my face too quickly at too high of a dosage. (See my previous posts regarding symptoms.) I would strongly suggest a second opinion, which I am also obtaining soon.

[JohnnyRocket244]

There are actually some veins compression disorders that can cause all of these problems especially anxiety and fatigue. The 2 most common but rarely diagnosed ones are May-Thurner and Nutcracker Syndrome which often happen together and cause chronigue venous insuffiency to the entire body. I have May-Thurner and recently had a stent placed at that site and within 24 hours my terrible anxiety and fatigue almost completely dissappeared. I'm breathing so much better now and my quality of sleep has greatly improved. Doctors know very little about these conditions high is why almost no one is getting the help they need. Feel free to message me if you want more info.

[lynnbrook177]

That is very interesting!! I had an episode where I suddenly got very dizzy, almost faint. Along with that I felt very foggy and exhausted. That was 7 months ago. After that episode, I was getting gas line pains in my abdomen that moved to my chest. The pains even started on my outer back once and then moved to my throat. Heart tests were good. I suppose this could be anxiety, yet blood tests didn't show high cortisol. I sometimes have wooshing in my head at night and I can have a heavy pulse. My blood pressure fluctuates from quite low to a normal range. Thanks for your info!!

[specialmom]

Hi there.  Well, I think things can work together.  I've had vertigo and that is SO terrible, that I can get very anxious when I think it might be happening again.  I have an inner ear issue----  diagnosed by an ENT. If you hear waves or swooshing when you change positions of your head when laying down, please look into that.  But absolutely, anxiety can also play a role.  As get anxious it is happening again, begin to hyper focus on things and then symptoms appear.  I have to talk myself out of that.  I also was given something by my ENT to help with my inner ear (reverse ear pops) and I do those a few times and feel like I have some control.  Anxiety is such fun---  not.  But feeling like I have some control helps me.  Anyway, I'd actually go the route of looking into why you have vertigo and dizziness and go from there.  good luck

[Paxiled]

Do you feel anxious?  Anxious people don't just have symptoms, they feel frightened for no reason, or over-frightened of things they weren't frightened of before getting an anxiety disorder.  It's also chronic.  You sound like you have a physiological reaction going on that could be a lot of different things, such as Miniere's ear, as one example.  By the way, what's an NU?  

[lynnbrook177]

Thanks for your input. You make a good point. I was more anxious a few years ago. Now, it's more like frustration. NU is neurologist :)