Does this only sound like panic attack?

[marty007]

10 days ago I started off recovering from a chest cold, I have 2 bouts back to back.  I was at work and had flushing of the face and numbness and tingling in the hands shortness of breath and had a panic attack.
My blood pressure is high and is still high. iam taking benicar 20mg. I continued to have have breathing issues. most at night time. i have had dry mouth,bad taste chemical taste,  low grade headaches, depression bouts I  have not appetite ,it is suppressed, comes and goes. at night time i would have tightness in chest. i continue to have numbess in hands. mostly left hand recently i have numbness in right foot and weakness in right foot(calf) feels heavy.Today the legs feel cold and right leg is heavy. i have had a brain scan MRI (normal)
Chest xray (normal) Pnemon. ct scan of thoracic with contrast (normal) stress test ekg of the heart(running on treadmill) normal.  Sleep study with mild apnea , blood work and urine test normal. little low b-12 trigcly are a little high, 24hr urine test-corticol levels ok.and other tests run on 24hr urine all ok.    
, Mar 11, 2008
i have had persistent dry cough which has been going on several weeks. My neuro today said that i have carpal tunnel to explain numbness in hands. Took one look at my demeanor and said im a classic heredity Panic attack sndrome. All neuro test came back ok. wants to check for benign tumor like in appendix area (carcinoid) because of the face flushing.  the check may have preexisting bronici spasm which in turn cause my panic attacks.  Trying xantax full dosage. Results came back from eveything and they said I was normal.  I now came back from 10 days of laying out in the sun in mexico and did nothing but try to relax..wasnt thinking about anything and I still have daily bouts of anxiousness.  Does anyone have a burning feeling in the neck and left ear, burning like carpal tunel in the wrists, depressed,exhaustion, When i close my eyes  to sleep ,when i feeling anxious  my eyes it feels like a computer is glitching and my left eye kinda flickers. my eyes some times get blurry not real bad but out of focus. I am taking benicar(bloodpressure) and xantax when needed.   I cant work yet..  Whats my next step? In the back of my mind i still feel I have some sort of respiratory disfunction which is puting me in this panic mode... I never had anxiety im scared I need a diagnoses....  what do i do? Who do I see?  any advice?

[marty007]

Today I feel jittery, face is flushed like im allergic to something. Im not panicing but im anxious.. is that the same? Is Xanx designed just for The panic or for anxiety in general? Blurry vision comes and go... still in the back of my mind MS rears it ugly head.. I had a brain mri without contrast and it was normal... my brother has Ms. Are you able to live on meds? and Function? somewhat normally? How long have you had your attacks and do you get them everyday?.  I feel toxic.. I really appreciate your comments...

[dolphin845]

I had some tests but not as many as you.  I ended up in the ER because I thought I had something wrong with me and it was a panic attack.  What I didn't like was they treated me as .... "oh, it's JUST a panic attack."  And sent me home with nothing!  Panic attacks are real with real symptoms.
IT took a while to find out.  I learned mostly from talking with people on the net.  And really listening to my body.  During an attack,  I will sit and think what is going on with me with every single symptom.  After taking a benzo and everything stopped,  I knew what was wrong with me.  I too wanted a diagnosis.  I have that type of personality.  I need answers and a reason for everything.  But I'm past that now.
You have a few different issues but not completely different.  I too have blurry vision sometimes.  I went to an eye specialist and had all sorts of tests - all normal.  I still don't know what causes that.  A benzo is valium or ativan and it will calm you down FAST.  For me, it's within 30 min. and it's a lifesaver when having a panic attack.
paxil is a anti depressant and there are lots of different kinds out there.  Do searches on anti depressants.  Paxil is supposed to be for depression, panic attacks and anxiety but these take time to get into the system.  1-2 weeks or longer and come with side effects :(  which is the bad part.  But it's different in everyone.
Yes, I'm exhausted everyday.  I have good days and bad days.  And yes, it does cause depression.  If you're exhausted and having all these symptoms like you just don't feel "good" everyday,  it can cause depression.  

[marty007]

My gen doc prescibed xanax.  I feel toxic today. bad mouth taste. my neck and left ear has a burning(flushing) sensation.I am also experiencing a little blurry vision occasionally. How long before you found out? Did you take as many tests as I did? I still dont know, I still think i have some mold or some respiratory problem causing me to have these attacks. I guess im looking for a diagnosis... What is Benzo and paxil do? Are you exhausted everyday? Does it cause depression?

[dolphin845]

Sounds like anxiety and panic attacks for sure to me.  I get the flushing in face too.   Sometimes it will last a short time and sometimes for hours.  The coughing could be from the cold you had that has settled in your chest.  And the panic is making it worse or seem worse. Who put you on the xanax?  The regular doc or a psyc. doc?   When I'm in a panic attack,  I get tingling in my fingers and get numb all over.  It's from the tightness in chest and you may not think you are but you are hyperventilating  to some degree.  Just taking in too many breaths.  The only thing that works for me is a benzo for that to calm things down.  I would make an appointment with a good psyc. doc and talk about something like Paxil or something along those lines.  That's where I'm at right now with my stuff.  
I don't "think" i have any stresses going on - I'm a homemaker right now with LOW stress but still I have panic attacks and anxiety!  My therapist today told me that this is all inherited so I don't necessarily need to have stresses in my daily life.  Lucky me. :(