Is It All Anxiety, Or Something Chemical Going On? Posted: 12-12-07 09:14am
Greetings,
Back in Nov-06 I came down with what I
thought was the flu. Severe migraines,
nausea, dizziness, stiff neck, light
fever, and because it was before
Thanksgiving, I decided to wait till
Monday to see the Dr. The family Dr
thought it was a cold/flu, and
basically...over the course of the next
few months when it didn't clear up I had
different tests taken which didn't show
anything. I was still having hellacious
headaches, personality changes, bizarre
thoughts, a surreal feeling, etc, till
finally I saw a neurologist who said that
I likely had meningitits and encephalitis
and I was now in recovery mode from it.
Its now been a year, and Im still having
some of the same headaches, facial
flushing, anxiety, gloom-doom crud popping
up. Im eating right, getting plenty of
sleep, exercise daily, and I take no
medicine except for a daily Sr vitamin.
Is it possible that these symptoms are all
panic attacks as a spin off of the
menin/enceph problem?
(1) facial flushing
(2) dark, gloom-doom feelings
(3) dizziness
(4) migraines
(5) eye vision problems
If so, will it fade over time, or am I
looking at a long term physical ailment? I
worked part time once I was finally
diagnosed with the menin/enceph, but Ive
been able to slowly work back to full time
status which I am now.
What freaks me out is that I can wake up
in the morning and Im literally shaking
and anxious for no apparent reason.
Any thoughts? Anyone else out there have
viral meningitis or encephalitis and care
to share how you're doing now?
Thanks!
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CarolDiane
Supporter
Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 2396
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Posted: 12-12-07 09:41am
Sounds like you under good care. I would
call your doc if thing have not gotton
better for you. Maybe they need to dig a
little deeper. Who knows what this could
be.
I would call him or her and let the doc
know what's going on. To much time has
past. Did he/she say how long it would
take for your recovery?
Get well soon.
Carrie
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WImenin
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 12 Dec 2007 Posts: 10
Posted: 12-12-07 09:57am
I was told that it could take anywhere
from 1-2 yrs for complete recovery, but,
from what Ive read elsewhere, its possible
that it could be a permanent brain damage
situation, which scares me everytime the
crud kicks in.
I guess part of my question is...can an
anxiety attack, or panic attack, take on
different forms? It seems like Ive got a
revolving pattern of headaches, anxiety,
flushing, and every now and then something
else odd like dizziness or another
symptoms popping up.
But seems to bizarre to me is that I can
go to bed feeling normal, sleep well, and
wake up with anxiety.
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Georgia59
Moderator
Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 5557 Location: Along the Mississippi, USA
Thanks: 90
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Posted: 12-14-07 17:44pm
It could be possible that it's anxiety.
However, I would definitely make sure that
you are telling your doctor all of your
symptoms. Never ignore something because
you think it may be due to anxiety,
especially if you have other medical
problems.
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Gobucks1234
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 06 Jan 2008 Posts: 3
I Am Having a Similar Experience Posted: 01-08-08 21:14pm
Dear WIminen,
Just wanted to let you know I am going
through similar experience. Here is my
story so I hope you can relate.
In early august, I noticed some spots in
my vision (not floaters), that appeared as
what I would call afterburns, like when I
stare at a bright light. I had it checked
out and nothing wrong. In early september,
I had pain in my chest like I had broken a
rib. I had a chest x-ray, negative. At
this point, I think I have become a
Hypochondriac. Over the next few weeks I
began to get tired in the afternoon, have
a mild headache all day long, neck
stiffeness, etc... I was having trouble
sleeping even though I was tired. I was
also developing a feeling of urination all
the time and I began to get tingling in my
feet and legs. I was also having racing
thoughts. I went back to the doctor and
they did blood work. Everything was
negative. At this point, I don't have one
quantitative measurable symptom so I am
really beginning to think it is in my
mind. In the first week of Nov. I had what
could be described as a panic attack,
ended up in the emergency room. Blood,
urine, and head cat scan all negative. Now
I really think I am losing my mind. I went
back to my doctor and he tells me he
thinks it is mono (again, I had it in 97
as well).
I finally decide to take 3 weeks off work
and rest and just try and relax. I have
been back to work since and I am
definitely feeling much better now and I
am now certain that I was sick, it was not
in my mind. I am still having symptoms and
it has been at least 6 months if not
longer. So the fact your symptoms are
lasting a year, does not surprise me,
especially if you did not rest. I feel
very confident that I was having
meningitis symptoms (which is inflammation
of the nervous system). It was also
interfering with my thought processes;
racing thoughts, depression. I would also
wake up early in the morning shaking on a
few occasions.
Here are my recommendations. Take a deep
breath and relax a bit. I believe you have
had some sort of infection and you are not
having panic attacks (I am not a doctor
however). As great as medicine is it still
is in its infacy and there is a ton they
don't know. So the fact they have not
found anything is not surprising.
I recommend these things for you: First
off, relax, and don't let your mind try to
explain the feelings. Just understand the
feelings you are having don't assume they
are anxiety or panic disorder.
Second, take a fish oil supplement. This
has helped me. It aids the nervous system
and it is also anti-inflammatory
properties.
I also take magnesium as it is very safe
and effective and has a relaxing effect.
Also, watch your blood sugar. I believe
very strongly in this and I recommend
reading potatoes not prozac to get an
understanding of how blood sugars can
effect how you feel. I would also read The
Edge Effect. This book has been a huge
help (I thought it was quackery at first
but I have read more and more and believe
the guy is onto something) and I have been
using it to calm me down. I obviously
believe very strongly in diet these days.
I think it is hugely overlooked by the
medical community (except in the case of
diabetics) and balancing blood sugars is
critical for emotional stability as well
as overall health.Try to avoid process
food as much as possible. Please note that
blood sugar can have huge effects and
these are exascerbated by illness.
Finally, set up medical goals. For
instance, create definitive plans so the
future is not just vague. For example, "if
in 3 months I am still having symptoms, I
will go back to the doctor". Or "if that
doctor does not help me, i will find
another doctor". Just make sure you have a
date for action and then relax until that
date. Otherwise, you will just wake up and
worry and that is no good.
If you feel your health is getting better,
day by day, but just very slowly, I would
take this as a positive sign, even though
it has been a long time. I sure hope this
helps. Relax and smile, let your immune
system take care of this.
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Gobucks1234
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 06 Jan 2008 Posts: 3
Black Mold Toxicity Causes anxiety!!!! Posted: 02-10-08 09:51am
Well, I am back to post again. I believe
now that I have been suffering from Black
Mold toxicity. I will know for sure in a
few days. Everything you are describing is
black mold toxicity (sick building
syndrome). Please look it up and see if
the symptoms fit for you. It could be at
home or work! I would try to move for a
week or 2 and see if the symptoms don't
clear up.
I am still pretty shocked as I never
really thought of household mold as very
dangerous!!!!
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Georgia59
Moderator
Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 5557 Location: Along the Mississippi, USA