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#1
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New here and need help! About 4 weeks ago, I started having symptoms of numbness and tingling in my hands, feet and face at different times. It especially seems bad when I'm upset or anxious. One week ago, my doctor put me on Celexa and I had five nightmarish days of no sleep, panic attacks in the middle of the night and constant anxiety. A lot is going on in my life right now (sick dad, broken relationships, etc.) and my doctor felt that I needed some meds. Needless to say, I have stopped taking them as I felt worse than before. What still has me freaked out is the tingling and numbness. I'm convinced that I have some horrible disease and the more I think about it, the worse the symptoms become. Can anyone relate to this? I'm I going crazy? I've never, in my life, felt this helpless!
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#2
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I'm almost postive that the tingly/numbness feeling is common during panic attacks.
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"Next, don't go to Europe to 'find yourself.' Who told you you were over there anyway?" -The Colbert Report on 'Things Not To Do After Graduating College' |
#3
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But is it possible that they could last for hours and hours? I'm new to the whole panic attack world and I'm really scared. Can panic attacks last for extended periods of time? As I said, I have worked myself into such a mess that I'm convinced that I have a terrible disease. Now I am anticipating having to go to bed and I'm terrified! Even though I'm no longer taking Celexa, I still can't sleep because I can't turn off my mind and the terrible thoughts. Does anyone have any suggestions to calm myself at night. As soon as darkness comes, I start to feel anxious. I feel so lonely and scared.
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#4
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Have you talked to your doctor about this? I strongly encourage you to do so.
Also, what has worked for you before when you need to relax?
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#5
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I have spoken to the doctor about the numbness and tingling and she didn't seem concerned. She did some reflex, strength, movement type tests and said she didn't think it was anything neurological. Of course, I'm still not convinced. I have an appointment with my regular doctor next week and will tell her about the inability to sleep and the continued symptoms but in the meantime, I'm feeling panicky and anxious. I don't really have any tried and true techniques for calming myself. Suggestions?
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#6
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http://www.dreamstalker.org/wings/ptsd001.htm
Lots of wonderful ideas and encouragement in this article. We have it pinned also up top in the Post Traumatic Stress forum, our lovely Petunia first brought it to our attention. Really helpful. Applies to not only PTSD but also anxiety and other symptoms and challenges.
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#7
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Panic attacks are very frightening i think particularly because of the physical symptoms. Numbness in the fingers and hands is not uncommon. My thumb was once numb for an entire day, and of course i thought it had something to do with blood circulation and that it was a serious problem. took a trip to the doctor and discovered that it was anxiety related. I know that its scary. i've called 911 (more than once
![]() it helps to establish a relaxing night time routine if the panic seems to occur at that time of the day. try to take care of yourself, baby yourself. a nice warm bath, a cup of tea, a good book or television show. try to avoid those things that contribute to your stress and try not to think about them. yes, easier said than done, but staying occupied can really help. good luck with the doc. i hope you can find a treatment that alleviates some of what youre experiencing. have you considered asking for something to help you sleep at night? you mentioned not liking the celexa. not sure if youre uncomfortable with all meds. feel free to pm if youre having a particularly sleepless night. always here to listen if you want to vent.
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#8
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Hi!
Have you tried Remeron?(10mg)It's avaliable thru your Doctor..and comes in pill form and the Sol-tabs-which disolve on your tongue. What meds have you taken for this problem? Good luck!
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#9
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Thank you Dottie and GreenFairy. The only thing that I have turned to in the last week is Ativan a couple of times when I was feeling really horrible and knew I wouldn't be able to get to sleep. My numbness is mostly on my left side from the knee down and my arm, right thumb and sometimes around the left jaw line. When I get up in the morning, I don't seem to have any of this but once I start to think about it, it usually comes back and lasts all day. The more I notice it, the worse it gets. I think I need to hear from my doctor that there is nothing to be concerned about and I hope that I will believe her! The anxiety I have has been creeping up for about 5 months and it hit me like ton of bricks with these feelings thinking I'm deathly ill and total helplessness. Thank you for writing back with some personal experiences. It helps me deal with my stuff while I wait to see the doctor. One last thing...will I overcome this? It doesn't feel that way right now.
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#10
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We're all here for you.
i was originally prescribed ativan but am now on klonopin. both help with the symptoms and if you take them during an evening panic episode, can help you to fall asleep easier. glad it helps to be here. i know what you mean. . . knowing you're not alone is a very comforting feeling. I dont know how to answer the question of whether or not you will overcome this. there are people i've met here who have. i sincerely hope that you do. What i do know is that seeing the right doctor or entering therapy, trying medication or trying relaxation techniques, are just some of the options you have in confronting this. its impossible to know if your panic attacks will go away entirely. i can only tell you that finding a way to deal with them, a way that you feel comfortable with and is right for you, will certainly change your life for the better. i know that you will be strong and find the way that works for you. best of luck with the doctor. please let us know how it goes. we are all here for you.
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#11
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Hi There and welcome. You are not alone. I went through 8 Drs. to convince me that I wasn't dying of some tumor or cancer. I had Mri's ct's and tons of blood work. I wore a heart monitor for 4 days because my heart would have an irregular heartbeat. When I first started my panic attacks I called 911 on a semi regular basis. I had tingling in my buttocks and arms and now have them down one side of my face. It is tough trying to find a med to help you get through to the other side of panic. I understand your pain and fear, I've been there to. Keep trying to breath, if you feel an attack coming on open a window and get fresh air, run some very cold water to splash on your face. Do anything to get your mind of the symptoms. We are here for you and you are not alone. Janis
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#12
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Hi, Joplin: Thanks for your post. I'm not even sure if I can distinguish when a panic or anxiety attack is coming on - it comes slowly and when the tingling and numbess sets in, it stays for most of the day. Interestingly enough, usually in the morning, when I get up, it's gone. That's IF I've gotten any sleep the night before and have fretted about it all night.
After all of the tests and doctors, did you finally find meds to help you? Is the numbness caused by the anxiety you feel? |
#13
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yes the tingling and numbness are part of the panic symptoms. my whole rear end used to tingle and that was how i knew an attack was imminent. My dr. put me on zoloft and i was on it for 1-1/2 yrs. Then i managed without drugs for the better part of 5 years then I had a child and the stress of being a mom and lack of sleep and all the rest of life has turned me into panic mode again. Its all about stress for me, if I can find a way to handle my stress and not internalize it I can make it. Right now though I need to be on a medication to make me feel normal. I'm tired of giving up my life to panic. Please talk with your dr and make sure you also see a counselor/psychiatrist that deals with panic issues. Those things helped greatly. I wish you luck my dear. I'm just tired of feeling yucky.
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#14
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Thx , Joplin: I saw my doc and we are now trying Ativan for a few days and then introducing
Effexor....I hope it works for me...Thanks for replying and best wishes to you. |
#15
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Hi, I just wanted to give you (hopefully) some comfort. I can identify with the strange symptoms you described, about a year ago I began experiencing numbness and tingling on the left side of my face, arm, and leg. I was at school at the time, and it scared me so badly I left and went to the er. They told me it was possible it was stress related, but that it could also be a symptom of multiple sclerosis, which really did not help my anxiety at all! I was experiencing stress at the time (acclerated classes with alot of exams, and a relationship that I was addicted to but was afraid I was losing. I had a particularly bad case of the numbness and tingling one night, and it was on both sides of my body. What happened following that episode was the person I was so addicted to broke up with me, and feeling self destructive, I was taken to the psych ward and was checked in for 9 days. During this time, I was given an MRI and the test results were negative, I didn't have MS, which was a big relief. I still have anxiety, but the numbness and tingling have gone, hopefully forever! Please don't give up hope that this will pass...if your doctor has ruled out medical symptoms, I suggest seeing a therapist and perhaps a chiropractor (mine has done wonders for me, and I highly reccommend chiropractic care. Take care, and remember, there is always hope, and help.
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#16
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Sujin: Thanks so much for your post. I saw my doctor on Monday and she feels that this really is being brought on my stress/anxiety/panic. She has me on Ativan and will slowly introduce Effexor. I don't seem to experience the numbness or tingling anywhere near what I was. It is totally amazing what the mind can do. I am starting to see a therapist as well. Thanks again and all the best to you, sujin.
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#17
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that happens to your hands and feet when you hyperventilate...cause you breathe funy when having a panic attack. i dont now about the face part. maybe.
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#18
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But I don't think I hyperventilate. In fact, today, I was keeping very busy and out of the blue, my left foot up to my knee felt tingling and numb again. I don't know what to think anymore. Maybe it's because I reduced my Ativan because it was making me feel like a zombie.
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#19
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I have the exact symptoms as you. Mine started 5 months ago. I get tingling in both arms and my left leg - sometimes my back. The tingling is constant. I'm usually okay in the morning and then as the day progresses, it gets worse. I've had blood tests done by my GP, a neurologist and the gyno. I've had an MRI, nerve conduction and emg tests. You guessed it - nothing wrong with me. My doctor tried my on Lexapro in the beginning, but just the thought of taking it freaked me out, so I stopped. I decided to give it some time. Sometimes the tingling is dealable, sometimes it makes me so upset I take xanax. The sad part is the only thing I'm anxious about is the anxiety itself. It's like a vicious cycle I can't break. When I'm busy and distracted, its not as bad. Nightime seems to be the worst time for me. I have an appointment next week and I''m going to ask my doctor if I can do lexapro again.
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#20
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I was just on the Paxil web site. Tingling hands and feet and face are panic attack symptoms from not hyperventilating too I guess.. Never had the face one.
I fell like I cant breathe when I have a panic attack and I start to take a lot of deep breathes to see if I can breathe (duh, me, I know) and then I hyperventilate and that whats makes my fingers tingle. I found out in the emergency room. |
#21
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Thanks JSMUA. Good to know it can happen at any time.
Gossamer, thanks for your post. My doctor won't even send me for MRI or CAT scans because she is so certain that it is stress and anxiety. I am to start Effexor in 3 days and I'm freaking out about it. I hate the thought of being on mind changing drugs but I guess anything is better than what I'm feeling now. |
#22
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That was part of my problem. The Dr. tried to put me on Lexapro in the beginning, but I freaked out about it and imagined all these side effects it couldn't possibly have had on me in 3 days. I think I'm feeling a bit better about it, so I'll try again. Good luck to you. Let us know how it works for you.
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#23
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hey it's ok i know exactly what you feel i'm going through that now the numbness in the head migraine thought of havin a terrible disease and going to seek medical help and everyone telling you that you have nothing yes i know very well what thats like all i can say to you is talk to your doctor about maybe trying a new med things will get better i promise you because knowing that it's anxiety can help ease your pain and focus your mind on something else other then being physically sick .
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#24
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Thanks, Gossamer and Lavendersteph: I'm still deciding whether or not to do the drugs. I did a search on this site and, of course, everyone has reacted differently to Effexor. I just wish I could do this with psychotherapy alone.
Lastnight, I went to a play that was very loud and violent (lots of shouting and fighting). When I got home, I took my 1 mg. of Ativan and just couldn't get a good rest. I kept having these "electric shock-like" thing happening on my back - just like a bee-sting! Is this something that anyone has experienced with anxiety? Weird!!! |
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