My doctor thinks I should see a p-doc!

Your PCP's made a good-faith effort to do everything he can think of --to rule out everything he can and to run any relevant tests. Now he suggests you see a psychiatrist. Why would you refuse to even consider that? No psychiatrist is going to make you take a medicine you don't want to take and it seems like you owe your PCP to at least follow his reasonable suggestion. He didn't say see a psychiatrist and take whatever drug he tries to prescribe you, did he?

I'm not suggesting you don't go to the psych appt but I'd remind her you just had a blood clot and that you are taking blood thinners and ask her about the breathing and weakness in that context.

Glad to hear she looked into the side effects of gabapentin but it would be alarming if she didn't consider side effects from the warafin as there are dangers with any blood thinners.

There's so much she didn't look into but that doesn't mean you can't get treatment for anxiety at the same time. But imo it shouldn't be either or as that is reckless.

Thanks, Anne. I'm not sure because I will probably have side effects. I just don't like meds.

Thanks again, Dr. Rayne. I had an echo with the stress test. Totally normal. I'm not out of breath a lot, and the weak feeling didn't happen today but now I have a sore throat and a cough. Haven't had that in about a year.

Yeah, I hate meds unless absolutely necessary. What is a functional medical doc? Maybe it will just go away. I'm not sure if it's from foods. Could be. Could be anxiety sometimes. Or the gabapentin. I just don't know.

She asked what I think. I tried Zoloft about 4 years ago and it made me shaky so the
pdoc gave me Valium and Ambien! I didn't like him at all!
Their job is to give meds. I don't like them.

I didn't read so much about warfarin side effects. I know I have to eat limited dark green foods, or eat them consistently, and I get blood tests often to get right dose of medicine.

I see vascular surgeon next week about blood clot, and I'll ask about varicose veins too. I wonder if any of these doctors will tell me if I need a throat culture. Probably a virus.

Have you had a glucose tolerance test? This takes several hours in the doctor’s office.

Blood sugar is normal and so is A1c on blood testing. These don’t catch hypoglycemia because your blood sugar reacts to what you are eating.

Fasting blood sugar is just one point in time with no food in play. A1c is an average blood sugar over time that does not catch hypoglycemia.

I sure hope your doc gave you this test before suggesting the psychiatrist...

No, but I've tested my blood sugar often this last month before eating, when this happens, and after. It's never been abnormally low. I've had prediabetes for years. Maybe I shouldn't be on the one pill of Metformin anymore.

Right now my nose is stuffed making me not breathe right and got only 4 hours sleep which makes me anxious. Also read warfarin side effects are tiredness. I hate meds but have to be on warfarin. Says if you're weak on warfarin, tell them. But it's more likely gabapentin I think. It's a vicious cycle with me. I'm getting worked up. T is right!!

Hm, I wonder if the other meds could be affecting your blood sugar enough that the Metformin is causing issues? I didn't realize they gave that for prediabetes, thought was just for regular diabetes. If you're really sensitive to meds (which I am, too), it could be that you're also really sensitive to blood sugar increases and decreases.

I would also suggest seeing a functional medical doctor, which could also be called an integrative doctor or possibly a naturopath. They tend to look at the body more holistically in terms of things like vitamin/mineral/amino acid deficiencies, food intolerances (different from allergies), toxins (like mercury, etc.) that could be in your body, yeast overgrowth issues (like in your whole body), malabsorption of nutrients, etc. They will order (usually blood or urine) tests that a typical doctor wouldn't order.

Also, I know you don't want to try any psychiatric meds again, but you might do OK on a really low, "subclinical" dose. Thankfully, the p-doc I see now understands that some people need a very low dose (which minimizes side effects). Whereas my last one, if I was still having issues, just kept trying to increase the dose. Or add more medications. Which didn't work so well for me.

I don't take any medication at all so obviously I don't like meds. I also stay away from doctors unless absolutely necessary.

But I have noticed (not saying this is true) that you have repeatedly explained an unwillingness to pursue certain strategies with rationales that seem less consistent with the open-mindedness I have seen from you here more recently. Above, you are kind of pessimistic and future-predicting about even a consultation. Maybe it's connected to your desire to be taken care of, as you acknowledge. This resonates with me so strongly because after being widowed I felt this often, especially in times of stress. At least it felt like to me after many years of being married, there were things that made me feel taken care of, I just didn't know it. And the responsibility of going it alone and all that comes with that can be pretty overwhelming after you've had someone to share the burden.

I'm not saying you have to do things recommended to you by people on the internet (and just like with legal advice, it's good to be skeptical with medical advice). I guess I'm just wondering if part of what's going on now is that your physical self is trying to get your attention and needs you to do something different than you're doing now, but you are reluctant listen. FWIW.

This seems like the first time ive heard you were taking metformin. Thats not a neutral drug, at least not for me. My dr didnt let me stay on it for very long. Plus i think i started almost passing out from it.

You can check all your drug interactions yourself on google.

I've been taking metformin for more than 15 years I think. My current Dr. cut it down from two 600mg. pills to one about 2 years ago. I never had a problem with it.

I had an incident this afternoon. It is definitely not anxiety! I had to get the Rx from my allergist ( private practice so he couldn't call in to the hospital), then went to the same nature center to walk around and then pick up my paintings because the exhibit is over. I felt good except for my throat, and allergy symptoms which are a combination of a virus and allergy today. After 40 minutes or so I got in the car and sat down. Immediatly I felt something. This time it may have been my heart racing I think. I ate a granola bar and peanut butter and crackers in the car, then drove home, about 15 minutes. My blood pressure and blood sugar were normal but pulse 103. I think it went up because I'm worried about what's wrong but I think I noticed the racing right away this time.

My medically knowledgeable friend thinks it may be heart arythmia? I think someone mentioned that here. I don't know much about that. I thought I was safe because EKG and stress test a nd echo were normal! She said I need the 24 hr. heart monitor test.

It could be meds causing this but it started before I knew I had blood clot.

So, how do I make this about therapy? My T says I am the boss of me! I decide what to do about this. I think my Dr. will listen now that there is no way I was anxious at the nature center! I'm very allergic but didn't have any weird symptoms like wheezing or swelling. I feel like updating T but I won't. I'll see what happens the rest of the day.

When do you take your metformin? If you felt better after you ate, and if you have lost weight with all else that has been going on, maybe it isnt an appropriate med for you anymore. I looked up its side effects, and i think it matches at least some of what youre describing. Maybe check with your gp or whoever prescribed it?

Also, warfarin doesnt play well with many allergy meds - have you checked those interactions? I can only take guafinesin for any cold. Anything else makes my heart race.

Blood goes to your digestive area when you eat. If you have a vascular problem, eating can aggravate.

When is your appt with the vascular dr.?

Tuesday.

Oh Rainbow, it's probably just from a side effect. I just over worry about people getting misdiagnosed. Im glad you went out to the art gallery. Just too bad you got ill amd are still dealing with this

I don't know what you eat, nor the meds you seem to take. Reports of side effects from meds have to include every reported symptom and are not necessarily reflective of most peoples' reaction to a med. But the sort of symptoms you describe could easily be explained by diet (too little protein, too many carbs) and dehydration. But I think Anne is spot on in her opinion, and it just seems to me that you have reasons for not really being invested in addressing the issues in ways that could be within your control. There will always be another med test you can pursue; but the more exotic the condition, the less likely it is that you would have it, given your normal test results.

Maybe it would be worth it to talk with your T about what you can do to change this attitude around and learn to gain security from taking care of yourself. I think this is what she's referring to by encouraging you to take control. FWIW, I do think the sort of somatic work you've been doing for so long can exaggerate a hyper vigilance about body symptoms.

I'm trying to put a trigger warning here. Oh, I did.

Idk. I wrote T a goodbye note just now in case... I don't feel well but I don't want to go to the ER. I'm afraid not to take the gabapentin because I didn't call the pharmacist. I'm trying to breathe slowly. Maybe I'll try my inhaler.

I'm not sure if you missed the replies, but Rainbow said at least 3 times in this thread that she doesn't like/hates medications. So perhaps different than lack of open mindedness?

Plus, a granola bar and peanut butter and crackers is my description of a carb binge. Its not what i would call a sensible snack? Its all white flour and sugar. But if its the type of thing you keep on hand because your blood sugar goes too low or you often get dizzy, i would definitely rethink the metformin.

Is there epinephrine in your allergy meds?

Dr Rayne, i propose we open an office together!
Im in franchise with Dr Larry, Dr Moe, & Dr Curley

Sorry, too triggered by gaslighting related to past trauma. Gotta take break from here. Take care!

T emailed back. She ignored the goodbye part and said I will get better. She said it could be panic attacks even if I don't feel anxious but she hopes I get heart checked out. She thought they check for arrythmia during stress test but that's only at the time of test. I had written " I love you" in my email. She wrote "love you too." without the "I".
I notice details like that. I thought she might call and then I would cry. Oh well. I have to tell Drs. I have no appetite. You know, I'd rather be fat and healthy than this.

You take care, and thanks for all your help!

It seems to me that you could use a pdoc consultation as a source of information for your Dr. as well as for yourself. Seems to me it would be useful if the pdoc were to say, this is not anxiety and maybe (because these peeps do have medical degrees) that it might be x or y.

Some time ago on this board, if I'm not mistaken, you spoke of your "black and white thinking" and other kinds of inflexible thinking were sometimes a problem for you. I'm not trying to criticize or call you out, just that I experience your descriptions of what is happening and how you are thinking about it to be a little extreme and irrational. I know I don't always have the greatest perspective on what's going on with me and I don't have any investment in being right. Your T is right, you are the boss of you. And in case this is something helpful to you, I say what I think. You are free to tell me to shut up and go away.

Thank you, Anne. I am choosing the physical route first because what happens is very scary. From my experience, p-docs just want to prescribe meds. I want to rule out physical causes first. If none is found, I'll consider a pdoc. I don't believe I'm thinking in black and white; I'm thinking in colors! I'm thinking I'm on 2 new meds with side effects, plus my regular meds. Something medical is going on, which does cause anxiety. But this can't be coincidence. I have to find answers as to why this is happening to me.

GUESS WHAT?

My chest x-ray shows mild pneumonia! I have a slight sore throat and cough for less than a week. Allergist wants my PCP to treat it. I don't think that could be cause of weakness for over a month, but you never know.

Rheumatologist appointment productive but I wonder if he'll change his mind after he hears about x-ray results. He said to get off gabapentin and I can taper it like I wanted, and it wouldn't be a bad idea to see a cardiologist. When I'm off gabapentin he said to consider nerve tests on my legs. I had them for arms and it was SO painful! I have to think about it.

I hope the pneumonia is reason I don't feel well since last week, but only part of the picture. No fever, just exhausted but of course gabapentin does that! The Dr. said it causes anxiety and depression too.

Dr. said not pneumonia!! A different Dr. Said probably anxiety!!