So over the year anxiety has manifested itself in a few scary ways around my body. Mainly chest pain, leg pain, breathing trouble. This often lasts a few months then eases off and despite tests i am fit as a fiddle (surprise).
People assume anxiety is thought related, but i feel it's the physical problems caused by the stress it puts on your body that drives it.
The latest is I have this huge head pressure and i keep getting pin and needle type sensations at the top of my head and have this fullness and pain around my cheeks and eyes. I also have a rash that has broken out on my cheeks which goes all down my neck and back. I also keep getting shivers and feel cold constantly. Its freaking me out.
I have had congestion and sinus problems almost daily all year, it's been like living with constant flu. My eyes are always swollen and puffy. Finally i got to the ENT who immediately noticed my neck is massively swollen. He has given me 6 weeks of Antibiotics, and asked to do a CT scan /ultrasound of my sinuses and neck to check the infection hasn't spread (rash is indicator apparently) seeing as it's gone untreated for so long (I have mentioned this to multiple doctors who give me either antihistamines or antidepressants! Which annoyed the ENT).
This experience has left me really depressed though and now not sure what to think or what medication to take as i know antibiotics make me more depressed (no idea why!)
I only have propranolol to take and the doctor really wants me to go on Sertraline (which i know i need as the depression is affecting a lot lately) Is it a bit much though taking antibiotics, antihistamines (fexofenodine) and Sertraline all at the same time? As in i will be going from no tablets to all this?
On the one side i am happy i haven't been imagining these sensations for once, but on the down side I am freaking out as to what a scan could show! Ah no winning.
Not true. Are you female? You have some complaints that line up with auto immune. Sometimes it can take 4-7 years for an auto immune diagnosis as well. Todays doctors sometimes trend stuff into anxiety. Im not saying you have one but you do mimic some of the symtoms. Do you have any issues with chronic dry eyes? Temperature tolerance issues?Get colds a lot? Anyway even aside from if you were developing an auto immune issues a rhematoid can also diagnose fibromylegia. 90 percent female for some odd statistically reason. I dont know but just a thought for you. You can see twenty doctors if none of them are looking of thinking on that route it wouldnt be useful. A rhematoid dr rules out auto immune disease. Sjourgnes, RA, celiac, lyme, fibromylegia and a bunch of others. Ent doctors are minimially helpful with much unless youre dripping mucous. They dont tend to think out of the box out at all. Half the time they dont even explain much of anything. Im not sure they will give you a referral but you never know.
Its all how you present yourself too. We live in a very strange world. You have to come off calm. Fast talking High pitch, scared all that is viewed as weak and anxiety ridden by the medical world. anxiety disorders are an epidemic amd maybe when your young that is the predominant diagnosis. And it could be anxiety or honestly both comexisting . But a rhematoid doctor runs different bloodwork and does different tests and different way of handling stuff.
I suggest seeking a referral to an allergy clinic via different surgery.U could get a referral privately but it will cost you.
I think lisa is on the right track.
These allergies can drive one mad. I know having put up with a bad reaction to medication . I developed urticaria then cellulitis then in hospital reacted to the ;safe' antibiotic, clindamycin. I came out of hospitsl, got home and found an 'insect' n my arm prsumably picked up from the hospital. The antihistamines and hydrocortisone cream made everything worse.