Ever since I have had my panic attacks in April this year I have had a constant dry cough and really dry chest I can't cough up any phlegm at all should I be alarmed or is this normal with anxiety?
I also have any amouts of physical Symtoms with my anxiety everyday after my panic attacks I have,
shortness of breath
24/7
Deralization 24/7
Heart flutters( come and go) but when I get them there really bad
Constant tight chest 24/7
It feels as if I feel every heartbeat my heart makes
Dizziness
Nausea
Faint all the time
My question is is this dry cough thing another anxiety Symtoms or something serious?? I have had 2 ecgs all clear because I was worrying about my heart ( still do) one count of bloods and all good and had chest listened to loads of times and all good to I just can't shake this dry chest cough feels like there is something lodged in the middle of my chest that's needs coughing up but I can't cough it up for the life of me because it's that's dry any help and replys appreciates thanks!
The above sounds like Anxiety, make an appointment and see your GP make a list of your concerns and explain all especially your dry cough
BOB
Wow I have the same exact feelings as you minus the fainting. I've had constant chest pressure with a cough. It's there all the time, but comes in waves with the severity. Sometimes it gets so bad I can hear myself wheez and feel breathless. I too recognize my heartbeats. Sometimes it feels so strong, but not always. I have the occasional palpitation as well. I've been to the ER twice and have had many tests done. EKG, Echogram, CAT Scan, chest X-ray, barium swallow and countless blood work. ALL come out normal. I've been put on 10mg Prozac because it is believed in suffering from stress and anxiety, but I've only been on it for 1 week, so I don't feel any better yet. I started a post a few hours ago "Anxiety or Somethibg Else" you can see what I've been through in more detail. Have you tried anxiety meds?
Awful isn't t I don't know wether it's all in my head or if it's all just "fake feelings" I can defiantly feel it though yeah I have the constant chest pressure to it like you said there it comes in waves sometimes I feel it strong sometimes I don't it's a weird feeling just feels like my chest is full to the brim with something I to have had a few tests done I've in had countless physicals and 2 ecgs all said which were fine and my lungs listend to which were clear they said going to push them for a X-ray though when I'm back, Yeah I'm currently on mitrazpine and propanolol beta blocker which helps I guess but sometimes I just don't feel there working at all probs just all in my head again lol.
Thanks bob I will make a list and mention it to my GP I'm there after the new year. It's amazing how anxiety can manifest itself isn't it it bewilders me sometimes makes me think that there's is something wrong with me☹
Did you feel like this prior to taking propanolol?
Yeah basically, make me feel abit better but not much I just notice all the Symtoms I've said above are always there.
Yup! It's awful. It's no way to live... for me it came on gradually. I do have asthma so my feelings are similar to that so I assumed that's what was going on. It would come and go. I'd take my inhaler it would go away and I'd forget about it.. then it started to come on continuously. Obviously the first suspicion was my asthma is not in control but when I saw my doctor AND a lung specialist my lungs were completely fine. However, my pulse was very high as well as my blood pressure.
I will tell you (if you haven't read my post yet) that one day on top of my chest symptoms I got heartburn very badly that would not go away. I was then treated for possible GERD because that can mimic the chest pressure and cough symptoms. I started the meds for that and it did help for a bit, but then it all came back recently so I'm not even sure if it's acid reflux related or not. Do you get heartburn? Do you have a good diet? Might be something to look into for you as well.
Yeah it truely is no way to live im constantly focusing on my breathing to see if I can feel the pressure on my chest or I'm focusing on my heart one of the 2, Do yo feel anything helps at all with it I to have an inhaler I have not got asthma I only feel the doctor give me it to shut me up it helps abit like. You mentioned you got tested there I've had 2 ecgs if there was anything wrong with my heart do you think it would of picked it up just im convinces they have missed something sounds mad I i know lol. Yeah I am on medication for my heart burn of the doctor to I get that really bad I woundnt say my diet is good but I woudnt say it was bad either I drink smotthies and go for a jog a day to help with my anxiety.
I too have been focusing on my breathing and heart. I also constantly worry that something is wrong with my heart despite my good test results. I'm sure doctors have listened to your heart as well on top of your ekg's. So despite worrying I would rely on the doctors telling you that your heart is okay. How are you sleeping? Do you feel comfortable when you lay down? Does it get worse when you move around? Does the pressure feeling move into different parts of your chest or stay in the same spot?
I find the inhalers worked at first when my symptoms came on gradually, but then stopped working for me. I haven't found much relief except when I started the antiacud meds, it was still there but not as bad. Then it came back to how it was before I started the meds. Sometimes I feel a bit of relief if I'm really focused on something like a good movie, but as soon as I change position or get up it comes back, so that has also left me to believe it's my heart too despite my good tests, but it also happens at rest and I'm in my own head 24/7.
Yeah same here I've just read what you read there and your describing me in a nutshell here I to live In my own head im constantly thinking what ifs and overthinking things constantly, I focus on my breathing everyday aswell as my heart I feel every beat it makes where's before I had these panic attacks my breathing was on auto pilot where's as now I notice it ALOT more. Mmmm I would say I sleep okay though at least 2 3 times a week just as I'm falling asleep I sort of shock myself awake feels like my heart stopped for a sencond or 2 sounds mad I know, plus I have also woke in the middle of the night a few times gasping for air to.
With me the Chest thing just Stays in the same spot like right in the middle of my chest just feels all heavy and tight and feels as if there is something lodged in there and I'm breathing around it sort of thing it's a weird weird feeling like you said there if I'm focused on something for a little while I will forget about it. I used to feel like I had to catch my breath all the time to I used to have to catch it at least every 2 3 mins just to make sure I could breath I get this pulling sort of feeling in the middle of my chest to that makes me want to catch my breath but my therapist has told me to stop doing this because I'm just adding fuel to the fire. But I stop doing it and it catches on its own I can't win lol
I can't believe you just told me what happens to you while you sleep. The same exact thing has been happening to me! Not every night but now and then I'll start to drift off and quickly wake up in panic gasping for air. Or sometimes I'll be dead asleep and then I'll jolt up in bed from an extreme panic attack, my heart races, I'm breathing heavy, I'm disoriented and confused for moment. This happened to me last night actually.
Today I seem to be coughing a lot, but unlike you I feel my constant chest pressure moves around a bit in my chest. Sometimes it's high sometimes it's low or right in the middle..
Are you married or have a bed partner? I ask because maybe they can monitor how you breath when you sleep? I've read things about sleep apnia that can cause symptoms like ours while we sleep. Or maybe this is all really is just effects from anxiety. I wish I had answers. Please know you're not alone. In fact, you are the first person I've talked to that is experiencing the same exact symptoms as myself. If I find any relief I'll let you know, and hope you'll do the same!
Oh I forgot to add I'm constantly catching my breath. It's like a scratch that needs to be itched. I get the feeling that I NEED to take in a big breath to get relief. I've also read and been told that when we are anxious our breathing changes. We hyperventilate taking in too much oxygen which can give you physical symptoms because your body is deprived from carbon dioxide. When we are in a constant anxious state we rewire our brain to breath in faster (fight or flight).
Yeah that happens to me at least 2 3 times a week I will shock myself awake gasping for air it scares me when it happens to me I immediately think " heart attack" which makes me panic more i get the chest pain to which is mainly on my left hand side, I mentioned it to my doctor and he said that's it all due to panic I got diagnosed with panic disorder in April this year.
You mentioned coughing there I cough most days ( feels like I have something stuck in my throat) forgot to mention that to lol.
No I'm not married and don't have a partner we split this year we were together 10 year I think the split and the stress of it has contributed to all of this somehow.
Like you mentioned there I've also read about sleep apnia been can cause some of these Symtoms when we are dropping of to sleep but I try not to google things anymore as it makes me a lot worse than a am if yah get me lol.
It could be all the effects from anxiety it just a bewilders me how anxiety can cause all this without there been a physical cause causing it lingering in the background it's a powerful thing anxiety isn't it u wish I had some answers to like I say just really gets me how anxiety can present it self all physical I though it was just in our heads if you get my meaning.
Your are to the closest person I've talked to on here with exactly the same Symtoms as I have.
Yes course I will we will keep each other informed feel free to PM me anytime to talk, ask questions anything you need!🙂
I to am like that trying to catch my breath all the time and you are right it is like a really annoying itch that needs scratching to hit the nail on the head ther! Do you do any breathing exercises or anything I forgot to ask you? Do you find that your breath will catch on its own to without you meaning to do it? This happens to me all the time I'm trying not to catch my breath but then it will catch on its own soooo annoying!!
I do sometimes practice shallow breathing because I know I hyperventilate a lot. I start huffing and puffing especially when my chest pressure gets severe. I do find my breathing just comes normally on its own especially when I'm distracted. I also cough a lot. Some days more than others but the last couple days I've been coughing up a storm. The cough comes directly from the chest pressure and it almost feels scratchy? It's so hard to explain. I never cough anything up though.
I've dealt with anxiety, depression, panic attacks for more than half my life. I've had a lot of ups and downs throughout my life, but never has it manifested itself this badly. I can say with honesty I have been extremely stressed out since I've had my second child 15 months ago. My husband works 80 plus hours a week, I'm a stay at home mom so I'm mostly raising our two kids alone, I have found myself feeling very overwhelmed most days since I had my second. I'm always feeling rushed and always in a hurry to get things done even though I have no where to go! Just doing daily tasks would get me feeling overwhelmed and stressed. I think it finally caught up to me. I also believe I might be suffering from OCD a little bit because I found myself obsessed with keeping the house clean. I had a daily routine on cleaning and if it didn't get done I'd start feeling anxious about it.. i really didn't realize this wasn't rational thinking until recently.. I'm not saying this is in fact why my symptoms are the way the are, but it certainly is quite the coincidence.
You mention ending a long term relationship. Is this when all your symptoms started? When you look back on it do you recall bad behavioral habits or anxiety?
Yeah apparently it's ment to be good for anxiety I practice mindfulness meditation 3 times a day 10 minutes just slows your breathing right down so I'm not huffing and puffing trying to catch my breath all the time.
You mentioned you cough a lot there that's where my coughing comes from the chest pressure/tightness I've got it into my head that it will clear it and make it better but it never does in fact it makes it worse I think and I also never ever cough anything up its so dry.
Ahh okay sounds like you had it most of your life but manifested it self again ever since your second child it's good that you have your kids to keep you busy and take your mind of things a little with looking after them.
Yeah OCD me and my horrible friend it is can never hardly get a night sleep everything had got to be perfect for when I go to bed I'm constant checking Windows are locked etc up and down all night checking things then I'll finally fall asleep I've always been a anxious person but I think these panic attacks have just accelerated things with me and took it to a whole new level I just want to feel "normal" again I always think back to when I was normal and had no Symtoms at all and had a normal life.
When my Symtoms started i was going to bereavement counselling my 3 year old son passed away on 1 February 2015, me and my ex partner split up 3-4 month after his passing I know I shouldn't really say this on a open forum but I want you to get a little glimpse of what things are like if you get me, anyway this was April 2016 I was going to bereavement counselling and i had a big massive panic attack beforehand I didn't know what was happening at the time my hands went sort of blue and tingling numb feelings went starte to the doctor and I've had all these crazy Symtoms to deal with everyday since that horrible day in April. I havnt felt the same since.
First off let me give you my deepest condolences. That is absolutely horrible I'm so so sorry.
As far as symptoms go my coughing is all over the place. Sometimes I cough so much for long periods and sometimes it subsides quite a bit, but it's always there just like the chest pressure.
You mentioned your throat feels like something is stuck there? That happened to me for 2 straight weeks on top of everything I've been going through, but I realized that was anxiety and went away so quickly, but then came back today so that's fun. I haven't been able to eat much since all this started. I've lost 13 pounds in 8 weeks.
Also, you mentioned you have acid reflux. Have you had an endoscopy done? I'm scheduled for one in a couple weeks im hoping it shows something to why I feel this way, but since I'm on meds for that I feel like they should be working. However, these symptoms do coencide with GERD. GERD can also be triggered by stress and anxiety. You are aware that you have acid reflux so perhaps it's possible it's flaring up from the stress and anxiety that you felt from your first panic attack. Just a thought. If anything if might be worth having an endoscopy done just to see.
Now, I want to be delicate here, but you do see all this has happened to you since the passing of your son. That cannot be a coincidence. I didn't realize you had gone through all that. To me I think wow no wonder he's going through all this. If you've had tests done and they all come out normal it would seem to me you are 100% suffering from anxiety. The reason we don't get better is because we obsess with our symptoms, we get in our own heads. "What is happening to me" "is it my heart" "what if I die without warning because they are missing something" it's horrible. We our symptoms from anxiety and have anxiety from our symptoms it's a vicious cycle! I totally understand what a struggle it is. Is therapy helping at all? Your meds do they help? Remember it's not one size fits all, you may have to adjust your meds if they aren't.
I have my good days and bad days to be fair Christmas ain't the same anymore birthdays and everything.
Same here my coughing is really bad to I go through a bottle of cough mixture a week nearly (a small bottle) I'm constantly sucking cough sweets.
Yeah it constant feels like there's something lodged at the back of my throat and something right in the middle of my chest that I feel like I'm breathing round but I havnt had a chest X Ray yet I'm going to push my doctor for one just to be on the safe side I think and just for reassurance I know I'm feeding the fire but I'd rather be safe than sorry.
Wow 13 pounds in 2 weeks I can't decide wether that is good or bad for you lol.
Yeah I have acid reflux to and I'm on tablets for it and is that test you mentioned there is it where you get the camera up your nose and down your throat I think? I might be wrong like.
I'm at my docs after the new year to discuss a few things with him I'll mention a endoscopy and a chest X-ray have you had any chest X-rays and did that show anything?
Yeah my therapist has also mentioned what you have just mentioned there that all of this had happened after the passing of my son which in anyone's eyes is a traumatic expierience I'm only a 26 year old lad and I have been trough a hell of a lot.
You have hit the nail on the head again I'm constantly thinking about my heart and " what if they have missed something" or what if I collapse and die but surely my 2 ecgs would of showed something right? The only thing that gets me if I havnt had a chest X-ray and a echo test I feel if I get those two tests done and get the all clear I can accept this as anxiety and all these crazy Symtoms that come with if if you get me? I've recently took up jogging to and I'm constantly thinking while I'm jogging I hope I don't collapse and die with this heart thing going on and this breathing thing.