Insomnia, chest pains, ugh

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Insomnia, chest pains, ugh
6
Thu, 10-19-2006 - 4:51pm

Hi all

I am a 40 year old woman. No real previous history of anxiety per say, but when I was a teenager I got tension headaches a lot. Then when I was in my 20s/30s my stomach would get upset or I would throw out my neck or back when I was stressed. I was on Prozac for post partum depression when I was 34-35.

Well the last couple of weeks I have been having chest pains. The first time I had them for over a day, was up all night. Went to my doctor the next day. He did a cardiogram, chest x-ray, bloodwork. Told me to call the next day for results (he told me the cardiogram was fine right away). Well the next day I woke up - no chest pains. Amazing. Called and left him a message. He called back said my results were clear. He said maybe it was some weird virus, he couldn't see anything wrong with me.

Then a few days later I was up all night with milder chest pains but feelings like I was having a panic attack, like when I had postpartum depression. I felt very anxious, chills, heart racing etc. Called my doctor the next day. He said it was probably stress, he really didn't see anything wrong with me. He offered a prescription for Ambien but I don't want to go down that road. He said I could try Benadryl or Nyquil to make me sleepy if I need it.

I have since had at least 3 more sleepless nights. I went to see a therapist yesterday and didn't sleep again last night. I was having anxiety while I was talking to her. ARGH. I left a message for my doctor today to check in with him.

I am so tired, and part of me knows that there is certainly enough stress in my life to cause all this, but part of me is so scared. My dh suffers from depression so he was very sweet an encouraging this morning.

Does anyone have symptoms like this? Do you take meds? How do you cope? I just tried meditation this afternoon but of course I'm home with 3 kids and get completely stressed right after I'm finished. I feel like I'm stuck in a terrible loop.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Thu, 10-19-2006 - 7:18pm

Welcome! I am glad that you posted to our caring & supportive community. We have chat tonight & if you can get the kids to bed or dh to keep an eye on them,

 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 11-25-2005
Thu, 10-19-2006 - 7:49pm
Hi and Welcome!! I have had anxiety since I was in my 20's.
I take Paxil and xanax and go to hypnotherapy.
NOT SLEEPING will increase the anxiety I am sure you know that!
Have you tried any medications to calm you down?
Check the coping techniques on this site they are excellent!!
Talk to your family doctor about this there is help for anxiety!!
Come to chat tonight and get some ideas! HUGS! Judy
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-12-2003
Thu, 10-19-2006 - 9:46pm

Yes! I do have chest pain and I do think it is sometimes related to my anxiety. The first time I had the pain I was with my dad (who just happens to be a physician) and he said it was asthma and made me use all these inhalers. It worked! It went away. Well, i had several more boughts of this horrible chest pain and advil was not working like it had and neither were the inhalers (they did work some though). Then Advil started tearing up my stomach and I couldn't take it at all! And the inhalers made my anxiety a million times worse. I was freaking out. I started going to doctors. One doctor told me it sounds like musculoskelotal pain. Another checked for plurisy but found none. Another did a stress test and it turned out normal thank goodness (you should ask for one to make yourself feel more assured about your heart). Last doctor's visit he said he thinks it is arthritis possibly due to a wreck I had in 2000. But I've also noticed that sometimes it will come on suddenly and with anxiety. Sometimes if I take a Xanax it goes away! I'm learning the difference still between the anxiety pain and the real pain. They are a tad different but not much. I know there really is a real pain besides the anxiety pain but we aren't sure what it is. I think I've worried so much about the pain I'm having it sometimes is just from anxiety. Augh! Well, the doc prescribed Cymbalta for me (along with some arthritis meds that I have to really careful taking because they tear up my stomach) and it seems to be helping. The anxiety med is that new med that is for depression/anxiety and pain. I've taken it a couple of months now (I think that is how long) and am pleased with it. Had a hard time getting it started but all is well now. The first three or fours days I felt like I needed to crawl out of my skin or go run or something. I was just about to give up when it stopped doing that to me, thank goodness! About the no sleep, that is a hard one. My anxiety is so much worse when I'm not sleeping well. And I seem to go through a bad week every couple of months of not sleeping worth a crap. I ususally just keep going knowing that eventually I will be so tired I will sleep. Or if my anxiety is really bad, I'll take one Xanax and then use my asthma inhaler 10 minutes later. That combo knocks my butt out. I've also used Benadryl before I figured out the inhaler thing but that usually only helps me sleep around 4 hours. I am like you, I haven't wanted to take sleeping pills. Well, I've gone on and on. Hope I've helped!

Hang in there!!!

Laura

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Thu, 10-19-2006 - 10:30pm

Hi & welcome to our board!

Sheri Ann

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Thu, 10-19-2006 - 10:46pm

Thank you for sharing all your symptoms and how you cope. Honestly it's such a relief to know I'm not alone in this. I got my hair cut tonight and told my hairdresser I was just exhausted from insomnia and anxiety and she has suffered from the same thing! She had some helpful tips too. She said she has been on and off meds, and finally what has really worked for her is to go running.

I exercise very regularly - 5-6 times a week. I just started swimming again this week. I have always loved swimming. Usually I do cardio or lift weights. I'm going to incorporate more yoga into my workouts.

My diet is pretty good, but I have cut back on the sugar, chocolate and caffeine this past week. I'm drinking lots of herbal tea which seems to calm me.

And the thought of my kids meditating just cracks me up (they are SO active) but hey, you never know until you try right?

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-15-2006
Fri, 10-20-2006 - 1:42pm
Hi Just wanted to let you know that chest pains are classic symptoms of panic attacks. My husband went to the ER a few years ago with chest pains and we thought he was having a heart attack--all the tests came back fine and the emergency room dr told him it was anxiety and to go home and get a good nights rest and to stay away from stressful situations LOL I said to him like LIFE???? Who in the world out there has a totally stress-free life??? I have yet to meet them, but the more stress we have in our lives the more anxiety and panic are out there. This physician also made the comment that my husband was about the 10th person he saw in the last few days with these exact same symptoms and they all turned out to be panic/anxiety. I do know one thing Sleep is so important, Whenever I have at least 8 hours in a night the next day I rarely suffer any anxiety it is those nights that I toss and turn and probably only get a few hours the next day I am a wreck. So if taking sleeping pills is the way to go I guess that might be something I will have to do too. I don't want to have to rely on them but when I know how much better I feel the next day it might be something I will need to do. Has anyone tried that new sleeping pill Lunesta?? I keep seeing the commercials that say it is not habit forming. Anyway good luck to you We are all in this together and hopefully, someday, there will be some kind of "cure" so we don't have to live the rest of our lives like this anymore.:) dhw