Are we more prone to anxiety disorders?

I won't go into the all gorey details, but I was awake all night Tuesday with extremely high anxiety and restlessness   I had three "episodes" during the night, that had me in the ER come morn' - all wired up to a machine, vials of blood taken, and xanex (sp?) quaffed so that I could go home and sleep .  The Doc said that I wasn't in physical danger, but wouldn't venture a diagnosis.... An internet search on the symptoms (shaking, cold sweats, nasaeu - had to run to the can and drop trou , dizziness to the point that I thought I would pass out, hyper-ventilation, racing heart, a sense of impending doom, confused thoughts and thinking patterns, and a fear that I was meeting my demise "Elvis- style" on the crapper) leads me to believe that I had gotten a triple-whammy panic attack.  Hmmmmm..... guess I went into "all the gorey details" after all What to do?  I sure don't want to go through that (or put my wife through) again.  I got a doctor's appointment tomorrow.  I missed work yesterday, and am functioning at half speed today..... I've still got a high level of anxiety, but feel better knowing that I am not going to suffer a heart attack. Anybody got this ****  What drugs  should I ask for?

Hey Baja.... stupid question here....were you dumping....anything "special" for dinner....anything new on the menu....? Don;t get me wrong, I can fret with the best of them...but if anything dosen't some to mind as a trigger..mentally...it may be physical/// if it is mental./...work the problem... please stay in touch Russ

Baja:

I'm not a doc so don't hold me to anything here.  At about 4 months post-op, I began suffering anxiety attacks.  My symptoms were a racing heart, sleeplessness, my mind seemed to be running a million miles an hour thinking about the weirdest **** crying fits, feelings of hopelessness, lack of energy or enthusiasm, the list goes on and on.  I tell people that if they imagined driving down the road at 80 miles an hour and suddenly had to jamb on their breaks because the idiot in front of them decided to stop, that the feeling of adrenaline and fear at that second is what the anxiety feels like, with the exception that it just doesnt disapear after a few minutes.  Sound familar?  I drummed it all up to the fact that I didn't have my old buddy food to turn to in times of stress.  People just don't realize how as emotional eaters we are hooked on and what a drug food is.  My doc started me on Lexapro (10 mg a day) and after a few months I started feeling better.  I also started going to therapy and attending group meetings, and now, with the exception of little relaspes here and there, I feel great.   I know what it is now, and I dont let it get to me.  I've learned to deal with stress in different ways than I used to.  The important thing to remember is that you are not alone, this is a common thing and you can get through it.  Exercise helps tremendously, kind of pumps up the brain.  Getting out in the sun as often as possible is also a big help, especially now with the days getting shorter.  Just get the help.  Good luck to you. John

Got nothin’ Report back with your info from the doc… I remember seeing a handful or so guys out here report “panic attacks,” So it’s not too rare. Life, not ‘dulled-down’ and numbed with food Makes sense to me. Used to “eat that stress away,” Now it just builds up into pile till it breaks out. Hope it’s nothing too tricky to fix. Best Wishes- Dx

I used to have those panic attacks at night. Mine were mostly caused after being diagnosed with A-Fib (irregular heartbeat). My heart felt like it was going to beat itself out of my chest, and I thought my A-Fib was coming back. That was the breaking point when I decided to talk to my doc about gastric bypass. I was given Xanax on an as needed basis, but by the time I needed it, I was already having a panic attack. I was put on a daily Lexapro, and it has done wonders. My wife can attest to that! Eric

Well it's 3:08 in the OC...... the rain (a rare occurance here!) woke me up soooo I thought I'd post an update.  The days following my (now confirmed) panic attacks left me pretty disoriented.  I've got to write a lot of memos , reports , and emails at work, to be broadcast  company-wide and to clients and such..... visit job sites, meet with clients , work towards the always looming deadlines .   Not to toot my own horn  but I work on multi-million (and sometimes billion) dollar projects  and I just haven't been up to the task .  Basically, I felt like I had gotten my chimes rung big time!  It was only a matter time until my ******upped-ness wold be duly noted   I saw the doc - he confirmed the research that I have done in the rest couple of days, and broke out the old script pad .  Zoloft for the next few months, and xanex in the interim.... until the regular dope pills kick in  . How's that for a record # of smileys per post??!! One more week of work and then I am headed down to Gonzaga Bay http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c390/bajaddict/P1010048-1. jpg For 9 days of camping, kayay fishing, taco eating, and other vacation activities! And THAT, my brothers, is just what the doctor ordered!

Hey man ...sorry that you had a panic attack. The answer is yes...we are more prone to neurological disorders then the normal population.  On the DS forum about 1 week ago, Ms. Cal Culator (sue) posted a study that showed post bariatric patients are more prone to psychological  issues. It can actually be partly related to nutritonal issues, at least from what I remember about the study.  Unfortunately OH has gotten rid of the search function, so I can't find the origional post.  I hope that you feel better....let us know how your doing. Scott

Fun with panic attacks. I have only had a few, and they are not fun. The tired, sluggish disorientation over the next few days is caused by a literal draining or your adrenal glands during the attack. (At least that is what my doc says) I knew what was causing mine, for the most part, and got rid of her. lol  I've been on a regular run of Bupropion (Wellbutrin), and have Lorazepam (generic for Ativan) to take as needed for the anxiety attacks. The Lorazepam works pretty good, if I take it before it gets too bad. Once a full blown attack is underway, it is hard to say if it shortens them or takes much of the edge off. Fortunately, I have not had one in a month or so. Hoping we are done with them. Hang on there, fight the good fight. Vacation sounds like good medicine, too. JP

Hey Baja,

Don't know about you, but my feelings vary greatly according to what I eat. I've been a lot calmer since going low carb and adding Omega-3 flax oil and sesame oil.

If you're mostly protein or mostly carb, you might get different feelings, or if say your calories are really low.

Just shooting in the dark here, but barring any health problems, you might need to experiment with what you're eating. Most of the diets like the Zone and the NHE diet claim to have good positive effects on anxiety and other mental states. Might be good to experiment a little.

Best Wishes,

Dave

Now that you mentioned it, I remember when I went on atkins my mood would be more mello then when I went off it.  I think it has to do with the spikes in blood sugar. Scott