Cant swallow sensations AGAIN!

Holly J · Post by **Holly J** » Tue Jun 24, 2008 7:02 pm

I was working on session 3 and learning to control my panic attacks and cut down my Ativan to once at night. I started feeling really bad (has to be my hormones) and all my anxiety came back and i didnt feel like i could control it and felt powerless and still do. My feelings of not swallowing/choking sensations are coming back bug time and its so scary. i feel like i will die or choke. . I feel very nauseated too. . . I think i have acid reflux too. . but iv been this way the past 3 days and its terrible and now have to take Ativan twice a day and feel awful and out of control. My throat feels so tense and like i wont be able to swallow and when i go to swallow it feels like i wont do it and its difficult to. . i dont swallow smoothly like normal people. I guess i need some reassurance that there is no way that i can ever stop swallowing or die from this. Im so frightened right now. i also am feeling that i will stop breathing too. has anyone felt this way before and what did you do?? why am i paying attention to my swallowing so much? im so tense. will my throat close up? heeellp.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 12:28 am

Hi, Holly!

I, too, am often afraid that I will stop breathing and have a hard time swallowing when my anxiety is particularly high, especially if I am having a panic attack. I didn't die during those times, and neither will you! It's okay that you have to up the ativan. That stuff happens! Don't be so hard on yourself! Keep telling yourself, "It's just anxiety. It's just panic. It will go away. It will not hurt me." Over and over. Focus on breathing. You will get through this! I know you will!

Genie

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jun 25, 2008 3:39 pm

Thank you freetobegg! This has been a hard time for me

Craw · Post by **Craw** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 3:28 am

Acid reflux can cause this feeling but so can your anxiety. I am worried about you Holly, I have responded to many of your posts and I am concerned that you need abit more help than you are getting.

I know you are afraid of taking meds but I feel you may need something to get yourself through this rough patch you are going through. What you are experiencing on a daily basis with your anxiety is much worse than the SE of drugs, just think about that and consider it.

I too was afraid or meds, but I am so thankful I started taking the Lexapro as it has truly been a blessing for me. I no longer worry, have anxiety, or the horrible PMDD symptoms. I am myself now and feel fine on the meds. I wish I had started them sooner so I didnt have to suffer for so long.

I wish you luck and health.

~*schnauzermom*~ · Post by **~*schnauzermom*~** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 11:10 am

Noelle,
I have an appointment with my psychiatrist but it is in august. Apparently she is amazing and is better at prescribing drugs than a general dr. I want to wait and see what she says. . . If i went through this before withour meds why cant i do it again?? I am truly sensitive to anti-depressants. I used to not be so much but for some reason i am now. . .Last yr when i went to take lexapro again for the 3rd time i was just expecting it to work and not give me any side effects (especially the first day) and i was very positive about it and boy the side effects were awful. i didnt get it. In fact i thought maybe this is a coincidence SO i took it again and the same thing happened. when i stopped taking it those effects went away. I was nauseated and getting nightmares and hearing voices with racing thoughts. it was terrible. I am trying to do this with herbs. I bought some omega fatty acids today and some hormonal supplement called Estrotone. it has no hormones in it. I honestly don't understand either hoe exactly SSRI'S work. Because with me its more behavioral. Has anyone ever had terrible side effects where they couldn't even function throughout the day with SSRI's (racing, suicidal, uncontrolable, hearing things not there side effects)and still took them and got over them??

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 11:58 am

Holly, It would be very beneficial for you to find someone in your area that understands exposure therapy. Check into it. You really need exposure so you are not so afraid anymore. It would be slow and gentle and you can move along at your own pace as you gain confidence with each step.

Be gentle with yourself. Remember that allowing your feelings and acceptance of what you are going through is your key to healing at a much smoother pace.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 12:26 pm

thabks boon. yeah my therapist told me to keep a log and write down how many times i swallow and how many times i cant swallow. . he says i will swallow more than i dont. lol. i just hate feeling this way. like i cant eat comfortably yet i still swallow my food. i just get uncomforable "im gonna choke" feelings which makes everything worse

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 12:35 pm

Holly, I understand you wanting to wait to see your doc, but in the meantime if you still dont feel well go and see a doc as August is a ways away, I would hate for you to suffer like this so long.

Also check into seeing a gastro doc as this swallowing problem very well could be acid reflux, which I have and I know first hand how horrible and painful it can be.

As for your reactions to the SSRI's I am not sure what to tell you. I did not have the symptoms you have had when starting Lex, I did have quite a few side effects but they were managable and passed quickly. I have however heard of people that cant take them because they cause similiar symptoms that you mentioned, most of those people were diagnosed as bipolar and have other issues that made the meds affect them worse.

I would really be upfront with you doctors, let them know all that you feel, all the symptoms you have, be proactive in getting yourself well you may have something else going on other than anxiety/depression.

I wish you well and hope you get some relief soon. You deserve to feel well. I am here if you need to chat.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jun 26, 2008 5:49 pm

Holly, I am by no means a medical person, but I wouldn't start messing with the antivan. Don't cut back on it ~ it sounds like you need it right not...that doesn't mean forever. Give yourself some time. This didn't happen overnight and it will take a while to get through everything that is happening. I still have a "lump" in my throat many days, and I know that is caused simply by my stress and anxiety. As far as the SSRI's go - I, too am so very sensitive to them - I am literally crawling the walls and flying. I have found the sense I changed my Zoloft to a brand name instead of a generic, it has helped immensely. Hang in there, Holly, stay with the program and think positive - I know that's easier said than done. Blessings and prayers, Judy

derfy · Post by **derfy** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 4:39 am

I get those sensations as well.I suffered so bad with them yrs ago and then slowly but surely i started to feel normal again.But recently I had a panic attack and now I am getting all my symptoms back and I am getting very discouraged an d depressed again.I have all these emotions and it all end swith frustration cause I thought I had it beat.But my biggest problem is that I feel like I cant catch my breath and I have the biggest lump in my throat.I m so anxious now all over again and I m overthinking everything.I a going through the program rite now.I just have to stay positive