Burning Sensations, Stress, yikes!

JonesyAZ · Post by **JonesyAZ** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 11:59 am

Hello everyone,

I am new to this wonderful website and I firstly have to say that reading what has already been posted has helped me greatly thus far!

I have seen that this has been discussed, but I wanted to post my personal experiences and see if this is indeed anxiety related, or something worse?

Long story short...I quit taking fluoxetine cold-turkey back in October ( I'd been taking it for 6 months), and about the end of November I started having severe panic attacks. During that time, my arms were hurting pretty bad, but in hindsight I think it is more related to my data entry work life. At the end of November, I went into the doctor's and he put me back on my Fluoxetine ( 10mg per day, which is all I ever took before )

Now, I have made a lot of changes since even August in that I no longer drink caffeine ( soda or coffee ), am walking/riding my bike 30+ minutes twice a week, eat more veggies and fruits, little breads, drink lots of water daily, and get about 6-8 hours sleep a night. But the one symptom that hasn't really gone away is this "cold burning" sensation in my arms, shoulders, and back, plus this tingling in my mid-back. It does get worse if I worry about it, but I swear it's always around. It gets worse at nighttime and i'm doing everything I can to just chalk it up to anxiety. Just so y'all know, I was an obsessive "Googler" too back in November...a big anxiety trigger...but I have been doing better.

Any help you can give me is greatly appreciated

Thanks!

Maretta · Post by **Maretta** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 12:41 pm

Hey nice to talk to ya! The cold burning sensations you describe sounds like something totally different than anxiety. Have you asked the dr about this and if so did they contribute this to your anxiety? Other than that you have conquered alot as far as the caffeine, sleep, etc. do some more research on your symptoms and keep pressing on. I believe you'll be in control of this to some time soon. Let me know what happens.

wallyv · Post by **wallyv** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 1:01 pm

I suspect you are still having withdrawal from the AD cold turkey. Prozac (fluoxetine) and other SSRI AD such as Lexapro can cause skin burning sensations.

JonesyAZ · Post by **JonesyAZ** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 2:56 am

Well, my doctor put me back on the fluoxetine; it's been about a month now. I can tell that it is working again as my intensity of anxiety has gone down, but he attributes the "burning sensations" to "somatosis"...in other words, he thinks they're all in my head. I have decided to just see how I feel for another month while I continue to lessen my anxiety. It can drive me crazy at times though, I must admit

JonesyAZ · Post by **JonesyAZ** » Wed Jan 14, 2009 8:39 am

I had one more thing to add...while the sensations do get less intense, they never seem to totally go away. Is it possible that I might just be feeling my nervous system in a state of shock in it's process of healing as i've lessened my anxiety, cut caffeine, etc.? Thank you again to anyone who has been help to me

JonesyAZ · Post by **JonesyAZ** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 11:01 am

Okay, so i've been a bit more panicky today and the burning feelings are coming back more. There is the pressure in the middle of my back; almost like a tickle that seems more prominent too. This week besides today has been a lot better, little to no burning, but I notice that after sitting at the computer all day, and sometimes while i'm lying on certain spots at night, the burning will be there. I know that the folks who have responded already claim that this might be a side-effect of medication, but could it actually be an over-abundance of adrenaline or something?

Huskerfan · Post by **Huskerfan** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 6:39 am

I was on Prozac for 2.5 weeks and went off of it cold turkey. About 3 days after quitting, I experienced a morbid, horrible panic attack with the burning sensations through my body. My guess is that it is the withdrawal from the Prozac. It will get better each day. Hang in there.

Huskerfan · Post by **Huskerfan** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 6:42 am

BTW - I think you can experience withdrawals from 1-12 weeks after quitting SSRI's.

JonesyAZ · Post by **JonesyAZ** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 6:46 am

Huskerfan,

Thank you for your help

I agree...it has gotten better with each day. I had started taking the generic Prozac again; this week is at least 7 weeks back on it. I hope to eventually quit taking medication altogether once I get my anxiety in control. If you don't mind me asking, do you still take meds? Also, since I have already gotten my heart checked out; I have low but average blood pressure, low bad cholesterol, high good cholesterol, my resting HB is 60-72 BPM, and i've been able to do cardio with no problem...should I stop worrying about having a heart attack? I know it's cheesy and lame that i'm even concerned, but I know it's my anxiety. Plus, I still have burning in my shoulder; I know that I have minor issues with carpal tunnel. Should I see a neurologist to put my mind at ease?

Thanks again!