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Discussion Topic: Eliminated the Options
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 Jeff |
09-25-2004 @ 4:47 PM |
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Member
Joined: Sep. 2004
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If you ever read any of my posts, my main symptom of anxiety is chest pains. Over the last two months, I had a build up of anxiety I could no longer control. Frequent chest pains led to 5 Dr.'s, 3 EKG's, 2 chest x-rays, and a blood test, all were fine. Finally got in to see my regular Dr., and was put on my first "med" of Lexapro, 10mg once a day. That's the quick backgound.
When I realized it was uncontrolable anxiety (early on)I read up and felt the least I could do was self help. Followed the advice of eliminating caffeine, losing weight, and excerising. Also cut my nicotine intake in half. When the Dr. put me on Lexapro a month later I had lost 15 pounds and was walking every day. We scheduled a full physical a month later which I just had at the end of last week.
Results were that I had lost 30 pounds and all my bloodwork which usually bordered on the high side with cholesterol, etc. was all normal and even below normal. I'm really not bragging, my point is self help does help the anxiety so do what you can to help your body help itself.
However, the chest pains still persisted. Although I was relatively convinced that they were from strain, and Flexall (Bengay type stuff) helped the pains go away at night I still worried. Realizing this my Dr. assured me it was not my heart but thought I wouldn't let it go until I went to a specialist. So a referral the next day had me with a Cardiologist for a stress test. Additionally, she gave me some Vioxx to relieve the chest wall pain (they work.)
All I can say about the stress test is wow! What a workout! The stress test was fine and I can't explain the relief when the Cardiologist said "I don't know what is causing your chest pains, but it is defintely not your heart." The tension began to ease at once. Went on to do the imaging of the heart and have the second part next week as it checks for blockages. Weird thing is I'm not worried about it. Chances are very slim that there is a problem since I have no actual symptoms of a blockage. The way I am looking at it is this will exhaust the heart issue, and if there is a blockage, I'll be grateful it was detected before a problem happened and get it fixed. I am most defintely someone who rather know than not.
We all have different things that work for us, for me self help and exhausting the options worked. If you think anything I said can help you, give it a try. I'm not saying if you have chest pain run out to a Cardiologist, use flexall or take Vioxx. But if it is what you need to feel better than do it. Haven't taken a Zanax in almost a week. Stopped using Flexall a few days ago (my wife doesn't miss the smell)and knock on wood been symptom free and without any chest pains since I saw the Cardioligist. Won't have the imaging results for another week or so, but will post when I do. Hope everyone is well! God bless.
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| Jeff |
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10-06-2004 @ 2:51 PM |
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Joined: Sep. 2004
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Just a follow up post because I said I would. Hope the first message didn't come across as preachy. It certainly wasn't the intent. Well, finally got the results of the stress test in and everything is fine. All results and imaging were normal. Load off my mind for now. Hopefully it will stay that way! Thanks
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| trish |
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10-07-2004 @ 7:57 AM |
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Joined: Aug. 2003
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Jeff,
Sounds wonderful on your progress, however caution on the Vioxx, it has been pulled off the shelves permanently.
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| Jeff |
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10-08-2004 @ 9:00 PM |
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Joined: Sep. 2004
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Thanks Trish. I stopped taking Vioxx the day it was announced in USA today. Bummer as it was ine little pill, once a day, and it worked great. Don't remember the name, but I am using another anti-inflamatory. Horse pill size, twice a day but it is working almost as well. Can't be picky. In a weird way I laughed at the irony; have chest pain that I thought was my heart but wasn't, took Vioxx to relieve the chest pain so I wouldn't worry about my heart anymore, find out Vioxx can cause heart problems. Thankfully, I was only on it a week. Appreciate you pointing out the recall! Hope all is well.
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| Posted By |
Discussion Topic: Eliminated the Options
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