I have been having anxiety problems for
awhile. I was having what seemed to be
anxiety attacks...Chills, clammy palms,
shaky feeling inside, lightheaded, felt
like I couldn't sit down, I just paced my
house. Then it turned into that I felt
nervous all day long even when I wasn't
having an attack. I became concerned that
there was something wrong with my heart
because I thought my heart felt funny. I
went to the doctor and she did a ekg which
came out fine. She said it sounded like
anxiety and I started seeing a therapist
and I was put on zoloft which I have been
taking alittle more than a week. Now that
I know nothing is wrong with my heart, I
have started thinking that there is
something wrong with my brain. I feel
lightheaded, weird sensations in my head,
sometimes I feel like a can't walk right,
my back and neck are stiff, plus I dont
have blurred vision but I feel like I
can't see properly. I went back to the
doctor and she looked at my eyes, and did
a romberg test and said I looked fine.
She said I am probably just thinking about
my body to much. Now that was almost a
week ago. After I saw her I remembered
someone telling me that uneven pupil
dilation was a sign of a brain tumor so I
checked thinking it would make me feel
better, but my right looks a little bigger
then the left. It also looks worse in dim
light, but my pupils still react to light.
When I asked other people they said that
it does look a little bigger. My pupils
also look more dilated than other people,
which someone told me can be caused by
anxiety. I don't know. I am just really
freaked out. Is there any way that in a
week my eyes could change because of a
brain tumor??
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Stevo
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 May 2005 Posts: 14
Posted: 05-23-05 05:38am
Hi kass, I can relate to the things you
are thinking because ive had the same
fears about my body in the past due to
anxiety.
What happens then is anxiety makes your
mind think the worst of every possible
thing. It sticks, dwells and amplifies
negative thoughts
if it helps you to relax I know someone
who had a brain tumour and their symptoms
were severe headaches, getting up in the
middle of the night to go to the toilet
and a slight yellow change in their skin
colour.
Im not an expert and im not saying these
are typical symptoms of brain tumours but
in general ive heard you get massive
headaches because of the increased
pressure on the brain. I know from my own
experience exactly how anxiety works, and
after reading that you are now probably
thinking "omg I had a headache the other
day, etc". Headaches happen for all sorts
of reasons but in the instance of a
tumour, you would get massive headaches
daily which probably wouldnt fade with
paracetamol. So basically if you dont
experience this then you are fine!
Well done for asking the docs but im sure
(been there myself) anxiety is just making
you think you have problems that you dont.
Hope this has helped.
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dividedsky
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 May 2005 Posts: 6
Posted: 05-23-05 06:57am
I can relate as well. I have experienced
all the same things-thinking I have heart
problems, brain tumors, cancer, etc etc
etc. I have never been diagnosed with
anxiety disorder, but that's just because
I have never gone to a therapist (haha).
I have, however, researched all of those
things to death, and though I continue to
worry I also have discovered there are so
many things anxiety and stress (from the
anxiety) can do to your body. It can
totally manifest itself in tons of
physical symptoms and ailments; a lot of
them similar to ones from serious
conditions that we fear we have.
I think you'll be fine--i'm sure your
brain is ok but quite honestly, even if
there is nothing to worry about, you might
continue to wonder unless you do something
about it. It might seem silly and
pointless, but if you make can't stop
worrying without reassurance, get
recommended to a neurologist and get
yourself an mri so you have that added
security of the medical proof you are ok.
Hope you feel better!
