The way I have been feeling for the last year, any suggestions?

[Jsharptooth91]

Here’s my story for the last year.

It all started when I got this awesome job working with Applied Materials. (They make tools that make semi-conducts, for companies like Intel, AMD, and Micron. I work at the Intel site). Just a little back ground on that. This job requires some travel as well.

I got hired about a year ago, and we moved down from Seattle to the Longview/Kelso Washington area. About after a week went buy, moving in and all. I just happened to be hooking up my surround sound and installing my satellite dishes. Then about 3-4 hours into the day I stared to get really lightheaded/dizzy feeling and tingling shooting down threw my body. I could function and do everything, it felt like I was going to loose my mind. Crock over and have a seizure I guess. Its kind of hard to describe it. Sometimes I would also get the tingling feeling like you have been riding a motorcycle all day. How you body it tingly from the motor vibrating.

So with all that going on I went to the ER, I thought my head was going to pop off, I felt off balanced and couldn’t concentrate on anything, trying to take a nap didn’t help. The doc’s at the hospital ran all kinds of test and even did a CT scan on my head. All the test came back negative. By the time I was out of the hospital the symptoms have gone away.

I kept having these symptoms and they keep scaring the crap out of me. As well when I would wake up in the mornings I would feel all tingling and stuff, from head to toe. I kept going back n fort to the hospital and all the test come back negative. Then my apportionment for my regularly doc came around. She said it was anxiety. Due to my new job, and the fact that flying scares the living shit out of me. She gave me some Lozerpam (spelling wrong I think) to help calm me down. So I went down to Austin for my 7 weeks of work. The symptoms kept coming and coming. More noticeably when I drank caffeine. So I stopped drinking caffeine, and they calmed down some. I also was a smoker to.

I think if it was anxiety, that they should of went way when I landed, right? I knew that I had to fly back home didn’t bother me as much. I did my work down their and flew back home. With my head being all fuzzy and on drugs.
My head was still getting dizzy, like a tingling filling from the back of my head, working its way to the front. It always felt like I was going to pass out and die. Spin out of control or go mad.

At this point its been about half a year. Still nothing has changed. I went back to the doc office and she gave me some Lexapro (Spelling). That’s a antidepressant stuff, I still don’t know why I was on that stuff. I’m not depressed or anything like that.

I was traveling to Az for three months. While on this new medicine. The first month was fine, then after that I was getting these killer headaches from the meds. So I reduced the med by half and that helped a bunch. As well when I was on this meds, it make me fell numb. Not caring about anyone one or myself. Almost ruined my relationship with my current wife, (Almost didn’t get married).

I noticed when I was going out and eating dinner I would kind of get these symptoms back. I would loose my appetite and not eat. The lightheaded/dizzy feeling. (The room was never spinning.) Almost like a motion sickness feeling. It would come and go for a little at a time, not last mostly all day like before. I still do to this day. Still to this day I don’t feel normal like I used to a year ago.

Its like I’m scared to go anywhere, camping out to a movie. Because I fear that when I go, that it will come back and haunt me. The crazy thing is that it really hasn’t some back, like it use to be. Yea my head gets that feeling every once in a while. Mostly when I’m eating dinner, even after dinner. I have all kinds of test done by my doc.

Now I’m like a health nut trying to stay healthy. I never eat out anymore, I’ve stopped drinking caffeine, until recently. I’ve been drinking some cherry coke. I haven’t touched a smoke since the first of the year.
I thought quitting that stuff was good! Any ideals on what could be going on? Its like I can’t have a normal life anymore. Always thinking when the symptoms come back, should I go to the ER!

Now everything that goes wrong with my body I get worried that something is going to happen. Right now I have this throat issues going on. It feel like it closing up and something is stuck in their. The doc said it was allergies, so she gave me some meds for that. That didn’t help. So I called her back and she is going to refer me to a throat spec.

This throat thing has been going on and off for about half a year, and just some short time ago stated to bother be really bad. Could this be related to my lightheadedness/dizzy feelings?

Is their anything or test I should ask my doc next time I see her? Thanks for reading this long post. Any help would be awesome.

[Doc]

Sounds like fear has taken over...the fear of this or that, may do this or that, and what if this or that, could it be this or that..."oh no what if"

Now onto positive things . You're eating healthier, not smoking, and eliminating caffiene.

Get rid of the soda's as well even the zero calorie no caffiene ones.

Are you exercising? like running, weight training, aerobics, or simple work out exercises... If not you should start slowly and build up from there.

Next...QUIT thinking negative thoughts...it's not going to be easy for you, it's going to take time. Start the half full approach being optimistic...

They may want to do an MRI of your neck/throat or other tests and that would be fine as you've had a history of smoking.

I've seen people break out in hives...huge itchy hives from getting themselves all worked up. No it wasn't from a reaction to some external irritant it was their bodies doing it to themselves.

Communicate with your wife and let her know you need her support to get through this. If you still have trouble find a support group or a counselor.

Thanks for asking and make it a great day!

[DannyMustang]

It seems like it became a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you're getting that because you're stressed, then you're afraid it will happen again, and then it does - because it's triggered by stress.

It's obvious this is caused by stress because you can't eat outside, even if it might be a coincidence that all this started when just you moved to Washington.

As much as we'd all like to think we can handle all that, sometimes we can't. I have read somewhere that once you break your stress threshold, you'll be jumpy all your life (Vietnam syndrome). Well I have broken mine numerous times, won't describe those moments now, but I have found out that I need to relax daily or the pressure from those tiny little things I could handle before will build up and my working ability will decrease.

Until I learned that, there were days when I couldn't even go out to buy newspaper. Some sort of anxiety. And, antidepressants don't necessarily mean you're depressed. They block the negative thoughts (hormones) so you can feel the happy ones, which also make you confident.

When I feel the pressure getting the best of me, I take a Xanax. It's like once every month or once every two months. Just to give me that one day without stress and I'm alright.

Two days ago I bought a new LCD 17" monitor (I mostly work from home). Until now I worked on an ugly 15" CRT, and with all the work piling up it became an unpleasant work environment. I couldn't force myself to work anymore. I'm not proud of not having enough willpower to do the job anyway, but the thing is - I recognized the problem and solved it. Small things can be the most important ones.

Even the people you love might be the cause of stress, especially if they want something from you when all you want is sleep or some time for yourself. No, I'm not talking about sex Anyway, you need to have a time for yourself, every day. Whether it's taking a walk before dinner (alone) just to listen to your own thoughts for a while, or parking your car somewhere and listening to music for 10 minutes, or going to a toilet to read the newspaper like Al Bundy does, you got to do it.

Working out also helps, especially if you're playing some sport with the boys, like basketball. I'm not a fan of stinky gyms, playing b-ball with the guys who are all in the same situation as you are is a perfect stress reliever.

For example, I'm a new person since going on karate. Sure, that martial art sucks and I'd never defend myself with it, but - the youngest karate-ka we have is an 8 year old girl, and the oldest one is a 60 year old man. There are people who are just going through puberty, we have a world famous brain surgeon, a European karate champion, a president of a golf club, and it feels good to be a part of such a community. You know, most of us know how to talk only to people of our own age / background / interests. I can tell you I felt strange talking to young girls at first, after hearing all those stories about pedophiles I actually kind of felt it's a wrong thing to do, even though I like to talk to anyone. But it's all good. I was always kind of a spitfire, had a reputation of a heavyweight thai boxer with a short fuse, and here I go functioning in the same gym with a fragile 8 year old girl. Sure feels good. I'm sure we'd also accept a guy who works for a company like Applied Materials.

What I'm trying to say is - a man needs some time alone, and also needs some time among completely different people. It may seem unimportant, but take note we still have the same instincts as we had thousands of years ago. This kind of life wasn't made for us. Pressure is all around, no freedom.

There are certain things every person needs in order to be happy. Food, shelter, sex, car, knowing who you are, and having a social role which suits you. The ideal combination would be working on your dream job (like I do, but take note I had problems with motivation also), and your social role has changed recently. New company, new position in the hierarchy. And from a normal family life you entered a situation where family became a burden because you're responsible for their destinies as individuals and the destiny of your family as a whole. It's like a "do or die" situation. From your perspective. Reality might be different.

Mental disturbance may be the cause of most health conditions. For example, you can know a man just by looking at the way he walks, talks, and stands. It all comes from the brain, and the brain is spending 70% (I think) of the entire energy your body does. It's controlling all your bodily functions. Therefore, bad thoughts can make you sick. Very, very sick.

I wouldn't recommend taking any pills or visiting a shrink, you'll feel the best by solving this on your own. And you can do that just by asking yourself "what do I really need?". The answer sure won't be "I need my wife to expect me to give 120% of my abilities just to prove to her this was a right move", or "I need to be afraid my boss will fire me". They wouldn't hire you if they didn't think you were good, and your family wouldn't follow if they didn't think of you as their leader.

I hope this all helps, or at least that it was an interesting read. Take it easy.

[DannyMustang]

Originally Posted by Doc

find a support group or a counselor.

I'd just like to add that support groups might dig you even deeper in your problem, as some people decide to be labeled as alcoholics, or maniacs, or whatever. It's the easiest way out.

If I was a maniac, I wouldn't want to be healed by being in the same room with maniacs, joined with them in a group of maniacs, but I'd like to see the point of view of people who are NOT maniacs.

Just hanging around with different people is the solution of most problems. They put you in your place.

[wilburisthecoolest]

Have you had your blood sugar tested? I get tingly when i have low sugar, and headaches with high.

Just a thought.

[Doc]

Originally Posted by DannyMustang

I'd just like to add that support groups might dig you even deeper in your problem, as some people decide to be labeled as alcoholics, or maniacs, or whatever. It's the easiest way out.

If I was a maniac, I wouldn't want to be healed by being in the same room with maniacs, joined with them in a group of maniacs, but I'd like to see the point of view of people who are NOT maniacs.

Just hanging around with different people is the solution of most problems. They put you in your place.

It appears you don't really understand the concept of support groups. Those who have or are still going through an experience, helps them not feel alone, helps them to understand it, and for most get better (or able to deal with what life delivers better).

The recommendation made about dealing with this on his own, isn't working for him either. He is looking for help and the kind of help he needs isn't being by himself or working through himself.

[Jsharptooth91]

Thanks for the feedback on this. This is really the first time reaching out to others oppiones on this matter. I guess I need to start to exercise and get back into shape.

How would I go about finding a support group or a group of people that have had the issues that I’m having? Can you look into the paper find something like that?

I have tried to exercise with one of my buddies. Tried to play some tennis and he always craps out. My wife isn’t completive so it don’t work all that great. I think I may start to go on walks/runs and hikes in my back yard. The problem I have is that I don’t have much motivation to start. I have this hill/mountain kind of like a mini forest. Will do some much needed exploring.
I work nights, will that have more effect on my condition then working days. But the joy of working at my company is that I work 3 on and 4 off; then 4 on and 3 off. So that is nice. I also live a good hour away from my work. The drive doesn’t bother me. I guess that where I do all of my thinking and my alone time.