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Suggest Treatment For Anxiety And Fibromyalgia
Question: Hello, I have suffered from anxiety and panic attacks since 1999. I went through natural menopause at age 27 and am not 52. I have several auto immune issues: alopecia (onset 1990) lichen sclerosis , eczemas and I have been tested for Lupus for over 25 years. only a few years ago the initial ana test showed positive but futher testing was negative. that's when I was diagnosed with fibro myalgia, then CFS. I notice when my anxiety levels are extreme (my husband and I care take for for parents who are diabetic, dementia, etc) plus I own a small income tax service and that helps keep my hours flexible since I never know when I may sleep for days, however when something drastic happens I have flare up. Recently I have noticed my speech is slurred and by talking about it I have learned that my customers and others have noticed it too. For the last 2 years both of my big toes have been numb and 2 weeks ago I woke and the joints of both toes and the side bones were so painful and swollen that I had to walk on the side of my feet. I also have ups and downs or highs and lows. I take Klonopin 2 mg 2x day if I feel I need it. I also take Tylenol 4 for pain. I am not sure whether I should see a psychologist or a neurologist. When I experience panic attacks I don't have the sweating, hopelessness, ect that many others have. I have a sharp pain that I feel inching its way up between my shoulder blades then its centers around my heart continues up my neck and my jaw. My chest feels heavy and I cant breathe. So I just try to relax until it goes away usually within 15 minuets. There is no warning it just happens and not any pattern. What advice could you give me. Thank YOu
Brief Answer:
Such symptoms can occur due to CFS and anxiety
Detailed Answer:
Hello welcome to HCM
I have read your question and I can understand your concern. You have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. The tests for Lupus came negative. The test of ANA came positive but as per my opinion single positive test can't be used to confirm diagnosis of Lupus. You have work stress and have to look after parents which are stressing factors. Recently you have started having symptoms like slurred speech, pains in joints, numbness in big toes etc. You also have panic attacks. As per my opinion the symptoms you are having could occur due to both neurological as well as psychological reason.
I would advise you to get your Vitamin B12, D levels checked to rule out deficiency of these nutrients. Low vitamin B12 may lead to numbness and the numbness you are having can be occurring due to B12 deficiency. Chronic vitamin D deficiency may also cause pains in joints.
Your tests for SLE came negative so we can rule out rheumatological cause for your symptoms.
If B12 and vitamin D come normal then most likely cause for your symptoms is Fibromyalgia itself. Fibromyalgia can present with numbness in toe, pains in joints and increased incidence of panic attacks. Slurred speech can occur in anxiety. The sharp pain in shoulder region and heaviness like symptom in chest could occur due to anxiety provoked due to chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia only. The episodic nature of these symptoms further strengthen our diagnosis and rules out neurological cause. As per my opinion you should see your psychiatrist again for evaluation of these symptoms.
Klonopin can result in improvement in symptoms of anxiety but this is not the proper treatment. In anxiety, fibromyalgia and CFS medicines like Duloxetine, Venlafexine etc can be used. These medicines will help to reduce pain and numbness and you will feel better.
Hope this helps you, if you have more doubts you can ask again.
Thanks
Such symptoms can occur due to CFS and anxiety
Detailed Answer:
Hello welcome to HCM
I have read your question and I can understand your concern. You have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. The tests for Lupus came negative. The test of ANA came positive but as per my opinion single positive test can't be used to confirm diagnosis of Lupus. You have work stress and have to look after parents which are stressing factors. Recently you have started having symptoms like slurred speech, pains in joints, numbness in big toes etc. You also have panic attacks. As per my opinion the symptoms you are having could occur due to both neurological as well as psychological reason.
I would advise you to get your Vitamin B12, D levels checked to rule out deficiency of these nutrients. Low vitamin B12 may lead to numbness and the numbness you are having can be occurring due to B12 deficiency. Chronic vitamin D deficiency may also cause pains in joints.
Your tests for SLE came negative so we can rule out rheumatological cause for your symptoms.
If B12 and vitamin D come normal then most likely cause for your symptoms is Fibromyalgia itself. Fibromyalgia can present with numbness in toe, pains in joints and increased incidence of panic attacks. Slurred speech can occur in anxiety. The sharp pain in shoulder region and heaviness like symptom in chest could occur due to anxiety provoked due to chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia only. The episodic nature of these symptoms further strengthen our diagnosis and rules out neurological cause. As per my opinion you should see your psychiatrist again for evaluation of these symptoms.
Klonopin can result in improvement in symptoms of anxiety but this is not the proper treatment. In anxiety, fibromyalgia and CFS medicines like Duloxetine, Venlafexine etc can be used. These medicines will help to reduce pain and numbness and you will feel better.
Hope this helps you, if you have more doubts you can ask again.
Thanks
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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