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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Sudden Onset Of Numbness In Body, Feeling Of Passing Out On Trying To Sleep With Decrease In Breathing Rate. Normal Test Results. Cause?

every day when i go to work i could just be sitting down and feeling good and then upon a sudden my whole body just goes numb at a snap of a finger and when that happens theirs something in the back of my head telling me im going to die and i start panicking and when i get ready to lay down it happens and im scared to go to sleep because i think that i will not wake up and every since ive started doing this about two months ago my back muscles twitch while im laying down and my breathing slows rapidly and i cant feel my legs. im a 23 year old male 6ft 3in and way 280 lbs. my cardiolagist conducted a walking stress test and hooked me up to a EKG and said every thing seemed to be fine but i dont feel fine and i feel like if nobody helps me i could die soon i just want a straight answer. WHAT S WRONG WITH ME ..... PLEASE HELP.
Wed, 16 Oct 2013
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Psychiatrist 's  Response
Greetings !

Welcome to the site.

I am sorry to learn about your condition and I empathize with you.

Well it seems like you have been suffering from what is clinically termed as Panic attacks which are also called as anxiety attacks. These are nothing but episodes of excessive anxiety which develop suddenly and give the person a feel of dying or loosing control over self often accompanied with choking sensation or chest tightness or numbness of limbs and body parts or dizziness.
Also like it happens in your case these anxiety episodes aka panic attacks spontaneously subside on their own in a few minutes.

Since your health check has come out to be normal so panic attacks at your young age seem to be the most plausible diagnosis taking into account the clinical picture that you have presented.

You shall discuss this diagnosis with your treating doctor and ask him to get you started on an anti anxiety drug combination of escitalopram at dose of 5-10 mg / day and clonazepam at dose of 0.25-0.5 mg twice a day for period of at least 6-8 weeks, this shall take care of your underlying condition. It is qite possible that after starting on these 2 drugs your panic attacks get completely controlled within 3-4 weeks only but for preventing any possibility of relapse it is advisable to complete the full course.

Lastly I will like to reassure you that panic attacks although they may appear as potentially life threatening situations but in reality they are not that serious and are easily controlled with medications such as those as mentioned above , so kindly discuss this with your doctor and reach a decision on what can be done for your condition.

I hope this helps.

Wish you all the best and speedy recovery.

Regards.
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Sudden Onset Of Numbness In Body, Feeling Of Passing Out On Trying To Sleep With Decrease In Breathing Rate. Normal Test Results. Cause?

Greetings ! Welcome to the site. I am sorry to learn about your condition and I empathize with you. Well it seems like you have been suffering from what is clinically termed as Panic attacks which are also called as anxiety attacks. These are nothing but episodes of excessive anxiety which develop suddenly and give the person a feel of dying or loosing control over self often accompanied with choking sensation or chest tightness or numbness of limbs and body parts or dizziness. Also like it happens in your case these anxiety episodes aka panic attacks spontaneously subside on their own in a few minutes. Since your health check has come out to be normal so panic attacks at your young age seem to be the most plausible diagnosis taking into account the clinical picture that you have presented. You shall discuss this diagnosis with your treating doctor and ask him to get you started on an anti anxiety drug combination of escitalopram at dose of 5-10 mg / day and clonazepam at dose of 0.25-0.5 mg twice a day for period of at least 6-8 weeks, this shall take care of your underlying condition. It is qite possible that after starting on these 2 drugs your panic attacks get completely controlled within 3-4 weeks only but for preventing any possibility of relapse it is advisable to complete the full course. Lastly I will like to reassure you that panic attacks although they may appear as potentially life threatening situations but in reality they are not that serious and are easily controlled with medications such as those as mentioned above , so kindly discuss this with your doctor and reach a decision on what can be done for your condition. I hope this helps. Wish you all the best and speedy recovery. Regards.