I'll try to keep this to the point and if someone can weigh in with something similar it would be appreciated. Up to about two weeks ago, I was a healthy 36 year old male with no prior medical problems. One day sitting at my desk I had an intense head rush(? best way to explain it) that lasted about 10 to 15 seconds. I thought I'd had a stroke or something so I went to the ER and they ran a couple of tests and said I was fine. About two days later I started having less intense head surges / flushes but no pain involved. Felt like adrealine (sp?) rushes or something. Anyway, one night this went on for about 1.5 hours; it scared me and through me into what I believe was a full blown panic attack. Thought I was dying and called 911 for the abulance. They ran blood work, brain CAT, all some others that checked out normal. got out of the ER woke up the next morning and I'm having the same head rushes, weird feelings in my brain. Was admitted that day and have had about every test known and everything has come back normal. Got out and two days later started having the head rushes again along with a new left arm pain and chest tightness. Another panic attack came on and I was back in the hospital. I'm back at home with Buspar and Xanax. When I feel one of the severe attacks the Xanax seems to work. Since all the tests have come back normal I haven't had a major panic attack since but some smaller ones that are controllable. anyway, the surges happen at night when I wake, during the day, etc. My mood has not changed throughout all of this and I am not a tightly wound person. Oh, heart cath last year that was clean. I'm still having some arms pains, head rushes, etc. Anyone relate to this? thanks in advance.

Sometimes anxiety just comes on seemingly out of the blue, no real explanation as to the when or why, though many people can relate the onset to life stressors. The fact that Xanax relieves your symptoms is a good sign, plus it seems that your attacks are abating. If I may ask, why did you have a heart cath last year; you're pretty young. Take care, keep taking your meds.

thanks for the reply. I went in for a regular checkup which I have not done since college (blood work, ekg, etc.) My EKG was abnormal and pressure high (white coat syndrom I pressume) so my dr. sent me to a cardiologist to have a nuclear stress test. I have a positive nuclear stress test; apparently some smaller vein or artery at the back of the heart. My doctor tells me that I have no syptoms, no family history, good blood work but two positive tests. He said while he does not think it is likley that blockage is present the heart cath is the gold standard. I wanted to make sure so I had it done. No build up at all so I guess I've got that going for me.

This latest stress / brain chemicals imbalance has me a little concerned so it always good to hear from others that may be experiencing something similar.

Thanks again.

My anxiety started out of the blue. It was 3 years ago, I was starting my second year of college. I was sitting in a lecture and started to feel really sick to my stomach so I left. Then everyday after that I felt nauseous and it would escalate to the point where I had to leave class everyday. I had no idea what it was. I went to the school wellness center and they told me I had the flu. I could never sleep at night because I was sick feeling or always paranoid I was dying of a heart attack or something. I ended up dropping out of that school because it got so bad. Then I got home and my doctor told me it was probably anxiety because nothing else was wrong with me. So I started taking zoloft and in a few weeks I felt normal again. It was really annoying because it really came out of nowhere. I am starting to get off of it though, or at least trying, which is really a pain.

I will have to admit that before the past couple of weeks, I had no idea how serious an anxiety attack / panic attack could be. I've had a brain CAT, brain MRI, full body CAT, full body MRI, some nuclear body scan and a 64 slice neck and brain scan. They have taken probally twenty viles of blood for testing and three 24 hour urine tests. While my head rush symptoms continue the panic attacks have decreased I guess with the knowledge that my tests are coming back normal. I'm still having some brain chemical surges that occur at different times during the day; even at night when i awake from sleeping. I have been reluctant to start the Buspar on a regular basis but have my Xanax with me in case the symptoms get too severe. Just knowing I have the Xanax with me helps out even though i do not take it often. Thanks for the responses and best wishes to all of you that are going through something similar. :angel:

I see, with your heart tests you were one of the unfortunate people who have positive tests yet are actually fine! Well, rest assured that it sounds as if you've had an excellent workup recently to add to that! I know most anxious people dislike taking medication (especially new meds, or taking them on a regular basis) but I'd encourage you to try your Buspar daily. Unless you take that medication on a regular basis, you won't see any benefit. Its side effects aren't bad, and it may help you quite a bit. Take care.