I started having anxiety issues last fall and was officially diagnosed in January. I am taking Celexa (20mg), that has been working really well and taking the edge off. I went to see a wonderful counsellor for a couple of months, we were used CBT and it went really well. I felt great and thought things were moving along.

My anxiety level has peaked just before, during and after my period each month. I become overly sensitive to how my body is feeling and always assume the worst when it feel a pain or twinge.

For the past while I have been feeling a buzz(rumbling) feeling in my lower right chest just above my diaphragm/stomach area. I mostly feel it when lying down and immediately upon getting up. I don't notice it during at other time or when I don't think about it, but right now it is consuming me.

During the time it took me to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder I had several rounds of blood tests, chest xrays, ekgs, blood oxygen tests, etc etc. All came back clear. With all these tests etc I keep trying to convince myself that they would have found something and that everything is fine.

Most of my anxiety worries are centered around my health, I have been convinced I have lung cancer, brain tumor, heart disease and many more.

I had another set of blood tests last month and everything came back clear (bloods, iron, thyroid etc.)

Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated, the lung vibration thing just freaks me out. I am not winded, no cough and can walk briskly for long periods of time.

thanks, dk

I know what you are going through, I had a total hyst. two years ago, about a year ago I started anxiety attacks, I have had all the blood work and ekg's going to the er you name it I have had it done. All came back normal. Mine is getting alittle better, but the dr. told me to drink milk during my attacks he said it is like giving milk to a baby it calms you, he also put me on amitriptlyn( misspelled) I take it when I need it. I also still go through the thought something is wrong or I am going to die. For me I try to think positive and tell myself it is perimenopause like the dr. says it is. But that is hard sometimes. I even go for a walk and exercise and it calms me.

Alicia

see, i have the same symptoms...even the excessive worrying, but, i do get shortness of breath and lightheadness. I get myself so freaked out and worried that something is wrong with my heart or my health that I don't even like to take my medicine. I keep thinking I'm just gonna fall over and die and I'm only 22. I get sharp pains in my chest and ribs and now everyone is trying to tell me its acid reflux with anxiety. I'm just really tired of feeling this way.

I have recurring problems with shortness of breath. I am positive it is all in my head because I saw three or four doctors two years ago. I get chest pain every now and then, but usually when I am worrying...which is a lot.

dk88,

Yes, I have had the fluttering sensation in the stomach area. It is stomach spasms. Absolutely harmless. It feels kind of like a vibration on the outside of your body, but you can tell it is from inside? It is usually caused by gas building up in your stomach which would also explain the sitting up and laying down. Nothing to worry about on that one. I know it wigged me out for awhile as well, but it is harmless.

Take care,
Matt

i think a LOT of us experience shortness of breath... chest pains... etc... when having our anxiety attacks...
i know i do...
i think those specifically are pretty common symptoms...

i try to remind myself that i'm also hyper-sensitive when having an anxiety attack (and even when i'm not... lol) and that i might just be more acutely paying attention and "looking" for these symptoms...
upon further reflection, they're usually not as bad as i originally think they are...

i've had my heart tested every which way over the last couple of years including having done the 24hr holter monitor on 2 separate occasions... treadmill-stress-echo on 2 separate occasions... ekg's a couple different times... x-rays... etc...
and even though i was convinced each and every time there must be something wrong with me, i was also reassured each and every time that there was actually nothing wrong...
which, as far as news goes, is obviously a great deal better then the alternative...

i'm looking for a good cbt therapist in my area now...
everything i read seems to point towards that being one of the more effective treatments...

I get tummy spasms and breathlessness too, in an attack and when i'm in a state of anxiety(which is most of the time). I can go for along time months then yrs without an anxiety attack but when I get them I am left in a constant state of anxiety between panic attacks.