I had a sinus infection a couple of weeks ago and was prescribed roxithromycin to which gave me TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE panic attacks to the point where I could not get to class in the mornings because my sleep pattern was so disturbed. I have chronic fatigue syndrome, so it is out of the question for me to actually be able to function on 1-2 hours of sleep the way some people intermittently can.

I stuck out the sinus infection and then stopped taking the pills two days ago. My sinus symptoms have subsided except for a stuffy nose.

Now I'm having HUGE difficulty breathing and chest pains. The chest pains feel better when I pinch them, though, and I've been releasing A LOT of gas through burping, which usually makes it feel better.

However the difficulty breathing is intermittent. If I'm thinking of something else, I'm okay 99% of the time. But then I'll have episodes of hours where its difficult to breathe through my nose and I feel like there's something blocking the left side of my chest and I can't expand it completely. But if I relax and breathe through my mouth I can expand it compltely and don't have trouble, but it makes me really dizzy to do this over and over.

I asked my parents what to do and I had asthma as a baby so they're always trying to rule that out, although the doctor told me my lungs were clear. My dad seems to think its just panic, but I can't tell!

I was only able to sleep after taking some valium, a low dose, but I still woke up with a shaking panic attack.

I've had about four panic attacks already and its not even noon. I can go to the doctor, but I hate it because I am in a different country (for another week) and I find it very difficult to communicate symptoms. I'm afraid I'll wind up in the hospital or something and this will turn out to be very minor, but then I'm afraid of not going and falling on the floor dead. :dizzy:

What do you guys think it is? Has anyone ever experienced this before? HELP!

This is the worst symptom of anxiety and panic since it can indicate serious cardiovascular problems. With that disclaimer aside, i experienced similar events for 2 years and told it was caused by chronic hypervention which leads to a strange cycle of overbreathing and excess oxygen, thereby causing even more chest pressure. Its harmless but induces panic.

Mary,

Sinus infections always give me chest pain, pressure and shortness of breath especially if I haven't caught them before they go in my lungs. I won't take anything else with "myacin" or "cillian" at the end of it becuase it seems to not work and give me stomach problems by the 7-8th day. I would recommend asking for ZITHROMAX (z-pak for short). Its a strong antibiotic and usually I feel better 24 hours after the first dose. You take two pills the first day which kicks the recovery into high gear and then you only have to take it for a total of five days.
If your doc checked your lungs then I am sure its not your heart or anything. Just be prepared for things to get worse before it gets better and try to take that antibiotic or get a new one because if not then you won't be able to kick that sinus infection. Take it from a long time sufferer of them. They are no fun especially when you add anxiety to them!

Good luck,
Lyl

Thanks everyone.

It seems to come and go in spurts. I feel fine and then I'll start to have it when I think about it or when my stomach hurts.

I tried to go to the doc on Friday but they said they were too busy to see me until Monday.

Right now its happening for the first time all day....

I also noticed a pain in my right leg (I have foot problems in my right foot...whattaya know?) and freaked out. I've been having anxiety since a friend of mine, at my age (young, 20), died of a heart attack related to a blot clot. She was on birth control though and I am not. I don't have any reason to be worried about a heart condition as I'm not on any meds and no one in my family has heart conditions and I eat properly and am not overweight.

It really scares me, but I feel like since its been going on for at least a week, I would've stopped breathing at this point/had some sort of actual emergency if this were serious.

Also I'm drinking Diet Coke right now which makes me feel fuzzy anyway and then I get anxious over that and then I can't breathe. Ugh...frustrating. Can't wait to get back in my own country where I can actually talk to a doctor in English and explain what I mean.

Grrr. Thanks for understanding!

Also- the symptoms associated with the sinus infection are all but gone....but I will remember your advice for next time.

The Mayo Clinic did a study on sinus infections..They found that 99 percent of sinus infections are caused by a fungus rather than a bacteria..Antibiotics don't treat sinus infections at all..Antifungals do..If you're suffering from sinus infections, do the research and take it to your doctor..Ask him/her to prescribe an antifungal medication instead..