My dr. thinks that my depression is back, but i'm wondering if it's more panic/anxiety. Really bad first thing in morning when I get up - feel uptight for some reason, then the dry heaves start. If it gets really bad, cannot even stand any clothing touching my throat in front or it sets off the gag reflex. Anyone else get this, or am I just weird? So frustrated and upset with this whole thing - want to cry all the time when I feel this way.
How I wish it would go away......
The Following User Says Thank You to girlgato For This Useful Post: Ashley11344 (10-25-2010)
I gag all the time when I'm stressed, smells set me off, for example I went into my boyfriends mums room the other day and was actually sick cos it smelled funny in there. I also had exams the other day and before one I was gagging so much it was v embarrassing, also when my exams were on I gagged even when I was brushing my teeth, now my exams are over, its not so bad.
This is interesting... I was actually going to post a question about the same thing today! So, I guess either you're not weird, or we're both weird! j/k. Here's what my post was going to be...
I seem to suffer from gagging attacks, and sometimes start to dry heave and/or choke and cough. It's not usually accompinied by nausea but maybe once in awhile it can be, it's mostly just on it's on it's own. I usually worry about my breathing when I start to feel it coming and can feel myself very tense. It happens most when I feel pressured or nervous or when I have to go somewhere I'm worried about going. I have had Panic attacks with some OCD symptoms before but did very well with treatment. Now these seem to be more limited symptoms but very intense and I don't seem to be able to stop it. It doesn't feel like a panic attack, but more just something causes me to gag or dry heave. I was wondering are those symptoms of anxiety or should I seek another diagnosis, it doesn't seem to be listed in almost any book or information I've seen on Panic/Anxiety. Also is there something could cause this and if so, is there some type of treatment that could help or stop that gagging? It's very distressing and interfers with me doing things. Thanks in advance for the response.
So, I was looking to see if anyone else had symptoms like this before, I guess others do. I'm not sure what causes it, maybe just the anxiety, or tensing all your chest and throat muscles, holding your breath, or hyperventilating, or something unconcious like that... but I just wanted to let you know that I have had and still have similar symptoms and I think it's also my Panic and Anxiety. So, Just to ease your mind, and mine, it helps to know there are others out there.
You have no idea how relieved it makes me feel just knowing I'm NOT the only one that has these gagging spells.
And, to AMYM, smells do it BIG TIME for me also. Especially bad breath (LOL) - was in a store on w/end and saw a family friend. I wasn't even that close to him, but his breath was awful. Started to breathe thru my mouth, and after I walked away, started to feel that tightness in my throat, and next thing - GAG, GAG, GAG. My husband just stared at me and when I told him why I was doing this, shook his head and told me he couldn't smell anything.
Anyway, going to dr's tomorrow and am going to mention about this terrible gagging just to make sure that it is anxiety related and no something else. Am also going to ask about something for anxiety/panic - maybe Xanax - but definitely not SSRI's. She wanted me to take Effexor, but that was a HORRIBLE experience with the side effects. Will let you know the outcome.
My dr. thinks that my depression is back, but i'm wondering if it's more panic/anxiety. Really bad first thing in morning when I get up - feel uptight for some reason, then the dry heaves start. If it gets really bad, cannot even stand any clothing touching my throat in front or it sets off the gag reflex. Anyone else get this, or am I just weird? So frustrated and upset with this whole thing - want to cry all the time when I feel this way.
How I wish it would go away......
Hi Girlgato,
I just wanted to let you know that about a year ago I suffered from a swollen thyroid which caused me to gag all the time. ESPECIALLY when my clothes would touch my throat. Feel your neck in the middle. Right under where a mans adams apple is and see if it is sensitive in that area.
Also, another thing that makes me gag is my stomach. I have a gastitis and also had an ulcer. If I eat the wrong things or drink coke or anything with carbonate in it, I gag. Even brushing my teeth makes me gag, lol. It's sad. I sometimes vomit after, then I feel better. Most of the time when I vomit(and I hate going into detail like this but), it's just bile, which is that mediciney stuff.
I would have a doctor check it out if I were you. You can take medication for both or these things.
i too have that problem. when i get a bad panic attack, i think i cannot breath and start choking. it's only in my mind. i just woke up to a bad attack, hence me typing at 6:00am in the morning.
Haven't posted in couple days - been feeling really, really rotten! This gagging is JUST TOO MUCH!!! Now it happens in the morning, and in the evening. When I'm at work and distracted, it's okay. Went to the doctor on Tuesday and she wanted me to start Xanax. Keep swallowing all the time and feels like there's a lump in there. Tests show nothing wrong with my thyroid, or anything else for that matter, which is good news, but still does not solve the gagging/anxiety issue!!!
Had to go to the clinic last night - this is making me crazy. Crying all the time now, feel shaky and loss of appetite. Doctor asked me whether I had tried the Xanax yet, but said wanted to wait until the w/end. She also said I could be depressed also, but for all you out there who have this gagging issue, she said it is quite common with severe anxiety to have this. Have been taking Valium in the past, and was just concerned about the half-life (time is stays in the system) and that's the reason for the change. So, today started the Xanax - ewwww - does not help the gagging issue AT ALL. Just makes me feel shaky and spacy. Taking a very low dose ( 1/2 tablet).
Will probably have to go back to the Valium, however it should not be taken for any length of time. Need to find some way to control this anxiety but cannot find help with this. Meditation does not work for me. Light therapy seemed to help for about a week, but now, seems to be doing nothing.
SO, SO FRUSTRATED WITH THIS. I just wanted to vent - thanks .
Suggestions would be most welcome.....just thankful to have a board like this to express my feelings, especially with this type of illness ( and yes I truly consider this an illness ). Take care everyone.
Haven't posted in couple days - been feeling really, really rotten! This gagging is JUST TOO MUCH!!! Now it happens in the morning, and in the evening. When I'm at work and distracted, it's okay. Went to the doctor on Tuesday and she wanted me to start Xanax. Keep swallowing all the time and feels like there's a lump in there. Tests show nothing wrong with my thyroid, or anything else for that matter, which is good news, but still does not solve the gagging/anxiety issue!!!
Had to go to the clinic last night - this is making me crazy. Crying all the time now, feel shaky and loss of appetite. Doctor asked me whether I had tried the Xanax yet, but said wanted to wait until the w/end. She also said I could be depressed also, but for all you out there who have this gagging issue, she said it is quite common with severe anxiety to have this. Have been taking Valium in the past, and was just concerned about the half-life (time is stays in the system) and that's the reason for the change. So, today started the Xanax - ewwww - does not help the gagging issue AT ALL. Just makes me feel shaky and spacy. Taking a very low dose ( 1/2 tablet).
Will probably have to go back to the Valium, however it should not be taken for any length of time. Need to find some way to control this anxiety but cannot find help with this. Meditation does not work for me. Light therapy seemed to help for about a week, but now, seems to be doing nothing.
SO, SO FRUSTRATED WITH THIS. I just wanted to vent - thanks .
Suggestions would be most welcome.....just thankful to have a board like this to express my feelings, especially with this type of illness ( and yes I truly consider this an illness ). Take care everyone.
Hello again,
Have you ever tried Klonopin? It has a longer lasting life and is less addicting. I went fron Xanex to Ativan, and now I'm on Klonopin. At first, it made me a little sleepy, but it really helps me with my anxiety. It calms my stomach down alot too. You may want to talk to your doctor about it.
I have panic attacks where my chest tightens up, I can't breathe and I have this overwhelming feeling of doom. After I take a few deep breaths and the stressor is gone, they clear up and I'm fine. But my dad has panic attacks as well, he gets all of the symptoms I have except he starts sweating perfusely and starts gagging and heaving. He's done it every day before work for the last 30 years and does it at least two or three times per day. He's on Paxil, it seemed to help for the first couple of months but now he's back to his usual morning panic routine. Does anyone know if Zoloft is more effective for that panic attacks that are that chronic?
Quote:
Originally Posted by girlgato
My dr. thinks that my depression is back, but i'm wondering if it's more panic/anxiety. Really bad first thing in morning when I get up - feel uptight for some reason, then the dry heaves start. If it gets really bad, cannot even stand any clothing touching my throat in front or it sets off the gag reflex. Anyone else get this, or am I just weird? So frustrated and upset with this whole thing - want to cry all the time when I feel this way.
girlgato - please don't despair as you are certinaly not alone! I suffer from panic attacks which always cause me to gag or dry heave - I feel sure I'm going to throw up although I have been suffering like this for a few years and have never actually done so. Apparently high anxiety and panic can also cause or make worse a condition called "Emetophobia" which is the fear of being sick. You worry so much that you might hurl in front of people it brings on attacks. I've certainly gone through this.
A few years ago I was struggling (not as bad as now though) and a specialist put me on MOTIVAL (I'm in the UK by the way, so don't know if there is a USA equivalent). That really helped the sick/gagging but that drug has now been withdrawn and I don't know of a replacement.
I'm currently on valium (pretty useless) and buspirone (useless plus hideaous side effects). Seeing my GP next week and going to ask him for PAROXETINE which is the only drug listed in the British National Formulary for treating panics.
Whatever it takes to get you well again, and however long it takes to get there, please always remember that you are not alone and so many other people are sending you their best wishes.
I get gagging attacks if that is what you want to call them. Mine are not the result of panic though. Over the past several years, on rare ocassions when I get a cold/cough I have notice that my coughing progresses to gagging and dry heaving. To me, this is strictly a physical reaction. Since it only occurs when I do get sick, I have learned to just live with it, although the few times it has happened I always fear like something inside me will bust out or tear. Not a nice feeling, but that is just the way it is. I don't and never have taken any medication for a cold or a cough and I don't know if there is one to help me with this problem. It's not a big deal to me at the present time.
One other thing. Ever since I was a kid, I've always felt like I've also had a minor throat blockage of some kind. I always require fluids to wash down any solid foods when I eat otherwise there is a good chance it may get stuck halfway down my throat and I cannot force it down. Over the many years, I've learned to make a game out of it from time to time. I eat and get food kinda stuck halfway down my throat to see how well I can control my reflex before washing it down with fluids. I've gotten pretty good with it actually. However, I have zero control over my coughing/gagging/dry heaving.
When responding to a post please be sure the thread is still an active one.
This one is not, it hasn't been active in over 6 years and is now closed to posting.
Anyone with questions or concerns on this topic must start their own new thread for those questions.
- but definitely not SSRI's. She wanted me to take Effexor, but that was a HORRIBLE experience with the side effects. Will let you know the outcome.
Does anyone know if Zoloft is more effective for that panic attacks that are that chronic?
