anxiety or something else ?! (diet, quit, MRI, sleep)

[prider90]

Hello friends. I'm a new member here
Here's my story:
After 3 years of heavy weight lifting and caffeine based stimulants, I start having some sort of anxiety attacks. At the time, I didn't knew what is going on. I was diagnosed with panic disorder but not convinced that it was the correct diagnostic. Managed to recover in a couple of months.
Since then, I have weird symptoms that won't go away and getting worse every month:
-sudden bouts of extreme yawning
- restless body and legs
-faint feeling
-feel offbalance/unsteady
-burning skin feeling on my upper back and neck. ( sometimes chills like I have a fever )
Lately with trouble sleeping with nightmares every night and cold hands/feet ALL THE TIME .
I thought is anxiety again so I took some valium to calm down but surprise...no effect: I just sleep after it and after I wake up I feel the same. I don't have classic panic attack symptoms like racing heart,sweating, trouble breathing. Blood pressure and pulse are normal even when I feel like this.
Someone told me It could be adrenal fatigue ? Bloodwork showed slightly elevated cortisol & dhea levels. Tried to explain to the doctor that these symptoms makes me anxious not the other way around..
Forgot to mention I have a healthy diet and a non stressful job.
Sorry for long post. Any help would be appreciated. I'm running out of options and my condition gets worse.

[greatblueheron]

Originally Posted by prider90

Hello friends. I'm a new member here
Here's my story:
After 3 years of heavy weight lifting and caffeine based stimulants, I start having some sort of anxiety attacks. At the time, I didn't knew what is going on. I was diagnosed with panic disorder but not convinced that it was the correct diagnostic. Managed to recover in a couple of months.
Since then, I have weird symptoms that won't go away and getting worse every month:
-sudden bouts of extreme yawning
- restless body and legs
-faint feeling
-feel offbalance/unsteady
-burning skin feeling on my upper back and neck. ( sometimes chills like I have a fever )
Lately with trouble sleeping with nightmares every night and cold hands/feet ALL THE TIME .
I thought is anxiety again so I took some valium to calm down but surprise...no effect: I just sleep after it and after I wake up I feel the same. I don't have classic panic attack symptoms like racing heart,sweating, trouble breathing. Blood pressure and pulse are normal even when I feel like this.
Someone told me It could be adrenal fatigue ? Bloodwork showed slightly elevated cortisol & dhea levels. Tried to explain to the doctor that these symptoms makes me anxious not the other way around..
Forgot to mention I have a healthy diet and a non stressful job.
Sorry for long post. Any help would be appreciated. I'm running out of options and my condition gets worse.

You haven't seen a physician to discuss all your issues? Why not??
No one here on cd can provide you with a diagnosis...

[jerseyj]

Originally Posted by greatblueheron

You haven't seen a physician to discuss all your issues? Why not??
No one here on cd can provide you with a diagnosis...

I agree

Go to your doctor and have a complete workup.
Take that caffeine based stimulant with you and have him take a look.

Good luck, your symptoms sound miserable.

[Parnassia]

Originally Posted by prider90

Hello friends. I'm a new member here
Here's my story:
After 3 years of heavy weight lifting and caffeine based stimulants, I start having some sort of anxiety attacks. At the time, I didn't knew what is going on. I was diagnosed with panic disorder but not convinced that it was the correct diagnostic. Managed to recover in a couple of months.
Since then, I have weird symptoms that won't go away and getting worse every month:
-sudden bouts of extreme yawning
- restless body and legs
-faint feeling
-feel offbalance/unsteady
-burning skin feeling on my upper back and neck. ( sometimes chills like I have a fever )
Lately with trouble sleeping with nightmares every night and cold hands/feet ALL THE TIME .
I thought is anxiety again so I took some valium to calm down but surprise...no effect: I just sleep after it and after I wake up I feel the same. I don't have classic panic attack symptoms like racing heart,sweating, trouble breathing. Blood pressure and pulse are normal even when I feel like this.
Someone told me It could be adrenal fatigue ? Bloodwork showed slightly elevated cortisol & dhea levels. Tried to explain to the doctor that these symptoms makes me anxious not the other way around..
Forgot to mention I have a healthy diet and a non stressful job.
Sorry for long post. Any help would be appreciated. I'm running out of options and my condition gets worse.

Are the caffeine stimulants the only supplements you use? You are still using them right? How long have you used them? Have you experimented with the dose or concentrations or stopped them altogether? What happens? I can see your MD asking the same things. Testing the amount you use might help to narrow down the possible triggers for the anxiety attacks. It could be that there's a stimulant dosage that gives you some of the benefits you want but doesn't cause as much anxiety. If you've already done the dosage trial and error and nothing changes, that could send you down a very different path.

[prider90]

I quit caffeine 3 years ago. Tried to convince my doc that is not anxiety but refused to believe me. Isn't valium suppose to calm me down If it was anxiety related ? Even with it I still have that feeling of faint. It's like my body is struggling with something.
I had a complete bloodwork and came back normal except cortisol and dhea. Even did a brain MRI scan.

[Rowan123]

Originally Posted by prider90

I quit caffeine 3 years ago. Tried to convince my doc that is not anxiety but refused to believe me. Isn't valium suppose to calm me down If it was anxiety related ? Even with it I still have that feeling of faint. It's like my body is struggling with something.
I had a complete bloodwork and came back normal except cortisol and dhea. Even did a brain MRI scan.

Could it be the cortisol and dhea that are the problem? At this point I think I would go to another doctor and get a second opinion.

[prider90]

Originally Posted by Rowan123

Could it be the cortisol and dhea that are the problem? At this point I think I would go to another doctor and get a second opinion.

I'll get for a second opinion. They are on a higher side like max 500 and mine was 550( morning cortisol) so I don't think it's the root of the problem.