Anxiety :: Shortness Of Breath After Binge Drinking
Feb 7, 2013
30 year old male here. So this all started one saturday night when I was binge drinking. Drank around 15 beers and woke up the next morning throwing up. But thing is I didn't have anything in my stomach so it felt like I was throwing up acid. So I drink a lot of fluids and try eating later. Around 10pm I began having some serious spasms to my stomach, shortness of breath, arms start to become numb. I visit the ER and they said it's because of acid reflux that I use to have. They prescribe Lorazepam 1mg along with some other acid reducers. I feel fine for the next 5 days eating low fat meals and avoiding coffee and acidic things. I run out of the lorazepam and the next day I begin eating and within 15 mins I start having an attack. Shortness of breath and arms numb and feel nauseous. It's been 10 days since the incident and I've had chest x rays done, blood drawn, endoscopy performed, heart beat is fine, eating healthy and taking more vitamins and minerals. Yesterday I saw my doctor and he said ruled everything out and that it could be anxiety attacks brought out by the alcohol. I thought it was funny because I've never had anything like that in my life. And I exercise, I'm not overweight, and I eat right. At the moment the only thing that keeps me without these symptoms is anxiety pills like lorazepam. What's wrong with me? The doctor said it can't be alcohol withdrawals but what could it be? I must admit I was 4 days heavily that week leading up to Saturday. Is this some time of withdrawal happening? How long before it goes away? It's been 10 days and I've gotten slightly better. But I still have the spasms and anxiety attacks. Could it have been the alcohol? I was also recovering from a cold and I'm thinking it could also be some bacteria in my stomach. Any thoughts?
View 12 Replies
Advertisement
I am a 29 yo female. I Am bIpolar and suffer with anxiety and panic attacks. I am currently taking lamictal 25mgs 3x daily. BUspar PRN.
I have had anxiety for a while now and suffered a severe anxiety attack a few years ago and have had similar attacks semi frequently. I am usually able to control them and calm myself to a degree but a week ago I started experiencing shortness of breath after a bike ride. I panicked and called the paramedics. My oxygen levels were normal. Heart rate and blood pressure all normal. Over the next two days I still had severe shortness of breath and on the fourth day I went to the hospital where they did an x Ray. Checked for blood clots and did some blood work.. all of which was normal. I do have a history of low thyroid levels and extremely low hormone levels. I have not had them 're checked in about two months. My doctor advised that he would like me to gain some weight before starting any hormone treatment.I have learned over the past few days how to control some of it through distraction and breathing through my nose instead of my mouth and it does help to a degree but I am as we speak experiencing breathing problems. I know this is all probably related to anxiety but how can I get over thinking about breathing..I am a single mother of two kids and I can't let this control me anymore.
View 3 Replies
Hello I am 22 and I've been suffering from anxiety for about a year! I've been through it all, 5 hospital visits, various doctors, and I still don't believe it's anxiety but I have been proven it is! I've also been on various medications and I had been doing very well until the past month! My husband's brother age 23 passed tragically from a gun accident and my grandpa passed of cancer the next week! Since then I have had chest pain, shortness of breath, pounding heart and just an uneasy feeling! In general I thought that I handled all this very well but my symptoms say otherwise! I guess what I'm asking is can death cause my anxiety to increase even if I didn't notice! The chest pains are what scare me the most but I keep telling myself it's just anxiety because I've had a sonogram some of my heart and he said it's perfectly fine and I have no family history of heart problems and I'm only 22, went to doc yesterday and blood pressure was 124/75! I guess I don't understand how all my medical tests can be perfect but I don't feel perfect! Advice anyone?
View 4 Replies
I am debating if I should go to the Emergency Room, as it's a Sunday. My story - 26 year old male, healthy. Since age 10, I have had an intermittent feeling of my breath being stuck in my upper abdomen (solar plexus area) and a little in my chest but not much. Sometimes when going for a deep breath, I feel pain in the chest, but very rare. It almost feels like there is a wall in between my stomach and my lungs that prevents air coming out. I know it's weird because you breath out of your lungs not your stomach. The only way it comes out is when I finally catch my breath, which means I need to wait for it to be able to escape and then I finally get the deep breath I need. Also yawning often allows the breath to occur. When this is happening, I can still breath but it's like only 10% of my lungs fill up with air, like someone is standing on the other 90% of my lungs, preventing them from filling up.
My BASELINE/ usual status is having the breath being stuck symptom maybe 10 times a day, usually while eating. This has become normal for me and I don't even think about it until people who I am eating with say, "what is wrong with you?"
When it is GOOD, it happens even less, maybe once a day and I will barely realize it happened.
When it is BAD, it happens often, maybe 20 times an hour.
The last week it has been EXTREME to the point where I will be struggling for a full breath once a minute. It is so bad that I have been feeling light headed (main reason for the alarm here). I have class on weekends and I was walking to the train for class, and my body was telling me to stay home (i am the type of person who doesn't make a big deal out of anything and never skips stuff).
Background- I sleep very well, usually 7-8 hours a night, am very healthy, 6 feet tall, 180 pounds, run 6 miles 3 times a week (it happens the same when I run but it doesn't prevent me from running), played sports my whole life, doctors always tell me my blood work and everything is off the charts good. The reasons I just listed, combined with my Mom (nurse) always telling me I am fine have made me stop seeking cures for this. I had every test under the sun done when I was 15 (EKG, Barium Swallow, Blood work, etc) and everything came back clear. I have a concave chest (my chest caves in) and the doctor told me that my chest bone is interfering with my breathing (eyes rolling). But now that I am feeling light headed, I think it's time to go to the emergency room. I am going to go to a heart center in my town (Brooklyn, NY). Also, I LOVE doing research about stuff and have been reading about this a lot and tons of people have similar symptoms which has comforted me. But now it's time for me to get tested again I think. Maybe this just talked me into going to the ER.
View 2 Replies
Went to ER last night because of shortness of breath that started the day before, with neck and back pain. I could/can seem to breath normally but then I feel like I need a deep breath and I can only get what feels like 60%-70% of a breath. Every 2 minutes or so I can get a "full" breath. EKG, blood test, X-ray, d dimer all came back normal last night and I was discharged. Nebulizer treatment had no affect. Vitals were okay over 4 hours with the exception of my oximeter level dropping below 90 a few times (as low as 86). It recovered within 30 seconds each time.
I am 28/male and have a history of mild asthma, non-smoker. I also have 2 herniated discs (l4/l5 & l5/s1, and l3/l4 bulging, with chronic back spasms). Albuterol inhaler, allergy medication shows no improvement.
I have purchased a pulse oximeter and tonight my oximeter level (not pulse) has fallen below 90 (4 times), but each time recovering to 92+ withing 30 seconds.
View 1 Replies
I really want to stop drinking i drink most days normally between 4-6 cans of cider sometimes i binge up to 12 though normally starting around 12pm . I cant ask for help as have already been warned if i admit to drinking more than 4 (from 7pm) cans i will have to have supervision whilst looking after my children.
View 32 Replies
I'm trying to pull myself together and drastically cut down on my drinking. I've been drinking pretty much every night for about a month or two. I've been going on binges of drinking every day a week or so at a time for the last couple years, and then I would stop for a week and start over again. This has been the longest period of drinking every day. It started with two tall boys a night, and progressed to a six pack of 16ozs on the weekdays, and then heavily binge drinking one day a weekend. I didn't think that I was drinking enough to experience withdrawals if I suddenly stopped. I've done this before, and never experienced withdrawals. This time was different.
I drank heavily last Monday, and then didn't drink again until Friday night. I was very anxious, had some episodes of the shakes, and I was in a pretty bad fog. My head hurt and I was thirsty all day, I couldn't get enough water. I couldn't think, I just didn't feel right. I caved in and drank a six pack Friday night, and then yesterday was my birthday so it was just a waterfall of booze. I don't know how much I drank, but it was a lot.
I feel terrible at the moment, partly due to the nasty hangover. I'm feeling very stressed out and anxious. The shakes are starting to creep in, along with the fog. The realization that this has become a problem is giving me a lot of anxiety, I have moments where I feel like I'm just going to break down and have a panic attack. I can't believe I let myself go like this.
Anyways, given the amount of alcohol that I have been consuming, should I be concerned about DT's or seizures? I made it around 90 hours with seemingly mild withdrawal symptoms, considering. No one knows that I drink like this, I'm a closet alcoholic. I'm afraid to tell anyone, because I don't want them to know that I've sunk this low. I don't want anyone worrying about me, which is why I've come here.
View 7 Replies
I need help to stop binge drinking before i loose my family and job?
View 5 Replies
I'm a 26 year old male... I consumed large amounts of alcohol at age 21 (spiced rum) being ignorant at that age I ignored all of the health problems it was causing me. Besides the normal hangover I experienced stomach pain, lots of constipation, and diarrhea. I only stayed on that binge for a few months, but even 5 years later I'm having possibly serious problems.
1. Nausea! It tapered off the last couple years, but it was bad.... really bad. All day everyday. Now it's more manageable. The worst part is early morning. When I start to feel hungry I just feel like vomiting.
2. Blood in stool... Also has been getting better. Only have blood about once a month.
3. Sore eyes and dizziness.. I feel this one the most (everyday most of the day). It's hard to explain but the best way I can put it, it's really hard to focus my eyes on something. If I'm looking at someone talking to be or focusing on the road I start to feel dizzy and almost disoriented.
Treatment: I saw my doctor many times as well as others. I've had scans, endoscopies, and no one has narrowed down much. The scans came back good, blood is good, the first endoscopy showed I had h. Pylori. I took all the antibiotics (helped temporary make me feel better) but back to the same old.
View 1 Replies
I know I suffer from anxiety (and depression and insomnia), which is partly what drove me to drink, am on treatment for same and will review things with my GP asap, but I want to concentrate on my physical health concerns. Please ignore this thread if you ONLY want to talk about anxiety.
Briefly: I was a social drinker for 25 years, occasionally drinking more than I should have (but at things like celebrations and functions).
Two years ago, I began to develop mental health problems, but didn't start drinking more heavily (self-medicating) until about one year ago, when I also started to binge drink occasionally, including twice last October. After a gap, I then restarted drinking heavily in March this year, and this became very heavy at times in the summer (80+ units per week), with occasional even heavier binges, the most recent being last Thursday / Friday (50+ units each day).
I finally ended-up in hospital last weekend with tachycardia, low blood pressure and probably alcohol poisoning. While there, I first developed a painful red/purple rash on my chest. I was put on antibiotics for this, and it seems to be clearing-up.
However, then, I quickly developed various other strange and unpleasant physical symptoms:
- numerous bruises;
- numerous pimples and red/purple dots under the skin;
- some hair loss and extensive hair-thinning;
- a spider naevus;
- red palms;
- itchy skin- skin darkening affecting the backs of my hands and genitals;
- regular, profuse sweating;
- whites of eyes turned lemon;
- brain "fog".
Some of these symptoms have reduced or resolved (eg. red palms and itchy skin), but the others have persisted.
I am eating OK, but making an effort to do so. In spite of this, I have lost about a stone in weight in the past 3 weeks. I'm also lacking in energy.
Since June, I have had regular liver function tests and other blood tests, too.
These have shown elevated enzymes, more or less in line with the extent of my drinking. In early August, after a serious binge, the AST was 96 and GGT was 121. In mid-August, AST had reduced to 25 and GGT 72. But they were higher again (though both under 100) on my admission to hospital last weekend, but had started to fall again after I was there for a few days. I have been advised that, in all of the tests, the values for other important measures were consistently normal. The junior doctor in hospital said the LFTs indicated no cirrhosis or hepatitis.
I also had a physical exam (just manual) from a GP in mid-August, and she said my liver / abdomen felt soft and suple with no sign of inflammation, enlargement or hardness.
However, given the strange and unpleasant physical symptoms that quickly developed in hospital last weekend, I fear that my last serious binge a week ago finally tipped me over the edge and into serious liver disease. Too many of the symptoms are those of cirrhosis for me to think anything else. (I've checked on the NHS website.)
I am absolutely terrified that, despite good advice and warnings, I did not take heed and my body, especially the liver, has finally been permanently damaged by the alcohol.
My main question is: can I turn things around? I have not had anything to drink since last Friday, and have no inclination to do so. I am drinking a lot of water, fruit and vegetable juices, and eating healthily. I will try to get some exercise, though I don't have much energy.
I'll see my regular GP next week, but could do with some advice and, if it's appropriate, some reassurance before then.
View 33 Replies
Every time I go above 400 mg a day my face gets puffy and I get some difficulty breathing. I am almost sure it is water retention. Anyone else have any experience with it? At 900mg my feet swell.
View 3 Replies
I'm 30+6 & I'm Experiencing Shortness Of Breath .. Has This Happened To Anyone Else & Is There Anything I Can Do To Fix It .. Getting Rest Isn't A Problem For Me My Doctor Wants Me On Bedrest So I'm Off My Feet As Much As Possible
View 4 Replies
I have historically had iron stores of .5 my gp said my hemoglobin levels are fine and has gave me iron supplements. He is also checking levels every three months. I am very dizzy all of the time, have shortness of breath, I have constant feeling of brain fog and often get my words mixed up. My gp says this is not a result of my low iron stores. I am really struggling is anyone else experiencing similar
View 2 Replies
For two years I have been battling daily shortness of breath at rest. Every month or so I have a bad bout with struggling to breath that lasts a few days to about a week. I finally got a diagnoses of Bronchial Ashma. I was never able to tolerate steroid inhalers. I have now been put on Spiriva. I have read that it doesn't usually work with ashma. Is it normal to have shortness of breath daily with asthma. I quit smoking when this all started two years ago and have not touched a cigarette since. I was hoping to feel better. I have never had such breathing problems as I have these last two years. I am trying to feel confident that I was given the right diagnosis. It is very depressing to feel I have to live this way for the rest of my life when I am only 46 years old.
View 4 Replies
I am a 27 year old male. I have a resting heart rate around 70 and healthy blood pressure. I am about 5'8" 150 pounds, I eat healthy and exercise 3-4 times per week.
Despite this, I often find myself short of breath despite not doing any strenuous activity (climbing a single flight of stairs). In addition, when I exercise my heart rate becomes elevated very quickly, even when I go at a moderate/slow pace (if I'm running 3 miles, it gets up to 130~ after 1 mile and is near 180 after 3 miles). My heart rate won't return to normal for several hours. 5-6 hours after I'm done exercising my heart rate will still be 15~ beats per minute above normal.
Does anyone know if these symptoms are all normal to have as you get older or should I go see a doctor? I mentioned these symptoms to a friend of mine who has a thyroid condition and she said it sounds like what used to happen to her before she was diagnosed and prescribed medicine.
View 1 Replies
I am a 55 year old woman who was healthy as a horse until earlier this year when I had to have my gallbladder removed. I have never had asthma, allergies, breathing issues or heart issues. Two and a half weeks after surgery I woke up one morning feeling I wasn't getting 100% oxygen into my lungs. I had an anxiety attack the next afternoon as a result (never ever had an anxiety attack in my life before) and ended up at ER. Tests performed including cat scan and nothing was found. Have seen a pulmonologist - have gone through the breathing tests when sitting as well as on the treadmill at various speeds - all is normal. Arterial blood work - normal, echocardiogram - normal, no holes in heart, no clogged arteries. When I lie down at night I still have a bit of shortness of breath but at same time the breathing is more relaxed and I can sleep. As soon as I get up in the morning again, the shortness of breath picks up again. The breathing level remains consistent, does not get worse on exertion. For a period of time I was getting the tightness in the rib area at times but that hasn't occurred in 5 days now. I found it odd that when I saw the specialist a couple of weeks ago he asked me if I had any idea as to what I thought was going on. Later he told me I didn't give him much to go on (because of my test results). I am going back to his office next week for follow up. I think he wants to explore the possibility of asthma to rule that out but I get the impression he doesn't feel I have asthma. It's a mystery. Has anyone had this issue and it then got resolved?
View 1 Replies
I've been Diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease for 14 years.. im currently on apomorphine subcutaneous .. over the past year i've been noticing im getting terrible episodes of shortness of breath, breathing is really difficult .
View 1 Replies
First of all, i'm 22, and have never had any heart problems in my life. But recently, i have been having shortness of breath when going to bed at night. It does my head in, it takes me slightly longer to sleep because i can't stop tossing and turning. And just yesterday, i experienced a numbness in my left hand.
I had similar symptoms a few months back, and the doctor said there was nothing wrong with my heart, and that it was anxiety. I mean i work out 3 times a week, and never have any problems, so why can't i sleep?
View 2 Replies
Iam a teenager .17. Few days back Iam mastutbating excessively. ....thus now i am experiencing burning sensation at back and shortness of breath ......is it related to it?
View 1 Replies
I smoked my last cigarette on September 12th. I hate not smoking. I hate the 40 lb. weight gain, the digestive upset, the hives, the shortness of breath, waking up at night in tears and panic, crying over the smallest thing, the boredom, not having anything to do when I take a break. Nothing smells good, nothing tastes good. My skin and hair now have a rancid smell that won't wash off and makes me nauseous. My complexion is a pasty gray like unbaked pie dough. Friends say I smell bad and am embarrassing to be around.
If this is what non-smokers experience every day, I don't know how they stand it. Life used to be good; now it's a never-ending nightmare with new aches and symptoms of sickness showing up every day.
I'd like to find the person who convinced me to do this and hurt them.
View 5 Replies
I recently just changed my thyroid medication, I have beensynthroid for since i was at age 5 when my body ravished my thyroid, I have been at 137 mg on synthroid, but still had a level of 7 on TSH, t3 and t4 were normal, but i harvest felt good on synthroyid very foggy minded. Doctor said i could go on nature, but i have taken it for two days and the first day I felt great. Quality of life becoming amazing in one day, but day 2 and woke up very tired and lerthagic and shortness of breath, is this normal for switching over to a new medication?
View 2 Replies
