I have finally swallowed my darn pride and admitted I need help and am going to the mental health clinic on Monday.
Here are the reason why:
I have been having chest pains with heart palpitations, sweats, and occasional numbness in my arm since 2001. This started after I had ran a 10 mile race. I went to the emergency room with the above symptoms a headache and a nose that had been bleeding off and on for 8 hours. Diadnosis high blood pressure. I then ran a race 2 weeks later (13.1 miles) after getting medical clearance from a stress test and heart doctor. 3 days later I was jogging home and my hip was hurting. Got home and sat for 10 minutes when I sttod up hip would not hold me: diagnosis hip bursitis. My chest pains continued and I kept telling the doctor. One night at Wal-Mart it got really bad so I went to the Emergency room. Heart Cath done, have a good heart, check gall bladder etc. everything okay. Chest pains continue.
Since retirement in September 2004, I have isolated myself more and more from family, not enjoying going out, tired of the pain in various parts of my body to the point where I thought about buying a gun. Three months ago my back went out for third time since retirement and as I was driving home, thought the underpass wall looked like a good way to stop pain. Luckily my cell phone rang and distracted me. The chest pains and heart palpitations are coming more frquently (7-8 times per week) and I am at my wits end.
My wife is getting on me for staying in the bedroom, I had to change jobs at work to keep me away from other people, I need to constantly be on guard against thoughts that lead me to believe that there is a way to escape the pain. Of course it does not help that I only sleep 3-4 hours per night because of that pain and thinking houw much it sucks.
My wife has a good friend who she was complaining to, the freind told my wife that I needed to seek help.
Full Version: Need To Get It Off My Chest
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this is a success story, going to get help can be an enormous challege to a veteran for all kinds of reasons including yours. i say going to get help takes as much if not more strength of character than enduring the pain. i'm glad for you brother and your wife. i hope you find the help useful
Thank you for your words. It is nice to know that someone understands.
The wife's friend might have saved your life!
You sound like you are in pretty good physical shape-even with the HBP if they are monitering it- and all of this might have a lot to do with anxiety-
I have heard that anxiety and panic attacks can mimic heart attacks and do all sorts of physical things to someone-
It pays to get it all checked out-and with the mental health professional- tell it like it is veteran-
Physical pain can be medicated, emotional pain can be treated-
nothing in the world is worth having suicidal thoughts over----nothing at all-
And the wife- she should be your best freiend at this point- tell her what she needs to know too-
We are in hyperspace-on your side- but she is right there-
That ER that checked you out- I assume this was a private hosp?
If this was a heart attack in progress they would have admitted you-
and lack of sleep? that is when those bad memories can come out-
Getting some help for better sleep patterns might make a world of difference for you-
Huskerfanfl- tbird said it all-
and if they suggest talking with other vets at a vet center or something- dont hesitate to try that-
Actually the VA itself-even though I gripe about them- can give you help here-
they do have some excellent counsellors and professionals in the mental health field.
And they do not judge a vet and are not surprised at all by anything they hear-
they have heard it before- you are not alone.
You will be OK veteran-you are taking the right steps! Berta
You sound like you are in pretty good physical shape-even with the HBP if they are monitering it- and all of this might have a lot to do with anxiety-
I have heard that anxiety and panic attacks can mimic heart attacks and do all sorts of physical things to someone-
It pays to get it all checked out-and with the mental health professional- tell it like it is veteran-
Physical pain can be medicated, emotional pain can be treated-
nothing in the world is worth having suicidal thoughts over----nothing at all-
And the wife- she should be your best freiend at this point- tell her what she needs to know too-
We are in hyperspace-on your side- but she is right there-
That ER that checked you out- I assume this was a private hosp?
If this was a heart attack in progress they would have admitted you-
and lack of sleep? that is when those bad memories can come out-
Getting some help for better sleep patterns might make a world of difference for you-
Huskerfanfl- tbird said it all-
and if they suggest talking with other vets at a vet center or something- dont hesitate to try that-
Actually the VA itself-even though I gripe about them- can give you help here-
they do have some excellent counsellors and professionals in the mental health field.
And they do not judge a vet and are not surprised at all by anything they hear-
they have heard it before- you are not alone.
You will be OK veteran-you are taking the right steps! Berta
I have had anxiety attacks where I ended up in ER. Anxiety can raise your blood pressure and make you feel like you are gasping for breath with a pounding heart. You don't want to over look a real heart problem, however.
AMMODAD
Go see as many doctors as they will let you. I have had many of the problems you have had. Neck, back, head pain, dizzy spells, could not cathch my breath. I would not run ten feet to catch a bus for ten years. I still wake up at nights with my heart pounding. However, I have been through it so many times that it does not cause the anxiety it used to. I now ride the bicycles at the gym for exercise. I can watch my pulse while I exercise. I do not know why but it makes me fell good to know I can control my heart rate by the amount of effort I put into the exercise program.
Press the primary doctor to keep up with the cardio tests. That is what they go by. My brother had a heart attack and it was a combination of chest pain and fatigue. He could not walk up the steps of the hospital. I had to get a wheel chair to get him from the car to the ER. Two days later he walked out of the hospital with a stint in his heart and he felt ten years younger. There are losts of things that produce pain. The fact that you did not have difficulty with fatigue or breathing is good news.
I lost twenty five pounds and things got way better. The neck pain goes through times where the symptoms drop off. I now take blood pressue meds.
Physically therapy, posture training, relaxation techniques. Learn all this stuff. They had clinics at the VA for all this stuff. Your primary care doctor can make referrals.
Most important. Dyhydration can cause all the problems you talked about. Do not drink any fluid other than water and see how you feel. Ask your doctor how much you should drink. No coffee, no diet coke. This is the single most important thing to do. The night time attacks I have only happen when I am dehydrated.
Everybody I have talked to doctors, paramedics etc. Say the same thing. < DRINK WATER> Only clear fluids count. Some sport drinks are also good.
Hang In There
Go see as many doctors as they will let you. I have had many of the problems you have had. Neck, back, head pain, dizzy spells, could not cathch my breath. I would not run ten feet to catch a bus for ten years. I still wake up at nights with my heart pounding. However, I have been through it so many times that it does not cause the anxiety it used to. I now ride the bicycles at the gym for exercise. I can watch my pulse while I exercise. I do not know why but it makes me fell good to know I can control my heart rate by the amount of effort I put into the exercise program.
Press the primary doctor to keep up with the cardio tests. That is what they go by. My brother had a heart attack and it was a combination of chest pain and fatigue. He could not walk up the steps of the hospital. I had to get a wheel chair to get him from the car to the ER. Two days later he walked out of the hospital with a stint in his heart and he felt ten years younger. There are losts of things that produce pain. The fact that you did not have difficulty with fatigue or breathing is good news.
I lost twenty five pounds and things got way better. The neck pain goes through times where the symptoms drop off. I now take blood pressue meds.
Physically therapy, posture training, relaxation techniques. Learn all this stuff. They had clinics at the VA for all this stuff. Your primary care doctor can make referrals.
Most important. Dyhydration can cause all the problems you talked about. Do not drink any fluid other than water and see how you feel. Ask your doctor how much you should drink. No coffee, no diet coke. This is the single most important thing to do. The night time attacks I have only happen when I am dehydrated.
Everybody I have talked to doctors, paramedics etc. Say the same thing. < DRINK WATER> Only clear fluids count. Some sport drinks are also good.
Hang In There
Thank you all for your advice.
Yes Berta the first time I went to the hospital emergency room, they diagnosed high blood pressure after doing EKG and xrays. I was released that day and did a stress test two days later. The next trip to the emergency room, a few months later resulted in an overnight stay and a heart cath the next day. The heart speicialist said I had the heart of a 20 year old, from all the exercise I imagine. The panic ayycaks had started in between my races before the first visit to the hospital. They were both in private hospitals.
They ran tests adn could not find anything, and like I said, now I feel I am depressed. I will let the VA shrink determine for sure. Right now I am just worried about getting help. After I get to feeling like I am not going to want to kill myself I will try to sort out when it started and how it is connected to my service. I am not up to trying to fight that battle right now.
I am trying to exercise, but have problems with my right leg (hip, knee, and ankle) and back that causes me to limp. I have built up to walking 2 miles though. Hurts like hell but I make it.
Yes Berta the first time I went to the hospital emergency room, they diagnosed high blood pressure after doing EKG and xrays. I was released that day and did a stress test two days later. The next trip to the emergency room, a few months later resulted in an overnight stay and a heart cath the next day. The heart speicialist said I had the heart of a 20 year old, from all the exercise I imagine. The panic ayycaks had started in between my races before the first visit to the hospital. They were both in private hospitals.
They ran tests adn could not find anything, and like I said, now I feel I am depressed. I will let the VA shrink determine for sure. Right now I am just worried about getting help. After I get to feeling like I am not going to want to kill myself I will try to sort out when it started and how it is connected to my service. I am not up to trying to fight that battle right now.
I am trying to exercise, but have problems with my right leg (hip, knee, and ankle) and back that causes me to limp. I have built up to walking 2 miles though. Hurts like hell but I make it.
"The night time attacks I have only happen when I am dehydrated."
Hoppy- very good advise for everyone!
If any of you do a lot of yard work- week wacking, chain sawing, even regular mowing and gardening-- I love this work but one can begin to become dehydrated VERY fast-any mold spore allergy people out there-
it was over 100 degrees here last week-
unusual for the hills of NY.
Here I had the AC going full blast for the allergies and heat but it was so hot the spores died out there and I spent hours outside in the heat-because I felt so good- but the heavy yard work I did could have waited-
when I came inside the scanner had some ambulance calls in the county that sounded like heat exhaustion and dehydration-farmers often have to keep working regardless of the temperatures-
Drink lots of water Hoppy is right!
Another thing- I have a good friend who works at the VA- 59 years old -runs 2 miles every day- still is in the military-
He was experiencing horrible night panic attacks-
long story-he didnt want anyone to know--
the worst one was at night and he found himself drinking large glasses of water-he thought he was dying-then he got help-
His electrolytes were off- all messed up due to dehydration-he did not account for the volume of water loss his running was causing-we have to maintain water balance in our bodies because we are like 90% water? something like that-
Dehydration can be fatal- this was very good advise for everyone here.
Hoppy- very good advise for everyone!
If any of you do a lot of yard work- week wacking, chain sawing, even regular mowing and gardening-- I love this work but one can begin to become dehydrated VERY fast-any mold spore allergy people out there-
it was over 100 degrees here last week-
unusual for the hills of NY.
Here I had the AC going full blast for the allergies and heat but it was so hot the spores died out there and I spent hours outside in the heat-because I felt so good- but the heavy yard work I did could have waited-
when I came inside the scanner had some ambulance calls in the county that sounded like heat exhaustion and dehydration-farmers often have to keep working regardless of the temperatures-
Drink lots of water Hoppy is right!
Another thing- I have a good friend who works at the VA- 59 years old -runs 2 miles every day- still is in the military-
He was experiencing horrible night panic attacks-
long story-he didnt want anyone to know--
the worst one was at night and he found himself drinking large glasses of water-he thought he was dying-then he got help-
His electrolytes were off- all messed up due to dehydration-he did not account for the volume of water loss his running was causing-we have to maintain water balance in our bodies because we are like 90% water? something like that-
Dehydration can be fatal- this was very good advise for everyone here.
If you don't go to the Docs and insist on a treatment plan and seeing specialists you may end up with a pat on the back and take some aspirn and see me next time. VA Docs are notorious for no real treatment plan and waiting or medicine on the cheap till a major problem happens.
I suggest that you write down ona note card the problems you want to discuss and scratch them off as they are addressed.
Good Luck.
Also keep in mind that there is a good possibility that your problems may be physical and not just mental.
I suggest that you write down ona note card the problems you want to discuss and scratch them off as they are addressed.
Good Luck.
Also keep in mind that there is a good possibility that your problems may be physical and not just mental.
QUOTE (huskerfanfl @ Aug 4 2006, 07:27 AM) 
I have finally swallowed my darn pride and admitted I need help and am going to the mental health clinic on Monday. I let things go for years then in 97 I had a heart attack this was just the beginning. I had 2 open heart surgeries back surgery 2 foot operations and both hands operated on. I had so much pain all the time I felt like ending it until I talked to my wife. She went with me to the MHC and I was given medicine and referred back to my primary physician. I was given pain medication and since then things have been bearable. Hang in things get better.
Here are the reason why:
I have been having chest pains with heart palpitations, sweats, and occasional numbness in my arm since 2001. This started after I had ran a 10 mile race. I went to the emergency room with the above symptoms a headache and a nose that had been bleeding off and on for 8 hours. Diadnosis high blood pressure. I then ran a race 2 weeks later (13.1 miles) after getting medical clearance from a stress test and heart doctor. 3 days later I was jogging home and my hip was hurting. Got home and sat for 10 minutes when I sttod up hip would not hold me: diagnosis hip bursitis. My chest pains continued and I kept telling the doctor. One night at Wal-Mart it got really bad so I went to the Emergency room. Heart Cath done, have a good heart, check gall bladder etc. everything okay. Chest pains continue.
Since retirement in September 2004, I have isolated myself more and more from family, not enjoying going out, tired of the pain in various parts of my body to the point where I thought about buying a gun. Three months ago my back went out for third time since retirement and as I was driving home, thought the underpass wall looked like a good way to stop pain. Luckily my cell phone rang and distracted me. The chest pains and heart palpitations are coming more frquently (7-8 times per week) and I am at my wits end.
My wife is getting on me for staying in the bedroom, I had to change jobs at work to keep me away from other people, I need to constantly be on guard against thoughts that lead me to believe that there is a way to escape the pain. Of course it does not help that I only sleep 3-4 hours per night because of that pain and thinking houw much it sucks.
My wife has a good friend who she was complaining to, the freind told my wife that I needed to seek help.
Here are the reason why:
I have been having chest pains with heart palpitations, sweats, and occasional numbness in my arm since 2001. This started after I had ran a 10 mile race. I went to the emergency room with the above symptoms a headache and a nose that had been bleeding off and on for 8 hours. Diadnosis high blood pressure. I then ran a race 2 weeks later (13.1 miles) after getting medical clearance from a stress test and heart doctor. 3 days later I was jogging home and my hip was hurting. Got home and sat for 10 minutes when I sttod up hip would not hold me: diagnosis hip bursitis. My chest pains continued and I kept telling the doctor. One night at Wal-Mart it got really bad so I went to the Emergency room. Heart Cath done, have a good heart, check gall bladder etc. everything okay. Chest pains continue.
Since retirement in September 2004, I have isolated myself more and more from family, not enjoying going out, tired of the pain in various parts of my body to the point where I thought about buying a gun. Three months ago my back went out for third time since retirement and as I was driving home, thought the underpass wall looked like a good way to stop pain. Luckily my cell phone rang and distracted me. The chest pains and heart palpitations are coming more frquently (7-8 times per week) and I am at my wits end.
My wife is getting on me for staying in the bedroom, I had to change jobs at work to keep me away from other people, I need to constantly be on guard against thoughts that lead me to believe that there is a way to escape the pain. Of course it does not help that I only sleep 3-4 hours per night because of that pain and thinking houw much it sucks.
My wife has a good friend who she was complaining to, the freind told my wife that I needed to seek help.
My psychologist told me that most conditions that are serious enough to worry about are physical. It is not "All in your Head" most of the times. I insisted on going to the pain clinics and now it seems the VA accepts the fact that my chronic pain syndrome is service-connected. I know that usually I have not wanted to be bothered with some of the suggestions made to me by my primary care doctor such as going to the "Fall Clinic". I have changed my mind about this and now when the VA offers me any kind of specialized treatment options I take them up on it. I am going to see about getting some other conditions SC'ed. When you have a service connected condition you are probably going to get more treatment options offered to you and it snow balls.
I would agree with your psychologist if he says it is not all in your head. I will also say that I do not believe that it is all in your body either. I do take note, however of the need to make sure all avenues are explored. During my last visit with my regular civilian physician last week he asked if I was still having the chest pains. I told him yes and that I was worried that he had not seemed to come up with a cause despite all the tests that had been run. I told him that I had set up an appointment to see the MH folks and he acknowledged that there had been a change in my behavior over the past couple of years. He also finally gave me a consult for an orthopedic specialist to have my knee and ankle evelated.
I have a notebook that I have learned to carry with me and write things down, my memory just isn't what it used to be. I will add the questions I want to talk to them about.
I have a notebook that I have learned to carry with me and write things down, my memory just isn't what it used to be. I will add the questions I want to talk to them about.
I too suffer from psych problems that ferequently manifest themselves physiclly including:
Chest pain
tightness in the chest
trouble breathing
spasms (convulsions)
severe neck and head pain
temporary loss of motor co-ordination
Hyperventilation
occasional or frequent inability to process what you are seeing. For example seeing oncoming traffic or traffic lights changing without being able to distinguish the importance or meaning of such events.
Ofcourse these condition become worse inrelationship to the amount of strain i am under. The more strain the worse the symptoms.
Also IBS is often associated with pysch problems such as PTSD and depression.
In my case this includes:
Chronic abdominal pain which never goes away.
Chronic diarhea
Dehydration
Sensitivity to heat which causes physical illness
Chest pain
tightness in the chest
trouble breathing
spasms (convulsions)
severe neck and head pain
temporary loss of motor co-ordination
Hyperventilation
occasional or frequent inability to process what you are seeing. For example seeing oncoming traffic or traffic lights changing without being able to distinguish the importance or meaning of such events.
Ofcourse these condition become worse inrelationship to the amount of strain i am under. The more strain the worse the symptoms.
Also IBS is often associated with pysch problems such as PTSD and depression.
In my case this includes:
Chronic abdominal pain which never goes away.
Chronic diarhea
Dehydration
Sensitivity to heat which causes physical illness
psych problems do cause physical pain, it doesn't mean the pain isn't real, it's real alright. ptsd like others have said can have many physical symptoms, ibs, migraines, and others. sometimes we live a long time numb to our bodies, unaware that we are even having pain and then boom one day it hits you.
get the help you need, and please be kind to yourself
get the help you need, and please be kind to yourself
I just got back from the VA clinic. The psychiatrist that I saw diagnosed me with anxiety/depressinon and prescribed counseling and Celexa. She said that the two are definitely tied to the disabilites that I have. I really did not get the definitive diagnosis.
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