Does anybody else feel like they are having a heart attack!?!?

[[Ho...]]

I have had a lot of sharp chest pain today which makes my heart race and my breathing labored along with  dizziness.  I have been to the ER for this in the past and my heart has checked out okay.  I have been more active lately and maybe this has caused this to happen.?.?

 

I am almost 10 months off and I am still having these acute issues.  When does it get better?

 

Current symptoms include: Extreme tinnitus, chest pain, heart palps, dizziness / benzo flu, sore back and muscles and shortness of breath “air starved” feeling. 

 

Is anybody else experiencing these chest pain and heart attack type sxs?

 

Best wishes!

[[Ja...]]

Yep, 8 months off and tapering Remeron. Cardiologist said there is absolutely nothing wrong with my heart. He said it is definitely from the Xanax withdrawal and Rem taper. However, he said that doesn’t mean it doesn’t need to be treated until it resolves. He is putting me on a 7 day monitor which I am waiting for in the mail. He wants to know if the palps are pvcs or afib. If they are afib I might need blood thinners to avoid stroke risk. This in such a pain in the ass. I was in perfect health before Xanax.

[[Ho...]]

Yep, 8 months off and tapering Remeron. Cardiologist said there is absolutely nothing wrong with my heart. He said it is definitely from the Xanax withdrawal and Rem taper. However, he said that doesn’t mean it doesn’t need to be treated until it resolves. He is putting me on a 7 day monitor which I am waiting for in the mail. He wants to know if the palps are pvcs or afib. If they are afib I might need blood thinners to avoid stroke risk. This in such a pain in the ass. I was in perfect health before Xanax.

 

Thank you for the reply Jack!

 

I also saw a cardiologist.  He had me wear a Holter monitor and gave me an echocardiogram and a stress test.  All of which came back normal.  I have developed high BP from all of this and must now take an ACE inhibitor to keep it in check.  I was also in good health before all of this started.

 

I hope we get some relief soon!

[[th...]]

I have the very same thing—it is anxiety. It is a horrible feeling. My heart had beat so strongly that my chest hurt for three hours. And, my heart rate stayed elevated for nine hours. Just miserable.

[[Ja...]]

When I was in acute withdrawal my blood pressure went up to 180/100. I couldn't take beta blockers because it wouldn't stay high. Sometimes in the morning my bp would be 100/60. I tried the beta blockers one night because my blood pressure was up and I was having palpitations and about 2 hours later I guess my pressure dropped back down and I could not even walk to the bathroom without blacking out. Recently my blood pressure has been going up to around 140/90 which is the low end of high. I have been able to keep it around 125/85 by watching my salt intake. I am super salt sensitive now. I was not before all this.

 

Last week I was riding my motorcycle to work when out of nowhere my left hand started hurting, then it started spreading up my left arm and into my chest. I hurt pretty bad. The I started having nausea, and lightheadedness and was sweating. I had nowhere to pull over to so I just stuck it out hoping it was withdrawal. It lasted a couple of minutes. The nausea lasted a few hours. Then later that day I was shoveling rock and totally fine although my heart rate was higher than it should have been. Sometimes my resting heart rate is 50 and other days it is 90. Sometimes it even stays at 50 while I am walking around and doesn't change at all with my activity and oddly I feel totally fine when this happens, no weakness or dizziness.

 

I have had to buy all these monitors, blood pressure and pulse ox throughout this process so I can monitor myself because I was constantly in the doctor or ER before. I had ZERO health issues before this. I am 37 years old. I was and still am in excellent shape. Some days everything works like it should and some days I am winded and having chest pains.

 

I have had a dozen EKG this year including two with imaging and there is nothing structurally or functionally wrong with my heart. I had a really bad withdrawal with just about every symptom imaginable. Most of the other symptoms are starting to disappear but this heart stuff is persistent. I hope it stops soon because it's scary as hell!

[[Ho...]]

I have the very same thing—it is anxiety. It is a horrible feeling. My heart had beat so strongly that my chest hurt for three hours. And, my heart rate stayed elevated for nine hours. Just miserable.

 

I know exactly what you are describing!  Sending healing thoughts your way!

[[Ja...]]

It certainly could be anxiety. When I had the episode on my motorcycle I was running late. I was lanesplitting (which is illegal here) and dodging mirrors and such. Throw in watching my mirrors for cops and I would say I was definitely on high alert. I guess high alert and CNS damage don’t jive. Hey, I’m thankful to be riding again. I sold my last bike in acute convinced I would not be able to ride for years if ever again.

[[Ho...]]

When I was in acute withdrawal my blood pressure went up to 180/100. I couldn't take beta blockers because it wouldn't stay high. Sometimes in the morning my bp would be 100/60. I tried the beta blockers one night because my blood pressure was up and I was having palpitations and about 2 hours later I guess my pressure dropped back down and I could not even walk to the bathroom without blacking out. Recently my blood pressure has been going up to around 140/90 which is the low end of high. I have been able to keep it around 125/85 by watching my salt intake. I am super salt sensitive now. I was not before all this.

 

Last week I was riding my motorcycle to work when out of nowhere my left hand started hurting, then it started spreading up my left arm and into my chest. I hurt pretty bad. The I started having nausea, and lightheadedness and was sweating. I had nowhere to pull over to so I just stuck it out hoping it was withdrawal. It lasted a couple of minutes. The nausea lasted a few hours. Then later that day I was shoveling rock and totally fine although my heart rate was higher than it should have been. Sometimes my resting heart rate is 50 and other days it is 90. Sometimes it even stays at 50 while I am walking around and doesn't change at all with my activity and oddly I feel totally fine when this happens, no weakness or dizziness.

 

I have had to buy all these monitors, blood pressure and pulse ox throughout this process so I can monitor myself because I was constantly in the doctor or ER before. I had ZERO health issues before this. I am 37 years old. I was and still am in excellent shape. Some days everything works like it should and some days I am winded and having chest pains.

 

I have had a dozen EKG this year including two with imaging and there is nothing structurally or functionally wrong with my heart. I had a really bad withdrawal with just about every symptom imaginable. Most of the other symptoms are starting to disappear but this heart stuff is persistent. I hope it stops soon because it's scary as hell!

 

Jack, Your post reads a lot like my journal.  We have had a very similar experience with our WD.  I also have all the monitors and actually became somewhat obsessive about it all and made things worse for myself.  I was a very active person before all of this and now I have been out of work for about 20 months. First time in over 32 years. It’s disheartening to say the least!  Some days I feel as good as 70% and think I’m trending in the right direction, then BAM!, this happens.

 

I hope we all get some relief soon!

[Guest [so...]]

I've had 2 strokes due to Afib caused by bwd, the most recent was 6 weeks ago from which i have lost my vision. No previous cardiac or other health issues. If you're having palps or chest pains it's sensible to get checked out. My cardiologist  told me that benzo wd is the only wd that can actually kill you (apart from alcohol wd) due to the potential for cardiac issues. Don't remember being given this information when the prescription was given. Anyway like i say, get checked and if all's clear don't obsess on it!

[[Ja...]]

I have been lucky enough to work through most of it. I missed about 90 days of work and then some days here or there after I came back. It’s been tough though. I am a foreman so don’t have to do any physical labor. But as I improve I choose to. The bosses were very easy on me this year because I lost a child and they think that I am just underperforming due to my loss. Fact is the grief has not affected my work. The benzo withdrawal has actually postponed and prolonged my grief. For me personally bring able to get back to work actually helped me through because I couldn’t sit around checking my pulse. I had to ignore my symptoms to try to keep up appearances. It is only as I have started to taper the Remeron that I am beginning to actually feel normal again. But you are right, it is not linear. During the summer I was running around and swinging sledgehammers. I couldn’t do it now but my waves are becoming very weak in intensity. Actually I have days where I feel 100 percent. That actually makes it tougher because in contrast you really feel the waves even though they have become so minor. And then there is the new withdrawal symptoms from the Remeron but that is a whole other story. They should have just let me grieve. These drugs were a huge mistake. The only thing they helped with was sleep and then they backfired big time.

[[Ja...]]

Yes, thank you Southern Star, I read your story and it is what inspired me to go back to the cardiologist. The seven day monitor should show if these are afib or pvc.

[[Ho...]]

I've had 2 strokes due to Afib caused by bwd, the most recent was 6 weeks ago from which i have lost my vision. No previous cardiac or other health issues. If you're having palps or chest pains it's sensible to get checked out. My cardiologist  told me that benzo wd is the only wd that can actually kill you (apart from alcohol wd) due to the potential for cardiac issues. Don't remember being given this information when the prescription was given. Anyway like i say, get checked and if all's clear don't obsess on it!

 

I’m so very sorry to hear that Southern!  I checked for AFIB via my Apple Watch several times today. All were normal sinus rhythm readings (albeit high HR).  I truly hope things get better for you soon!

[[Ho...]]

I have been lucky enough to work through most of it. I missed about 90 days of work and then some days here or there after I came back. It’s been tough though. I am a foreman so don’t have to do any physical labor. But as I improve I choose to. The bosses were very easy on me this year because I lost a child and they think that I am just underperforming due to my loss. Fact is the grief has not affected my work. The benzo withdrawal has actually postponed and prolonged my grief. For me personally bring able to get back to work actually helped me through because I couldn’t sit around checking my pulse. I had to ignore my symptoms to try to keep up appearances. It is only as I have started to taper the Remeron that I am beginning to actually feel normal again. But you are right, it is not linear. During the summer I was running around and swinging sledgehammers. I couldn’t do it now but my waves are becoming very weak in intensity. Actually I have days where I feel 100 percent. That actually makes it tougher because in contrast you really feel the waves even though they have become so minor. And then there is the new withdrawal symptoms from the Remeron but that is a whole other story. They should have just let me grieve. These drugs were a huge mistake. The only thing they helped with was sleep and then they backfired big time.

 

I’m sorry for your loss Jack!  I was offered Remeron (among other drugs) as well but refused them all.  Not sure if it was the right choice but it seemed like it at the time.  I didn’t want to further confuse my healing brain and potentially have to taper another medication.  I hope it goes smoothly for you!

[[Ja...]]

Remeron is the reason I was able to go back to work. I had gone from 182 to 137 lbs. I could not sleep at all. It didn’t help any of the other symptoms but I have slept 8 hours a night throughout this process and am up to 170 lbs. I am only 5’- 10” so I look healthy again. Luckily tapering it is not affecting my sleep or appetite but it comes with a whole new host of stuff. I just ate dinner and my stomach sounds like I just drank colonoscopy prep! That’s the Remeron withdrawal. I think you probably did the right thing avoiding it. I seem to one of the luckier one’s tapering it. I wish I was one of the one’s who don’t get withdrawal at all from it but oh well.

[Guest [so...]]

I'm so very sorry for your loss Jack and even more sorry that Dr's chose to blank out your grief with a pill rather than supporting you through it. That says a lot about their own limitations. As a society we seem to have lost the art of grieving or working through emotional pain, glad to hear you're sxs are easing up.

[[...]]

I got a very good explanation about chest pains from my doctor. Like all of you, during withdraw, I had chest pain’s and I went to the ER and then I went to a cardiologist and they checked me out and my heart and everything was just fine.

 

My doctor said the root of the problem was benzo withdrawl creates anxiety which causes your chest muscles to be always in a state of tension or flexing and so after a while they get exhausted and that’s where the pain comes from.

 

He put me on buspar for a few weeks which addressed my anxiety which therefore addressed the chest muscles which therefore stopped the pain. It works very well.  I got off the Buspar with no problem.

 

Bob

[[th...]]

I got a very good explanation about chest pains from my doctor. Like all of you, during withdraw, I had chest pain’s and I went to the ER and then I went to a cardiologist and they checked me out and my heart and everything was just fine.

 

My doctor said the root of the problem was benzo withdrawl creates anxiety which causes your chest muscles to be always in a state of tension or flexing and so after a while they get exhausted and that’s where the pain comes from.

 

He put me on buspar for a few weeks which addressed my anxiety which therefore addressed the chest muscles which therefore stopped the pain. It works very well.  I got off the Buspar with no problem.

 

Bob

 

I'm going to have to give Buspar a go again. It didn't seem to do much for my anxiety the time I tried it.

[[...]]

I got a very good explanation about chest pains from my doctor. Like all of you, during withdraw, I had chest pain’s and I went to the ER and then I went to a cardiologist and they checked me out and my heart and everything was just fine.

 

My doctor said the root of the problem was benzo withdrawl creates anxiety which causes your chest muscles to be always in a state of tension or flexing and so after a while they get exhausted and that’s where the pain comes from.

 

He put me on buspar for a few weeks which addressed my anxiety which therefore addressed the chest muscles which therefore stopped the pain. It works very well.  I got off the Buspar with no problem.

 

Bob

 

I'm going to have to give Buspar a go again. It didn't seem to do much for my anxiety the time I tried it.

It is a very subtle drug. I could not take it at night or I’d have trouble sleeping-well I only tried that one night. So I took it in the mornings in a very‘s tiny little bit just one quarter of the pill he gave me and I got a feeling of a pleasant high feeling for a while but then the rest of the day my anxiety just kind of leveled off and mostly the improvement was seen by no more chest pain’s after a week or two

[[th...]]

I got a very good explanation about chest pains from my doctor. Like all of you, during withdraw, I had chest pain’s and I went to the ER and then I went to a cardiologist and they checked me out and my heart and everything was just fine.

 

My doctor said the root of the problem was benzo withdrawl creates anxiety which causes your chest muscles to be always in a state of tension or flexing and so after a while they get exhausted and that’s where the pain comes from.

 

He put me on buspar for a few weeks which addressed my anxiety which therefore addressed the chest muscles which therefore stopped the pain. It works very well.  I got off the Buspar with no problem.

 

Bob

 

I'm going to have to give Buspar a go again. It didn't seem to do much for my anxiety the time I tried it.

It is a very subtle drug. I could not take it at night or I’d have trouble sleeping-well I only tried that one night. So I took it in the mornings in a very‘s tiny little bit just one quarter of the pill he gave me and I got a feeling of a pleasant high feeling for a while but then the rest of the day my anxiety just kind of leveled off and mostly the improvement was seen by no more chest pain’s after a week or two

 

Ok, maybe I'll give it a go. Xanax was barely handling my anxiety, so I'm not sure Buspar is going to cut it. Will have to see.

[[Ho...]]

Remeron is the reason I was able to go back to work. I had gone from 182 to 137 lbs. I could not sleep at all. It didn’t help any of the other symptoms but I have slept 8 hours a night throughout this process and am up to 170 lbs. I am only 5’- 10” so I look healthy again. Luckily tapering it is not affecting my sleep or appetite but it comes with a whole new host of stuff. I just ate dinner and my stomach sounds like I just drank colonoscopy prep! That’s the Remeron withdrawal. I think you probably did the right thing avoiding it. I seem to one of the luckier one’s tapering it. I wish I was one of the one’s who don’t get withdrawal at all from it but oh well.

 

Right or wrong it’s water under the bridge for me now.  I do take Vistaril for sleep and anxiety from time to time. It is an old school antihistamine. It seems to help.  I lost weight during acute as well.  I was down to about 180 and I’m 6’2”.  Didn’t take long to put the weight back on once I could eat again. 🙄

 

Sounds like you are tolerating the Remeron WD though, so that is good. 

[[Ho...]]

I got a very good explanation about chest pains from my doctor. Like all of you, during withdraw, I had chest pain’s and I went to the ER and then I went to a cardiologist and they checked me out and my heart and everything was just fine.

 

My doctor said the root of the problem was benzo withdrawl creates anxiety which causes your chest muscles to be always in a state of tension or flexing and so after a while they get exhausted and that’s where the pain comes from.

 

He put me on buspar for a few weeks which addressed my anxiety which therefore addressed the chest muscles which therefore stopped the pain. It works very well.  I got off the Buspar with no problem.

 

Bob

 

Thank you for sharing this Bob!  It makes sense and makes me feel a bit better.  I have noticed my anxiety spiking prior to this episode. I had stopped taking the Vistaril I use for anxiety and sleep. I think I will begin retaking it again tonight.

 

Thanks again!

[[...]]

I'm off v 2.5 months now. The same thing happened since 2 wks off extreme after I ate something, blacked out either from a mini seizure or heart attack. I quickly developed problems with all kinds of food causing episode of heart, breathing, high and low blood pressure,  and brain losing consiceness after eating. 3 wks ago I started a very rigid diet with only low glutamate food, no gluten, no sugar , definitely no msg or sweeteners. Small meals at one time. I am not having the extreme reactions now unless I eat more than I should.

 

I could have died from either seizure or heart attack without the diet change.