Hi all haven't been here in a long time. I am wondering if anyone has this feeling i have been having lately. I feel as if i am going to die, just taking a shower and my heart pounds and i am exhausted ... I think i have just been getting worse over the last year but now i feel impending doom, there is no other wya to describe it.

Hi Joan,

Is your RSD full body?
Could it be anxiety/panic attacks? Or pain related attacks?
I don't know what meds you are taking or how severe/symptomatic your rsd is.
So just thinking out loud...

i don't feel it is psychological at all, it is as if my heart is just going to give out ... i have blood pressure problems but i take meds for that. i take neurontin. i have rsd left lower leg and now right foot and my hands have either rsd or reynauds ... the doc is not sure. i'm almost 12 years with this and am weaker and have spread somewhat but still get around just very slow going. i do everything in pieces.

Have your heart meds been evaluated or adjusted recently, if not maybe that would help.
But quite a few with long time chronic pain conditions do get depressed and along with that might be prone to anxiety attacks.

I'm just going by what I have read over the years, so may or may not fit in your case.

I was in that same shape from about 98 until 2005. I had to sign a living will because of it. I actually thought I was going to die.

I believe it is due to the health problems wearing you down so much that you just can't keep going. I actually believe I would have died had I not had a good Dr. that was determined to keep me going.

I wonder if you are also dealing with Fibro and CFS. CFS is one that really sucks the life out of you and you can only do so much at a time and then you have to rest for 2 days for an hours work. With CFS also, it's something you seem to have to just lay back and let it run it's course.

I hope you start feeling better soon.

Ada

Joan,

A good doctor makes all of the difference in the world when it comes to evaluating this type of situation. If you have a good relationship with your Doc., tell him/her about this and trust them enough to suggest a plan of action. And by all means have your current medication levels checked. It may be time to make some adjustments.

Take care of yourself!

http://www.helpmyhurt.com/2008/08/17...-for-survival/
Joan that is the website above. the book is free to print out. it explains quite clearling exactly what you are feeling and just how serious it is. this book has been of great help to me in many ways. Please let me know what you think. CZ

Hi JOan, sometimes they equate those feelings of impending doom with adrenal fatigue, The body depletes its adrenal reserves and you get symptoms like fear (ist the flight or fight response) and heart palpitations.

Here is a link on a intersting scorecard where symptoms of adrenal fatigue are listed

http://www.drrind.com/scorecardmatrix.asp

I will go in phases and sometimes when from significant stress I have worn down my adrenals. I do two things. Each morning I have an 8oz glass of water with 1/8 tsp of sea salt. Please don't do this though it you have high blood pressure. You know today they stress low salt diets etc but your body needs salt to move nutirents in and out of cells.

In adrneal fatigue you get salt wasting and you body cannot hang onto water and you get very dehydrated wthout knowing it. Second your adreneals have the highest % of vitamin C in your body. So when I am feeling like this I start to supplement with vitamin C 1000 mg a day.

I'll be honest most docs do not believe in adrenal fatigue unless it is so severe you need to be hospitalized. BUt with us, chronic pain people pain wears out and stresses you body and adreneals. If I do the vit c and sea salt water for a month I feel better and calmer etc and back to more normal.

GIve it a shot it may help.

I'm sorry that you are going through all of this - I really hope things get better for you soon and am keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

I also get the feeling you are having from time to time. I'm not sure what causes it, I have never been given any answers but mine seems to be worse when I am more stressed. I also have panic attacks that are either brought on by the pain or being in an highly stressful situation.

I agree with Jo that it might be an idea for you to look into panic attacks and similar conditions. I would also get your BP meds checked to make sure they are still helping you.

I'm sorry that I can't help you that much - just know that we're here for you if you ever need to talk. Please keep us all updated when you can.

Hi,
thanks to all who answered. I do not think it is depression or anxiety since i have experienced both of these and been treated at times for them. I do way overstress my body trying to do what i cannot or should not, and as a result have extreme pain then, and also i need to sleep 10 to 12 hours every night and even with that i am still tired. So am thinking of the cfs. I will look into both the book mentioned and the adrenal stress mentioned.
You guys are full of info ... I appreciate it. I will let you know if a get a diagnosis. Lovingly, joan