Wow,that made me feel really good.I post on here for the hopes that someone like me,might be posting,or maybe not posting.Maybe they might see a glimpse of them in me.Maybe they will feel relif from the fact that i do lay out my stories and fears with you guys.Beyond that I do it for me like a journal i read my own back posts to see how i was etc,and it feels good to post,get off my mind,not all bottled up. To your problems how did they rule out Gerd?They cant rule out Gerd on a scope test from what ive researched.It takes a 24 hour test to see how many times the acid hits the esphagus.Maybe your just really ok,im happy you got everything ruled out.The scope isnt fun,but least know you know you dont have cancer.Its nothing life threating..Keep up your fight to find what might heal you,but know this ive had all your problems the best thing you can do is heal your mind,and you got great Strong faith from The Greatest power and thats God.I will pray for you,get well soon,and recap me on your tests,i want more info.. outlaw

Hi Outlaw: I hope you are doing better now. I'm sorry I couldn't post earlier, I was in the ER! I actually wanted to start a thread in which to thank you for all your help & encouragement. I love hearing from you - so I was sad to hear my "hero" was down. You've posted alot of notes that I know have made other people feel better, including myself - so Thanks! Your honesty in symptoms has been greatly appreciated. It sounds like you've already overcome a lot, so I know you are stronger than you think! So last time I posted I was having difficulty swallowing. It just kept getting worse & worse 'till I couldn't even swallow my own saliva! I went on with this for 2 days, lost 17 pounds in 2 months & finally decided I had to do something about it! My GP couldn't (wouldn't maybe) get my in to a GI specialist 'till August! What was I to do? Not eat or drink for 3 months! Sometimes I hate the medical system. Anyway, they did an emergency endoscope, chest x-ray, chest CT, blood work & all came back normal! One of the things that kept me encouraged was that you had (unfortunately) gone through this & told me the statistics, etc - I really appreciated that (still we always have to rule things out right?). I don't know what other tests I could possibly have now! But, now I think I have thyroid cancer because I have 3 lumps on the side of my neck & still difficulty swallowing. I would have thought they would have ruled that out with the CT, but I was too groggy to get any details except "It's not esophagus or stomach cancer (or GERD)". What is with us? I'm getting back into reading the Bible, but I did post a Fantastc book I read: Healing the Anxiety Diseases by Thomas Leaman (from library). Along with everyone else lately, I've also been worried about blood clots since I have all these bruises & viens popping up! "God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. God grant me the Serenity to live one day at a time; to enjoy one moment at a time; to accept hardship as the pathway to peace." :)

Hang in there Outlaw... You are going to get better. You have us all here to help. It is rough , but some way some how, each person has the ability to climb out of this dark hole. Your a good person and you will make it. Keep praying and seeking you will find.

Hey Texas i think of you as as cool guy,but man you got a good life..thanx for caring guys..explain about the books so i can pick one that fits me the best.. by the way texas i m a steelworker never been scared until the last 5 years..you guys are my support.. outlaw

I felt better after reading a couple of books by Dr. Brian Weiss -- I would highly suggest his books...try "Same Soul, Many Bodies" -- he discusses regression therapy and helps with techniques that do actually work, ie., meditation, visualization, etc. I hope this helps!! Good luck:-)

I hope you are feeling better Outlaw. I have had a bad day myself "health anxiety" I do well then revert back, You are thin and young and that is important and have your lady and daughter, I am sending prayers. Take care, God bless, Debbie.

i've had all the heart tests they will do. within the last year i've had at least 5 ekg's, one stress test, and ecocardiogram, chest xray and blood work done every 3 months. everything keeps coming back normal --- good though-- it's like were looking for something bad. keep writting and letting people know how you feel. i use to tell everybody about what was going on -- some thought i was crazy-- and one person even told that i shouldn't say anything because people will frown on that and think i was weak. i am not weak and either is anybody that has this disorder.. we might have set backs but we are stronger for it. the crazy thing about it after you start talking about it people seem to come out of the wood works that have the same problem. i don't care who what anybody says but everyone has had a panic attack some point in there life. they may not have known what it is but they have had one. i took zoloft for one week and quit taking it. i still carry xanax -- and still have some pills left over from the same prescription over a year ago. all these drugs are a short term fix. it takes you wanting to get better and get out of the cycle of worrying about your health. ( easier said than done.) don't be scared of the panic attacks and they will go away. once you tell yopurself that they want hurt me then you will stop having them. i still have day to day symptoms and i do worry sometimes but i keep on going because i don't want life to pass me bye. let me know how your doing. little bio for you: 33, male, married, one child, vice president of oil and gas company, college graduate, played college football, all conference player, just to show you that this disorder does not discriminate. goodluck, i know you will get better and stop worrying about your heart. weird as soon as i typed stop worrying about your heart i started to get heart palps. crazy . goodluck , stay strong, GOD BLESS. FRIEND IN TEXAS

it's like we put the anxiety and panic before anything -- can't do certain things because what if i have a panic attack or heart attack. i just keep telling my self that im okay and that there are people out with heart problems , cancer, etc. and they don't seem half as nervous as i do . i could ramble on . its nice to have a sight like this. take care and GOD Bless. CN that about hit the nail on the head... did you go through all the heart tests too,and you take no meds at all,just xanax at times.. outlaw

outlaw, my symptoms when i first started having anxiety/panic were chest pains, lightheaded, high blood pressure, heart palps, racing heart, night sweats, insomnia, head and neck would pain, shortness of breath. you name it i just about had the symptom. i had to hire someone just to ride with me at work for about the first 6 weeks i went through this. i just new i had something wrong with me--heart attack was always my first worry and then it would escalate into a full blown panic attack. i had all the test done the ER trips, etc. and they keep telling me that it's anxiety. like i said earlier i went to at least 5 different doctors seeing if one would diagnose me different. i couldn't even drive by a doctors office without wanting to pull into it. i still have day to day symptoms like can't catch my breath, lightheaded, heart palps, but i try to figure out what causes it what i'm thinking about-- and most of the time i have no idea. i guess what brings it on is constantly worrying about my heart or passing out. sometimes these thoughts just pop into my head and it's hard to get them out. i still do not take any meds did zoloft for about a week and quit. still carry my xanax with me as a clutch. im doing better than before but not over it and i pray all the time for this to leave me alone- not to be scared, nervous throughout the day. it's just amazing how this disorder can start to control a person all the time, it's like we put the anxiety and panic before anything -- can't do certain things because what if i have a panic attack or heart attack. i just keep telling my self that im okay and that there are people out with heart problems , cancer, etc. and they don't seem half as nervous as i do . i could ramble on . its nice to have a sight like this. take care and GOD Bless.

Hi Outlaw, Sorry I took my dog out last night and did not read your reply till today! I think you can find the "Noon day Demon " at the Libary, the other two I don't know about, what they can do at the lib, is "order" them from another branch of a libary if you give them the name and author of the book, its free then, I know books can be expensive and I always try to go to the Lib. Another good one at the Libary is "From Panic to Power" by Lucinda Bassett, reading helps me too to understand. I hope you are having a good day and the anxiety is better. God bless, Debbie.