Maybe someone here can relate. The last 2 months has been hell. If you have the time, please read this.

Here's a quick story about last year: A year ago I was rushed to the hospital one afternoon after having several PVCs (Premature Ventricular Contractions or when your heart skips a beat) and feeling like I was going to pass out; just feeling like complete shit. I had been dipping that day a lot. Basically I thought I was having a heart attack and was going to die. By the way I'm only 34 years old. I told the paramedics I had been dipping that day and all they did was say they did too and that I was fine. The doctors took my vitals, blood, ECG, etc. and sent me home telling me I had had an anxiety/panic attack and prescribed me Ativen and told me to lay off the diet pills I was taking. Everything was fine after that day until this past April.

I'm a high school teacher and stay athletic. I mountain bike, hike, jog almost daily, and eat fairly well. This past April was our school's spring break. The first Saturday I had off I visited a friend and stayed up until 3 am the next morning. I had been dipping heavily all night. I went home and got in bed only to find it took until 5:30 am to finally get to sleep. I felt like my heart was racing and felt like shit and I attributed it to an all night binge of dipping. I almost felt like I did a year ago. A few days later I went to another friends house to visit and stayed until 3 am again and had been dipping heavily all night only this time I felt like I did the year before and it wouldn't go away. I tried everything to calm down. My heart was beating fast, etc. This lasted all the way until 3 am the next morning. I freaked my wife out and myself. I finally went to the ER only to find out, you guessed it, diagnosed anxiety/panic. Again was given Ativen. Thus began my first quit day. I figured the dip wasn't helping things and I was sick and tired of feeling shitty all the time anyways. I had a full physical scheduled the following Friday. All they did was the typical "turn your head and cough" crap, took blood, and sent me on my way. Blood tests were normal etc. They then referred me to a Psychiatric doc who put me on 5mg doses of Lexapro daily.

For the first weeks following my last binge dipping night I couldn't sleep at all. For the past 50 days I've had weird symptoms of all sorts. Flushed feeling in my heart and chest, light chest pain, nausea, the feeling like something's taking my breath away, PVCs, fatigue, sleepiness, lack of sleep some nights. All of which don't happen consistently but come and go and it's driving me mad. I wish I could enjoy the fact I've been 50 days dip free but all I can think is I'm dying and it's because of chew. FOr me the quitting has been easy because all I can think about is getting through the next day of these crazy-assed symptoms.

Does anyone else feel this way?? I don't know if it's the Lexapro or withdrawl symptoms. The doctors are oblivious and it pisses me off. I'll bring up chew and they don't care. What is happening to me!

I'm not a doctor, so I can't give you medical advice; the following is just my opinion.

The physical withdrawals from nicotine don't really last that long, provided that you completely abstain from it. The worst of it is generally over in a few days. I don't think what you are describing is nicotine withdrawals.

I would consider ditching all of the drugs (including the diet pills), taking very good care of yourself (lots of sleep, try to relax, good food, minimize stress, etc.) and see where it seems to be heading after a few weeks. It sounds like you're on sort of a pharmaceutical roller-coaster. If you've developed dependencies on the meds you mentioned, you'll probably feel like shit until you adjust, but it sounds like you feel like shit anyway...

It sounds like you should find a more worthwhile doctor and have a serious conversation about what medications, if any, you should really be on.

I had a panic attack experience similar to yours a while back. It was a time of extreme mental stress, heavy physical exertion, and exhaustion. I got through it by dipping a LOT and drinking tons of coffee. I think I just reached a point where I didn't have any reserves left and 'crashed'. I was in the middle of a supermarket, and I suddenly felt like the world started spinning, my arms and legs got really heavy, and I was on the edge of losing consciousness for several minutes. I felt like I was going to die. It took a few days of serious recovery time before I felt like myself again. My wife had a similar experience when she was smoking (quit now); it ended up being diagnosed as a panic attack.

Again, I'm not a doctor, so take my opinions for what they are: just the possibly worthless advice of another anonymous fucker on the internet...

I might be able to help you some here. I have anxiety problems as well. I had many panic attacks before I was even trying to quit chewing. Tobacco, caffeine, lack of sleep, and stress can all contribute to causing panic attacks.

I am currently on Buspar for my anxiety and also have Ativan I can use if I feel a panic attack coming on. I rarely need Ativan anymore.

If these attacks are happening to you during your quit, I would suggest taking a small amount of Ativan just to calm your nerves. Also, your anti-depressent can really mess with your brain chemicals for up to two weeks while adjusting to the new medicine.

Hope this helps!

I've been on the new meds now for about 5 weeks Dutch. I saw the doc again and he suggested up-ing the dose to 10mg just because it's proper protocol and I turned it down. Maybe I'm not getting enough medicine? I'll see where I'm at in a month and if it doesn't change I may just go to 10mg. Thanks.

What is your blood pressure? Cholesterol levels? Are they normal?

Good old western medicine. Always tries to isolate problems and fix it with a pill without taking a look at the bigger picture. Have you thought of seeing a doctor who practices both eastern and western medicine?

I am not a doctor. I was a nurse. I've had similar symptoms, but not gone to the doctor about them, yet. I have brought them on by binge dipping, also. They have also been brought on by pushing my workouts too hard. I don't think I've had the symptoms since my quit. They haven't been as severe as yours. Actually, I am hoping that they won't. My mother and brother also have had similar symptoms. Ultimatley, they both were diagonosed with an abscure heart disease. My brother quit this year. My mother never picked up tobacco at all.

The obscure heart disease? I don't remember the name. It was found primarily with tilt and stress tests. If you are in the possition to do so, I'd recommend requesting a consult to a cardiologist.

Now, with that being said, I'm not saying that's what you've got. The symptoms ARE the same as anxiety. You may be having anxiety attacts. I know I have had those, and agreed with the diagnosis. The feelings are similar. I never took no drugs for them, unless you count st. john's whort. I did/do practice meditation.

My blood pressure was normal and my triglycerides were somewhat elevated. All they said was eat less fatty foods and exercise. I guessed that though since I don't eat the best food all the time and I would go through periods of being idle (lazy). But I've been exercising regularly lately and losing weight. Makes me feel better. Now I'm nearing 210. My goal is 200 even.

Thanks O.D. I had a really good day yesterday. I told myself not to worry about so much shit and for once in a long time I felt normal again. Thanks to DeantheCoot for his words of encouragement who suffers from anxiety too.

By the way O.D., if I worked out really hard (like jumping rope between sets while lifting) I would feel more PVCs, which I read could be brought on by a lot of stimulus especially hard cardiovascular stimulus. Problem is with me my "little" physical feelings are generating huge mental worries like the feeling that I will die. That's the anxiety.

Thanks to those who responded thus far.

What catches my eye is the pills...
Sure your not just geeking on speed...


Fukukodiak!!!

Man, I have very similar symptoms that you have. I have been to a cardiologist (stress test, echocardogram, cardiac calcium score, blood work for cardiac enzymes) and everything cardiac is normal. I finally figured out my PVC's were being caused from I am very sensitive to caffeine. One cup of coffee, one can of coke, even a chocolate bar and I have PVC's.
Caffeine also increased my anxiety, along with the PVC's making me feel like I was going to die......
Anyway, I was just wondering if this was possibly causing your symptoms?

Larry. I laid off the caffeine big time. I was only drinking a cup of coffee a day but I heard that shit can build up in your system.

By the way I feel fucking great. 5 days in a row. Thank you God!

...and FUCK YOU KODIAK!!!

Great !! Caffeine can be a killer just like Nicotine......Not sure how long it stays in your system though.

Glad you are feeling better.