Question: I need help. I am 40 years old, female 5'3", 229lbs, diabetic, Hashimoto's and Anemic (but have not been taking my supplements). 18 months ago, I damaged my back resulting in an extruded L-5 disc with a bone fragment pressing into the nerve cluster of my S-1 My activity dropped because of my pain, I used to walk 3 times a week but I couldn't anymore. I'm on oral diabetic meds, thyroid meds and muscle and pain narcotics (Ultram, Ultram ER and Robaxin for my ruptured disc). A month ago, the pain from my disc became intolerable 24/7 - I couldn't stand for any length of time, my usually high pain tolerance was not helping and I was in tears. I saw my spine specialist and they put me on Ultram ER. They also informed me I would need an MRI. I have an extreme case of claustrophobia, so I was panicking over the news. A few hours later, my emotions had risen to such an extreme, I felt unglued. I became upset over something minor and felt a snap somewhere in my temple, then my heart began skipping constantly and I was having trouble breathing. My daughter called 911 and EMS came. They said my BP was 212/140, I was having constant PVCs and my heart rate was 126bpm. I was taken to the ER where they monitored me for 7 hours. They did blood work and everything came back fine. My BP stayed at 135/73 the entire time at the E.R. I was advised to see a cardiologist so I did. The Cardio did an U/S of my heart and a Myocardial Perfusion Scan. His findings were, that there was no issue and my heart was healthy and I did not have high BP - he did say my heart rate was way too high but he didn't seem to know what to do to find out why. A few days after this apt, my resting heart rate is still high in the 90-110 range. And my BP has plummeted several times. 105/43 after experiencing severe pain with my back. And the last two nights, I have felt like I was drowning when I am falling into a deep sleep. I awake and feel like I can't really summon the energy to yell for help. It's as if I am powering down or shutting down. I felt my heart pounding in my cheeks on both sides of my nose. When I took my BP it as 116/70 and my bpm was 96. None of the Drs I have seen can figure out what is wrong with me. I need help, I am trying to stay calm through all of this but my family is terrified. I should say, I have been under an extreme amount of emotional stress for the past year and it did come to an all time high over Easter, about a week before my high pain began. Is this fallout from my anemia? Sleep apnea? Did I have a stroke and this is the repercussions? Why is my BP 160/88 in the afternoons? My Cardiologist's nurse said that only the morning BP was important to diagnose high BP and not to worry about the afternoon. Please help because I can't keep going like this. I haven't slept in two days, I've been in the ER, and none of the Drs can figure out what is going on.

Thank you so much, I feel much less anxious after reading your response and I have to say, your answers were more informative than anything I have been told by several physicians in over a week. I wish you were nearby so you could be my Dr! Thank you and keep up the wonderful work. The world needs great Doctors like yourself. With Respect.