Panic at the Disco...

[AnqeiicDemise]

or more like Panic at work.


I was in the middle of a phone call with the sweetest little old lady in the world. We found that she needed more information on her account that I could give her, so I proceeded to place her on hold while I got ahold of another department for her. So while I listen to the world's most relaxing paino music (okay, annoying if you listen to it for more than five minutes) I start reading tabloids/playing games.

I'm munching away on a struddle. I'm happy. I AM DANDY...

And then my throat tightens. It hurts to breathe. I freak out. The more I struggle to inhale,the more it hurts and the harder it gets for me to get a bit of oxygen into my lungs.

I start crying.

The girl next to me rushes to my side and asks me if I'm okay. I shake my head no and motion to my throat. It hurts. My face is going numb. In the background, the relaxing music blares in my ear.

So L flags down the next team over's supervisor, A, who rushes over and asks me if I'm choking. I shake my head no and wheeze that I just can't breathe. So she calls 911, another girl takes over my call (because at this point, I finally got a hold of the other department and I don't want them to hang up on me). Between breaks, she asks me if I'm allergic to anything.

I reply between gasps that I haven't had any shellfish and I doubt there is any in that damned struddle or else i'm getting my money back. She just smiles and says 'sense of humor's intact. That's good!"

L's stroking my hair and patting my back trying to get me to relax. I'm seeing stars and my vision's fading. I'm scared as hell. The paramedics decided, after putting me on oxygen, that its no allergy, its no asthma attack, its definately NOT my blood pressure or sugar. Either way, I'm taken to the hospital in an ambulance.

I spend the next two hours in observation, getting blood drawn and having chest x-rays. The doctor in charge told me it sounded like a panic attack. Am I under a lot of stress? I thrive on it, I reply, and even if I were, my husband tries his damnedest to keep me relaxed. I tell her how, now that he's unemployed, he does little things like start dinner or clean the house and give me massages after a long day---all while he goes around picking up and dropping off applications. She grins and tells me that I have a GREAT husband and that I should keep him. I agree.

The whole time, however, I'm trying not to cry as I feel lonely. Scared as hell. I got the car, so the hubs can't visit and my parents are two states away. At that point, I literally have no one to comfort me, as the damned phone they gave me wouldn't dial outside the areacode.

So I ask what the diagnosis is.

Hyperventilation Syndrome.

Its generaly caused by anxiety (which I have very little of) and stress (again, I haven't noticed if I am stressed or not as the hubs does a good job of relaxing me!) and various other factors. She can't say for sure what triggered this episode so I have to follow up with my general practitioner and get that taken care of.

So for now, I have to carry a paper bag in my purse at all times, have some stashed at home and at the office, as well as the car.

In the meantime, I'm scared shitless. I don't kow what triggered the attack and so, I don't know if or when I'm going to get another one. Will the Soft Rock station send me into a panick while I'm driving home from work? Will adorible little bunnies cause me to pass out from their STRESSFULNESS?

I don't know. I just don't want to think about it but I can't stop doing so.

[jayel]

First, sorry this happened to you. :hug:

Do YOU believe this diagnosis? You are saying that this disorder is supposed to be brought on by stress and anxiety, both of which you have little of. I have had my own experience with an ER doctor diagnosing me with anxiety, when I knew it was B.S. http://www.customerssuck.com/board/showthread.php?p=76606#post76606 (The short of it is that I had a bad kidney infection.)

It is my opinion that throwing out a diagnosis of anything stress and anxiety related can be a last ditch effort to give a patient a reason for what they are experiencing when they can't figure it out. Not saying that these disorders aren't real; I'm not even saying it isn't what happened to you. But what happened to you is serious. If you don't feel confident with the diagnosis, get a second opinion. It totally could be something else. Could have been a one time thing, even. But better safe than sorry. :)

[Eireann]

Panic attacks are a REAL bitch. I ended up in the hospital a few months ago with one. Even if you think you're not under stress, even if you think your anxiety is low, one of the little bastards can hit you at any time. I'm still dealing with mine. The worst thing is knowing that they can hit and that you won't know when it'll happen. I breathe deeply when I feel one coming on, and try to clear my mind - I'm still working on the clear mind part, since my brain tends to be filled with various thoughts all the time.

Shall we start an online support group? :)

[Saydrah]

I used to have panic attacks, and it's true, they do sometimes happen for no reason whatsoever- like epilepsy of the fear mechanism, is how I used to describe it.

However, if you doubt the diagnosis, see a doctor or psychiatrist of your choice for a second opinion.

[AnqeiicDemise]

Well, I'm getting myself checked out for follow up/second opinion as soon as possible. My throat's raw-- it hurts to take a deep breath, period. And there are so many factors that came up to this third ocassion (the first was on new years eve as I was making gravy. Husband thought it was a mix of exhaustion from working so much and the cold I had.) I had just started to take the pill's placebo so I don't know if the lack of hormone had something to do with it too.

Needless to say, I want to know what, exactly, this was caused by and how to prevent it. Stress? Hormone imbalance? My 50+ pounds I'm lugging around every day? Was it a small viral infection combined with my tonsilitis and deviated septum?

I don't know.

I just want it fixed.

[Eireann]

Yeah, so do I. Getting panicky on a regular basis is NOT my idea of fun.

[BookstoreEscapee]

If it is a panic attack, keep in mind that worrying about when the next one will hit will only add to your anxiety and make it more likely to happen. I know that doesn't make you worry any less but it is a bit of a self-perpetuating thing. My first panic attack happened about 9 (!) years ago, on a slow, relaxed evening at work. I went on my break, was happily munching on an almond Hershey bar, and for some reason started feeling all jittery. (I didn't think much of that until later, though.) I went back up to the register, where my friend was also working, and we were just chatting, talking to a customer I had just rung up, and all of a sudden I couldn't swallow and I felt like my throat was closing up. I completely freaked out, my friend called the manager and then my dad, who came and took me to the hospital. While we were waiting, I sat there on the floor, convinced that I couldn't breathe or swallow, all the while breathing (obviously) and taking small sips of water with no problem...(it was only when I tried to swallow nothing that I felt my throat "closing" but I was too freaked out to realize that at the time). They did blood, xrays, etc. and found nothing. They didn't even say anything about panic attack, but after doing some web searching I figured that's what it must have been. I've had plenty since then, but I haven't had a real attack in quite a while now. For a while, though, I couldn't get through a day at work without a Xanax (or two). And the worst part was the waiting for it to happen again. I haven't needed Xanax in years but I still take antidepressants now. And I still can't eat nuts (I had another episode about a week after the first that I associated with Peanut M&Ms and I haven't eated nuts since - there is still a part of me that is convinced they'll kill me. Sad, since I actually love them :().

It's good that your hubby does all he can to keep you relaxed and happy. However, I'm wondering if the fact that he's out of work may be weighing on you more than you realize? Or are there other stressors at work or elsewhere that you are keeping at the back of your mind? Definitely get a checkup with your doctor, but if they don't find anything wrong you might want to think about that. In the meantime, try not to dwell too much on it (easier said than done, I know).

I did a lot of research (working in a bookstore comes in real handy sometimes!) and one book I found especially helpful was Don't Panic (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9780060951603&itm=1) by R. Reid Wilson. It gives a good explanation of the effects and symptoms, and also exercises to help you deal. Anxiety problems run in my family. My cousin also recommended The Relaxation and Stress Reduction Workbook (http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbnInquiry.asp?z=y&EAN=9781572242142&itm=1), but I'm not really the type to sit and do a workbook like that.

[Geek King]

Have they checked you for chemical imbalence? If it was a panic attack, and you don't suffer from undue stress, I can only think that maybe a gland is shooting out too much (or too little!) of something. If your body thinks something is wrong, it will react reguardless of what is really going on.

Note--not a doc, just read too much. Best wishes in any event.

[AnqeiicDemise]

Well, I did have blood drawn for a thyroid test. Results won't come in for a few days.

I also have an appointment with a doctor next week for follow up and see what's going on as I've been rather emotional the last few days. (I keep thinking its the fact I didn't take my birth control like I should. I went off on it --its a 21 day pack-- and I forgot to start it again for another week. Look its a cute dog ! -bawl-

[Eireann]

You won't believe this, but I received a pattern via email (from a very kind woman of my acquaintance) for panic attacks. Yes, a pattern. You print it out and put your hand on it for as long as feels right for you. I printed it out yesterday, put my hand on it, took it home with me, and put it next to me in bed before I went to sleep.

I feel great! Want me to send it to you?