posted on December 14, 2004 07:54:00 AM new
to know your family's medical history. For awhile now, I've feared heart problems. I'd have palpitations, shakiness, shortness of breath, pains in my chest, hot flashes and more suddenly come out of the blue. Since I have no insurance and could not afford the expensive medical tests, I've been living with it. Well, while driving home after dropping my daughter at work I had a severe attack. A panic attack! All the symptoms of panic disorder hit me all at once. I thought I was going to pass out or die. I opened all the windows in the car despite it being 25 outside right now and pulled off to the side of the road. I made it home after the symptoms let up, sat down and the symptoms dissipated after about 30 minutes. I'm still shaky, but at least I feel I can breath and don't feel like the life is being choked out of me. I think the extemely bad driving conditions this morning may have brought it on. Even though I drive a Jeep and can drive well in the snow, something in my brain caused me to panic.
Anyway, I called my daughter. She was diagnosed with panic disorder and is on medication for it. I described what had happened and she said, "Welcome to my world". I had had a definite panic attack. I then called my mother because the disorder can be passed down and the disorder can come on suddenly. Turns out my father was released from the army because of "attacks" of panic. Back then it was considered nervousness or was even called nervous breakdowns. I never knew this because we've never really discussed medical problems in the family outside of Cancer. Medical conditions such as panic disorders weren't even named until more recently. Sometimes in families you will hear "Aunt So and So was a nervous Nellie". That constant nervousness could have been a panic or anxiety disorder caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain.
Now that I know what it is, I'll seek treatment in the form of acupuncture and natural supplements. My daughter is on Paxil and the side effects are more than I want at my age. But, at least I know now that my heart is not going to give out at any moment. I don't feel any easier, though, knowing an attack can come on while driving.
Learn your family medical history. It may save your life one day.
Thanks for letting me share this experience.
Cheryl
"Success in almost any field depends more on energy and drive than it does on intelligence. This explains why we have so many stupid leaders."
-Sloan Wilson
posted on December 14, 2004 08:03:46 AM new
classic
LOL, I wish! However, I did not say I feel as though the earth is moving.
Cheryl
"Success in almost any field depends more on energy and drive than it does on intelligence. This explains why we have so many stupid leaders."
-Sloan Wilson
posted on December 14, 2004 08:48:50 AM new
Cheryl, sorry to hear that!
And sorry that asphole classic is such a hate-filled MFer!
Glad to hear you've rejected the Paxil....does NOTHING for you and , you're right, has many side effects that people should be very afraid of.
40% of this country is on a drug of some sort....no wonder they voted for bush.
And it is a shame that people are still afraid to discuss an illness just because it involves the brain......I've heard women discuss their innards, telling me more than I ever wanted to know but if it was a mental illness they wouldn't have said a word.
Insurance or not , Cheryl, go to a doctor to eliminate any other causes and that's an ORDER!
posted on December 14, 2004 09:24:12 AM new
I used to have the same problems back when I was in the "rat race." Since I've been out on my own, it stopped completely.
You'd think being responsible for employees and their families would INCREASE my stress, but it had just the opposite stress. I didn't have to kiss anyone's butt, I didn't have to report to anyone, and everything got done MY way.
About that time my blood pressure went up and my hair turned gray... So I really only turned one stress-related disorder into another
--------------------------------------
Replay Media - The best source for board games, card games and miniatures on the web!
posted on December 14, 2004 09:53:20 AM new
"And sorry that asphole classic is such a hate-filled MFer!"
Crowfart-I was discussing orgasms-where is the hate in that?? I never felt hate when having an orgasm.But having sex with you, I could see that being a real posibility.
just wondering-whats an asphole?? do you talk with a lisp??
btw-whats a MFer-Im not familar with that term either.I looked it up in the dictionary and saw your picture underneath those letters,but it didnt say what it meant.
[ edited by classicrock000 on Dec 14, 2004 09:55 AM ]
posted on December 14, 2004 01:12:29 PM new
Cheryl, I've suffered from panic attacks since high school. One thing I didn't know, is that they're related to depression. Mine weren't diagnosed until I was in my 30's but there was no medication then except Valium (no thanks!)
I went to my doctor about 8 years ago for depression (too many deaths in the family) and he prescribed Paxil. I was on it for 3 years and for me, it was a wonder drug (but you NEVER EVER want sex). Getting off it is another story, so I switched to Celexa and I still take it every day. I have NO side-effects at all with Celexa and haven't suffered from any kind of depression or panic attacks since.
I think Bear was taking Celexa too and found it helped him... where are you Bear?
P.S. I thought that low serotonin levels might be caused by carbon monoxide exposure... cigarette smoke, garage attached to the house, mechanics, firemen, etc., which is why so many people are affected. I never thought of it being hereditary. (I need a new thinking cap.)
posted on December 14, 2004 01:15:47 PM new
Sorry, I forgot to add... when I had a panic attack, breathing in & out of a paper bag helped bring me out of it Cheryl. Keep one with you at all times. Also, I feel for you. I know how frightening they are and how embarrassed you feel after one. Just remember, millions suffer from this disorder.
posted on December 14, 2004 01:43:40 PM new
Classic, your breathing goes wacky in a panic attack. Sometimes you feel you can't breathe so you'll take a bunch of short breaths which makes you hyper-ventilate (too much oxygen). You start to panic even more because you think you can't breathe, so your "attack" is worsened. Breathing in & out of a paper bag gets carbon dioxide into your system fast & fixes your breathing, and usually shortens the attack.
posted on December 14, 2004 01:45:03 PM new
Classic
You tend to hyperventilate when you have an attack. What actually happens, is your body prepares for attack. It's like someone is attacking you and your body is getting it's defenses ready. Like an adeline rush.
What also helps is a breathing exercise I was told about today by one of our therapists. Sit in a quiet room. For a couple of minutes close your eyes and listen to your breathing. Then, breathing from you diaphram, inhale for 7 seconds then exhale for 11. This helps to get rid of the extra oxygen that causes the hyperventilating. Of course, when you're driving this is not recommended.
Actually, you when you hyperventilate, you feel like you can't breathe at all. It's like someone cut off your oxygen and you get dizzy and feel faint.
I never had this problem until a couple of years ago and never this bad. I noticed it started to come on during a particularly stressful job I had. Now the one I have is getting stressful as well.
I'm going to try the acupuncture on Thursday and am going to try the natural supplements first. If they don't work, then I'll go for a script.
Boy, KD, am I glad to know someone else around here has them. It is kind of rare for them to start as late in life as mine did. I suppose we're supposed to be adjusted to stress and anxiety by then. Obviously, this is an observation made by a doctor who never sold anything on eBay.
Cheryl
"Success in almost any field depends more on energy and drive than it does on intelligence. This explains why we have so many stupid leaders."
-Sloan Wilson
"Success in almost any field depends more on energy and drive than it does on intelligence. This explains why we have so many stupid leaders."
-Sloan Wilson
posted on December 14, 2004 02:03:10 PM new
You are so right about knowing your family history, Cheryl..
I was diagnosed with a heart murmur some years ago and the doctors repeatedly questioned any childhood illnesses... I told them just the usual..
Both of my parents passed away when I was quite young so I had never really discussed heath issues with them...
About a year ago.. my problem started acting up and I had to have an echo cardiogram to check out the leaky valve and when I mentioned to my sisters that I might need surgery and couldn't understand where I could have developed this problem from.. my eldest sister said out of the blue... well, it probably happened when you were a toddler and had Rheumatic Fever! Duh.. well..ya!
The doctors had asked me several time if I had had Rheumatic fever as a child...I didn't know... LOL....another puzzle solved..
Maggie..
posted on December 14, 2004 02:07:17 PM new
Wow, Maggie. Good for your sister!! Could have been much more serious. My mother has alzheimers. It's not too bad right now, but I've decided the time is right for getting all this information from her and writing it down. If not for me, for my children and brothers. Isn't it funny that most of us know our family history as far as where they may have immigrated from, but we don't know our family medical history? That's the one thing I've found that's most important to know.
Cheryl
"Success in almost any field depends more on energy and drive than it does on intelligence. This explains why we have so many stupid leaders."
-Sloan Wilson
posted on December 14, 2004 02:07:21 PM new
He means that misery loves company... in other words you were happy that someone else shared your misery.. LOL
posted on December 14, 2004 03:43:24 PM new
Cheryl, welcome to my world too. I had my first one in 1990. I thought I was dying and sort of wished that I would to get out of the misery. That went on for almost a year. Long story short, have your thyroid tested, forget Paxil (been there, done that), get on Zoloft. eMail me if you want to talk more on this.
posted on December 14, 2004 05:56:47 PM new
I'm going to urge my daughter to speak with her doctor about switching from Paxil. She absolutely dreads having to take it, but is miserable without it. Her condition is worse than mine. It's awful being 24 and having to go through this while trying to take care of a small child! I will let everyone know how the acupuncture works out. This will be my first time.
Thanks, extexbill. I'm sure I still have your email address somewhere. If not, I'll post and let you know. Mine has changed. There is now an underscore between the two words before the @. Long story - DSL provider screw up!
Cheryl
"Success in almost any field depends more on energy and drive than it does on intelligence. This explains why we have so many stupid leaders."
-Sloan Wilson
posted on December 14, 2004 06:55:49 PM new
OhMsLucy: When I had my first panic attacks, I was miserable. I was never one to be sick and I felt like I was dying after each one. After several blood tests for other problems such as anemia, low blood sugar, etc. all were negative, my doctor sent me an endocronologist. My thyroid activity was very low. After taking thyroid medication and trying Paxil, I was placed on Zoloft. I have been free of panic attacks for several years, although I still carry pills for an emergency. Thyroid imbalances can lead to depression, complete metabolism breakdown, etc. Panic attacks are a result of a brain chemistry imbalance which can be helped with treatment. Cheryl, my first attack came while I was driving. That's scary. As you know, I'm a firm believer in alternative medicine, but this is something that you really need to see an MD about. I don't know if you know, but the famous football player from my area, Earl Campbell, suffers from panic attacks. He gives talks about them. Hang in there.
posted on December 14, 2004 07:14:02 PM new
Welcome to my world, too, Cheryl. I had my first big one in all places but Las Vegas, several years ago. I was sure I was having a heart attack. I was going to tell you about the breathing exercise but see you already know. Vitiman B complex is good, too. And, tanning booths, just don't make a habit of it.
My parents are both passed away but I'm pretty sure my father had them and used alchohol to try to counteract them.
However, I did not say I feel as though the earth is moving.
