Panic Attacks...

[Xorai]

Need a little help here if anyone has or had, had them. I started feeling alot of pressure on my chest(mostly at nights)and my arm would go numb and tingly. It was hard to breathe, my heart would feel like it was beating funny. Scares the hell out of me, I always think I am about to die.

I am 25 years old and pretty healthy, even though I am a smoker and drink a few days out of the week. I end up at the doctor and she does a MRI. She comes back and says she noticed a little something on it, but nothing major, never told me. Anyway she ended up saying I have panic attacks and prescribed me xanax and zoloft.

I have taken these for about a month and it seems like the stuff doesnt happen as often as it used to, but it still does happen more than I would like. If anyone has/had them, I would like to hear what you have done to get over it.

Thanks

[Nakiro]

If its your left arm, go to the doctor as soon as possible. What you're experiencing is probably a mild heart attack.

[Xorai]

Yeah, it was my left arm. Mainly in my forearm area down to my hands. I went to the doctor though, and she prescribed me those pills. Also made me go take a cholesterol(?) test. But I figure since I have been once and got tested and told that is what it was, then no point in going back, because I have them alot and I figure it were a heart attack I would be dead by now?

No idea on this situation though. Like I said, it scares the hell out of me everytime. Even when I figure it's nothing major.

[HarmNone]

I would suggest you see an Internist. There are several things that could be happening.

What do you mean when you say your heart is "beating funny"? Does it feel like it's beating too fast, or irregularly? Have you tried to take your own pulse to find out how fast it is, or if it seems to be "skipping" beats?

On what part of your body was the MRI performed? Did you have an EKG done?

There is something known as SVT (supraventricular tachycardia) that can cause the kind of symptoms you're describing. It's not all that uncommon, even in young persons like yourself. That's why you need to see an Internist; preferably, one that specializes in Cardiology.

[Back]

Had a friend once who went to the hospital after a panic attack. I can’t tell you what to do, but I can tell you what he did that you should avoid. Smoking weed. Appearantly, he had just gotten very high, was reading a bottle of over-the-counter meds he took, and panicked when he read the ingredients. They said there was a psychosomatic affect happening there.

Just curious, is there something thats happening or that you are thinking about when this happens?

[Xorai]

It may have been an EKG, it was on the little pads they stuck everywhere on my body. It beats fast and every few minutes it feels like it double beats. I get dizzy sometimes too, but that just may be because I stand up real fast cause it gets bad.

I am not sure what I think about when they happen. It's usually at night when I am trying to go to sleep. They first started to happen when I would be alone, gf worked 7p-7a then. She is a nurse, btw. When she was there, it didn't happen as much though.

[Xorai]

No smoking the trees for me, makes me sleepy. I just drink. Doesnt happen when I am drunk though, but if it did, I probably wouldnt remember anyway.

[HarmNone]

Okay, hon. For an MRI, you'll be placed inside a tube-like thing, like a CAT scanner. The little pads, if placed on your torso, with one to each leg (possibly), are for an EKG. If the EKG showed something abnormal, you really need to see a cardiologist, or an internist who specializes in cardiology to find out what the abnormality is.

It sounds like you're having episodes of either SVT or atrial fibrillation. Either could cause the symptoms you describe and both can be treated. It's important, however, to be properly diagnosed. An assumption of "panic attacks" isn't really acceptable, in my opinion.

[Xorai]

Ok, was an EKG then. It was a bunch of those sticky pads connected to a little rolling machine. Any of those things you mentioned happen to be fatal? It is happening now, by the way. I have to take deep breaths to breathe. The more I take those the tighter my damn chest gets. My arms arent feeling anything though. It's my left foot. The top of it to my toes are feeling like needles are poking into it. I may be posting alot of stuff that doesnt even matter, just because I am focused on everything I am feeling.

Now I can breathe regular, lol...This seriously sucks. Most annoying thing I have ever experienced. I will try and get in to see a doctor today. I have crap insurance though, which sucks. If it isn't fatal and will go away on its own though, I can maybe just ride it out til it eventually quits? I have delt with it for this long.

[HarmNone]

This sounds an awful lot like SVT. It's not really fatal on its own, but it can do damage to your heart if it happens often. Same thing with atrial fibrillation.

As for going away on it's own, it won't. You'll continue to experience these events until you're properly diagnosed and treated. I understand how difficult that can be when your insurance isn't much good, but the result of doing nothing could be a whole lot worse. Get to the right doctor, hon, and get it properly diagnosed and treated. It is very important that you do so.

[Xorai]

The xanax and zoloft make me sick to my stomach also. Not worth the $110 I had to pay for them, were 3 total. Something else was an imflamator somethin(huge horse pills).

Told ya, crap insurance. That is why I would rather not have to visit the doctor if it's nothing major.

[Back]

2-3 beers a night is actually healthier for you than 6 a night or none at all.

[Xorai]

I appreciate your help with this, Harm. I can't get my friends(that I see in person) opinions on things like this, they arent that smart, especially for something like this. It makes me feel better knowing that it will go away and is nothing super major like I kept thinking in the back of my mind.

I plan on trying to get an appointment today then if it can cause major problems. I am glad I posted this, heh.

[Xorai]

Good thing to know, Backlash. I deliver Coors Light for a living, atm. I get coors light for a quarter from the coke machine at the warehouse, would be great if I liked coors.

[Brattt8525]

I wonder what it is that I have been having lately, at times it feels like my heart is racing a million miles a minute, hard to explain the feeling except to describe it that way. It makes me nervous and panicky, and sometimes I find it hard to get my breath then poof its gone. Oddest and scariest feeling to say the least.

[Jadewolff]

I'd also suggest getting a second opinion if the only thing your doctor wants to do is give you zoloft and such.

[StrayRogue]

I used to have a similar feeling about two years ago. Turns out I wasn't eating very healthily or with any sort of regularity. The same was with my sleeping pattern. As soon as I sorted those out it all went away.

[Kuyuk]

Stop playing with creepy ass spiders; case solved,



K.

[Hulkein]

Originally posted by Brattt8525
I wonder what it is that I have been having lately, at times it feels like my heart is racing a million miles a minute, hard to explain the feeling except to describe it that way. It makes me nervous and panicky, and sometimes I find it hard to get my breath then poof its gone. Oddest and scariest feeling to say the least.

I think they're called PVC's.

I get them once in a while... I hear they're relatively common.

[HarmNone]

Originally posted by Hulkein

Originally posted by Brattt8525
I wonder what it is that I have been having lately, at times it feels like my heart is racing a million miles a minute, hard to explain the feeling except to describe it that way. It makes me nervous and panicky, and sometimes I find it hard to get my breath then poof its gone. Oddest and scariest feeling to say the least.

I think they're called PVC's.

I get them once in a while... I hear they're relatively common.

A PVC is just a beat that's transmitted through an aberrant pathway. It has nothing to do with the rapidity of the heart rate. Most people don't even know when they have one. An occasional PVC isn't that uncommon, and they will not cause symptoms like shortness of breath unless they "gang up". That's really rare in young people.

Anytime you experience a rapid heart beat that results in shortness of breath, tingling or pain in extremities, feelings of pressure on the chest, or other weird syptoms, it's time to get yourself evaluated by a good internest.

[HarmNone]

Originally posted by Spidr
I appreciate your help with this, Harm. I can't get my friends(that I see in person) opinions on things like this, they arent that smart, especially for something like this. It makes me feel better knowing that it will go away and is nothing super major like I kept thinking in the back of my mind.

I plan on trying to get an appointment today then if it can cause major problems. I am glad I posted this, heh.

No problem, Spidr. Glad to help when I can. I'm glad you're going to get evaluated. You'll feel a lot better when you know what's going on instead of guessing, or thinking the worst. :)

You also might want to mention the possibility of episodes of SVT. See what the doc thinks about it.

[Edited on 3-16-2005 by HarmNone]

[Czeska]

I've dealt with Panic Disorder since before I was 10 years old. It can feel *very* much like a heart attack. The triggers can be different for different people, and generally aren't from drinking and such.
Increased anxiety, obviously. Sudden changes in routine for me is a big one. Not like OCD stuff, more like.. going away on trips.
Zoloft is not what I'd recommend. Ask the doctor about Paxil. She'll probably start you at 10 or 20mg and move you up after a few weeks if need be. Read about side effects on line. Mine were gone after 3 days.
I'm not taking it now, cause I'm trying to get pregnant again. But I swear, I wish I'd known about it years ago.

Also.. for occasional anxiety, try Bach's rescue remedy drops. It rocks. You can get it online, try www.drugstore.com.

IM me if you have other questions. It's a bitch, if panic attacks are what's going on.

[Czeska]

Another thing you might want to ask about is a thyroid scan (like an ultrasound). My aunt had severe panic attacks. She couldnt leave her house, even. After years of suffering they found some benign nodules on her thyroid (they cant be detected thru normal blood tests). They treated her with special thyroid meds, and she is about a zillion times better now.

[Hulkein]

Originally posted by HarmNone
Anytime you experience a rapid heart beat that results in shortness of breath, tingling or pain in extremities, feelings of pressure on the chest, or other weird syptoms, it's time to get yourself evaluated by a good internest.

Heh, I agree.

I got an EKG and checkup before school this year ;)

[HarmNone]

Thyroid malfunction is one of the several things that can cause similar problems, and would be evaluated by an internist. I still recommend against just assuming panic attacks at this stage of the game. Once other possible medical causes have been ruled out, that would be the next thing to look at as a possiblity.

[Sylph]

Spidr my brother has been getting them for a while...



Hes not dead yet...

[Showal]

I have dealt with panic attacks for a number of years and not to keep repeating the same information, but they can feel like a heart attack and most people report a fear of feeling like they are "about to die". The worst thing about them is they can get worse if allowed to. What I mean by that is if left untreated, they have a tendency to get either more frequent or more severe. I had several instances where I literally collapsed and went out cold for a few minutes or seconds, never really could figure out which. This part is particularly frightening because if you make long commutes and you start thinking or one is triggered for whatever reason, you could pass out while driving. What they exactly feel like and what triggers them is different for everyone. Usually the initial sensations that occur with the beginning of a panic attack only worsens the episode and can prolong it. There are a number of breathing exercises that you can do that help a lot of people, never really worked for me though.
I'm not a doctor but I think your doctor should have refered you to a psychiatrist at least to get your diagnosis. I do know that regular internal medicine doctors can be reluctant to refer people out to psychiatrists. This doesnt necessarily mean you're going to have to sit in a psychiatrists office and talk about your problems a few times a week. My experience was that I would have to go see my psychiatrist about once a month or every other month, mainly to see if I was experiencing any side effects from my medication or if I needed to change the dosage. The upset stomach is probably the most common side effect of this class of drugs but it usually lasts only for the first month. I dont agree with a doctor just handing out prescriptions for these drugs and letting you go without a follow up. I dont know if that's what your doctor did, but that's not usually the safest way. Just realize if you feel these drugs don't/stop work for you, there are many other options for medications.

Feel free to U2U me if you ever have any questions about this.

[Showal]

Sorry the above was so long.

[Hulkein]

It's like 370 words, lol.

No need to apologize, especially when it isn't that long.

[Xorai]

I couldnt get in to see my doc til Friday. I read that panic attacks make you tired after you have them, which I usually experience. It just trips me out that they last so long(if this is what it is). Some of what happens to me lasts anywhere from 10 minutes to like 2 hours.

I never thought I was afraid to die til I started having this crap.

[Ilvane]

I used to have them really bad while my father was terminally ill, and after something else bad happened to me when I was younger.

It's sometimes good to talk to someone about your attacks and what you are feeling upset about. Sometimes medicine helps too.

-A

[Kyra]

Panic attacks...I lived with them for over 2 years & have had them last for over 4-6 hours at a time.

However I did get a boatload of labs drawn BEFORE the dr. tried any kind of anti-depressants, etc...at the time I knew what I was experiencing though.

The Xanax doesn't help with the attacks? If all medical reasons are ruled out you might ask to try Klonopin, I've heard it's one of the best alternatives to Xanax.

Good luck & I would definitely get a second opinion(and labs also).

K.

[HarmNone]

Another thing I'd suggest, Spidr, is to get to an ER the next time this happens. Have someone take you to the ER while the "attack" is occurring. SVT can be difficult to diagnose because it's difficult to catch "in progress".

[peam]

I vote The Clap.

[Satira]

On a side note that isn't related to your panic attacks, if you got an MRI and the person said they saw something but it wasn't a big deal, I would truly suggest you get second MRI done by someone else.

There are plenty of conditions (unrelated to your panic attacks) that end up being overlooked in MRIs because the doctor doesn't know what they're doing, and it's just a matter of going to the right person who does knows what they're doing.

I just felt like I should say something because I've known this to happen to other people in the past.

[HarmNone]

I think we've determined that Spidr had an EKG instead of an MRI, Satira. Even so, I wouldn't want to be told that someone saw "something" in an EKG, yet not told what that "something" was. If there's an abnormality, I want a cardiologist to take a look at that abnormality with an eye to how it might be affecting me.

[Satira]

Oh sorry! I didn't notice anyone say that it was an EKG instead, but the same advice goes.

Seeing something on an EKG can be really serious. Go see someone else!

[Xorai]

First time it ever happened, I went to the ER. They ended up saying I was fine and charged me around $400. They did an EKG there too, said everything looked fine.

[Xorai]

My sausage is fine, btw.

[Souzy]

I've had a couple, but only when I'm really obliviated, lolz. I told everyone in the car I was in to STFU until we get out of the car cos it felt like they was breathing all the air and I couldn't breath. Another time is when I flipped out cos two of my friends have voices that carry and moola bass in their voice, I couldn't keep up and I flipped out on them and told them to STFU. Basically all the times I've had panic attacks is when my ADD kicks in and I can't keep up or when people start yelling over each other when we have a conversation, my heart starts beating really fast and I feel like I'm suffocated. That's when I tell everyone to STFU for a couple mins, ha. I take no meds, I just let it ride, it happens rarely.

CBT.