stressedndn
09-03-07, 10:47 AM
It was Christmas 2005. Just an "ordinary" Christmas. The next night, I had a strange feeling. I had major problems falling asleep, and when almost out I suddenly sat up wide awake gasping for air. My heart was pounding, my chest felt numb. My hands and feet tingled. I became very afraid, thinking about how overweight I am (around 40lbs) and guilty of not eating right and exercising enough --- this was it --- a heart attack. I proceeded to the phone and was about to dial 9-1-1, but get this: I was afraid to call. I felt that I would get in trouble, not be able to pay the bills, be told my situation is not serious enough, and besides that, my breathing started to subside and the horrible feeling began to go away. I would have similar, though not as severe, sensations for the next several nights. This, of course, made me worry during the day. (Keep in mind that at this point I had no idea that I was having a panic attack, and I had not yet received any education about them whatsoever.)
On New Year's Eve, I was at a public gathering to celebrate. The feelings from a few nights before, came back with a vengeance. I had trouble breathing and felt faint. I stumbled to the event announcer and asked for medical help. Someone led me to a back room, helped me lay down on padding and set my legs up on something, in an elevated position. Paramedics arrived within a couple minutes, gave me oxygen and asked me questions about my medical history, allergies, the whole drill. They took my temperature, pulse, blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and connected me up to a four point heart monitor. I was still hyperventilating and the paramedic asked me to try to relax my breathing. She assured me that nothing looked "out of normal" on their equipment or in my other vital signs but advised me to come to the hospital and see a doctor. So off I went.
In the emergency room, I was asked (basically) the same questions about my medical history, allergies, and to describe how I was feeling and how the sensation came about. I was administered a simple blood test, a urine test, temperature check, blood pressure and sugar level check (again), and then a fairly uncomfortable procedure called a "blood gas level" check. Nurses whisked down the hallway with my personal fluids, to the lab. One nurse stayed and asked me rather sternly not to take such deep breaths --- said I'd actually feel better if I didn't. So I concentrated hard and was able to start controlling my breathing. In came the doctor.
"You were not having a cardiac event," he said, "but a run-of-the-mill panic attack." In fact, my blood gasses were 99%, which impressed the doctor.
"I can guess from that reading that you do not smoke; you either never did or you have not for several years." He explained that a panic attack often comes with symptoms that are usually not physiologically harmful, but usually make the sufferer believe they are having a heart attack. Then they worry about having a heart attack, wonder, "is this the big one?" and the panic cycle just feeds and feeds on itself.
That my heart was fine, the news alone was almost an instant cure. I had not felt such a sensation for several months thereafter. And then, I remind myself to relax and remember what the doctor said. Now, the feeling usually subsides within an hour -- maybe less -- and I am able to rest.
* * * * * *
OK maybe this was long for an "introduction" but I had to get that off my chest! Thanks for enduring my seemingly endless blathering.
On New Year's Eve, I was at a public gathering to celebrate. The feelings from a few nights before, came back with a vengeance. I had trouble breathing and felt faint. I stumbled to the event announcer and asked for medical help. Someone led me to a back room, helped me lay down on padding and set my legs up on something, in an elevated position. Paramedics arrived within a couple minutes, gave me oxygen and asked me questions about my medical history, allergies, the whole drill. They took my temperature, pulse, blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and connected me up to a four point heart monitor. I was still hyperventilating and the paramedic asked me to try to relax my breathing. She assured me that nothing looked "out of normal" on their equipment or in my other vital signs but advised me to come to the hospital and see a doctor. So off I went.
In the emergency room, I was asked (basically) the same questions about my medical history, allergies, and to describe how I was feeling and how the sensation came about. I was administered a simple blood test, a urine test, temperature check, blood pressure and sugar level check (again), and then a fairly uncomfortable procedure called a "blood gas level" check. Nurses whisked down the hallway with my personal fluids, to the lab. One nurse stayed and asked me rather sternly not to take such deep breaths --- said I'd actually feel better if I didn't. So I concentrated hard and was able to start controlling my breathing. In came the doctor.
"You were not having a cardiac event," he said, "but a run-of-the-mill panic attack." In fact, my blood gasses were 99%, which impressed the doctor.
"I can guess from that reading that you do not smoke; you either never did or you have not for several years." He explained that a panic attack often comes with symptoms that are usually not physiologically harmful, but usually make the sufferer believe they are having a heart attack. Then they worry about having a heart attack, wonder, "is this the big one?" and the panic cycle just feeds and feeds on itself.
That my heart was fine, the news alone was almost an instant cure. I had not felt such a sensation for several months thereafter. And then, I remind myself to relax and remember what the doctor said. Now, the feeling usually subsides within an hour -- maybe less -- and I am able to rest.
* * * * * *
OK maybe this was long for an "introduction" but I had to get that off my chest! Thanks for enduring my seemingly endless blathering.
