Ongoing Severe Panic Attack??? Help.
Posted , 5 users are following.
Suddenly around 2 weeks ago I started getting severe symptoms. I was actually already in the hospital for something else when I felt like I couldn't breathe and that I was dying. They assured me that I was breathing fine and just felt that I wasn't. They said it was a symptom of benadryl that they had just pushed into my IV and that the symptoms would go away. They did after around half an hour, and around an hour later they came back again. They assured me again that I was okay and I was sent home. The next day, the symptoms were gone when I woke up bit around half an hour later they all crashed back and progressively got worse during the day. They got so bad that I called an ambulance. Where they told me that I was breathing fine. I was admitted into the hospital for 4 days so they could observe me. They tested everything they could think of. I had an EKG, EEG, xray of my chest, two sets of bloodwork, urine testing, and my oxygen levels were constantly monitored. They found literally nothing wrong with me and put it off as panic attacks, letting me go.
After I was let go it took 2ish days but my symptoms calmed down. I wasn't feeling like I was dying and my brain was going dead, but I was having shortness of breath. All of a sudden 3 days ago I started struggling with swallowing as well, which was never happening before. I can swallow water fine but struggle to swallow small bits of food and struggle a lot with swallowing saliva. I've gone to the hospital twice in the matter of two days because it's been terrifying me, and again, they can't find anything and are passing it off as panic attacks.
I'm home again now and it's just terrifying. My breathing is being awful and so is my swallowing and I'm lightheaded, and I'm just entirely horrified and feel like I'm going to die.
It gets worse when I eat or drink anything, I get severely lightheaded.
I've lived with anxiety for years and this has never happened to me, no panic attacks I've ever had have been this severe or lasted nearly this long, it's been 2 weeks!
A few years ago I would invite this on myself. Not now. I don't want to die. Am I dying? Does anyone else have this? Please help me. Any answers are welcome.
*P.S., when I have extreme trouble swallowing or breathing I get, I guess, severely lightheaded and very all of a sudden? It literally feels like all of a sudden my brain is shutting down very quickly and I'm going to drop. It's hard to keep my head up and it feels like I'm literally shutting down. It's hard to explain, I'm hoping somebody understands what I mean.
0 likes, 5 replies
al-pk9 connor.anxious
Posted
Hey Connor,
You've lived with anxiety for so long it is has developed into panic attacks. Mine were severe too and there is nothing you list here that is not a symptom, you fear It, but you shouldn't. Completely harmless and just adrenaline. The last attack I had was induced by sertraline 3 weeks ago after years without one and I haven't been right since. However I'm recovering. You simply need to recognise a panic attack for what it is and deal with the underlying cause - anxiety and mental tiredness. I've been through it all mate, and I'm here of you need to discuss.
connor.anxious al-pk9
Posted
Would they last for this long though? It's been ages. And everything I've read on them says that they only last for a few hours at the most. I am terrified. Why is it ongoing if it's just attacks?
And why are the symptoms so severe?
It literally feels as if my brain is shutting down or even my heart stopping and I just can't handle it, I'm fearing death like mad.
I thought that panic attacks were quick things but now it's been a long time.
al-pk9 connor.anxious
Posted
After a bad panic attack which you're not used to your brain becomes hypervigilant and i imagine you are constantly replaying these sensations in your mind. Because it's traumatic the sensation lingers. Like you, I feared it for a long time so it stuck around for a long time also. I learned to not do this and now it doesn't behave the same way. You're going to be absolutely fine mate but your nerves are fried and need a rest.
You're feeling like you're dying because panic is a very deliberate fear response that makes you fear dying, you're not.
The way to recover from this:
Accept what is happening to you is a harmless physiological malfunction
Don't try to run away from the sensations, but take a 'whatever' approach to their presence - no matter how all-consuming it may feel it's just nervous energy looking for an outlet - fear keeps it going.
Drink water, exercise moderately and get enough sleep.
Resume your interests.
Avoid pointless stressors for the time being
Al
chandra57367 connor.anxious
Posted
Sorry you are going through this. When you have trouble swallowing do you feel a lump feeling in your throat as well or you just can’t swallow? I have had a lump feeling for a few months and it’s getting worse and make me not want to eat.
borderriever connor.anxious
Posted
Your GP will eventually get reports of your stay in hospital and all the procedures they have undertaken. Phone up the practice and make an appointment, say in three weeks, by this time your GP will have all your reports and you can then discuss the problems you have been having.
All sounds like Anxiety or Stress, you need answers and as described they are in short supply, Your GP will discuss all findings with you.
One thing you could do is register with reception in Hospital to get a written copy of your results, you only need to ask once and you will get copies every time you go to hospital. The letter will be the same as the one the Doctor gets. When you get results you will know the GP has the same correspondence as you, make your appointment and you can discuss the hospital findings. It is to late for a copy now. You need to ask if you have tests in the future.
BOB