Panic attacks and COPD

Larry:

Almost feeling somewhat ashamed to tell you tihs, however, I believe in being honest, so I will give you an honest answer to your post.  I am more of a "stick your head in the sand" type of person when dealing with my COPD, ie. I quit smoking and that was a huge struggle for me, but I did it.  I still have cravings, but sure they will pass in time.  Most people on this forum seem to be able to just quit, cold turkey.  That isn't how it went for me, had to have patches, a nicotine inhaler and God knows what in order to quit.

Now the stick my head in the sand part of my story; I have no idea what my reading are and I don't want to know.  My doctor knows, I don't.  He monitors me, well it's actually another doctors that does the spirometry (sp?)  testing and I don't receive the results, because I don't want to know.  They know. 

I walk everyday, not always a long distance, sometimes for only about 10 mins.  I live in Canada so walking is dependent on the weather on any given day.  I try to eat real food, not processed garbage and I try to eat fish once or twice a week, hardly any red meat.  Anyway.  I am now rambling and will end this.  Sorry that I can't provide you with more factual info regarding COPD, there are other people on this forum that are far more knowledgeable and experienced with COPD than me.  They are good people and their posts are always interesting and informative.  You are welcome Larry.

Jude, and many other people on here, are very experienced and knowledgeable about COPD.  Jude just reminded me that I should be doing my breathing exercises and also meditation breathing, not the way she worded it exactly.  It does help a lot.  You can see how to do these exercises on Youtube, found several videos on there relating to the breathing exercises.  It's not the end of the world, it's just a slightly different world when dealing with COPD. 

We're all different in how we respond to illness and treatment:  personally I like to have as much control as I can over my health and to do that I do ask lots of questions of doctors and nurses, most of whom respond favourably or I go elsewhere.

Regarding the smoking, I certainly haven't gained the impression from this forum that most people quit easily cold turkey, quite the contrary.   I gave up hundreds of times over the more than 40 years I smoked, for varying lengths of time and didn't find the final giving up at all easy (before I was diagnosed with COPD, by the way) but it was worth it, both in terms of my health and financially.   Plus my concern for the environment (tobacco growing uses heaps of dangerous chemicals) and for the poverty stricken people in the countries where it's grown.

So ...... I guess the point I'm trying to make is that no-one has it easy either with COPD or giving up smoking and I congratulate you for quitting.    We all do the best we can, eh?

We do Jude, ie. all try the best we can.  One foot in front of the other and keep on walking is the way some of my days go!  Guess I just happened to read posts from people that seemed to have had no problem with quitting the cigs., as I said quitting for me was not an easy ride, but then nothing in this life that's worth doing is.

Thanks for this Jude.  I do try to do breathing exercises and meditation breathing, not daily though.  I am going to make an effort to do the breathing everyday at a specific time.   

That's an excellent idea:  I've found even 15 mins of meditation once a day can make a huge difference to  my general wellbeing, especially anxiety from PSTD, and if I miss my breathing, walking and other exercises for more than a day or two I really notice the difference in my breathing and energy levels.

Creating a habit which is really about caring for yourself no matter what else is going on in your life is a good thing to do:  I really can't recommend it too highly.

 

Will do Jude.  I know it does make a difference.  I have a video that I watch and I do the breathing while watching it.  Thanks Jude.

You're welcome Terri, take care of yourself

Thanks.  You too Jude.

Thanks so much hypercat for your words of wisdom.  This site is what helped me a few hours ago to come out of the panic attack.  There was no one to talk to, but just typing and relaxing, or trying to, really helped me.  I am going to make a point of doing the breathing exercises on a daily basis, should have been doing that anyway.  Hopefully it will become a habit and part of my daily regime.  It scares me somewhat when I have to use my inhaler, Ventolin , like you more than once or twice a day.  Today I've had to use it 3 times.  I can get a little bitchy at times and make some never very pleasant comments on this forum, however, I have now come to the realization that this site has done more for me than the doctors have.  Thanks again and please take care of yourself.  Helps so much to know that other people are going through the exact same thing.  x

I'd strongly suggest you buy yourself a spacer for our ventolin:  we were told at rehab that the percentage of the product which actually gets into your lungs is minimal compared to when using a spacer, so I reckon it'd be worth a try.   Apparently without one a fair proportion just goes into your digestive system rather than your bronchial tubes and lungs

Hey Terri

Jude's right, we didn't all have an easy time quitting cigs. Like you I needed everything under the sun. When that didn't work, I had to fall back on faith and that worked for me tho it's not everyone's preference. After quitting, reminding myself several times weekly how thankful I was to be rid of smoking was helpful. I probably only think that once or twice a month now, 5 wks or so short of 9 yrs. One day you'll find yourself in a store and think, "Oh yeah, I used to always have to buy cigarettes on shopping trips - and I don't have to do that any more!," and you will be so happy when that happens.

Stop me if I've mentioned this before (tee hee) but another trick for both panic and breathing /coughing attacks is to focus on inhaling through your nose rather than your mouth. This too shifts your focus from the attack to something positive for you.

I don't get all of the med info either. I've had so many major surgeries, I used to demand all the info. No more. Now it's like the news & papers: too much negative, I can't handle it any more. I do my meds and if something comes up I go see the gp as I'm becoming less and less fond of specialists. But I'll have to let them take a look at my lung function pretty soon, am feeling like I need a suction machine at home so it's time.

Meanwhile your island sounds heavenly.

Not sure whether to say I'm glad to hear people had problems and it wasn't just me with respect to quittin smoking, or sorry to hear you had trouble too!

Another benefit is the money saved not buying cigs,, they are $14/cdn. for a pack of 20 here now, that is for "premium cigs". 

Thanks for reminding me about the breathing when having a panic attack.  As I said I hadn't had one for months and I hope to continue on that trend again, starting today.

Think we just might be in the minority with regards to not wanting to have all of the info re COPD.  I definitely need and want all the relevant information when it comes to meds. as I can't tolerate most of them.  When it comes to my spirometry test results, I don't want to know.  Figure the doc. will let me know if he thinks I need to know. 

Take care and thanks for your message.

Agreed jude about the spacer, I only use it with ventolin when I have a cold, or chest infection, but I always use it with my steroid inhaler daily.

terri

Good advice regarding the breathing, laying down doing diaphragm breathing to calm and relax, with calming music on in the background.

If panic occurs when out walking focus on pursed lip breathing.

V

 

Thanks Vee.  Usually I turn around and go home if I feel a panic attack coming on, although, as I've said haven't had one for months and months, just came on yesterday from out of no where.  Stress, sure it's to do with that.  Take care Vee

I have PTSD, don't think the attacks are anything to do with that though? Don't know.  Someone else on here had mentioned they have PTSD also, used to wreak havoc with my life but not anymore, thankfully.  x

Stress likely, getting into a routine of doing it every day same time is bound to help you at those times you feel you are under a lot of stress.

v

Anxiety attacks are fairly common with PTSD, that's why I started meditating again after some years, on my sexual assault counsellor's suggestion

I have PTSD several times over but I don't have panic attacks per se tho many do. I do become extremely anxious around pit bulls, ditto if my dog is with me and any other dog is loose. Most recent PTSD had to do with attack by loose pittie, but you probably guessed that.

Strange that you should bring up pit bulls.  I have a tenant in a suite downstairs in my house, he has recently moved in his sister, her boyfriend and a pit bull puppy!  Like you, I am deathly afraid of them.  Usually it's the owners not the dog that's the problem.  I am now in the process of evicting them.  Love animals in general, dogs included, but he signed a tenancy agreement that clearly states the suite is rented to him with no pets allowed.  I used to get very nervous when walking my dog also, I would try and get away from a loose dog "just in case"!  thanks for your message.

Point taken Jude.  Not going to go into why I have PTSD, one reason is the same as you, I too have seen sexual assault counsellors.  Thanks Jude.

Going to do that Vee, today I've been running around like a chicken with my head cut off sorting, or attempting to sort, various things out that are going on at the moment.  Thanks.

Any reason why you don't use it all the time to get the full effect of the medication?

You are very welcome terri.   I must admit as I have such a relatively high lung function I never thought I would end up having a panic attack like this.  I had seen many others go through it and now I understand completely. 

I have learned most of what I know on the British Lung Foundation as I found that site first.   It's also good on there coz it's not just about lungs.  We recognise that other things are important too so we also have a good laugh about all sorts of things.  Although it is a British site there are many foreign nationals on there and everyone is very welcome.   x

Sorry you went through a panic attack hypercat, they are awful.  People on this forum did suggest a lot of things to do to prevent an attack and what to do if I'm having one.  Very helpful.  This British site is far superior to any other site I've found on COPD, ie. the Canadian one sucks unfortunately, it's difficult to navigate.  My adoptive Mom was from England and my ex was from Bournemouth.  Spent a lot of time in the UK and spent the first few years of school in the UK.  I like it.  x

Well I must admit Terri even though I slag off my own country I am very grateful I do live in Britain,  especially when I hear such horror stories of other countries.   I am very glad of the NHS as all my meds are free and theortically no one dies because of lack of money.  x

That alone is a great thing, ie. free meds under the NHS.  A lot of people here have a choice between eating or their meds, far from an ideal sitiuation.  x

I agree.  Well they are not free in the sense that everyone in England (not Wales,  Scotland or NI) pays prescription charges at over £8 per item.  However if you are on benefits or 60 or over you don't pay for prescriptions any more.  If on a low income you can get help towards the costs.  Those who do can get a yearly prescription costing £104 which is worth it if you have more than 1 item per month.   It is still a lot cheaper than having to pay for the cost of the medicine I guess. 

If you are in hospital all treatment and medicines are free.   Doctors visits are free as well.   We do better than the vast majority of countries. 

Mind you if you are working you pay a monthly amount called National Insurance and this goes towards the NHS too.  This is as well as income tax.   x

Yes, in British Columbia, we pay monthly for services, or the lack thereof!

It's called the Medical Services Plan of B.C.  I still had to pay it even though I didn't have a doctor for a couple of years!  There is a plan called Pharmacare, you keep track of all your prescriptions for the year and it has tot total over a certain amount and then I believe you get a % back at the end of the year.  As I am only on one med. or one inhaler to be precise, I don't qualify.  x

No-one should be faced with that choice!   I'm so grateful I live in Australia where the public health system is far from perfect but apparently one of the best in the world

In Australia it's AU$6.20 for nearly all prescriptions if you're on government benefits and there's a safety net of (I think) AU$100 a year and everything after that is free.    Most gp's are free, but not specialists unless you wait for ages to see one in the public hospital system:  some will bulk bill to Medicare if you ask them to, but they hate doing it, because they're so greedy.

The Medicare system is funded by a levy on wages on top of income tax.