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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Mattius on March 8, 2002, at 20:44:15
Please help me, somone!
i thought i was having a heart attack, clicking noises in chest, local pain around heart and one lung, irregular beat, faint, dizzy, tingling in fingers and cold skin.
ive been reading about panic attacks, and considering the changes and stresses in my life i think i may have some sort of panic disorder.i came off a mild cocaine habit about 6 months ago, and smoke cannabis 1-2 times a week. i also binge on alcahol once every couple of weeks.im also selling my house and changing jobs at the moment. some friends and reletives have died recently.
i have had to grow up hard and fast recently.
my biggest worry is that my attacks last between 4 hours and 4 days at a time.i dont think i have a heart problem, as exercise during the attacks does not make them any worse-they are just as bad when im watching tv, or running. and if i strech my chest, and breathe slowly,it can relive me for a while.
my first attack lasted only a few minits, but my last one lasted a few days. during this last attack, i went drinking with some friends, and "forgott" about my pains. but the pains were back when i woke up the next morning.
can a panic attack last this long? or do i have a valve defect or somthing?
i won't embark on a zombifying course of prozac & diazipam, i used to take all that stuff when i was younger and stupid(er).
please help somone!!!
matt.
Posted by JohnX2 on March 8, 2002, at 21:27:26
In reply to panic attack or what?, posted by Mattius on March 8, 2002, at 20:44:15
Hi there,
I'm not a doctor, but it sounds like you are having
panic attacks. I had these for a week and it was awful!
Frankly the medicine for me was better than the attacks.The attacks for me were episodic (linked to a stressful
event, as you are under a lot of stress too) and went away
as I changed life style. Dropped booze, more excersize,
good psychiatric counseling, medicine, good stress management, etc.What I may do is get into see a GP and have a check up.
At least set your mind at ease about the heart thing.
Panic attack is almost always confused at 1st for a heart
problem. Probably the doctor will say you are having
panic attacks (especially if your family history points
to this).>
> i won't embark on a zombifying course of prozac & diazipam, i used to take all that stuff when i was younger and stupid(er).
>Can you give us some insight on this statement? In seems to point to
some prior history to depression or anxiety that you maybe didn't care for
the treatment?Maybe this time the treatment can take a better route.
A lot of time people do better the 2nd time around.It seems you are under a lot of stress. Why do you feel you were younger
and stupider when you were receiving treatment for a problem in the past?I'm glad you have conquered some of your
drug abuse issues, and I am very sorry about your family grief,
I hope you can get in to seek more professional care.please take care.
-John
Posted by Mattius on March 8, 2002, at 21:52:56
In reply to Re: panic attack or what? » Mattius, posted by JohnX2 on March 8, 2002, at 21:27:26
thank very much for the reply.
>
> Can you give us some insight on this statement? In seems to point to
> some prior history to depression or anxiety that you maybe didn't care for
> the treatment?sorry i didnt say what i ment very well!
these wern't perscribed.....just taken for fun and after bad experiences, id rather go down the meditation/natural remedy route if its at all possible. i dont like playing with chemistry anymore.i guess your right...i should bite the bullet and see my doc. i just hope its not a tumor or heart disease, if it is, id rather not know!
Posted by JohnX2 on March 8, 2002, at 23:00:37
In reply to Re: panic attack or what? » JohnX2, posted by Mattius on March 8, 2002, at 21:52:56
Therapy/meditation/excercise for panic attacks can be very effective.
Seeing the doctor to get the monkey off your back regarding the
rest of your health will be a BIG RELIEF, you don't want that hanging
over your head, trust me. I also had a friend with
panic attacks who thought he was having heart trouble, crud
he's only 27, I told him to see my GP immediately, he was
really anxious, but when the GP said he was completely healthy
he was sooooo relieved.Please address your alcohol issue as best you can.
Alcohol can be self medication of an anxiety issue
and will exacerbate the panic. Sorry don't mean
to sound preachy. I used to drink a lot too.Best Wishes,
John> sorry i didnt say what i ment very well!
> these wern't perscribed.....just taken for fun and after bad experiences, id rather go down the meditation/natural remedy route if its at all possible. i dont like playing with chemistry anymore.
>
> i guess your right...i should bite the bullet and see my doc. i just hope its not a tumor or heart disease, if it is, id rather not know!
Posted by Bookgurl99 on March 9, 2002, at 0:07:29
In reply to Re: panic attack or what? » Mattius, posted by JohnX2 on March 8, 2002, at 23:00:37
I know that for me, these come on more when I'm stressed out in general and have been drinking a lot of coffee. You may want to pay attention to what you've been eating/drinking to see if there's caffeine in it.
Even cutting down a little on caffeine and drinking more water helps.
I'd also suggest something that will not mess with your mind -- taking 1,000 mg of a calcium/magnesium/zinc supplement at night before bed. This stuff is so legal you can get it at Wal-Mart. These vitamins are relaxing to your nerves and help you think more clearly.
Good luck!
Elisa
Posted by Mattius on March 9, 2002, at 7:02:15
In reply to Re: panic attack or what?, posted by Bookgurl99 on March 9, 2002, at 0:07:29
Thanks you two.
the caffine & alcahol thing makes a lot of sense.
ironicly, it just so happens that i drink vast ammounts of coke with my vodka. dur!the mineral suppliments bookgurl suggested sound like the kind of thing im looking for.
im getting a gp appointment next week like you suggest, and i will let you know the results.
thankyou both, your an enormous help and reasurance.
matt
Posted by beardedlady on March 9, 2002, at 7:36:30
In reply to Re: panic attack or what?, posted by Mattius on March 9, 2002, at 7:02:15
I started having panic at night before bed because I would just lie there and not sleep all night (I started taking phentermine to lose weight, since my daughter had just stopped nursing cold turkey after my father-in-law's funeral, which was after my husband lost his job, which was after my dog and grandmother died, which was two months after my daughter was born). Phew!
I was prescribed things that didn't work and then Serzone. Three years later, I'm still on Serzone and don't panic as much, though sometimes there's some breakthrough panic associated with stress issues. Six months ago, I drove myself to the hospital while on the way to my doctor to see him about an asthma attack (I don't have asthma) I might have had the previous day (related to some adhesives I was using in a five-week art project). I thought I was having a heart attack. My left hand went numb and tingly, my shoulder hurt, and my heart was beating at 120 (my normal rate is 55, and my blood pressure is 90/55).
I had an EKG and chest x-rays; both were fine. But I felt like an idiot when the doc handed me two info sheets upon my checkout--one on chemical bronchitis, the other on panic disorder.
Now, when I think I am having a heart attack, I know I am usually not, but I also worry that one day it will be one!
Anyway, the calcium/magnesium thing is a great (I'm starting that tonight) idea. A B complex, which I've just begun this week, is also a good idea, as it helps keep stress in check. I had to give up caffeine due to migraines, so the B vitamins are also good for giving me energy. (Yes, give up the caffeine. It makes panic worse and sometimes fools your body into thinking you're panicking when you're not, and you start to panic.)
Okay, bye.
beardy : )>
Posted by JohnX2 on March 9, 2002, at 19:59:17
In reply to Re: panic attack or what? » Mattius, posted by beardedlady on March 9, 2002, at 7:36:30
Mattius,
If you aren't getting a good diet, another
good supplement to take that has been shown
to improve brain/body function is Flax Seed Oil. A lot of
people who eat really crappy diets and drink
a lot don't get certain types of "good" fats that are
critical for "lubing" up the brain and body. Usually these
fats are found in fish and nuts. If your diet is
McDonalds, Pizza, Wendy's and beer like mine is
sometimes, then taking 1-2 tablespoons a day
of a good cold-pressed Flaxseed oil (I use
brand called "Spectrum"), will help out your
health in a number of ways over a number of weeks.You can find a good health food store (not a GNC).
One with a good refrigerator that has the oil
in a bottle (cold pressed). The pill forms are
inferior in my opinion. Take this (1-2 tablespoon) with a good
multivitamin and possibly the multi-mineral (don't
overload on minerals they are toxic then), and
this will help replenish nutrients to your brain.
Generally if you just eat a GOOD diet and excercise,
then these precautions are not necessary. But if
you are like me.. maybe good to take precaustions.
Excersize and activities to reduce stress are the
other keys (duh, no braineer).I haven't really found much beyond these suggestions
suggestions to help mental health besides prescription
pharmaceuticals and therapy. SAM-E has few side
effects and has been recommended for depression but
I'm not sure if it is good for panic. Looking to much more
deeply into things can cause anxiety (just my opinion).Best wishes. Please take care.
-John
> I started having panic at night before bed because I would just lie there and not sleep all night (I started taking phentermine to lose weight, since my daughter had just stopped nursing cold turkey after my father-in-law's funeral, which was after my husband lost his job, which was after my dog and grandmother died, which was two months after my daughter was born). Phew!
>
> I was prescribed things that didn't work and then Serzone. Three years later, I'm still on Serzone and don't panic as much, though sometimes there's some breakthrough panic associated with stress issues. Six months ago, I drove myself to the hospital while on the way to my doctor to see him about an asthma attack (I don't have asthma) I might have had the previous day (related to some adhesives I was using in a five-week art project). I thought I was having a heart attack. My left hand went numb and tingly, my shoulder hurt, and my heart was beating at 120 (my normal rate is 55, and my blood pressure is 90/55).
>
> I had an EKG and chest x-rays; both were fine. But I felt like an idiot when the doc handed me two info sheets upon my checkout--one on chemical bronchitis, the other on panic disorder.
>
> Now, when I think I am having a heart attack, I know I am usually not, but I also worry that one day it will be one!
>
> Anyway, the calcium/magnesium thing is a great (I'm starting that tonight) idea. A B complex, which I've just begun this week, is also a good idea, as it helps keep stress in check. I had to give up caffeine due to migraines, so the B vitamins are also good for giving me energy. (Yes, give up the caffeine. It makes panic worse and sometimes fools your body into thinking you're panicking when you're not, and you start to panic.)
>
> Okay, bye.
>
> beardy : )>
This is the end of the thread.
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