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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by kjm on July 14, 2005, at 9:36:57
I have been suffering from panic attacks so severe that I actually went to the ER and they admitted me for 2 days for tests. I know alot of people go to the ER for this but I have not been to a doctor willingly in about 6 years. I have been battling these attacks for about 4 months now and I had to quit my job yesterday due to the fact I would suffer from 5-10 attacks while at work everyday.
I am also having problems eating and swallowing food, I have limited myself to only eating food that is very moist such as fruit and soup. It is getting out of control. Xanax and buspar were prescribed by the ER but those do not stop or help the attacks whatsoever. plus I am having sharp pains around my heart during the attacks and even the day after severe attacks. I am only 30 years old and I have never experienced this before 4 months ago. Is there anyone out there that can help or offer suggestions or who has went through this before ?Thank you first time poster and I love this site its bookmarked as of today :)
Posted by cherylann on July 14, 2005, at 10:23:11
In reply to Panic disorder need help please, posted by kjm on July 14, 2005, at 9:36:57
The same thing happened to me when I was in my 30's. I understand how you feel and know how dibilitating it can be.
I almost quit my job when the panic attacks started, but found a doc who understood what was going on. He ended up putting me on an AD, which saved my life.
If the xanax and buspar (isn't that a stimulant?) aren't helping you, then you need to get something else. I use klonopin. Doesn't give me a high, just levels me out and takes the panic away.
In my experience, if stimulants, like coffee etc make you panic more, then you might try a sedating AD, like a tricyclic. Ask you doctor and make sure you're telling him/her everything you're feeling.
A little trick I use when I feel the panic coming on is thinking of one short phrase, like "white cotton". Keep repeating it over and over, thinking of nothing else. You can find your own phrase that works for you.
Panic attacks are horrible, but they can't and won't last forever. Call you doctor!
best wishes
cherylann
Posted by rjlockhart98 on July 14, 2005, at 10:36:27
In reply to Panic disorder need help please, posted by kjm on July 14, 2005, at 9:36:57
ok,
I know what your talking about with Chest hurts, it feels as if its bruised. I thought there was heart damage, i got crazy, my vains are turing blue.
10 panic attacks, my goodness! a day. You want to go into somesort of hostital for a while, they have the medications to treat severe symptoms. Not Xanax. Pentobarbital may be used for a temporary period, during a rough attack.
I im sorry you lost your job. THis needs to be taken care of. I take Clonazepam 4mg daily. And also Restoril 30mg at night.
If you have read my posts before i suffer have suffered from anxiety bad. find some on the psychobabble post searcher.
get better, i am getting better which i thought i was going losing my mind for a period of 5 months. I went a mental ward to get eveuated, i was a afraid i had schizophrenia. The evauator of the state of Texas told me numerous times i was not insane, more symptoms of severe anxiety with some evidence of hypomania.
ok, be brave,
Posted by portage on July 14, 2005, at 12:30:36
In reply to Panic disorder need help please, posted by kjm on July 14, 2005, at 9:36:57
> I have been suffering from panic attacks so severe that I actually went to the ER and they admitted me for 2 days for tests. I know alot of people go to the ER for this but I have not been to a doctor willingly in about 6 years. I have been battling these attacks for about 4 months now and I had to quit my job yesterday due to the fact I would suffer from 5-10 attacks while at work everyday.
> I am also having problems eating and swallowing food, I have limited myself to only eating food that is very moist such as fruit and soup. It is getting out of control. Xanax and buspar were prescribed by the ER but those do not stop or help the attacks whatsoever. plus I am having sharp pains around my heart during the attacks and even the day after severe attacks. I am only 30 years old and I have never experienced this before 4 months ago. Is there anyone out there that can help or offer suggestions or who has went through this before ?
>
> Thank you first time poster and I love this site its bookmarked as of today :)
can i ask what your panic symptoms are? how do you feel just as an attack is beginning, and how long does it last?
i dont have chest pain or sweating or trouble breathing.in the days after a bad attack i have trouble eating or using my body in any way, because everything feels so intense and as if its moving in slow-motion.
is that why you have trouble swallowing food?
zoloft is helping me a lot with anxiety.
xanax is all that works for the panic, but it often doesnt prevent attacks, because they happen so suddenly and the xanax takes too long to kick in.i've been really really depressed before, and i always thought that depresion was the cruelest most hellish thing one could experience. i thought i knew what pain was. but after i had a panic attack i realized i had no idea.
i never knew anyone could feel so terrified.
it does get better though, for long stretches of time, and there are many people who have one or more panic attacks who never have any again. so hang in there.
i'm sorry. no one should have to go though this.
ciao
portage
Posted by kjm on July 14, 2005, at 13:24:07
In reply to Re: Panic disorder need help please, posted by portage on July 14, 2005, at 12:30:36
Thank you all for the support and encouraging ideas for medication.
This is how the panic attack sets itself. Im driving to work its about a 30 minute drive. I have great hopes for the day to be panic free then BOOOOOMMMMMMMM my heart skips a beat, Breathing becomes a little irregular, mind begins to worry about a panic attack coming, light headed, faint, taking deap breathes feeling like I am going to hyperventilate. I try to calm myself down but it doesnt work. The more severe ones cause me to go into a state of vertigo and nearly pass out with sharp pin like chest pains around or near my heart with a racing heartbeat.
Then when its over your body goes through little panic attacks all day long. Its like a HUGE earthquake and then the aftershocks ride out all day long.
It sucks so bad. Im not out of shape in fact I work out daily and was just getting ready to join the police academy so this makes it that much harder to deal with putting my dreams on hold !!!thanks for the tips everyone
Posted by rjlockhart98 on July 14, 2005, at 13:53:50
In reply to Re: Panic disorder need help please, posted by kjm on July 14, 2005, at 13:24:07
My panic symptoms when i used to work for a law firm, when i would get out of the car, i was VERY lightheaded and i felt i lost it. Your symtoms sound more psychical than mine where.
This sounds serious 10 panics a day, goodness i would be in a mental ward a coulple of days.
Listen, talk to your doctor about a hostiptal may be referred to for these severe panic symptoms.
Gosh, being in the police force with this condition, being on the patrol team i do not belive they would let you becuase you may pass out!
I am recovering little by little, there happening less, less mental instability. I have been praying also to be healed.
If Xanax is not taking care of these conditions, a more potent medication may be required.
Pentobarbital is potent CNS depressant, slows everything.. RARELY ever used, mostly in hostiptals for extreme agitation. THis may knock them out while you recover. But the doctors still know what is best.
I truly hope this will stop, i know what it feels like being lost in a panic trap.
Get better and be brave.
matt
Posted by Phillipa on July 14, 2005, at 20:01:52
In reply to Re: Panic disorder need help please, posted by rjlockhart98 on July 14, 2005, at 13:53:50
kjm, I know what you mean. Xanax used to work for me. Years ago when I had my first one valium did the trick. Had to take it along with meprobomate. I was much younger and it worked. But needed it on a regular basis. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by flmm on July 14, 2005, at 21:04:39
In reply to Re: Panic disorder need help please, posted by Phillipa on July 14, 2005, at 20:01:52
Benzos work for the short haul, but ssri meds work much better over the long haul, without the depression benzos give. That is why docs prescibe them. Benzos, until ssri meds kick in, once they started working I never had another panic attack!Benzos leave you way more apethetic than any ssri!
Posted by flmm on July 14, 2005, at 21:08:23
In reply to Re: Panic disorder need help please, posted by flmm on July 14, 2005, at 21:04:39
As a matter of fact, I never took any antidepressent except wellbutrin or buspar, that was not effective for panic.Now when it comes to depression, that is another thing! Lexapro was the best as far as overall benifit to side effect. Best to stay with that or maybe zoloft.
Posted by flmm on July 14, 2005, at 21:19:56
In reply to Re: Panic disorder need help please ps, posted by flmm on July 14, 2005, at 21:08:23
By the way Kim, My symptoms started excactly like yours and got worse and worse. Could barely leave the house. SSRI meds are EXTREMELY effective for panic. I have been on them for years and never even think about them anymore. Do not play with benzos!
Posted by squaw16 on July 17, 2005, at 15:49:08
In reply to Re: Panic disorder need help please ps, posted by flmm on July 14, 2005, at 21:19:56
I know what you're going through - I used to have panic attacks so bad I couldn't leave the house. I couldn't go over a bridge because I was convinced it would give way under me. Zoloft is approved for treating anxiety, so I would go with an anti-depressant like that. SSRI's take up to 6 weeks to kick in, so your doctor may give you some other meds to help mellow you out meantime - my pdoc gave me klonipin (a benzo) and Restoril to help me sleep, but I understand this is just til the SSRI kicks in. Hope this helped - I know others have given you pretty much the same message - and good luck
squaw16
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