Some help
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| Fri, 07-01-2005 - 7:47pm |
So long story short.....about 6 weeks ago i had my fisrt attack. I was convinced I was having a heart attack. I am sure most of you have been there. I called 911 thinking I was going to die before I hit 30. I was given an EKG and told it was anxiety. Went to my Dr. the next day and he told me that it is genetic and if I had another one I was to come back and he was going to "give me something". I was CONVINCED it was a medical problem.
I went to a chiropractor who told me that it was my cortisol levels and not psychological and when I got that under control i would be cured.
Two more urgent care visits and a few more EKG's later I was told by one doc I had acid reflux. Another doc said that it was anxiety and I should see a woman doctor who would be more compassionate toward my "situation" I was then diagnosed with cosocondritis (sp?) which is an inflamation right at the ribs and sternum. Although no one knows how you get it but one doc thought it was from the frequent panic attacks that just wore me out.
I started seeing a therapist which did not work out because she wanted to discuss my childhood-she never focused on the fact that a close relative just passed, I started my own business, I am a newleywed and we are trying to buy a new house.
I have then found another therapist and I will see a psychologist for the fisrt time this week.
I have also found an excellent doctor who ran a full panel blood test along with an exam just to make sure. And told me I am in great health.
I was so scared that there was SOMETHING wrong with me and it was not mental. I am slowly believing the doctors that it is mental.
What I want to say with this LONG letter is ask if there is ANY advice or calming methods that will help. I am doing deep preathing, yoga and trying meditation. But any suggestions will help. I also have Ativan for those times when I spin out of control. But I am terrified of taking something everyday because I want to get pregnant in the next year and I have been told there is nothing to take for anxiety when you are pregnant. Any suggestions would be great.

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Hi there. I started having anxiety issues last year after my grandpa got very ill and died. That was the first person close to me that ever died. I thought I handled it well, but I guess not. I was scared to death that I was medically ill and that I had some horrible illness (not mental) and would never make it. It was very scary and awful. I was a mess for months. Each day was hard to make it through. I started exercising more regularly and now do it quite a bit. It helps me a lot. Maybe try that. I joined aerobics classes, starting running, biking more than normal, all kinds of things to be active. It really helped me. It is not 100% better but I am so much better than I was.
Kim
Oh thank God. I thought it is some mysterious illness they tell you you have when they don't really know. I was taking Celebrex but it made me feel weird. I will switch to Advil. I was convinced last night I had a hyatel (sp?) Hernia. In any event how long did you have the chest pain? I hear it can last for a while.
I also really think the inflamation is due to the anxiety attacks but I could be wrong.
I thought it was weird at first too (not to mention scary). Nobody else had heard of it. Anyway, unfortunately mine lasted on and off for about a year. Each time I felt it coming on I would take 800mg ibuprofen every four hours until I felt better. I have not had it in a long time. Try the ibuprofen next time you feel it. Hope it works for you too.
Alison
Hi,
I went through a similiar experience about 18 months ago when I had to call 911 in the middle of the night because I was sure I was having a heart attack. Since then I've had a roller coaster ride of meds and emotions and realizations about myself. I tried two different meds and didn't like the side effects from either one. My doctor knew I was open to "alternative medicine" and recommended an accupuncturist along with this great book, "From Panic to Power" by Lucinda Bassett. I also saw a hypnotherapist. Now, 18 months later I am drug free and feel so empowered by just recognizing my tendencies and taking control of my mind by doing either deep breathing, guided imagery or just plain talking myself through things. I'm not here to say I'm cured, but I feel like I can control it now. It is a very real condition, but for me I didn't want to put the power in the hands of the medicine. The mind is so amazing and to give you just an idea, during a hypnotherapy session, my therapist was actually able to get me to experience a panic attack and then learn how to stop it before it escalated--that was weird!! But amazingly powerful! Good luck to you and whatever works for you is what is important!
Julie
Julie,
Great story. I hope to be that empowered also. I am going to find an acupuncturist also. The deep breathing helps me. I am feeling better but then again that is today. Tomorrow may be different. We will see but your story is very empowering. I like that it gives hope.
I'm glad to feel like it helped and also glad to hear that you are pursuing the accupunture. I told my accupuncturist that I thought it was just for healing pain, and he said, "this is pain too, but pain of the spirit, not of the body." Isn't that true?!
Also, just take each day one at a time. Don't worry about how you will handle tomorrow or next week. Every day you get through successfully is a victory, and then suddenly you have a great week behind you and a great month behind you and you realize, "I can do it!" But if you have a hard day just get through it in small increments and don't take on tomorrow until you're there.
Good luck to you and don't forget the power of the words you tell yourself. As soon as you worry, "Am I having a hard time breathing?" or "Maybe I have a tumor..." or any of those things we all do to ourselves (I was convinced I had MS/lumpus/graves disease and a brain tumor over the course of the last several years!), just find something encouraging and positive to repeat in your head, "I am fine, I can breathe freely and openly. I am healthy and full of life. I am completely well." You get the idea? It doesn't have to be all of those things, but maybe just a few positive and emphatic phrases you tell yourself that can pull you through the moment.
Take care!
Julie
Thanks Julie,
I have not had a tumor yet but I did think I can brain cancer, eye cancer, lung cancer and of course the heart attack!
Heidi
<> That is a good description of how it felt. I let my symptoms go overnight the first time and the next morning could not even get myself dressed and to the dr. alone. Luckily I was still living with my mom at the time and she helped me. It was a quick diagnosis by this dr and I too was surprised and thought maybe she was just guessing. Sure enough, when I took the ibuprofen (anti-inflammatory) it went away very quickly. Again, I hope this works for you. Let me know. I know how scary this feeling can be.
Alison
How does the accupuncture work? My DH wants me to try it but I am terrified it will hurt.
Alison
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