New here and very glad to have found you

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-09-2006
New here and very glad to have found you
15
Sat, 04-15-2006 - 11:23am

Hi all! I've been a regular iVillager for about 5 years on mostly the relationship and diet boards. Now I've discovered I may need this board. I love that iVillage exists and has helped me in so many ways.

My story:

Well, I finally had to call 911 on Wednesday night at 10:30 pm. I was quietly watching The Sopranos with a cat at my feet and one on my arm on the couch when my heart started racing out of control. This had happened a week prior and after several hours it stopped. But this time it was more intense and because it had happened previously, I just knew there must be something wrong with me. My heart rate was 148 when they got here and 145 at the ER. Blood pressure was 178/103 at one point. First they had me chew an aspirin, then they put nitropaste on me, then there were three or four injections to slow my heart down, then a potassium pill, and finally Xanax (which I loved!). I had an echocardiogram done and everything was fine - there is nothing wrong with my heart. When I left the next day, my heart rate was 79 and my blood pressure was 121/79. I am now on Toprol XL once a day for 10 days and then I have a follow-up to determine if I need it really or not. In the meantime, no more caffeine.

I've had mini attacks like this for a few years now. And they were infrequent. It would happen after a night of drinking, but not everytime. I'd go to bed and four hours later, my heart would be racing and my hands and feet would be hot. I'd lay on a cold floor or by an outside door and talk myself down. Eventually I stopped drinking. Then they would happen without drinking and I'd think it was a nightmare.

The doctor never did say I had a panic attack this week. I'm feeling like it definitely was but has anyone here been to the ER for one? I have never called 911 in my life and it took a lot to get me to that point. I never had shortness of breath or chest pain. I did walk myself to the ambulance. I didn't want anyone to carry my fat a&&! LOL When the paramedics filled in the ER nurse that I was "a perfectly healthy 40 year old", I said "No, I'm not. Dude, I'm fat." I weigh 245 and I'm 5'7. I feel awful about that every day but that's a whole 'nother story.

My job is very stressful. I am doing the work of two people and it finally caught up to me. I do have help coming in now on Monday - however, they brought the worst one possible in - a lady who doesn't like me and will try to sabotage me. She's a bully but at least now she's in a position that can't get me fired. I hope she's out of there in a week.

The other thing that may contribute to this is that I live alone and I hate it. I live in the most beautiful place yet I can't stand being by myself. And these things always happen at night. I don't get that. Never ever during the day.

Well I've blabbed on long enough. If you've lasted this long, any tips/advice/encouragement would be greatly appreciated. I've read some of the threads here and they helped me last night. I had another feeling of total dread come over me and I read some posts and they helped - alot!

Thanks for reading....

Lisa

Pages

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Sat, 04-15-2006 - 11:53am

Hi Lisa & welcome!

Sheri Ann

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-09-2006
Sat, 04-15-2006 - 1:10pm

Oh thanks so much for the tips and the BTDT stuff. Were you ever injected with drugs to slow your heart rate down? I'm curious because that seems pretty extreme to me. Why not help me calm myself down if it's truly a panic attack? Maybe I just am not educated enough on this stuff. I think that it's all in my head. But then again I was just laying there on the couch, totally into my show, and *BAM* heart out of control happened. I can't wrap my brain around it...lol.

I'm sorry for all you've been through. Yes, I agree - I need to reevaluate my life. I am making great money so it's gonna be hard.....

Lisa

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Sat, 04-15-2006 - 1:25pm

I've

Sheri Ann

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-16-2005
Sat, 04-15-2006 - 1:39pm

Hi Lisa,


 

Photobucket
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-13-2001
Sat, 04-15-2006 - 1:39pm

Howdy Lisa!

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-09-2006
Sat, 04-15-2006 - 4:40pm

I'm so sorry for all you've gone through. I'm glad you've gotten better.

Toprol XL is a blood pressure/angina/heart failure medication. They said it also helps regulate heart rate. We shall see.

Lisa

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-09-2006
Sat, 04-15-2006 - 4:41pm

Completely agree with your last sentence. I am getting my resume out there today. Thanks so much for your help!

Lisa

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-09-2006
Sat, 04-15-2006 - 5:00pm

It's a dirty little circle: I am stressed. I eat. I gain weight. Blood pressure goes up. I have no social life because I work so much. I am stressed that my life is nowhere near where I imagined it to be. I eat to fill a void. Blood pressure goes up. I hire a personal trainer and make some headway. But then work gets in the way again. I can't have a life other than work because if I do, I have to reschedule stuff or cancel them altogether. Making me look like a schmuck. That pisses me off. I eat. Blood pressure goes up. The only thing going my way is my bank account. I have no one excited to see me when I get home. I am 40, fat and crabby. Do you have any advice as to how one is happy despite not being anywhere near where they wanted to be in life? I think I need to talk to someone...lol.

If ya'll wanna learn a lil more about me and have a myspace profile, go here:

http://search.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=find&MyToken=0ce6cd53-85f8-4330-aee5-e3ce9392d901

My email is lisapeake@comcast.net

Thanks for all your help! I'll try to add anything I can here to help someone else too.

Lisa

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Sat, 04-15-2006 - 6:30pm

Hi, Lisa! We are very glad you found us. You are NOT alone. Post anytime with questions or concerns. We have a strong supportive community that is generous in sharing their experiences with anxiety/panic.


I think that you have posted from home & aren't in the hospital. Right? That's great news. That in itself indicates that you didn't have a serious heart problem, as they would have kept you. My mom who now has had laser treatment to her heart was automatically admitted to ICU for SVT. Her rate would climb over 200 & stay there. My dd is 18 & was just recently diagnosed with the same thing & she was kept in the ER overnight. I have an irregular heartbeat & have runs of tachycardia(rapid heartbeat) & have taken atenolol for many years. My mom & dd DON'T have panic attacks. Sadly, I do

 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Sat, 04-15-2006 - 7:17pm

Hey, Lisa :)

Sheri Ann

Pages