Panic Attacks

At various times in my life I have had the occasionaly panic attack. It was never a "problem" just something that happened maybe once a year. Since October I started having them again, with increasing frequency. They don't seem to have a trigger... I can be laughing and happy when they start. I have gotten to the point that I am having at least one a day. Does anyone else have any kind of panic disorder? Do you find it is worsening now or since surgery?

I suffer from panic attacks. I have been diagnosed with them since june of 2001. Before I was diagnosed I spent many a time in the ER and they would say its not your heart and give me stuff like motrin, lol. Mine havent gotten worse since surgery or better. One thing you need to know is it is very hard to find what triggers them. YOu can be going through alot and not have one then on a nice day it will hit you out of the blue. Mine are so bad I am disabled from them. I dont know what started them, and my phychiatrist is still working with me to get them under control. I was told I will probably have them forever, and the key is to getting them under control and know you are not dying or having a heart attack. I have been on many meds, and now I am currently on paxil, clonepan, buspar, and seroquel. If this is becoming a reoccuring thing for you, it is in my opinion to see a pschiatrist now. When I first was referred to one I was crying like crazy. It hought only crazy people went to them and I for one am not a crazy person!! You will find that the majority of people do suffer from them some worse than others. I think the sooner you get help the better chance you will have at being able to deal with them, even prevent some of them. Not all you will but some you might. If you want to talk, email me. I will help you any way I can. When I got this surgery done it was very hard for me with my disorder. However I knew it would not cure them, I thought maybe if I am not so fat I would be able to convince myself that I am not having a heart attack. Well to this day it is not any easier convincing myself. I battle myself everyday. One part in my head says ok this is just a panic attack breath, and get yourself under control, then this little devil somewhere in my head says no this is not right, omg what if it is a heart attack and I dont get to the hospital? Then i get more and more scared and the attack worsens. It will be alot of work trying to find out why they start and what triggered it. To this day we still havent pin pointed why I get mine and it has been years. I wish you the best of luck Im here if you need me- Melissa

Thank you so much for your offer of help. When I have them I know logically that it is a panic attack and that I am not having a heart attack. My heart usually doesn't even race... I just have pain that feels like angina and have trouble breathing. Lastnight I was having one driving home and I also started itching all over. They suck.

OMG .. I do not know if you all remember about 2 months ago - around Christmas time .. I had an episode where I thought I was having a heart attack - could not breath .. passed out .. to find that it was no heart attack - they told me I possibly had bad gass .. It has happend again 3 more times but I was able to get it under control .. If they keep happening I am going to see a doctor .. I am terribly stressed from work.. My daughter , her husband and 2 kids have been living with me .. My son is here .. Things have been crazy .. Family problems .. So I am thinking that it has to be panic attacks .. It feels like I can not breath and I have really bad chest pains .. Could this be it ?? Like I said .. If it happens again .. off to the doc I go . Best to ya sweety .. Natalie

Hey Nat...sounds a lot like what is happening to me. I bet you are having panic attacks too. I was kind of wondering that maybe there might be some connection to the likelihood of developing it if you are closer to your ideal body fat percentage. Like maybe the chemistry is different and balance of hormones. I dunno, just a thought. Keep me updated honey. I'm planning on going to a doc very very soon.

Hey Nat, In my opinion yes that is what is happening to you. If it keeps up tell your dr. All that stress can cuz the attacks to come on. I am so glad you were able to get it under control, I hope to someday be able to get mine under control- Melissa