There we are, I did it!! Hi, I was reading and came upon your post and thought I might reply, as my story is similar to yours. I too have anxiety/panic attacks, which started about 4 yrs ago. As suddenly as they began, I didn't know what his me, which started a life dedication to research of info. My first occurance happened when I thought I was having a reaction to a medication that I had just taken. I too felt that heart pounding, out of body experience. I decided to go to my mothers house so she could drive me (as my husband stayed home with the kids).. I didn't make it there. I was 1/2 way there when I felt myself "going out", so I whipped into the nearest driveway for help. I told them I couldn't breath please call 911. They were sooo nice. (I found out later that you can actually have convulsions with a panic attack). When 911 arrived I found myself throwing all the (georgous) men off me, as pure adrenalen (?) ran crazy in my body. "I's gonna die"! Or so I thought. Well, I got to the hospital, and the whole eve. was a nightmare experience. I had these attacks for about 2 yrs before I began xanax. Even though it's short acting, It seemed to level me out and I have'nt had an attack since, and it's been 4 yrs. It sound to me like you were having a panic attack. Here are some things that really helped me get through them. A SMALL PAPER SACK: breath for a few minutes into a sm. paper sack which allows your body to exchange and receive the proper oxygen and other important gasses. Also if you practice breathing in thru your nose, but instead of using your chest to inhale as much air as you can, as most of us do with an attack, use your abdomen like singers do when you inhale through your nose. Your abdomen should come out as you fill it with a breath in. This will feel like its not working, but after a few times it will begin helping. (I am sharing this with you based upon that you are seeking medical attention, and I am in no way trying to diagnos, I am simply relying on your account of whats happening.) Sometimes if you can yawn, that helps also. You have to tell yourself (if your diagnosed with panic) that You are not going to die, and carry around that small paper sack with you where ever you go, or else you might do what i did and have a panic attack because your sm. paper sack wasn't in the car! I truley believe that fresh air does work, along with telling yourself (as your heart feels like it is being pulled out by pressure down thru your toes) that its just a panic attack and no one has died, and I am not going to die. I started new meds the other day for fibro and it took my 6 hours to convince myself that I would be fine, but I had worked myself up so much that by the time I took a small piece, I had to really talk myself out of an attack. I told my husband to hurry and start talking to me, (i was beginning to feel at this point a little disoriented). That seem to work, but I hadn't had one in 4 yrs. Dizziness is often associated with fibro, and trigger points as well as numerous other medical conditions. The fear could be alleviated by getting a diagnosis of what you suspect: panic/anxiety. Fibromyalgia, from what I know, does not come on as quickly as I understood you saying in your post. You should have symptoms for a while. A flare up can occur suddenly. Fibro simply doesn't know the rules of boundries. The vision, if you are diag. with fibro or other like conditions, can be from trigger points as well or if your anxiety is there. Also the tingling is another one that I have in my hands and feet especially during a flare. The palputations and feelings of unreality can most certainly be from anxiety/panic, as this condition gives us no warning and occurs sometimes with out any factors (so we think) I am glad you are ruling out other, more serious conditions, especially when a neurological condition exists. I have IBS, irritable bowel syndrome, and I also do the same thing. MY attacks happen when my stools suddenly become loose, and my bowel seems to have the dry heeves. Those are my worst ones. Then I go back to being constipated, but its when the looseness is there that I have my attack, so I use immodium AD to conqeur the attack and it works. I am glad to say that since I have been appropriatly treated for fibro with meds, I have not had an attack since then!!!! YEA!!! I think that because my old doctor was only treating me lightly, and with meds that bothered me and didn't work, I was always in anxeity about running out, and afraid to talk to him. Only a colonoscopy or other like tests can diagnos other more serious bowel problems, and if none are found, you are more than likely to be diagnosed with IBS. Its a disease that is diagnosed on the basis of ruling out all other, since a person with IBS has normal looking bowels. The impaired cognitiveness that you experience is typical with fibro. (I have ADHD) Your pain you describe is something defiinatly associated w/fibro, but you must rule out other serious conditions 1st. Getting diagnosed with any of these conditions takes quite a bit of time, but in the end, those thoughts that bombard your mind about cancer, bone cancer (from the daily pain) or others all come to a close and its almost exciting to have a name to your list of ailments. This is the point where a good doc is critical. Do some research on the net by typing in fibromyalgia, IBS or any other conditions you suspect and present this to your doctor at your next appt. Seee how they respond, whether or not they beleive in it or if they are one of those that group us fibro patients in a group of our own. Behavior and physical modifications are the fisrt step in dealing with the pain, but I am also a firm believer in the use of medications. I went through too many years with inadequate meds, and not the right kinds, and the suffering I experienced was devastating on myself as well as my family. I simply went from a very outgoing, busy person, to a withdrawn, depressed (not clinical, but from the continual endurance of pain) person who was unable to function. After many docs and tests, as well as my own research, (there are many other trials and tribulations that i endured) to be in the position I am in now. I am now back to functioning, and my family is delighted to have mom back. I too run my own bus. and I know the great challenges of chronic pain. I also think that once you get a firm diagnosis, and do your research that you will feel better, but you will find that the hurdles just begun. Communicating to your Doc. can be complicating, especially if you have some that discount what you are going thru. Be your own advocate and know that "NOBODY HAS TO LIVE DAY TO DAY IN PAIN". There is just simply to many medications out there to help us, although meds arent the main line of defense. SOOOOO much more to say. Please let me know and feel free to ask me any questions as I feel I have much info and personal experience with this, I need to write a book. Best regards to you and remember, you are the only one who knows how you feel. You can choose who you see and how your treated. I have found that especially with topics like this, there is just to much ignorance on behalf of some doctors. Find one that has been specially trained. I went through numerous docs, even though the diagnosis was confirmed by most of them, there was only 1 (one) that located ea. and every tender point with the most uncanny presisivness.

Sincerely
AnnieHi, just testing, mY long reply was lost, my first time, I will have one to you with in 15 min.
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