Panic Attack or go to hospital????

03-20-2004, 03:38 PM

Hi, I'm in a state at the moment. Last night I was doing a jigsaw and then I felt something funny in my chest, then I broke into a hot sweat, then my pulse rate went skyrocketing. I immediately thought panic attack, try to calm down. Then it happened again 3 times within the 2 hours. I've had a pounding heart before, but somehow this felt different. I can't even describe it properly.

I managed to fall asleep and I've woken up today feeling very nervous, shakey, my chest feels kind of wierd. I'm so scared it will happen again today, I'm not sure if I should go to the hospital.

Was this a PA???

Just for background, I have had a few panic attacks over the last year, but usually I have GAD. I've had many a scare in the past, and had all the typical tests done - like ECG, ultrasound of my heart, lung xray, breathing test, ear tests, MRI of brain.

I also have really bad lower back pain. I haven't done anything about it as yet because I'm determined not to get anymore scans, I've had enough of them. This lower back pain has been playing on my mind heavily (I'm seeing a massage therapist next week). It's kind of pain in lower back that extends though my buttocks and around my hips. This pain could have been caused from an old exercise bike I was riding, as it began just after this. I had a knee reco in July, so I had to use the bike. I'm thinking it's got to be a muscle related thing. But my mind likes to think the worst of course, so I don't know whether all these thoughts bought on the racing pulse finally.

Just need some reassurance from you guys. I'm so messed up right now. This has really thrown me.

03-20-2004, 06:49 PM

Hi! How are you feeling? I am afraid i can't offer much advice, maybe a lending ear...About two months ago I had a strange feeling in my chest, like 3 lound thumps, followed by funny feelings, i cant really explain them, it happened like 4 or 5 times that day, and i got really sore, my back hurt, my neck, i panicked about it all day for about a week. It hasnt happened since, im not sure what exactly u felt, maybe u can just make a reg appt for a check up to ease your mind. I also get lower back pain, my whole body hurts. I hope you are feeling better. Take care of yourself! and God bless!
Missy

03-21-2004, 01:26 AM

Thanks for replying to me. I still feel wierd in my chest. It's kind of like an indigestion feeling but also sort of cold. It's way too hard to explain.

I might book into the doc's tomorrow and see what they say anyway. I'm still really on edge and scared. An hour ago, I started thinking I was feeling better, now I'm back to shaky, tense, I feel it's going to happen again.

It's too wierd, usually when I get a pounding heart, it goes away soon afterwards and I don't have this strange chest feeling. ARghhh, this is not good. When will this stop??? I have to work tomorrow.

03-21-2004, 01:41 AM

Like everyone here says, the more we worry about it, the worse it gets. I can almost just have the thought of a "heart thump" run thru my mind & sure enough it will do it. NOw how is that for mind control!
Also, I've seen people say that PA's tend to mimic other things, like your back pain, once you get thru one thing, the PA hits somewhere else to keep you on edge & worrying all the time.
You may have injured the sacro in your back, do some internet research about it, usually the pain from that will be in your buttocks & can be down your leg to the knee or foot. I get it across the hip & in my buttocks, but I have had back problems for years. I have a herniated disc in my mid back area & went thru physical therapy for it & never had to have surgery, even learned exercises to do at home if it acts up & I can catch it before it gets bad again. I was in bed & horrible pain for 3 straight months til someone (well several people) told me that laying in bed & doing nothing about my back was not the answer. They were right, the answer was the P. therapy.

03-21-2004, 02:02 AM

Lori, what is the 'sacro'.
I don't get pain down my legs, that's what makes me rule out sciatica type damage. does your pain go across the muscles in your buttocks?

I'm going to see doc tomorrow I hope, regarding the chest thing. I now have horrible indigestion - i'm burping all the time now. I also feel sort of cold, but hot at the same time. I think that's all anxiety, at least I hope it is. That's the hard part, when do you stop blaming it on anx and consider the possibility something is wrong. Mind you, within the last 2 years, I've had my heart tested and a lung xray.

I also frightened because I am a smoker, not heavy at all, but all the same I have been smoking for 15 years. Anyway, that's another issue.

Thanks.

Jordie.

03-21-2004, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jordie

Lori, what is the 'sacro'.

I think Lori meant "sacral" pain. (The sacral part of your spine - above your tailbone.) Also, sciatica doesn't have to go down your legs. It can be lower back, buttocks, hips, upper legs, even down through the calves and into the soles of the feet if it's bad enough.

I have pretty constant right buttock pain and it often travels down to about mid thigh. Good exercises for lower back and/or sciatic pain are squats and lunges. Also, stretch really well. If you can get an exercise ball, sit on it and bounce a bit. Even try marching your feet while bouncing. This will strengthen core muscles in your torso so your posture is better and there is less strain.

Can't tell you much about your chest problem, though. At least tell your doctor about it, even if you can't get in or decide not to go. It sounds like just a strange PA, but it's better safe than sorry. If it is a panic attack, I hope it doesn't happen again. Sounds like it was a nasty one!!

03-22-2004, 01:57 AM

thanks for that, I have a ball here at home, I'll use it more.

I went to docs today. He told me not to worry, listened to my heart and lungs, took blood pressure. He said I was fine. I feel better today.

He does want me to get an xray of my lower back, just to find out if it's any discs that are out. I'll get a massage tomorrow then see if that helps. If not, I'll get the xray.

I've got to try this CBT thing to stop this obsessive worrying. I want that book by Sam Obitz, but I can't find it anywhere, I even sent an email to the website, but never got a reply.

Rgds,
Jordie

03-22-2004, 12:49 PM

I tried to find the book, too. Other people on OCD and Depression boards have mentioned that it's hard to find.

I just remembered, if you've ever had an epidural, it seems to cause back/hip pain. My pain showed up about two years later and I had to see a PT! The PT told me it's not uncommon for her patients to come in after having an epidural. Good luck on the x-ray.

Panic Attack or go to hospital????

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