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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 19 of 19. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by MaKi on January 8, 2002, at 13:45:52
I've been suffering from a Panic Disorder for the last two years.
I usually have a panic attack when I leave the house, especially
when I go to a shopping mall or around alot of people. When I'm
having a panic attack, I start feeling nervous, my heart starts
pounding and I start feeling nauseated. The first thing I do when
I walk into a store, ect..., is look for the bathrooms, then I
slowly start feeling better. My panic attacks usually last a few
minutes but it feels like they last a very long time. I've spoken
with a few different people who also experience panic attacks and
so far, no one's ever experienced the symptom of nausea, most say
that they usually feel faint, dizzy or hyperventilate. For the
four weeks, I've been taking Effexor XR and when I need to go some
place, I usually take half a clonazepam. I've noticed a change
during the last few weeks so I'm assuming that the medication is
working. The thing I want to know is if anyone else experiences
nausea during a panic attack, is this a normal thing or should I
be worried that it's something else? If anyone has any advice or
a similar story to tell, please let me know, I'd really like to
know if there are others that are going through the same thing as
I am.Thanks again,
MaKi
Posted by kid47 on January 8, 2002, at 18:10:22
In reply to What Happens To You During A Panic Attack?, posted by MaKi on January 8, 2002, at 13:45:52
Hi. Nausea can certainly be an effect of a panic attack. I know several people who have this as the first symptom of the onset of an attack. If you have health concerns, get a thorough physical. Worrying about your health can trigger anxiety & panic. Take care
kid
> I've been suffering from a Panic Disorder for the last two years.
> I usually have a panic attack when I leave the house, especially
> when I go to a shopping mall or around alot of people. When I'm
> having a panic attack, I start feeling nervous, my heart starts
> pounding and I start feeling nauseated. The first thing I do when
> I walk into a store, ect..., is look for the bathrooms, then I
> slowly start feeling better. My panic attacks usually last a few
> minutes but it feels like they last a very long time. I've spoken
> with a few different people who also experience panic attacks and
> so far, no one's ever experienced the symptom of nausea, most say
> that they usually feel faint, dizzy or hyperventilate. For the
> four weeks, I've been taking Effexor XR and when I need to go some
> place, I usually take half a clonazepam. I've noticed a change
> during the last few weeks so I'm assuming that the medication is
> working. The thing I want to know is if anyone else experiences
> nausea during a panic attack, is this a normal thing or should I
> be worried that it's something else? If anyone has any advice or
> a similar story to tell, please let me know, I'd really like to
> know if there are others that are going through the same thing as
> I am.
>
> Thanks again,
>
> MaKi
Posted by MaKi on January 8, 2002, at 18:30:55
In reply to Re: What Happens To You During A Panic Attack? » MaKi, posted by kid47 on January 8, 2002, at 18:10:22
Thanks for the info., I'm glad to hear that I'm not
the only one experiencing nausea during the onset
of my panic attacks.Thanks again,
MaKi
Posted by CalvaryHill on January 9, 2002, at 5:34:28
In reply to What Happens To You During A Panic Attack?, posted by MaKi on January 8, 2002, at 13:45:52
How much Effexor XR do you take?
Posted by MaKi on January 9, 2002, at 8:06:42
In reply to Effexor XR » MaKi, posted by CalvaryHill on January 9, 2002, at 5:34:28
To answer your question, I take 37.5mg per day.
MaKi
Posted by IsoM on January 9, 2002, at 14:03:49
In reply to What Happens To You During A Panic Attack?, posted by MaKi on January 8, 2002, at 13:45:52
I don't have a panic disorder but have had a few panic attacks. The most often & the worse was when I was coming off Paxil.
I'd often wake up bolt upright in bed (no memory of dreaming) with the feeling like death was impending. My heart was racing & beating very loud & hard, I'd shake badly & simply have a very overwhelming fear that can't be put into words. Even writing this, I can still feel part of it, it was so profound!
While I knew what it was & in a small part of my mind, I realised nothing would happen & it would soon fade, the emotional part KNEW the end of the world was upon me. I know this sounds trite but I don't know otherwise how to express the terrible, real sheer TERROR I felt coursing through me. I wondered if this is what an antelope feels just as a lion is leaping on it to snuff its life.
I occasionally had feelings like this in strange or unexpected surroundings but never with the force they had as when I discontinued Paxil.
> I've been suffering from a Panic Disorder for the last two years.
> I usually have a panic attack when I leave the house, especially
> when I go to a shopping mall or around alot of people. When I'm
> having a panic attack, I start feeling nervous, my heart starts
> pounding and I start feeling nauseated. The first thing I do when
> I walk into a store, ect..., is look for the bathrooms, then I
> slowly start feeling better. My panic attacks usually last a few
> minutes but it feels like they last a very long time. I've spoken
> with a few different people who also experience panic attacks and
> so far, no one's ever experienced the symptom of nausea, most say
> that they usually feel faint, dizzy or hyperventilate. For the
> four weeks, I've been taking Effexor XR and when I need to go some
> place, I usually take half a clonazepam. I've noticed a change
> during the last few weeks so I'm assuming that the medication is
> working. The thing I want to know is if anyone else experiences
> nausea during a panic attack, is this a normal thing or should I
> be worried that it's something else? If anyone has any advice or
> a similar story to tell, please let me know, I'd really like to
> know if there are others that are going through the same thing as
> I am.
>
> Thanks again,
>
> MaKi
Posted by bonnie_ann on January 9, 2002, at 14:55:09
In reply to Re: What Happens To You During A Panic Attack? » MaKi, posted by IsoM on January 9, 2002, at 14:03:49
Hi there- nausea is one of my symptoms. It's hard for me to tell the difference between the anxiety and possible upset stomach. So as long as I don't get lightheaded-dizzy and start to cry I know it's a stomach ache. I hypervenilate when worrying -that causes these symptoms for me. The moment I don't feel right,
I focus on my breathing and once I start breathing deeply slowly through my nose it goes away.Bonnie
Posted by OldSchool on January 9, 2002, at 15:58:02
In reply to What Happens To You During A Panic Attack?, posted by MaKi on January 8, 2002, at 13:45:52
> I've been suffering from a Panic Disorder for the last two years.
> I usually have a panic attack when I leave the house, especially
> when I go to a shopping mall or around alot of people. When I'm
> having a panic attack, I start feeling nervous, my heart starts
> pounding and I start feeling nauseated. The first thing I do when
> I walk into a store, ect..., is look for the bathrooms, then I
> slowly start feeling better. My panic attacks usually last a few
> minutes but it feels like they last a very long time. I've spoken
> with a few different people who also experience panic attacks and
> so far, no one's ever experienced the symptom of nausea, most say
> that they usually feel faint, dizzy or hyperventilate. For the
> four weeks, I've been taking Effexor XR and when I need to go some
> place, I usually take half a clonazepam. I've noticed a change
> during the last few weeks so I'm assuming that the medication is
> working. The thing I want to know is if anyone else experiences
> nausea during a panic attack, is this a normal thing or should I
> be worried that it's something else? If anyone has any advice or
> a similar story to tell, please let me know, I'd really like to
> know if there are others that are going through the same thing as
> I am.
>
> Thanks again,
>
> MaKiThere are a lot of physiological things that occur in a panic attack. Large amounts of norephinephrine or noradrenalive are released into the body. The heart rate increases, you perspirate more. It can feel like a physical cardio event...like you might think you are having a heart attack.
Many of the same drugs used to combat depression are also used to fight panic attacks. Like the SSRIs.
Posted by Haley on January 10, 2002, at 12:24:31
In reply to What Happens To You During A Panic Attack?, posted by MaKi on January 8, 2002, at 13:45:52
Hi Maki,
I suffer from Panic Disorder. I started to feel weird in October, and November is when I had my first Panic Attack. It hit me real hard. The feeling of terror ran through my body, My heart would start to race, I felt dizzy and nauseous like I was going to throw up.( Nausea does happen in a panic attack)I felt like I was going to die. This is the most horrible feeling anyone could ever experience. Ever since that panic attack I felt anxious all the time of having another. I did not feel normal. I felt like I was going crazy. My doctor put me on Efexxor XR 112.50mgs. This seems to be working good for me. I think I need to go up a little, but it has helped a lot.How long have you been on the Efexor, and how high of a dose are you on??
Posted by MaKi on January 10, 2002, at 17:12:05
In reply to Re: What Happens To You During A Panic Attack? » MaKi, posted by Haley on January 10, 2002, at 12:24:31
Hi Haley, thanks alot for sharing your story with me,
we do have alot in common, or at least when it comes
to our panic attacks. I feel the exact same way when
I'm having a panic attack. To tell you the honest
truth, it always felt like I had the flu 24 hrs a day,
7 days a week. Everywhere I went, I was nauseas and
always thought I would get sick. I agree with you, it is
the worst feeling in the world that I have ever experienced
in my whole life. It is very uncomfortable and for the
longest time, I could never make plans ahead of time, if I
woke up feeling good, I could then decide to leave the house.
I've been taking Effexor XR for almost five full weeks now,
at 37.5mg per day. A few weeks ago, my doctor recommended I
increase to 75mg daily but I haven't yet done so, only because
I have never once experienced side effects with this drug and
I'm afraid that by increasing my dosage, I might now have them.
I spoke with my doctor again yesterday and he strongly recommends
I increase in the next few days. I've made the decision that I
will do just that on this following Monday. Hopefully I will have
enough courage to do so, wish me luck.Also, Good Luck to you, hopefully we can recover and live a normal
life again!MaKi
Posted by camden on April 21, 2002, at 0:03:02
In reply to Re: What Happens To You During A Panic Attack? » MaKi, posted by IsoM on January 9, 2002, at 14:03:49
I had my first panic attack about three months ago. Nearly asleep one night I awoke with a pounding heart followed by shortness of breath, nausea, diarrea, tingling in arms and legs(thought I was having a stroke!), followed by a day of gas and bloating. I worried about having another attack and did have a couple more before I went to my doctor. Have been on ativan and now 20mg of paxil. Doctor said I need to be on it for six months to lessen the chance of a reoccurrence.I feel much better but still worry about having another one even though I haven't had one in more than a month.
Posted by beardedlady on April 21, 2002, at 5:32:42
In reply to Re: What Happens To You During A Panic Attack? » IsoM, posted by camden on April 21, 2002, at 0:03:02
I got a sleep disorder one night. Yup, it happened one night, and it never went away. So every night before bed, I'd begin having panic attacks--the same thing you described, only I was awake. My legs would shake so violently it looked like I was freezing.
I had what my doctor called "anticipatory anxiety," which is fancy for worrying about getting a panic attack.
I have them rarely now, but I have gotten one while driving to the doctor (drove to the ER instead). My heart rate was 120, though my resting rate is usually between 50 and 60. I got a note from the doctor who treated me about Panic Disorder, which was my diagnosis. I felt so completely ashamed. (However, I'd also had an asthma attack triggered by some chemicals the day before, and that can often precede a panic attack, as the shallow breathing resembles one.)
Anyway, it's a strange thing. I often wonder if there's a food you can eat to calm you down. I tried, but found nothing! (And the best thing about trying is that, when you're in a panic, your metabolism is really high. It's a great time to pig out on forbidden foods!) To calm yourself, though, baths usually help. They are warm and relaxing. I have done this in the middle of the night when I have awakened with a panic attack, and I was usually able to get back to sleep afterward.
The best thing about panic is that it is essentially harmless. You are NOT having a heart attack, this is no dangerous than jogging (actually, it's easy to lose weight when you're anxious), and it will go away. So just try to remember that, and you can often calm yourself down.
The worst thing? Having a real heart attack. I have had the panics a bunch of times since, and sometimes I swear they are really heart attacks. (It's harder on women, since the symptoms are so much different from men's symptoms.)
Good luck. But remember they are harmless, and they usually go away.
beardy : )>
Posted by BarbaraCat on April 22, 2002, at 0:37:21
In reply to Re: What Happens To You During A Panic Attack? » IsoM, posted by camden on April 21, 2002, at 0:03:02
Panic attacks are horrible!! I can take the bleakest, blackest depressions, but a panic attack I cannot stand. Even while one part of me is saying 'Oh, come on, you've been though this many times before, you've never died yet' another part is screaming 'oh, but this time is different!!' It used to be, like Beardy, that I'd get them every night before sleep, turning off the lights, just thinking about one would bring one on. Even drinking water would cause me to hyperventilate and skid me into a panic. This was in the baaaaaad days. Klonopin has helped tremendously, but a big help when one hits is, believe it or not, breathing into a paper bag for about 10-12 breaths. Yes, it does work.
Some evidence has found that breathing disorders caused by anxiety, depression, asthma, anticipatory anxiety, what have you, disrupt the carbon monoxide balance in the blood and can bring on an attack. The tingly, pins and needles and heart pounding is pure and simple hyperventilation, the rest is created by fear. Breathing deeply (diaphramatic or yogic breathing) is NOT a good idea in the midst of one since it contributes more to the hyperventilation syndrome. The good old paper bag trick normalizes that balance. The hard part is remembering where you put the bag while in the middle of one, however.
Posted by IsoM on April 22, 2002, at 0:42:57
In reply to Re: Panic Attack Cure - Really! » camden, posted by BarbaraCat on April 22, 2002, at 0:37:21
Even cupping your hands together tightly over your nose & mouth is good. The few times I had panic attacks, I managed to keep the breathing under control by sheer will power but still had the madly racing heart & the horrible surge of adrenaline as pure terror. All the fear mechanisms kick in & are just as real as if someone was holding a gun to your head, drawing back the trigger.
Posted by BarbaraCat on April 22, 2002, at 1:26:01
In reply to If Paper Bag Not Handy » BarbaraCat, posted by IsoM on April 22, 2002, at 0:42:57
Yeah, it does feel like terrible danger is about to happen. Also works is exhaling twice as long as inhale (or just longer - who's counting during an attack?) and if you can stand it, pausing for a few beats at the end of the exhale. Works for an asthma attack too.
> Even cupping your hands together tightly over your nose & mouth is good. The few times I had panic attacks, I managed to keep the breathing under control by sheer will power but still had the madly racing heart & the horrible surge of adrenaline as pure terror. All the fear mechanisms kick in & are just as real as if someone was holding a gun to your head, drawing back the trigger.
Posted by Mason on April 22, 2002, at 10:56:50
In reply to What Happens To You During A Panic Attack?, posted by MaKi on January 8, 2002, at 13:45:52
Hi,
I suffer from panic attacks and what I call anxiety attacks. They aren't as severe as a true panic attack, but last much longer, from a few hours to a day or so. Sometimes I do get nauseous, but I don't notice it much due to the other sensations bombarding me.
It feels like I'm frozen in time, that each secon is an eternity, and that there is no way to make it from one to the next. The idea of waiting it out for half an hour seems like years! As others have said, my mind realizes that it is not permanent, but it's almost a primal feeling that takes over, and no amount of rationalizing or positive thinking can help. I have a little mantra I used to recite, and play Christmas music (weird, I know, but it brings back fond memories, safety I guess) all of which don't help. Taking hot showers help somewhat if I catch these early enough; relaxes me somewhat. My problem and maybe others' as well, is that many times when I get an attack, I'm already relaxed! It's in bed, or sitting watching tv, so even physically relaxing myself doesn't quiet the feelings.
I've explained it to friends like this: imagine having 3 super large espressos, then getting wrapped from head to toe in a sleeping blanket, then throw in a hole. That's how it feels inside of me.
I take a small dose of Xanax daily, and up it when I have an attack (dissolving the pills under my tongue during an attack to get it into my system faster). I'm still trying to find a preventative med (have tried Zoloft, Paxil, Buspar, etc) without much luck.
Hope everyone finds ways of getting through these!
Posted by beardedlady on April 22, 2002, at 11:05:38
In reply to Re: What Happens To You During A Panic Attack?, posted by Mason on April 22, 2002, at 10:56:50
When I had these attacks, even my Xanax wouldn't help. And like Mason, mine lasted days. I would feel like I was so wired on caffeine--all my insides were bungie jumping. Yes, exactly it. Jumping up and down, but going a very long way, so that pit-of-the-stomach thing was happening. Shoulda put it in my poem. Besides the bag, which doesn't help me, since the anxiety part of the panic attack is what doesn't go away, any other solutions to stop the shakes and calm down? Any OTC med?
(Didn't want to get redirected, folks.)
Here's the poem:
the panic
starts in the chest—an off beat
a flutter, a jump, heavy.
the breath is all wrong,
fast and short and used.
hands sweat.
throat closes.
the swallow is elusive.
legs, restless, tremble
and muscles tic and twitch and spasm.
you are crazy.
you will die.and when it’s all over
there’s the road hum
the body writhing under still skin.
your bones, pudding
your pores, nerve ends
your veins, empty.there is no ladder.
no one can talk you down.
so you can stay there—out there on that limb
—out there on that ledge
and worry about falling off.but if you jump
you will have jumped.lfm (a.k.a. bearded lady)
Posted by Haley on April 22, 2002, at 11:21:21
In reply to What Happens To You During A Panic Attack?Haley, posted by MaKi on January 10, 2002, at 17:12:05
HOW ARE YOU FEELING MAKI??
Posted by Emme on April 22, 2002, at 11:45:09
In reply to What Happens To You During A Panic Attack?, posted by MaKi on January 8, 2002, at 13:45:52
Damn things would sometimes wake me up in the middle of the night. I'd feel an electrical sensation ride up my spine and I knew I was in for it. All the nasty physical flight-or-fight symptoms would come rolling in and all I could do was wait for it to pass. Once things settled down a bit, something easy to read like Winnie-the-Pooh would help me fall back asleep. Sometimes they happnened during the day. For the hyperventilation/CO2 imbalance component, I did something similar to the paper bag idea. I'd take a normal breath and make myself hold it for 15 seconds. Exhale and do it again. And again. Till the pins and needles cleared up and I felt better. After a few months of them, they kinda went away and I only get one every couple of years or so now. For some reason, just getting a diagnosis (and the tip on breathing) from a doctor really seemed to help them reduce in number. Then I went on a 3.5 week vacation and never had another one for a few years. Not that I'm saying a vacation is a panacea, but for me the break seemed to interrupt whatever was going on. Weird.
Emme
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