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OT- feeling a bit of a wally

Louise

Veteran

Spent the morning in A&E with what turned out to be a panic attack!!!
I've been out of action since Thursday as my chest was really bad. This morning I was really struggling to catch my breath and unbeknown to me at the time it made me panic and start hyperventilating! After I'd calmed down they pulled up my results from the tests I've had done and X-ray was clear and blood tests all negative, A&E doctor admitted he's no respiratory specialist but did wonder whether anxiety and stress may be causing the sensation of breathing problems, because my blood oxygen levels were 99% and there doesn't look to be a medical reason for my problems. Still have my follow up appointment 3 weeks today but it's looking like I may just be a nut job! x

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26 replies

Latest reply was from Mander

ironkurtin

Veteran

It's been my experience that doctors do not like mystery symptoms with no obvious cause and no immediate medical remedy. I went through years of that with IBS, with doctors patting my hand and telling me "it was all in my head." Ha. Don't feel stupid or crazy, or blame yourself for medicine not being able to pinpoint your problem immediately. Hang in there and a resolution will eventually appear. Best of luck! Rooting for you!

Mrs Moo

Oh no! It's horrible when this happens!
I had a slight phase of panic attacks when I lived in Greece, turned out to be related to blood pressure and/or the heat or something. Basically I managed them with breathing exercises and chamomile tea.

It's a really alarming feeling, but you've done the right thing in getting thoroughly checked out. I really hope it works out to be nothing serious. If it does turn out to be stress related, I can suggest all kinds of therapies as I practice, and used to teach, Holistic Therapies.

Feel better soon, and don't feel like a wally. I guarantee they see *real* wallies and hypochondriacs every day and saw a genuine concern in you :0)

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

It's really common Louise! People think they can't breathe, they are having a heart attack, etc- and it's no joke. Anxiety can feel like a serious medical problem. I'm just glad that you are figuring out what is going on. Just make sure they do all the work to make sure it's anxiety and not something else. Low iron, hormone imbalances, and even seizures (the type that I have) can feel like or cause anxiety. You are one step closer to feeling healthy again- and that's a good thing!

RoseandJoan

Veteran

((((Hugs)))) whatever the cause you need to know, then you can manage your difficulties. You are not a wally.

Polly (thunalata)

Veteran

So sorry. What a miserable experience.

You're not a wally. Do hope you get this sorted soon whatever it is. X

Girl X

(website)

Veteran

I'm not sure what a wally is, but I'm absolutely certain that you're not one! Panic attacks are not uncommon, and they get mistaken for heart attacks or other physical ailments all the time. If you've never had either one (a panic attack or a heart attack), then there's no frame of reference, so how are you supposed to know what's going on?

Keep on taking care of yourself, you'll get it all worked out - and in the meantime, big hugs!!

Astrid

Veteran

I had anxiety attacks a few years ago and I always felt like I couldn't breathe too. I wish you all the best and hope you get this sorted soon!

christieanne

Veteran

It's good that you got checked by doc! It happens to so many people that won't even talk about such an experience so I appreciate your sharing and reaching out.
Hang in there and don't worry about wally-ness

Inge

(website)

Louise that must have been so frightening-(

You are doing everything you can to get to the bottom of this. That is smart, nothing wally-esque about that at all!-)

Hang in there, and please keep us posted.

Scarlet

Veteran

I hope you are just a nut job, Louise At various periods of high stess in my life I have also wondered if I had a lung disease or something. Don't feel like a nut job I am glad all signs point to healthy, but I hope that whatever has you so under stress has a resolution in sight.

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Louise, I hope you can relax, maybe take a couple of days off if this really is stress related? Sending you hugs!

Meredith1953

Veteran

Louise,
That must indeed have been very frightening for you. About 15 years ago I ate something that seemed to "catch" in my throat. I started hyperventilating and ended up going to the local doc in the box. They actually gave me an ekg and said that I had started hyperventilating which was exaserbating the problem. The diagnosis they came up was said that I probably had an esophogeal spasming attack and they prescribed prilosec since they also said they thought I might be having acid reflux. I spent almost 6 months feeling like I couldn't take a really good deep breath, as if there was something in my throat. It did thankfully clear up but was no fun. You are doing the right thing pursuing the cause whatever it may be! Hugs to you.

Louise

Veteran

Thank you all for all the sympathy and stories it means a lot

Girl x a wally is another term for feeling silly I don't know where it originated but it was frequently used on an 80's/ 90's uk comedy Only fools and horses x

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

More hugs from me, Louise. You are not a wally! You just need to get down to the route of the problem. Perhaps it's anxiety, which calls for a different treatment plan.

We are here to support you, sweet girl. Hang in there.

taylor

Veteran

Anxiety /panic attacks cause the most horrid symptoms! You are not wally, the are very real. The good news is you can control these ...now you know what you are dealing with!
Best of luck with this Louise!! ~ major virtual hugging~

Anonymous

Big hugs. If your body is having a panic attack, it will pass, and if you can relax through it, it really helps. Easier said than done, I know. I hope it's nothing serious. <<<>>>>>

Debora

Veteran

Hugs to you, Louise! I hope you are feeling better and can get this sorted out. Please keep us posted on how you are doing.

rachylou

Veteran

(((jhugs)))

It's weird, a person get panic attacks without, well, panicking. I get them when my blood sugar goes "low" - i.e. "normal."

Aziraphale

Veteran

aw, sweetie. Not to worry. Panic attacks are terrifying and can mimic the symptoms of a heart attack. Never feel silly for going to emergency for something that could possibly be very serious. That's what emergency is there for.

Think of it this way: you'd feel like even more of a wally if you didn't go and ended up dead.

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

Hang in there. It will take some time but things will get better.

Take care of yourself.

velvetychocolate

Veteran

You're definitely not a 'wally' - stress can really do a number on you and can trigger some fairly significant symptoms. I'm glad you're getting everything checked out, but in the meantime - please don't feel funny because it might be related to stress/panic. What this means is that there's some serious stress going on, enough to cause this level of physical symptoms, and that isn't something you should be feeling bad about. This does *not* mean "nut job" either, it means major stress going on in your life that triggers these things. Sometimes, you might not even notice it - you could be going about your business, doing everything that you need to be doing, there's some significant stress going on, but you don't think it's that big of a deal. Then, out of the blue - you get something like this. Too much stress, for too long.

Having said that, it's also possible that there's a physical cause to the panic too - so here's hoping your doctors check all these avenues as well (nothing super scary, but sometimes a wonky thyroid or hormones can trigger anxiety).

In the meantime - sending along lots of good wishes that this all calms down and that you don't have any more of these frightening episodes, no matter what the cause.

Louise

Veteran

You really are all sweeties thanks for the hugs and support x

Katiepea

(website)

Veteran

Oh goodness, well if you are a wally, I'm a wally, my best friend is a wally....

Honestly Louise, I have suffered anxiety attacks and personally took my best friend to hospital for heart issues which also turned out to be a panic attack. I can completely understand and sympathise with how you must have felt. The good news is twofold though:

1) It is not an issue with your heart or your lungs. What wonderful news!

2) Now you know what it is, you can do something about it. You can treat anxiety and I promise you that it can become very manageable.

Take care sweety! ox

Aunty

Veteran

Oh poor you, but you do get to join the wally gang. I have been a member for years:)

If you are suffering from anxiety attacks that is good news in a way. Nothing physicaly wrong which would be great, and you can learn to manage panick attacks. I promise you can, I have and it doe's work.

Sending big hug xxxxxxxxx

ManidipaM

Veteran

Oh, Louise, you're neither wally nor nut job, I don't think! You felt out of sorts, and quickly got medical help to rule out problems --- which is smart, clear-headed thinking. Better a false alarm than a potential problem ignored.

At best, you likely had a one-off anxiety attack that won't happen again --- and could be for any number of reasons from a blood sugar or hormone fluctuation to a little spasm somewhere that your body couldn't iron out.

At worst, it means you have a currently idiopathic issue --- aka, 'no idea what's wrong with you' per the doc! Often (and only if necessary), it's a matter of time, tests and observation to figure it out --- like with atypical seizures, as chewyspaghetti says, or with headache-less migraines (the first time I got one, I thought I was having a stroke!). But don't worry, keep calm (which you're obviously great at even with a panic attack!) and just record any symptoms (even 'just a feeling') if any come up, and that should help in case you have to go back to get it sorted with the docs.

Take care, and please don't feel embarrassed or alone over this. As is evident, we've all had our bodies occasionally puzzle us and the medical establishment for little spurts! Fingers crossed this little 'kink' goes away like a dream and never bothers you again.

Mander

(website)

Veteran

In my humble opinion, anxiety and panic attacks *are* serious conditions! The symptoms you experienced may be "nothing", in the sense that they don't indicate a fatal physical illness, but chronic anxiety and panic attacks can have a major impact on your life.

I've had problems with anxiety and panic on and off for a long time, too, and it is miserable. Fortunately I've been able to improve things but I still have occasional flare-ups, so to speak. There are tons of resources out there, but I have found frequent meditation or relaxation exercises to be very helpful. And I was never able to truly relax until I was properly screened for heart disease, as I do have some risk factors.

A very useful, if counter-intuitive, approach to panic attacks is described here: http://www.panicend.com/
Basically, the idea is to allow and even encourage your fear to be as bad as it can be -- until you realize that it is just fear, and you don't need to be afraid. If that makes any sense...

It is perfectly reasonable to go to the emergency room when you have these feelings, especially if you are not consciously stressed, have not had a panic attack before or recently, or have symptoms that worsen over a short period of time. We live in a culture that emphasizes fear and we are constantly being warned about the dangers of developing heart disease or similar, so it makes sense to have sensations that seem to fit all the symptoms of a serious emergency checked out.