Does anyone get panicky like me?

[Jays24]

I have COPD and I have had a bad cold and sinus problems for a while so tomorrow I am forcing myself to go to the surgery which I hate. I live alone, get very panicky sometimes over pretty much anything! Any support help or advice would be so welcome.

[pergola1]

Jays, believe me if I lived anywhere near you, I would come with you. I do have a lovely GP whom I will miss when I move. You need to find a GP that you feel comfortable. Working in hospitals gave me confidence whenever I go but the staff should recognise if you are feeling nervous. Thats my viewpoint but I am sure you will get lots more helpful advice than mine. xx

[Jays24 in reply to pergola1]

Thank you so much for your speedy reply - I am seeing the triage? nurse who does the lung stuff. She is the only one available tomorrow and I dont want to go through the weekend feeling worse than I do. I am sure she means well,however I dont find this particular nurse at all reassuring and I almost think she gets some satisfaction out of telling people they have lung problems. Thats probably me being neurotic but I guess she hasn't got the doctors bedside manner , she is always very pleasant but not at all reassuring. I will let you know how it goes. Many thanks

[butter-fly]

Not surprised you get panicky Jays24. Anything that restricts breathing will do that every time. Just make sure you go to the surgery and make sure the doc listens to you. I was like you and missed out on things that could have helped me cope better. You especially need help with your infection or at least some advice about it. Being alone doesn't help at all. Keep in touch with the great people here and ring the BLF helpline for reassurance and guidance. They are wonderful and just a call away. Take care Sara.

[Jays24 in reply to butter-fly]

Thank you so much for your response and kind words, which are very reassuring. I hate myself when I get like this, and feel such a drip for not being able to keep on top of things. Kind Regards Jx

[123podmore]

don't think like that, just think positive ,you need to tell your doctor how you feel ,good luck love

[tomc]

I agree with 123podmore.

It is your health and wellbeing and you deserve to be treated with respect and honesty.

Go to your GP and talk through your concerns and most of all, get answers.

Tom.

[becraftygirl]

hi jays u are not alone hun

think if we all tell the truth ion here we all panic especially if we cant breath and get bit panicky

natural reaction although if you try to do your breathing excercises to help you get back on track it will help a lot for you do it when u are well so that you knopwe exactly what to do hope this helps we are all here to help each other

[Jays24 in reply to becraftygirl]

I have never been advised about any exercises although I have had COPD for at least five years and have gone to the nurse at the health centre for breathing tests each year. Mean of me I expect but I get the feeling that I am just this character on the computer that needs testing and issued with prescriptions as required. The nurse is friendly enough, but doesn't seem to want to answer any questions that she didn't instigate. Oh well, I do feel better than I did last week so bash on regardless. Any advice re exercises would be

most welcome

[Jays24 in reply to becraftygirl]

Please could you tell me what exercises to do, I have never been advised on this and haven't a clue! Many thanks

[nannyb]

Hi Jays, please don't feel alone, There are some wonderful people on this site, who will have a chat anytime. I panic a lot too most days. a trip to the doc's is a good idea, you might need something to shift the cold. speak soon, take care Nannyb xx

[Hidden]

Hi it is easy to say, however the worst thing you can do is panic. It "will" get worse. Try to sit down and control your breathing, long slow outward breaths clearing your lungs followed by slow deliberate intake, repeat. Try to clear those negative thoughts and focus on how good you will feel after you have been to your surgery. Stay calm and keep well.

[longlungs]

Hi Jays24 wishing you a warm welcome to this friendly helpful forum.Yes I do all the time I hate it.Last week I was going upstairs and got into a state my son said ,"you alright mum,why you getting in a state,just think how much exercising you can do and get puffy but you dont go getting in a state like this" he is right of course,so everytime since when those horrid times start to happen i keep telling myself that,it helps me a little to focus and to breathe properly and not just gasp for air.Ithink a trip to your doc sounds good ask about PR courses that help tremendously and cover everything.Also if you click on the red balloon at top of page here you will get tel no. of BLF and they are brilliant to talk to and help point you in the right direction.Come and talk on here with us all.Let us know how it goes at the docsand you get some good meds to get rid of your infection.See you soon Janexx

[knitter in reply to longlungs]

Hi long lungs , I thought of your son's advice this morning....I managed to get to the top of the stairs and then panicked.....mind over matter and it worked ...just breathed gently through the panic. Thanks very much to you both

[longlungs in reply to knitter]

Well done knitter Im the same when i get to the top but like you did i then breathe trying to make sure im pushing my tummy out as i breathe in as it doesnt come naturally to me yet.Its so good having each other here it really does help doesnt it? see you soon Janexx

[Dedalus]

Ask your GP to refer you to the Respiratory Team in your area - once you are registered with them you can call them at any time with any doubts, fears etc and they will give you 'rescue meds' to have on-hand, as well as come to your home to assess you if necessary. I find my Respiratory Team much more knowledgeable and helpful about my condition than my GP/nurse etc.

[Hidden]

Great advice from Jane,& others,I am sure most of us have been there,if we are honest!

The main thing is to get that breathing under control,make sure your shoulders are DOWN,as we are inclined to hunch them up in panic.Try sitting in front of a mirror,so you can see yourself,use the pursed lip breathing,& watch those shoulders.It will become automatic in time,believe me!

As for Nurse ratshid,tell her you neeed some positive feedback,it MIGHT make her stop & think!

Good luck with it all,love Wendells xxx

[Jays24]

Hope this reply will get to all the wonderful, caring and reassuring people that responded to my message. I have just got back from the health centre, I now have antibiotics, a new inhalor and some other pills which I shall be reading up about on the internet in a minute!!. Also I am going to have an ECG next week, which I am quite happy about as I have often wondered if my panicky breathing problems have anything to do with my heart.

I took you and all your messages with me on my Kindle to the health centre, a bit like a group of supporters!, and I cannot thank you enough for your concern, I tend to get locked inside myself (hope that makes sense) and to know that there is so much kindness out there is quite overwhelming

Enough about me, Happy Valentines Day to you all, dont go out unless you have to, certainly here the wind and rain is horrendous. Many thanks once again. Kind Regards J.

[sassy59]

Hi Jays 24, just wanting to wish you well when you see your GP. Tell him everything and explain how you feel. BLF helpline is a good place for help and advice too. Take care. xxxx

[Jays24]

Hi I am new to this so I am hoping that the message I have left for all the kind people that contacted me get to see my message. Please could you kindly let me know if you can see it. Many thanks

[grandadbrian in reply to Jays24]

Loud and clear Jays - take care.

[rick1]

Before going to see G.P.,make a note of the question's you want to ask him/she, that is what I do if I have some question's to ask!

[Hidden]

just reading through some posts on here, and came across this one, I too have had very panicky times, like not being able to breathe properly. I remember sitting on the stairs one morning some years ago and saying to my son 'I don't want to die!' and he took me to the A&E and I went on the nebuliser for half an hour. Thankfully, since I stopped smoking a year ago I have not had need for the nebuliser, but quite a few times have had to go straight to A&E and then had one at home. It is very frightening when you can't breathe, no one knows unless they've suffered. But with the right medication, and support from doctors and nurses etc., it can be managed. My best thing was to stop smoking, though I know there are people on here who don't smoke.(copd is NOT just caused through smoking). I wish you all the best, you are not alone, although we all feel alone at times. This site is wonderful.

[Jays24 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your message, since going to the Health centre on Friday, I do feel a lot better and the anti-biotics etc are working. I smoked until 5/6 years ago and was diagnosed with COPD, I dont however feel I have had any real advice, support etc from the medical profession. I was going once a year for breathing tests etc and quite frankly, I dreaded it each time and was always glad to get out. it seems to be taken as gospel that if one has smoked and is then unwell, its because of the fags, which it probably is, but nothing else seems to be looked into, just a bit of moan on my part!! I have never been diagnosed by a doctor, only the practitioner nurse who doesn't seem very interested in anything other than doing tests and issuing prescriptions. Thanks once again for your kind comments and hope you are not living in the terrible floods. J