Hi am a newby, have COPD, suffer from panic attacks when out of my comfort zone . Any one have any remedies?

[delphinium]

[Puffthemagicdragon]

Hi and welcome delphinium. Are the panic attacks because of gasping for breath ?

[delphinium in reply to Puffthemagicdragon]

yes you are right, puffthemagicdragon. it is when i am gasping for breath, but also when i haveto go somewhere new and dont know the layout of the place. also hospital appointments.

[Puffthemagicdragon in reply to delphinium]

I used to get like that on the beginning ( not the outside bit though ) . I found that going against the involuntary action of gasping. Breathing deeper and slower soon got my breath back. Most people on here seem to offer similar advice. Try and stay calm.

[Hidden]

I was just about to ask the same thing. If so see if you can see a respiratory physio or get some pulmonary rehab. Its made a massive difference for me and I can control the gasping for breath type of panic attacks much better now. If you can get control of your breathing you should be able to keep these at bay.

Marie x

[pedantic]

Hello Delphinium.When you start to feel panicky try sitting down, inhale through your nose for 4-5 seconds then exhale for 8-10 seconds through pursed lips.repeat as many times as you wish.hope this helps xx

[Jo_BLFHelpline British Lung Foundation]

Hi Delphinium

Welcome to the forum, i am sure you will find lots of good advice and support on here.

We have a very good booklet about anxiety (link below)

blf.org.uk/Publication/Deta...

Other good support options are: anxietyuk.org.uk/ and nopanic.org.uk/

It is not unusual to feel anxious when you have a breathing condition - if you would like to chat call us on 03000 030 555 - Helen our counsellor is more than happy to talk and she has some very good information on anxiety she can arrange to send you.

Best Wishes

Jo

[pollyjj]

Hi Delphinium panic attacks can be caused by many things, mine were not to do with my breathing but the way I felt inside. I found cognative therapy very helpful and although the panic attacks are not cured I dont get them very often now and know how to deal with them if I do get one.

Also always have your reliever inhaler with you.

polly

[Bronch1noGO]

I also suffer panic attacks and if I feel one "starting" I pick up my cross stitch as I need to concentrate whilst stitching it has a very relaxing result taking my mind off my breathing struggles, many a night I'm up stitching and fall asleep in the chair. Try something as a distraction maybe sewing, reading even singing helps on occasions. As others say being in control is the key.

Karen

X

[Hidden]

I do not really have panic attacks but I do have periods of higher anxiety. I use the "magic journey" that I was taught on a course years ago, using visualisation techniques to walk a beach and feel the calm that I need. Works well for me.

[chrisdav]

when I get panic attacks standing barefoot on a cold floor works for me every time

[Hidden]

Hi Delphinium, sorry I don't have any advice about panic attacks, but dry this if you get a paper bag try breathing in and out through the bag, I like you have copd, I just wrote in to say Hi & welcome there are some great people here.

Take care

redmod

[wishoz]

It helps to know that there are others who suffer the dreaded 'panics' - till joining I thought I was the only weak willed wally - main advice for me so far has been to accept the breathlessness as norm - think the 'trying not to get breathless' has been the root of the panic - so now trying to accept and go along with it - may be a heyho here we go and a bit of a giggle while we puff will calm the anxiety - will let you know my progress .

wishoz

[libbygood]

I get panic attacks and have had them in pubs, on coaches but now I seem to only get them at home maybe because I don't go in pubs or on coaches anymore. Mine always come on after food usually lunch, I do as wishoz I go along with it, I know it's going to be over in 20/30 mins. so I focus on trying to breath slowly and just let it happen. I will try the standing barefoot on a cold floor though !

Libby x

[libby7827]

Hi, (I'm a different Libby than libbygood!) I used to have major panic attacks when I got out of breath, so much so that I was hospitalised a number of times on my last legs. They subsided for around two years but in the past four or five weeks they have come back with a vengeance. I get them for any reason, someone knocking at the door, or even the phone ringing, I think (and hope) they are subsiding slightly, although I never leave the house anymore. At the slightest hint of becoming breathless and therefore anxious I do the breathing trick, slowly in through the nose for the count of two and out through the mouth for the count of four and this helps immensely but once the attack has started it's virtually impossible to control your breathing, as you'll know, so you have to do it before it gets a hold. I was also prescribed Lorazepam a couple of years ago, half a 1mg tablet under the tongue at the onset of a panic attack. This is only to be used in emergencies as it can be dangerous for copd sufferers if taken too often and is also addictive if taken regularly. My lung specialist had to persuade my gp to give me them but he did in the end. These helped enormously in the beginning, but don't seem to work quite so well now. The trick is to try and gain control as the slightest hint of the anxiety and, as others have said, a distraction helps. Having said all this, I am still seeking a more permanent answer myself as it is just making my life even more unbearable. I've even tried shouting at myself, I was shouting "go away" the other day when my son walked it! He though I meant him, but I was shouting at my anxiety!! Try the breathing trick and speak to your doctor. Good luck!

[Hidden in reply to libby7827]

Hi Libby you seem to be having a bad time of it. Do you have agrophobia?

Bev x

[libby7827 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Bev, thanks for your message. No I don't have agoraphobia, I wish I could get out more, but it's all too much trouble these days because of the advanced stage of the emphysema. I remember well the coughing/choking fits around 5/6 years ago, so imagine you must be at a much earlier stage than me. I hope you've stopped smoking (if you ever did), I wish I'd stopped in the early stages, I'd tried and failed many times but when I eventually did it was so easy! It's a horrible disease and anything you can do to slow it down is well worth it. Thanks again. Libby

[Hidden in reply to libby7827]

Hi Libby. Wasn't sure afterwards if I should have asked you that question. Glad you weren't offended!

I understand what you are saying and fortunately my illness is not at at the stage yours is. But even before I was diagnosed with COPD I had lots of coughing/choking fits in public because of smoking related chest infections. I still do but not as much. They were/are embarrassing but I just brazen them out now. Whenever I am with new people they always comment on my cough - but after a while they stop. My friends ignore it but sometimes take the mickey! I just join in the joke taking (when I have stopped coughing )

Bev x

[libby7827 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Bev, thanks for your reply. I was the same, had a cough for many years before I was diagnosed. I was once in a clothes shop changing room when I heard "Libby?" from outside the curtain - it was a friend who had recognised my coughing!! Anyway, after I replied before, it occurred to me that I should have mentioned some capsules called Carbocisteine 9en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbo... that thin mucus, I wish I'd had them years ago. You should ask your doctor for a prescription if you don't already use them - they make an amazing difference. Try and give up those last few cigs - even after you give up emphysema continues to worsen, but it does slow down. Nag,nag, nag! Good luck! Libby

[Hidden in reply to libby7827]

Thanks libbynag Those capsules sound exactly what I need and will definately ask for some. Thank you very much. Will let you know how I get on.

Bev xx

[Hidden]

Hi If I am going anywhere, especially new I make sure I take my inhalers beforehand. I also use my blue ventolin if I feel an attack coming on.

I did have a bad coughing fit on the bus and a couple of people were concerned. I told them I had COPD which was a respiratory condition. They were very sympathetic and I felt empowered by telling them.

Also I know its difficult but try and stay calm and deep breathe. And most of all don't be embarrassed - after all its not your fault and who cares what people think!

Hope this helps.

Bev xx

[noah]

hi i just want to say i too suffer panick attacks they are not nice at all if i get aggitated with door knocking noises anything sets me of and iv had it i get an attack so understand where your coming from libby but recently i have been suffering hallusinations its horrible i keep thinking i see things moving past me the other day i asked my husband why had we got green lines in the sky really stupid and i see people with no eyes just the wholes i think im going crazy here i have phoned for my nurse to contact me but as yet nothing as usual also i seem to be losing use of my legs does anyone else have this problem i do excersize them but its quite painful i also dont go out the thought of it scares me and i dont know why oh well rant over enough about me i know all of you have your own problems and i really feel for you all so take care now bless you ......jan xx

[Hidden in reply to noah]

Oh thats awful noah. Panic attacks are nasty enough but seeing hallucinations - yuck to me thats a lot worse. And you are not ranting at all love!

Bev x

[kenneth74]

Hi, some excellent advice on here, as usual!

Another trick is smelling salts. You can make them yourself with a favourite aromatherapy oil (Lavender is calming) and plain old rock salt from the supermarket. Just put the salt in a container and add a few drops. I make them for my mum who swears by them as they help her breathing, panic attacks and dizziness.

Jane. x

[andrewt4783]

Hi, Im a newbie too. My sabutamol inhaler makes my panic attacks worse which sometimes brings on ptsd flashbacks. I really try not to use my inhaler but as time goes on its getting harder. I have had ptsd for 25 years and was diagnosed with copd 2 years ago..... not a great combination.

[libby7827 in reply to andrewt4783]

Hi Andrew, I was very interested in your comment. Last night I was looking up all my drugs to see if any of them could cause/exacerbate my panic attacks and lo and behold, some of them can. I started wondering about it as sometimes my attacks have a root cause, such as being really breathless, but sometimes they come out of the blue. I spent all day Tuesday shaking like a leaf inside and eventually having two big panic attacks within 90 minutes. As I have advanced emphysema, I don't really know what the answer is, I couldn't possibly manage without my medications.Will speak to the doctor, but my questions will probably be met with "um", "er" and the occasional grunt, as usual! I do have lorazepam for urgent use only (half a 1mg tablet under the tongue), but they don't seem to be working as well as they used to and it's taking longer for the attacks to subside. What's the answer?

[johnwr]

Hello delphinium,

Panic and breathlessness attacks are horrible. I know. I've been there. Think about this,if you get distressed to the point where someone calls a ambulance. They will treat you and get you stabilised before moving you to hospital or leave you at home as the situation demands. How do they stabilise you? They will sit you down, and tell you to breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth. While this is going on they will be preparing a nebuliser with salbutamol (Ventolin) and ipratropium bromide (Atrovent) for you. Once the mask is in place, then they will start driving the nebuliser with oxygen, and may connect you to an ECG reader to get a trace of what your heart is doing. Usually within a few minutes, you settle,and very quickly return to normal. After the nebuliser has finished. and they have your details noted, a decision is made about taking you to hospital or maybe not.

So what is going on here? Getting you sat down is number one, you use less energy and therefore have a lower demand for oxygen when sat and comfortable rather the stood or lying uncomfortable on the floor. Second , they try to get you breathing with a better technique. Breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth encourages you to breathe using your diaphragm rather than just chest expansion which happens when panting or gasping through the mouth. Third, use of nebuliser and drugs with O2. The O2 just generally helps to take the workload off your heart and lungs by getting your saturated O2 level up as quickly as possible. The Ventolin helps by opening your airways. If there is a side effect of making your heart rate go up this should not be a problem so long as your heart is in good order. The Atrovent is the magic bullet here. It helps to calm you, and helps to control your breathing.It is also quick acting, but it is short lived in the body.

So what can we learn from this. Well I carry Ventolin and Atrovent as inhalers in my pocket. Have a serious discussion with your respiratory nurse about what inhalers are available and what might be better for you. Also discuss breathing techniques and practise them.

breathe easy

Johnwr