How many of you have experienced panic attack like problems and/or agoraphobic"ish" incidents?

[Wittycjt]

Just curious as I see it mentioned a lot.

[Groovy]

I had what felt like a mini panic attack on Monday- I had palpitations and I felt great anxiety over something. I've never made the link

[Sharon-1972]

I have been having hyperventilating quite a few times lately. I don't know how to stop it.

[MaryF Administrator]

I am sure any medical condition can make stress and anxiety rear it's head, as it can be difficult to live with awful health problems. I will also add that low thyroid function can cause mental health problems, and something frequently missed! MaryF

[donnabrain]

recently have started getting panic attacks

[Lure2]

Also "normal" people get panic attacks I guess.

As Mary says it can be many reasons for it. I have not heard or read of panic attacks as a special symptom of APS. I hope you will try something to get rid of it soon.

Best wishes from Kerstin in Stockholm

[GinaD]

In the months before my diagnosis I used the phrase "panic attack" to describe my subjective feelings while I was in the midst of what would later be diagnosed as mini strokes. but it would be very hard to lump all of the panic attack descriptions into one diagnostic bag as the symptoms are very internal and quite subjective.

[SoulRebel-APS]

I have always had minor problems with being stuck, not necessarily a small place or a large crowd just somebody blocking my path out or thru an area. I developed a highly skilled way to get thru crowds so I dont feel stuck. However, if im n a room or hallway type area and somebody is blocking me from getting out of go from chill to tear you down in about 25 seconds. This is not related to my APS as I have always had this problem. The only additional issues with it thatare due to APS is I dodon't have near the strenght I used to so I will panic quicker and stronger. But still if u insist on blocking me in, I will take I down. I work really hard at controlling it but if its being done to me in purpose!! I will do whatever I need to to get buy u even if it means going through you. Don't trap me, u won't like me when I feel trapped. LOL sad but true. No other problems in that area though.

[Kalykrill]

I have severe panic/anxiety disorder. I am agoraphobic. I leave the house but can't do it for long because I get real bad anxiety.

[ZRHONDA]

I have had panic attacks for 10 years and I have been house bound for 7 years. I am just now starting to be able to go to doctor appointments. I have total home healtcare. My doctor comes to my home, my PT and OT come to my home, they send portable Xray And everything else. I have been truly blessed with the most amazing Healthcare benefits. I think being in the hospital for the last month has helped me overcome some of my phobic behaviors.

[blizzard2014]

I have been having a lot of panic attacks lately. I have always had them, but not this bad. I have been getting a lot of diagnosis for various diseases and it is really taking a mental toll on me. I freak out every time I think about the long term consequences of just eating a piece of bread. I have diabetes and I love to eat. That is a big problem. I go to bed with leg pain in my DVT leg at night and often times lay awake wondering if another clot is forming, and if that newly forming clot is going to kill me. I don't have any control of when these panic attacks will come. I will just be sitting down somewhere, or laying in bed and I will think "you have this and that medical illness, you're going to die!" I sometimes take an extra Warfarin tablet when I freak out, which I know is not a good thing. So far, my INR has never been above a 4.5, which I don't even consider to be in the danger zone. I went for almost three years after my DVT/PE's before I had my first panic attack. I kind of just lived in shock and denial for the first three years. This condition is hard to deal with. Along with the Hughes Syndrome, I have two other confirmed blood clotting disorders. I feel like a ticking time bomb. It is very hard for me to get on with all of this.

My therapist does not understand my valid fears. How could she? She has never had any diseases. She keeps on telling me every time we see one another that many doctors are walking around with medical conditions and are on medications. I would gladly switch places with someone who just has diabetes, or just has a lung disease. The not knowing when blood thinners will fail me (which they do sometimes) and cause a deadly clot is not the same as just having a medical condition that you have to take medications for. At least with the high blood sugar, I can test and reliably treat that. Being on Warfarin is merely a preventative measure. It is not guaranteed to work all of the time. Then there is the 1 percent increase in bleeding risk for every calendar year you're on Warfarin. So after so many years, you are liable to bleed out before you clot. It is enough to make anyone mad. What I suspect is goin on in your case, is that your fears could be bleeding through your subconscious in the form of panic disorder. The mind is very powerful. It can suppress a lot of emotions and fears, but sometimes they can resurface in different ways. Hang in there. You're not alone in all of this.