Rheumy appointment sidetracked

[Bronn]

Aw well seen my rheumy today! Well everything got sidetracked today. I suffer with PTSD and panick attacks, as if there isn't enough going on with my body. Arrived early and waiting area jammed packed... panick attack haven. By the time I saw my rheumy (brilliant by the way) I was in a right state. So sorting my panick attacks nightmares and night terrors was uppermost and referral done. Appointment to see rheumy in 4 weeks, so suppose I'll have to put up with the sweats till then. She did say once my chest infection cleared (ye tell me about it, out of hospital with 1 infection cleared to get another) I can go back on Mycophenolate Mofetil then if everything ok I might be able to come off prednisolone 🤞🏻

But.... has nobody any tips on handling the sweats please, they're worse with slightest exursion and for me that's getting into the wheelchair. Any help with dealing with panick attacks would be greatly helpful too.

Gee I've just read through my post and I sound pathetic, I'm not really just been through a heck of a lot.

[whisperit]

What a nightmare! What have you tried for your panic attacks/PTSD to date - and what works? x

[Bronn in reply to whisperit]

I've used relaxation therapy, counting backwards, anything I can do I will do. I'm om Mirtrazpine (hope I've spelt that right). It's so bad at the moment I cannot leave the house without I my husband or son. I'm at my wits end I really need help. I know my rheumy has referred me but we all know how long that will take 👎🏻 I'm not me if you understand. I cannot go anywhere where there are crowds especially men, I've a severe fear of men coming anywhere near me (due to incidents of my past) yes I know not all men are the same but my head will not let me relax around them. Any help greatly received.

[whisperit in reply to Bronn]

Thanks. Have you had specialised counselling at all? I'm thinking of CBT or EMDR (for the PTSD). Another option might be to do some structured self help programmes. The anxietybc.com website is full of good ideas and techniques (although it is so big it can take a while to find your way around). Strangely, the best self-help book on anxiety I have come across is one aimed at children with OCD, called "Breaking Free from OCD" by Jo Derisley. It's designed to be used by a young person with the support of a parent, but it does a very good job of explaining practical ways of using gentle, gradual exposure and realistic goal setting for any anxiety-provoking situations. Hope you find something useful x

[Bronn in reply to whisperit]

I've tried CBT to no avail 🙁 I'll definitely look into anxietybc.com. Thank you 👍🏻

[Hidden]

Things that have helped for me: concentrate on the breath, take deep breaths. Know this feeling will pass. Allow yourself a get out clause, if it gets unbearable I will leave this situation - just knowing I was allowing myself permission to do that helped me stay an extra minute, another extra minute until I'd endured whatever the situation was! Realise that even though you think everyone is looking at you thinking you are a nutter as you panic, no one is paying you the least bit of attention and half of them are probably battling the same problem! Distract yourself, playing mindlessly on your phone helps enormously I found or reading or whatever your distraction of choice is. I find talking to someone on my journey or in the waiting room the best help! If you have to go far or somewhere for a long time break the journey or time down into manageable segments: I'll get to the train station, I'll get to this place, I'll get through my appointment etc. It took a long time for me to widen my comfort zone so I could do the weekly shop for example, but gradually I did. Can't work up yet to getting on a plane that's the next goal! HTH!

[Bronn in reply to Hidden]

Thankyou good luck with plane goal 🤞🏻

[Bake34]

For panic attacks I carry a paper bag and breathe into it, hold over your nose and mouth and just breathe, it is old fashioned but works for me

[Bronn in reply to Bake34]

Thanks Bake34 1 in my bag constant.

[CJ384]

So sorry that you have to deal with panic attacks and so much anxiety on top of everything else. Have you tried EFT (tapping) for the anxiety and PTSD? The organization CTAA has a list of practitioners of EFT/TFT that are certified with them.

[Bronn in reply to CJ384]

Thankyou CJ384 I'm willing to give anything a go. I will definitely try EFT (it'll annoy my husband whose my carer also, but he's willing to help with anything)

[CJ384 in reply to Bronn]

I am a practitioner that was trained by Graham Nicholls. He is based in the UK. He is an amazing instructor and still practices as complementary therapy is his passion. I would venture to say that he and Karen E. Wells are 2 UK based experts in EFT. If you can't get an appointment with him or Karen, they will help you find someone.

[Bronn in reply to CJ384]

Thank you! I'm not usually one for expressing my needs especially on any kind of forum. I am greatly moved by the response/help I've had. Thankou

[Supul]

Hi Bronn

Sorry about your awful symptoms and diagnosis.

I am a retired nurse. For last 8 years I worked in Out Patient Clinics. We had a few people who suffered panic attacks, hospital phobias etc.. they were not expected to sit in a packed waiting room.

I urge you to phone and let the department you need to attend, know of your pre existing difficulties. You should be able to book in then go for a walk, coffee, or be directed to a quiet area. So long as you let staff know on the day, so they can find you when your called, your needs should be accommodated.

Hope this helps. You can only do your best and it sounds as though you are.

[Bronn in reply to Supul]

Thank you Supul, my rheumy clinic is only small, (as in number of patients) but there is a quiet corridor I can wait in but, thoracic clinic is in the same area as several other clinics. It's always manic I have an appointment in 2 weeks so I will phone ahead in the morning, what with chest xray and lung function test before seeing doctor it's a long appointment. I use my mobile phone, either listening to music or playing games to try and distract me as much as possible and rely on my carer for listening for my name being called, and facing my wheelchair away from people. I have the added problem of having an extreme fear of men which doesn't help matters either, good thing I'm able to see a lady rheumy and lady thoracic doctor, I'd say yes my needs are accommodated whenever possible by nhs Thank you for your advice

[Supul]

Your welcome. Hope all goes well at app.