Panic attacks

[Edie]

Anyone have panic attacks? Its like clock work ...every 5 days? Have been taken off Methotrextate due to a dr. giving me a bad combo of meth and nabumatone. All hell broke loose after that.

[Gina_K]

Xanax.

[Edie]

Have been taking that and it helps to a point..but every 5 days like clockwork massive anxiety attacks. Guess I have to just ride it out.Had the seritonin levels just checked . Have to wait and see. Body just went screwy after the bad mixture of meth and Nabumatone. No meds now at all. guess I have to rely on ice.

[Naomi1]

Maybe you can find an alternative medicine for your arthritis. I hope you have a rheumatologist appointment soon.

I had 2 really bad panic attacks about 15 years ago after I'd had some major dental surgery. I'm not surprised you are having them ill health issues can be really stressful. I learnt to control mine by 2 methods and have never had an attack since. Firstly I read up on the physiological basis of what happens to the body during an attack so that I knew logically that I would come to no harm. This in itself helped to prevent the downward spiral of an attack. Secondly when I felt an attack coming on I sat down or lied down so I wasn't afraid of fainting and hurting myself then I breathed deliberately slowly into a paper bag (which corrects the imbalance of gases which contribute to the attack). I had to really concentrate on breathing slowly and on how I was gradually feeling calmer. Once I knew this would work the problem was solved. I do hope this helps...but if not then maybe you could ask your GP for additional help. Good luck Edie. I'd love to hear how it all goes.

[Edie in reply to Naomi1]

Thanks..have a app. in a few weeks. No fatigue..just joint pain in the morning that I never had before. Guess I had it easy until now.Love when all your blood work comes back ok and your not. Thats the tricky thing about auto immune! I know this is from being taken off the meds. Will do the bag thing next attack. Thanks!

[Gina_K]

Edie,

Sorry for short answer earlier, I have had panic attcks before and you have all my sympathies, I read some books by a lady called Claire Weekes, when I first had them in the 80s and found her advice good, don't get afraid just try and float through them, I know it is hard, but perhaps with some counselling you could get to the root of them (which is nearly always fear?) probably fear of dying when you get down to it sorry thats fairly basic and a lot more to panic attacks awful for the sufferer! Maybe make an apt with GP and talk specifically about panic and plan action to deal. You will see my beautiful daughter Jenny in my new prof pic, she suffers terribly from panic attacks, and I am talking paper bag breathing, so you are not alone, it is horribly common.

Take care, this too will pass.

Gina.

[Edie in reply to Gina_K]

Thanks and will do the bag thing. I do know that if you have low seritonin levals this is the reason behind them. 6 hrs. of floating might want me to buy a boat lol.

[Gina_K in reply to Edie]

mental floating through panic attacks takes a lot of practise, it is re iterating to yourself that it will pass, or any mantra. Sorry can't be more help, I did'nt know you could measure seratonin levels? tell me more? I am on Cymbalta since a year after diagnosis, so rarely feel negative ot panicky, my Rheum won't take me off as I am a terrible panicker at heart!

[Hidden]

maybe your gp could prescibe a short course of an ant anxiety drug to help short term?. I am sorry to hear of your problems. and I know taking another drug may be not what you want to do,, but it might help in the short time.. Ra is a scary mean beast for all of us xx

[Edie]

Thanks all...went from no pain at all...to full blown RA. Nabumatone is an anti inflamitory drug. When combined with the methotrextate..it kicked up the meth to a toxic leval and then it was not doing its job for RA. The ER doctor had RA and she looked it up and said that what I was feeling was Chemo effects.Now I know why during this stupid combo the doc gave me was the reason I was feeling more pain in joints.Please all ..go home and look at what they are giving you. Some can take both..in my case I cant take any anti anything with meth. Now will have to suffer till next appointment. I had 6 kids the old fashion way and its like all of a sudden being at a 10 with no warning.I do know that pain brings anxiety..will bag the darn thing lol.Thanks to all for your help.

[Hidden]

I would have thought you could safely take either co-codamol or oramoh.. these are not anti inflammatories but opiate type analgesic pain killers.., nabutamone is not the most commonly used drug it is as you said a nsaid..

Pharmacists know that that these( NSAIDS) can raise the level of methotrexate in your blood, rhuematologists and nurses often ignore this fact and still advise the taking of nsaids.. perhaps they chose the benefits over the risks?

[Hidden]

CBT is proven to be very helpful in managing panic attacks, it teaches you about the how, why, what and when and how to manage them - you can ask your gp to refer you through IAPT. Mind have some very helpful Fact Sheets on Panic Attacks and Anxiety - also some booklets about the same - they are iro £1 and you can order them from the website or by phone

Whether your Panic Attacks are triggered by anxiety or medication, the effects on the autonomic nervous system are the same - the amygdela is activated and the body reacts as if there is a threat to life (fight or flight}. Your heart accelerates, stomach closes down, respiration increases etc etc. The rapid breathing can leave you feeling faint and light headed - people commonly feel that they are going to either have a heart attack or pass out. Essentially, it's like a faulty burglar alarm - it's being triggered by a thought or feeling or possibly reaction to a medication - this 'alarm' trigger readies the body for action (fight or flight) and the body is flooded with adrenaline and cortisol (hence the physical symptoms}. Understanding this goes a long way to managing them.

Any questions about this, just private message me:-}

Cece x