Panic Attacks

L

ladybug

New member
Marci,

I'm sorry to hear you're going through this. I have been diagnosed with anxiety and panic disorder due to a medical condition. The medical and CF stuff is essentially the ONLY thing that causes me to panic. When I think it isn't, I jsut look at what I'm afraid of and its always CF-related. For example, I fear getting visitors for any extended amount of time. I thought it was just cause I was anxious and want everything to be perfect, but in fact its because I'm terrified of getting rundown and my CF getting worse and never getting back lung function I loose cause I'm sick cause I've been rundown (cause of my visitors). Its a vicious circle.

Nothing has helped me for this anxiety, unfortunately... though I have tried pills and docs, counselors, etc. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0"> I do take a small dose of xanax when it gets really bad. This is the only med that I have found to help take the edge off. My anxiety and panic could easily breakthrough the ativan or valium. I guess its just what you find works for you.

With regard to being afraid of an allergic reaction, I read the title of your post and was immediately drawn in. I am currently on I.V. abx for nearly two weeks now. I have been told by nurses that around day 7-14 is usually when your antibodies attack (if they're going to) causing an allergic reaction... Even if you've never had a reaction before. This causes me great stress and fear. I had a reaction once on zosyn after 10 days of the med and was so sick with hives, etc. that I landed in the ER and itched for WEEKS. it was horrible. Because of that, I'm terrified of an allergic reaction.

Now, whenever I have an itch somewhere on my body I panic. If my head itches (that's where my reaction started), I think I am going to wake up red and swollen, so I don't sleep at all. Its horrible. I'm not even on that class of drug and yet I angst over it constantly. It stinks.

So, though I don't know what more to say or words to offer, I just want you to know you're not alone in your fear of such a reaction or obsessing over it. I think its natural when we've had a "traumatic" experience with anything to fear it just "popping up" again without warning. I personally feel that is the worst part of this disease... the not knowing and the fear that at any time any aspect could go from good to worse. Urgh.

I know that probably didn't help much, but just know you're not alone. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Hugs.
 
L

ladybug

New member
Marci,

I'm sorry to hear you're going through this. I have been diagnosed with anxiety and panic disorder due to a medical condition. The medical and CF stuff is essentially the ONLY thing that causes me to panic. When I think it isn't, I jsut look at what I'm afraid of and its always CF-related. For example, I fear getting visitors for any extended amount of time. I thought it was just cause I was anxious and want everything to be perfect, but in fact its because I'm terrified of getting rundown and my CF getting worse and never getting back lung function I loose cause I'm sick cause I've been rundown (cause of my visitors). Its a vicious circle.

Nothing has helped me for this anxiety, unfortunately... though I have tried pills and docs, counselors, etc. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0"> I do take a small dose of xanax when it gets really bad. This is the only med that I have found to help take the edge off. My anxiety and panic could easily breakthrough the ativan or valium. I guess its just what you find works for you.

With regard to being afraid of an allergic reaction, I read the title of your post and was immediately drawn in. I am currently on I.V. abx for nearly two weeks now. I have been told by nurses that around day 7-14 is usually when your antibodies attack (if they're going to) causing an allergic reaction... Even if you've never had a reaction before. This causes me great stress and fear. I had a reaction once on zosyn after 10 days of the med and was so sick with hives, etc. that I landed in the ER and itched for WEEKS. it was horrible. Because of that, I'm terrified of an allergic reaction.

Now, whenever I have an itch somewhere on my body I panic. If my head itches (that's where my reaction started), I think I am going to wake up red and swollen, so I don't sleep at all. Its horrible. I'm not even on that class of drug and yet I angst over it constantly. It stinks.

So, though I don't know what more to say or words to offer, I just want you to know you're not alone in your fear of such a reaction or obsessing over it. I think its natural when we've had a "traumatic" experience with anything to fear it just "popping up" again without warning. I personally feel that is the worst part of this disease... the not knowing and the fear that at any time any aspect could go from good to worse. Urgh.

I know that probably didn't help much, but just know you're not alone. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Hugs.
 
L

ladybug

New member
Marci,

I'm sorry to hear you're going through this. I have been diagnosed with anxiety and panic disorder due to a medical condition. The medical and CF stuff is essentially the ONLY thing that causes me to panic. When I think it isn't, I jsut look at what I'm afraid of and its always CF-related. For example, I fear getting visitors for any extended amount of time. I thought it was just cause I was anxious and want everything to be perfect, but in fact its because I'm terrified of getting rundown and my CF getting worse and never getting back lung function I loose cause I'm sick cause I've been rundown (cause of my visitors). Its a vicious circle.

Nothing has helped me for this anxiety, unfortunately... though I have tried pills and docs, counselors, etc. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0"> I do take a small dose of xanax when it gets really bad. This is the only med that I have found to help take the edge off. My anxiety and panic could easily breakthrough the ativan or valium. I guess its just what you find works for you.

With regard to being afraid of an allergic reaction, I read the title of your post and was immediately drawn in. I am currently on I.V. abx for nearly two weeks now. I have been told by nurses that around day 7-14 is usually when your antibodies attack (if they're going to) causing an allergic reaction... Even if you've never had a reaction before. This causes me great stress and fear. I had a reaction once on zosyn after 10 days of the med and was so sick with hives, etc. that I landed in the ER and itched for WEEKS. it was horrible. Because of that, I'm terrified of an allergic reaction.

Now, whenever I have an itch somewhere on my body I panic. If my head itches (that's where my reaction started), I think I am going to wake up red and swollen, so I don't sleep at all. Its horrible. I'm not even on that class of drug and yet I angst over it constantly. It stinks.

So, though I don't know what more to say or words to offer, I just want you to know you're not alone in your fear of such a reaction or obsessing over it. I think its natural when we've had a "traumatic" experience with anything to fear it just "popping up" again without warning. I personally feel that is the worst part of this disease... the not knowing and the fear that at any time any aspect could go from good to worse. Urgh.

I know that probably didn't help much, but just know you're not alone. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Hugs.
 
L

ladybug

New member
Marci,

I'm sorry to hear you're going through this. I have been diagnosed with anxiety and panic disorder due to a medical condition. The medical and CF stuff is essentially the ONLY thing that causes me to panic. When I think it isn't, I jsut look at what I'm afraid of and its always CF-related. For example, I fear getting visitors for any extended amount of time. I thought it was just cause I was anxious and want everything to be perfect, but in fact its because I'm terrified of getting rundown and my CF getting worse and never getting back lung function I loose cause I'm sick cause I've been rundown (cause of my visitors). Its a vicious circle.

Nothing has helped me for this anxiety, unfortunately... though I have tried pills and docs, counselors, etc. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0"> I do take a small dose of xanax when it gets really bad. This is the only med that I have found to help take the edge off. My anxiety and panic could easily breakthrough the ativan or valium. I guess its just what you find works for you.

With regard to being afraid of an allergic reaction, I read the title of your post and was immediately drawn in. I am currently on I.V. abx for nearly two weeks now. I have been told by nurses that around day 7-14 is usually when your antibodies attack (if they're going to) causing an allergic reaction... Even if you've never had a reaction before. This causes me great stress and fear. I had a reaction once on zosyn after 10 days of the med and was so sick with hives, etc. that I landed in the ER and itched for WEEKS. it was horrible. Because of that, I'm terrified of an allergic reaction.

Now, whenever I have an itch somewhere on my body I panic. If my head itches (that's where my reaction started), I think I am going to wake up red and swollen, so I don't sleep at all. Its horrible. I'm not even on that class of drug and yet I angst over it constantly. It stinks.

So, though I don't know what more to say or words to offer, I just want you to know you're not alone in your fear of such a reaction or obsessing over it. I think its natural when we've had a "traumatic" experience with anything to fear it just "popping up" again without warning. I personally feel that is the worst part of this disease... the not knowing and the fear that at any time any aspect could go from good to worse. Urgh.

I know that probably didn't help much, but just know you're not alone. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Hugs.
 
L

ladybug

New member
Marci,
<br />
<br />I'm sorry to hear you're going through this. I have been diagnosed with anxiety and panic disorder due to a medical condition. The medical and CF stuff is essentially the ONLY thing that causes me to panic. When I think it isn't, I jsut look at what I'm afraid of and its always CF-related. For example, I fear getting visitors for any extended amount of time. I thought it was just cause I was anxious and want everything to be perfect, but in fact its because I'm terrified of getting rundown and my CF getting worse and never getting back lung function I loose cause I'm sick cause I've been rundown (cause of my visitors). Its a vicious circle.
<br />
<br />Nothing has helped me for this anxiety, unfortunately... though I have tried pills and docs, counselors, etc. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0"> I do take a small dose of xanax when it gets really bad. This is the only med that I have found to help take the edge off. My anxiety and panic could easily breakthrough the ativan or valium. I guess its just what you find works for you.
<br />
<br />With regard to being afraid of an allergic reaction, I read the title of your post and was immediately drawn in. I am currently on I.V. abx for nearly two weeks now. I have been told by nurses that around day 7-14 is usually when your antibodies attack (if they're going to) causing an allergic reaction... Even if you've never had a reaction before. This causes me great stress and fear. I had a reaction once on zosyn after 10 days of the med and was so sick with hives, etc. that I landed in the ER and itched for WEEKS. it was horrible. Because of that, I'm terrified of an allergic reaction.
<br />
<br />Now, whenever I have an itch somewhere on my body I panic. If my head itches (that's where my reaction started), I think I am going to wake up red and swollen, so I don't sleep at all. Its horrible. I'm not even on that class of drug and yet I angst over it constantly. It stinks.
<br />
<br />So, though I don't know what more to say or words to offer, I just want you to know you're not alone in your fear of such a reaction or obsessing over it. I think its natural when we've had a "traumatic" experience with anything to fear it just "popping up" again without warning. I personally feel that is the worst part of this disease... the not knowing and the fear that at any time any aspect could go from good to worse. Urgh.
<br />
<br />I know that probably didn't help much, but just know you're not alone. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0"> Hugs.
 
S

Skye

New member
Wow.....how awful to deal with all this CF stuff and to also deal with the anxiety that goes with it. Thank you all for sharing. I had no idea that CFers were dealing with these kinds of drug anxieties. My husband has panic attacks where he thinks he is having a heart attack and they are horrible for him. Usually me talking to him helps him through.

I have never had anxieties related to meds.....my anxiety comes with making choices about treatments. I often feel the choices are left up to me and that I have to push or I have to think of all the right questions to get to the right answers for treatment so that I don't lose lung function. If I make a wrong decision or I see a change in my FEV1 I always blame myself and feel like I didn't do enough to get the answers I needed. Wow....now that I write that out I realize that I am putting a lot of stress on myself.
 
S

Skye

New member
Wow.....how awful to deal with all this CF stuff and to also deal with the anxiety that goes with it. Thank you all for sharing. I had no idea that CFers were dealing with these kinds of drug anxieties. My husband has panic attacks where he thinks he is having a heart attack and they are horrible for him. Usually me talking to him helps him through.

I have never had anxieties related to meds.....my anxiety comes with making choices about treatments. I often feel the choices are left up to me and that I have to push or I have to think of all the right questions to get to the right answers for treatment so that I don't lose lung function. If I make a wrong decision or I see a change in my FEV1 I always blame myself and feel like I didn't do enough to get the answers I needed. Wow....now that I write that out I realize that I am putting a lot of stress on myself.
 
S

Skye

New member
Wow.....how awful to deal with all this CF stuff and to also deal with the anxiety that goes with it. Thank you all for sharing. I had no idea that CFers were dealing with these kinds of drug anxieties. My husband has panic attacks where he thinks he is having a heart attack and they are horrible for him. Usually me talking to him helps him through.

I have never had anxieties related to meds.....my anxiety comes with making choices about treatments. I often feel the choices are left up to me and that I have to push or I have to think of all the right questions to get to the right answers for treatment so that I don't lose lung function. If I make a wrong decision or I see a change in my FEV1 I always blame myself and feel like I didn't do enough to get the answers I needed. Wow....now that I write that out I realize that I am putting a lot of stress on myself.
 
S

Skye

New member
Wow.....how awful to deal with all this CF stuff and to also deal with the anxiety that goes with it. Thank you all for sharing. I had no idea that CFers were dealing with these kinds of drug anxieties. My husband has panic attacks where he thinks he is having a heart attack and they are horrible for him. Usually me talking to him helps him through.

I have never had anxieties related to meds.....my anxiety comes with making choices about treatments. I often feel the choices are left up to me and that I have to push or I have to think of all the right questions to get to the right answers for treatment so that I don't lose lung function. If I make a wrong decision or I see a change in my FEV1 I always blame myself and feel like I didn't do enough to get the answers I needed. Wow....now that I write that out I realize that I am putting a lot of stress on myself.
 
S

Skye

New member
Wow.....how awful to deal with all this CF stuff and to also deal with the anxiety that goes with it. Thank you all for sharing. I had no idea that CFers were dealing with these kinds of drug anxieties. My husband has panic attacks where he thinks he is having a heart attack and they are horrible for him. Usually me talking to him helps him through.
<br />
<br />I have never had anxieties related to meds.....my anxiety comes with making choices about treatments. I often feel the choices are left up to me and that I have to push or I have to think of all the right questions to get to the right answers for treatment so that I don't lose lung function. If I make a wrong decision or I see a change in my FEV1 I always blame myself and feel like I didn't do enough to get the answers I needed. Wow....now that I write that out I realize that I am putting a lot of stress on myself.
 
M

marcijo

Guest
Thanks you guys-it makes me feel good to know that I am not alone in this. I can handle my panic attacks so far-and now that I know what they are I can talk myself out of them-but they are no fun. I do think that exercise helps me-I haven't been able to get my walks in for the past week and I think that has increased them this past week. I really hate to go on even more meds (i.e. Zoloft) to fix these-but I will if I have to.
My allergic reaction to Sulfa happened 5 days into my course of meds and I woke up in the middle of the night with my fingers and lips swollen and huge swollen patches all over me that turned into hives for about a week-it was scary. This reaction to augmentin was totally different-affecting my blood pressure, etc. That one really scared me because my doctor said it was more life threatening. As I was going through it (there was about 10 minutes where I was really out of it) I thought I was never going to see my kids again.
I think the part that bothers me the most is knowing that my body can turn on me like that-it really scares me! I often wake up at night freaked out that I am having it happen again-and I am not on any new meds! I tell myself I just need to get over it but I just can't.
 
M

marcijo

Guest
Thanks you guys-it makes me feel good to know that I am not alone in this. I can handle my panic attacks so far-and now that I know what they are I can talk myself out of them-but they are no fun. I do think that exercise helps me-I haven't been able to get my walks in for the past week and I think that has increased them this past week. I really hate to go on even more meds (i.e. Zoloft) to fix these-but I will if I have to.
My allergic reaction to Sulfa happened 5 days into my course of meds and I woke up in the middle of the night with my fingers and lips swollen and huge swollen patches all over me that turned into hives for about a week-it was scary. This reaction to augmentin was totally different-affecting my blood pressure, etc. That one really scared me because my doctor said it was more life threatening. As I was going through it (there was about 10 minutes where I was really out of it) I thought I was never going to see my kids again.
I think the part that bothers me the most is knowing that my body can turn on me like that-it really scares me! I often wake up at night freaked out that I am having it happen again-and I am not on any new meds! I tell myself I just need to get over it but I just can't.
 
M

marcijo

Guest
Thanks you guys-it makes me feel good to know that I am not alone in this. I can handle my panic attacks so far-and now that I know what they are I can talk myself out of them-but they are no fun. I do think that exercise helps me-I haven't been able to get my walks in for the past week and I think that has increased them this past week. I really hate to go on even more meds (i.e. Zoloft) to fix these-but I will if I have to.
My allergic reaction to Sulfa happened 5 days into my course of meds and I woke up in the middle of the night with my fingers and lips swollen and huge swollen patches all over me that turned into hives for about a week-it was scary. This reaction to augmentin was totally different-affecting my blood pressure, etc. That one really scared me because my doctor said it was more life threatening. As I was going through it (there was about 10 minutes where I was really out of it) I thought I was never going to see my kids again.
I think the part that bothers me the most is knowing that my body can turn on me like that-it really scares me! I often wake up at night freaked out that I am having it happen again-and I am not on any new meds! I tell myself I just need to get over it but I just can't.
 
M

marcijo

Guest
Thanks you guys-it makes me feel good to know that I am not alone in this. I can handle my panic attacks so far-and now that I know what they are I can talk myself out of them-but they are no fun. I do think that exercise helps me-I haven't been able to get my walks in for the past week and I think that has increased them this past week. I really hate to go on even more meds (i.e. Zoloft) to fix these-but I will if I have to.
My allergic reaction to Sulfa happened 5 days into my course of meds and I woke up in the middle of the night with my fingers and lips swollen and huge swollen patches all over me that turned into hives for about a week-it was scary. This reaction to augmentin was totally different-affecting my blood pressure, etc. That one really scared me because my doctor said it was more life threatening. As I was going through it (there was about 10 minutes where I was really out of it) I thought I was never going to see my kids again.
I think the part that bothers me the most is knowing that my body can turn on me like that-it really scares me! I often wake up at night freaked out that I am having it happen again-and I am not on any new meds! I tell myself I just need to get over it but I just can't.
 
M

marcijo

Guest
Thanks you guys-it makes me feel good to know that I am not alone in this. I can handle my panic attacks so far-and now that I know what they are I can talk myself out of them-but they are no fun. I do think that exercise helps me-I haven't been able to get my walks in for the past week and I think that has increased them this past week. I really hate to go on even more meds (i.e. Zoloft) to fix these-but I will if I have to.
<br />My allergic reaction to Sulfa happened 5 days into my course of meds and I woke up in the middle of the night with my fingers and lips swollen and huge swollen patches all over me that turned into hives for about a week-it was scary. This reaction to augmentin was totally different-affecting my blood pressure, etc. That one really scared me because my doctor said it was more life threatening. As I was going through it (there was about 10 minutes where I was really out of it) I thought I was never going to see my kids again.
<br />I think the part that bothers me the most is knowing that my body can turn on me like that-it really scares me! I often wake up at night freaked out that I am having it happen again-and I am not on any new meds! I tell myself I just need to get over it but I just can't.
 
H

Havoc

New member
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>JasonDBrown</b></i>

*don't take Xanax, it will cause sezures when you try to free yourself from it, and can actually put you in worse condition. Valium, or Diazepam doesn't have these ill effects.</end quote></div>

Not true, Xanax and Valium are both benzodiazepines, and they can both cause seizures if you stop the medication rapidly (although this usually requires a very rapid withdrawal like you get when you give an antagonist like flumazenil. Speaking of flumazenil, it's often given to reverse anesthesia, so if you take benzos regularly make sure your anesthesiologist know this.). They will definitely give you all kinds of withdrawal symptoms, even when you taper off them slowly. Rebound insomnia and anxiety being the most common.

Xanax is usually the drug of choice in panic disorders because of it's long half life (around 11 hours). It should also be noted that benzos with a long half life make tapering off the medication a little easier to handle compared to the short acting benzos like triazolam.

I will say this about benzo use, make sure you have exhausted all your options for treatment before you on medication. Benzos are extremely addictive and once you start taking them over long periods of time you will find it very difficult to stop.

Good luck
 
H

Havoc

New member
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>JasonDBrown</b></i>

*don't take Xanax, it will cause sezures when you try to free yourself from it, and can actually put you in worse condition. Valium, or Diazepam doesn't have these ill effects.</end quote></div>

Not true, Xanax and Valium are both benzodiazepines, and they can both cause seizures if you stop the medication rapidly (although this usually requires a very rapid withdrawal like you get when you give an antagonist like flumazenil. Speaking of flumazenil, it's often given to reverse anesthesia, so if you take benzos regularly make sure your anesthesiologist know this.). They will definitely give you all kinds of withdrawal symptoms, even when you taper off them slowly. Rebound insomnia and anxiety being the most common.

Xanax is usually the drug of choice in panic disorders because of it's long half life (around 11 hours). It should also be noted that benzos with a long half life make tapering off the medication a little easier to handle compared to the short acting benzos like triazolam.

I will say this about benzo use, make sure you have exhausted all your options for treatment before you on medication. Benzos are extremely addictive and once you start taking them over long periods of time you will find it very difficult to stop.

Good luck
 
H

Havoc

New member
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>JasonDBrown</b></i>

*don't take Xanax, it will cause sezures when you try to free yourself from it, and can actually put you in worse condition. Valium, or Diazepam doesn't have these ill effects.</end quote></div>

Not true, Xanax and Valium are both benzodiazepines, and they can both cause seizures if you stop the medication rapidly (although this usually requires a very rapid withdrawal like you get when you give an antagonist like flumazenil. Speaking of flumazenil, it's often given to reverse anesthesia, so if you take benzos regularly make sure your anesthesiologist know this.). They will definitely give you all kinds of withdrawal symptoms, even when you taper off them slowly. Rebound insomnia and anxiety being the most common.

Xanax is usually the drug of choice in panic disorders because of it's long half life (around 11 hours). It should also be noted that benzos with a long half life make tapering off the medication a little easier to handle compared to the short acting benzos like triazolam.

I will say this about benzo use, make sure you have exhausted all your options for treatment before you on medication. Benzos are extremely addictive and once you start taking them over long periods of time you will find it very difficult to stop.

Good luck
 
H

Havoc

New member
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>JasonDBrown</b></i>

*don't take Xanax, it will cause sezures when you try to free yourself from it, and can actually put you in worse condition. Valium, or Diazepam doesn't have these ill effects.</end quote>

Not true, Xanax and Valium are both benzodiazepines, and they can both cause seizures if you stop the medication rapidly (although this usually requires a very rapid withdrawal like you get when you give an antagonist like flumazenil. Speaking of flumazenil, it's often given to reverse anesthesia, so if you take benzos regularly make sure your anesthesiologist know this.). They will definitely give you all kinds of withdrawal symptoms, even when you taper off them slowly. Rebound insomnia and anxiety being the most common.

Xanax is usually the drug of choice in panic disorders because of it's long half life (around 11 hours). It should also be noted that benzos with a long half life make tapering off the medication a little easier to handle compared to the short acting benzos like triazolam.

I will say this about benzo use, make sure you have exhausted all your options for treatment before you on medication. Benzos are extremely addictive and once you start taking them over long periods of time you will find it very difficult to stop.

Good luck
 
H

Havoc

New member
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>JasonDBrown</b></i>
<br />
<br />*don't take Xanax, it will cause sezures when you try to free yourself from it, and can actually put you in worse condition. Valium, or Diazepam doesn't have these ill effects.</end quote>
<br />
<br />Not true, Xanax and Valium are both benzodiazepines, and they can both cause seizures if you stop the medication rapidly (although this usually requires a very rapid withdrawal like you get when you give an antagonist like flumazenil. Speaking of flumazenil, it's often given to reverse anesthesia, so if you take benzos regularly make sure your anesthesiologist know this.). They will definitely give you all kinds of withdrawal symptoms, even when you taper off them slowly. Rebound insomnia and anxiety being the most common.
<br />
<br />Xanax is usually the drug of choice in panic disorders because of it's long half life (around 11 hours). It should also be noted that benzos with a long half life make tapering off the medication a little easier to handle compared to the short acting benzos like triazolam.
<br />
<br />I will say this about benzo use, make sure you have exhausted all your options for treatment before you on medication. Benzos are extremely addictive and once you start taking them over long periods of time you will find it very difficult to stop.
<br />
<br />Good luck
 
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