[Damagednotbroken69]

For about 11 years now I have had attacks that I have mistaken for impending heart attack, stroke or who knows what! It usually comes on out of the blue and does not always happen when under stress. It can be on my best happy day.
It usually begins with my airway feeling like its closing off, followed by racing pulse, blood pressure very high, trembling extremities, numbness in my face, tongue or lips, near black outs (like I'm about to go out) with tingling and dizziness. Ive experienced tunnel vision, shortness of breath and disorientation. This is extremely scary and can last from minutes to hours. Many trips to the ER and several by ambulance. I never really get any answers even after countless tests and the usual diagnosis is Hypertensive Crisis. Has anyone else felt this during a panic attack? I know they think I'm crazy and its so frustrating. After years of resisting the (Panic) label and hearing..have you been under a lot of stress, I finally have come to believe this is Panic. Thank you for listening.

[*Laurie*]

Oh gosh. If you've been experiencing this for 11 years (and had medical assessment, too) it sounds like panic attacks, to me.

I say do yourself a big favor and seek psychiatric help. Best to you.

[Unrigged64072835]

I have had panic attacks that feel like heart attacks, with all the same symptoms. I haven't had any recently, though.

[Damagednotbroken69]

I am now under the care and help of Mental Health Services. My therapist actually was the one who recommended this site to me to socialize. I have done the assessments and just started other testing as well. We are just getting started but so far we have found some answers. Thank you for taking the time to write to me on this. Best wishes

[Leyla]

sounds like panic attacks to me, your body may be under constant stress and you do not know it. relaxation methods would help as well as getting some help like the other's suggested.

[leejosepho]

Originally Posted by Leyla

sounds like panic attacks to me, your body may be under constant stress and you do not know it.

I think that describes my own case well and with all of the symptoms you have mentioned, Damagednotbroken69. The worst one ever was six years ago when my blood pressure was 280/140 and I landed in a medical (non-coronary) ICU for three days followed by two more on a regular floor...and I had not even felt panicky. In fact, I was barely able to move and hardly feeling anything at all.

I have done a great amount of stress-reduction work since that time, but it is still not uncommon for my blood pressure to be above the 150/100 threshold target a cardiologist set for me many years ago. Blood pressure meds do nothing for me in the face of my overall combination of stress, anxiety and depression, so I just continue working on the matters of stress, anxiety and depression for the sake of contented day-to-day survival...and I no longer even hesitate when it is time to just shut everything around me down-and-out for a few hours, a few days or whatever.

[passionfruit3]

Do they think it's psychosomatic or medical illness

[AlittleUnsteady]

I have this issue all the time. It starts as feeling like i can't breathe, then if I am not able to get control of my breathing, I start feeling light headed and dizzy. My hands start sweating excessively. I feel freezing cold inside my body, then I get really hot. I start feelings like I'm going to pass out, so I have to get close to the ground. All while this is happening, I can't help but think I'm going to die. This has started happening a lot while I am sleeping. I wake up in a panic, and this starts happening. It has been interfering greatly with my sleep. Panic attacks often seem like something is medically wrong, I think that's what makes it so much scarier.

I once drove myself down a moutainside in a blinding snowstorm (clutching at my chest and barely breathing) to a hospital I was so convinced I was having a heart attack.

[Jason1123]

I think you can look at recognizing this as panic as a source of strength rather than a weakness. It takes courage to do this. You now have given yourself the ability to start understanding this problem and to start working on it. Some people are scared of the label because now it means you have to do something about this rather than turning to medical professionals for answers but really this gives you control.

Don't feel alone. I read a study that said that 27% of people experience panic attacks at some point. I'm guessing the other 63% just were too afraid to admit it.

[Damagednotbroken69]

Originally Posted by Leyla

sounds like panic attacks to me, your body may be under constant stress and you do not know it. relaxation methods would help as well as getting some help like the other's suggested.

Thank you. I will try to relax and appreciate your input. I do believe Panic is the issue

[Damagednotbroken69]

Originally Posted by leejosepho

I think that describes my own case well and with all of the symptoms you have mentioned, Damagednotbroken69. The worst one ever was six years ago when my blood pressure was 280/140 and I landed in a medical (non-coronary) ICU for three days followed by two more on a regular floor...and I had not even felt panicky. In fact, I was barely able to move and hardly feeling anything at all.

I have done a great amount of stress-reduction work since that time, but it is still not uncommon for my blood pressure to be above the 150/100 threshold target a cardiologist set for me many years ago. Blood pressure meds do nothing for me in the face of my overall combination of stress, anxiety and depression, so I just continue working on the matters of stress, anxiety and depression for the sake of contented day-to-day survival...and I no longer even hesitate when it is time to just shut everything around me down-and-out for a few hours, a few days or whatever.

Oh I am so sorry to hear about your situation. It does sound very familiar to what I experience. I'm on several different BP meds and your right..when it happens it doesn't matter, the blood pressure still goes way up. I'm working with professionals to try and get this under control. Its hard not to run to the ER when you feel some impending doom. My best wishes to you!

[Damagednotbroken69]

Originally Posted by AlittleUnsteady

I have this issue all the time. It starts as feeling like i can't breathe, then if I am not able to get control of my breathing, I start feeling light headed and dizzy. My hands start sweating excessively. I feel freezing cold inside my body, then I get really hot. I start feelings like I'm going to pass out, so I have to get close to the ground. All while this is happening, I can't help but think I'm going to die. This has started happening a lot while I am sleeping. I wake up in a panic, and this starts happening. It has been interfering greatly with my sleep. Panic attacks often seem like something is medically wrong, I think that's what makes it so much scarier.

I agree 100%!! Its so hard to convince yourself that your not going to die when you feel like...well your going to! I'm sorry this happens to you and I hope you find help that can soothe you. Take care

[Damagednotbroken69]

Originally Posted by justafriend306

I once drove myself down a moutainside in a blinding snowstorm (clutching at my chest and barely breathing) to a hospital I was so convinced I was having a heart attack.

WOW!! That is scary enough to do that drive and add in the feeling you had of heart attack?! WOW!! I'm hoping all was clear and it wasn't a heart attack? Panic? Best wishes to you

[Damagednotbroken69]

Originally Posted by Jason1123

I think you can look at recognizing this as panic as a source of strength rather than a weakness. It takes courage to do this. You now have given yourself the ability to start understanding this problem and to start working on it. Some people are scared of the label because now it means you have to do something about this rather than turning to medical professionals for answers but really this gives you control.

Don't feel alone. I read a study that said that 27% of people experience panic attacks at some point. I'm guessing the other 63% just were too afraid to admit it.

Thank you Jason for taking the time to write. I believe you are correct and I really like what you said about using it as a strength. That is very encouraging!!

[Damagednotbroken69]

Originally Posted by passionfruit3

Do they think it's psychosomatic or medical illness

Its actually both to an extent. My adrenals are pumping out to much adrenaline is when they think but also I had a stress test done and it did show that small areas of my heart were not getting proper blood flow...after the treadmill. I'm also dealing with a ton of physical pain in my body. I had back surgery recently and my spine is full of arthritic formations messing with nerves. So I'm getting it from both sides. Which makes it hard to know who is leading..the cart or the horse. Lol. Thanks for taking the time to write

Originally Posted by Damagednotbroken69

WOW!! That is scary enough to do that drive and add in the feeling you had of heart attack?! WOW!! I'm hoping all was clear and it wasn't a heart attack? Panic? Best wishes to you

The staff at the hospital immediately recognized that it was an emotional condition causing the physical. It resulted in my first IP.

[seaecho]

I've woke up out of a sound sleep with the blood POUNDING in my ears, and panicking, so I know my blood pressure had to be sky high. Relaxing COMPLETELY will help it go away quicker. And I mean like a rag doll, 100%, not 99%. It was the only thing that helped me. Get the older book by Claire Weekes, "Hope and Help For your Nerves." This book is beside my bed, and very dog-eared. I refer to it when I get an especially bad attack, and it helps to comfort me. You can find it on ebay or Amazon, used, for almost nothing. I have read every book I could get my hands on that have to do with panic attacks and anxiety, and this is the only one that helped me.