Have you ever called an ambulance because of a panic attack?

[kelden]

Not that I am able to remember, fortunately. Just a bit shaken sometimes, but never worth an ambulance.

 

[amy88]

I've never had to, but one of my siblings did. She didn't realize it was an anxiety attack because it was the first time she'd experienced one. She thought she was having a heart attack or some kind of asthma attack and she was at work at the time, so one of her colleagues called an ambulance for her. It was frightening I think for everyone involved.

 

[clair02]

My husband took me to the hospital the very first time I had a panic attack. I didn't know what was happening and I really did think I was going to have a heart attack and die. I was so scared I even said my goodbyes to my loved ones. When we got to the hospital, the first thing they checked was my heart because I was insisting that it was the problem, and they found absolutely nothing wrong with it. In fact, the doctor told me I was perfectly healthy, only then did I realize that I had just had my first panic attack. I've never had to call an ambulance after that, thank goodness.

 

[stephonline]

When I had my initial panic attack I was with my mother and stepdad (thankfully because I don't think that they would have believed my panic attacks unless they saw them happening in the flesh). Their initial response was to take me to the local emergency room. They were ready to take me there because they had no idea what was going on with me. I was in the back seat of a car and my stepdad was trying to take the off ramp to take me to the hospital. Luckily I was able to speak and tell him that I was okay and that I knew it was a panic attack because I had sought treatment for anxiety attacks in the past.

 

[kgord]

My rooomate who has COPD did when he thought he breathing was being affected. One time his O2 was low, but the other times it was not. It was simply anxiety. Of course not being able to breathe would make almost anyone anxious. he takes meds now, to help, with the problem. It seems to be one of the ways he an can talk himself out of the attacks or calling the ambulance. It is simply mind over matter in most cases.

 

[Concernedgal]

Lord a mighty yes. 3 times a year at least.

 

[janemariesayed]

No, because my counselor explained to me what it was before a hospital visit could happen. He told me that all it was, was that I had been shallow breathing. My heart was just pumping faster to get air around the body. All I had to do was take deep breaths and hold them in for a few seconds and let them out again slowly. I tried what he advised me and found it really helps. This means I can deal with the situation myself and don't need to call for help.

 

[AngelaMc]

No this hasn't happened to me thank goodness, when my attacks happen I try to take myself outside of the trigger. My friend on the other hand has called the ambulance several times so I can relate to you doing this @Kosta

 

[Natasha0717]

No, but I did end up at Urgent Care once, and then some emergency doctor's appointments when I truly believed I was dying of one thing or another. I was lucky enough to have a doc at the time who would squeeze me in at the last minute, even though I didn't have a scheduled appointment.

As for the Urgent Care episode, I completely quit eating and drinking because I thought I had a tumor in my throat, wayyy down where nobody could see, including me. The Urgent Care doc simply sent me home with tranquilizers and told me there was nothing growing in my throat. He did check my throat out, and I was sure he would need to scope me or do some other type of invasive procedure....but as usual, I just ended up going home with a prescription for Xanax. My mind can be very convincing....my mind is a scary thing.

 

[Jess91]

I
Iwent to a e with what I thought was a heart attack I cud not breath room was spinning my arms n legs shaking I cudnt stand up I was put on a bloody stretcher .it was just a panic attack! I thought I was dying?! Sent home 2/hours later all well bye bye

 

[janemariesayed]

I

Iwent to a e with what I thought was a heart attack I cud not breath room was spinning my arms n legs shaking I cudnt stand up I was put on a bloody stretcher .it was just a panic attack! I thought I was dying?! Sent home 2/hours later all well bye bye

That sounds pretty scary @Jess91 especially if you don't realise what is happening at first.

 

[_Lukas]

I've never called an ambulance myself because of a panic attack, but other people have called ambulances on me for various reasons and I seriously can't count the number of times I've been hospitalized... It's so frustrating!!

 

[juan]

Yes, I actually was rushed to the hospital recently. I had a panic attack while I was driving in the highway late at night. I've had them before so I was sure I could manage it. but this one was severe. I had to pull over to a gas station cause I thought my blood sugar was low. started feeling very hot and turned on the air conditioner, then immediately turned it off. I was sweating a lot, my jeans and shirt were soaked. next thing I knew I had blacked out for 30 minute due to lack of oxygen in my brain. next thing I know there is a lady in my car taking my pulse while my daughter called the paramedics, all I remember was me shaking a lot, my heart beating really fast, feeling nauseous, and sweating gallons, not being able to breathe, my eyes feeling heavy, and hyperventilating. Then I blacked out again until the paramedics arrived. this has never happened to me and my daughter was scared. when I arrived at the hospital they did a Blood test, x rays, and heart monitoring. sure enough, i had a severe panic attack and abnormal heart beating. so yes it can happen.

 

[Paul]

My first real attack I swore I was just not eating and needed food. When that didn't help I had a co worker drive me to the hospital .My second one I had my wife pick me up .Every time I felt like I needed help or I would die .Now I know I won't die but I still feel like calling an ambulance every time .Having a wife or support friends helped. Now I know to breath and squeeze my hands and toes .

 

[Rae]

Yes! I've been to the ER three times! My panic attacks last for hours.. I've also been close to going on a few other occasions! Each time in your mind you sort of know what it is but it feels so much like you're dying it's my distinctive flight or fight response to want to go! Last time I was in Vegas.. I had already been feeling lightheaded and stupidly drank red bull even knowing caffeine is one of my triggers.. went into full panic mode everything around me was blurry.. I had a stabbing pain in my chest.. I was scared to stand up because I felt certain I was going to pass out.. I even made my bf look up the ERs in Vegas.. took a xanax and it all went away.. which I absolutely hate doing because I think the drug caused a lot of this problems in the first place!

 

[Adam76]

Two nights ago I was having trouble sleeping and started to feel a dull pain running from my left arm pit all the way to the tips of my middle fingers. Really thought it was just a pain from maybe lying on my arm some way. So eventually went downstairs and got a glass of water and tried to shake it out but to no avail. Low and behold, two minutes later I was starting to get dizzy and sweating from head to toe. I went upstairs and woke my brother to help i I needed it. BTW, my son was in bed at the time as he was staying with me(he's 3). So I had that stresser too. Anyway, ambulance called and soon there were 5 paramedics in my livingroom trying to figure out if I was having a heart attack. They did an ecg and it was a bit off given I was so wound up. Then I started to slake from head to toe as all the heat left my body. So now I'm having trouble even communicating as my teeth are chattering so much. An absolute mess at this point. So to cut a long story short...... i spent around 14hrs in the hospital being monitored and getting bloods done. No conclusive results but heart ruled out.
So, this has been plaguing me for a few years now and the last time they did and angiogram which was pretty scary. I'm actually lying here in bed now with my son trying to get past a very slight episode which came on an hour or so ago. I'm thinking constantly that it's fine and just to stay calm but I just wish that was all it took. Sometimes it starts completely out of the blue which makes it quite uncontrollable. I hate this so much

 

[Rinka]

Two nights ago I was having trouble sleeping and started to feel a dull pain running from my left arm pit all the way to the tips of my middle fingers. Really thought it was just a pain from maybe lying on my arm some way. So eventually went downstairs and got a glass of water and tried to shake it out but to no avail. Low and behold, two minutes later I was starting to get dizzy and sweating from head to toe. I went upstairs and woke my brother to help i I needed it. BTW, my son was in bed at the time as he was staying with me(he's 3). So I had that stresser too. Anyway, ambulance called and soon there were 5 paramedics in my livingroom trying to figure out if I was having a heart attack. They did an ecg and it was a bit off given I was so wound up. Then I started to slake from head to toe as all the heat left my body. So now I'm having trouble even communicating as my teeth are chattering so much. An absolute mess at this point. So to cut a long story short...... i spent around 14hrs in the hospital being monitored and getting bloods done. No conclusive results but heart ruled out.
So, this has been plaguing me for a few years now and the last time they did and angiogram which was pretty scary. I'm actually lying here in bed now with my son trying to get past a very slight episode which came on an hour or so ago. I'm thinking constantly that it's fine and just to stay calm but I just wish that was all it took. Sometimes it starts completely out of the blue which makes it quite uncontrollable. I hate this so much

Gosh that sounds really rubbish.
I’m not a doc, but it sounds quite like a panic attack.
Do you know about any triggers in your live? Identifying what triggers such reactions can help you preventing or avoiding situations.
I hope you start feeling better soon and can relax a bit in bed.

 

[Adam76]

Gosh that sounds really rubbish.
I’m not a doc, but it sounds quite like a panic attack.
Do you know about any triggers in your live? Identifying what triggers such reactions can help you preventing or avoiding situations.
I hope you start feeling better soon and can relax a bit in bed.

Thanks Rinka, yeah I'm sure there are a number of triggers, I seperated from my wife a half year ago but in fairness that's probably a good thing as it all started from the stress I was under while with her. I'm going through a lot of changes right now just reorganising my life which is hard going. I think my insomnia is a huge problem. If I'm not sleeping well at all then I'm generally going to be feeling low and that's half of it I think. If you're exhausted you are more likely to come down with anything you are susceptible to

 

[Rinka]

Thanks Rinka, yeah I'm sure there are a number of triggers, I seperated from my wife a half year ago but in fairness that's probably a good thing as it all started from the stress I was under while with her. I'm going through a lot of changes right now just reorganising my life which is hard going. I think my insomnia is a huge problem. If I'm not sleeping well at all then I'm generally going to be feeling low and that's half of it I think. If you're exhausted you are more likely to come down with anything you are susceptible to

Yea I can imagine that all those changes trigger it.
I always feel like a drug dealer or so, when I say this, but I have had very good experiences with L-Theanine in relation to sleep. It’s a natural supplement taken from green tea.
Helps me with anxiety and my night terrors.
Gosh I’m really not a druggy person, but yea that supplement did help and might help others.