Was this a panic attack?

[Twinkie Moon]

I've never had a panic attack before, just anxiety attacks.. so I don't really know if it really was a panic attack or just a bad reaction to pretty bad heartburn..

I was just lying in bed stressed out and with heartburn.

My chest (heart) began to hurt and feel like pressure, the area around my right armpit also was starting to feel incredibly off and painful. I felt like I couldn't breathe properly (heartburn was not helping at all) and I was getting a headache as well. And every time I swallowed I tasted metal and got nauseous. I couldn't swallow much anyway as I had phlegm accumulated and my mouth was dry. Towards the end of it my right side of my neck started to hurt.

I went to sleep before it ended, crossing my fingers it wasn't a heart attack.

 

[Jenniferlynn]

I've never had a panic attack before, just anxiety attacks.. so I don't really know if it really was a panic attack or just a bad reaction to pretty bad heartburn..

I was just lying in bed stressed out and with heartburn.

My chest (heart) began to hurt and feel like pressure, the area around my right armpit also was starting to feel incredibly off and painful. I felt like I couldn't breathe properly (heartburn was not helping at all) and I was getting a headache as well. And every time I swallowed I tasted metal and got nauseous. Towards the end of it my right side of my neck started to hurt.

I went to sleep before it ended, crossing my fingers it wasn't a heart attack.

Well i am not a Dr but i have began having panic attacks for the past two months. Mine happen like this...my body feels like its on fire it spreads through my body my breathing is fast and its hard to catch a breath. I sweat and start shaking. So i dont think u had one but go to ER just to be sure. Sending love and light your way because sweetheart i know how much it sucks. Much love

 

[Kaynil]

I also don't know much on the subject but the metallic taste got my attention, so I must ask: Are you under any medication at the moment? Nausea, headaches and a taste of metal could be side effects of it.

That said, if I am honest I agree with checking a doctor about it. Right now that you remember all the symptoms and the kind of pain I would also suggest to write that down and keep logging anything out of the ordinary to make it easier on your doctor. Just in case, I'd say try to cut down in anything you would to prevent a heart attack. Like tobacco, cholesterol and do what you can to help you relax.

Either way, please let us know.
Hopefully someone with more experience can be of better help. Best of luck.

 

[Twinkie Moon]

I also don't know much on the subject but the metallic taste got my attention, so I must ask: Are you under any medication at the moment? Nausea, headaches and a taste of metal could be side effects of it.

That said, if I am honest I agree with checking a doctor about it. Right now that you remember all the symptoms and the kind of pain I would also suggest to write that down and keep logging anything out of the ordinary to make it easier on your doctor. Just in case, I'd say try to cut down in anything you would to prevent a heart attack. Like tobacco, cholesterol and do what you can to help you relax.

Either way, please let us know.
Hopefully someone with more experience can be of better help. Best of luck.

I'm not under any kind of medication right now, but I did find out anxiety does sometimes cause a metallic taste, but my guess is the anxiety aggravated my heartburn and some stomach acid got in my tongue.

But thank you, great tip, by the way! I'll keep a journal.

 

[Kaynil]

Ah, alright. That is a big relief. It makes sense. I think with the anxiety it really felt like something way bigger. I'd think too it was a panic attack if I had an anxiety attack with those weird symptoms or something else really bad so I am really happy that it turned out to be something simpler. Yeah, keep the journal in case you get that or other stuff pops up.

Thank you for coming back and telling us what you figured out.

 

[Peacelily]

Twinkie I can really relate to your post. I get frequent heartburn at night when I lay down, if I don't wait at least 2-3 hours after my late night snack or dinner. I've found out the hard way, that I have to stop eating ANYTHING by 8 p.m. at night, since I fall asleep by 11 p.m. or so, that I will get bad heartburn at night, that will start a cycle of insomnia and anxiety.

Like, last night for example. It's been 25 years since my father died and today is Fathers Day. To cope with the anxiety that day brings up for me every year, I emotionally overeat. Last night, I ate dinner late at 8:30 p.m. then ate ice cream at 10 p.m. and tried to sleep at midnight. Nope. Got heartburn. Woke up after a fitful sleep around 6 a.m. tired and angry that I gave into my depression yet again and caused myself unnecessary physical symptoms (heartburn).

What causes the metallic taste in your mouth can be related to a lot of viruses. Like, right now, I have a bad viral sinus and upper respiratory infection and have a metallic taste in my mouth. But, GERD can also do that (i.e. heartburn). I have chewing gum with me at all times, because that will actually get rid of the excess stomach acid during heartburn faster than any OTC heartburn medication. The saliva from chewing gum, neutralizes the acid and there's no weird side effects except belching that doesn't last very long. It gets the gas out, faster than GasX.

I've worried about having a heart attack as well with GERD symptoms. But for women, heart attack symptoms can start as tension in the jaw, neck, sweating or nausea. It's different for every woman.

Sorry you had an episode of heartburn. Try to switch the time you eat at night or just wait 3 hours before you lay down. That way, it gives your stomach time to breakdown the food, rather than send it back up your esophagus as reflux.

I've never had a panic attack before, just anxiety attacks.. so I don't really know if it really was a panic attack or just a bad reaction to pretty bad heartburn..

I was just lying in bed stressed out and with heartburn.

My chest (heart) began to hurt and feel like pressure, the area around my right armpit also was starting to feel incredibly off and painful. I felt like I couldn't breathe properly (heartburn was not helping at all) and I was getting a headache as well. And every time I swallowed I tasted metal and got nauseous. I couldn't swallow much anyway as I had phlegm accumulated and my mouth was dry. Towards the end of it my right side of my neck started to hurt.

I went to sleep before it ended, crossing my fingers it wasn't a heart attack.

 

[Twinkie Moon]

Twinkie I can really relate to your post. I get frequent heartburn at night when I lay down, if I don't wait at least 2-3 hours after my late night snack or dinner. I've found out the hard way, that I have to stop eating ANYTHING by 8 p.m. at night, since I fall asleep by 11 p.m. or so, that I will get bad heartburn at night, that will start a cycle of insomnia and anxiety.

Like, last night for example. It's been 25 years since my father died and today is Fathers Day. To cope with the anxiety that day brings up for me every year, I emotionally overeat. Last night, I ate dinner late at 8:30 p.m. then ate ice cream at 10 p.m. and tried to sleep at midnight. Nope. Got heartburn. Woke up after a fitful sleep around 6 a.m. tired and angry that I gave into my depression yet again and caused myself unnecessary physical symptoms (heartburn).

What causes the metallic taste in your mouth can be related to a lot of viruses. Like, right now, I have a bad viral sinus and upper respiratory infection and have a metallic taste in my mouth. But, GERD can also do that (i.e. heartburn). I have chewing gum with me at all times, because that will actually get rid of the excess stomach acid during heartburn faster than any OTC heartburn medication. The saliva from chewing gum, neutralizes the acid and there's no weird side effects except belching that doesn't last very long. It gets the gas out, faster than GasX.

I've worried about having a heart attack as well with GERD symptoms. But for women, heart attack symptoms can start as tension in the jaw, neck, sweating or nausea. It's different for every woman.

Sorry you had an episode of heartburn. Try to switch the time you eat at night or just wait 3 hours before you lay down. That way, it gives your stomach time to breakdown the food, rather than send it back up your esophagus as reflux.

Thank you for your tips! I've always had heartburn, especially after eating spicy food, but it was incredibly mild and usually resolved itself. This time, not so much. It also seems my house is full of dust mites and get allergies.

Anxiety must've been a great factor. Right now I'm more stressed than a thin branch under heavy winds! Have to give thanks to my class for that.

Luckily my teacher is the most (somewhat closeted) flamboyant being I've ever met, which makes that class at least somewhat tolerable.

But I also wish you the best in life, and that some day your heightened anxiety on Father's Day will cease to exist. Lots of love going to you!