Talk me down plese

[BlackCatTabbyCat]

I've just woken up with a mild pain in my chest. I'm home alone with my 2 children and started to worry a bit 8 felt a bit like I have pins and needles. Heart started to race and I felt like I was struggling to breathe so panicked and called 999. My heart rate on my fit bit registered at 155 and I had noticed earlier today that all week my heart rate has been slightly higher than usual. While on the phone to the operator my heart rate started to slow down its currently 102. I could be waiting an hour on an ambulance. I'm really scared I don't know if I've had a panic attack and this is all in my head. I've manged to write this so if it was serious I wouldn't be able to do that would I? Please someone talk to me and reassure me I'm so worried my 2 children are in bed. Worried something is seriously wrong but also worrying its been a panic attack and I'm wasting ambulance time.

Hi love what time did this begin x

About 25 minutes ago.

Ok this has happened to me several times. You have done the right thing asking for help. It’s almost impossible but try eat something like a banana and have a good swig of water. You are doing the right thing because panic attacks are awful xx

Thank you for replying. Doing that just just now. I feel so stupid.

Never ever ever feel stupid. Whether it's one thing or an another you need some medical help. X

You’ve done exactly the right thing.
When the ambulance arrives, you’ll be checked out.
Use breathing exercises to calm you in the meantime.
If it isn’t as serious as you fear, absolutely no one will judge you.
Sending my best wishes.
X

Thank you for speaking to me. I am feeling calmer. I've never been so scared I've never had a panic attack before I'm hoping that's what's happened. I feel I should probably cancel the ambulance. I do feel calmer. Feel like I have a slight tightness in my chest and numbness in my arms but I understand these are also signs of anxiety.

I would leave them to come see you incase it builds again. I was told by a paramedic once when it happened to me to eat a banana (natural sugars)
They will treat you like any patient and you deserve the care and reassurance x

Those signs can be, but there is no harm in getting checked out

I also think it’s better not to cancel the ambulance. You’ll benefit from speaking to a paramedic and being reassured.
x

Op you need a blood test to rule out any deficiencies. You may lack in folic acid or something. Definitely go to the hospital x

They might just check you and tell you to speak to Gp tomorrow. But you'll be ok that's the main thing xxx

Not seeking help could have worried you more. You’ll soon be in safe hands and know what to do.
x

Thank you everyone who has posted qnd being so nice. I ate half a banana then the paramedics arrived. Been checked over and they are confident nothing to be worried about and its being put down to a panic attack. Feeling very embarrassed. Paramedics were nice but I know they are probably rolling their eyes inwardly . I've never experienced anything like this before and when my heart started racing I was convinced my children would find me dead in the morning. Hoping I haven't delayed help for someone who really needs it.

Brilliant that you’ve been checked over and it has not been a heart problem. Tomorrow plan to talk to your GP about your panic attack.
There’s absolutely no need to feel embarrassed. The paramedics will have seen people with indigestion who’ve thought they were having cardiac arrests. They will understand the thoughts you had and the fears you felt. Your situation was real and frightening. It certainly warranted a call out. Better to be safe than sorry.
Deep breaths and a few hours rest before your two wake up.

Hey OP, I just wanted to add another voice to those saying you did exactly right thing in what must have been a really scary situation. Panic attacks are terrifying and they do make you feel like you're dying, and you'd know way of knowing whether it was that or a heart issue and so it absolutely wasn't worth taking the risk in handling it alone. They would have scheduled the ambulance for you according to what else they had going on so please don't worry about taking services away from anyone, and I bet if anything that the paramedics were a) relieved you were okay and b) grateful you were just someone lovely that needed help as opposed to anything more distressing.

Hope you're feeling a bit better now. Sending you an unmumsnetty hug

Thank you that makes me feel a lot better. Yes I will make a GP appointment tomorrow I don't usually suffer from anxiety and certainly never to the extent of panic attacks. I can worry a bit and I'm always stressed but nothing major. The paramedic commented that I appear anxious and tense just by looking at me . I actually was telling myself that they probably experience this a lot and with people suffering heartburn etc. I really panicked on the phone. The operator said to me it could be up to an hour wait then said he had to go and take another call. It must be a horrible job hanging up on patients knowing help could be a while away and there's nothing you can do.

You needed to check OP That was the sensible thing to do

👍

Thank you that's really reassuring. I'll probably spend all day tomorrow feeling mortified but I know what everyone's saying, I had no way of knowing and I'd say the same to anyone else but I do get embarrassed very easily 😂.

Everyone has been so nice replying to me I really appreciate it. I'm going to try and get some sleep as I'll be up in a few hours for school run then I have to go to work 😴.