Ambulance for anxiety???

[Lonelydaisy]

Has anyone had such bad anxiety they had to call an ambulance? Really debating it now.
Got a Dr appointment but it's not til Monday

Hi, Could you ring your gp and ask if they have a number for the mental health crisis team? Hope you’re ok. Or maybe tell the receptionist at the GP that you urgently need to speak to a dr or nurse today? X

You will probably find they won’t turn up . We went to A&E last night and I’ve never seen it so bad . 7 hour wait for urgent care and 8 hours in a&E and even people arriving in ambulances were waiting . The place was full of children and babies and every single person coming in had been sent by 111 coz no one can get an appointment at their doctors . Someone was kicking off at reception due to waiting 4 hours for an ambulance that “couldn’t be arsed to turn up” 🙄🤬 and ambulances were all backed up when we left our local hospital .

I don’t know what the solution to all this is , but you will probably be waiting for ages for an ambulance .

I doubt very much they would even agree to send one out. I would phone the GP again and ask for a telephone consult today

Good advice above re the Crisis Team.

Would it help to talk to us in the meantime OP? What are you feeling anxious about?

@Accidentgirlfriend

Super helpful 🙄🙄

@Lonelydaisy
I’m sorry you’re feeling so anxious, are you home on your own? Could you call a friend to come over? Or call 111.

Try and slow down your breathing and focus on each breathe, breathe in for 5 and out with 10. Close you’re eyes and keep doing this. You’re going to be ok. I always try and imagine a beach when I’m super anxious, and listen to the waves, breathe in as the waves come in.

What would you want from attending A&E? Is your Dr’s appointment with a GP or psychiatrist? Are you already on medication/ open to mental health services?
Genuine question, just trying to work out if your needs would be able to be met there or not.

It's the physical effects of anxiety that are making me feel this way. It started at work yesterday just felt a bit off then got panicky and then all the symptoms started.
I get like this once a month or every few months.
Chest is heavy, heart feels racing but it's not its between 70 and 85 usually. A bit breathless but nothing that stops me from doing stuff.
I take propranolol and mirtazapine both long term.
But when I get it like this I just feel pure dread all over my chest. I've had a few ecgs and a 24 hr ecg which has all come back fine but I still worry something might be wrong with my heart.

I dont know what I'd want from calling an ambulance but honestly GPs are awful at the moment. Everytime I speak to the they just brush my fear under the carpet and say just keep taking the propranolol.
Even speaking to the gp receptionists is so draining, you don't get anywhere 90% of the time.

It's really frustrating trying to get help at the moment, and when you try and get nowhere it makes you feel even worse.

It sounds like you're really struggling, but there's nothing A&E can do for anxiety. You can ask your GP for referral to the crisis team if you feel like you may be at risk of harm. You can also self refer for CBT to find out about coping mechanisms to help you through the worst of it. Also look up breathing exercises, yoga and meditation that might help.

It sounds as if you need strategies for managing the anxiety attacks rather than an ambulance per se. You know there is nothing physically wrong, or anything a paramedic could do to reassure you of that. Do you have direct access to any mh services, support groups or therapy? You could call 111 and ask whether you could speak to someone about your mh.

You can phone the Samaritans any time day or night and talk to someone until the panic/anxiety attack passes. This could be a tool in the kit to help you through until your appointment on Monday x

Absolutely you can go to A&E if you feel you aren't coping and the on-call MH team should see you. But I'm afraid I would say to get yourself there even if by taxi or lift from a friend as getting an ambulance out could mean someone else who needs one for life saving reasons may not get the help they need

@Accidentgirlfriend makes a good point. You may be lucky to get an ambulance at all.

It sounds like you need to speak with a crisis team.

How far away is A&E for you? If you are certain on going then I'd make my own way there, either myself or via public transport rather than using an ambulance.

getting an ambulance out could mean someone else who needs one for life saving reasons may not get the help they need

This will not happen. Calls are prioritised, and someone requiring emergency treatment will always be attended before a non emergency. The most likely outcome of a call will be that the OP will be advised to make their own way, directed to a more appropriate service, or if they do send one, it will only be when no one else with a higher need is waiting.

Realistically, I doubt the crisis team will prioritise them either. Possibly a script for a few diazepam, but the GP should be able to offer that.

It's not the mental health side of it tho.
It's the physical symptoms, the heavy chest and the dread feeling. It came on randomly at work. I was not stressed or anxious then.
It stops me for a whole day, sometimes 2.

I'd ask for a few diazepam too

An ambulance crew won't come out and there's nothing they can do for you.

But the physical symptoms aren't an accident or an emergency OP. If you were suicidal then I would absolutely say yes because that's an emergency.

@Accidentgirlfriend

You will probably find they won’t turn up . We went to A&E last night and I’ve never seen it so bad . 7 hour wait for urgent care and 8 hours in a&E and even people arriving in ambulances were waiting . The place was full of children and babies and every single person coming in had been sent by 111 coz no one can get an appointment at their doctors . Someone was kicking off at reception due to waiting 4 hours for an ambulance that “couldn’t be arsed to turn up” 🙄🤬 and ambulances were all backed up when we left our local hospital .

I don’t know what the solution to all this is , but you will probably be waiting for ages for an ambulance .

Not being able to see a GP is all lies though. It's simply not happening.

You can't ring an ambulance for anxiety OP. What exactly do you think they could do for you or a&e? You probably need someone to talk to and the Samaritans can help with that.

Personally I'd ask your GP for beta blockers to help you cope. I found them a lifeline for a spell.

@Lonelydaisy

It's not the mental health side of it tho. It's the physical symptoms, the heavy chest and the dread feeling. It came on randomly at work. I was not stressed or anxious then. It stops me for a whole day, sometimes 2.

Definitely beta blockers. They'll take all that away on the proper dose.

@gamerchick

The OP already takes beta blockers...propranolol

I'm definitely not suicidal. My depression is the most under control its been in years.

I know it's not an emergency but when you're feeling so panicky I don't know what else to do.

When I'm like this it's like it's building up to a panic attack but that panic attack rarely happen.

I've also had counselling which was great it really really help with my anxiety after I had a stroke. I now rarely think about health conditions and death. It's more of a panic disorder now.

Lonelydaisy I have had panic attacks and same with ECG - all clear. I have been told to always seek medical advice for chest pains even when I believe it to be anxiety - but it has only happened a few times in as many years. I have been told to contact GP or attend A&E to be safe.

Have you discussed with your GP when to treat the symptoms as an emergency or what to do generally? You have my sympathy, its a horrible feeling.

If GP not treating as an emergency....then what helps me when I'm feeling anxiety in a very physical way - is a physical response - lying down with something easy to listen to - and being really cold. Window open, in underwear, fan blowing, iced water to sip. This seems to calm my mind and body.

Is there anything has worked for you before? Sometimes just having a routine feels reassuring.

Hopefully you can get some help longer term to manage the anxiety.

You need to discuss with this with the GP who can refer to psychiatric services. Honestly it's a life changer, because quite frankly the psychiatrist gives out the best meds.

GP kept prescribing me different antidepressants and propanalol and it was doing nothing, my PTSD flashbacks and panick attacks which were debilitating were still happening.

Psychiatrist put my on a anti-psychotic and fluoxetine. Life changer honest, never felt better.

Push for a psychiatric referral OP.

@Lonelydaisy

It's not the mental health side of it tho. It's the physical symptoms, the heavy chest and the dread feeling. It came on randomly at work. I was not stressed or anxious then. It stops me for a whole day, sometimes 2.

I've been in your position. You need a crisis team. I found a free text service which really helped me. It didn't solve all my problems but it helped to talk me down from doing anything silly. I also called the local crisis team. I just needed someone to talk to.