Hi all,
On Monday this week I had something that was most likely a panic attack. I was at work, at my desk, and suddenly felt very faint ( I've fainted a few times in my life and recognise the feeling) so I called a colleague over and lay in the floor for a bit. The problem was that the feeling didn't go away, it just got worse, with me not being able to sit up, and then having a ' bad' feeling, and crying etc. I basically lay on the floor with my eyes tight shut for ages, crying and not being able to breathe properly. My hands and feet went in to something called 'carpopedal spasm' which was scary, and I lost all feeling in my arms. My work colleagues tried to calm and soothe me, but eventually had to call an ambulance, as I was getting worse. The paramedics came, and all together eventually I could breathe properly again, and move and talk ( and finally opened my eyes!)
It all took about an hour and a half. My husband was called to drive me home, and I saw my GP later who said if it ever happens again, breathe in to a paper bag.
I am under quite a lot of stress, renovating a house to move in to, selling ours, busy with work and two kids, a few health scares, etc, but it's all cope-able with.
I'd always thought a panic attack happened when you were actually panicking, but mine came out of the blue.
Since them I have felt horrid. Exhausted, head ache, swimmy head, and a bit surreal. My shoulders are painful when they were in spasm.
Do panic attacks often happen again, or could I just have this one?
As a by product of this, the paramedics had me connected to all sorts of monitors and found I may have an abnormal heart beat too, called a long QT. They didn't seem too concerns, and my GP told me to pop in a week later and have it checked. I may or may not have it, so we will see. That's a bit scary in itself.
Is it usual to feel so rubbish after wards? It's three days now and I feel sooooo tired and like I'm properly convalescing from something serious. What's the best way now to brush this off?