Had a strange experience today

[Aniles]

Today I was at a leisure centre, sitting on my own reading a magazine. The article I was reading was about people who have woken up during surgery. I was really horified by what I was readiing to the extent that it made me feel sick and I had to stop reading it. But then I realised my heart was beating really fast and I started going really dizzy and was sweating. It felt like I couldn't breathe properly and needed to get outside. It felt like a struggle to walk and I'm sure someone spoke to me but it felt like I was in a complete daze and tought I was going to be sick. Outside there are some steps that were about 5 metres away but it seemed like I was moving in slow motion and it took forever to get to them. After just a couple of minutes of taking deep breaths I calmed down and started to feel better. The whole thing only lasted a few minutes but it felt really intense and surreal and quite frightening.

My daughter and her friend finished swimming a while later and I took the friend home. I had an absolutely splitting headache and when I was talking to my frind I found it difficult to talk properly because my words weren't coming out properly.

I've been to bed for couple of ours and feel back to normal now. Has anyone felt anything similar to this? This hasn't happened before and I'm really hoping I don't sound completely weird. Can anyone suggest what might have happened?

I suffer from migraines a lot and I get a similar thing happen. My eyes go first then I start to feel very nauseous. Its like I am on a different planet! I start to slur my words and I get pins and needles down my arms and legs. My tongue also goes numb. I am lucky that a couple of hours in the dark lying down sorts me out. Could it be a migraine?

No read the post again and now i'm not so sure. Could it be a panic attack of some sort. I have never experienced one so not too sure what they are like!

Panic attack?

sounds like a panic attack to me...

Link to an article in todays sunday times on panic attacks: -
www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2104-1204490,00.html

Would go to the GPs tho to exclude physical causes first

Does sound very much like a panic attack. Do you have particular reason to fear surgery? Go to your GP to get this diagnosed and they'll be able to check that there aren't any other problems. Good luck, hope you are ok.

Thank you for your replies )

I've had a quick look at some info on the web about panic attacks and what happened does seem to fit with the symptoms of a panic attack. I've absolutely no idea why I would have a panic attack though. I'm starting a new job soon but I don't feel worried about it. I had a pretty traumatic childhood but that's well and truely in the past. I'm in good health, no history of panic attacks, migraines etc. To be honest I'd feel a dit daft going to the doctors about this although I do feel a bit worried about it happening again, and from what little I've read that's likely to bring on another one, which makes me feel more worried.

Oh well, think I'll just have be aware and if anything like that occures again I'll go straight to the docs.

Thanks again x

This is going to sound ver silly but try not to worry!!! I think the doctors is agood idea to rule out anything else. I am convinced that they will say its a panic attack but panic attacks don't have to re occur!!

Aniles - if you are worried about a panic attack recurring, prevention is better than cure - i.e. it can do you no harm to look at relaxation strategies, breathing exercises etc. There are some useful tips on this site:-

www.panic-attacks.co.uk

if what you have experienced is a panic attack the panic attack may well be connected to your traumatic childhood experiences as panic attacks are connected to hyper vigiliance - i.e. that because of past stressful experiences your mind becomes wary and goes into panic mode to try and protect you even tho the situation doesn't warrant it . Have you ever had any counselling/therapy to deal with childhood issues?

Take care

x

Hi

I finally got to see my doctor today and he said I had (something unpronouncable but know to 'us' as)a fainting attack. Not something I'd heard of before. He said it didn't sound like a migraine because I would have had the headache to begin with and not a panic attack because that usually involves having the shakes. Anyway, a fainting attack seems preferable to a migraine or panic attack because it's likely to have been just a one off, so my mind has been put at ease

I suffered from PAs and never shook? I had the same symptoms as u. Whatever it is I hope it doesn't happen again and that you'll be fine

Great!