Nightly Panic Attacks

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ahtram
  • Start date Start date
I have severe nighttime anxiety and have for years... The only thing I have found that helps is xanax about 15 mins before bed. It works pretty quick. Its highly addictive so I hear but I have taken the same amount for around three years with no need for a larger dose. I also awake out of a dead sleep into a full blown panic attack but haven't since xanax. Some docs are reluctant to prescribe it but some will. You pay them, so don't be afraid to ask is my philosophy. Hope this helps out...
 
I am so glad to hear that you're feeling so good!!! My computer's been out and I haven't been able to post or read in a couple of weeks. You really took control over your situation and inspired me to do the same. You would not allow anxiety to control you, you decided to control "it". So, good luck with everything...it's looking up and forward from now on...
 
oh trust me I know the routine of keeping your mind off of the panic and focus on something else. Thing is lately the cognitive behavioual therapy and the ativan is just not cutting it. I was in to see my therapist today and when I told her that I was having a panic attack right then and there and that it had been going on for three days now she was really amazed. Amazed at the fact that I was so calm, I told her that is why I don't think these are panic attacks and that I am still working with my physicans to try and get this mess figured out. I go tomorrow morning for yet another string of blood tests on my thyroid. Once they come back I am wanting to have myself tested for the ever elusive 10% cancer called pheochromcytoma and then the cardiologist will have to check for a silent murmur. Only then will I succorab to the anxiety.
 
One more thing that I figured...I think the reason why it happens when we allow ourselves to relax is because we are constantly trying to build our bodies up to be prepared for the tragedy that hasn't happened (but that we think definitely will). Almost like some sort of defense mechanism. Just one of the things that I believe can cause it sometimes...
 
Well today I went to my family doctor and we discussed lots. Firstly she had not recieved any information regarding any of my hospital visits or visits from the walk-in clinic doctor I had been seeing while I couldn't get into see her......figures. So where to start, well I told her that I had been diagnosed with hypothyroidism and was taking synthroid as a result. Then I told her that I had been taking atenonol for high blood pressure and was taken off of it. She took my blood pressure and go figure....it was high again. Hence she has put me back on the atenonol but at a reduced doseage (25 mg). I then told her that I have been having really bad palipatations and my heart rate shot up to 150 bpm on Sunday night at work. She told me that the next time this happens I need to get my butt to the ER so that a cardiogram can be done and they can see what is going on. She also has sent off referal to a cardiologist so that they can put a heart monitor on me to wear for a week.....sounRAB like more than anxiety to me. Funny thing is it didn't get me anxious in the slightest hearing this or even thinking about it. Well follow up is in another two weeks, not sure how much more of this crap I can take.
 
You're being a great brother! It's easier said than done but you can't allow him to stress you out to the point that you end up at the hospital. Your main commitment is to your family and to stay as healthy as possible, body and mind. I believe he probably is depressed too but, as you said already, if he's making poor choices then I bet he is depressed. I know you love your brother and you are doing everything that you can to help him but if he continues to put so much strain on you then you are just going to have to set some rules and let him take care of his own life. He's not your child or your responsibility. You can't help him unless he's willing to help himself and you have to take care of yourself FIRST. It's a difficult situation to handle but how can you be expected to make his life a priority if he doesn't make it a priority himself? Maybe you need to have one more good talk with him to give him a chance because I know you don't wanna just close the door without trying harder. But after you've done all you can then there's nothing left to do. There's nothing selfish about taking care of yourself first!! As a matter of fact, that's one of the best gifts you can give your family. I hope everything works out but don't stress too much!!
 
My therapist is setting me up with an appointment with a psychiatrist (hate that word, makes me feel crazy) to discuss some of the alternative medications. My brother-in-law goes in tomorrow morning to have his battery changed in his pace maker, he is only 38 like myself. Makes my problems feel trivial compared to what he is going through. However, I am still weening off the remeron, not sure if the atenolol is making me feel a little better or if it is the remeron doseage leaving my body. Think I tried to ween off too early the last time. Goodluck too CBStephen, keep in touch and let me know how your meRAB work......;)
 
Thanks, I'm also starting to think that I have IBS which is working my anxiety on overload. After supper and other meals my chest tightens and I have spasms in my upper left abdomen. I had a stool sample given at the hospital on Saturday thinking it was Giardia, I'll know on Monday when I go to my doctor. I hope its something so I can move on....
 
I used to wake up in the middle of the night with panic attacks everyday and my doctor prescribed klonopin at bedtime. That seemed to help and eventually they stopped. When I would get them during the day i'd take Xanax and that med has been a lifesaver for me. Hope this helps.

Stacey
 
Well yesterday I went back to the dentist for the remaining two cavities, and wouldn't you know it he decided to pull one of my molars due to a poorly done root canal......yep I took my lorazapam before this visit......thank god. So today I have a huge hole where my tooth use to be, feels really wierd and has been making my stomach queasy all day. Little bit of anxiousness in the back of my mind, can you tell.....think I've replied to like a dozen posts tonight as a result. Got another appointment with my doctor tomorrow to discuss latest thyroid tests, havent gotten my results back yet from blood pressure cuff, holter monitor or catchomanie levels.....love my health care, but hate the wait......
 
Missed a workout tonight, think I over did it with the back to back runs. Had a hamstring removed and had it turned into an ACL almost two years ago. I should have known better. I got this thing with my anxiety its all or nothing, there seems to be no in between. We got a huge festival happening around here tomorrow called the Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival, gonna have some people over and have a Bar-B-Q. We'll see how that goes hopefully no problems keeping the monster locked up. I've been doing some cooking tonight so I have found something to take my mind off of the anxiousness. Got this spasm just under my left ribs that gets annoying, won't let me completely foget bout the anxiety, wish I could kick it in the butt.

Whenitrains so far I am only taking 50 mcg, is that not a low dose?
 
Hey.I noticed my blood pressure went up some too when I started on Synthroid.(although not enough to be considered high,just higher then what was normal for me).I think the reason is,is that when you are Hypothyroid,your blood pressure actually goes down some.Then the Synthroid puts you back where you are normally (which may be higher for you)
The doctor you saw at least sounRAB good.Hang in there.
 
Ok, so it has been one week since I began weening off the remeron. Things aren't too bad I believe the beta blocker (atenolol) is really helping with the anxiousness. The synthroid is giving me lots of energy so I am staying very busy around the house on my days off. I haven't gotten the nerve up to begin my exercise program again, but substituting it with home repairs has been working out well. Guess we'll see how tonight hits me....
 
Well things are getting rough again, my anxiousness is starting to get real strong again. I just don't think I can do the remeron again, made me too loopy. My synthroid was also increased about 6 days ago I should also add. My heartrate hasn't gone up so I don't think that I am turning hyper. I have an appointment on the 19th with my doctor, maybe I will ask her to put me back on the Effexxor XR. Just not sure why it is night time that these damn panic attacks are brought on. I am fine all day long, I will be checked for Hashimoto's at the end of the month when I recheck my thyroid levels. I have been reading some case studies that links anxiety with hypothyroidism to Hashimoto's. Apparently as the thyroid dies it senRAB sudden surges of hormone into the body which creates the anxiety. Oh well here I go again, another damn rollercoaster ride.....and I hate rollercoasters....;(
 
Thanks, I will ask my doctor about this next week when I return for my visit. I am fortunate that I live in Nova Scotia, Canada. The doctor visit doesn't cost me and I have a great medical plan at work to where prescriptions only cost me $4.00. I defineitely need something to take the edge off at night. Thanks again for the reply, I've posted a few times and was thinking people are just getting sick of listening to me......
 
Well wouldn't you know it, I called my doctor this morning asking to get in to see her. I told her that about 1 1/2 weeks ago I woke up with a "charlie horse" in my chest cavity, muscles contracted and everything. I also told her that I had been having chest pains off and on for two days now. She told me to go directly to ER, so I did. Another EKG, bloodtests......all were fine (Like I expected something different). I am now waiting for the cardiologist to call so that I can get a stress test completed. I thought that the remeron was working....now I am not so sure. Maybe I need the dose increased...anyone else use the remeron. If so what dose are you taking?
 
Well last night I visited one of my favorite places......yeah right, I found myself back at the ER. I have been getting bad palipations followed with chest pains. I have been fighting it for over a week now, thought that maybe the increase in synthroid had brought them on. So I was taken right in, given yet another EKG (of course no paliptation during the EKG), another lung x-ray and lots of bloodwork. The doctor came back with an Ativan and said that my anxiety was causing the paliptaions. I did not want to hear that, it would be so much easier if there was something physically wrong with me so that we could get it fixed.......looks like I'm gonna need another refill of lorazapam.
 
Each person neeRAB to start their own thread for their question/concern/issue. Please do not tag your post onto someone else's thread. Allow each person to recieve advice and support within their own thread without it becoming your thread.
 
Ok the extensive testing for the thyroid has been done, I made an attempt to get an appointment with my family doctor but the receptionist wasn't very co-operative. I told her that I have been seen by another doctor for the past couple weeks and have been in and out of the ER like a yo-yo. I then ended with I need to see my doctor immediately. She looked at me and said not until Tuesday......well I told her not to bother and went back to the clinic where I have been seen as of lately by another physican. I went in and told the doctor that I still am not feeling well, he took my blood pressure again and it was still high. Since I have been taken the atenolol like he had prescribed he couldn't understand why it was still high. I asked him if he would test me for pheochromocytoma even though the likely hood was that I didn't have it. He said no problem and I went to the hospital to get started on the 24 hour urine test to which they examine the catecholamines. I just don't feel that this is anxiety that is causing this, I feel more like the anxiety is a symptom of something else. The panic attacks just arn't like I remeber them being.
 
Still having a rough time, it's been day 4 of my weening off process of my remeron. Not sure if this is a good idea but I am going to try to get off some of the drugs that I am being perscribed, see if that helps me feel any better.
 
Back
Top