Whats wrong with my sister?

Question

My sister just started having these attacks. Her whole body gets really hot but her feet and hands are freezing. Her limbs fall asleep very easily, her heart starts been really fast & hard, and she gets dizzy. The first attack woke her up in the middle of the night. She had one yesterday while her and her boyfriend were driving home. It was a bad one and she literally thought she was going to die. So they went to the ER. After waiting for 7 hours the doctor told her it was panic attacks. But what kind of panic attack wakes you up? And they took her blood pressure and sugar during an attack and her sugar was normal and her pressure was low. Doesnt sound like anxiety attack to me. What do you think?

Answer 1

It sounds like anxiety to me. I've had them for years. The night ones may be something to do with a sleep disorder, possibly she's having night terrors and may or may not remember them. there is always an underlying reason for these things. Is she under any stress at all? Something is going on thats caused these to surface. I'd say take her to a therapist, and have her md screen her for sleep disorders if it continues...
I've had this issue for years and its amazing how one tiny pill gets rid of it.

Answer 2

It sounds like classic panic attacks to me. If you suffer from really bad panic attacks they can wake you up frequently during the night. All she can do is try taking prescribed anti-anxiety medications. If they don't work then she should get a second opinion. Lots of times patients don't tell the doctor something that could be really important in diagnosing the patient. It could be something really silly that she wouldn't even think would effect the diagnosis. She should make sure that her doctor does a thorough examine and asks her lots of questions about her health and lifestyle. It makes all the difference.

Answer 3

The symptoms of a panic attack appear suddenly, without any apparent cause. They may include:

Sweating
Shortness of Breath (dyspnea)
Racing or pounding heartbeat or palpitations
Chest pain
Dizziness or Vertigo
Lightheadedness
Nausea / Stomach Pains
Hyperventilation
Choking or smothering sensations
Tingling or numbness in the hands, face, feet or mouth (Paresthesia)
Hot/Cold Flashes
Faintness
Trembling or shaking
Dream-like sensation or perceptual distortion (derealization)
Dissociation, or the perception that one is not connected to the body or is disconnected from space and time (depersonalization)
Terror, or a sense that something unimaginably horrible is about to occur and one is powerless to prevent it
Tunnel vision
Fear of losing control
Fear of death
Fear of going crazy
The loss of the ability to react logically to oncoming stimuli
Loss of cognitive ability in general
Heightened senses
Loud internal dialogue
Exhaustion

Answer 4

it may be a psychological problem she's not aware of. Stress causes panic attacks sometimes. The only treatment I am aware of is psychotheraphy called cognitive-behavioral therapy. Drugs like antidepressants (SSRIs, MAOIs) or benzodiazepines are often prescribed. If she follows the procedures, her panic attacks can disappear in as little as 6-8 weeks after treatment.