Panic disorder?

Question

My wife's 34. 2 weeks ago, in the middle of the night, she told me that her brain was flying, felt tingling sensation in her hands and legs, had difficulty in breathing, was palpitating and so on. The whole night I held her and the next morning i rushed to a hospital. After the usual check ups, the doctor diagnosed it as an Anemia and gave some medicines. Then after a week, again at the same time, she felt the same kind of symptoms. Again I rushed her to hospital and the GP referred her to Neuropsychiatrist who diagnosed it as Panic Disorder. Although she's under medications, she has been suffering from those symptoms more frequently. I'm in dilemma.
I just want to know whether there are any websites where I can scan her med. reports and ask the doctors online. I'm really lost. Please help me.

Answer 1

there is no where you can look at her records, they are sealed and kept private. Only she can see her records and then only in the company of her physician so he can explain what she is looking at. That is the law.
If the neuropsychiatrist diagnosed Panic Disorder, I suggest you google that, you will learn a great deal about the problem and a lot about how it is treated.
I've had a Panic Disorder for near on 30 years now, it is treatable, and there are classes that can teach one how to cope with the physical symptooms. Your wife can live a very ordinary life by just learning a few skills and taking medications as prescribed by the psychiatrist.

Answer 2

Although I have had anxiety attacks, I don't recalll having the tingling sensations in my legs...although, it could be happening as a result of her hyper-ventillating during the anxiety attack. It depends on how long it takes her to get her breathing under control...if the oxygen is not getting to her arms and legs...it could result in the sensations that you are describing. The part about the "brain flying" does sort of throw me off a bit...those kinds of symptoms sort of sound like what I experienced when taking some allergy meds and also cold medicines containing psuedophedrine.
You can also have similar symptoms during the first few weeks of starting some types of anti-depressants.

I guess the most unusual part of it is that it is happening to her during the night....although that can happen, it usually more often brought on by a tense situation. It's hard to say exactly because sometimes certain medicines can bring on symptoms that mimic an anxiety attack. I hope they at least prescribed a sedative for her.

Just go to google and type in the name of the medicine, and the milligrams...I have found info on meds very easily by using that method. And definately keep in touch with the doctors...and watch for any additional symptoms...and write down everything that she experiences, for the next doctor visit.

Answer 3

If I were you I'd get another opinion. It always helps to hear from different doctors since it seems there are still many doctors who don't take panic disorders very seriously particularly when the patient is a woman. Sad but true. Hormone imbalances can be a factor in panic and they are notoriously hard to diagnose but definitely worth a look. She could take some calcium (start slow 50 mg at a time) and magnesium (they work together), B complex and even try some Svaroopa yoga (simple to do and very effective - not bending like a pretzel) and some simple meditation to calm the nervous system down. Cutting back on caffeine can also help. Try some Calms Forte http://www.drugstore.com/qxp33135_333181_sespider/hylands/calms_forte_non_habit_forming_sleep_aid_tablets.htm
It's non prescription, non habit forming muscle relaxant and sleep aid that can really help. Take 1 or 2 to calm and 3 to sleep. Also Bach Rescue Remedy is very helpful when you feel a panic attack coming on. You can even get it at Amazon! LOL http://www.amazon.com/Bach-Rescue-Remedy-spray-bottle/dp/B0009POTSU

All that being said PLEASE insist on getting a series of EKG's including stress tests. Her experiences sound alarmingly like a heart attack which in women present **EXTREMELY** than men. Heart attacks are dealier to women than men at any age because the symptoms are so poorly understood.

Honestly, I'm NOT trying to alarm you, but doctors are shockingly lax about teaching heart attack symptoms in women or even recognizing them when they re presented with them in an ER setting. Talk to her doctor about it.

Check this link: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-attack-symptoms/HB00054

Answer 4

As a fellow panic disorder sufferer, some meds actually intensify them for the first week or so, until a half-life is built up. Nothing out of the norm there. I wish you told me which meds she's on, i had the identical reaction with paxil, but it subsided in a few days, and i was feeling much much better.
Also it wouldn't be a bad idea to get into therapy
I use a method called CBT which helped me identify and quell my triggers. get the book "Feeling good, the new mood therapy" by Burns, i swear it helped me so much!

Answer 5

Panic attacks, while obviously manifesting in some neurological imbalances, is at its root a pyschological problem that becomes physical.

Lots of people get panic attacks from time to time. Learning to train the mind to stop thinking about those things that are bothering the person during those attacks and to think/do something else is key to getting through it and for it to lessen.

Answer 6

does sound like anxiety . look up alprazolam medications online. and discuss with your dr.