fedup
10-01-08, 16:10
Hello
I've just registered with this forum today, having been an occasional but recently more frequent visitor to the web site.
I've had 'panic attcks' for about 12 years - took about 2 years to diagnose as symptoms not 'typical' (but whose are?). I'd say that until now, 99% of my attacks were nocturnal - waking me up after about 30-60 mins after falling asleep - main symptoms tachycardia and muscle spasm/pain with fear of imminent death. Next day would feel v. weak and ill, sometimes after effects lasted up to a week. Initially diagnosed with all sorts of things, e.g. ME; simple partial epilepsy; restless legs syndrome; but got 'panic' diagnosis from specialist in ME (who said I hadn't got ME). Nocturnal attacks almost always occurred bang in the middle of my menstrual cycle (i.e. ovulation time). Put on Dothiepin (tricyclic) and given clonazepam for occasion 'as needed' use to abort attacks and calm restlessness. Never needed to take these regularly.
Since my attacks were mainly nocturnal, they didn't affect daytime living overwhelmingly, and I coped. After having children however, the exhaustion and illness following my attacks led me to say enough is enough and I had a course of CBT 2 yrs ago which seemed to help. I was attack free for about a year and decided to come off my Dothiepin. Bad idea - attacks returned big time - this was 3 months ago and I now get attacks during the day, despite being on Dothiepin again. Since October I have gone from being a part-time health professional and postgrad student and mum to being agoraphophic and practically housebound. I need to have my husband with me if I go out, and even that's hard. I'm back on the waiting list for CBT again but that's a long wait. The agoraphobia's totally new, and the daytime panic attacks seem different to my nocturnal ones (more 'textbook' panic attacks). I am now v. depressed as well as anxious. Husband's v. supportive but I feel no one really understands... friends just look at me with pity or embarrassment (when I manage to get out).
Thanks for reading.
I've just registered with this forum today, having been an occasional but recently more frequent visitor to the web site.
I've had 'panic attcks' for about 12 years - took about 2 years to diagnose as symptoms not 'typical' (but whose are?). I'd say that until now, 99% of my attacks were nocturnal - waking me up after about 30-60 mins after falling asleep - main symptoms tachycardia and muscle spasm/pain with fear of imminent death. Next day would feel v. weak and ill, sometimes after effects lasted up to a week. Initially diagnosed with all sorts of things, e.g. ME; simple partial epilepsy; restless legs syndrome; but got 'panic' diagnosis from specialist in ME (who said I hadn't got ME). Nocturnal attacks almost always occurred bang in the middle of my menstrual cycle (i.e. ovulation time). Put on Dothiepin (tricyclic) and given clonazepam for occasion 'as needed' use to abort attacks and calm restlessness. Never needed to take these regularly.
Since my attacks were mainly nocturnal, they didn't affect daytime living overwhelmingly, and I coped. After having children however, the exhaustion and illness following my attacks led me to say enough is enough and I had a course of CBT 2 yrs ago which seemed to help. I was attack free for about a year and decided to come off my Dothiepin. Bad idea - attacks returned big time - this was 3 months ago and I now get attacks during the day, despite being on Dothiepin again. Since October I have gone from being a part-time health professional and postgrad student and mum to being agoraphophic and practically housebound. I need to have my husband with me if I go out, and even that's hard. I'm back on the waiting list for CBT again but that's a long wait. The agoraphobia's totally new, and the daytime panic attacks seem different to my nocturnal ones (more 'textbook' panic attacks). I am now v. depressed as well as anxious. Husband's v. supportive but I feel no one really understands... friends just look at me with pity or embarrassment (when I manage to get out).
Thanks for reading.