Posted by Jackster on August 30, 2001, at 4:30:33
In reply to Re: Xanax and panic, experiences?-Elizabeth, posted by Thrud on August 30, 2001, at 1:35:24
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> Apparently I had some atypical symptoms, like an aura just before the attack (although they were subjective feelings rather than auditory/visual etc disturbances. Diurnal variation (they always became more frequent in the evening). Plus I did not (and still do not) manifest any cognitive features during an attack, such as fear of dying going crazy, trying to 'escape' etc. In fact, during an attack I am *incapable* of thinking about anything at all; I just sort of physically and mentally freeze and experience a nightmare sensation. Stuff like that sent me for an EEG and CT scan for a brain tumor (I turned out to be allergic to the Iodine tracer: my face puffed up, tears, saliva and "mucous" poured out uncontrollably. Fun stuff!)
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> > > When the EEG came back normal he diagnosed panic and put me on some tricyclic (doxepin I think). It was almost as bad as nothing.
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Hi ThrudSorry this is off the topic of your thread - but there was something about the description of your panic attacks that I wanted to ask you about. I've had agoraphobia with PA's for about 15 years - Paxil worked great for about 3 years and then pooped out, but that's another story. My father has been having medical problems for the last few months. He's been experiencing tightness in his chest, a kind of 'halo' effect in his vision and headaches. Anyway he's been to the Emergency Dept a couple of times and had a lots of tests - CAT scans, treadmill, blood tests - all normal. The doctor(s) finally diagnosed panic attacks - which my father won't accept - and which I find strange because the symptons are so different from mine. I have the classic hyperventilation, fear of dying, going crazy, racing heart etc. What you described sounds kind of like what my father had - would you mind giving me a more detailed description of your symptoms? The doc prescribed Paxil, but my Dad took it for one day and decided it was making him worse. I'm just wondering if someone else has the same kind of symptoms as him that he might accept the diagnosis.
If you don't want to talk about it, that's cool too.
Thanks
Jackie
poster:Jackster
thread:76063
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010828/msgs/76939.html