Re: Re: Please help / panic attacks

February 1, 2005

Hi ,

The only time I had a vibrating/pulsating feeling was a few years ago when I was

taking an SSRI (Zoloft). I have read that they tend to make the neurons in your

brain fire a lot...probably bad for people with Mito. I no longer take it!

Lea

.... " this overall vibrating/ pulsating feeling scares me even

more! "

February 2, 2005

Hello, Steve

I am glad to hear from you. Last I remember you were dealing with

that awful storm in New England, and I was concerned that you had lost

power, etc. Glad you are back, and hope that the storm did not do too

much damage where you live.

Regards

Sunny

> Lea, , et al

>

> I get these near-fainting panicky things too.

>

> Sometimes only a bit too much exertion will bring this on. However,

> the

> thankfully-rare (for me) super-version is REALLY scary, and also has

> emotional stress (as you both mention). What this stress is, exactly,

> can be

> rather slight by my former standards. Like if the phone rings and I

> think it

> might be a doctor callback. Or if something goes even a little wrong

> and a

> repair is going to be a bit more involved. Or if someone makes a

> critical

> comment, like that I forgot the suntan lotion. Being late always

> makes any

> of these worse.

>

> I think what is going on as this trigger hits me, is that I forget to

> breath. Or maybe that I wasn't breathing quite enough, but suddenly

> now the

> deficit matters a lot. My intuitive sense is that there is something

> toxic

> in my blood or nervous system, and " better " breathing seems to wash

> it away

> quicker. Another thing that helps is to notice this coming on and

> " getting

> very calm " somehow, like deliberately and slowly moving away from the

> trigger and sitting alone in the shade, looking out at the horizon or

> the

> grass or trees.

>

> When this is relatively mild, one or two deep sighing breaths will

> usually

> fix it. The much-worse form is usually the result of considerable

> physical

> exertion COUPLED with stress/anxiety. Like one time when I lifted the

> tongue

> of a small boat trailer up, to get it on the trailer ball, all the

> time

> wondering if it was maybe too late in the day to go boating, and

> thinking

> through a bunch of other things that I had to quick do. Whew boy,

> suffice it

> to say, we didn't go boating that day.

>

> For what it's worth, my own theory, based on these self-observations

> and my

> reading, is that adrenaline (aka epinephrine) is involved. The stress

> of

> exertion plus the stress of emotion increases this hormone, which to

> a small

> degree in non-mito people is normal, harmless, barely noticed, etc.

> But for

> me, I'm guessing that somehow even a little bit too much causes some

> kind of

> flareup, because of my body's inability to absorb or cope with the

> energy

> demand that this hormone induces (which of course is the normal

> purpose of

> the increase).

>

> Anyway, just my two cents. Any of this ring true for others?

>

> Steve D.

>

> > Date: Tue, 01 Feb 2005 22:36:36 -0000

> >

> > Subject: Re: Please help / panic attacks

> >

> > Lea,

> > Funny you should mention the movies. We have a brand new theatre

> near

> > by and the floors are illuminated with blue lightning. It makes me

> > feel Like a seizure is about to hit every time I walk into the

> movie.

> > Another experience that I had at the movies was duing Spy Kids 3-D.

> > Made me literally " fall out " during the entire movie. My husband and

> > son told me I was out cold and they couldn't keep me awake from the

> > first 10 or so minutes of the film. My Hubby told me he thought I

> was

> > just exhausted but once the movie, special effects and sound were

> > over I snapped right back into reality.....learned my lesson NO MORE

> > 3-D movies for me :-)

> >

> > As far as the vibrating/ panic attack problem I had the first

> > experience when I was boarding a plan from CCF the day after my

> > biopsy. I almost got off the plane because I was convinced I was

> > either having a heart attack or I was going to stop breathing. I

> have

> > had panic attacks for year, and although they have gotten worse over

> > the years, this overall vibrating/ pulsating feeling scares me even

> > more!

> >

> > Thanks for the tip on the Klonopin. I am waiting for the doc to call

> > back about the faciculations. He is investigating Mito related

> > problems and faciculations.

> >

> > >

> > > Hi ,

> > > I get that hyper sensitive thing a lot which is what triggers a

> > panic attack for me as well. Also, when my body is so stressed and

> > exausted it seems to trigger them as well. I take Klonopin .5mg

> > twice a day and that has helped a lot...hasn't completely gotten rid

> > of them, but it has made a tremendous difference.

> > >

> > > I wonder if because of mito our brains just aren't getting enough

> > energy to cope with a lot of input. I have found that I can't go to

> > the movies anymore because the light and sound is too overwhelming.

> > We buy or rent movies and I can turn down the sound and take breaks

> > if the action gets too stressful. I wonder how many other mito

> > people have this symptom?

> > > Lea

> > >

> > > ... I have had episodes where I feel like my entire body is

> > vibrating. My ears and body seem to be hyper sensitive and it has

> > actually caused to me go

> > > into a panic attack, which I take meds for.

> > >

>

> Medical advice, information, opinions, data and statements contained

> herein are not necessarily those of the list moderators. The author of

> this e mail is entirely responsible for its content. List members are

> reminded of their responsibility to evaluate the content of the

> postings and consult with their physicians regarding changes in their

> own treatment.

>

> Personal attacks are not permitted on the list and anyone who sends

> one is automatically moderated or removed depending on the severity of

> the attack.

>

February 2, 2005

, Lea, et all,

I don't have the panic attacks, but I do have the sensitivity to

sound that I think I saw mentioned when this conversation first started.

Every so often, it seems like sounds are magnified and any sound sends

shivers down my spine because it hurts so much to hear it. It happens

more when I am tired or when I have a headache (this is different than

regular sound sensitivity with headaches). Dealing with my students on

these days can be interesting. :-)

Smiles,

a

February 2, 2005

, Lea, et all,

I don't have the panic attacks, but I do have the sensitivity to

sound that I think I saw mentioned when this conversation first started.

Every so often, it seems like sounds are magnified and any sound sends

shivers down my spine because it hurts so much to hear it. It happens

more when I am tired or when I have a headache (this is different than

regular sound sensitivity with headaches). Dealing with my students on

these days can be interesting. :-)

Smiles,

a

February 2, 2005

On the subject of " attacks " , I don't experience them as has been

mentioned in this thread. I have noise sensitivity, and get really

stressed when I am overloaded with it. I can't think or speak

coherently sometimes, and I just know I have to remove myself from the

excess noise. If I cannot it is torture to just endure it. I get

extremely unpleasant, and controlling myself is the only thing I can

focus on. Deep breathing, and imaging can help. Sometimes I review a

plot of a book or a vacation to try to move my attention from the

stimulus. I carry ear plugs and head phones for airplanes, etc. Some

noise is definitely a trigger.

I do get other " spells " when very suddenly I am feeling awful. But for

me, it is a body and mind weakness, as though someone has just pulled

the plug and drained everything out, or that I was suddenly drugged

with a huge dose of a sleeping pill. This is distinct from daily

general fatigue, which I perceive as coming on more slowly. When these

spells happen I don't want to talk, even to answer a simple question,

and just need to be by myself. It takes a huge effort to just finish

what I am doing and get myself to a safe and comfortable place. I

don't get the fast pulse or pain in my chest, but at the time, to be

honest, I am too stupid to notice much. My mind must be in overdrive

to just take care of myself until I can lie down. Sometimes I need to

sleep, sometimes I feel better (never wonderful) a little time later.

I sometimes think there is a relationship to food, since eating always

makes me more tired, and I have been trying to reduce my carbs,

thinking that they are a culprit. Who knows.,......

Regards

Sunny

> Lea, , et al

>

> I get these near-fainting panicky things too.

>

> Sometimes only a bit too much exertion will bring this on. However,

> the

> thankfully-rare (for me) super-version is REALLY scary, and also has

> emotional stress (as you both mention). What this stress is, exactly,

> can be

> rather slight by my former standards. Like if the phone rings and I

> think it

> might be a doctor callback. Or if something goes even a little wrong

> and a

> repair is going to be a bit more involved. Or if someone makes a

> critical

> comment, like that I forgot the suntan lotion. Being late always

> makes any

> of these worse.

>

> I think what is going on as this trigger hits me, is that I forget to

> breath. Or maybe that I wasn't breathing quite enough, but suddenly

> now the

> deficit matters a lot. My intuitive sense is that there is something

> toxic

> in my blood or nervous system, and " better " breathing seems to wash

> it away

> quicker. Another thing that helps is to notice this coming on and

> " getting

> very calm " somehow, like deliberately and slowly moving away from the

> trigger and sitting alone in the shade, looking out at the horizon or

> the

> grass or trees.

>

> When this is relatively mild, one or two deep sighing breaths will

> usually

> fix it. The much-worse form is usually the result of considerable

> physical

> exertion COUPLED with stress/anxiety. Like one time when I lifted the

> tongue

> of a small boat trailer up, to get it on the trailer ball, all the

> time

> wondering if it was maybe too late in the day to go boating, and

> thinking

> through a bunch of other things that I had to quick do. Whew boy,

> suffice it

> to say, we didn't go boating that day.

>

> For what it's worth, my own theory, based on these self-observations

> and my

> reading, is that adrenaline (aka epinephrine) is involved. The stress

> of

> exertion plus the stress of emotion increases this hormone, which to

> a small

> degree in non-mito people is normal, harmless, barely noticed, etc.

> But for

> me, I'm guessing that somehow even a little bit too much causes some

> kind of

> flareup, because of my body's inability to absorb or cope with the

> energy

> demand that this hormone induces (which of course is the normal

> purpose of

> the increase).

>

> Anyway, just my two cents. Any of this ring true for others?

>

> Steve D.

>

> > Date: Tue, 01 Feb 2005 22:36:36 -0000

> >

> > Subject: Re: Please help / panic attacks

> >

> > Lea,

> > Funny you should mention the movies. We have a brand new theatre

> near

> > by and the floors are illuminated with blue lightning. It makes me

> > feel Like a seizure is about to hit every time I walk into the

> movie.

> > Another experience that I had at the movies was duing Spy Kids 3-D.

> > Made me literally " fall out " during the entire movie. My husband and

> > son told me I was out cold and they couldn't keep me awake from the

> > first 10 or so minutes of the film. My Hubby told me he thought I

> was

> > just exhausted but once the movie, special effects and sound were

> > over I snapped right back into reality.....learned my lesson NO MORE

> > 3-D movies for me :-)

> >

> > As far as the vibrating/ panic attack problem I had the first

> > experience when I was boarding a plan from CCF the day after my

> > biopsy. I almost got off the plane because I was convinced I was

> > either having a heart attack or I was going to stop breathing. I

> have

> > had panic attacks for year, and although they have gotten worse over

> > the years, this overall vibrating/ pulsating feeling scares me even

> > more!

> >

> > Thanks for the tip on the Klonopin. I am waiting for the doc to call

> > back about the faciculations. He is investigating Mito related

> > problems and faciculations.

> >

> > >

> > > Hi ,

> > > I get that hyper sensitive thing a lot which is what triggers a

> > panic attack for me as well. Also, when my body is so stressed and

> > exausted it seems to trigger them as well. I take Klonopin .5mg

> > twice a day and that has helped a lot...hasn't completely gotten rid

> > of them, but it has made a tremendous difference.

> > >

> > > I wonder if because of mito our brains just aren't getting enough

> > energy to cope with a lot of input. I have found that I can't go to

> > the movies anymore because the light and sound is too overwhelming.

> > We buy or rent movies and I can turn down the sound and take breaks

> > if the action gets too stressful. I wonder how many other mito

> > people have this symptom?

> > > Lea

> > >

> > > ... I have had episodes where I feel like my entire body is

> > vibrating. My ears and body seem to be hyper sensitive and it has

> > actually caused to me go

> > > into a panic attack, which I take meds for.

> > >

>

> Medical advice, information, opinions, data and statements contained

> herein are not necessarily those of the list moderators. The author of

> this e mail is entirely responsible for its content. List members are

> reminded of their responsibility to evaluate the content of the

> postings and consult with their physicians regarding changes in their

> own treatment.

>

> Personal attacks are not permitted on the list and anyone who sends

> one is automatically moderated or removed depending on the severity of

> the attack.

>

February 2, 2005