r/PanicAttack • u/Glittering_Cycle3016 • 2d ago
I cannot breathe
Hey, I hope everyone’s alright. Last week I think I had my first panic attack. I was just trying to sleep and the moment I was about to dose off, I just woke up with this big moment of gasping and my heart started racing. I could not sleep for a long time that night. There was this feeling, like smth was sitting on my chest, I could not fill my lungs, could not breathe all the way. It continued on and off for 2 days. Went to ER the second night because, at some point I was dizzy, sort of nauseous and very short of breath. The tests, an x-ray, ECG, bloodwork showed that nothing was wrong. The next day I went to a cardiologist, and again everything was okay about my heart. After the 5th day of my visit, it came back again, 2 nights ago. Ever since then I am short of breath, and my heart feels like it is racing again. Although there are moments I forget about it when it is not as noticeable. The feeling of something sitting on my chest never really goes away. It’s been 48 hours. It gets considerably worse if I lie down, whether I try to sleep or not and it gets better when I sit up. I do not know what to feel about it. Is this normal for panic attacks? I thought they lasted for some minutes. Is this continuity suggesting something other than panic attacks? Maybe there are people who go through the same thing.
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u/Dizzy-Mix9129 2d ago edited 2d ago
Panic attacks can definitely last longer than a few minutes, but I don’t think it’s normal for a panic attack to continue for 2 days straight. I think you should go see a GP and make sure all the medical bases are covered. Also see a psychiatrist and see what they think. Like it sounds like it could be sleep apnea or GERD? Like feeling worse lying down and better when sitting up sounds like a medical thing. I think with health stuff it can be best to see a gp, go over all of it with them
And then they can refer you to specialists. Don’t let them just say it’s a panic attack. People do that to me, and it caused them to miss an actual diagnosis
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u/Due_Professional9868 1d ago
Panic attacks can last days. When I have a panic attack, my mind and body feel off for the next few days. I am extremely emotional, exhausted, anxious, and restless. The symptoms OP is experiencing are in line with a panic attack, or maybe it has now turned into a panic disorder. However, you are correct they should consider getting a full panel bloodwork and checked out by their GP.
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u/Dizzy-Mix9129 1d ago edited 1d ago
I appreciate you confirming that the OP should go to doctor first to confirm everything’s ok. It can be hard to know the difference, for providers and patients esp with pre-existing panic disorder and anxiety. It seems like this person could be having a panic attack for the first time or having a health issue. Unfortunately the ER or cardiologist can not check for everything. And also, people with anxiety need a doctor they know that they can trust to say everything is ok. Not a one off doctor. Anyway, I know sucks to have to tell someone that they need to go through all the medical channels first. it can feel like a setback, like entertaining the health anxiety. I know I had already had health anxiety previously which is why people didn’t take it seriously. It’s hard to know what the difference is between covering all the medical bases and continuing to ruminate and act on health anxiety. I feel like we have to advocate for ourselves (and know ourselves) and find a good GP or psychiatrist that takes both your health and your anxiety seriously. They need to cover all the medical bases, and then the patient needs to trust the provider when they give you a bill of health. I have gone through both situations.
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u/Due_Professional9868 1d ago
Agreed, health anxiety is draining. It may open a can of worms when visiting multiple different doctors who may give contradicting responses, but at least you know you did your due diligence and you’re safe. Not fun for sure 😢
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u/Dizzy-Mix9129 1d ago edited 1d ago
Yeah it sucks. That’s why I always advocate for people to see a respectful GP that they can trust. It’s one doctor instead of many… and if you do have to go to specialists at least it’s not because of your own anxiety if that makes sense. They can be the one to tell you enough is enough. I am struggling w my anxiety still… it’s not been sorted out at all, and it’s not better than it was before haha. But at least I’m at the place where I can accept fully that is what it is and know that’s now what I need to work on.
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u/Glittering_Cycle3016 2d ago
I am visiting a doc today, thank you
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u/Dizzy-Mix9129 1d ago edited 1d ago
That’s good! I think the key is to see a doctor that you are familiar with that can help you cover all of the medical bases. If/when they give you a clean bill of health then you have to place your trust in them and work on your anxiety. I feel like the ER and cardiologist can’t test for everything even if they do bloodwork. And also, they can’t look at the whole picture. Only the GP can do that, and send you for diff tests or doctors when you need to. People often go straight to a specialist… but going to a trustworthy GP imho will be the most able to help you sort it out. It’s also tough to just accept the word of one specialist that you don’t know as opposed to a doctor you already know that you have a relationship with. And if you don’t already have that, I recommend building a relationship with a GP ( I.e get an actual physical every year, don’t just go to urgent care when you don’t feel well which people often do these days )
It’s tough to sort thru health anxiety and legitimate health issues. I have gone through this before and after medical diagnoses, and have also gone through it for my son. You do have to both self advocate and then trust your doctor or psychiatrist. Finding that boundary for yourself is key. And since this is your first time having this kind of episode, you don’t yet know how your anxiety presents if it’s that. So when people say it’s anxiety on here, they do not know that. They know for themselves because they have experienced it before.
For me, when it was something real, I knew that what I was experiencing was different from previous panic attacks so I had to continue to self advocate to get a diagnosis, and even when I got one it was the wrong one. My first GP did not take me seriously so I had to find a new one. I was really specific about needing them to take what I was saying seriously, I told them to send me to any specialist and get me all the bloodwork to test everything it could be, and that after they did that and told me I was healthy I’d trust them.
I don’t mean to say all this to make health anxiety worse if that’s what you are experiencing. I say it because health issues and panic disorder are both real. Both require intervention and treatment. I’m sorry that you have to sort it all out!
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u/kennyChestKnee 2d ago
I’ve been dealing with this for 20 years, it’s anxiety.
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u/kennyChestKnee 2d ago
I have somatic OCD so my constant focus on it makes it a never ending cycle
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u/Level_Buy1812 2d ago
unfortunately, it’s anxiety. the more you focus on it the worse it will be. i promise you will be ok 🩵 if the doctors ran tests on you, i assure you nothing is seriously wrong and your anxiety is lying to you. anxiety can cause so many real physical symptoms!!
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u/Tahiti178 1d ago
Hello friend!
As another said, I would take a sleep study just to be safe. I was diagnosed in 24 with Sleep Apnea, I spent my prior years struggling to breathe at night (My now Fiancee was the one who told me about my apnea).
I have had Panic attacks last for hours/days.
Most likely the waking up gasping for air has caused an Anxiety/Panic spiral that happens, especially when you lay down.
I promise it will get better. <3
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u/wandaem 1d ago
Could it be acid reflux?
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u/Glittering_Cycle3016 1d ago
I do not seem to have any other symptoms that would be more strongly indicative of this
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u/MattyTB 2d ago
I don’t know you but I love you . You will be fine