Post adrenaline rush

Several days ago, I had a very scary thing happen while I was home alone. Someone I didn't know came into my yard and seemed to be 'snooping' around my house. This went on several minutes and I finally called the police. The scariest thing was when I heard an odd scraping noise. Was this person trying to break in? Or just getting into some metal parts that were outside? And why was he so interested in feeding our dog and keeping him quiet?

The person had been working near the road, so I knew that was legitimate. But he drove his vehicle right up to our door (concern #1), as if to hide it from the road (another building is in the way). Then, the walking around the outside of the house, moving objects, etc. I'm thinking "why here of all places?" Because of the type of work he had been doing, the police said there was no reason he should have been on our property!

It took time for an officer to arrive (was in another area miles away), but thankfully, the officer said he would talk to this person (he said he saw him working further down the road). I never did find anything else out, but after the officer talked to him, this person now knows he was being watched. I'm sure he had thought no one was at home.

A few days later, I had a major flare. I'd be willing to bet it's from the adrenaline that ran through my body the day the 'snoop' showed up. And my heart had been pounding so loud while waiting for the police that I could hear it! I'm totally calmed down now, and actually I felt pretty good after talking with the officer about this and knowing the person would be told that he needs to phone before coming on private property.

So--a question: Is such a flare from adrenaline that may still be 'trapped' in my body? I'm still achy all over, feet and legs worst of all. I did a search on controlling adrenaline, but I don't think it does much for an 'after the fact' incident like this, when it took a few days to get to a flare.

The skin brushing helps some, as does my Neurontin and Flexeril, but it seems to me there should be a better way to get rid of the adrenaline. Suggestions? I did find this online and it has some good, common-sense tips, though I'm not into yoga, but do pray and do Christian meditation: www.wikihow.com/Control-an-Adrenaline-Rush

BTW, would you believe one week to the day and at the same hour, I had ANOTHER man come in my yard and walk around?! Thankfully, it turned out to be someone from the insurance company (though they never phoned and said they were coming!). Whew....

Nicer, calmer weeks ahead, I hope!

Its obviously still on your mind and the fear is still there...especially since you have had two men on your property. I'd be nervous, too. But as time passes and as no more men come on your property the flare should ease.

I had something unnerve me too. Someone came on my property and unscrewed my hose reel right off my house and stole the reel and hose! Being severely hearing impaired, I didn't hear a thing...and neither did my dog. It made me feel quite vulnerable. I had more pain but didn't go into a flare...probably because I didn't see anyone like you did.

Time will help this all dissipate. It just takes a while to get your confidence back again.

Sherrine

It's interesting to me the link between stress/fear and fibromyalgia. The more my doctor and I dig into it, the more we realize it is also related to adrenal fatigue and magnesium deficiency, both of which are considered curable.

The problem isn't necessarily the adrenaline, the body also releases cortisol in stressful situations. The adrenaline is gone in less than an hour. The cortisol sticks around for 9+ hours. The release of both of them also have numerous effects on other body systems. Its all very interesting.

Yes, countingstarsx, I had forgotten about the cortisol part, but it's interesting the way it all fits together.

And Sherrine, I surely do know what you mean! The "rush" is long gone, and it's back to normal time, but someone forgot to tell my body about that. I'm working on that, but evidently, my body is a poor listener. :)

Yeah, it's that pesky cortisol keeping your body in the fight or flight mode long after the situation. Staying in that state for long periods of time is actually the first stage of adrenal fatigue from what I understand. Anything can raise it too, any kind of stress in your life. Physical, mental and emotional.

I'm seeing my FM doc on Wednesday to go over the AF more in depth. The biggest thing is resting and avoiding unnecessary stress. From there what is helpful really depends of where exactly your adrenals stand health wise. Treatment for continually high cortisol differs from treatment for continually low. Getting enough potassium, sodium and magnesium are always important. As is enough b-vitamins.

I think In will have to buy that book. My doctor is a functional medicine MD and I actually just saw her today. She ordered the 4 point saliva cortisol and thyroid tests, choosing not to order hormone levels since I am breastfeeding and they are likely not normal right now due to that, nor would we treat until I was done.

Her plan of attack is to continue healing my gut (taking licorice root, multi vitamin, magnesium, zinc, fish oil, probiotics and vitamin d). Depending on the next test results she is talking about an herbal adaptogens approach with emphasis on stress reduction, meditation, test and breathing exercises.

No, we are healing what is termed "leaky gut" -- if you do a search on that you will also find a TON of information. Essentially, toxins, antibiotics, unknown food sensitivities and more can (and frequently do) cause the lining of the gut to be more permeable than it should be, leading to larger undigested matter to get into the bloodstream. It can manifest as bowel trouble (constipation or diarrhea), excessive flatulence, malnourisment, more food sensitivities or allergies and more. I have taken over 50 rounds of antibiotics since I was born, and that really messed up my gut. My doc says that healing the gut is the most important and once healed a lot of other imbalances can correct themselves without intervention (mental illness, hormonal, thyroid, adrenal, etc). However, it's not uncommon to still need to work more on other things once the gut is healed.

Hmmm.....I've never made that association......but I suppose it's possible. I do know that when something like that happens to me, I have such a rush of adrenalin, I can hardly stand it. Then I have tons of energy and have trouble going to sleep. It finally wears off. What has helped somewhat with that is taking a beta blocker. I'm on a very small dose, but it helps my "fight or flight" reaction to be toned down a bit.

I'm starting to realize that just about anything can trigger a flare in me. I haven't been the same since an uneventful colonoscopy 4 and 1/2 months ago. I told my Internist about it and I told him that the colonoscopy didn't bother me at all.........and he said "But it bothered your body". So.........I guess we just never know what can trigger it.

Do you get easily pumped up by other situations? I would get so hyper even at the dentist's, that I thought I would pass out. The beta blocker I'm on (metoprolol) has helped a lot. Maybe it could help you, if this happens often to you.

Stress hormones are released for physical, mental and emotional stress. It helps wounds heal, and helps you get out of dangerous situations. So, a physical stressor will effect you just the same as a mental one. You may not be worried about a physical trauma and know you will heal, but your body IS concerned (rightly so!) and releases the stress hormones (cortisol and adrenaline) in order to assure healing and prevent more trauma. I would be hesitant to take anything that would tell the body that this process isn't needed, but that's just me.

I haven't been on the site for a while, but while sitting at my computer, eating a yogurt, one of my MANY adrenaline rushes just came on me, so I came here, and lo and behold, your post is the first one I see! I'm probably one of the few men here, but have had The Mess (as I call fibromyalgia) for many years, maybe since Vietnam days - plenty of trauma there!

Anyway, I have these rushes very often, at least several times a week, and sometimes, every day. I'll just be sitting around, like just now, and all of a sudden I get all jittery and kind of nervous inside. Hands are steady as a rock, but inside I feel like electricity is running all through me old body. So, if you've never had these rushes until the incident, perhaps it's related to the old boy snooping around. For me, snoop, no snoop, doesn't matter how calm things are in my life, this rush hits me frequently. Doc says it's one sign of The Mess.

Rockon: I haven't yet read up on the info on norepinephrine, but I'd guess there's an interesting connection to fibro.
I noticed it mentions GABA, and if I'm not mistaken, isn't the synthetic form gabapentin (Neurontin)? GABA is a supplement, too, I believe, and probably a more natural form? More research for me to do, and I think it's interesting.

GuyGene: Sorry you're dealing with adrenaline rushes. Right now, I can tell I'm well post-rush, but I still feel odd in my muscles, as if something is "trapped" in some areas. I think I'll do some specific (gentle) exercises to target the areas I can, without causing spasms or cramping. Kind of tricky, but I'll start with my arms.

You're right---"The Mess" is an accurate name for fibro!

CathyA: Generally, I do pretty well distracting myself in tense situations (or talking through them). Thank you!
But if I go to the doctor, for example, and I have a health concern and I don't know the nurse I get, it can get more tricky.
I once had a new nurse and she had THE most comfortable-looking shoes on, so I asked about them. So, we started talking about comfortable shoes! Sure, they're not big, deep, conversations, but they do distract, especially if there's something going on with me physically and I need to get it checked out--a diversion.

My doctor is an absolute pro at bringing up conversations that can somewhat relate to the health issue, while also being interesting. He also has a good sense of humor, and while waiting in an examination room, I can often hear him laughing (no, he doesn't laugh at the patients!) I'm working on that!