Air Hunger vs Panic Attack

Can anyone help me please by describing the difference between air hunger and panic attack.  My daughter has just started showing some symptoms that we haven't seen before while treating for lyme/bartonella with herbal protocols.   Thanks. 

Hi Rowing,

I've had both. Asthma is kind of like, "Oh crap! I'd better go get my inhaler." An anxiety attack has a strong psychological component, and you have a fear or sensation that you're going to die very soon. My panic attacks didn't involve breathing, but I imagine some people feel like they're suffocating.

Mine were brought on primarily by the drugs Flagyl and Vancomycin (herx?), and also, later on, by the c. diff. itself. When I was on Flagyl, it was the worst. I called people up in the middle of the night, and told them that I loved them, and that I probably wasn't going to make it. Indeed, Flagyl made me a wee bit psychotic. I also cried a lot whenever I was having a panic attack.

Asthma is nothing like that, especially if you're used to it. My asthma is brought on by humidity, very cold air, pollen, and most importantly, any chemical, odor-free or not.

Not sure what the difference between air hunger and asthma is.

Margaret

Thanks so much for your answers, Razzle for your good descriptions, and teragram for your indication that panic can be indeed brought on by herxing.

Our daughter says the feeling is one of her throat squeezing closed. She has to take deep breaths and sometimes coughs to get air. I can hear her trying to pull air through her constricted throat, but it is not ongoing. A few deep breaths and then a few normal. There is no mucous involved. She felt some dizziness with the first one, but hasn't since. She is certainly panicked and scared, eyes wide, clutching her neck, afraid to move.

My first thought was allergic reaction, but no facial/tongue swelling, no hives. Allergy would be a huge disappointment because she has been doing so well on the new herbal protocol. She has been enjoying the best executive function and emotional lability of her life. Bartonella pain and Tourette's-like symptoms remain at extremely low levels. We can deal with herx, and it certainly is possible that we have now built up to a fairly high constant level of herbs in her system.

Before I discontinued the herbals yesterday morning the attacks were coming within 30 minutes of dosing, and would last for an hour or so, which made me think perhaps low-level allergic reaction. She had another again last night at bed time (with no dosing), but it didn't last long.

I realize I have been pushing her dosages a little, but we are within a range I would consider appropriate for a 75 lb child according to the dosage suggestions on Buhner's site. I am so looking forward to our consult with Julie, his associate, two weeks from now.

I had been unable to contact either our LLMD or naturopath as we have been out of town for a couple of days. Didn't get back 'till last night and knew I would find some good info from you this morning.

Thanks again.

I don't necessarily have a lot of mucus production with asthma. Sometimes I just feel very short of breath. Only severe asthma causes mucus production in my case.

Interestingly, I was just thinking about this: My dog has asthma and allergies as well, (and Lyme), and it really helps her if I brush or comb her very thoroughly every night, and then wash her face.

The same might be true for us. I think dry brushing is crucial, and I def. wash my face every night. I don't wash my hair every night, but I've found that (since you can't really dry brush your scalp), a boar's bristle brush really helps, and feels good. You can always rinse your hair without washing it. Then, of course, the detox Epsom Salt bath helps. All this should help to get rid of toxins that congest our bodies, and cause allergies (inside and outside toxins).

Milk thistle helps decongest our (and the dog's) livers, and the herb Marshmallow is good for respiratory function. Then you, and really all of us, should avoid chemicals as much as possible. I'm not on abx, but even unscented Deet causes severe trouble breathing in me.

And yes, the air hunger, or whatever it is, might be a herx. My recommendation for a herx is slow down!! You can always build up later.

If she gets an episode, try calming music, or maybe some meditative techniques. I know of some very easy meditative techniques (and grounding techniques) if ur interested.

Margaret