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panic attack on vacation

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 7/10/2009 6:28 PM (GMT 0)

I am on vacation & had a panic attack. I was planning on going with my family to watch the Blue Angels perform on another beach. I have UC & I heard that that bathrooms were limited & in a walking distance. I thought I could handle it but when I got into the car to go, it hit me. We had to stop so I could use the bathroom. When I have a panic attack, it goes directly to my colon. I took an anti-diarrhea tablet & 1/4 of a Klonipin but I was still too scared to go on. My husband had to take me back to the condo & take my sons without me. I hate it when this happens. Now I have drugged & dopey feeling & my stomach is upset & missing out of the fun with my family. I hate this disease.

Posted 7/10/2009 7:19 PM (GMT 0)
I'm so sorry that this happened to you. I can relate. I had many panic attacks about this disease and especially about how fast to find a bathroom. I even get a little feeling of panic when I am not in a flare and when I feel something going on in my colon, like gurgling or just gas and when I am not at home. So I can really understand what you are talking about, the fear of not being able to make it to the bathroom (for whatever reason, limited bathrooms, accessibilty etc.). Don't beat yourself up about it! Don't punish yourself with bad thoughts! We have this disease and can't help it. 

I hope I could comfort you a bit ... don't tell yourself that you are missing out of the fun. That's a bad bad thought and it won't help you feel better! You will be able to enjoy the fun with family again when you are better. Instead of the thought of missing out, do some fun things with your family that you can enjoy like playing Wii or all kinds of games at home where the bathroom is close to you.

Hope you feel better soon!

Posted 7/10/2009 7:46 PM (GMT 0)
The strange things is that i am in remission but I still have those lingering thoughts of what if. Then I get panicky & that activates my colon. Thanks for the encouragement
Posted 7/10/2009 8:11 PM (GMT 0)
you might have IBS on top of your UC
Posted 7/10/2009 11:46 PM (GMT 0)
I still feel that way sometimes but if I take my Xanax on a regular basis - 1/2 tablet every 4 to 6 hours I can relax enough not to panic.

I have been there and no fun!

ElaineNY

Posted 7/11/2009 12:08 AM (GMT 0)
I'm living without antidepressants and anti-anxiety meds since I gave cognitive behavioral therapy a try and it works wonders for me. I just didn't want to take pills anymore and thought, there must be a way without them. There is. Of course I don't try to convince people not to take Xanax and the like. That is a decision everyone must make for themselves.

 

Posted 7/11/2009 1:08 AM (GMT 0)

Oh, I agree with that - not taking anti-anxiety drugs, etc. is the best way if you can deal with your problems.  I saw my Mom in terrible state of panic, etc. because she did not want to get "addicted".  Just saying it can help some of us - I am one of them!

ElaineNY

Posted 7/11/2009 3:02 AM (GMT 0)
Maybe you need to keep some Depends on hand-- to wear under your clothes when out in a place or locale that lacks johns. You could also put an emergency packet in your car with wet wipes in it, too-- just to be prepared for the worst-case scenario. For me Depends have anxiety-busting properties! I hope that the rest of your vacation comes off w/o any more anxiety, urgency, excessive bms, etc. / Old Hat (30 yrs with left-sided UC ... [etc.])
Posted 7/11/2009 3:08 AM (GMT 0)
I am sorry this happened to you.  Happened to me alot.  I use Librax.  It is an antispasmatic and it helps control your anxiety.  I love it.  I believed it helped push me into remission.

Good luck with the rest of your trip

Chris

Posted 7/11/2009 2:34 PM (GMT 0)
thanks everyone. After I got back to the condo, everything was alright. The panic attack was what kicked in my colon. I took a klonipin but then I felt druggy. I hate that feeling. I don't know if xanax would be better that klonipin or not.
Posted 7/11/2009 5:28 PM (GMT 0)
I have severe social anxieties and suffer from depression. Over the years, I have tried practically everything.

The following have helped:

Positive Psychology (I took a group class once. It was extremely helpful, and I still do the exercises to keep me from thinking too negatively.)
CBT (Cognitive Behavior Therapy)
Meditation and Self-hypnosis
Exercise
Yoga
Baths
Massages
Anti-depressants (When all else fails.)
Posted 7/13/2009 3:31 AM (GMT 0)
I couldn't agree more that CBT and yoga are extremely helpful. Also vigorous exercise like spinning as hard as you can for 30 minutes 3-4 times a week to burn off all that excess adrenaline that makes you feel so edgy and anxious. And then there are breathing techniques, deep relaxation, deep breathing and very important, downtime, plenty of sleep and quality time with yourself and you alone.

Like I said before, there is NOTHING wrong with taking anti-anxiety meds and antidepressants, but in the long run I found it more helpful to deal with the feelings of depression and anxiety by changing my reactions/actions to these feelings and change my approach to life and worry and the like. Definitely hard work, definitely worth the time it takes.

Sorry if i hitchhiked this thread.

 

Posted 7/15/2009 3:11 PM (GMT 0)
boy can I relate. We just went to Florida for our first real family vacation. I was so miserable about every thing we did that it was just stupid....I just wish that they could give us a brain pill to shut off the worry. It is really the hardest thing we battle. I also had to get off a airplane and take a later flight because once my mind goes there it's on like Donkey Kong....Hope this helps. k

Posted 7/15/2009 5:50 PM (GMT 0)
Sound familar to me too. The panic made my UC 10 times worse when I was in flare modes, especially away from home! One thing I have learned in dealing with this disease is that getting myself calm as soon as possible is crucial.


Universal Colitis since 2003
Asacol 12 6 tablets per day
Mercaptopurine 1 1/2 1/2 tablets per day
hydrocortisone enema as needed (try not to use unless really, really needed)
Probiotic (lots!)
Fish Oil
Folic Acid (a must on 6-mp)
Iron (Solgar gentle iron - gentle on your tummy)
Multi Vitamin
Biotin
Lots of toasted french bread (especially when its actin up!)
Quiet time everyday to d-stress
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