Wake in a panic

Hi I am new here. I am a 34 year old woman suffering really bad with panic attacks. I had my first attack 10 years ago, a one off and felt fine after it. Then 7 years ago I had one again only this time it was not a 1 off. I had several panic attacks daily for over a year however again they just disappeared as quick as they had come.

In June of this year I was woken from sleep with pain in my chest, arm and jaw and I instantly thought I was having a heart attack so woke my partner and told him to phone an ambulance, which he did. A 12 lead ECG was done and was normal but a little fast. 3 weeks later I was bothered with shoulder blade pain all day which I had managed to ignore I went to bed and all was fine until the following morning when I woke up convinced this was a heart attack and again I asked my partner to call an ambulance. He tried to convince me I was ok but that made me feel worse and then panic more (I hate the cycle) This time I had an ECG, chest X-ray and blood work and surprise, surprise every thing was fine!

I felt ok for a few days after this but now things have gotten worse. I have panic attacks several times a day but the worst ones are the ones I wake up with almost everyday. I did manage not to call an ambulance until Saturday when I woke with a stabbing sharpe pain in the centre of my chest, my heart was racing and I felt really sick. I tried to ride it out/embrace it but it kept going through my head that one day this could be a heart attack and I would be trying to ignore it instead of getting help so again I got my partner to call an ambulance. When they arrived I was given aspirin and GTN tablets, which they have never done so this scared me even more however after being checked out at ER I was told it is an upper GI issue and sent home.

I worry about every little twinge and I spend a lot of my day thinking about "what ifs" I am aware of every minor change to my body. When I am calm I accept that I have panic disorder but as soon as an attack starts that goes out the window and I am convinced I am dying. I am miserable and I just need to find a way to get them to stop again.

Sorry for such a long post

Thanks I will have a look. I am glad I found this forum as it definitely does help to know that I am not the only one that lives like this.

Thanks SC

Yes I have been in touch with my doctor many times and I am bring referred for CBT. Unfortunately I am in the UK where waiting lists for most treatments are 6month+ I have also been given Lorazepam to help with the symptoms however it has some horrible side effects and this can actually make me feel worse in the long run. I have a further appointment next week to review it so hoping he'll let me try beta blockers then.

I have had a quick look at the resources and will look better at them when I finish work. I will also look at the links you have sent, thanks

Thanks SC

It has helped just knowing that I am not alone in feeling like this.

Thanks for your reply. I have been given Lorazepam but this sometimes makes me feel worse in the long run! I have had stomach issues for years and have mentioned my gallbladder but it was pretty much brushed off. I may have to try being more forceful and get it checked.

lol wow iphone autocorrect really??? ****doctor, not comedic!!!!!

same symptoms as you but scared of tests and docs.