Hello Jen,
I will try to touch on both your questions. :)
Hyperventilation syndrome is a condition brought on by rapid, shallow breathing. It can cause fainting. Hyperventilation can be very alarming because it can appear to be a different, more serious problem, such as an asthma attack or stroke. Once you faint, your respirations slow down and your body returns to it pre-hyperventilation stage.
The rapid, shallow breathing of hyperventilation most often occurs when you are anxious or emotionally upset.
The symptoms of hyperventilation usually progress as follows: shortness of breath or an inability to take a deep breath numbness and tingling of the skin (in the hands or around the mouth) lightheadedness spasms of hands and feet, occasionally fainting.
The treatment for hyperventilation is simple. All you need to do is rebreathe carbon dioxide to get your body's oxygen/carbon dioxide balance back to normal. You can do this by closing your mouth and breathing slowly through your nose. Or for faster results, hold a paper bag tightly around your mouth and breathe in and out several times into the bag until you feel better.
If you are hyperventilating more often or it is getting worse, seeing a counselor might help. A counselor can help you identify and treat the emotional problem that might be causing you to hyperventilate. Reference: Medical/Surgical Text, Williams and Hopper
Regarding your medical problem, try to replace negative thoughts with acceptance thoughts. You cannot turn back time. You can only control your response to what happened and try to move forward from here.
Joining this forum was a huge step in being proactive. I hope that we will be a place of safety and shelter for you to come to and talk about your feelings. Keep on posting!