Need advice for Husband

Hello All. I'm a newbie. I am needing advice for my husband who may be suffering from panic attacks.

On New Year's Day I took him to the ER for chest tightness and a smothering feeling. He had been seeing a doctor for this previously and they were in the process of thoroughly checking his heart. So the ER wanted to do a heart cath because this is the only procedure that had not been done to check his heart. It came back normal. That night we were discharged and as he was being wheeled out to our car, he suddenly felt a pain in his leg and then he started to pass out. He turned white as a ghost and it was terrible. He was sweating, his was very loud, he couldn't see and he had shortness of breath. So they rushed him back to the ER. While we were there he continued to have 2 more of these attacks. We were in the ER for sometime and the whole time his vitals were normal, blood work came back normal and chest xray came back normal. They wanted to send us home but I said NO! I was scared he would have another episode on the way home. They finally came back and said his potassium was low and they would admit us and find out why it was low.

We were in the hospital for 4 more days. They did every test under the sun to check his heart. Everything was fine. I started to notice that my husband was acting very irrational. He kept saying that this wasn't good and he didn't think he would live to make it out of the hospital. He would cry and he told me his final goodbyes. He cried on the phone when he talked to his dad. He would cry when our girls would leave the hospital because he thought he would never see them again. It was terrible for him. I never felt like he was dying. Then he started thinking he had a stroke, then he thought he had meningitis. I started believing he was suffering from hypochondria. Some days were good and he didn't act like this but some days he obsessed over his symptoms all day long. The doctor's finally said he was having some anxiety and they discharged us with a prescription of Zoloft 25mg.

Now that we have been home he keeps having anxiety but I think the pills are helping them from becoming full blown anxiety attacks. The side effects seem bad. He is very drowsy, weak, and not himself. Last night he didn't sleep at all. He said he started getting scared about everything. He was supposed to go back to work this morning but he had another panic attack and could not go. He doesn't feel that he is having panic attacks or the Zoloft is causing him to feel this way. His symptoms were: being jittery, lightheaded, then he got some kind of pain in his side. He said he didn't think he could drive to work either. After I called in sick for him, he started calming down. I'm not sure what it is. He has never been scared like this before.

I called the doctor and I am waiting on his phone call at the moment. Does this sound like panic attacks to any of you? Would his medicine be making him worse?

I have never heard of anyone passing out from an anxiety or panic attack. You may feel like you're going to, but actually pass out? Highly unlikely. I believe his problem was the low potassium. My dad just went through this. He kept passing out and they found his low potassium level. Your hubby should feel better now that it's under control. The initial symptoms may have caused his anxiety that he's experiencing now. Therapy, his meds and relaxation techniques will help. Good luck!

Thank you for your replys!

No he didn't actually pass out but we both thought they were close to it. He would just shake uncontrollably, he was very lightheaded and he kept saying he felt like he was dying. His potassium levels came up and they stayed normal and all of this would still go on. So I don't think it is the potassium. I believe the low potassium gave him heart palpitations and it made him think that he had a serious heart conditions and I believe the anxiety kicked in from there. But that is only my opinion. We've still not heard back from the doctor!! Nothing like a slow doctor when you need help! ha ha!


Oh yeah, he has never taken any kind of drug either. He only takes Prilosec and Fiber Pills...nothing else.

again.....thank you for your comments. I've needed someone to talk to! :)

Hi Everyone,
Just wanted to post an update. Hubby and I had an appointment with our marriage counselor last night and it was such a success. Up until yesterday Hubby still didn't think he had anxiety and that the medicine was making him feel this way. With the help of our counselor, I believe he knows he has anxiety attacks now. She was so wonderful and gave him great tips to help him when he feels his anxiety coming on. Therapy really does make a difference. He has been off of his Zoloft for 2 days now and it hasn't been that bad. Going to talk to the doctor on Monday to see if we need to change to something else.

ChristianNut

Welcome to HealingWell.  I am so glad your therapy session went well.  You sound so happy in your post .

Keep on talking with us and know we are here to support you.

Bless you
Kitt