meganeveryday
12-13-2013, 02:25 PM
I'm new here and wanted to introduce myself. I had my first panic attack on October 29, 2013 while driving home from work. I called an ambulance (because I thought I was experiencing a heart attack) and went to the ER. EKG came back normal. After that, I had two more panic attacks before seeing a doctor a few weeks after my first panic attack. My doctor prescribed Celexa (I don't remember the dosage) and Klonopin (.5mg twice a day). I started both that day (on a Friday). I immediately began having a sunburn feeling (like my nerves were on fire), so the pharmacist suggested I stop taking Klonopin on Saturday until I could talk to my doctor. Sunday night, I ended up going to the ER because I was still having the feeling. EKG came back normal; blood tests came back normal; chest x-ray came back normal. They suggested it might be the Celexa. Called my doctor that Monday and she said it was a reaction to the Celexa and told me to stop taking it and start taking Klonopin again.
After that, I was pretty scared to take anything, so I didn't take either that day. I was feeling anxious (racing heart) on Tuesday, so I took 1/2 of a Klonopin. After that (this was the week of Thanksgiving), I was feeling a lot better... I didn't take anymore medicine for two weeks, and I was feeling great. I thought that maybe everything had been a fluke and that I was all better. Well, at the beginning of this week, I started having obsessive thoughts and feelings of anxiety again. Every little twinge of pain in my body made my heart race. I didn't have a full blown panic attack, but it was a feeling that would not leave and was especially bad at night. I started having difficulties falling asleep again, and I haven't had much sleep at all this week. I've been obsessed with looking up every symptom on google, which only increases my anxiety. One night, I listed to Andrew Johnson's Don't Panic app, and I actually slept that night! The anxiety just creeped back in, though.
I kept getting a lump in my throat feeling, so I started taking Zantac in hopes that it would settle my stomach and the lump in my throat feeling. It helped some. Then I started feeling a heaviness in my chest, so I started obsessing over that. I took 1/4 of a Klonopin Wednesday night, but a few hours after I took it, I still couldn't shake the feeling and made a trip to the ER. I was there from about midnight to 4am. Again, EKG, chest x-ray, and blood work came back normal... They said it was just my anxiety and to follow up with my physician.
When I finally got home, I took another 1/4 of a Klonopin and fell asleep for a few hours. Yesterday (Thursday), I went Christmas shopping with my husband (I, thankfully, have no agoraphobic tendencies right now), and even though I was exhausted, I was feeling optimistic. I decided to just roll with my anxiety as it came, and that helped some. While shopping, I picked up some L-Theanine and Magnesium Citrate after reading about supplements that help with anxiety. I took 100mg of Magnesium and before bed, I took 100mg of L-Theanine. Once I laid down, I couldn't calm my racing heart, even with deep breathing. So I decided to take 1/4 of a Klonopin, and I luckily fell asleep. Woke up around 3am, but I was able to fall asleep again after some calming breathing and telling my anxiety, "I know you are here, but we can coexist. You are there to help me understand my limits, but right now, I need to rest." I know it sounds crazy, but I've resorted to this to calm myself. I then slept until about 8:30am.
I still woke up with that nagging feeling of anxiety (it's hard to explain), so I called my doctor for a follow-up and I called a behavioral health clinic. I'm hoping to see a counselor to start CBT soon. I went to my doctor today, and she told me that I could continue the Magnesium and to stick with 100mg for now. She told me to continue Klonopin as needed, and she also prescribed Buspar. She wants me to take Buspar daily, but told me I can take it twice a day, and I can split the pill in half, if I'd like. I've heard great things about Buspar, but I'm still fearful of taking new medicines. (Even taking the L-Theanine and Magnesium Citrate gave me anxiety yesterday.)
I took 100mg of L-Theanine a little bit ago because I do want to continue it daily to see if it helps. I'm still trying to relax and not ruminate on every twinge of pain in body and assume it is something horrible (blood clot, heart attack, fluid in my lungs, etc...), but it's hard. I've been reading these forums for a few days, so I thought it was time to become a member for support.
P.S. On top of medicine, I've tried chamomile tea, meditation, yoga, taking walks, and working out.
After that, I was pretty scared to take anything, so I didn't take either that day. I was feeling anxious (racing heart) on Tuesday, so I took 1/2 of a Klonopin. After that (this was the week of Thanksgiving), I was feeling a lot better... I didn't take anymore medicine for two weeks, and I was feeling great. I thought that maybe everything had been a fluke and that I was all better. Well, at the beginning of this week, I started having obsessive thoughts and feelings of anxiety again. Every little twinge of pain in my body made my heart race. I didn't have a full blown panic attack, but it was a feeling that would not leave and was especially bad at night. I started having difficulties falling asleep again, and I haven't had much sleep at all this week. I've been obsessed with looking up every symptom on google, which only increases my anxiety. One night, I listed to Andrew Johnson's Don't Panic app, and I actually slept that night! The anxiety just creeped back in, though.
I kept getting a lump in my throat feeling, so I started taking Zantac in hopes that it would settle my stomach and the lump in my throat feeling. It helped some. Then I started feeling a heaviness in my chest, so I started obsessing over that. I took 1/4 of a Klonopin Wednesday night, but a few hours after I took it, I still couldn't shake the feeling and made a trip to the ER. I was there from about midnight to 4am. Again, EKG, chest x-ray, and blood work came back normal... They said it was just my anxiety and to follow up with my physician.
When I finally got home, I took another 1/4 of a Klonopin and fell asleep for a few hours. Yesterday (Thursday), I went Christmas shopping with my husband (I, thankfully, have no agoraphobic tendencies right now), and even though I was exhausted, I was feeling optimistic. I decided to just roll with my anxiety as it came, and that helped some. While shopping, I picked up some L-Theanine and Magnesium Citrate after reading about supplements that help with anxiety. I took 100mg of Magnesium and before bed, I took 100mg of L-Theanine. Once I laid down, I couldn't calm my racing heart, even with deep breathing. So I decided to take 1/4 of a Klonopin, and I luckily fell asleep. Woke up around 3am, but I was able to fall asleep again after some calming breathing and telling my anxiety, "I know you are here, but we can coexist. You are there to help me understand my limits, but right now, I need to rest." I know it sounds crazy, but I've resorted to this to calm myself. I then slept until about 8:30am.
I still woke up with that nagging feeling of anxiety (it's hard to explain), so I called my doctor for a follow-up and I called a behavioral health clinic. I'm hoping to see a counselor to start CBT soon. I went to my doctor today, and she told me that I could continue the Magnesium and to stick with 100mg for now. She told me to continue Klonopin as needed, and she also prescribed Buspar. She wants me to take Buspar daily, but told me I can take it twice a day, and I can split the pill in half, if I'd like. I've heard great things about Buspar, but I'm still fearful of taking new medicines. (Even taking the L-Theanine and Magnesium Citrate gave me anxiety yesterday.)
I took 100mg of L-Theanine a little bit ago because I do want to continue it daily to see if it helps. I'm still trying to relax and not ruminate on every twinge of pain in body and assume it is something horrible (blood clot, heart attack, fluid in my lungs, etc...), but it's hard. I've been reading these forums for a few days, so I thought it was time to become a member for support.
P.S. On top of medicine, I've tried chamomile tea, meditation, yoga, taking walks, and working out.