Panic attacks?

[Pomlover2586]

Due to a stomach condition [IBS] I have panic attacks. I've been to a psychiatrist before and it helped for a while.

A few months ago I had an "Incident" in a car where I was unable to make it to a bathroom in time and ended up having to go on the side of the road. [Mortifying]. Ever since then I've felt myself becoming tense whenever I'm in a car.

A few weeks ago I had another "Incident" and ever since I feel myself becoming tense and my stomach feels like its going to act up again. I only like driving places where I know where convenient bathrooms are and country roads/freeways are not good. Both incidences happened after having dinner out at a restaurant so now eating at restaurants also worries me.

I'm wondering if any of you have any suggestions/ideas for overcoming this?
When I first had my stomach issues start I had panic attacks all the time and I overcame those.....this has just been a little harder. Any help appreciated.

And please.......if you can't say somthing nice don't say anything at all.....I don't want to be teased over this.......

 

[Anne34]

My husband always has to "go" after eating in restaurants. We sorta joke about dad driving really fast to get home, but it's not really funny. I don't know what seems to sett hime off because one time he's fine and the next he's not. Hopefully you can figure out what is bothering your stomach.

I don't know anything about panic attacks, but please see someone about them. You probably won't be able to deal with this on your own.

 

[gate_pourri]

Due to a stomach condition [IBS] I have panic attacks. I've been to a psychiatrist before and it helped for a while.

A few months ago I had an "Incident" in a car where I was unable to make it to a bathroom in time and ended up having to go on the side of the road. [Mortifying]. Ever since then I've felt myself becoming tense whenever I'm in a car.

A few weeks ago I had another "Incident" and ever since I feel myself becoming tense and my stomach feels like its going to act up again. I only like driving places where I know where convenient bathrooms are and country roads/freeways are not good. Both incidences happened after having dinner out at a restaurant so now eating at restaurants also worries me.

I'm wondering if any of you have any suggestions/ideas for overcoming this?
When I first had my stomach issues start I had panic attacks all the time and I overcame those.....this has just been a little harder. Any help appreciated.

And please.......if you can't say somthing nice don't say anything at all.....I don't want to be teased over this.......

I don't think I have the same 'stomach issues' as you have, but I 100% understand where you are coming from. I get 'nauseous' in social situations. I have convinced myself that although I am 100% healthy, that I am going to throw up at any moment. I can go from feeling fine to feeling as if I am going to blow chunks in mere seconds. It doesn't help that I work in a very social job, where I got to social events almost every night of the week. I don't have any advice for you. At this point, I just 'suck it up' and go... I hate it, I don't enjoy normal things (sometimes I freak out just going to dinner or a concert, whereas sometimes I am perfectly fine) but I refuse to let it stop my life.

 

[720L]

I also suffer from panic attacks. For a while I thought I would need to get on meds to help me, but I've figured out how to stop them when I feel one coming on. I take a deep breath in through my nose, and let it out through my mouth. I tell myself I'm fine and try to think of something else (words to a song, a poem, etc). I haven't had one in a couple weeks now and I am so happy! I know how miserable they are. I was waking up in the middle of the night and would have one, so then I would dread sleeping. Horrible! How about having your favorite cd in the car so you concentrate on singing the words or something like that? Good luck!

 

[SeaSpray]

I also have IBS so I know how you feel.

I suggest seeing a gastroenterologist; they can advise you what to do in order to get your IBS under control. You shouldn't have to go through life like this all of the time.

Best wishes to you.

P.S. First thing my doctor did was to send me for a colonoscopy just to rule out a more serious problem; then he recommended that I take Imodium twice a week for maintainance.

 

[Pomlover2586]

OP here.....I do plan on seeing a Dr. if I cannot work through this on my own. When I had my past attacks it took months for me to fully recover. I have had a gastrointestinal doctor work with me before as well as had all the tests to rule out more serious issues.

 

[DisneyBrideToni]

I am here with you! I know exactly what you are dealing with. While I haven't had any incidents, I still get panic attacks going out to places I am not familiar with or know how long it takes to get there.

I take Immodium anytime I am going out or going out to eat. It helps me out and I have no problems. I take it about 2 hours before I am going out and that is sort of my "security blanket". My DF is very supportive and he knows that if I want him to pull over he better do it asap.

The anxiety will just make it worse so my suggestion to you, from someone who has suffered for many many years now, is just to realize its natural and worrying about it won't stop it. You will find ways to deal with it, trust me! its a normal thing and its nothing to be embarrased about. Sometimes when I am driving a far distance on a country road, I just figure, hey if I got to go, im going behind a tree!!

 

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

I have severe panic attacks ever since my 2nd pg. It had complications that were very traumatic but I don't know exactly why the level of anxiety remains(it turned out fine). One of the tips I was given that works well for me, is to take it to the darkest place possible... what is the worst thing that can happen from you having to pull over. Ok so you'll be embarassed... have you been embarrassed before, how did you overcome that, does that embarrassment still impact you in your daily life.... probably not too much. It starts to minimize the problem and break it down into small chunks which you can reason out, and begins to start to pull back the anxiety attack. I wish I could explain it better than that.

I was with someone in Kenya who had stomach issues and had to pull to the side of the road every 10 or so minutes... in Lion Country!!! If it makes you feel better, at least there aren't any Lions where you are stopping.... and 10 people waiting in the van, knowing exactly what you are doing, while you go.

 

[DisneyBrideToni]

I have severe panic attacks ever since my 2nd pg. It had complications that were very traumatic but I don't know exactly why the level of anxiety remains(it turned out fine). One of the tips I was given that works well for me, is to take it to the darkest place possible... what is the worst thing that can happen from you having to pull over. Ok so you'll be embarassed... have you been embarrassed before, how did you overcome that, does that embarrassment still impact you in your daily life.... probably not too much. It starts to minimize the problem and break it down into small chunks which you can reason out, and begins to start to pull back the anxiety attack. I wish I could explain it better than that.

I was with someone in Kenya who had stomach issues and had to pull to the side of the road every 10 or so minutes... in Lion Country!!! If it makes you feel better, at least there aren't any Lions where you are stopping.... and 10 people waiting in the van, knowing exactly what you are doing, while you go.

I totally agree with you. Once I was having a panic attack and I started thinking of the worse thing that could happen to me then I thought ok so I will be embarrased. What is worse than that. Then I listed in my head everything that is worse. I could have cancer. I could be dying. I could have nobody that cares about me, etc. It made my panic attack go away pretty fast.

 

[Pomlover2586]

Worse Case Scenario was one of the best things my Psychiatrist reccomended when I first had my attacks.

These new ones have only gotten really severe in the last 2 weeks so Im working on that. I know it will take time to overcome.....I just refuse to let it control my life.

 

[maccagerl]

Worse Case Scenario was one of the best things my Psychiatrist reccomended when I first had my attacks.

These new ones have only gotten really severe in the last 2 weeks so Im working on that. I know it will take time to overcome.....I just refuse to let it control my life.

Since your two incidents occured while driving home from the restaurant, could you perhaps linger a while in the restaurant after you eat, then use the restaurant bathroom before the ride home?

 

[1 goofy family]

I don't have IBS but I do suffer from panic attacks. I am like another poster in that I become extremely nauseous and dizzy when I am in social situations or in large crowds. It makes Disneyland quite the challenge. I know where every bathroom and nearest route out of the parks at all times .

A few months ago another DIS'er posted some information about a homeopathic treatment called Rescue Remedy. I bought some online and it really does seem to work. I'm not sure if it's just a placebo or if the herbs really do work to calm me, but I haven't suffered a full blown attack since I have been using it.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

This may sound silly but when my babies were little I kept a potty in the car. It came in handy when we were on the road. They make adult size potties for boats - that and a minivan might give you some peace of mind.

Other than that, I agree with the pp that you should re-visit with the psychiatrist who helped you before, and certainly seeing a GI specialist wouldn't hurt, either. Good luck.

 

[Dax]

A PP posted about a family member that would have "to go" not long after eating..I have this problem, and have had it ever since I had my gall bladder removed almost 2yrs ago. I try when possible to linger around where there is a bathroom, but sometimes, I have to make DH pull over somewhere because when my stomach starts to gurgle, I have precious few minutes before an "incident" can occur.

I have gotten panicky about it in the past, and DH teases me about it, but he understands and I have been able to control it. Its been mind over matter for me

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Part of it is diet and part of it is emotion. What is your diet?

Also pick up Mylanta Gas pills. Use them after eating in a restaurant for the gallbladder people.

I understand what you are talking about. My dd said they should sell an "elder car". A car equipped with a toilet for people like us.

Bottom line, cutting out fat and offending foods in your diet is where you need to start. Restaurants are hard to eat at.

 

[Christine]

You are developing a perfectly normal response to a bad situation!

Many years ago, I had giardia that was giving me all sorts of gastro issues and panic attacks. It got so that I never left home much and even didn't work for 2.5 months. I became so afraid of getting sick out in public.

The best thing I ever did was "get better" gastrointestinally and see a psychiatrist. Anxiety has a way of breeding out of control. If you don't catch it early, you will find that your world will become smaller and smaller.

I also have IBS issues and, only in very rare cases, have a seen a person who was unable to get it under control to some degree (mostly it cannot be cured).

I think you need to try REALLY hard (and I don't mean to offend if you already are) to get the IBS under some control and diet is usually the best way. I also think it is important to see a doctor who specializes in anxiety that can give you some short-term, low-dose meds to get your through getting out of the house at times. My psychiatrist did this with me. He gave me very low doses of Xanax to use when I had to go out somewhere. His theory was that the more that I could get "out and about" and feel calm, the more I would relax about it. And it's true. The anxiety exacerbates everything, it goes into a vicous cycle, and you get worse. Being able to go out and not feel so awful and worked up will kind of "reverse" those feelings, if that makes sense?

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

I have to agree with the PP who posted about xanax. I too had IBS and panic attacks. It was so bad that prior to our last trip to WDW, I was so scared that I would ruin our trip by being in the bathroom the whole trip. The xanax was prescribed for the panic attacks, but the IBS went away. Dr's are now realizing that xanax has an affect on IBS. I hate to use the word miracle, but the IBS has not returned. Still have panic attacks though. The xanax actually relaxes the muscles of the stomach, so you don't have that "OMG, I gotta go right now!" feeling.

 

[Nik's Mom]

I started getting panic attacks last year. I thought I was having a heart attack and drove myself to urgent care. Turns out it was a panic attack. Then I started becoming nervous to leave the house for fear of having another attack. I was put on medication and the panic attacks went away. Have you tried taking medication for the attacks?

I'm sorry you aren't feeling well. That must be so horrible. I also suggest you see a specialist about your condition. I hope you feel better soon. I know how scarry panic attacks can be.

It really helps me to try and stop the attack in it's tracks when I feel one creeping up. Now I am even off the medication. Good luck to you!

 

[daannzzz]

A friend of mine had IBS, was quitye overweight and is obsessive / compulsive.
He would often have to pull over at a restaurant, gas station or where ever. One time even knocked on someones door.
After a particularly mean comment about someone about his weight he wanted to do something about it. He cat all the fat out (and red meat) of his diet and went running every morning. In two years he went form 400 lbs to 200 lbs and the IBS disappeared. He has kept the weight off for 15 years and has not had the IBS again.

 

[mjkacmom]

I started getting panic attacks last year. I thought I was having a heart attack and drove myself to urgent care. Turns out it was a panic attack. Then I started becoming nervous to leave the house for fear of having another attack. I was put on medication and the panic attacks went away. Have you tried taking medication for the attacks?

I'm sorry you aren't feeling well. That must be so horrible. I also suggest you see a specialist about your condition. I hope you feel better soon. I know how scarry panic attacks can be.

It really helps me to try and stop the attack in it's tracks when I feel one creeping up. Now I am even off the medication. Good luck to you!

What medication are you on? I've been to urgent care, and I'm getting a workup done by the cardiologist, because of what I suspect are very frequent panic attacks (small ones with racing palpatations, to full blown with dizzyness, sweating, and shaking). My once normal blood pressure is super high, and I hate leaving the house. I also suffer from IBS, but I don't think that's the cause (my life is pretty stressful).