Hello, everyone!
It's my first time on here so I thought I would introduce myself and explain my problem.
I started having panic attacks over 10 years ago before I was diagnosed with acid reflux. I thought I was having asthma attacks (I was diagnosed with allergic asthma when I was a child). I couldn't even leave the house for months. I finally saw a therapist who prescribed Paxil. It worked miracles.
Sometimes I wonder if I have post traumatic stress syndrome. I had asthma attacks as a child, 10 hour scoliosis surgery at the age of 14, was shot 5 times by a peeping tom when I was 17, had 2 children and suffered postpartum depression.
I am a very nervous person and am always afraid of embarassing myself or letting someone else down. I am a constant people pleaser but am realizing that's not a good thing for myself.
The panic attacks have resurfaced over the past 2 years. I haven't actually had an asthma attacks in many years b/c I'm on so many meds to prevent it. I have had a bronchial spasm which was VERY scary but only lasted with one inhalation. I had bronchitis which was very scary for me b/c I was afraid an asthma attack could hit at any moment. Now I just have a head cold and I'm afraid it's going to my lungs to cause an asthma attack.
I just started teaching dance for my friend's new studio. I can't even make it through a class without having a panic attack. I won't even dance most of the time. Dance is my dream...my life. I know it's hard to think that when I've had so many problems but I have danced since I was a child with some of the best instructors in the US. I even want to join a dance company that has both disabled and abled dancers of all ages. I would be considered slightly disabled b/c of the rods in my back.
Anyway, my dreams are on hold right now b/c I'm afraid of when the next panic/asthma attack is going to hit. A panic attack feels just like an asthma attack so it's VERY difficult to distinguish the 2. My husband is a respiratory therapist and says that he's never once heard me even wheeze. He bought be a Pulsox which is one of those gadgets that they put on your finger to read the oxygen level and heart rate. My oxygen has never gone below 97% which is better than most people.
So why are these things coming on again?
I'm currently taking Luvox along with Xanax when I need it. Xanax doesn't seem to stop my panic attacks.
I was put on Luvox b/c it helps with obsessive thoughts. It worked several years ago when I thought I was panicking about choking. That also went away when they took out my very enlarged tonsils.
Ok, that's enough. Help!!
