Anxiety Attacks two years after second cancer diagnosis

dogsandjogs

I don't know why this is happening now. I had cancer in 1982, had a mastectomy and reconstruction and dealt with everything pretty well. Got a new cancer in the other breast in 2010, had a lumpectomy and was doing ok; in fact I was less worried than the first time.

However, lately my blood pressure has skyrocketed and I am having anxiety attacks for the first time in my life (I'm 77) What gives?  It is true I've had some issues in the last few years; one of my sons is homeless and only contacts me once a year, I have broken an arm, a wrist and a hip and two of  my dogs passed away. But we all have stressful things happen so I don't understand why I suddenly now have these episodes where I feel I'm doomed, my heart is racing, I'm shaking all over and worst of all have terrible vertigo.  My internist says "Just sit down when it happens" My cardiologist says my heart is fine. I have changed my blood pressure medications twice (because they are causing my dizziness I believe and he agrees) So in my search for the right medication I am getting frustrated. Could that be causing these panic attacks?  How do I deal with this? I don't want to be on more medications, but maybe I have to be - just for a while.

I really need advice about this.   Thanks in advance!

gonegirl

dogsandjogs. i know for me that sometimes a series of bad things happening can trigger feelings i didn't deal with in the past.  and i've also had meds create anxiety as well. have you looked to see if any of your meds have an anxiety side effect?  also, couldn't hurt to take your worries to a counselor or to a breast cancer support group just to talk it out.  i know for me that getting it out will usually get me past it.  ironically, breastcancer.org just posted an item about breast cancer diagnosis and ptsd.  made sense to me. this sh*t sucks.

1Athena1

dogsandjogs,

These don't sound like anxiety attacks - they sound like panic attacks. I suggest that you consult a psychiatrist - because neither I nor anyone else here can make a diagnosis. Sometimes people suffer no effects from one or two traumas, but the cumulative effect may be what makes a difference. You may want to ask yourself the following questions:

--can you identify any triggers (causing situations) for the attacks?

--are they getting worse?

--are they interfering with your life or causing you to curtail activities and perhaps go out less often?

You should see someone who specializes in anxiety disorders. There is psychological therapy, behavioral therapy and /or medication (short or long-term) that can help. This is a very treatable situation, but if left untreated may get worse over time - if indeed that's what it is.

You may want to look at information about anxiety and panic from the following web site: http://www.adaa.org 

I am sorry you are dealing with this. Good luck, and keep us posted! 

dogsandjogs

Gritgirl: Thanks so much for your post and the link to the petri dish. I love this!  It is so true; I keep thinking, well I'm 77, I probably don't have long----and yet, my dad who lived to be 96, never talked about dying, and lived each day fully, enjoying his food, his walks, talking to his friends, etc. 

And when I got my first diagnosis in 1986, I thought I would enjoy each day to the fullest, not bother with people I didn't like, do things I hadn't done before, etc. But slowly over the years I forgot how to live "in the moment".  Thanks for reminding me that the present is all we have anyway. The past is gone, the future isn't here yet. I must keep remembering that. 

Thanks again! 

BrooksideVT

A classical vertigo attack comes nicely packaged with a racing heartrate and, often, kind of jerky eye movements.  If you move your finger slowly from left to right and back again and find your eyes are not tracking smoothly, that's one indication that it's not all in your head--it's in your ear.  My first attack was initially misdiagnosed as a panic attack, but turned out to be an inner ear issue.  If you think your symptoms might be physical rather than emotional, you might consider a visit with an ear, nose, and throat MD. 

gonegirl

Brookside. Good to know.



Dogsandjogs. Glad the blog helped. If the anxiety attacks continue, check your meds. The flexeril I took after reconstruction gave me big anxiety. And like Athena says, counseling helps with cumulative trauma.



And like the guy in Monty Python and the holy grail, "we're not dead yet." :-)

dogsandjogs

Gritgirl: I do actually think it is the blood pressure drug. I am going back to my old one, it was too expensive, but gave me no SEs.  I never had episodes like this before changing the medication.

dogsandjogs

Thanks Brookside: That was one of my first thoughts, but my internist didn't think I needed an ENT. But how does he know? He didn't do any testing--

It is really too bad that the family doctor of years ago is no longer around. I remember my family doctor doing pap smears, setting broken bones, doing skin cancer biopsies, fixing ear problems, etc. But now you are sent to a specialist for every little thing. It's time consuming for the patient as well as very stressful.

dogsandjogs

Thank you Athena--