[BustArtist]

I know I haven't posted here in quite a while, except for a few small and inbetween quickies, as well as updates on new releases over at my website. (I've let Juliekat post any messages of importance, such as replies to others in this forum for the 2 of us.) Not that I don't visit on occasion, but I've been just too damned busy!  I've been not only busy, but we've (JK and I) been whomped on by all sorts of various stressful happenings and plain ol' dumb freakin' luck for the past 2+ years. Just when we would say it can't get worse, it would.

I used to think I was a good stress-handler. Once the episode is over, give me 20 minutes to relax, and I am ready to focus on the next good thing. Can't say I never revisit the stressful situations -- because many times they have a tendency to visit ME again, on their own -- but I try to "think forward."

Well, about 3 weeks ago, all those YEARS of stress decided to, quite suddenly and unexpectedly, come back on me and smack me upside the head. I was just sitting in front of my computer, working on a normal, non-stressful work day, when POW!, a quick pressure in my left chest, the room reals, my eyes flutter, I feel like I was about to blackout. Follow this up with about an hour of shortness of breath, rapid pulse, sweats, and shakiness.  What the hell???

Well, the following day, a smaller version repeated on me, and I had Juliekat take me to the doctor immediately.  I have a family history of heart disease, and while I have been taking cholesterol medications for 4 years, and have gotten my levels down to 200 from 280, and triglycerides down from 375 to 180, and consider myself in decent health, I wasn't too thrilled with the symptoms I experienced.

It was enough that my doctor sent me to a cardiologist, who took an EKG.  He also gave me a little beeper-sized EKG monitor that I wear daily, in case an episode should repeat itself, and I can record an EKG immediately. He then sent me for a triad of tests: echocardiogram, carotid artery sonogram, and an exercise stress test ("you want me to run until my heart rate hits 178??"  "Yes, sir, that's the target for your age" I had been quickly walking 2-2.5 miles a day twice a week before that, and it was a bitch.).

The result: ALL tests came back negative on any heart-related problems. Whooo-the-fuck-hooooo!

I still wear the beeper-like EKG monitor. However, since the tests came back negative, there have been no repeats. Based on things a comment my doctors made, things I've read online, and family I've talked to who actually had similar episodes, it may have been all stress related -- a "panic attack" if you will.  (What?) I don't consider myself a "panicker". Can't say I haven't been stressed like hell, but I usually try to find a solution to the problem, and don't "panic" for no reason.  Well, it seems even if your mind in on an even-keel, and you count to 10 and breathe to calm yourself, your body can still be overwhelmed by the physical aspects of stress -- especially when it is constant over along period of time. I was a case in point. 

Damn!  That was scary!

Well, thanks for reading. Just typing this out is another outlet that will help me "relieve" the...uh... stress that I've had over this stress-related incident. (Now that's a snowball effect!)

[pedonbio]

Welcome to the club, BA. The first time it hit me I was 35 years old and had every symptom of a heart attack I'd ever heard of, with no history. The only clue was that I was meeting with an ex-wife to iron out some details. At the visit to the hospital, they referred me to a psychiatrist. I spent a year or so with him. Insurance didn't cover it, but I haven't had a problem since.

The next time somebody discounts a problem because "it's just in your head", you know how full of shit that statement is.

[gonZo]

Yep, welcome to the club.

BTW, this club SUCKS.

Mine started about 8 years ago, and I was having 10 or 12 attacks per day (most people don't have cascading attacks like I did, so don't worry about that). I dealt with it by learning mindfulness meditation and hatha yoga (which work great for some people and evidently not so well for others).

Next time you panic (if there is a next time), or just when you're feeling stressed, try doing this:
http://yoga.about.com/od/breathing/a/threepartbreath.htm

Here's a good, comprehensive book on panic disorders and long-term strategies for living with them. (If your attacks aren't chronic, you may not need to investigate it this deeply.)
http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Panic-Third-Control-Anxiety/dp/0061582441/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250288532&sr=1-1

Good luck,
_
g

[BustArtist]

pedonbio: Thanks. I hope to only be "visiting" this club, and not to become a member. 

gonZo: thanks for the links. Funny thing is, during each episode (the big one and a few smaller ones the following week) came at times of "just chilling" or "light work". I've never felt "panicked", thought I have felt extremely stressed at times. But again, once the situation passes, I am good within 20 minutes usually. The bad thing is these stressed times have been repetitive and ongoing for the last 2+ years.  Upon talking to other people and reading, these episodes came after the stressful times because, during those times, the stress actually had my body "clamped down" for control. But when it was over, the pent up stress "released" itself in a physical and not psychological manifestation (Yep, pedonbio. It ain't just in yer head!). I guess it's kind of like that feeling you get after a tramatic event, such as a car accident, where you are fine during the event, even calm. Then, a day later, you suddenly start shaking.

As an update, since the 3 major tests came back negative 2 weeks ago, and I have come to realize what this may be, I've had no repeats (which I had a few small ones during the 3 days between the initial doctor visit and the tests). Based on some info I found, it seems that for some people, just understanding and knowing what the heck it was actually helps control or mitigate them.

[Ironbeard]

Been having problems like that as well.  For me it was mostly mental since the heart tests showed my heart is healthly.  I was on 14 meds for different shitty things, then I went off all of them cold turkey when my mother died and I lost my house, among other things.  Then when I got this job with a big (evil) company.  I started to have the symptoms again.  The stress from working is killing my so I'm starting to see new doctors and get put on new meds. 

You should ask about seeing a gasto doctor too.  My stress caused server acid reflux and pre-ulcers. 

From years of crappy things I also started going bald at 24.  Before I started work at %*@# the hair was growing back, but then piles of hairy started appearing on my desk. 

Hope yours stress levels get better, I know how dangerous it can be.  It can be a real killer.  Drugs (stress drugs) are good but can only do so much and sometimes too much (mine are now causing seizures   will be taking to a doctor about that later).  gonZo s right about the yoga, used to do it years ago in college before everthing went to hell.  Remember it helping.  Martial Arts too (was working on my 2nd degree black belt before, trying to get healthly enought to start again.  Surrounding your self with things that make you happy, the light blue and green colors (great for walls) can help, garlic pills, aloe juice, animals (one of the best things for stress)....

[prinz]

hope all is going well again for you BA....yes stress is a bitch!  Ive got to decide if Im going to retire in the early spring...Company is being sold..new buyer has no health insurance for retirees...also they will be taking over our pension plan and have never had one before...  Id like to stay and work at least 3 to 5 more years but could loose it all if they go belly up....We will be more than tripling size of company ..tail wags dog ....also triple debt load... doesnt look good ..

[pedonbio]

hope all is going well again for you BA....yes stress is a bitch!  Ive got to decide if Im going to retire in the early spring...Company is being sold..new buyer has no health insurance for retirees...also they will be taking over our pension plan and have never had one before...  Id like to stay and work at least 3 to 5 more years but could loose it all if they go belly up....We will be more than tripling size of company ..tail wags dog ....also triple debt load... doesnt look good ..

Prinz, take what you can get when you can get it! Twice I've stayed around, and twice I got burned. I'd suggest you take the package and start looking for a new job. I think that for our generation the whole idea of "retirement" has changed while we weren't looking, and retirement no longer means the end of work.

By the way, I think "panic attack" is a poor name. I wasn't feeling at all panicky when mine hit.

[3deroticer]

Another good reason for a national healthcare! I had health care until my company was bought out and they took it away just when I needed it for my kidneys. Just add to the stress in not being able to talk to a doctor whenever you need to, and without insurance they treat you differently not looking for the causes if it will cost you money.

I will say that exercising is still one of the best method for controlling stress. People get caught in that rut where they are too busy at work and job becoming stressful to take time out for exercising, making life even more stressful, and worse case scenario turn to **83** pills or booze to relax. The American heart association recommend at least 4X30 minutes or 3X40 minutes of cardio per week for a optimum heart conditioning program.

When I am stress out and skip exercising, my blood pressure start to rise, and my heart start to add another beat where they shouldn't be.

IMO it seems the more intelligence the person is, the more they deal with stress. The mind running too much? Those people end up with more responsibility? I don't know!