WPinVA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33581
posted
Hi - can you please help me with how to handle anxiety attacks? Husband has had 2 heart attacks in past week, 2 emergency stents, 2 hospitalizations. This has been causing overwhelming stress for me and I have had two anxiety attacks.
I got checked out at ER after first one because sx mirror those of heart attack and my heart was fine. But I still need to deal with these anxiety attacks. Last night, I was up half the night with it again.
I emailed my LLMD, but in the interim, what can I do to relieve these on my own? Natural or homeopathic remedies? Something I can have quick access to -- hubby is still in hospital and I don't have much time to deal with my own medical crap.
thank you!!!
Posts: 1737 | From Virginia | Registered: Aug 2011
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
St. John's Wort may help you some. I ended up having to go on Zoloft when all of this happened to my husband.
Take Xanax for a few weeks until the Zoloft kicks in.
It is very hard on the wife when the husband has heart trouble. I will pray for you. Hopefully, everything will calm down now for him. However, my worst time was AFTER my husband's surgery--months after! So, expect this to be a longer-term thing and get on the Zoloft. It was a life-saver to me.
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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tdtid
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 10276
posted
My heart goes out to you regarding the panic attacks since sadly, they are common with Lyme, but then you have outside circumstances with your husband that would aggravate them even more.
In reality, the only thing that I found that totally took them away was lyme treatment, BUT that takes time and you want relief NOW.
I know that many go the path of prescription anti anxiety meds, which I did too, but many of us pay the price later when trying to get off them, so I have a hard time telling someone to go that path, knowing what I know now.
As far as herbally, I know that for minor panic attacks, many use Rescue Remedy, but mine usually were more severe and although I would still try that off and on, it was hard to settle them down.
Another thing that I played around with a lot are those youtube videos that focus on meditation and relaxation.
It isn't for when you are in a full blown attack, but I noticed that if I would listen to one before going to sleep, it would often calm my system.
Sadly, it is a lot of experimenting on what works best for you. Hang in there and keep us posted. Good luck to you and hubby.
-------------------- "To Dream The Impossible Dream" Man of La Mancha Posts: 2638 | From New Hampshire | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
I'm sorry this is happening to you and your husband and hope that everything will turn out OK for him and for you.
Through Amazon or from a health food store, you can buy NAC, N-Acetyl Cysteine. On the customer feedback posts you can read that people take it for different things but most take it for anxiety and depression. It works quickly. I take two or three a day around mealtime and it gives me a feeling of profound peace.
Prescriptions for anxiety didn't help me and made me go through extreme withdrawal symptoms.
NAC causes your body to produce glutathione which then produces more B12 but I suspect there' more to it than that. It's great. I hope to always take.
Posts: 653 | From Northern Virginia | Registered: Oct 2014
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MannaMe
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33330
posted
My husband found Relora helpful for anxiety. We got it from Vitacost or a local healthfood store.
Sorry to hear you are both having health challenges.
Posts: 2249 | From USA | Registered: Aug 2011
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WPinVA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33581
posted
Thanks to all. My wonderful LLMD responded quickly and called in Xanax.
Posts: 1737 | From Virginia | Registered: Aug 2011
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posted
Take plenty of magnesium, take an epsom salt bath tonight (don't overdo it), rub mag oil on yourself when you feel stressed, eat healthy foods, do some deep breathing, get plenty of sleep, and PRAY!
That should do it!!
Thank goodness for a good LLMD!
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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TF
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 14183
posted
Thanks for telling us. So glad for you.
My pastor said that it is a known fact that it is harder on the wife when a man has a heart attack than it is on the man.
I couldn't believe him when he said it, but after many months of going through this with my husband, I became a believer.
Please work on a long-term solution also. I myself never had any problem getting off Xanax or Zoloft. But, everyone is different.
If I took the Xanax regularly (meaning daily), then I had to take it for 30 days and taper it down to get off it.
If I just took it once in a while, then I didn't have to taper in order to stop it.
If you have never had to take these things, you will learn how your body reacts to it.
I like all Lymetoo suggestions also! Magnesium is so good!
Posts: 9931 | From Maryland | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
Same here, TF. I try to take Xanax or Ativan "once in a blue moon." Keeps me from having a problem with them.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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Catgirl
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 31149
posted
Earthing will help.
-------------------- --Keep an open mind about everything. Also, remember to visit ACTIVISM (we can change things together). Posts: 5418 | From earth | Registered: Mar 2011
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droid1226
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 34930
Also Benadryl. It could be histamine levels causing the problem.
Also, have you tried valerian root? It was used for stress before valium was invented.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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WPinVA
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 33581
posted
Thank you so so much for all the suggestions and support. Seriously, just getting feedback that this is natural and hard is helpful.
I took a good dose of magnesium yesterday. I have also been drinking an herbal tea and perhaps it's a placebo effect but it's soothing.
Haven't had to take an xanax yet but just having it here is reassuring. I was starting to get anxiety over whether I would have another anxiety attack!
I do think this was harder on me emotionally than my husband. He is one cool cucumber. I asked him if he was ever worried during any of this and he said no, he felt ok, and everyone seemed to be taking care of it, so he didn't need to worry.
That is not how my mind works!!!
So what is "earthing"? Sounds intriguing.
Posts: 1737 | From Virginia | Registered: Aug 2011
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posted
I agree about warm Epsom salt baths. There's nothing else that can relieve stress/anxiety/nerve symptoms so fast, at least that's my experience. You absorb quite a bit of magnesium that way. (I didn't know about mag. oil, that's cool!)
There are quite a lot of herbs with a significant soothing effect. We like chamomile tea, you can get that anywhere. Skullcap tea might be harder to find--it is amazing and improves my sleep a lot. When I was having really bad anxiety problems due to Lyme, my herbalist added blue vervain tincture to my protocol and that really seemed to help.
I'm glad that your husband is a cool cucumber, at least you are not fielding his anxiety as well. And I think his attitude will help him heal. I wish you both all the best!
Posts: 261 | From Nebraska | Registered: Jan 2010
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posted
I agree about warm Epsom salt baths. There's nothing else that can relieve stress/anxiety/nerve symptoms so fast, at least that's my experience. You absorb quite a bit of magnesium that way. (I didn't know about mag. oil, that's cool!)
There are quite a lot of herbs with a significant soothing effect. We like chamomile tea, you can get that anywhere. Skullcap tea might be harder to find--it is amazing and improves my sleep a lot. When I was having really bad anxiety problems due to Lyme, my herbalist added blue vervain tincture to my protocol and that really seemed to help.
I'm glad that your husband is a cool cucumber, at least you are not fielding his anxiety as well. And I think his attitude will help him heal. I wish you both all the best!
Posts: 261 | From Nebraska | Registered: Jan 2010
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posted
Your situation is difficult, but you should never give up, I believe in you and your health improvement
Posts: 2 | From USA | Registered: Jun 2022
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posted
So sad that you and your husband have health issues. However, I can’t recommend just a medicine, so you took it and got addicted to it, or it damaged your physical health later. Because panic attacks never go so quickly, you’ll have to take it some time, enough to get addiction and ignore it, so side effects damage your health in general
Posts: 1 | From New Jersey | Registered: Jul 2022
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