About 3 1/2 years ago, I had a series of "episodes" that sent me to two emergency rooms and a cardiologist in less than a week...the first time, my blood pressure was 220/110 and rising, I felt tremendous pain where my head & neck meet, and I felt dizzy like I was going to pass out at any second. They did complete heart tests (including the nuclear stress test) and a CAT scan. They put me on blood pressure medicine, and since then my BP generally runs around 116/68. I actually had three "spells" that first go-round.

Then, about a year and a half ago, I was sitting in the pick-up line at my child's school, reading a book, drinking an Ozarka water, when I got a sharp pain in my back followed by feelings very similar to those other times. I started guzzling the water, trying desperately to avoid passing out, which I did manage to avoid, thank God. By the time I got home, I felt fine (though washed-out) and my BP was fine. I went to the cardio the next day & they did blood work and an echocardiogram...as before, everything was fine.

Then, this past Wednesday, I was out shopping and all of a sudden I felt too weak to even push the cart...I THINK (I'm not positive) that my heart sped up for a few seconds (sorry, it happened so fast it's a blur), then I got this all-over feeling, like being lightheaded, except not just in the head. Does that make ANY sense at all???? There was a display of patio furniture nearby, so I sat down for about five minutes with my head back. I thought I felt better, but when I went to get up, my head was swimming and I felt like I'd collapse if I tried to stand. So I sat for about ten more minutes. When I got up again, I felt okay, just that familiar washed-out feeling. However, I barely made it home before I had to rush to the restroom with stomach cramps and diarrhea (sorry so graphic!). After that, my stomach felt fine & I just felt tired.

Then yesterday, I went to the movies, and for the first half of the movie, I had that all-over dizzy feeling again.

What I've noticed is that I seem to have a LOT of sinus pressure each time this happens, I always get the back-of-the-head pain (tension???), and one more thing...at the end, my FEET are always clammy and sweaty. I don't feel hot anywhere else, so I question whether this could be any sort of a hot flash. But if I could just put a name to what's happening, I think it wouldn't scare me so bad.

I can't tell if it's brought on by sinus pressure, stomach woes, back pain (forgot to mention that I've had back and chest pain; i.e., tender to the touch, for about a week now), or if it's some kind of anxiety/panic attack or a variation of a hot flash without the heat.

If this makes any sense, and if anyone has any advice, I would really appreciate it. I didn't even go to church today because I was afraid it would happen there and I'd embarrass myself.

Comments, advice, prayers...any and all would be appreciated. IrishLass

Hi,

WOW! I don't have the answer, I wish I did, but I've had similar things happen to me. Yes, you become very afraid to go anywhwere! I've had bad panic attacks while driving, in the mall, at a friends, in the movies (one of the favorites..lol), and just about anywhere. I don't know if what you're experienceing is just panic, it does seem like it though. I've found out over the years, that panic attacks seem like a lot of other things, and they can bring on very very bad and scarey symptoms!!!!! I know, I've had some symptoms that were terrifying!

Well, I hope maybe some other ladies can shed some light on this, I'd like to know the answer to this myself!

Sincerely, MyDarling

Hi again,

i forgot to add that I myself also have lots of sinus problems, and I have been wondering latley if that had anyththing to do with the panic attacks, because, I seem to notice that my sinuses get worse during and after a panic attack. I don't think that's purley coincidental. I bet there's some kind of connection! Let's hope we find it.

God Bless!

Although I don't have panic attacks, the more I read and learn about them..the more I'm convinced (this echoed by a prominent headache neurologist/specialist in the NC area), that they're NOT psychological..sometimes hormone driven, sometimes neurologically driven..panic attacks this severe especially with pain or other physical symptoms need to be checked out.

I've had a head cold recently which seemed to block my ears up from the inside - that brought on a mild one. Sop I guess it's all connected.

My first one was brought on by thinking too deeply about going blind, of all things. I have floaters in my eyes and that day they were particularly bad. Now I've noticed if any of my sensed aren't functioning a hundred per cent, if I focus on it, it sets it off!