Hey, MagicalSilverKey, very glad to hear you’re ok. I just wanted to let you know that my husband also has Reiter’s. Diagnosed when he was 18(many years ago), and thankfully he’s been in remission for about 15 years. He does still have some inflammation, very minor, and takes medication. I just had to respond, what a small world! I’m sure you’ve been every bit the guinea pig to your doctors my husband has been.
BTW, your symptoms perfectly describe the onset of high blood pressure for me. Call me ‘type A’. Just an FYI.
Take care. If you’d care to trade Reiter’s stories, feel free.
This definitely reeks of anxiety or panic attacks. I’d recommend a run through the Toastmasters public speaking program to reduce your fear of being around people. If you can stand up in a room of strangers and deliver forth for ten minutes you’ll have little or no problems with public places. (At least I hope so.)
I hope you feel better soon. I think recent experiences vis a vis your Pit thread are contributing heavily to this problem. I wish you well.
First, I am very glad you are ok! You are one of my favorite posters and I am not saying that because you had a near death experience either
Secondly, it is good that you recognize that you have panic attacks. If you don’t learn how to take care of them now, they will take over and ruin your life. Repeat that last sentance until it sinks in.
My mom suffers from them and I thought it was NORMAL for people to spaz out over seemingly mundane things. ( She’s very social and amiable person, so it’s not the crowd thing. She WORRIES CONSTANTLY and CAN’T LET GO.) How I grew up to be so level headed that my skull is flat is one of the mysteries of time.
Thirdly, Toastmasters suggestion is excellent. Also, self relaxation or mediation may help as well. ( I’ve recently discovered meditation and think it is wonderful and now, EVERYONE should do it Exercize helps alot too.
Fourth, if the third doesn’t work, there is no shame is using drugs to help you through those situations that you know will be stressful. It doesn’t have to be long term. You could take the day of or during a craptacular day.
Dear MSK glad to hear that things are resolved and you feel rather more under control.
I second the Toastmasters suggestion, or any activity that gets you out in a controlled and safe environment. Dale Carnegie courses here in Oz offer a very supportive environment that is most effective in increasing self-efficacy. Expensive however, I believe.
Some of us have more to deal with than others, just in order to get through the day. It’s hard, but that’s how it is, and we just have to get on with it.
I just had to read a book called How We Die written by Sherwin Nuland, MD. He states that you can calculate what your maximum heart rate could be by subtracting you age from 220. A 50-year old would then have a max rate of 170.
Re: The op…
Years ago, I noticed a sort of “bump” in my heart beat. It happened again, and I got worried about it. Then it happened more. I finally went to the doctor and had the tests run. Results: normal.
He said not to worry about it. It happens to everyone. So I quit worrying, and it quit happening. Ain’t modern medicine wonderful?
