PANIC ATTACK!

 If there's one lesson MS has instilled in me, it is the importance of taking pride in the meticulous details. Despite the extra time it may require, the sense of accomplishment upon completion is always gratifying. On a tranquil morning, I set out to tackle the chore of washing the dishes after breakfast. Although I knew it would be a more time-consuming task, I welcomed the opportunity with anticipation.

To help boost my efficiency, I decided to play a playlist by The Script and found myself singing along to every song, my spirits soaring. However, in the midst of my harmonious reverie, I suddenly became aware of a disconcerting issue – my breathing felt strained. Startled, I ceased both my singing and dishwashing activities. It was evident that something was amiss with my respiratory system.

'Call my sister ' that was my first thought. 

'Hello, I'm home alone and my chest is so tight...can't breathe well'

I was in a panic, trying to take in deep breaths using my mouth. Much as I tried, I couldn’t stop panicking.  The fact that I was home alone didn't make things any better and so I waited for my dad who'd gone to town to show up. 

It had been a long day and the breathing exercises I had been doing all day didn't seem to work.  I had all these questions in my head that I needed answers to. To be honest,  I was scared. Why was I struggling to breathe? Evening came and we thought it best to go to hospital.  Now this, was scary. By the time we got to hospital,  I was done for.  In my head, I thought I'd be put on oxygen to aid in my breathing. 

"Nothing to worry about, her vitals are OK.  Your daughter will be fine." The doctor on call reassured. "You just need to calm down Lynnet. "

Still, I was not convinced but I just tried to follow the Doctor's recommendations. 

Unknown to me, I was experiencing what is known as a panic attack.  Over the years I've experienced a few more. Of course I  haven't become a guru in dealing with such but the breathing exercises and keeping calm always seem to do the trick. Key point,  'Do NOT panic when having a panic attack. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

STEPS

 Now this single term has been quite familiar to me. It transcends the mere calculations in Mathematics. It is an integral part of the daily existence of an individual diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. One might perceive it as a deliberate strategy, but in reality, it is an instinctive response that arises without conscious direction. Frequently, during activities such as grocery shopping or any mundane task, one inevitably finds oneself meticulously planning each step taken. Moving from the entrance of a building to the upcoming corner involves a mental calculation of the number of steps that can be managed before experiencing leg weakness or instability. At times, the situation deteriorates to the point where a respite from the prolonged walk becomes an urgent necessity. What appears to be a short stroll for an average individual transforms into an arduous journey for a person with MS.  Then there are the deliberate movements on a staircase. This particular aspect resonates...
Read more

RELAPSE

 "Lovely day, my dear,"I gently uttered to my niece as I bid her farewell at the school entrance. She tenderly waved her little fingers as I turned to make my way back home. The leisurely stroll back home would consume around five minutes, so I embarked on the journey without haste, braving the chill of the morning air. Merely a few steps into my walk, a sudden realization struck me like a bolt of lightning. 'Oh dear! I had neglected to bring along my niece's school bag and snack pack!' How could I have overlooked such a fundamental detail? Was my memory failing me? Just recently, I had forgotten her lunchbox, and now this slip-up? Unbeknownst to me, these lapses were likely a result of the memory issues associated with multiple sclerosis. 'It cannot be!' I vehemently reassured myself. There was no way I was succumbing to illness again. I had been in perfect health for the past year, so the notion of revisiting hospital visits seemed preposterous. To cut a...
Read more

LATE NIGHT

 Hi, my name is Lynnet and I am an MS (Multiple Sclerosis) warrior.Those were the closing words of my book, marking the commencement of a new chapter in my life with this condition. Do you recall Michael, the nurse whom I had envisioned as an angel? He proved to be a true savior during one of my severe MS flare-ups. Following my third Solumedrol infusion that night, I experienced an intense and inexplicable itching sensation on my arm. I writhed and tossed in bed, desperately seeking respite. What could possibly be causing this distressing sensation? Could it be the neuropathic pain I had read about? Was this its peculiar manifestation, inducing an overwhelming urge to tear at my own skin? Then Michael showed up during one of the rounds and told me to follow him to which I obliged.  Anything to distract me. We were seated at the nurse's station, devoid of steaming coffee to complement our conversations. Engrossed in dialogue, the world around us faded into oblivion. In that mo...
Read more