Bad anxiety attack or hallucination??

[beatfreak]

I have had anxiety and panic attacks forever but one day I was sitting at my job (a little shop) by myself just looking out the window. I wasn't stressed, just hanging then I started to panic. I was burning holes in the floor, walking in big circles around the store. It kept getting worse so I got on the phone and called my boss/friend and told her to fly up there because something was wrong. The music on the radio started sounding distorted (like the voices were really whiney or something), then I started to notice the colors in the room changing, my tongue started to feel a little numb, then I really started to freak. My boss got there and mentioned one bad thing she was upset about and not 2 seconds later I fell to the floor. I was sweating profusely, crying uncontrollably, and COULD NOT get up from the fetal position on the floor. My boss even tried to move me onto a blanket, but I was not budging. I was scared to death, literally. I kept looking up at the ceiling and I remember thinking it looked unreal and very scary, this went on for about 2 hours. It kept coming in waves, I would think it was over, then I'd go right back into it. Oh and then my hands and feet went numb. Like a pins and needles feeling that started to travel up my arms  and legs. I really thought I was gonna die. My boss knew I had panic attacks so she figured I could ride it out. I took almost 5 mg of klonipin during this (like 2 then 2 again and it didnt make it stop, but when it finally ended (after 2 hrs)I was very tired feeling. I was truely scared to death, but could hardly speak for fear it would make it worse. This same thing actually happened again on another occasion. I have lived with panic disorder pretty much all my life, but this was way different. ANd I hope it NEVER happens again. Any ideas, has anyone ever experienced this?? Some docs say it could be a seizure but I dont think so cause I never lost  consiousness and because of how long it lasted. Could this have been a bad manic episode?? Please any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

[Believer1179]

Ya know what....I didn't really read the other posts after yours...but after my Dad's head injury and the fact that he has had several major and minor seizures since then and the way he describes them.....I am kinda starting to think you MAY have had a seizure???????

I am NO Doctor and have NO idea.....but my dad was out for a while like that and flopping around kinda....i am not sur eif you have to loose concioncnence to have one....maybe it just depends on what stage of seizure it is.....there are SOOOOO many different kinds you can have.

Maybe research it.  I hope ur ins. will help eventually.

I am having the same f'n problem with ins and pre-excisting conditions and **** too!

This is only my OPINION and I am not sure if I'm right.....but it just sounds a little like a form of a sezuire.......

hope i helped at least a lil'..............I LOVE YOU.
Jen

[beatfreak]

Yeah I do remember I was in between trying to find a new doctor, cause I moved and no one wanted to prescribe the klonipin, so I wasn't taking it everyday, so I could save the ones I did have. I've got a pdoc appointment next wed. so I will difinately be bringing all this up. Thanks!

[ILADVOCATE]

Makes sense. That shows good judgment but I'd say one thing that might have happenned if you were taking Klonopin long term and you stopped it one day you might have had withdrawal symptoms. Klonopin being a benzodiazepene that is an anti-anxiety medication that a person can physically build up a tolerance to has to be taken daily. I know because I went off Klonopin too fast years ago and I got full body withdrawal symptoms. Seizures can happen too. Every medication has to be taken daily if prescribed that way or you'll get a return of symptoms. But Klonopin and the medications like it also have a potential of physical withdrawal symptoms from stopping it even just one day. I've taken Klonopin 10 years without a problem btw but it should never be stopped abruptly. That might have been the cause but you could ask your psychiatrist more about that.

[beatfreak]

Yeah I was drinking the night before but I don't have an ongoing drinking problem. These episodes happened almost 1 year ago and at that time I was only on Lexapro and klonipin. But I did not take the klonipin the day I drank (too scared to mix). But now that I'm on lamictal, seroquel, lithium and klonipin there is NO way I will drink at all, plus my husband has a drinking problem so I said I would quit with him. I havent drank since Christmas and dont plan on it while Im taking all these meds. Thank you for the website address I will definately be looking into that. even though its been a good six months since it happened I'm scared to death of it ever happening again. There were a few other times it seemed it was about to happen and they were all days I woke up hung over, so the alcohol may very well have been the problem. When I asked my doctor at the time he said "If it were the alcohol, everybody would be experiencing that" he was a real ******* though. Thanks again. All of your responses are very much appreciated.

[ILADVOCATE]

I would think of changing insurance plans. A seizure disorder if suspected has to be diagnosed now not later. If you can't change insurance plans take a secondary plan. Or you could apply for the Medicaid Buy In for Working People with Disabilities if your state has it. Google the term and you could out more specifics at your local independent living center. There's one in every county of every state. Here's a list:
http://www.ilru.org/html/publications/directory/index.html
One thing you said "the only thing that was a constant in both cases was that I drank heavily before". I'd say then that "constant" should be eliminated. In that case it could have been a symptom of alcohol poisoning or interaction with medication and alchohol. I'd suggest going to AA or another recovery group and find a way to stop drinking entirely. That certainly would improve things and if that's what caused it it would be much of help. There are also dual recovery groups for a person with a psychiatric disability and alcohol/substance abuse issue that are specific for this kind of issue.

[beatfreak]

Thank you so much. I actually can't see a neurologist until Aug because of some stupid preexisting condition clause that doesnt even pertain to anything specific. I had an appointment but they called and said I'd have to pay the 400 upfront because my insurance was so bad about paying claims for other pts in the past with the same **** on their insurance. Aug is when it gets lifted. Do you know if there is another way to get an EEG without going to a neurologist?? Thanks so much......but unfortunately for me I think your right, thats pretty much what my pdoc said too. But she said she didnt really think it was for sure because she said the seizures would have only lasted 10 minutes. The only thing that was a constant in both cases was that I drank heavily the night before. Anyway, thanks again so much!

[ILADVOCATE]

I experienced episodes like this before recovery from schizoaffective disorder. It sounds psychotic more than manic to me. But if you don't have this happen in general and it came on like an episode it could be a seizure. Look up a medically valid site or book on epilepsy. You don't have to lose consciousness. Temporal lobe epilepsy is one form of a seizure that affects perceptions. You might want to repost this question in the neurology forum as the answers I got there have been very helpful but it sounds like far more than an anxiety attack to me. I'd certainly speak to your psychiatrist but obtain a referral to a neurologist so they can do an EEG and other tests to rule out a seizure disorder or other conditions as warranted.