Please help, Terrible anxiety attacks caused by post nasal drip

[MaddieSue]

I am 17-years-old and a few weeks ago I woke up suddenly at 2:50 am in an absolute panic, I didn't know why but I felt like something was going wrong with me. I related it to feeling as if something was going to jump out and get me but I recently figured out what it was I was feeling. I had to pace back and forth telling myself I was fine and I ended up not going back to sleep and playing solitare on the computer until morning to distract myself. Every day so far I have had several instances when I was convinced I was about to choke due to what I'm pretty sure is a case of post nasal drip, which I have had every year of my life around the transitions of the seasons. So it is frightening that I am just now having these panic attacks due to it. Choking is one of my biggest fears so this problem really freezes me up. It's just so frustrating because I know that it's all in my head but no matter how much I tell myself this I still cannot calm myself down until my throat clears out enough or make myself stop feeling this way. Last night I was with a few close friends, and I tell you I know it's all in my head because I stop panicing or even realizing it when I'm distracted or talking to friends, and I had a cup of wawa coffee with them (and today I read up on panic attacks and I'm not going to drink coffee like, ever again. Heh) and I took a few drags from a clove one of them was smoking, and my nose became very conjested but there was nothing to blow out and my ears felt like they had to pop. I didn't start panicing right away but my stomach slowly started getting more and more upset and then it began getting hard to swallow causing the sensation of being on the brink of choking and it all went the farthest down hill it ever has before. On the ride home right after it started to get bad (when it started I alerted them to it, because I needed them to know or else it would have been much worse) I began to get dizzy and my stomach was churning, because of this I really thought I was going to throw up. I ended up riding home with my head between my knees breathing slowly and I forgot about my throat for a while. I got out of the car and ran into the house to the bathroom and had to sit in there for about 6 minutes and in that time my throat started scaring me again. When I came out I was shaking and I started to cry, crying made me feel better but only until I stopped then my throat was even more of a problem. I was in and out of the bathroom quite a lot and I needed to lay on the ground because it was something firm but I was shaking violently (almost like convulsions) and I couldn't control it, I think it was because I felt so sick after a while I found myself back in the bathroom once again and I was so mad at myself that I started telling myself to calm down and that I was being rediculous and then I prayed a little bit. It worked pretty well and I fell asleep finally I woke up about two times that I remember  that night and both times I got up and walked my stomach felt pretty upset. When I woke up this morning and began walking around my stomach got pretty bad and my throat started to bother me again. My friend drove me home and when I got there I went directly to my mom and told her about everything, and told her I needed to make a doctors appointment so I could talk to someone about this because it is really a pretty big problem now, and she had me take an antihistamine nose spray and take a shower. After the shower I could swallow the mucas at the back of my throat without any trouble and it lasted for a little while but even right now I am having trouble swallowing easily and I feel at risk of choking, I have been turning the fauset on as hot as it can go and draping a towl over my head and inhaling deeply until my throat loosens but the second try with this method didn't work as well and it can't do this in the middle of school. I have to preform in a play tonight and I am the lead role so my fear at the moment is that I will have another episode like last night when I'm on stage where I can't do anything to help myself. I'm just looking for some very much needed help from anyone who can offer it due to personal experiences or knowledge of anything that can help me. I am so exhausted with my situation especially because one of my biggest phobias is choking, it's really really scary and upsetting and I just want it to stop impeading my every day life.

Can anyone help me in anyway?
Maddie

[herbert25]

Hi there,  I know how you feel i have swallowing day and night but the mucas builds up in my head, and feels like fluid in my head clogging my head up.  I have been seen by Kings Cross Hospital but no medication works.  I have asked to be referred to Guys Hospital for Injections my allergy is house dustmite.  It feels horrible swallowing all day long It gives me anxiety too.  I was put on predniolone bacuse ny whole head feeled with mucas and then blocked my head really uncomfortable.

I leave my mobile number it is 07941 935186 if you want to text or call or leave me your number.  Anyone else please feel free to contact me,

Best wishes
Karen

[Sharonp1]

Maddie, my mother has similar symptoms.  I sent her a sinupulse and she said her problem is fixed.  It was really disruptive to her sleep. Then I read an article in the New York Times on the NeilMed, which is making someone really rich by fixing sinus problems really cheap.  It's a 10$ nasal rinse.  I love it, my husband loves, my son is about to try it.  

I think your panic attacks might be a fear reaction.  Once you realize your problem can be fixed, they might go away.  If the sinus problem doesn't go away, see an ENT.