Panic Attacks Support Group

A panic attack is a period of intense fear or discomfort, typically with an abrupt onset and usually lasting no more than thirty minutes. Symptoms include trembling, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, sweating, nausea, dizziness, hyperventilation, and sensations of choking or smothering. Panic attacks can be very sudden, appear to be unprovoked, and are often...

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Ltb3105 04/22/2012

Ok, so I have been suffering from major depressive episodes, anxiety, and panic disorder ever since I was in my teens. I'm in my 50s now! I was diagnosed with breast cancer ten years ago and went through surgery, chemo and radiation. I guess you can say my blood pressure started to go up after all my treatments were over and I had to go for checkups every 6 mos. and of course, mammos.

I have since developed such a fear of having my BP taken that I freak out. It doesn't matter what doctor I'm seeing. I went to the eye doctor and my pressure was so high he was gonna send me to the ER! I told him I suffer from anxiety and white coat syndrome.

I do take BP meds, and am on Prozac and Xanax, when needed. Even these don't work when I know I have to have my BP taken. I guess my question is, can your BP get really high during an anxiety attack or just having anxiety about getting it read?

deleted_user 04/22/2012

Absolutely. I have anxiety and white coat syndrome, too, and I have to explain that to any new doctor when they're concerned about my BP. (I also have chronic pain, which raises my BP on bad days, plus the pain of having my BP taken ...) Even with anxiety meds, this happens to me. You're not alone in this, I promise!
Congratulations on being a cancer survivor. :) I hope that you continue to be well!

Ltb3105 04/23/2012

Thanks for responding. It does help ease the tension knowing others suffer the same thing. I guess misery really does love company! Ever since that eye doctor scared me, I've been popping my Xanax more than ever. This happened at the dentist too, they would not perform a procedure b/c my BP was too high. I said we can sit here all day, it will not go down, so just do it! After any doctor visit, I usually am pretty panicky for a couple of days (and before, of course!) My best friend tells me to tell the doctors upfront that I suffer from anxiety and white coat syndrome and that it will be a high BP reading.

This is making me avoid going to ANY doctor, but I know I have to have my cancer screening tests and see my oncologist every 6 mos. so I guess I'm going to resign myself to the fact that I'm gonna be nervous before, during and after my appointment!

harry3333 04/23/2012

some anxiety sufferers have low BP
there are now some BP machines that dont grip your arm
the best BP med for you is the beta blocker type because these also calm your body, but not your mind
these are now an older BP med so many docs dont think of them

BahamaSun 04/23/2012

Even when you tell the doctor these things up front, most will not know how to deal with it. I suffer from needle phobia. I always tell the lab technician when I have blood drawn. It doesn't help that it is difficult to find a vein.

When I had a glucose tolerance test a few months back, they stuck me 7 times for 3 vials. :(

Sometimes with BP, it will be high when I first arrive at the doc, but go down after I have been there a while. Maybe you should invest in a home BP monitor to see what it reads at home.

deleted_user 04/27/2012

anxiety=HBP

Ltb3105 04/27/2012

I wish I would have never let the eye doctor tech take my BP. This is what started my latest round of panic and anxiety. The fact that the doctor told me the reading was high enough to warrant going to the ER is the only thing I keep thinking about and obsessing on. I was fine until after this appt. was over. Came home crying, trembling, pressure in my head, jelly legs, all the usual shit that happens during my attacks.

I have to attend a friend's dad's funeral this evening and am absolutely dreading it.....now, I'm afraid of everything all over again.

inpeace 04/27/2012

Eye doctors check BP?

Ltb3105 04/27/2012

Ain't that something? Had it not been for them checking it, I would've left the office fine and dandy. But ever since he scared me by saying it's too high, I've been having panic attacks left and right.

I am under a doctor's care and take BP meds, so why is this freaking me out all of a sudden?

Shit.

inpeace 04/27/2012

Well look when i had my worst panic attack my BP went over 180 and heart beat was 170. I freak the f*** out i was rushed to the hospital. They check everything, DInt find anything.

The nurse and the doctor was just looking at me all weird they where shock that my BP was that high i was 17 years old healthy 170 pounds.

I no longer have attacks like i used to but Anxiety raises blood pressure same goes with working out it also raises your BP.

Relax you will be fine no longer worry about it as much as i used to.

inpeace 04/27/2012

I no longer worry about it

Ltb3105 04/28/2012

I know, I try to talk to myself and tell myself to calm the **** down, but when you truly have a disorder, it's hard to do. It almost feels like a physical ailment, this anxiety BS, because it causes all sorts of health problems!

It helps to talk to others who suffer the same thing. No one understands in my family.

deleted_user 05/03/2012

Hi, same thing happens to me no matter what type of doctor I go to. I get nervous knowing they are going to take my bp - it's high - they freak out and then that makes me more nervous too. I have a bp cuff at home and when i take it at home it's always fine.

Ltb3105 05/03/2012

My problem is that I cannot even take my BP at home anymore because now I freak out in a calm setting as well. I'm afraid no doctor is ever gonna get a true reading if I'm stressed out no matter where I take it.

Gonna discuss CBT with my pdoc when I see her.

deleted_user 05/05/2012

Yep this is a HUGE problem for me. My doc actually put me on a beta blocker that lowered my BP so much I almost passed out! I have very real anxiety & white coat syndrome. Ok so here is what I do.....if I have an upcoming appt I take my BP at home for a week or so & especially the day of the appt. I walk in & tell the nurse or doc that I have wcs & here are my BP readings. I tell them my BP will be high but I don't want to know what it is & that's that!!! I also take a Xanax before I go in. I COMPLETELY relate!!

harry3333 05/05/2012

anxiety sufferers often have very high BP when seeing a new doctor
the doctors all know of this and make allowances
as mentioned if you need to be on BP pills, the beta blocker type are best as they also calm your body

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