panic or anaphylaxis?

Folks,

I've not posted to this group before but am looking for as much realistic advice as I can get. about eight months ago, I had my first of what's since been called a panic attack. It happened while I was driving down the PA turnpike, about an hour after I'd eaten McDonald's candied walnuts. Seemed like my throat was closing and I got that tbody tingling you have when very scared or maybe going to pass out. I can't really call it lightheadedness, as I was able to keep driving for another hour and a half to the nearest ER, where I was given Benadryl and Tagamet.

The next day, I ate a Dairy Queen peanut buster parfait and didn't have a problem. For the next several weeks, though, I would , mostly in the evenings, have a sense that I couldn't breathe deeply enough. I went to the ER 4-5 times, and nothing was ever wrong - xRays, oximeter readings, etc. all came back fine. These problems went away from about September until January 1, when I started having them again. The worst was recently on a flight to Texas, when everyone around me opened their peanuts simultaneously. I smelled it and got scared, felt that I couldn't breathe deeply enough, and put on my personal pulse oximeter, which read only 89 - I could bring it up to 98-99 by deep breathing. I talked with a friend for about an hour and half and finally felt calm enough to sit down again.

My question is: how can I tell whether I'm just panicking -- and developing a peaut phobia - or whether I am having an anaphylactic reaction? I've never been allergic to anything in my life (40 years old).

I had a RAST panel done today and must wait a week for the results, but advice from folks who've suffered from real life-threatening allergies would be most helpful.

For what it's worth, my only symptoms with these "spells" are a sense of not enough air or maybe closing throat and also chill emanating from my heart through my torso. Frequently, I also burp more often during an attack, and I've certainly not eaten any nuts.

percycat

oh and also, when panicky your body produces more histamine, thus MAKING you more allergic so it feeds it all. So definitely get help for the anxiety as it does not help at all. God Bless!

Ceres and BraveJedi,

Thanks for the advice. The results came back negative, but the allergist simply said they go by symptoms, not test results, so I'm scared again.

It seems that I can make the throat tightening go away with xanax, but I'm still afraid. These episodes come and go at all times - around food or not, at home, at friends', now even at work, and even asleep. It seems more like panic given the broad range, and teh fact that for four months, I had none of these problems, then -boom - they're back again.

ANyhow, wish me luck. *sigh*

-percycat

I know what you mean about the panic - once I was having a reaction to seafood (the pans that previously held seafood were reused without being washed, just rinsed, so I didn't know I was being exposed!) - and the EMT's thought I was just having a panic attack!! I was given epinephren, which helped slow/stop for the time being, so they just thought I got all panic-y and over-reacted to the idea! CRAZY and did not help me at all. I understand I guess that maybe it presents that way, but since I couldn't tell them at that time of any exposure I had to seafood, they said that there was no way that was it!! (I was on an island!1)

 

There is a kind of lung test, I forget the name of it, with a methacoline challenge that can test for asthma.

I had that test, years ago, and that helped me to stop wondering if I just wasn't breathing right (I knew I wasn't panicking), especially, since for the most part, I don't wheeze. I have been told in the ER that my chest is "tight". 

Otherwise, try to relax and think of ways to avoid/get out of the situation, that can help your breathing, even if it is asthma.

As far as eating shellfish in the doctors office, if they suggest you do that, they will probably have plenty of medicines and treatment options to get you feeling well again. Look on the bright side, it will help you know one way or the other, and deal with it accordingly. Otherwise you are left with what-ifs and no treatment options.