should i have stayed at ER?!
Question: Should i have stayed at ER?
Well, today the ask-a-nurse line said since I'm still having a hard time to go to the ER. Well, I did- & she ran my pulse ox & it was 99%, which she said was almost perfect. She said I'd be waiting about 6 hours- so I left. And, again- felt fine- for awhile- in which then the hard time breathing came back.
Is this anxiety? And, I don't have medical insuracne- so is there anything natural I can do?
Answers:
Best Answer - Chosen by Voters
A Paramedic can not diagnose you. Your symptoms could be secondary to hyperventilation and anxiety but other medical problems need to be ruled out. If you are taking birth control pills you are at risk for blood clots which can cause chest pain and or shortness of breath, which can cause panic and hyperventilation. New onset diabetes could cause a change in your body's acid base and cause you to breathe very quickly showing a high Sa02 and perhaps displaying numbness/tingling or hyperventilation symptoms from the rapid breathing of trying to adapt to the acidotic state.
You really did not go into much detail as to what triggered the events. If you believe there was a high level of anxiety which escalated and resolved with calming and slow breathing, the next time it occurs use cupped hands or a paper bag to breathe into...this may stop the cycle. Panic/Anxiety/Hyperventilation attacks can come on suddenly and can progress to numbness/tingling in hands, feet, around mouth with spasms and cramps of hands and feet, increased shortness of breath, chest pain, confusion, dizziness and the cycle ends with syncope or fainting. When you awaken your breathing returns to normal and symptoms slowly resolve unless you get caught up in the cycle again. If you have continued bouts of these episodes despite improvement with calming techniques and use of paper bag or cupped hands, I would get an evaluation. Panic attacks can dictate your life, I'd also want to be sure that it isn't anything physically wrong.
http://firstaid.about.com/od/shortnessof…
Emergency Room Nurse
i noticed fresh air and drinking cold water helped me with my anxiety. when i would have a panic attack i would tell my self out loud that im going to be okay and clam down and it would work
Sitting in the ER wondering if it's worth the money is a tough decision. I picked out 2 things in your description that I want to address. 1) The paramedic is an idiot! He is not a doctor and cannot diagnose panic attacks by the equipment that he has at his disposal on the truck. 2) There is no "perfect" O2 sat or pulse ox reading. Anything greater than 95% while breathing room is considered "normal".
The symptoms of panic attacks can manifest themselves as heart attacks but the reverse is also true. The initial signs and symptoms of both can be identical. It takes blood work to really determine the difference. I have looked after patients with a history of panic attacks come into the ER that are having a true heart attacks. Now I have also seen a panic attack severe enough to cause a heart attach. Adrenaline is a very powerful drug.
Now i'm not saying that you are having either but make an appointment to visit your regular doctor, as this visit will be far cheaper than a visit to the ER.
Also keep in mind that every hospital in the U.S. must do a certain percentage of "charity" cases every year by federal law. If you talk to the right people in the billing office you can convince the hospital to write off your visit or a least lower you bill enough to an affordable amount.
good luck and I hope this helps
RJ
18 yrs of ICU, ER and operating room nursing. :)