Panic attack...therapy?

[Kazzia]

Today I got my period, a whole week late, and spent the morning at work in the office doubled up in severe pain. So I took some Feminax which contains Naproxen - very strong stuff - so strong that you can only take 3 or 4 a day and no more than 6 over a couple of days.

Eventually it kicked in and the pain went. I took another tablet of Femniax at 5pm at then at 7pm went to meet a friend for dinner. I drank a glass of red wine and by then was really hungry so we went to eat curry. It was very nice, but shortly after finishing eating it, about ten mins later, I suddenly got this severe, acute nausea. Not only that but I had a burning/flipping pain in my stomach. I began to panic, because the curry hadn't been that hot and I eat loads of it anyway.

I was probably panicking more because I live in London and had to get the underground train home. So I got on the tube at Oxford Circus but I began to feel more and more nauseated and then my heart was racing, and I could hardly breathe, it was so horrible, I was convinced I was going to v*.

So I ran off the tube at Stockwell station (in south London) to get some fresh air, and miraculously I found my last domperidone tablet in my handbag, grabbed some water and took that. I called my mum (who's a nurse) to vent and she suggested the Naproxen might have caused a reaction and that because of my phobia, it might have made it worse.

I felt very silly, ended up taking a taxi back to my flat which cost me an extra £15 but by then the anti-emetic had kicked in and my pulse was below 100 per minute. Now I'm all worn out sitting in front of the TV.

Final point which hopefully someone (who lives in the UK) may be able to help me with. My mum thinks I should try some therapy for the emetophobia, but I've never looked into it before since my doctor laughed at the mere suggestion of 'emetophobia' when I was 17. I don't know if you can only get private therapy or whether you can get it on the NHS? I can't afford private healthcare at the moment, or private therapy sessions, so anything on the NHS would be a bonus!

[sootywillow]

You can definitely get therapy on the NHS - although you might have to wait
a while. You just need to see your GP to get the ball rolling who will then be
able to refer you if you impress upon him/her how much this phobia is
affecting your life. Hopefully he will recommend CBT as this seems to be
pretty helpful in helping dealing with panic attacks.
I found that just being on the tube and worrying about being sick in public
in the rtapped confines of the carriage used to give me panic attacks all the
time - which miraculously got better when I got off the tube - so in the end
I stopped using public transport and took up riding a scooter - I would
rather risk death on the roads than be stuck on a crowded tube train feeling
sick!

[SimplyMe]

I don't live in the UK so no advice there but as for the naproxin, when I was in my late teens the doctor prescribed prescription strength for me for cramps. It wasn't until the second dose that I started getting diarrhea. Before that I'd taken OTC meds w/ naproxin in it and been fine, you may have just had too much of it for your system and it made you feel off. Also mixing drinks w/ certain medicines can upset your stomach.

Glad you're well now!

[rhi*]

heya, i live in the uk and i went to my doctors bout 2 months ago for this phobia, i have now had 2 assesments for cbt therapy with the nhs which i am now on the waiting list for (should be bout 2-6 months) and i am having graduall small amounts of cbt from my doctor every 3 weeks. id deff give it ago the change in me has been amazing! xxx

[Kazzia]

Thank you for your comments - it's good to hear I can get therapy on the NHS so in a few weeks I'll check it out. I'm moving to a different part of London so will be changing my doctor. I'll let you know how it goes!