Hi everyone, i'm new here and really need some advice.

I was diagnosed as having a panic disorder this morning, but i don't fully agree with his diagnosis as i never really feel anxious at all

Here's my story.....

about 7-8 weeks ago i had my fist attack/episode, i was lying in bed ready to fall asleep and i started having terrible pains in my upper legs (similar to intense growing pains) shortly after this i felt a fluttering sensation in my chest followed by twitching of my muscles ie my leg would twitch and then my arm.

This is all within a minute or so, then i start to feel my teeth chattering which rapidly intensifies and i start to shake uncontrollably all over.

It feels as though every muscle in my body is contracting, so much so that i find it difficult to even unclench my jaw.

During severe attacks i also find it really difficult to breath.

since the initial attack I've had quite a few more, around 8-9 in total.

They all start the same way however they aren't always so intense, they can last anything from 3 to 20 minutes.

During the attacks i'm fully conscious and aware of whats happening.

They've all happened at night while i'm in bed, however i've never woken in the night to an attack.

I'm a happy person usually and could never be described as a 'worrier' I really dont ever feel anxious or panicked, so this leads me to believe my attacks aren't panic related at all and that there may possibly be another cause.

Each time they've happened i've been in bed, relaxed and really quite happy with life so i just dont get it

I am not a DR.
Maybe your Dr. should goggle panic attacks.
You seem to be having physical symptoms that are resistant to a sleeping
state of awareness. You may consider a sleep apnea test.

HMMMMM
quote...During the attacks i'm fully conscious and aware of whats happening.

They've all happened at night while i'm in bed, however i've never woken in the night to an attack.

unquote.

Panic attacks can be scary. I would make an appointment with your Dr. just to make sure that's whats going on.

I already have, my dr is the one who diagnosed me.

it's got nothing to do with sleep?!? lol they've all happened at night while i'm in bed. but not asleep! i go to bed quite early and sit in bed watching tv. this is when they've struck.

Perhaps you should google sleep apnea, but to save you the hassle - 'Sleep apnea, a disruption of breathing while asleep' I've never had an attack while asleep - read my post!

except for the chest fluttering -- i would say it sounds similiar to RLS.

if you don't feel anxious & panic'y, don't let the dr tell you that you are -- tell them you don't agree & to keep looking.
i mean -- i think you would know if you were anxious.

my dr -- who i love to death -- has been wrong on the first try for a number of things that were just hard to find.
one time, she tried to tell me stress was causing my symptoms -- turns out i had arthritus in my spine that had caused a bone spur ot form
and it was pinching a nerve. i mean -- i was under a lot of stress, but i knew this was more.

and if this doc can't find an answer, don't hesitate to move on for another opinion -- people are misdiagnosed all the time.

it's got nothing to do with sleep?!? lol they've all happened at night while i'm in bed. but not asleep! i go to bed quite early and sit in bed watching tv. this is when they've struck.
Perhaps you should google sleep apnea, but to save you the hassle - 'Sleep apnea, a disruption of breathing while asleep' I've never had an attack while asleep - read my post!

I misread what you had written, sorry as I seem to have been tired myself. It does sound very odd though, anyway.
So I did some googling.
I have stage events falling asleep. Sometimes, restless legs, which has been helped by the anti depressant I take.

Definition
A panic attack is a sudden episode of intense fear that develops for no apparent reason and that triggers severe physical reactions. Panic attacks can be very frightening. When panic attacks occur, you might think you're losing control, having a heart attack or even dying.

How can I stop having night time panic attacks?

It is not so much stopping them per se, although you can decrease your vulnerability to them. It is more a matter of learning to lose your fear of them. The research on the nocturnal attacks show they happen on the change of consciousness as we are going to sleep or from dreaming sleep to deep sleep or deep sleep back to dreaming sleep, or as we wake up. The research also shows they have nothing to do with dreams or nightmares.
Many people with panic disorder have nocturnal panic attacks. We can decrease our vulnerability to them, by not getting caught up in the 'what if I have a panic attack tonight' thinking and by ensuring that we are taking care of ourselves and meeting our day to day needs.

Live and learn I guess.
Dusty

This post has been edited by DustyRoad: Aug 21 2008, 01:49 PM

Hi sallybobs and to DF!

I'm not a doctor either, I'm an RN, but I'm inclined to agree with you, as to the likelihood of a misdiagnosis.
Do you FEEL panicky during these attacks?
Do you have a feeling of doom, fear that you are having a heart attack or dying...?

If you don't have the above, it sounds like you should be going to someone who can do an EEG, like a neurologist, because these symtoms sound more epileptiform, than due to panic disorder. Epilepsy takes so many forms from very full-blown attacks, to partial seizures, to mild "absences". The whole-body muscle contractions could be a symptom of some form of mild epilepsy, since you don't lose consciousness and retain your awareness. I don't know if GPs diagnose epilepsy, but you are well within your right to get a second opinion.

I've experienced both panic attacks and RLS (Restless Legs Syndrome) - oh, the joys of the side-effects of various medications!!!! - but neither of these quite fit what you seem to be describing.

Of course none of us can diagnose anything online, but I agree with those who say get another opinion, or if you can, a referral to a neurologist.

And good luck!

Sounds more medical/brain associated. Sounds like you are fitting or something. I would see a different GP and get a referral to a neuro.

Doesn't sound like Akathisia as some have suggested. .