tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5498194182629204271.post8619146535013514616..comments2023-09-26T12:58:21.651+00:00Comments on The Paramedic's Diary: Elephants in LondonXfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08189044083128101123noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5498194182629204271.post-49781308967176432242010-05-25T07:33:55.837+00:002010-05-25T07:33:55.837+00:00Anonymous,
Anxiety attacks are such a common call ...Anonymous,<br />Anxiety attacks are such a common call for us. In 23 yrs as a Paramedic I must've seen at least 150 cases most of which were genuine many were not and were alcohol related. At first, I was quite dismissive of them until, many years ago, I suffered from a one-off episode, it came completely out of the blue, no previous history and no apparent cause although there was stress in my life at the time. It was frightening because I had no control (I felt) Since then I have been more sympathetic to those who suffer genuine panic attacks, many of whom are Asthmatics, because, once that feeling that you cant breathe grips you, it soon becomes self-fulfilling and you descend into and ever increasing fear of doom. Dont feel embarrassed that this happens to you and you , or someone else, calls an ambulance. To the uninitiated it looks far worse than it actually is. Most ambulance staff would treat it sympathetically and with re-assurance that you are perfectly safe.<br />NickFAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5498194182629204271.post-19516461348389684902010-05-14T11:17:16.940+00:002010-05-14T11:17:16.940+00:00I really feel for the asthmatic women - I too have...I really feel for the asthmatic women - I too have a history of anxiety and I have worked very hard over the years to figure out the difference between a panic attack and a genuine medical problem. <br /><br />Nine times out of ten I can tell the difference, but there are occasions where it just gets you and feels completely different from all the other times. I'm ashamed to admit that I did once have an ambulance called out as it looked to me and the people I was with that I was having heart trouble. I wanted to sink through the floor when they told me (very nicely, I should add) that it was just anxiety. It's such a sneaky and elusive enemy - I don't know if I'll ever beat it. But I do feel terrible that I wasted ambulance time. I'm sure the woman in the train felt just the same.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com