Can panic lower oxygen saturation?

Just had a breathing attack which I couldn't control with inhalers. My heart raced, my body weakened and Ivthought I might vomit. I also felt no space for air to get past all the mucus in my throat. Sitting hunched relieved it, but attempting to stand made me worse. It sounds like I panicked, but is that the normal reaction, especially the standing up thing?

I ask because when they hooked me up for sp02 monitoring, my oxygen levels dropped to 84% when my symptoms kicked in. A slight change of posture/throat blockage was all it took to make my heart race/nausea/shortness of breath!

Scaredy Cat said...
Dax,

When you say 'they'...I am assuming the ER staff?

What did they dx the episode as? Asthma, hyperventilation?

Have you been since treated/released...any follow up recommendations?

S.C.

ER yes, they labelled it asthma, but my inhalers aren't helping with this.

Scaredy Cat said...
Dax,

I understand how it would seem that rules out asthma...

...but an ineffective treatment doesn't negate a diagnoses...it could just indicate a necessity for an alternative.

Were you on a nebulizer? What was the follow up advice?

S.C.

No nebulizers at the time. I was told to just calm down, despite having 85% oxygen, amd go home. As long as mucus is clogging my throat, the symptoms persist.

wow this is a very interesting post. i experienced the same thing and it baffaled my drs. even a pulmumlogist didnt get it. as soon as i started on anti anxiety med i was better. one of my drs did figure this out but it took a while. they keep loading me up with asthma med which just increased my anxiety. also agree they shouldnt send you home with 85 ox reading. mine would drop to like 89 or so.