6:10 am this mornning I woke up to find my wife bent over in an L shape in the bathroom literally screaming from pain in and around her intestines. She'd done this sunday but thought she'd gotten ahold of some bad meat and at that time the pain went away in a couple hours so she said let's wait today.

Ok, we waited, in fact she got dressed and started to go to work, even gotten in the car and drove to a minimart for a few items. She came back from that place in even greater pain than earlier. I called 911 immediately at that point.

The rescue & paramedic came within 10 mins and checked her. By 8:00 am she was headed for the hospital with a medic onboard. I'd called my dad/mom who picked me up around 8:10 am and we followed.

Anxiety I had tried to rear it's head up while on the way to the hospital (about 15 miles away) but we were discussing what might be wrong with my wife so my anxiety level stayed down.

We got to the hospital and trust me this is not one of my favorite places to go in the first place however I had a job to do and that was get the admission papers filled out because she was in no shape to do it...and shouldn't have been expected to in the first place.

The ER door opened and I went inside. The lady at the desk was very helpful, pointed to where I needed to go, I nodded and went to the admissions desk where I worked with this lady in getting everything in order, ie, insurance, name, etc. No anxiety yet.

They wouldn't let me go back to the examination room right away and I could feel a little anxiety building in me so I called her work place then Karen (chatterbox) to get the stresscenter's phone number. After talking with both Karen & Carolyn for a few minutes I felt pretty good and the anxiety level dropped again.

The 3 of us waited for what felt like a century while they worked on my wife, then a nurse came out and told me I could go back to the room before they took her up for a cat scan. Here we go again...now I have to go deeper into the hospital but I told myself I have to do this, no choice and did. We talked for a little while and she went dozed off...morphine and the other pain meds will do that to anyone. So...back outside I go to the waiting room.

Sat in the waiting room till 10 am..or back and forth between the outside door and the waiting room I should say, still holding the panic down to nothing. Nurse came in again, told us they were moving her up for the cat scan and it would be another hour before they knew anything so if we wanted to go out and get some lunch go ahead. We did then went back to the hospital. Still no panic..a normal anxiety level was working inside me but nothing out of the ordinary.

I went back to her room again when she came out of the cat scan, we talked a little, she fell back to sleep, so I turned and just barely made it to the nurses station...you got it...panic attack starting up!

The 4 nurses on duty looked at me, said panic attack..I said yes but I can handle this. The head nurse told me no, she'd get me a xanax and for me to take it. I told her just to stay right where she was and that I could bring myself out of it...skeptical but she did as I asked.

..breathe in 2 seconds, out 4 seconds, in 2 seconds out 4 seconds...while thinking I know what this is and I don't have time for it. Continue to breathe in and out slowly and relax as much as I could. The nurse starts to talk to me again saying are you ok or do you want the meds...I looked back at her and said, no, I have to distract myself for a minute..hey..I know, this place reminds me of a huge museum I was in a few years ago and you 4 nurses are just one of the exhibits. Well..it worked because I the panic level was starting to drop. Ok next need some fresh air..told the nurses to just stand here and I'm going outside (door was about 50 feet down the hall) and I'd be right back. Walked down the hall, outside, took a deep breath, walked back inside, down the hall, to the nurses station and smiled.

The nurse said now do you want that pill...I said.."for what"? It was over and I'd come through it by using the skills I learned in the program from the Midwest Center. All 4 nurses were amazed, started asking me questions about how had I learned to actually control an anxiety/panic attack and I told them. The head nurse said in all 22 years of working in hospitals she'd never seen anyone pull themselves out of an attack before without using any medication at all. I just emailed her this website before starting to write this so she could see it for herself. I told her it can be done, you just saw a real live demonstration of it...she smiled and said yes, unbelievable.

They released my wife at noon est today and informed us that she was still carrying a bouncing baby kidney stone that had moved from her left kidney to her bladder and that it would more than likely pass within 24 - 48 hours on it's own. All the pain she'd suffered through in the past 24 hours was it moving through her system.

She's asleep now..not going to wake her up until around 7 tonight, then get her started drinking water to flush that thing out of her but she's breathing easy while she sleeps so I know it's going to be ok now..just one more bout to go through and the doctor said she shouldn't have much pain if any with that part.

I was dead tired when I got home, called Carolyn, checked in on the chatroom, and promptly fell asleep after that so I'm going to add one more step to that list...once you beat the panic attack and if you are tired, sleep for an hour, then get back up and take on the world again.

For me..to finally beat a full blown attack with people watching me, esp nurses, tells me one thing..the day of the panic attack for me is history. I've spread my wings and now I can fly and do anything I want to do.

That has been the first 11 hours of my Monday..Sept 24th..exactly 20 months to the day from the time I was on my way to the hospital in the back of a rescue unit..for a level 10 panic attack.

This program works people but you have to work the program harder than anything you've ever done in your entire life...but if you do that, you'll feel the same freedom that I now feel and it's nice.

David God Bless you and your wife. You are a great person and we all love you so much. Just reading this I could you had so much going on and you got through it. I started to panic just reading it but you did it and God Bless that your wife will be ok. You have my prayers.

Love Carol

WOW David,
THANK YOU SO MUCH for posting your experience today! It is so encouraging to hear stories like yours.. it helps to know we can beat this, and we have the tools if it rears it's ugly head
again!
I hope your wife is doing ok.
Blessings to you,
Stacy D

Great job!!!!! Hospitals make me so nervous too and I am glad that your wife is ok.

A quick note, she is awake & drinking water & cranberry juice as of right now. I read your notes to me & her and she just asked me to say "thank you" to you all.

David:
So glad that all is okay at present. Hope your wife continues to improve.
Congratulations on your success today with the panic attack.
Your sharing gives lots of people hope.
Thanks!
MaryJane

David ,You did great. It was a good thing you did it without the Xanax. It does work when we understand what is happening. I had one the same way a few days ago in a very busy hotel lobby. I immediately recognized what was happening. Went to a corner to lean against the wall and not draw a lot of attention. Had to shut my eyes and visualize a nice scene while slowing down the breathing. Told myself "no one dies from a panic attack". My pulse was going so fast my blouse was moving. I brought myself out of it due to the program also. I did have a big stressor prior to the attack. The panic attack just came on. The person I was with came to the lobby and I said "I am having a panic attack so just leave me alone". It lasted about 15 minutes but I did it too by myself.
You were so great with your wife. I am glad she will be ok. Much Love to both of you. Natalie

What a great story, David. I know you are so proud! I'm glad your wife is going to be ok. Now you know you can handle anything! You are an inspiration! I hope she passes that 'baby' and is up and around soon.

Heyy David so glad to hear your wife is doing better and that it was nothing major. Very proud of you for taking control and working your way through the panic. Tell your wife I say im glad she's doing well..

Soooo Proud of you! C.

David,
Sending warm, "Get Well" wishes for your wife. Hope she is feeling much better by the time you read this.
You are truly inspiring, not just having a panic attack, but having one under such stressful conditions and You Still DiD IT!!
I really enjoyed what you said about the wonderful feeling you experienced afterward, how you felt so free once it was over, that you can "spread your wings and fly" and you will!
Thank you for sharing your inspiring story with us.
You've worked hard on this program and now it's working for YOU. Best Wishes, Cheryl

What an inspiring day of events. I'm glad everything worked out for you and your wife.

We all have something to look forward too, spreading our wings and learning to fly, and doing anything we want to do!!

You are both in my prayers, God bless!

Suz

Just a quick update then I'm going back to bed. Retha passed the stone early this morning, around the same time I started with diahrea (sp) and vomiting. She is fine, I am down with I guess the 24 - 48 hr stomach flu.

I came on only long enough to let you all know she's going back to work tomorrow and I'll be back longer when I can sit up more. Somebody asked in another thread whether to get a flu shot or not? If you want to vomit to the point of pulling every muscle in your stomach/sides then don't get it. I will be getting one but not right now. Sorry I have to leave...again.

David take care of yourself and very happy to hear your wife is doing better.

Get some rest and come back we love you.

God Bless

Carol