Lung Cancer Forum - Anxiety And Panic Attacks, Can't Breathe

Cancer > Lung Cancer Forum > Anxiety And Panic Attacks, Can't Breathe

Learn how doctors clinically diagnose one of twelve kinds of anxiety disorders...and which doctors you should see for an anxiety diagnosis....

Q: Anxiety And Panic Attacks, Can't Breathe

asked by: ehavemann on August 14th, 2007

New User

My Mom's lung cancer / emphysema / cardiomyopathy has her so weak she can barely speak or blow her congested nose so she can breathe through her oxygen tubes. She frequently feels like she's suffocating and as a result gets scared and has panic attacks. Blood oxygen dips down to 82-85. When that happens her heart starts pounding and she gets even more short of breath. She gets periodic lung treatments with a vaporizer, and also has a face mask available, but these only help for a short time. Has anyone had luck with either medications, meditation, or any other approach to help their loved one better cope with this terrible and terrifying aspect of advanced lung cancer?

Replies(1)

Sethius

replied on September 6th, 2007

New User

my mom has the same problem and they have prescribed her a low dose of ativan though it is a narcotic and can be very potent with the right dose it can help,it has in my mom's case.
They started her out on a 2mg tablet at first but that was to much and it knocked her out where she couldnt really do anything,so they lowerd the dose for her and she seems to being doing ok for now in regards to the panic/stress.

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