Joined: 14 Aug 2007 Posts: 3 Location: New York, NY
Anxiety And Panic Attacks, Can't Breathe Posted: 08-14-07 22:27pm
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?
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Sethius
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 06 Sep 2007 Posts: 3
Posted: 09-06-07 03:36am
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.
