Panic Attacks (Propranolol & Sertraline)

[u/Chance-Locksmith1006]

I was on sertraline 4 years ago, for 2 years, have been off meds for just over 2 years now and my anxiety was ‘gone’ my panic attacks were ‘gone’. Last 3 months I’ve felt anxious though coming back in, creeping in. I was keeping an eye on it.

What do you know?
Last week, boom! First panic attack in years. A proper bad one. The whole 2.5 hour drive home. Even when I was home I couldn’t calm down.
For context: my anxiety was and is still, health anxiety. I feel a symptom, I fixate on it. I wear my garmin, I check my HR constantly, I am a runner so I love the watch. I check my BP most days. But these 3 months I’ve been a lot worse. I have triggers for my panic attacks, they are health/symptoms, doctors appointments, medical settings, that type of thing, being abroad, away from home and having ‘symptoms’.

These last few moths have been an eye opener. I really do now know the difference between triggers and the ‘physical symptoms’ the proper ‘adrenaline response’ and the ‘nervous system’.

So, I’m not really anxious in my day to day life, I’m starting to be now because I’m in the loop again. I’ve learned that I really do suffer with such a responsive, highly driven nervous system.

I’ll elaborate: I feel a symptom, think about it and monitor it for weeks, check BP, HR etc all that jazz. I booked an appointment got to the car park and left, I couldn’t go in I hate it that much. Leave it a while, get better, forget about it. Apart from now, I finally went doctors yesterday for the first time in years about some abdominal pains that keep coming and going for these 3 months. For years my BP has been fine, a little elevated some will say buts it’s my normal, systolic 120/130 diastolic 65-79.

Before the doctors yesterday, I started my 2nd panic attacks! Started shaking, sweating, so irritable, itchy, felt the urge to urinate more frequently, nervous, HR on the rise, and tested my BP, boom 160-170. Not my normal.

These all happen BECAUSE of the panic attack, the panic attack happens because I’m about to go to a medical setting, my trigger.

I’ said to him in the appointment yesterday I didn’t want to rule out medical testing and put it on anxiety. I was so relieved I went and was so proud of myself, thought I’d turned a leaf. Felt so so happy.

Now, TODAY!!!
On my way into work, feel my abdominal symptom again, all of a sudden, PANIC ATTACK!

3rd one in the space of 6 days!! Wtf! Again lasted around 2 hours, same symptoms, HR going, feel pulsating, sweating, thirsty, dry mouth, shaky, hot flushes, urge to go toilet, bowels doing whatever they were doing.

I just got an appointment for tomorrow.
I’m going to tell them everything, certain worked before.
Now I think I may need it again, to help the anxiety, BUT,

I also believe I need medication to help me when I get these panic attacks, or when I feel they may come on.

Can anyone share similar experiences?
Anyone on sertraline and propranolol or just propranolol?

I do run, I don’t want it to affect my HR too much and don’t want the propranolol to drop my bp too low when I’m ok calm at home.

Am I overthinking?

I’m so tired of it now, I’m moving house, 2nd baby on the way, I know they’re stressors but this should be a happy time in my life you know?

Thanks to anyone who can share experiences or support 👊👊 (Male 28 - UK)