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Blackouts diagnosed as panic attacks

ClaireHig

Hello

I've been having blackouts since late 2008. I'm 35 now & have seen GPs about this many times since. Though I don't show my injuries, as I prefer to cover them up with make up/clothes. It's easier than being asked how it happened & having to say I don't know.

GP used to say that I needed to have a brain scan to rule out other problems. However due to ASD issues I've never been able to have a scan.

GPs record that my symptoms seem to fit with panic attacks/ anxiety. But they only did this after the Local Authority stopped trying to get a court order to remove my child. Which falsely allowed the LA to claim during court that my health could be worse.

I was made via court to attend a public talking therapy course. And later one-to-one sessions, these were over one & half years ago. Which itself I found traumatic. But this didn't help the specific issues though nor did it make the specific issues worse.

I'm sick of dropping things & missing what's going on. Or worse, myself dropping if I ignore weird warning signalls my body gives me. And my own mother claiming I just can't be bothered to pay attention, remember etc. And of claims that I can do things if I want to. I hate having to rush to the toilet for privacy when I feel the weird feeling I now know so well. Or worse if out having to rush into bushes to lay down out of public view.

I have accepted that it's anxiety/panic attacks. But what I don't get is why I've not been given any support. I don't know what to do.

  • Hi

    I wouldn't have gone to see the neurologist at all if it hadn't been for the threat of court removing my child. And even then I still couldn't have a scan. If anything could make me have a scan the thought of losing my child would have.

    Now I know how big & busy the hospital is I definitely couldn't go back. I was hoping the GP could try more medication just for anxiety/stress. If it were epilepsy I can't see how others couldn't see. So I'm also assuming it may be panic attacks or at worse my body mimicking seizures to let off stress.

    Thank you for the support.

  • The pressure with the social worker must have been very frightening for you.  It must have been an awful time for you.  The GP would need to refer you to Neurology clinic - they wouldn't prescribe anti-seizure medication without a letter from a neurologist.  There are seizures that are like epileptic seizures but are not caused by epilepsy.  It would take a neuro to figure out what your diagnosis is.

    It sounds like you've had a lot of things hitting you over this period?  You feel it's a struggle to get a diagnosis and treatment?  If the blackouts are not epeleptic then that can be elimininated.  You don't really have anything to loose by asking GP to refer you to neurology clinic (compile a bit of seizure diary if you can, photograph bruising? - if you're not comfortable showing bruises to doctors).  Your GP has a letter from Talking Therapy requesting a referral for you to Neurology - all you have to say is you're following it up or whichever words you use to say that you're concerned about the blackouts, the memory loss, etc.  

  • AddieThree said:

    Is there any possibility the blackouts may be epeleptic seizures?  re the brain scan - neurologist

    would need to do this test or similar to make a diagnosis.   if this is seizures can be conrollled with treatment.  From the symptoms you've described: memory loss, dropping things, "weird feeling" it sounds like this needs investigating.

    Thank you.

    I've been to neurology. I was taken by my child's social worker a few years ago. The social worker was trying to get a court order to remove my child. So I felt unable to speak freely & hid injuries. I had no one else to go with. And I only went as it was on my child's protection plan, which they were using to try to justify court. The neurologist said it didn't sound like epilepsy. And said as I refuse a scan, I could go down the talking therapy route. I agreed. But then talking therapy wrote to the neurologist getting him to request I go back to neurology. I didn't & GPs never asked me to have a scan. Though GPs still write anxiety/stress. They won't give me any treatment for it. They don't even acknowledge that my Asperger's is a problem.

  • Is there any possibility the blackouts may be epeleptic seizures?  re the brain scan - neurologist

    would need to do this test or similar to make a diagnosis.   if this is seizures can be conrollled with treatment.  From the symptoms you've described: memory loss, dropping things, "weird feeling" it sounds like this needs investigating.