Paralysis After Panic Attack

[WorriedHusband]

Hi, I'm new to the forum. I didn't know this site existed until this morning. I need to explore the site a bit more, so if this is repeating old stuff, please bear with me.

My wife suffers PTSD because she was sexually abused by her uncle multiple times as a child. In times past, she used to have "episodes," where she would regress to when she was the age when she was abused, and either relive and recite the experience to me, or worse - she would believe she was experiencing it again, and that I was her uncle. When I first met her, it happened for the first time unprovoked. We used to communicate via Skype, and we'd often fall asleep with it on, waking up together with it on the next morning. That night, she had an episode that lasted the enitre night of me "talking her down," to little avail. I've had some experience with folks suffering PTSD in the past, so I was able to help, some. That was three years ago. Over the past three years, with being together, and with therapy, the episodes have been eliminated for about a year. Now, however, something new has only recently popped up - panic attacks.

The episodes were often triggered by our having sex - especially when she'd orgasm. Now the panic attacks are caused by the same...Not all the time; only once in a while. So far there have been three incidents. She will orgasm, and then fear grips her. She sits straight up, heartrate increases, pupils dialate, body temp rises....your basic "fight or flight." Then she begins to hyperventillate. The first time, I was able to stop the hyperventillation with a paper bag, and it was no big deal. The attack stopped, and after some time to calm and return her system to normal mode, she was just fine. The last two times, however, I didn't have a paper bag available. She hyperventillated. I tried to use a plastic bag with a hole poked in it to do the same thing (which failed), and eventually she lost consciousness. When she awoke, she was just fine. But she couldn't move - full-on paralysis - she couldn't even move her head. The first time, this lasted a few hours, but when she awoke the next day (it was night both times it happened), she was fine....a little off all day, but physically fine. Last night, she could move her head and hands after a few hours, but even when she awoke this morning, she could move her legs, but still couldn't walk. She went back to sleep, and is still sleeping as I type.

I found on medical sites that temporary paralysis was normal during an attack, but nothing on this. It sounds to me kinda like sleep paralysis, only it lasts much longer. Is this something I need to be more concerned about? Do I need to take her to the Doctor? Please give some input!

 

[Suzetig]

I think it would be worth taking her to the doctor for a couple of reasons, firstly to check there's nothing physically "wrong" - there may be a clear medical thing that's easily resolved. Your doctor would also be able to look at an assessment process for her mental health, what you describe sounds like a flashback which is quite normal if someone has a traumatic past. The paralysis maybe a "freeze" response kicking in which basically means she's gone beyond the usual flight or fight thing that you referred to.

It sounds awful for her, and for you. It would be worth you exploring therapy options for you both (not with the same therapist) because you'll need support too. Also have a good look around the site, there's some good stuff here for supporters by people who know.

 

[Virtues]

I know nothing about this but I will concur with Suzetig that it would be best to bring her to the doctor to get a full eval done. I will say this though (from a EMS perspective) please don't have her breathe into a plastic bag again; even breathing continuous into a paper bag is dangerous. You are suppose to take a dozen or so breaths into a paper bag and then a dozen or so normal breaths and repeat until breathing has returned to normal. By breathing into a plastic bag or breathing continuously into a paper bag you risk the chance of her becoming hypoxic and even death. I am a retired firefighter and I'm just trying to pass on my info to keep everyone safe; please if you have to do it again make sure it's a paper bag and make sure she only does a dozen or so breaths at a time and then breaths a dozen normal breaths and repeat until her breath rate returns to normal.

I'm sorry you are going through this, but welcome to the forum. I hope you find some support here, and I hope you find someone that can answer this question a little better than I can.

 

[Pakadlangitok]

You are a great man to be so loving and patient to a woman who has suffered so much! Believe me, not all of us have nice partners. Many of us have been beaten by partners who could not understand our PTSD.

That being said, yes a Dr would be a good idea! And also a joint session with the therapist so you can relate what happened. It is important that you relate this (with her permission) so a therapist can see it from both sides and can help her best.

I hope things get better for you guys!

 

[Crow]

This is the far end of Collapse. It happened to me twice when I was in my 20s....the hyperventilating to the point of passing out. I'd highly suggest exploring Somatic Experiencing trauma therapy. It's the only thing that has helped me resolve those collapse episodes - which happened to a lesser capacity during my normal week and I'd expect your wife is experiencing more dissociation than either of you probably are aware of. Just know, this is not uncommon...it's just on the extreme end of the response spectrum. Peter Levine is a great author to explain what's happening. Awaking the Tiger is a good starting point book. But the best thing is to find a trainer SE trauma specialist. Oh and the medical field....they'll test and test and throw meds at her. They don't understand severe trauma. So please be careful of going to see a doc who doesn't get it. I went through tens of thousands out of pocket and the only thing wrong was I was f*cked up as a kid.

 

[Crow]

Oh and the can't move is normal for that far end...It's like a gazelle who's been caught by a tiger goes completely limp and seems like it's dead so when the tiger lessens the grip the gazelle jumps free. The freeze/collapse paralysis is normal to this extreme reaction. Really. Get her to a trauma specialist.