Health Log [14 May 09]

So what I experienced for the past few days,

is known as,

Hyperventilation.

It took several checkups & a chest X-ray,

for the younger doctor to tell me,

he could not find anything wrong with me.

But a mere teary description of my experiences,

for another to determine what I'm suffering from.

It taught me that in the medical field,

experience counts.

It is frightening not being able breathe.

I did not know how frightened I really am,

until I started to re-tell the entire episode to Dr Hui.

I broke down and shivered tremendously.

I told him I was really afraid,

that at some point in time, I stop breathing entirely.

And the after-effects of these attacks,

weaken my body so much,

certain activities I took for granted to be able to do,

I no longer can do it without being breathless.

Something that can affect my body so strongly,

must be something very wrong.

Dr Hui says,

the muscles around my chest are very tense,

causing reactions from the respiratory system,

and my reactions towards it worsen the condition.

I must stay calm and relax,

and try not to deliberately take in deep breaths.

I think the incidents made me somehow paranoid.

Every now and then,

I would check my breathing,

then I start to feel the anxiety,

whether it is too deep, too fast or too slow.

I must let go of this.

I must take caution,

but not be too worried or paranoid.

And I want to grow mentally & physically stronger,

as I slowly better understand,

how to deal with it.