GM's thread about nothing (22 Viewers)

[bentley]

JR, Angrybaby, and holiday traffic on the interstate turned a four hour drive into a seven hour nightmare trip today. Luckily, at some point this week, I lost the ability to feel any human emotion. I'm impossible to frustrate right now. I assume that I'm also incapable of expressing joy, but I don't see any drawback to the new bentley.

The only fun part of the trip was when we stopped at McDonald's in Waco and JR got three 6-8 year old girls to follow him around the play area. One of the little boys there came over and complained that JR was getting all the chicks.

GB cheap wine by the bottle.

 

[kevzilla]

Big fan of Lina Cohn's knockers on Sportscenter right now. Trying to decide whether I should be posting this in the drunk thread or strangely attractive thread.

I think those are new.

 

[Guster]

Big fan of Lina Cohn's knockers on Sportscenter right now. Trying to decide whether I should be posting this in the drunk thread or strangely attractive thread.

I think those are new.

No, those threads have been around for years.

 

[kevzilla]

Big fan of Lina Cohn's knockers on Sportscenter right now. Trying to decide whether I should be posting this in the drunk thread or strangely attractive thread.

I think those are new.

No, those threads have been around for years.

:rimshot:

 

[bentley]

Big fan of Lina Cohn's knockers on Sportscenter right now. Trying to decide whether I should be posting this in the drunk thread or strangely attractive thread.

I think those are new.

And she keeps staring at the camera while the other guys are talking like "Yes, there are fantastic. Take another gander at them, bentley."

 

[Kubes]

What did the blind guy say after he got punched in the face?

 

[Thorn]

7 pages to catch up on tomorrow. Might buy a car too. We'll see, but thats for another threadAnyways my parents ditched me on Christmas. Yes, I said that.My niece and nephew are coming up from Georgia next week, so my mom decided to have our big family Christmas on New Years Day (my wife's family does their big Christmas stuff on Christmas Eve). Cool, we can see all the family and the kids can open presents etc. No big deal, we've planned this for a few weeks right?Wrong.We drove 3 1/2 hours to get back home and see my parents. Granted my niece and nephew waren' t coming into town but I still wanted to see my parents and I hoped they would like to see my wife and I. We showed up at 3pm and found the front door locked. They never lock their door. I call my mom and she says "Oh you just missed us, we left about 3 minutes ago"Me>So where are you going?Mom>Oh, your sister invited us to her boyfriends' houseMe>OhMom>We didn't think you were coming back to MilwaukeeMe>I told you last week that we were comiing back and that we would come over regardlessMom>Oh, I'm sorryMe>No problem. Pretty sure God wants you to acknowledge all your children but thats cool. <click>She never mentioned that she was sorry. She never said "Why don't you come over and join us". She was more worried about my sister. So my wife and I had a ####yt dinner at a local bar that happened to be open. It was great for us but ####ty for our two person family. We could have done so much more.During our talk, my wife and I had a pretty serious talk tonight. I'm pretty sure I love her family more than my own.Is that bad?I'm drunker than SLB in an after super bowl rams win. I'll catch up in the morning. issedoff:

Sorry to hear of your ease in staying away from annoying family members.

 

[Kubes]

What did the blind guy say after he got punched in the face?

I didn't see that one coming.

 

[Thorn]

Leggo's absolutely suck. I hate them. My brother and parents bought separate Leggo toys for Little 'Zooks that each contain over 500 little pieces. I told them I would kill them if they bought this horrible gift again for him. All the pieces come in separate little baggies, but there is no rhyme or reason as to how they organize what goes in each bag. I still haven't finished putting the dumb things together. I'm looking for a reason to get rid of them, so I'm hoping Little 'Zooks does something wrong so I can take this crap away as a punishment. Funniest part of Christmas was that part of my GMTAN secret santa gift was discussed. Since I had my parents and one of my brothers coming over to my house for the day, I was frantically cleaning and basically just started piling things in the extra bedroom which is 90% a toy room from Little 'Zooks and 10% an office for me. So I had my Crock Pot from my SS still in the box sitting on my desk. My brother went in there to use my computer to show my Mother the new car he was going to buy. My mother asked when I got the Crock Pot and I told her it was xmas present. Mom then looked at my brother and said "you should get one of those, you know, because you live alone and you like pot roast and you could use for chicken too. You'd be using it all the time." And he was like "yeah actually that is a good idea, I would be using it all the time". They couldn't understand why I found this whole conversation so amusing.

I thought the way it worked was you gave the kid a big pile of legos and had them put them together into abstract art

 

[Samuel L Bronkowitz]

At least you didn't get locked in the bathroom. And now you're celebrating Christmas on New Year's Day? I'm gonna go out on a limb and predict you're going to get silly drunk on New Year's Eve so you will be celebrating XMAS with a monster hangover with your family that you don't really like. Please post pics and blog throughout the day.Also I love it when you post while drunk. I usually have to re-read some sentences because they don't really make sense, but I'm always entertained.

I remember posting 4 words of that one. I even had to re-read some of it Pretty sure they should clone my liver for all of humanity. It might be an evolutionary anomaly that I'm not dead yet. Nice work on that poem too

 

[Thorn]

Thorn, good luck next week in the football pool. GM, my condolences. You were in it all year, suck man.

We'll see. I feel like making up 2 to 6 games is a bit much, but you never know. Won my small money fantasy league tonight based on Julio Jones

 

[Samuel L Bronkowitz]

Also got this email from our GBDP:

I go to the post office today. In my P.O. Box I find a notice that I have a package.

A very large woman who I'm fairly certain had every funny bone in her body surgically removed gets the package.

She says, "Are you Dharma......punk?"

"Um, yea, that's me."

She doesn't hand me the package. I swear I thought she was going to ask me for ID.

What do you do in a situation like that?

I know! I'll give her the number for Bryant's Boats.

"I don't have any ID, but you can call here. Ask for Joe. He's an expert in identifying me."

But then she just handed me the package.

Inside? Two used Xbox video games.

I have a PS3.

Fortunately sofakings was kind enough to include gift receipts, so I went to my local Gamestop and traded them in for Arkam City on the PS3.

Thanks Sofakings!

Also, I think my wife officially hates you now. Just when she thought the Skyrim Crisis was over....here comes BATMAN!

 

[Thorn]

The scene: post xmas dinner, playing a party game with family.the backstory: when shuffling baby ahrnie around earlier in the day, Mrs ACP randomly dropped something in my front chest pocket while trying to get a free hand.the unfolding: during this game where there's about 25 of us in the living room, I get fidgety like I sometimes do…. and through my shirt, I'm playing with said item in my pocket.realization sets in: Item in my pocket was a cover for a pacifier. It is shaped like a large nipple, and it was aligned correctly in my chest pocket where my nipple is. I am now rubbing and tweaking a large plastic nipple through my shirt that is in the perfect spot for where my actual nipple should be.the horror: Oh jesus, is anybody looking at me?

whiskey tango foxtrot

 

[Kubes]

What did the blind guy say after he got punched in the face?

I didn't see that one coming.

bumpI wish Tanner was here.

 

[General Malaise]

Happy Boxing Day GM!!!

 

[General Malaise]

38 years, 11 months, 3 weeks.

That's how long it took for me to finally develop lower back pain. And the culprit? Heavy lifting? Wild sex act? Physical basketball game? No, no and no. I harmed it challenging my 7 year old in a Wii HR Derby Contest, followed by Wii Tennis. This was on Friday night. I've been in pretty bad pain ever since. Wiping has become a challenge. I seriously considered just taking a bath this morning after my first BM.

For anybody who suffers with chronic back pain, my sincere condolences. I hope to hell this goes away by tomorrow. It seems to have subsided a bit, but every so often I'll do something and it feels like I'm getting stabbed.

 

[chuckster]

Hey, just popping in to announce the annual Call for Entries in the :e: pool. Get your picks in.

Carry on.

 

[Homer J Simpson]

And if she's a relative, I might want to marry her just so I can be part of the extended cat-shirt family.

What now?

OK, apparently the completely deranged powers-that-be deleted my previous post that would have made much more sense. I'm not even going to bother bringing it up again, since apparently the GMTAN is now some sort of Mormon-Islamic Fundamentalist version of rational conversation.

 

[Homer J Simpson]

38 years, 11 months, 3 weeks.

That's how long it took for me to finally develop lower back pain. And the culprit? Heavy lifting? Wild sex act? Physical basketball game? No, no and no. I harmed it challenging my 7 year old in a Wii HR Derby Contest, followed by Wii Tennis. This was on Friday night. I've been in pretty bad pain ever since. Wiping has become a challenge. I seriously considered just taking a bath this morning after my first BM.



For anybody who suffers with chronic back pain, my sincere condolences. I hope to hell this goes away by tomorrow. It seems to have subsided a bit, but every so often I'll do something and it feels like I'm getting stabbed.

Hey GB!!!But in the plus column, at least it gives you some sort of cover for being a raging alcoholic.

 

[Stoneys]

38 years, 11 months, 3 weeks.

That's how long it took for me to finally develop lower back pain. And the culprit? Heavy lifting? Wild sex act? Physical basketball game? No, no and no. I harmed it challenging my 7 year old in a Wii HR Derby Contest, followed by Wii Tennis. This was on Friday night. I've been in pretty bad pain ever since. Wiping has become a challenge. I seriously considered just taking a bath this morning after my first BM.



For anybody who suffers with chronic back pain, my sincere condolences. I hope to hell this goes away by tomorrow. It seems to have subsided a bit, but every so often I'll do something and it feels like I'm getting stabbed.

Hey GB!!!But in the plus column, at least it gives you some sort of cover for being a raging alcoholic.

 

[Uruk-Hai]

This is where I write a long story about panic attacks and how I need help from any of you who has experience. Will likely start a thread in the new year, but there are too many distractions for it to gain traction during this time of year.

---------

I know I've posted here before about a panic attack I had a few years ago, but for one reason or another, I can't find it, so I am just starting anew.

The attack I had a few years was directly tied into stress. I had started a new job in outside sales, was trying to fill the biggest shoes in the company while spending time outside the office learning the technology, etc. Basically, working about 70 hours a week and still feeling like I was getting nowhere. One day I get a great lead for a sale that will close that day, and I do everything "right". The guy comes back to me later and says that the decision was taken out of his hands and they went with someone else. Probably a lie, but whatever. Problem was, the lead came from the VP of our company and he of course called to follow up on it. I had to tell him (a guy who intimidated the heck out of me) that I lost the sale. It was horrible.

On my way home that evening, I had my first panic attack. It hit almost out of nowhere, but I couldn't breathe and I had to pull my car onto the shoulder of the 4-lane highway on which I was driving. I was so upset by the whole thing that I called into work sick for the next two days and didn't leave my house. Completely mentally debilitating.

I got an Rx for Xanax after that attack, but I hate the way it makes me feel so I don't take it. Also, I really haven't had a need for it. I have anxiety over flying, but no true attacks.

Fast forward a few years. Yesterday, my husband and I decided to take the back roads from Knoxville, TN to Greenville, SC - by way of Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and the casino in Cherokee, NC. Great day to start... nice weather, such fun in the car together, great fun at the casino, etc. Then it's time to leave, around 6:30 PM.

The weather was horrible. Dark, of course, but also that horrible kind of rain that prevents any sort of visibility. Mr. YSR doesn't have 20/20 and is pretty bad with the nighttime/rain combination, so I offered to drive. The combination of not really knowing where I was going (we had a map on our phones, but I'd never driven this route before), the conditions, and the jerks who were riding my tail eventually sent me reeling.

We were going over a hill and I couldn't see at all. I was driving very slowly with my hazards on, but it just became too much for me. I started to hyperventilate, but I recognized that we were in a treacherous situation and I tried my damnedest to stay calm. I wanted to vomit. I felt like I was going to pass out. I could. not. breathe. I was vocalizing all of this in the calmest way I could (again, I was trying to stave off the full blown attack), and my husband kept saying in a forceable-but-calming way that I needed to PULL OVER.

We finally exited and parked in a restaurant parking lot, where I proceeded to weep and shake involuntarily. I finally went inside and dry-heaved in the restaurant for a good 3 minutes. Still feeling like I couldn't breathe, I got back in the car and proceeded to have fleeting moments of the same attack for the 2 hours it took us (with the rain) to get to my parents' house. He had to drive through some terrible conditions with a wife who was constantly grabbing the "oh ####" handle and crying, so as horrible as the night was for me, I'm not sure who had the worse trip.

My parents had plates of food prepared for us, but I was so knotted up inside that I couldn't eat. I thought I would crash, but didn't end up falling asleep until just before 2:00 AM (?) and had very spotty sleep from that point on.

This whole thing is really horrible and I'm not really sure how to handle it. Do I go see a psychologist? Hypnotherapist? Am I just going to get these from time to time as I get older and more like my mother? I'm concerned for myself, of course, but also for my husband. He is a kind and patient man, but I can't constantly be a nightmare to him when we travel in anything less than ideal conditions.

Thanks for reading and/or any insight. Mostly just feels good to write it down.

YSR, I recognize some of the symptoms and triggers from what my wife experienced 3-4 years back. She had almost the exact reactions that you talk about to what she believed was stress related. It's irrelevant what the triggers were for her stress, but she believed it all came back to that.She was getting blurry vision when driving, seeing spots (black and white), feeling like the road was going up and down, while knowing it was flat, hyperventilating and eventually having to pull over. What resulted from seeking help was an agonizing 18 months of visits to various specialists, each more confusing then the other, and all wanting to throw pharmacology at the problem. The worst was a psychologist (who was probably more sick than his patients) wanting to heavily sedate her. We ran every test, and saw most of the traditional quacks...

It wasn't until we, after countless hours of internet searching, found a specialist at Baylor, who were studying balance issues, and read up on those symptoms that we started to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Turns out that she was suffering from something called Labyrinthitis (sp?) and while there's no direct cure (you basically have to wait for inflammation to disappear), there's exercises you can do to minimize symptoms. Somehow stress, and lack of sleep (or disturbed sleep due to stress), triggers these reactions on the balance nerve, and it seems like you are having a panic attack.

I'm not a doctor, so I don't claim to know anything around panic attacks, but I wanted to relay it anyway, because it doesn't have to be an issue with your mental state, even if it shows itself that way.

There's a lot of similarly related issues, like Vertigo and Labyrinthitis, so it could be worth to at least do a couple of searches to see if it relates to what you are experiencing.

Wow. I wonder if this what gets me. Mine aren't what I would label "panic attacks" (though I describe them as "anxiety attacks" to others for simplicity's sake). I don't hyperventilate or feel like I'm going to pass out or vomit. Here's the best way I can describe what happens:

I'll be driving and all of a sudden it doesn't feel like I can hold the care on the road. There's no blurry vision or lightheadedness - just a general feeling of weakness and my leg(s) will start to shake. It usually happens at higher speeds on major highways. Putting through town at 30 mph doesn't really bother me. When it happens, all I want to do is get off the road. It's also happened when I'm not driving. I'll be holding a glass in my hand and get this feeling like I'm going to drop it - and like I'm losing my balance (NOT pass out, just like I'm falling over).

The history:

My most recent ex-wife and I broke up on January '07. It had been a horrible several months (a miscarriage, unfaithfulness, lying, etc..). I move in with a friend. That summer I started having the symptoms I described above. It got so bad one day that I asked my friend to take me to the hospital. They initially thought I was having a stroke. They ran MRIs, EEGs, Cat Scans, a zillion blood tests, all kinds of stuff - nothing wrong. So they decided I was having TIAs (basically ministrokes). It kept happening so I went to a neorogist who couldn't find anything and put me on some kind of pill (Gabapentin maybe?). That didn't help either & my GP put me on Zoloft, thinking that it was stress/depression related.

And that's where I've been for the last 4 years. Driving any distance is a nightmare (& I'm sure I make it worse knowing what's coming). My parents live about two hours away but it'll sometimes take me 4 hours to make the drive what with pulling over and/or driving back roads. Here's the kicker: if I've had a few drinks, it doesn't happen. It's shameful, dangerous, and scary but if I have to drive any distance and can't go on back roads I take a bottle of whiskey with me to nip on.

Pro's comment about the balance nerve makes me think that this is something I need to pursue as my symptoms seem to be balance-related. None of the doctors I've spoken with have mentioned it.

 

[madhatter]

Christmas at my dad's these days is usually fun. My stepsister's kid's are getting old enough to all have fun. Also, my dad put up a small basketball goal screwed into the studs in the basement. Also, he put the outside basketball goal at 7 feet in the hopes her oldest kid wouldn't want to sit on the iPad and play games all day. Well, naturally me and my BIL's spent the whole day playing, "what if I was born black," but his goal was achieved in that my oldest nephew spent the whole day playing with us. We let him win the game outside, but also made him work for it so I don't think he knew.

Also, upon opening gifts from Santa the other day, her youngest boy said, "you know," looking around to survey the damage from the morning, "I wasn't a very good boy this year, but Santa still came." He gets it, but I'm hoping his parents have the stones to hide all his Christmas presents next year in another room. He's right too. Some of his highlights from the year include whipping it out and peeing on the Academy Sports floor because his mom told him to hold it. She said she turned around less than 60 seconds later saying, "Ok, let's go to the bathroom." He repied, "Nope, all done," as she turned around just in time to see him pulling up his pants standing over the stain on the carpet. Also, they were in another public spot (maybe a baseball game) where twin his sister came running up to my stepsister crying, him following behind with his pecker out, screaming "Haha, you don't have one of these. Haha, you don't have one of these."

I do this in strip clubs frequently.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Happy Boxing Day GM!!!

Time to go get them bargains, eh.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

The scene: post xmas dinner, playing a party game with family.the backstory: when shuffling baby ahrnie around earlier in the day, Mrs ACP randomly dropped something in my front chest pocket while trying to get a free hand.the unfolding: during this game where there's about 25 of us in the living room, I get fidgety like I sometimes do…. and through my shirt, I'm playing with said item in my pocket.realization sets in: Item in my pocket was a cover for a pacifier. It is shaped like a large nipple, and it was aligned correctly in my chest pocket where my nipple is. I am now rubbing and tweaking a large plastic nipple through my shirt that is in the perfect spot for where my actual nipple should be.the horror: Oh jesus, is anybody looking at me?

Lucky for you no gays were present. With a big pluming smoke signal like that, I wouldn't be surprised if Richard Simmons himself popped his head in the window to wozwink at you.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

BTW, I don't know what this means or if I should admit it, but last night I had a dream where Homer was sexting me in the character of someone's grandmother. This is not shtick.

REPEAT: I had a dream where Homer was pretending to be a fiftysomething woman texting me dirty messages.

GM: I have three special brownies left in my freezer. Will washing them down with a bottle of Sky make me forget that ever happened?

 

[Dr. Awesome]

BTW, I don't know what this means or if I should admit it, but last night I had a dream where Homer was sexting me in the character of someone's grandmother. This is not shtick.

REPEAT: I had a dream where Homer was pretending to be a fiftysomething woman texting me dirty messages.

GM: I have three special brownies left in my freezer. Will washing them down with a bottle of Sky make me forget that ever happened?

Do we really need more pot induced picture posting by you?omg she's missing her elbow!!!!!1

 

[jplvr]

38 years, 11 months, 3 weeks.That's how long it took for me to finally develop lower back pain. And the culprit? Heavy lifting? Wild sex act? Physical basketball game? No, no and no. I harmed it challenging my 7 year old in a Wii HR Derby Contest, followed by Wii Tennis. This was on Friday night. I've been in pretty bad pain ever since. Wiping has become a challenge. I seriously considered just taking a bath this morning after my first BM.For anybody who suffers with chronic back pain, my sincere condolences. I hope to hell this goes away by tomorrow. It seems to have subsided a bit, but every so often I'll do something and it feels like I'm getting stabbed.

I used to have trouble once or twice a year with lower back pain, probably more similar to what you're going through, and not something more chronic like people have. I used to just ride it out, but after going through a couple of days of hell after washing the dog (just the angle I was bent over set it off), I went to a chiropractor Tat recommended. He showed me an x-ray with two vertebrae slightly out of place, cracked my back a couple of times, and his insanely hot physical therapist gave me some core exercises to do. That was easily a couple of years ago now, and I still haven't had another of my normal, yearly issues. To be fair, I also have changed up the way I do certain things because it's not heavy lifting or crazy activities which will set it off, but I've learned it's basically that slightly stooped over angle where I'll notice pain start to creep up there. I abort whatever I'm doing making me stand that way at the first sign of pain.FDAS

 

[Crazy Canuck]

BTW, I don't know what this means or if I should admit it, but last night I had a dream where Homer was sexting me in the character of someone's grandmother. This is not shtick.

REPEAT: I had a dream where Homer was pretending to be a fiftysomething woman texting me dirty messages.

GM: I have three special brownies left in my freezer. Will washing them down with a bottle of Sky make me forget that ever happened?

Do we really need more pot induced picture posting by you?omg she's missing her elbow!!!!!1

Going to need a better angle here, preferably with a scantily clad hot friend standing next to her, offdee 7 or better.

 

[SofaKings]

Also got this email from our GBDP:

I go to the post office today. In my P.O. Box I find a notice that I have a package.

A very large woman who I'm fairly certain had every funny bone in her body surgically removed gets the package.

She says, "Are you Dharma......punk?"

"Um, yea, that's me."

She doesn't hand me the package. I swear I thought she was going to ask me for ID.

What do you do in a situation like that?

I know! I'll give her the number for Bryant's Boats.

"I don't have any ID, but you can call here. Ask for Joe. He's an expert in identifying me."

But then she just handed me the package.

Inside? Two used Xbox video games.

I have a PS3.

Fortunately sofakings was kind enough to include gift receipts, so I went to my local Gamestop and traded them in for Arkam City on the PS3.

Thanks Sofakings!

Also, I think my wife officially hates you now. Just when she thought the Skyrim Crisis was over....here comes BATMAN!

sorry DP, i thought everyone had an xbox. My bad, I SKIMMED.

 

[YSR]

If I ever come in here complaining that I've gained weight, please remind me that I just ate at a Brazilian steakhouse and that these are choices I make willingly.

 

[guru_007]

Finless sighting

but, man, it doesn't sound real good. I hope he gets well soon, really liked that guy. :(

 

[St. Louis Bob]

If I ever come in here complaining that I've gained weight, please remind me that I just ate at a Brazilian steakhouse and that these are choices I make willingly.

I didn't know you could gain weight from doing this.

 

[krista4]

Am I the only one that hasn't received a Secret Santa gift yet? :(

 

[St. Louis Bob]

Am I the only one that hasn't received a Secret Santa gift yet? :(

:(

 

[charvik]

This is where I write a long story about panic attacks and how I need help from any of you who has experience. Will likely start a thread in the new year, but there are too many distractions for it to gain traction during this time of year.

---------

I know I've posted here before about a panic attack I had a few years ago, but for one reason or another, I can't find it, so I am just starting anew.

The attack I had a few years was directly tied into stress. I had started a new job in outside sales, was trying to fill the biggest shoes in the company while spending time outside the office learning the technology, etc. Basically, working about 70 hours a week and still feeling like I was getting nowhere. One day I get a great lead for a sale that will close that day, and I do everything "right". The guy comes back to me later and says that the decision was taken out of his hands and they went with someone else. Probably a lie, but whatever. Problem was, the lead came from the VP of our company and he of course called to follow up on it. I had to tell him (a guy who intimidated the heck out of me) that I lost the sale. It was horrible.

On my way home that evening, I had my first panic attack. It hit almost out of nowhere, but I couldn't breathe and I had to pull my car onto the shoulder of the 4-lane highway on which I was driving. I was so upset by the whole thing that I called into work sick for the next two days and didn't leave my house. Completely mentally debilitating.

I got an Rx for Xanax after that attack, but I hate the way it makes me feel so I don't take it. Also, I really haven't had a need for it. I have anxiety over flying, but no true attacks.

Fast forward a few years. Yesterday, my husband and I decided to take the back roads from Knoxville, TN to Greenville, SC - by way of Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and the casino in Cherokee, NC. Great day to start... nice weather, such fun in the car together, great fun at the casino, etc. Then it's time to leave, around 6:30 PM.

The weather was horrible. Dark, of course, but also that horrible kind of rain that prevents any sort of visibility. Mr. YSR doesn't have 20/20 and is pretty bad with the nighttime/rain combination, so I offered to drive. The combination of not really knowing where I was going (we had a map on our phones, but I'd never driven this route before), the conditions, and the jerks who were riding my tail eventually sent me reeling.

We were going over a hill and I couldn't see at all. I was driving very slowly with my hazards on, but it just became too much for me. I started to hyperventilate, but I recognized that we were in a treacherous situation and I tried my damnedest to stay calm. I wanted to vomit. I felt like I was going to pass out. I could. not. breathe. I was vocalizing all of this in the calmest way I could (again, I was trying to stave off the full blown attack), and my husband kept saying in a forceable-but-calming way that I needed to PULL OVER.

We finally exited and parked in a restaurant parking lot, where I proceeded to weep and shake involuntarily. I finally went inside and dry-heaved in the restaurant for a good 3 minutes. Still feeling like I couldn't breathe, I got back in the car and proceeded to have fleeting moments of the same attack for the 2 hours it took us (with the rain) to get to my parents' house. He had to drive through some terrible conditions with a wife who was constantly grabbing the "oh ####" handle and crying, so as horrible as the night was for me, I'm not sure who had the worse trip.

My parents had plates of food prepared for us, but I was so knotted up inside that I couldn't eat. I thought I would crash, but didn't end up falling asleep until just before 2:00 AM (?) and had very spotty sleep from that point on.

This whole thing is really horrible and I'm not really sure how to handle it. Do I go see a psychologist? Hypnotherapist? Am I just going to get these from time to time as I get older and more like my mother? I'm concerned for myself, of course, but also for my husband. He is a kind and patient man, but I can't constantly be a nightmare to him when we travel in anything less than ideal conditions.

Thanks for reading and/or any insight. Mostly just feels good to write it down.

YSR, I recognize some of the symptoms and triggers from what my wife experienced 3-4 years back. She had almost the exact reactions that you talk about to what she believed was stress related. It's irrelevant what the triggers were for her stress, but she believed it all came back to that.She was getting blurry vision when driving, seeing spots (black and white), feeling like the road was going up and down, while knowing it was flat, hyperventilating and eventually having to pull over. What resulted from seeking help was an agonizing 18 months of visits to various specialists, each more confusing then the other, and all wanting to throw pharmacology at the problem. The worst was a psychologist (who was probably more sick than his patients) wanting to heavily sedate her. We ran every test, and saw most of the traditional quacks...

It wasn't until we, after countless hours of internet searching, found a specialist at Baylor, who were studying balance issues, and read up on those symptoms that we started to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Turns out that she was suffering from something called Labyrinthitis (sp?) and while there's no direct cure (you basically have to wait for inflammation to disappear), there's exercises you can do to minimize symptoms. Somehow stress, and lack of sleep (or disturbed sleep due to stress), triggers these reactions on the balance nerve, and it seems like you are having a panic attack.

I'm not a doctor, so I don't claim to know anything around panic attacks, but I wanted to relay it anyway, because it doesn't have to be an issue with your mental state, even if it shows itself that way.

There's a lot of similarly related issues, like Vertigo and Labyrinthitis, so it could be worth to at least do a couple of searches to see if it relates to what you are experiencing.

Wow. I wonder if this what gets me. Mine aren't what I would label "panic attacks" (though I describe them as "anxiety attacks" to others for simplicity's sake). I don't hyperventilate or feel like I'm going to pass out or vomit. Here's the best way I can describe what happens:

I'll be driving and all of a sudden it doesn't feel like I can hold the care on the road. There's no blurry vision or lightheadedness - just a general feeling of weakness and my leg(s) will start to shake. It usually happens at higher speeds on major highways. Putting through town at 30 mph doesn't really bother me. When it happens, all I want to do is get off the road. It's also happened when I'm not driving. I'll be holding a glass in my hand and get this feeling like I'm going to drop it - and like I'm losing my balance (NOT pass out, just like I'm falling over).

The history:

My most recent ex-wife and I broke up on January '07. It had been a horrible several months (a miscarriage, unfaithfulness, lying, etc..). I move in with a friend. That summer I started having the symptoms I described above. It got so bad one day that I asked my friend to take me to the hospital. They initially thought I was having a stroke. They ran MRIs, EEGs, Cat Scans, a zillion blood tests, all kinds of stuff - nothing wrong. So they decided I was having TIAs (basically ministrokes). It kept happening so I went to a neorogist who couldn't find anything and put me on some kind of pill (Gabapentin maybe?). That didn't help either & my GP put me on Zoloft, thinking that it was stress/depression related.

And that's where I've been for the last 4 years. Driving any distance is a nightmare (& I'm sure I make it worse knowing what's coming). My parents live about two hours away but it'll sometimes take me 4 hours to make the drive what with pulling over and/or driving back roads. Here's the kicker: if I've had a few drinks, it doesn't happen. It's shameful, dangerous, and scary but if I have to drive any distance and can't go on back roads I take a bottle of whiskey with me to nip on.

Pro's comment about the balance nerve makes me think that this is something I need to pursue as my symptoms seem to be balance-related. None of the doctors I've spoken with have mentioned it.

Yeah, that does sound very similar to what my wife experienced. Same thing for her, just a tiny bit of alcohol in her system helped as well. I would try to follow up with a balance nerve specialist, just to rule it out, and make sure you read up on vertigo and labyrinthitis symptoms prior to seeing them.The expert we found at Baylor had some physical tests she performed to test the reactions. Check out the Epley Maneuver

The good news is that it's treatable with some exercises that you can perform at home, it just may take a while. For my wife, the medication some of the GPs, and specialists gave her actually worsened the problem.

ETA: Also this: Cochleovestibular system

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

Symptoms: a 15-30 second episode of vertigo induced by position change

Signs: the positional nystagmus may be observed by purposefully inducing the position change and observing the eyes. Nystagmus tends to be toward the involved ear and exhibits latency and fatiguability.

Laboratory: ENG documents the presence of positional nystagmus.

Treatment: reassurance and vestibular exercises. Singular nerve section for the recalcitrant and disabled patient.

 

[General Malaise]

I don't have an Xbox.

And after I threw my back out, I'm guessing we won't have a Wii for long either.

 

[urbanhack]

I don't have an Xbox. And after I threw my back out, I'm guessing we won't have a Wii for long either.

you should definitely ice your back where it hurts for the rest of the day today. Try lying down on your stomach to take the pressure off your back.

 

[Tiger Fan]

Uncle: [holding a vodka rocks in one hand and Miller Lite in the other] Now Janice, all this talk of church during the Christmas season reminds me of a question I've always had.Mom: [excited that her substance-using/abusing brother finally wants to talk about "the reason for the season"] Oh, okay, what is it?Uncle: Did the Corinthians ever write back?Cue uproarious Arthur laughter by my uncle. Others chuckle but stifle because they know better. My mother and some other hens shoot my uncle a look. Sure enough, he looks around with shoulders shrugged (nearly spilling both drinks in the process), "no honestly, I don't know, did they? HAHAHAAHA! We wrote them all those letters, did they ever write us back? HAHAHAHA!

I'm totally going to steal this.

me too

 

[Notorious T.R.E.]

Leggos? By the makers of Nikey shoes?

Freeze? Does he hit as well as Freese does?

Edsell? Isn't that an old timey car?

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Finless sighting

but, man, it doesn't sound real good. I hope he gets well soon, really liked that guy. :(

Link?*I'll take a pm if the (not so) innocent need to be protected.

Nevermind. Found it.

 

[Tecumseh]

Uncle: [holding a vodka rocks in one hand and Miller Lite in the other] Now Janice, all this talk of church during the Christmas season reminds me of a question I've always had.Mom: [excited that her substance-using/abusing brother finally wants to talk about "the reason for the season"] Oh, okay, what is it?Uncle: Did the Corinthians ever write back?Cue uproarious Arthur laughter by my uncle. Others chuckle but stifle because they know better. My mother and some other hens shoot my uncle a look. Sure enough, he looks around with shoulders shrugged (nearly spilling both drinks in the process), "no honestly, I don't know, did they? HAHAHAAHA! We wrote them all those letters, did they ever write us back? HAHAHAHA!

I'm totally going to steal this.

me too

Can someone break this down like I've never read the Bible?

 

[jplvr]

Uncle: [holding a vodka rocks in one hand and Miller Lite in the other] Now Janice, all this talk of church during the Christmas season reminds me of a question I've always had.Mom: [excited that her substance-using/abusing brother finally wants to talk about "the reason for the season"] Oh, okay, what is it?Uncle: Did the Corinthians ever write back?Cue uproarious Arthur laughter by my uncle. Others chuckle but stifle because they know better. My mother and some other hens shoot my uncle a look. Sure enough, he looks around with shoulders shrugged (nearly spilling both drinks in the process), "no honestly, I don't know, did they? HAHAHAAHA! We wrote them all those letters, did they ever write us back? HAHAHAHA!

I'm totally going to steal this.

me too

Can someone break this down like I've never read the Bible?

I think the book of the bible referred to as Corinthians was Paul's letters to the Corinthians. Paul was an apostle. I don't know who the Corinthians were, but I'm guessing they were from Corinth.

 

[Tecumseh]

Uncle: [holding a vodka rocks in one hand and Miller Lite in the other] Now Janice, all this talk of church during the Christmas season reminds me of a question I've always had.

Mom: [excited that her substance-using/abusing brother finally wants to talk about "the reason for the season"] Oh, okay, what is it?

Uncle: Did the Corinthians ever write back?

Cue uproarious Arthur laughter by my uncle. Others chuckle but stifle because they know better. My mother and some other hens shoot my uncle a look. Sure enough, he looks around with shoulders shrugged (nearly spilling both drinks in the process), "no honestly, I don't know, did they? HAHAHAAHA! We wrote them all those letters, did they ever write us back? HAHAHAHA!

I'm totally going to steal this.

me too

Can someone break this down like I've never read the Bible?

I think the book of the bible referred to as Corinthians was Paul's letters to the Corinthians. Paul was an apostle. I don't know who the Corinthians were, but I'm guessing they were from Corinth.

All I know is that
was a big fan.

 

[General Malaise]

man, slow day.

 

[General Malaise]

Wife and I stayed overnight at the swanky Allison Inn and had a very enjoyable stay, although I would probably never spend that sort of dough for a room on myself. The room was very nice and it had all the luxurious amenities I don't have at home...fireplace by the bed, balcony, push button shades, oversized tub with a moveable wall so I could watch TV from the tub. Fabulous room. Fabulous view. Fabulous stay.

However, at one point during our time there, I went to pop an Alieve for my sore and aching back. As I went to toss it back into my throat and wash it down with a Widmer IPA, I missed my mouth and the pill tumbled onto the carpeted floor by the bed. I squatted down, grabbed the pill and went to toss it back into my mouth but just before I could get it in there, a voice from inside my head screamed out loud to me and halted me in my tracks...

WHAT KIND OF AN ANIMAL SKEETS ON THE FLOOR????.

So I threw the pill away and went about killing the pain with booze and brownies.

The End.

P&S, thank you Truck and Shuke!

 

[mr. furley]

home sick today, watching a lot of g4 tv Bomb Patrol marathon.

all this show does is make me think that the US military is really really really inefficient.

the robots they use constantly malfunction or can't maneuver correctly over the terrain. they use what seem like hugely excessive amounts of explosives to detonate ied's. ("looks like a wire.. gimme 20 lbs of c4, a half pound of nitro, 10 grenades and a rocket launcher") they can't communicate with the locals or the Afghani police and it seemingly takes them many many hours just to blow up one thing.

where's Tom Cruise to spring these things with a karate kick so everyone can just move on?

 

[kaso]

Stepped in puke today.

Walking through the mall with my wife, and didn't notice the surprise on the floor as I was too busy looking at the crazy line up for Lu Lu Lemon.... Don't know what the kid ate, but he ate a lot of it.

 

[General Malaise]

You couldn't pay me enough to go near a mall this entire month. My commute home was 20 minutes longer than it needed to be today. Why? Because of all the jackholes trying to get into the mall. Slowed the entire highway down. This is why I do the bulk of my shopping at Rite Aid.

 

[kevzilla]

Finished 17th in the Subscriber Contest. :nerdflex:

 

[bentley]

You couldn't pay me enough to go near a mall this entire month. My commute home was 20 minutes longer than it needed to be today. Why? Because of all the jackholes trying to get into the mall. Slowed the entire highway down. This is why I do the bulk of my shopping at Rite Aid.

Took JR to the mall today. Got him on the carousel, where he immediately started crying for the train instead. Bought train tickets, handed them to the conductor, and he immediately started going ballistic wanting the bounce house instead. I briefly considered it, but chose to give him a free beating and ride home. In conclusion, I like your idea better.