Scared of Flying

I had my PM fitter on new years day this year after fainting a couple of times and the doctor finding I had irregular heart rate.

I have PM which will pace /match upto 120 bpm. Any higher it does not continue to keep up. I have forgotten the tecky term for this.

I am going on a plane for the first time since, and am I so scared of flyer, but I have to go. I used to drink loads and go to sleep, but now with the warfarine I cant do that.

I would think I can get to 120 bpm just by thinking about getting on a plane. I will be able to cope with it, I think after being rushed into the hospital for a PM, I could probably cope with anything now.

What can i expect to happen if I go over 120 if I get in a panic on the plain.

The tech at the last check said I went to 140 and the PM did not even kick in as I was OK.

I am only worried as I hate flying and once you are on you cant get off

Graham

3 Comments

You might want to ask...

by Lurch - 2014-09-23 09:09:31

your Doctor. He might be able to give you something to help with your anxiety over flying.

I also remember something that was told to me years ago, "you are in more danger driving to the airport then flying in a commercial airliner!"

going over 120

by Tracey_E - 2014-09-24 07:09:33

The pm will only pace you to 120. Your heart can go faster on its own, nothing will happen. The pm will just watch.

Fear...

by donr - 2014-09-24 12:09:15

...is an irrational reaction to something. In its extreme, it becomes a phobia, which is uncontrolled fear. Sounds like you are somewhere along the spectrum of fear approaching the phobia stage.

I know exactly how you feel - I live in that region of life over flying, also. Nothing rational will help you out. Thinking positive thoughts, recognizing that getting into a bath tub is more dangerous, all that is a bit less than worthless. Your fear controls you.

Coping w/ fear of flying takes time - something you apparently don't have much of before the next flight!

A couple stray thoughts that may help - long term - very long term.

1) Do you suffer motion sickness? At all? Bad ears can cause you to feel insecure when flying, leading to eventual fear of it. There is a drug called scopolamine that can stop that. It improves the balance also so you feel more secure. It only comes in a patch that you put on the skin behind an ear. The worst side effect is a dry mouth, but NOT drowsiness like the antihistamine varieties of motion sickness fighters.

2) Find a GOOD hypnotherapist. They can work wonders in relatively short periods of time to ease irrational fears. They do not cure them, they merely help you cope w/ them. The best part of what they can do is teach you to relax under stress. This takes time, but works well for fear of flying. A flight is a planned event that takes time to accomplish - so there is time to prepare yourself & gain control over your irrationality.

3) Consider Valium as a source of relaxation. You do not have to take so much that it puts you to sleep - just enough to knock the edge off the anxiety you generate when you are going to fly. This takes the cooperation of a responsible physician to prescribe the med for you. Valium can be addictive, so must be treated w/ great respect. It also takes restraint & strength on your part. You start feeling crappy & anxious prior to a flight, you take a SMALL dose - perhaps 1-1/2 mg to see if it will relax you enough that YOU can control your own fears. If you cannot control the urge to take enough of it so you feel no pain or go to sleep, it's NOT for you.

Wish you the best.

Donr

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