Anyone ever experienced something like this?

First I want to say, sorry if this is in the wrong forum, this seemed pretty much like a general questions place, even if it's not a 'how to' question..

Alright, so what I'm getting at.. I'm 19 and I used to have panic attacks pretty bad.. (I'd freeze up, couldn't breathe, sat there shaking, and my muscles would get all tense, etc..) Now it seems like they've migrated into my sex life.. It's happened two or three times in place of ejaculating during sex, and even a few while masturbating. I'll get all worked up and ready to cum, but instead of getting off, I suddenly can't breathe. I'm panting like a dog trying to breathe, my whole body starts tingling, the feeling it gives me reminds of me when like your foot falls asleep from circulation getting cut off or something.. then all of the blood starts rushing back to it and it hurts and it feels all prickly at the same time.. except instead of just my foot, it's through my whole body.. feet, legs, arms, fingers.. I'm not really complaining, cause while it does hurt, just like losing circulation to your foot or something.. at the same time it's a really orgasmic hurt.. maybe just because I was so close then getting this pain through my body, woo! No idea.. first few times it happened I thought I was dieing.. but now that i've gotten used to it happening occasionally, i love the feeling.. like a mental orgasmic rush through my body or something lol

but.. I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced anything like this..
could it be some kind of medical condition? is it unhealthy?
I've mentioned it to two doctors that just kinda stared at me blankly, saying they'd look into it and never got back to me.

The main downside (aside from the feeling of not having control over my own body), is when it started happening after sex.. I scared my partners pretty damn bad.. Cause I can't breathe so I can't really talk and tell them it'll be over soon and not to worry about it.. and like my panic attacks, my whole body tenses up during this and i can't move at all, just lay there shaking and breathing really heavily.. like, if someone tries to move me, they'll move my whole body if they can lift the dead weight cause i'm literally just that tensed up.. my last partner described it as a 'corpsey rigor mortis'.. that's not an appealing way to have yourself described after sex haha..these usually last for a good 5-15 minutes.. first i'll slowly start catching my breath, then i'll slowly regain control of my fingers, toes, limbs, and so on..

I usually warn people before sex now that it's happened a few times, but they still usually freak out if actually does happen, apparently it's like watching something out of the exorcist and a bit more extreme than they had expected haha..

One thing I have noticed though, it only happens when I last a good bit longer than usual.. It's not gonna happen after a 15-30 minute sex session.. but when it lasts 45+ minutes, the longer it lasts it seems like there's a higher chance of it happening when I finally do get to the point of having an orgasm.

Based on that alone, I'm wondering if it could be something like lack of blood flow to the rest of my body? After keeping an erection for that long, i'm guessing it tends to use up a lot of blood.. haha

Anyways, yeah..
Just kinda curious if anyone's ever experienced/heard about anyone having something similar happening to them or if i've got something unusually freaky goin on with my body lol

From the people I've talked to, even the doctors.. no one's ever heard of such a thing happening, so I'm not expecting anyone here to, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to try.. really curious what the hell is goin on with me and if it really is that unheard of..

So yeah, thanks ahead if anyone has any ideas

I have no clue what could cause this and on the other hand I can imagine several things being the cause. You say you have already consulted a doctor, that is the first thing I would suggest. What I find strange is that they have told you they don't know and did not want to 'investigate' further.

It could be anything from a (minor I hope) heartfailure to anxiety of some sort. But I can imagine it's uneasy to say the least and I think you should insist with your doctor to have you further examed.

One thing you should do is tell your (new) bedpartner about this so you don't scare the hell out of her. I know it's a bit of a weird discussion maybe but think about how you would react if it happened to you. I am wondering if this could have anything to do with epileptic attacks or something. If you knew you had those you would tell your lover wouldn't you?

There is nothing to be ashamed of I would say, but you need to find out what it is. There is a thread in How To Café where many people visit who deal with depression, anxiety etc. Maybe there is someone there who recognizes some of what you are telling us here.

Good luck

This is the thread I was talking about....

heart failure? epilepsy?

jesus, those are some scary thoughts! haha

and yes, ever since they've been reoccurring i've warned people beforehand. I'm not shy at all, i'm a very open person, even if I've just met someone I'll tell them my deepest darkest "secrets".. But still I can only guess that they didn't understand how extreme they actually were, or maybe they thought i was kidding.. idk.. I'm a very laid back and calm person, once I caught our oven on fire trying to bake muffins (it was a damn shame, i was really craving some muffins!), casually walked into the living room "mom, the oven's on fire.." and casually walked back.. she walked in and started screaming "OH MY GODDD ITS ON FIREE!!!!" duhh didn't I just say that?

dunno! I guess I need to practice on placing emphasis on things when needed or be more emotional err.. whatever.. haha i'll never forget the look on her face when she walked into the kitchen though omg lol

okokok back to the topic..
as far as the doctor's went..
no idea what happened with them
maybe they didn't believe me either ? lol
but yeah I thought it was very weird, too..
however, I've been uninsured since my 19th birthday =(
so I won't be able to see a new doctor anytime soon, unfortunately..
really hope it isn't anything too bad, like heart failure or epilepsy.. gah.. lol

but, like i said, even if it appears scary the first time experiencing it.. it does feel good in a really weird way, so even if I do end up dieing from heart failture, atleast i'll die happy! If I gotta go, that's the way to do it! haha

and as far as the other thread, should i just repost my first one over there too and see if anyone says anything? heh.. or just hope someone happens to wander across this thread

Either way, thanks for the reply

rawrrrz said:

...... I'm a very laid back and calm person, once I caught our oven on fire trying to bake muffins (it was a damn shame, i was really craving some muffins!), casually walked into the living room "mom, the oven's on fire.." and casually walked back.. she walked in and started screaming "OH MY GODDD ITS ON FIREE!!!!" duhh didn't I just say that?

......and as far as the other thread, should i just repost my first one over there too and see if anyone says anything? heh.. or just hope someone happens to wander across this thread

Click to expand...

Cool is one thins where muffins are concerned (well, a small fire actually) but it's another thing if it's your health/life that's involved. I understand the problem with the insurence and all... so...

Yeah... I would consult the people in the other thread to start with. Who knows what they come up with. You can copy-paste your question to there or do a recap and link to this thread also. That way you have more chance of replies (although it's a bit of a policy - logically - to not double-post)

I dunno, I was REALLY craving those muffins.. haha

But yeah, either way I was disappointed to say the least, with their lack of any useful response whatsoever..

Not much I can do without insurance except ask around though =D

Posted in that thread like you suggested..
Thanks again =D

Welcome to Lit., rawrrrz.

The first thing that came to my mind was ''Little Death'' or as the French coined it ''La Petite Mort''. I googled and found this.

There are also good links on Talk Sex With Sue, (links).

I know you mentioned no health insurance and that makes consulting a doctor difficult. However, I'd suggest calling the doctor you have talked to and press the issue for information, you (we all) need to be our own advocate in our health.

On the Talk Sex with Sue site they've noted this site is Sexuality and U to be "The BEST, bar none, sexual information site we have ever seen! Award-winning, multi-informational site created by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada."

I wouldn't let your mind go crazy with ''OMGOMG" until you know more. (I know, far easier to say than do.) Perhaps arming yourself with more information will help ease some stress and fear about things.

I'm sure there will be some more good posts for you, it's a helpful bunch here. Keep in touch with us too if you will.

wow..
Well first, Thanks! good to be here!

'La Petite Mort was actually believed to be a cause of death at the time. It was believed that having too much sex could lead to death.'



the one thing was they said they blacked out\passed out.. i've never been left unconscious.. i'm completely aware of everything, just can't control my body.. but maybe some weird variation of something like that.. either way it's the closest of anything i've ever seen to whatever's going on with me

the other creepy thing is they're talking about it in like english history like it's a myth or something

I really doubt this would actually kill me, I dunno.. it's just happened a good amount of times and i've always felt great afterwards. Like I was saying it's not something I'm crying my eyes over and think i'm a freak of nature or anything like that heh.. I've just never heard of anything like it.. But i've told everyone since i jump in the sack with that it might happen, sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't.. so i'm not too "OMGOMG" about it

was just curious if it was that uncommon, or if (doubtful) i'm the only one with this problem! if I am, I so want it named after me haha rawrrrzitis lol

but yeah i doubt i'm the only one, just haven't heard of anyone else experience something similar.. for all i know i could just be getting myself too worked up and having a little attack, and the timing could just be coincidence

Ah and the doctor thing.. that was like a year ago when I went (this has been happening for a while, it's not just a recent thing, probably a year and a half..)
I've got no idea now where it was that I went or what doctor I went to.. Last year seems like a lifetime ago heh..

But thanks for the concern and the reply
Makes me feel kinda giddy in the pants

hey rawrrrz! i can relate to one part of your huhum "situational occurance" - when having really really long sex i have found that i begin to have pins and needles in my fingers and arms, i have always believed it to be due to the lack of oxygen getting to my brain as i gasp and moan lol it is occaisionally accompanied by a light headed feeling - again attributed by me to lack of oxygen, which goes away if i stop (or my partner does ) therefore allowing me to breathe properly - i believe! dunno if this helps in any way!!!

Do you have a heart murmur? Panic attacks and stuff like this sometimes happen to people who have mitral valve prolapse. If that is it, its no big deal.

My first thought was not Petite Mort more likely Petit Mal brought on by the hypoxia caused by hyperventilation.

Which ever it is it may be partially due to lower than normal blood pressure and you should get it checked out. If you have no insurance coverage try and find a free clinic in your area (one run on a shoestring for the homeless or indigent population), or try and find the nearest teaching hospital and speak to someone about who is doing research into blood pressure disorders or neurological disorders, and see if they need any guinea pigs!

There's also a psychological condition or two which has to do with patients being unable to move/being stiff as a board which may warrant furthur investigation (I forget the name at the moment ). Any history of abuse/psychological trauma in your childhood? (Are you sure?) Just speculating....

Hi there

I personally have epilepsy which was caused by a head injury in a road accident when I was 17 (I'm now 27). I have experienced very similar symptoms during sex. The only way to describe it is as a gradual loss of control (generally when building up towards a particularly strong orgasm). I can feel my breathing getting too fast and shallow but cannot exercise control and slow it down. The feeling then progresses to pins and needles and then full on shakes and my body tenses completely - like yours. Unlike with any other epileptic event (if that's what it truly is) I am also completely conscious and aware of what is happening to me. My attacks last about 5 mins or so in themselves but I can take another 10 to recover completely afterwards.

In my case, I and my doctor believe this is as Ezzy describes. My breathing goes first causing hypoxia (lack of oxygen to brain which can take effect in seconds if you're exerting yourself!) which triggers epileptic symptoms because of the stress placed on my rather fragile brain as a result.

Hypoxia on its own causes something like a seizure - as you described The muscles stop receiving enough oxygen and go into spasm as a result along with pins and needles as you get with any interruption of oxygen supply (when you sleep awkwardly and wake with a dead arm, for example). You do not need to have any epileptic tendency in order to experience your symptoms purely through hypoxia. It sounds very much to me that your breathing problems are at the root of this. I would ask though, if you enjoy the sensation, do you hesitate to control your breathing while still able to? This could prove very risky and the more you dabble, the closer you'll come to passing out or causing yourself harm.

That said, epileptic traits can emerge at any time in your life but more particularly as you pass into and out of puberty. If this is a regular thing I would get checked out purely by way of eliminating any neurological problem from the equation. If you have any other symptoms e.g. increasing frequency of headaches or migraines or any impairment such as a reduced ability to concentrate or stay awake without being tired etc do go to your doctor. There's a slim chance but a real chance you'll regret it if you don't.

All the best and feel free to pm me if you want to chat further.

Velvet

Not a doctor, nor do I play one on tv...but sometimes I do in the bedroom.

anyhow, are you on meds for the anxiety attacks? or were you, but now you're not?

Lots of little things happen in the body upon orgasm, including the release of several hormones.

I'm thinking one of those hormones might be triggering the panic attack...but that's assuming panic attacks have some physiological trigger, and its not just mental.

I've always found that 99% of orgasms are an exciting event, the heart's racing, you're breathing heavy...

Are you new to having sex, or is your partner someone you care a lot more about than any previous partner? (you are only 19, and finally mature enough to grasp real love vs. raw lust)

If all else fails, go see your doctor. They have to hear about MUCH more 'embarassing' things than this...and I don't even consider this embarassing quite honestly.

better safe than sorry.

getting good advise

I'm impressed with the advise you are getting here. Always in situations like this, see a medical doctor first. Then consult a psychologist, as it sounds like this is an anxiety provoked situation. Anxiety (panic) attacks can be brought on by strenuous physical activity such as excercise or SEX. Therapy can help, if this is the case. But always rule out any medical conditions first.