In 1998, I selflessly donated my kidney to my mother. After surgery, I expected to only spend a few hours in post-op, but I was there for much longer than anticipated. When I was eventually moved to a room, the surgeon briefly mentioned that they had to perform a quick repair after “sewing me up.” In my post-surgery haze, I didn’t think much of it. 

However, two days later, a nurse who happened to be a friend’s sister came into my room and informed me that I almost died on the operating table. As I was being wheeled to post-op, my blood pressure suddenly dropped, and the surgeon had to return to the operating room for an emergency procedure. It turned out that the clamp on my renal artery had blown off, causing internal bleeding. The surgeons had to reclamp, perform a blood transfusion, and close me up again. 

Although I was healthy after the surgery, I didn’t tell my mother about the incident until weeks later. When she found out, she had a complete meltdown. Despite the scare, my mother lived for another ten years after the transplant, and I am healthy and well today.

Is there anything out there now that doctors will prescribe for anxiety and panic attacks that is not a benzo but helps? I have tried clonidine, propranelol, hydrozyzine and I have not gotten any relief from my panic attacks.

As Dr. Mendelson mentioned in his response, there are many individuals who suffer because some doctors refuse to prescribe benzodiazepines. I personally experienced this when my doctor took me off my benzodiazepine and suggested I try hydroxyzine instead, which did not alleviate my anxiety. When I informed my doctor, he suggested that I ask my primary care physician to refill my prescription, and thankfully, he did. However, during the two weeks that I was without my benzodiazepine, I experienced severe anxiety that even caused tingling down the left side of my body, leading me to believe I was having a stroke. After a visit to the ER, I learned that my symptoms were caused by my anxiety. The ER doctor prescribed me 7 clonazepam tablets, and I followed up with my PCP.

If you do not want to resume using benzodiazepines, there are alternative methods to try, such as avoiding caffeine, exercising, and practicing deep breathing exercises like inhaling slowly through your nose, holding your breath for 7 seconds, and exhaling slowly through your mouth while thinking of a calming word. Personally, I use “Shalom,” which means peace in Hebrew. Additionally, Buspar is a medication that can help with anxiety and is not a benzodiazepine. Many people have had success with Buspar, but it does require a prescription. I hope this information is helpful, and I wish you all the best. God bless.