Problem on Aircraft - Meaning?

[jpoczwa]

I am hoping to get a satisfactory medical/physiological explanation, with respect to an incident I had on an aircraft nearly two years ago. Here's what happened:

I got on a commercial aircraft and shortly after take-off, while the plane was still ascending, the aircraft hit an air pocket and dropped its altitude (I'm not sure by how much). I remember feeling a physical force that traveled from my feet and up my body, (as if the force was pinning me to the floor). At this stage, my heart rhythm was "out of synch" with my breathing - ie. the two weren't co-ordinated, and as a result, I wasn't getting enough air. It was the strangest feeling - the heart rhythm was doing its own thing and even though I could breathe, trying to take a deep breath was useless. After about 5 minutes, everything went back to normal, but needless to say by that stage, I wanted to get off the plane. I believe the cabin wasn't fully pressurised at this stage either (as the air hostess was telling me).

Because I was flying to a scuba diving destination (live-aboard), I went to a doctor as soon as I landed, but the Dr didn't seem to think anything was wrong except saying I was probably "stressed" and told me to go and enjoy my diving. After a great dive trip, I decided to go to another Dr when I got back home (Diving Doctor) and got heart tests ordered: 24hr ECG/BP Holter monitor and Cardiac Stress Test (about 10mins on the treadmill - Levels 1,2 and 3) and straight after that a Stress Echocardiogram. Everything came back normal. In fact, straight after the echocardiogram, the cardiologist said my heart was working really well.

I would be grateful if anyone knows if there is a "physiological" explanation as to what happened during the above described incident. I'm not quite satisfied that the cause was "stress" or "panic" as some Drs have suggested. I DID panic and was traumatised later, but this was because of the effects I experienced on my body, during the flight - not because I had some strong irrational fear about flying (as some may suggest). Having said that, it took me 14 months to get on a plane again!

Many thanks in advance for any replies.

 

[Cacia]

wow...
is it possible it was just the g force working against your diaphragm?

 

[DandyDon]

Sounds like you got spooked is all. Those drops can be scarey. "OMG we're falling...! I know the feeling, and I guess it could get to ya...

 

[Wildcard]

It sounds like you may have had a stress induced run of PSVT that self converted back to NSR.Simply means that your heart was beating too fast.

 

[jpoczwa]

Thanks for the replies everyone. It's interesting you mentioned the "g force" catherine96821, because I had a brief conversation with a Doctor not so long ago who specializes in Travel Medicine (I saw her at a travel expo) and told her about the experience and she said the same thing.

To DandyDon: Yes, I did get "spooked" but not because the plane hit an air pocket - I forgot to mention in my original post that I didn't even know the plane had lost altitude at the time (I was in an aisle seat) - so there was nothing I was aware of to be spooked about. I only found out later when I called the air hostess over, because I had difficulty breathing (which was what I actually DID panic over) and that's when she told me the plane had dropped.

I think stress was a definite factor too - its funny how it can build up insidiously and you may not even be consciously aware that it does - until you get something like this happen, in that it can catch you by surprise and affect your heart rhythm. But at least lifestyle changes can be made to avoid it. (No more hurrying to airports and no more coffees for me before I fly).

Thanks again for replies everyone.
Cheers,
Janet

 

[Cacia]

and told her about the experience and she said the same thing.

I was waiting for a fighter pilot to answer you, I think they know all about the sensations and physiology.

Recently, believe it or not...I was standing in the aisle when the wheels hit the runway. woooo!

 

[Mauifish]

That sensation you described sounded just like what I felt the first time I dove in open water, cause-- stress related hyperventalation, rapid heart rate, huge adrenaline fight or flight syndrom, could happen to anybody. You sound normal.

 

[DandyDon]

Recently, believe it or not...I was standing in the aisle when the wheels hit the runway. woooo!

Not supposed to do that, you know. :11:

 

[RedWingDiver]

Recently, believe it or not...I was standing in the aisle when the wheels hit the runway. woooo!

:11:
Yeah, what Don said! How did that happen? I would have figured someone would have tossed you in a seat and belted you in before the plane even began a descent!

 

[Cacia]

well...the flight attendant took me to a child (nobody else on the plane..physician, etc)

for a "medical emergency"..which I assumed was an airway problem.

We had been circling in bad weather.."waiting to land" and the first fifteen seconds I was standing there, we landed pretty hard. She actually flew into a guy's lap. My sea legs and a deep squat saved me, but it was an impressive feeling.

I think she made a misjudgement by taking me from my seat...she apperently did not know we were landing and thought the problem was more life threatening than it was. Another thgought that crossed my mind, is that sometimes you take advantage of a medical issue to "break in line"...ambulances, etc..it does happen.

The pilot thanked me and I said "oh thank YOU for landing us in that fog..." and he said "oh, I didn't they "brought us in" I have no idea what he meant.

Do jetliners go on auto pilot from the control tower or something, in bad weather?

Cause he did not say instrument landing, he said THEY. And he was very pale.

sorry for the highjack, btw.