Arthur,
I’m glad you’re feeling better. Are you still planning to attend the retreat?
 You are right of course that panic or any other strong situation makes practice difficult. I have noticed this so often. Even a headache makes practice difficult, or feeling too full after a meal. It is strange, because those are just the times when to be able to practice would help.
It can help to go to the energy of the feeling, and make that the focus of the practice. Many of the TSK practices, including Ex. 30, work very well for this.
Jack