anxiety

im suffering badly with anxiety at the moment im 3 weeks on from having my pm fitted and i cant seem to relax at all everytime i feel a flutter ...(due to the fact i still have afib) i panic and think im going to collapse like i used to with the slow heart rate before the pm, its horrible, im feeling better heart wise but worse due to this panic hope it passes with time and i can trust the pm ... im going in hospital again soon for cardioversion to help with the irregular pulse ..tc karen xx

6 Comments

Hi Karen

by Jax - 2013-05-26 01:05:41

After my PM implant I was a nervous wreck. Every little pain or flutter I was nervous about. It took me time to trust...Before my PM I would get very dizzy ... and my body would react to that by tightening up (really hard to explain)....I kept having those feelings of pre-dizziness.
My EP did make some changes to my PM in those first few weeks and I felt better. I'm not sure it was the changes in the settings or just my getting used to having the PM...and the emotional adjustment.

Fear & Anxiety

by Many Blessings - 2013-05-26 03:05:13

Hi Karen,

Both Angry Sparrow & Jax have some good information for you in their comments above.

Like the others said, during the first few weeks (even months) after having your PM, you have a lot of questions, concerns, and weird symptoms. That is perfectly normal. And, if you're the personality type that is prone to anxiety or depression, it's a strong possibility this will come along with it. I promise you, you'll feel better soon, which will help with your anxiety and worry.

I never had true anxiety or depression when I had mine done, I was just plain old pissed that I had the AV Node ablation. I wanted it reversed and my CRT out NOW! I hated the fact that there was no way to reverse it or shut it off. I wished I would have never had it done, but it was too late. I went through that "pissed" stage for about a week. LOL! If you're feeling this too, it will pass, I promise!

If you didn't have an AV Node ablation, which makes you 100% paced & 100% dependent (we cannot survive without our CRT-P), then if you really want to, you could have your PM shut off. You would most likely go back to having the collapsing issues again, but if you really, really wanted to, you could have the PM shut off. This alone (knowing you can have it shut off) may help you relax until you and your body get used to the thought of having a PM. When things calm down and start going better with your PM, you won't want to shut it off! :)

Like the others said, give it a little more time and you'll be feeling much better and less anxious. Talk to your PM tech and EP/Cardio doc and let them know everything that's going on (emotionally and physically) so they can help you. If you're still feeling icky or dizzy, let them know that too, so they can check or change your PM settings. Trust me (and all of us out here), a bad setting change can make you feel just awful! A good setting or setting change can make you feel awesome! It's really weird how it works, but it's great when everything is finally set right.

I forgot to mention that I had cardioversions a lot when I first started having A-fib problems (back in 1987 when it was still intermittent). I always felt so much better afterwards. Eventually (and it took a couple of years) they quit working because I was having them done so frequently, so we just left me in chronic A-fib. I think when you have yours done, you will feel a lot better, and worry a lot less about having problems like in the past.

thank u

by kjb - 2013-05-26 04:05:47

thank u all so much for commenting made me feel so much better just sitting reading this ...its amazing how bad ya mind can make u feel every little flutter and weak feeling to me at the moment is a worry but i will take on board all your help and to know im not the only one that felt like this is a big thing ...... gonna do my best to think positive and see the good things this pm is doing for me and try to ignore the stupid thoughts THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH xxxxxxxxxxxxx

kjb

by Bevof NC - 2013-05-26 06:05:38

One thing that could cause the very same feelings as a panic attack is a good dose of B12. I started taking a dose every AM before leaving for work.. The 1st day I thought I was about to have a heart attack. 2nd day- same place and time-again..same thing. 3rd day I decide I was having a panic attack I did this for a week. Next day I forgot to take the B12..... Nothing happened. I stopped taking the B12 for good and it never happened again. JJust food for thought. Maybe we don't always need extra energy. Maybe we should listen to our bodies. Good luck! Bevof NC

Anxiety & Your A-fib

by Many Blessings - 2013-05-26 10:05:13

Hi Karen

I have a CRT/P (PM) with AV Node ablation and still have A-fib too. Did you have an actual PM put in? Or, did they do a CRT/P with an AV Node ablation? Either way, PMs do not cure A-fib. Hopefully, you were told this so you wouldn't be surprised.

But, when you start to worry, remember your PM will prevent your heart from dropping to a too slow rate (which is why they put it in), so this should help you relax in knowing, you won't collapse like you used to.

My rate was chronic, uncontrolled high rate A-fib (extremely high rate 24/7), so I didn't have the collapsing issues like you. Maybe that will help you in knowing since your PM will keep your rate from dropping too low, it won't happen, even if your rate goes high.

Talk to you doctor about your fears so he/she can put your mind at ease. Since you're still in the early healing stages (both mentally and physically), it isn't unusual for you to possibly need something to help you relax. Especially, since you had so much trouble in the past collapsing with your A-fib (which would be scary.)

Some people need to ask for an anti-anxiety medication. I chose to go the natural/alternative route when I first had mine done, and did relaxation videos and CDs (you can even go to You Tube and find something there) and made sure I drank plenty of water, took my vitamins, ate healthy and got plenty of sleep! If you need to take a prescription to help your anxiety, don't feel bad about doing that. A lot of people out here had to do that. Talk to your doctor to see what they can do for you.

I know you'll get a lot comments from people that had the exact same problem as you, and they will make you feel much more comfortable and relaxed. I hope my response helps you some, even though I never experienced the collapsing.

Good luck!

Anxiety

by Deng - 2013-05-31 07:05:27

Hi, just to let you know your not on your own. When I first had my PM fitted I thought all the feelings I had prior would go but I still feel as though I get anxiety and a little shortness of breath, I don't like this feeling but its better than blacking out, I've had my PM 18months now and to be honest I'm still getting used to it as I don't like the light heads still or the anxiety feeling in my chest but its the way of life now, people say look you won't back out any more but when it's you having that feeling its hard to explain.
Take care
Deng xx

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