anxiety

I am reading a lot of comments on this site regarding anxiety after implantation of a device. is this common?

7 Comments

Ups and downs

by Beef - 2014-04-08 01:04:02

Even life without a ICD or a pacemaker has it's ups and downs and can be thwart with anxious moments and tribulations. I think we have to accept that we may feel down from time to time, but it will pass and good times are only round the corner.
I am sat at home recovering from the implant of my 3rd defibrilator and I decided to have a look on here (as I haven't been on for a long time). It seems that all the worries and stories of anxiety that have been posted recently, mirror those posted years ago. Anxiety is common, but not the end of the world. We have to be brave everyday and so sometimes, our efforts get on top of us, that's all.
I have had an ICD for 13 years, and in that time, I have had a number of downs (including multiple shocks) that have been pretty unpleasant. But I have also had a great deal of ups (got married, travelled, held down a career, had great times with my friends). We have to live life the best we can.
Anxiety has been an issue for me before and from time to time, I still have moments (particularly for a time after shocks). However, as time goes on, things get back to normal(ish).
If your doctor tells you your condition may restrict you in any way don't worry or be upset. Someone once said to me 'If you can't do what you want, do something else instead'. Good solid advice I thought.
Above all do not underestimate your own ability to cope, it is greater than you might think.
Be strong yet humble, and ride the waves up and down gracefully

Le boeuf

Anxiety after PM omg yes without a doubt

by HK - 2014-04-08 07:04:39

I was so sick I did not know enough to be anxious. That is until one night when I finally allowed myself to fall asleep my heart rate went down to the low 20's and had to have an emergency external pacer implanted without anesthesia. I felt so much better but the reality I almost died right then and there became a frightening nightmare. Were the CCU nurses the last people I would see . Should I say good bye to my wife and kids ? I left my last statement with a nurse I trusted and that was the hardest thing I had to do. So yes anxiety is totally normal but we all get over it. I did and you will too
Hk

It Just Depends

by NiceNiecey - 2014-04-08 10:04:27

I use to struggle with anxiety (which is closely related to depression) but finally caved and went on medication (about 10 years ago).

My PM implant was an emergency and a complete shock. Perhaps it was from the low-dose medicine I take each day, but I couldn't have been relaxed about the entire thing. There was my poor husband, crying in chair in my hospital room, declaring that he was going to hire someone else to manage our business (that was MY JOB!!!). I looked at him and said, "Why? I feel perfectly fine." (I didn't know how sick I actually was at that point!) Cool as a cucumber described me quite well.

I think my case has been pretty "easy" compared to many on this site. I think of @theknotguy and what he's been through. Many on this site have defibrillators implanted, 3 lead PMs, cardiovascular diseases, and valve disorders. Any number have been "brought back" from cardiac arrest. Scary stuff!

I suspect that if a person went through the things I just laid out, they'd have more anxiety than me. It's perfectly understandable, especially if one has never given serious consideration to their own mortality.

If you're struggling with anxiety, don't live in denial or in the world I was in: "I must be a weak person to need medicine for this." One half of a normal dose of the medicine I still take and I felt I had my life back. I was so sorry I waited so long.

You can private message me if you feel too vulnerable sharing with the group. I'm an open book.
Niecey

not really

by Tracey_E - 2014-04-08 10:04:32

It happens, yes, but not as often as reading here will lead you to believe. All complications, including anxiety and depression, represent less than 5% of all implants.

My post should read . . .

by NiceNiecey - 2014-04-08 11:04:11

I couldn't have been MORE relaxed in paragraph 2.

Well....

by jeanlancour - 2014-04-08 12:04:27

For a great many of us, it is such a great deal to know we no longer have to worry about the next heart beat we can relax and start our new normal. For each person it's different.Good Luck....Jean

Is Anxiety Common?

by donr - 2014-04-08 12:04:27

Depends on how you look at the problem. Considering that a lot of people come here BECAUSE they have problems - anxiety included - you'd get the impression that it is very common.

I like to categorize issues like that as:
1) Normal - meaning nearly everyone experiences it
2) Common - meaning enough people get it that it appears frequently, but at a considerably lesser rate than "Normal."
3) Infrequently - meaning exactly what it says.
4) Rare - meaning you've got to search to find it.

Based on the numbers of time it shows up here. I'd put Anxiety in the low end of the Common category.

After identifying its frequency of occurrence, you have to address its severity. That's a different subject, best left for another night.

Donr

You know you're wired when...

Muggers want your ICD, not your wallet.

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