Anxiety After Pacemaker Implantation

Could be, but for me, it was purely anxiety and a touch of depression

by MartyP - 2018-02-19 20:19:23

Most docs don't tell you how you might feel after you get the PM.  But early bouts of anxiety and sometimes depression are so very common.  Here is a section of a much longer post I sent a few months ago.  Perhaps you will find it helpful. BUT THIS IS ME, NOT IN ANY WAY WHAT YOU MAY BE FEELING .....

Anxiety and Depression - For me it hit pretty hard. At the beginning, I napped a lot and felt just lousy. I would tell my wife my head was “fuzzy”. It was hard to feel “OK” with myself, particularly in the mornings. I went to my GP and after talking with him, we decided to start taking an anti-depressant, in my case the 50 mg Zoloft generic. I had been on it for about 3 weeks and it started to take off the lows, for me there are some side effects, some can be troublesome, but make sure you ask your doctor about what you might experience.  I’ve also started seeing a psychologist, Melvin is 82 and I love him!  I knew from past experiences they could help me through the next few weeks / months until I’m fully OK with myself. ------ So lesson learned - if you are anxious and or depressed, see your psychologist and/or psychiatrist. Your body has changed, your life has changed, it will pass, but you may need some help until it does. If you need to talk with someone who has the experience and talked with others, seek out a psychologist who can help you - there is no shame, it’s usually just a chemical imbalance in your brain.

Panic and Hyperventilation - On August 23, my oldest grandson was leaving for college the next morning for the first time and we are very close. Family dinner was at our house and I started to feel dizzy and weak and my heart was pounding. Went to bed and started to hyperventilate - wow that was no fun at all, couldn’t catch my breath. Called 911 and back to the hospital. A whole bunch of tests, but nothing found. I asked for a psychiatric consult and met Daniel, a wonderful psychiatrist. He upped the Zoloft to 150 mg and prescribed Ativan for breakthrough anxiety and that helped a lot. I’m still on the Zoloft and will likely be on it till March when I’ll start to ween off it over several weeks.  It really has helped. I’ve only taken the Ativan a few times since then.

On November 15^th, my wife and I had gone shopping at Kohl’s and after about 15 minutes I started feeling faint, my heart was racing, and I had to leave the store.  Got home and my blood pressure had spiked to 152 over 97 with 57 BPM.  It was a major anxiety attack that lasted till November 24^th.  In addition to the Zoloft I did have the Ativan and it helped a lot!!

So as a summary, depressed from July 26^th till September 4^th, Panic and Hyperventilation on August 23^rd and depression again from November 15^th till November 24^th.

So lesson learned -So lesson learned - anxiety and / or panic and/or depression can occur and sometimes return. Your life has changed and needs time to adjust. It passed once it will pass again, you just have to muscle past it. But, if it really is stopping you from doing what you must do, seek help.

OCD and FitBit's - Yup, it can happen. For me, I started checking my blood pressure and heart rate many times a day, some days 10 or 20 times  or more.  I created a spreadsheet to track the data. Everyone told me not to do it, but I did it anyway. I got the Fitbit and the information is very detailed. It lets me know when Sparky was pacing and for how long, pulse history, sleep patterns, etc. Should I have gotten it? No way! NO WAY !!!! Last time I say my electropsyiosist (EP) I gave it to her and was glad to get rid of it. ----- So lesson learned - if you have OCD tendencies, you may want to stay away from FitBit’s and things like it.

Time ------ So Lesson learned - time is a wonderful healer. It’s been about 9 month’s now since my near death experience, and while I’m still on Zoloft (maybe one more month) I rarely think about Sparky and the sometimes difficult road it has been to get here.  I’m back to working with a trainer and lifting heavier than before Sparky arrived.  I feel good and while not knowing what lies ahead, I’m at peace.

I can relate

by kmg021 - 2018-02-19 20:32:06

I had my pacemaker put in over 4 months ago and i have had alot of anxiety too.   I do get the shakes like I have had too much caffeine.  This too when I go out. I have finally started on Lexapro to try to get a handle on this as I talk to a counselor.   I do have a history of anxiety, but have never felt this bad.   My opinion only, but I think it is PM related for different reason, both the physical and the emotional life changing experience.

Good luck to you

Totally Agree

by MartyP - 2018-02-19 21:06:18

What I've been told is when something goes wrong with a heart or brain it's VERY common to be affected by anxiety and depression as the heart and the brain are very different from a broken arm or an appendicitis.

Just it some time and if you still feel crummy find a psychologist and/or a psychiatrist who you like and can relate to.

So glad I joined......

by Carla2004 - 2018-02-19 23:06:48

This is the first thread that I saw, and it's exactly what I'm feeling.

Had my PM implanted on 12/12/17.     New lead fell out.      Had new lead installed on 12/28.   Felt great the first few days.....but now, I'm going out of my mind.    I have had a tremendous amount of stress in my personal life recently and have been probably over-doing it.    But, we have a very small family and I have to step up to the plate.     Liquidating a 3000 sq ft home !

My heart feels like it's pounding out of my chest.     Have gone back to my EP, just this past Friday in fact.    EKG is good, lead has moved "some" so they have tinkered with my settings.

I am not short of breath, or unbelievably exhausted as I was before implantation and when my new lead fell out.    But this POUNDING is driving me crazy.    I feel like I have 2 squirrels fighting in my chest.

Not sure what your "pounding" is, I had it and went to the ER - perhaps PVS's?

by MartyP - 2018-02-20 08:53:49

PVC’s - Premature Ventricular Contractions - wow, no one told me about these. For me they feel like my heart is pounding and if I check my pulse it feels like a skipped beat, but it’s actually a PVC. I remember “Tom” saying that he had them for ten years and his doctor said “they won’t kill you” but for a newbie they are uncomfortable and scary. For me, before I knew what they were, I thought something was very wrong and at 1:00 AM my wife took me to the emergency room - 5 hours later, nothing found. ------ So the lesson learned … Either before or after your PM, talk to your doctor and ask lots of questions about what you could / should expect and what you may feel … your heart won’t stop, but it will be different”.  What I think I found a little later on, at least for me, when I’m not doing much and my heart rate gets into the high 50’s or low 60’s; again my lower rate is set to 55) I tend to get more PVC’s sometime 2 a minutes - they are scary until you know what they are. I do take Magnesium with Taurate and while I can’t be sure, I think they keep the PVC’s in check for me.  Usually none, once in a while perhaps 1 a minute at most.

Caffeine - I used to drink “Dark Magic” coffee and caffeine diet soda, PVC’s here they come. ------ So lesson learned, some drinks and maybe some foods (high sodium and high sugar content foods) will have to go, do some testing to figure out what may give you trouble and cross them off your list.

Stress and PVC’s - for me it’s like oil and vinegar, they don’t mix. One morning was particularly stressful, nothing special just rushing to get a few things done before I had to go out. The PVC’s started right in and lasted on and off for a few hours. ------- So lesson learned - try hard to reduce stress as much as you can, but if your heart starts to pound at least you know what may have caused it.

Lots of lLessons

by Lana - 2018-02-25 10:44:53

Great comments! I will be getting my micra PM put in tomorrow. I found this club just two days ago and everyone has really given great experience advice. I have had anxiety my entire life. Fainting/ dizziness from anxiety?? I knew it had to be more but listened to the doctors and lived with it. Now that it has threatened my life because it happen while driving, someone cared and took the time to run every test under the sun. OH! I need a PM. What a relief! So now since I have been reading/communicating with all of you, I am finding this "anxiety" may not completely go away. As I sit here typing this my heart is pounding. It has been all morning, I guess I am just use to it. I don't take medication for it, maybe that will change after tomorrow. Thank you all, stay calm, breathe and keep on the pace! I appreciate you.