panic

Two years ago I passed out at work do to an arythmia. That night a defibrillator was implanted. About a year after that, I started getting panic attacks. They were finally starting to go away when I got my first shock a couple of weeks ago. Now, I've been having dreams about it shocking me again. At least, I hope its a dream. When I wake up suddenly I don't really know if it is a dream or if it really shocked me. I still don't. I had one last night. The panic attacked harder than ever. I don't know what to do. I don't want to die, but now I'm afraid all the time. On top of the arythmias, I have a heart disease. The disease causes the muscles of my heart to thicken. I don't know if the arythmia was caused by that or another factor. I have an echo scheduled for Monday. Maybe I should try and get them to do a pacer check on me that day. I hate living in fear and living with panic attacks due to it. Does anyone else feel this way? What can I do?

3 Comments

take a deep breath

by jessie - 2007-10-13 03:10:53

first of all try to do some simple relaxation exercises. one is ensing every muscle in the body for a few seconds and then slowly lettin go. take deep breaths in through the nose and out thru the month. speak to your doctor about the panic. he may be able to help. there is help and it will get better. hang in there yellowmonkee jessie

Relax

by SMITTY - 2007-10-13 07:10:10

Hello,

“What can I do?” The answer to that is relax and as Jessie said, take a few deep breaths. Relaxing and deep breaths, of course, are not going to solve your problems, but it may make you feel a little better, even if it is just for a few minutes. Asking which came first, your arrhythmia or heart muscle thickening, is like asking which came first, the chicken or the egg. Now please don’t misunderstand me, I am not making light of your problem. But the causes of arrhythmia and thickening of the heart muscle can have a common cause (one of which is excessive stress) so trying to figure out which got there first is a question for a really good doctor.

As for me, I’m not smart enough to worry about problems with my heart so I can’t say I have ever felt about my self the way you feel about yourself, but I think I can understand and right now you may be our own worst enemy. So, until you can see a doctor you will be doing yourself a world of good if you can relax a little.

Since that ICD should only fire if you were in V-Fib, and you say this is the first time it has fired, I definitely think you should have it checked. That could do two things for you. One, it would let you know that the ICD is on the job and doing what it is supposed to do and second, you would know that it did not fire because of a malfunction.

So again, my advice is to take Jessie’s advice and maybe Monday will be here before you know it.

Good luck.

Smitty

marty

by jessie - 2007-10-13 11:10:52

hey good advice from someone who has been thru it and also smitty. good advice. poor man needs to see a doctor quick. it is not pleasant as they both say. where have you been plummerman? i am going to calgary nov ist for 12 days. have not yet made it to edmonton but if i do will look you up. take care. oh yes there was a grandmaD i think looking for support from edmonton young grandma tho 44 lol lol she ahs not been on for awhile tho. she was looking to set up a support group i think jessie

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