Panic attack

Hi-

I am actually ashamed to post this but I am going to anyway. My PM surgery was just a month ago on 3/24/17 and I have gone through some periods of anxiety since then. The first week of my recovery was horrible and I was anxious and teary all the time. I turned the corner after that first week and everyday felt stronger physically and emotionally. I finally got the go ahead yesterday to go back to work Monday and I can't wait. Everyday I have pushed myself past my new comfort zone in an attempt tp reclaim my former, much broader, comfort zone.

Today I had an appointment about 40 minutes away. This would be the farthest I had driven since I got the ok to drive again a week ago. I hopped in the car and got on the highway and one exit away from my destination exit had a panic attack. It was terrible but I got through it and made it to my appointment in time thanks to my sweet husband on the phone keeping me company. I know I probably pushed myself too much today. I have an appointment with a counselor this week. I also know that this is all a huge adjustment. It just sucks!

I am grateful my doctors discovered I have SSS. I am grateful that I am receiving excellent medical care but this adjustment period is really tough. I thought I had gotten past the really severe anxiety part when all of a sudden-WHAM! (And if your wondering...my PM was definitely pacing me during this event. So far my interrogations havent shown anything. I am sure this will show up as something for my next one. )

 

Did anybody else experience panicky feelings after placement? 5 weeks ago a PM wasn't even on my radar.

Still a little shakey,

Cathy

 


9 Comments

Cathy.................

by Tattoo Man1 - 2017-04-22 15:59:57

.........................This stuff is all so different for different people.  I had all sorts of really difficult emotions,.. when I got my PM..those emotions were mine..

For YOU...PM Club is here for you...and forever.

For myself I will not do 'Rescuer'..you made the first step...

I have  never seen PMC let anybody down.....keep in here and make it your own..take your time and take time to understand and learn....

This Forum is made up from so many  Cathies...

Tattoo Man

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Panic Attack

by clubhopper - 2017-04-22 22:04:14

Yes, I had severe anxiety for about the first 3 months after I got my PM.  Like you, all of a sudden I had a fainting spell, some tests and, bingo, needed a pacemaker.  I have always been healthy and this was an immense blow.  I discovered the Pacemaker Club one horrible sleepless, night at 3:00 a.m., posted about my anxiety, and had 6 responses which I can't begin to tell you how comforting this was.  I found out I wasn't the only one!  It is almost 10 months since I received the PM, I have had three interrogations (3 because I keep thinking "something is wrong") and do not have to go back until next February.  I am much, much more relaxed and feel pretty good.  Hang in there - these things work, and you WILL get over this panicky feeling.  I know, it feels like you are waiting for the next shoe to drop, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.  Try to keep busy, and keep a sense of humour.    Hope this helps a little bit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

yes and no

by dwelch - 2017-04-22 23:39:17

They put pacers in newborns for what I have, but at the time not so much.  When I was 12 or so they detected my heart block, monitored it and at 19 I got my first pacer, so at the time a huge chunk of my life I knew this was coming.  My 15 year old cousin had just died in a car wreck a year or two before and her family was still dealing with that obviously so when the doc said it was time, what was I to say...No argument, couldnt put my parents through what my cousins family was going through...

 

So for me there was no surprise at all, I had years to mentally prepare for this I had been told what I could and couldnt do (before the pacer), but as a teen would push it, probably very dangerous, but I was a teen...My condition though my heart kept growing and I could hear and feel it all the time...then with the pacer that all stopped, I was very empty inside, it took a very long time, to deal with the lack of that sound in my ear or bumping against my chest.  I did not have panic attacks but I was constantly checking my pulse, my heart must have stopped I dont feel it, but I would be passed out or dead now so it must be working, check the pulse again...It was working.

 

The scary time is over, the time to panic is over, that was pre-pacemaker, even if for you that was hours or days.  Now is the safe time, the comfort time.  These devices make us normal, they smooth us out, we now feel like others without strange heart beats or internal sounds or whatever...

 

A percentage of the folks here are here are about to get pacer number one, and have all kinds of feelingns or questions.  The rest of us have been through it, we are past it, the conditions are similar but different, our journey is similar but different.  We all had the surgery, dealt with the scar healing, our first visits, what questions to ask, can I go through a metal detector, etc, etc...I am getting number five in three days, to switch from a dual chamber to a three chamber.  30 years with a pacer, most of us can probably say we wouldnt be here without the thing, despite whatever minor annoyances it carries with it.  Most of the time after that first year, I forget I have it, until I bump it...You will too...

Anxiety

by Shaun - 2017-04-23 06:18:18

I have Bradycardia (due to SSS) and I received my pacemaker about 2.5 years ago. Suddenly out of the blue I started passing out every time I fell asleep and after passing out over 10 times in the same day I had an emergency procedure to receive a pacemaker which stops my heart rate from falling below 60. After receiving the pacemaker I started having regular anxiety symptoms which were really quite wierd. Now 2.5 years later I can go for months without a single anxiety episode, but then I can get several in one day. At least now I recognise them for what they are and so while they are not pleasant they don't panic me and they last less than a minute. I'm not really sure what triggers them, but I've noticed that sometimes they can occur when I'm feeling really relaxed. Maybe it's some symptom that triggers a subconscious memory of when I used to pass out prior to the pacemaker. The thing is though that I've never passed out since receiving the pacemaker so I need to trust that it's doing its job. Another thing I've noticed is that stressful thoughts can sometimes trigger them which is odd because I'm not a stressful person by nature and I never used to have these symptoms before. What I did wonder (and these are just my own rambling thoughts) is whether there's some aspect to Bradycardia (due to SSS) that provokes anxiety type symptoms under stress type conditions because there do seem to be quite a few people with Bradycardia who seem to suffer from anxiety.

There Now

by JannyKay - 2017-04-23 10:48:45

I had my pacemaker inplanted on the 13th of this month.  I can't sleep well because my mind won't shut off.  I have anxiety and think that I imagine feelings with my heart and start to panic.  I am having some depression too.  Cry easily and I am not normally a crier.  I talked to many others who had pacemakers implanted before getting mine and they all said it was a piece of cake.  they had no problems, no anxiety and that my quality of life would be so much better.  I'm finding out that everyone is different.  I have to remember that its only been 10 days for me.  I have AFIB also and the pacemaker doesn't stop that.  I had an AFIB attack yesterday and I felt the fast beat but it was different this time.  No pauses and no skipping all over the place.  I could deal with it.  That gave me hope.  I did drive yesterday for the first time and only drove to the market and the drugstore and it felt good.  Felt like I had my independence back.  I'm seeing now that it will pass.  Now the doctor can up my medicine for the AFIB and that will make that better too.  I have anxiety, yes, but I seem to be controlling it by deep breathing and doing something, like a short walk.   It will get better.  Everyone heals and accepts things differently.

 

Anxiety

by Bela - 2017-04-23 19:18:08

It's three years since PM and I still have anxiety.  My dr say is this is ok and I should relax the PM is working fine. 

Palpitation.

by Bela - 2017-04-23 19:21:24

Sometime I have feeling like my heart is coming thrust my throat followed by bouts of cough. My doctors say I am sensitive to the PM but this is normal.  Anyone has the same problem?

Palpitation.

by Bela - 2017-04-23 19:21:25

Sometime I have feeling like my heart is coming thrust my throat followed by bouts of cough. My doctors say I am sensitive to the PM but this is normal.  Anyone has the same problem?

Thank you!

by FitMomma - 2017-04-23 19:54:51

thank you for all your support! It truly helps! After I got home from appointment and posted this message I drive myself to Walmart, had a list of 10 items but only bought 3. I could tell I was getting shakey so it was time to leave. After I got home and relaxed for a bit I then went for my first solitary walk in my neighborhood. I didn't walk my whole usual route but I was still glad I pushed myself. 

Next big hurdle is going back to work tomorrow for the first time in 5'weeks. I only have a 4 mile drive. 8 minutes and it's closer than Walmart. I also know people are going to be happy to see me but that is its own stressor. In some ways I can't wait and in other ways I wish I could just stay home. I know it's a process. Thank you again for this wonderful group of people! 

Cathy

You know you're wired when...

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Member Quotes

In fact after the final "tweaks" of my pacemaker programming at the one year check up it is working so well that I forget I have it.