Hi,Had pace and ablate for WPW syndrome last July 2022 and I still suffer from discomfort in the chest, out of breath, weakness, fatigue, erratic beats and struggle most days doing normal activities, walking, gardening etc. Numerous visits to the GP and they say iam suffering from post surgery anxiety which is causing these symptoms.
I'm not convinced but willing to try the meds and support if it helps me improve.
Would love to hear from others who may have experience of having anxiety and how they manage the condition.
Thanks
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Nomis21
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I'm not convinced either, but something to consider. You mentioned your "GP". What does your ep think? Do they at least concede some of your symptoms may be related to the procedure? Don't be afraid to get a second opinion, especially if things get worse, or it it continues too much longer. Doctors often stick to an initial diagnosis, which doesn't mean they are wrong, but a new doctor might give it a fresh look.
Hi Jim, I have asked for a second opinion from a ep.I guess the GPS have to rule other conditions out and I'm happy to go along with the anxiety diagnosis if it improves my lifestyle.
I don't really get anxious and I my life is fairly stress free, yet I still feel discomfort in my chest, breathlessness, struggle walking and exerting myself when carrying out normal daily activities, I feel erratic and missed beats daily.
Had angiogram since surgery and chest x-rays and all ok so suppose I need to accept the fact that it could be anxiety.
evidently it’s more common than we knew. At my visit with my EP 2 weeks ago he asked if I was taking my antidepressant and anti-anxiety meds I told him I was but I take the anxiety as needed. He said he thought I might need them more than I realize. I almost felt as though he feels I am perfectly fine now, and it’s my anxiety giving me fatigue at Cetera. My EKG and my extensive echo were beautiful he said, and some thing that most doctors aspire to have for their patients. I wasn’t sure how to feel but then I realized I’m not sleeping there are a lot of things that have nothing to do with my new pacemaker, etc., also walking out his nurse and I were talking. I get along very well with her and she said he had mentioned it because of everything I have been through and it really wears a person down. . He has mentioned it before as far as how much I have dealt with since last April and actually before that. I guess I thought I would feel much much better by now and I don’t. I am grateful I am not breathless, etc. I just don’t feel 100% and I thought I would. My EP said I am still healing and it’s only been three months. He said, expect it to take at least six maybe longer for my body to adjust to all of the trauma and procedures are trauma to the body.
my number one problem now is getting my meds because they are a controlled substance here in the states and you would think that at the age of 70 I have suddenly begun to be a crackhead. The funny thing is I could go to pain management and get all kinds of potent pain relief. I am taking my anti-anxiety every night and it does seem to help me get more sleep than I have been getting.
I guess when you think about what my doctor said, it’s true as far as what anxiety can do to us. I am very thankful they finally had a pacemaker that could help me and then I’m standing here alive right this minute which in December what is questionable at least to me.
you mentioned you’re willing to try maybe you should and make sure you give it a chance because these medication’s can take several weeks to kick in. Best of luck I’m doing it myself right now anything to keep feeling better each day
Hi Nomis - so sorry you are experiencing this, post surgery anxiety is very common and the sooner treated the better but preferably not with drugs which cause other problems.
Anxiety causes real physical symptoms so determining the cause is difficult. If you have had all of the tests to rule out any other cause it is probable that your symptoms are anxiety induced. I have a deal of experience with anxiety symptoms both my own and helping others and they come in two forms - entirely physical and what I call ‘worry thoughts’ which is more common and obviously anxiety, in some ways much easier to deal with.
Anxiety symptoms eminate from the Autonomic Nervous System which also controls heart and to some extent breath and I notice symptoms without immediate conscious worry thoughts but when I drilled down there was always a stressor of some sort - sometimes unavoidable stressor so then it was how do you deal with it?
I then realised that symptoms were a message my body was sending me to pay attention to something I was trying to ignore. Once focussed on the root of the problem and then address it, the symptoms disappeared.
This is not easy to do and I needed help but once I understood, then I learned to follow my body rather than my mind. I took anti-depressants for one week about 40 years ago - never, ever again. They dull the mind and the body and raised my HR and many can cause anxiety and coming off them is dreadful so you become ‘hooked’ - but an easy solution for doctors. So the solution?
Mine was as described focus on the stress and deal with it, breath techniques every day, some form of green therapy - walking in a green space every day, Practicing meditations several times a week, social activities - doing things I really enjoy called the Endorphin Effect. Endorphins are one of the feel good hormones along with dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin. When you exercise, when you do things that make you feel good - eg: singing, art, laughter you automatically boost these hormones which is much better for you than taking a pill filled with artificial hormones.
May I suggest you read some of Dr Chattergee’s books/website/blogs/BBCprogrammes/Podcasts. He did a series of BBC programmes focussing on getting patients off painkillers and anxiety/antidepressant meds. Link to his website drchatterjee.com/
His new book Happy Mind, Happy Life teaches how to achieve this.
PS - you may find this article specifically on post surgery anxiety/depression (they really are the same thing in my book) helpful health.com/condition/depres....
If I start by saying CDreamer covered most of what I was thinking. I too suffer from Anxiety (male 59) and this I now am beginning to accept is 75% behind my current Ectopic beats but, they will not treat my anxiety (may be a good thing).
What hasn't been talked about is the confidence in our Heart scenario. The fears you had prior to the operation did not suddenly fade away the minute you woke up after the operation. WE all now suffer from this heightened awareness of any change in what our Heart is doing, something everybody else would put down to indigestion due to ignorance (they have never realised or linked the change in their heart beat with the feelings). If you suffered for a long time (4 years in my case) before the operations, then, you can expect it to take 18 months or more before you start to trust your heart again. You will stop thinking twice before running for a Bus for instance. I could be wrong but you may be treating your heart as if it is made of glass still.
I have also realised that my Ectopic Beats are possibly down to restricting my breathing when anxious. They say the cure for Ectopic Beats is to slow your breathing down but in my case I probably need to ignore my breathing and allow it to happen naturally as that seems to help. (this is easier said than done of course when you are anxious). Can we agree that you are not actually out of breath, it just feels as if you are (tight lungs or a feeling you can put into words, in your wind pipe).
I think you should focus on it being a confidence in your Heart 'now' as opposed to it being the anxiety label which, once attached by a Doctor, is stuck with us for life.
I gather that you had a catheter ablation. This is the only one allowed with your condition.
It states to stop alcohol and caffeine drinks.
It stes a list of meds you cannot take. Some of these are listed as nasal spray, BBs, CCB, and other blockers.
Side effects are breathlessness, shortness of breath and fatigue.
f you are keeping away from the above and they mention cocaine it could be that time will heal.. the scar in your heart. Infection around the pacemaker is always a possibility.
Sleeping is good for you and a healing way of life.
hi! i too had an ablation for WPW in April 2021. i’m still experiencing much of what you said and my Electrophysiologist said i was fixed and basically cured from WPW. but something still felt off. so i saw many other cardiologists after and finally one gave me a referral to get a Table Tilt Test done to rule out POTs. turns out i do not have that, but instead have IST (Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia). i have to take a Beta Blocker for it. apparently you could develop a different arrhythmia after these kinds of surgeries for WPW. not everyone does. it would be good to get a second opinion. my PCP also prescribed me medication for anxiety because it hasn’t been easy. i got hit with panic attacks really badly after my heart went crazy. i haven't taken them yet. still hesitant because of the withdrawals you could get. but sometimes we need these types of medications if it gets really bad. my anxiety has eased some, but i’m still not 100%. you have to decide what’s best for you. you can send me a private message if you ever have any questions.
I have had anxiety most of my life and I have tried many pills but the one that does the trick is alprazolam 0,25 mg and I CUT into and take half in the morning and half at night!
Having had anxiety like BaileyC57 for almost as long as I remember (and I remember looking up out of my pram) I took a good year top get over my surgery and a lot of that was probably due to a general sense of unease and panic. I've found the best thing was a daily dose of mindfulness and basically a change of my attitude. I had to accept myself and allow the anxiety to appear and then go. I don't know if this will help but you are definitely not alone in this. Let us know how you feel? Best wishes. x
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