Anxiety

[kradtke5 19]

Hello all,

I thought I would reach out here since I'm not getting that great of a response from the support group set up by the doctors I had surgery with.

My issue has been anxiety. Just awful anxiety over the littlest things since surgery. I didn't hang any anxiety prior to surgery but since, it's been something else. I worry over the smallest ache and pain thinking it's something worse. I lay awake at night worried about falling asleep. I start having chest pain a few weeks ago, ended up in the ER and after a bunch of blood work and normal EKG, they sent me on my way. I had an EKG done in July when I met with the cardiologist prior to surgery and she gave me an all clear. The pain is left side of chest and into my back. Comes and goes without any reason and when it does come, I often stress myself out more.

I contacted my pcp to get on something for this anxiety. He prescribed a med that takes up to four weeks todo any good, so that habana been working that great for me. I often catch myself Google searching for answer and that's just a bad idea.

Any Adobe out there? Anyone dealing with the same thing? (Currently 5 weeks post op)

[James Marusek 5,244]

Other than anxiety and aches and pains are there any other symptoms?

[goblue9280 481]

I've dealt with anxiety issues for years. Also ended up in the ER a couple of times. Haven taken paxil for a number of years, which I just found out from my surgeon isn't the best because it can increase hunger. I would often stress about left side pain like you describe. Sometimes feel like a quick stop, and then almost like I catch my breath... but EKG's blood work always come out normal.

Anyhow, I have not any major issues since surgery (but it has only been 12 days.) Before surgery, during my endoscopy I found out I'm a GERD sufferer, and (although the biopsy came back negative) it looked like Barrett's esophagus. I've been on nexium since then, and it has me wondering if some of the weird pains I was experiencing in the past were actually GERD related.

[kradtke5 19]

Other than anxiety and aches and pains are there any other symptoms?

No other symptoms besides the random chest pain and the occasional feeling like I can feel my heartbeat in my throat.

[toasty 371]

This is probably obvious, but if you are having chronic anxiety you should probably see a psychologist. They are really good at helping you to develop ways to manage your anxiety. If you are considering anxiety or depression medications, I would also highly suggest seeing a psychiatrist, rather than your primary care physician. Psychiatrists specialize in such medications, and have more training in treating those sorts of issues.

I am by no means suggesting this is all in your head, but suggesting that there are other ways to manage your symptoms of anxiety. Certainly I would bring all of this up to your bariatric team as well to determine if there is a root cause to the continuing issues you are having.

Sorry to hear you are having so much trouble.

[SookieLei 47]

Does your bariatric team have a social worker? Mine did, and she helped alleviate a lot of my anxiety I had pre op. If so, I would suggest reaching out to them.

[kradtke5 19]

Does your bariatric team have a social worker? Mine did, and she helped alleviate a lot of my anxiety I had pre op. If so, I would suggest reaching out to them.

I did meet with one, unfortunately she made things much worse. She had to remind me many times how I had a chance of dying during surgery. She also had to tell me all about how she knew someone who died a few weeks after surgery. She was awful and made things worse. I did set up an appointment with another therapist in mid November.

[kradtke5 19]

This is probably obvious, but if you are having chronic anxiety you should probably see a psychologist. They are really good at helping you to develop ways to manage your anxiety. If you are considering anxiety or depression medications, I would also highly suggest seeing a psychiatrist, rather than your primary care physician. Psychiatrists specialize in such medications, and have more training in treating those sorts of issues.

I am by no means suggesting this is all in your head, but suggesting that there are other ways to manage your symptoms of anxiety. Certainly I would bring all of this up to your bariatric team as well to determine if there is a root cause to the continuing issues you are having.

Sorry to hear you are having so much trouble.

The thing is, is I don't have chronic anxiety. This is sudden and only since surgery. And I attempted to get in to see a psychiatrist but the wok eat opening is mid December. My doctor has started me on a low dose anxiety med so hopefully the starts to help with things. This chest pain is just what frustrating because it causes a never ending circle of anxiety.

[toasty 371]

Well, sounds like you are doing all the right things to take care of yourself. I can imagine how frustrating it must be to have these issues and not have any resolution on why they are happening.

Hopefully you are able to get a resolution on your main issue (the chest pain) soon.

[Cervidae 2,389]

It could be hormonal imbalances. I have always had depression and anxiety but I've been completely out of control since surgery 8 weeks ago. Sudden extreme bouts of depression and random panic attacks... not fun. My surgeon tells me it's almost certainly hormone craziness, and eventually my body will stabilize, hopefully enough that my issues will be more manageable. Right now, I'm basically nonfunctional. :/

[kradtke5 19]

It could be hormonal imbalances. I have always had depression and anxiety but I've been completely out of control since surgery 8 weeks ago. Sudden extreme bouts of depression and random panic attacks... not fun. My surgeon tells me it's almost certainly hormone craziness, and eventually my body will stabilize, hopefully enough that my issues will be more manageable. Right now, I'm basically nonfunctional. :/

Don't worry, you're not the only one.

[anna9/15 93]

Im going thru the exact same thing and they make it seem like im a rare case..mines is worse when i try to sleep i wake up in full panic everynight..even had to take more time off work..its messing my up so bad and i dont see any releif in sight. .have they found anything to help you?

[kradtke5 19]

Im going thru the exact same thing and they make it seem like im a rare case..mines is worse when i try to sleep i wake up in full panic everynight..even had to take more time off work..its messing my up so bad and i dont see any releif in sight. .have they found anything to help you?

Sadly, I'm at almost two months out and still having issues. My doctor has prescribed me some anti anxiety meds to try and help when things get really bad. I would talk to your pcp and see if they can put you on something to help. I've also made an appointment with a psychologist to get some extra help.

[anna9/15 93]

Are the meds helping at all? I was prescribed some meds as well i was on the fence about taking them dont want any extra side effects but i also need the help

[BLERDgirl 6,417]

Unfortunately it sounds like you have a bit of a waiting game ahead of you. You're waiting for the meds to kick in and you're waiting for your new psych appointment. Other than seeking out an in person support group I can't think of anything else that might assist you. I'm not trying to sound trite, but just try & hang in there. Things will get better. It sounds like you are doing the right things, just give your body a chance to catch up.