RE: ANXIETY

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Ask for something that is less invasive as far as anxiety. My husband is a

former psychiatric nurse. I was always anti mind numbing drugs. He really

convinced me to " just say Yes. " at least during the most stressful times like

pre surgery.

I found Xanac helpful . It did not make me feel too drugged out.

I called every person I knew who I thought might pray for me and that was a

comfort. ( I called some of them several times since I had two surgeries. I

began to disguise my voice, Lol)

My surgeries went well.

Call your local pharmacist about what mixes well but do not worry yourself

silly.

I just found a lump on my collarbone and before the x rays I asked for Xanac

while I waited for the results. Life is hard enough when you don't have thyroid

cancer to deal with.

Now is not the time to tough it out.

It took me nearly fifty years to figure this out.Whine a lot.

I am praying for peace for you right now. SandyB.

Anxiety

I know that I posted yesterday but I was wondering what you all do

for the anxiety? I don't see the surgeon until next Friday and my

anxiety level is crazy. I know that I'm in good hands but the thought

of what is going to happen next is just making me crazy. please any

advise, I do have medication but I don't like taking it, it makes me

a little dopey.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Ask for something that is less invasive as far as anxiety. My husband is a

former psychiatric nurse. I was always anti mind numbing drugs. He really

convinced me to " just say Yes. " at least during the most stressful times like

pre surgery.

I found Xanac helpful . It did not make me feel too drugged out.

I called every person I knew who I thought might pray for me and that was a

comfort. ( I called some of them several times since I had two surgeries. I

began to disguise my voice, Lol)

My surgeries went well.

Call your local pharmacist about what mixes well but do not worry yourself

silly.

I just found a lump on my collarbone and before the x rays I asked for Xanac

while I waited for the results. Life is hard enough when you don't have thyroid

cancer to deal with.

Now is not the time to tough it out.

It took me nearly fifty years to figure this out.Whine a lot.

I am praying for peace for you right now. SandyB.

Anxiety

I know that I posted yesterday but I was wondering what you all do

for the anxiety? I don't see the surgeon until next Friday and my

anxiety level is crazy. I know that I'm in good hands but the thought

of what is going to happen next is just making me crazy. please any

advise, I do have medication but I don't like taking it, it makes me

a little dopey.

[Guest guest]

I dont think there is anything you can do to stop from having the anxiety!

BUT I do reccomend you think positive!

>

>Reply-To: Thyca

>To: Thyca

>Subject: Anxiety

>Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2003 18:18:45 -0000

>

>I know that I posted yesterday but I was wondering what you all do

>for the anxiety? I don't see the surgeon until next Friday and my

>anxiety level is crazy. I know that I'm in good hands but the thought

>of what is going to happen next is just making me crazy. please any

>advise, I do have medication but I don't like taking it, it makes me

>a little dopey.

>

>

_________________________________________________________________

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[Guest guest]

I dont think there is anything you can do to stop from having the anxiety!

BUT I do reccomend you think positive!

>

>Reply-To: Thyca

>To: Thyca

>Subject: Anxiety

>Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2003 18:18:45 -0000

>

>I know that I posted yesterday but I was wondering what you all do

>for the anxiety? I don't see the surgeon until next Friday and my

>anxiety level is crazy. I know that I'm in good hands but the thought

>of what is going to happen next is just making me crazy. please any

>advise, I do have medication but I don't like taking it, it makes me

>a little dopey.

>

>

_________________________________________________________________

The new MSN 8: advanced junk mail protection and 2 months FREE*

http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Anxiety is normal in the beginnings, during the times when we

..........don't...........know.

For anxiety I pray. I know that God created me and knows what is best for

me, and the more I recognize that in prayer the calmer I feel. I trust that

I may come to find the benefits in these diseases, both types of cancer,

and in the periodic agonizing times of waiting for tests and for results.

Deep breathing, such as in yoga, helps.

the best,

Munira

Reply-To: Thyca

Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2003 18:18:45 -0000

To: Thyca

Subject: Anxiety

I know that I posted yesterday but I was wondering what you all do

for the anxiety? I don't see the surgeon until next Friday and my

anxiety level is crazy. I know that I'm in good hands but the thought

of what is going to happen next is just making me crazy. please any

advise, I do have medication but I don't like taking it, it makes me

a little dopey.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Anxiety is normal in the beginnings, during the times when we

..........don't...........know.

For anxiety I pray. I know that God created me and knows what is best for

me, and the more I recognize that in prayer the calmer I feel. I trust that

I may come to find the benefits in these diseases, both types of cancer,

and in the periodic agonizing times of waiting for tests and for results.

Deep breathing, such as in yoga, helps.

the best,

Munira

Reply-To: Thyca

Date: Thu, 27 Mar 2003 18:18:45 -0000

To: Thyca

Subject: Anxiety

I know that I posted yesterday but I was wondering what you all do

for the anxiety? I don't see the surgeon until next Friday and my

anxiety level is crazy. I know that I'm in good hands but the thought

of what is going to happen next is just making me crazy. please any

advise, I do have medication but I don't like taking it, it makes me

a little dopey.

[Guest guest]

as i've said many times, i'm a big fan of yoga, which is basically a fancy way

of focusing on breath. i found myself having actual anxiety attacks in the

beginning, and the best thing i did was find a quiet, calm space, sit down, and

simply breathe. if you're not into meditation or anything, just make yourself

comfortable and focus on the breath coming in and out. try not to think. the

other thing you can do is exercise. walks in the mountains or on the beach do

wonders!

keira

[Guest guest]

as i've said many times, i'm a big fan of yoga, which is basically a fancy way

of focusing on breath. i found myself having actual anxiety attacks in the

beginning, and the best thing i did was find a quiet, calm space, sit down, and

simply breathe. if you're not into meditation or anything, just make yourself

comfortable and focus on the breath coming in and out. try not to think. the

other thing you can do is exercise. walks in the mountains or on the beach do

wonders!

keira

[Guest guest]

,

It's hard, especially when you are first diagnosed. It is a lot to

learn and to get used to the idea that this is happening to you.

Try to focus on the here and now---live in the moment as they

say.

Right now, how are you? You are probably otherwise normal, you

are okay, sitting at your computer, you have a house, food in the

kitchen, people to talk to, people who understand. Maybe the first

signs of spring are outside. Your disease has no symptoms.

You will not be permanently disfigured by this treatment. You will

not have to alter your life forever because of this. You can expect

your life to return to normal when this short period is over.

Also, do whatever relaxes you best during this time. I did lots of

yoga. It was insanely, deeping relaxing. Some people turn to

prayer, meditation, deep breathing, gardening, reading, watching

movies, getting a massage. Pamper yourself A LOT. Whatever

things are relaxing, do them, and get really into them. During that

time that you are doing that activity, nothing will change with your

situation, so allow yourself to drop the worries off for a while.

Finally, know that all of us here have been through it before you.

And we are all still here, alive, leading normal lives. You will be

too. It will all turn out okay. :-)

Best wishes,

--Carmen in nyc

10/00 TT, pap, 1.6 cm nodule and 6 lymph nodes

11/00 RAI 100 mCi

3/03 RAI 200 mCi

> I know that I posted yesterday but I was wondering what you all

do

> for the anxiety? I don't see the surgeon until next Friday and my

> anxiety level is crazy. I know that I'm in good hands but the

thought

> of what is going to happen next is just making me crazy.

please any

> advise, I do have medication but I don't like taking it, it makes

me

> a little dopey.

>

[Guest guest]

,

It's hard, especially when you are first diagnosed. It is a lot to

learn and to get used to the idea that this is happening to you.

Try to focus on the here and now---live in the moment as they

say.

Right now, how are you? You are probably otherwise normal, you

are okay, sitting at your computer, you have a house, food in the

kitchen, people to talk to, people who understand. Maybe the first

signs of spring are outside. Your disease has no symptoms.

You will not be permanently disfigured by this treatment. You will

not have to alter your life forever because of this. You can expect

your life to return to normal when this short period is over.

Also, do whatever relaxes you best during this time. I did lots of

yoga. It was insanely, deeping relaxing. Some people turn to

prayer, meditation, deep breathing, gardening, reading, watching

movies, getting a massage. Pamper yourself A LOT. Whatever

things are relaxing, do them, and get really into them. During that

time that you are doing that activity, nothing will change with your

situation, so allow yourself to drop the worries off for a while.

Finally, know that all of us here have been through it before you.

And we are all still here, alive, leading normal lives. You will be

too. It will all turn out okay. :-)

Best wishes,

--Carmen in nyc

10/00 TT, pap, 1.6 cm nodule and 6 lymph nodes

11/00 RAI 100 mCi

3/03 RAI 200 mCi

> I know that I posted yesterday but I was wondering what you all

do

> for the anxiety? I don't see the surgeon until next Friday and my

> anxiety level is crazy. I know that I'm in good hands but the

thought

> of what is going to happen next is just making me crazy.

please any

> advise, I do have medication but I don't like taking it, it makes

me

> a little dopey.

>

[Guest guest]

Hi

I can relate very well to the way that you are feeling right now. I do the

same things.

My anxiety goes down a little when I know what the next steps will be. I do

not like the unknown.

What helps me at times is meditation. What I do is breath in deeply and

exhale slowly. This helped me out during the WBS. It kept me much more

relaxed than I would have been.

I also have very low dose tranquilizers which I use very rarely.

Sometimes they can be very usefull at the right time.

Hope that I was of some help.

adel

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/3/2005 2:38:24 PM Pacific Standard Time,

kthlnsm@... writes:

I have an anxious personality to start with, so finding out I had AF really

put my imagination into overdrive. The only way I've been able to deal with my

anxiety is to get up and do something (i.e. dishes, laundry, whatever) when I

get a sudden panicky feeling, or, I repeat " I am happy, healthy and safe "

over and over again in my head! It blanks out any other negative thoughts I may

be having. Silly, but it works (especially at night when my heart's feeling

particularly " touchy " ).

Kathleen thank you for this good reminder. Yes, activity helps and the mantra

of " I am happy, healthy and safe. " I will practice it today. My stomach is

out of sorts and that doesn't help my anxiety either. I guess having a

tube shoved down your esophagus and rooting around in your tummy might make you

feel a bit lousy the next day. ??

Lil

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/3/2005 4:29:18 PM Pacific Standard Time,

dwcexec@... writes:

You are so right that there is stress from living with Afib, but I

often wonder if my stress has simply progressed from anxiety to fear.

I feel extremely vulnerable around folks who want to vent their anger

and frustrations at me.

I have been extremely fortunate with weightloss and management. I

have lost 116 pounds over the last three years. No diet--just a

permanent change in eating habits and walking 1-2 miles daily.

You are to be congratulated on such a truly great feat. To lose this kind of

weight just through change in diet and exercise is laudable, to say the least,

and shows amazing determination and discipline.

I too have lived a life which has so many times been overshadowed with fear.

I have accomplished a lot of things and tried not to let fear stand in my way

but I have lived an UNCOMFORTABLE life at many times ... complete panic

disorder in my thirties, for example, threatened to stop my driving the

freeways,

flying, or even teaching my high school classes. I was able to work with it and

through it, but I have lived with generalized anxiety a long time. I know this

has contributed to my heart condition, and vice versa! (we produce more

adrenaline, those of us with mitral valve prolapse anyway).

I cannot think of ANYTHING more important than working with and beyond my

fears, learning to be more accepting, working toward a calm center, and growing

my courage because getting older isn't for sissies, with or without afib.

I am glad we are all here to support one another in this, and other issues.

Because afib does not live in a vacuum by itself...it lives in our hearts, and

our hearts , rightly or wrongly, are perceived to be where all emotions are

deeply felt.

Lil

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/3/2005 4:27:32 PM Pacific Standard Time,

indiaink99@... writes:

The thought that came to me then, and has helped enormously ever since, was

thinking about all these friends I have on this list who I've never actually

met, but who totally understand what I'm going through, even if I'm alone and

scared in the middle of the night. There was a lot of comfort for me in that

knowledge. There still is. Learning more and realizing (like someone said

earlier) that I did not have to go to the ER every time no matter how scared I

was, and that mostly they held my hand, monitored me, and could not do much that

I stopped going there and learned to deal with it. You're still really new to

all this,and you have my compassion and caring about the stage you're going

through. It will get better ... honest. We're here for you. And we care a

lot.

Toni you're a doll. Thanks for this wonderful post. I do feel a kinship here

and I am SO grateful for the internet and for this group. it has done so much

to help all of us.

Lil

[Guest guest]

How does everyone deal with anxiety? Anyone care to share? Some days I am on

top of it, other days it's on top of me. I know that afib itself creates

feelings of anxiety, adrenaline etc. Long deep breaths help a little, and I have

gone through panic disorder in the past but would love to hear thoughts on this.

---------------------------

Lil ... I have also had severe panic disorder in the past, and panic and anxiety

are NOT feelings I deal with well at all. If it takes hold, I'm lost. My goal

is to keep it from taking hold. When I was new to all this, and again a year

ago when it got worse and the fight with my insurance company started (which I

lost), it was very severe again. I have a medication I can take which helps

with not letting it take hold. If I can't make it stop within about 10 minutes

with all the cognitive stuff I learned many years ago, or with deep-breathing or

meditation, I'll take a half of one of the pills. I do NOT like medications

like this though, so I rarely take it. It's interesting to write this as I

hadn't taken one for almost a year, and I took one last night as I had a major

crisis at work yesterday that may spell some really bad stuff ahead for me in a

job that I so far love but may not much longer. My panic was hideous over that

and I broke down and took a pill last night so I could sleep (I'd cried as much

as I could ... my poor swollen eyes were pathetic).

Fortunately, a-fib did not take hold in spite of the severe panic, and I'm way

better today (though more than a little depressed about it all). I've spent

much of the last year learning to utilize the meditation techniques I " ve known

for years, and to utilize deep-breathing (belly breathing) and other relaxation

techniques when the PVCs or PACs start. Each a-fib attack used to cause severe

panic and much anxiety and depression. That's where these lists help so much.

After the first 8 months or so, it got bad and it was the middle of the night

and I was scared and didn't want to fall asleep as back then I still wondered if

I would wake up if I fell asleep in a-fib. The thought that came to me then,

and has helped enormously ever since, was thinking about all these friends I

have on this list who I've never actually met, but who totally understand what

I'm going through, even if I'm alone and scared in the middle of the night.

There was a lot of comfort for me in that knowledge. There still is. Learning

more and realizing (like someone said earlier) that I did not have to go to the

ER every time no matter how scared I was, and that mostly they held my hand,

monitored me, and could not do much that I stopped going there and learned to

deal with it. You're still really new to all this,and you have my compassion

and caring about the stage you're going through. It will get better ... honest.

We're here for you. And we care a lot.

Toni

CA

[Guest guest]

Hi Lil,

I have an anxious personality to start with, so finding out I had AF really put

my imagination into overdrive. The only way I've been able to deal with my

anxiety is to get up and do something (i.e. dishes, laundry, whatever) when I

get a sudden panicky feeling, or, I repeat " I am happy, healthy and safe " over

and over again in my head! It blanks out any other negative thoughts I may be

having. Silly, but it works (especially at night when my heart's feeling

particularly " touchy " ).

Kathleen

cnetwork@... wrote:

How does everyone deal with anxiety? Anyone care to share? Some days I am on

top of it, other days it's on top of me. I know that afib itself creates

feelings of anxiety, adrenaline etc. Long deep breaths help a little, and I have

gone through panic disorder in the past but would love to hear thoughts on this.

Also, how is your appetite since you got into afib? I notice mine is spotty.

Comes and goes. I am not losing a lot of weight though!

Thank you

Lil in Ca

[Guest guest]

Lil,

I could also use advice on coping with anxiety. My wife and I had a

long discussion about this very topic last night. ly, I feel

that I have failed to adequately address this issue for nearly twenty

years and now I am paying the price through Afib and other stress-

related problems.

You are so right that there is stress from living with Afib, but I

often wonder if my stress has simply progressed from anxiety to fear.

I feel extremely vulnerable around folks who want to vent their anger

and frustrations at me.

I have been extremely fortunate with weightloss and management. I

have lost 116 pounds over the last three years. No diet--just a

permanent change in eating habits and walking 1-2 miles daily.

Great question. I will be interested in the advice of our group

members.

Best regards,

> How does everyone deal with anxiety? Anyone care to share? Some

days I am on

> top of it, other days it's on top of me. I know that afib itself

creates

> feelings of anxiety, adrenaline etc. Long deep breaths help a

little, and I have

> gone through panic disorder in the past but would love to hear

thoughts on this.

> Also, how is your appetite since you got into afib? I notice mine

is spotty.

> Comes and goes. I am not losing a lot of weight though!

> Thank you

> Lil in Ca

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Lil,

" I guess having a

tube shoved down your esophagus and rooting around in your tummy might make you

feel a bit lousy the next day. "

That would certainly do it! I personally haven't really tried too much else for

anxiety as I really dislike taking any more pills, herbal, medicinal, or

otherwise, than I need to stay in sinus. I've always found some form of

meditation, like mantras, to be the best bet. I hope you find something that

works for you.

Kathleen

cnetwork@... wrote:

In a message dated 6/3/2005 2:38:24 PM Pacific Standard Time,

kthlnsm@... writes:

I have an anxious personality to start with, so finding out I had AF really

put my imagination into overdrive. The only way I've been able to deal with my

anxiety is to get up and do something (i.e. dishes, laundry, whatever) when I

get a sudden panicky feeling, or, I repeat " I am happy, healthy and safe "

over and over again in my head! It blanks out any other negative thoughts I may

be having. Silly, but it works (especially at night when my heart's feeling

particularly " touchy " ).

Kathleen thank you for this good reminder. Yes, activity helps and the mantra

of " I am happy, healthy and safe. " I will practice it today. My stomach is

out of sorts and that doesn't help my anxiety either. I guess having a

tube shoved down your esophagus and rooting around in your tummy might make you

feel a bit lousy the next day. ??

Lil

[Guest guest]

Having had panic disorder on and off for many years and having taken

several different medication for it over that time, I find that

Klonopin not only relieves my anxiety when in Afib but tends to covert

me back to NSR faster than " toughing it out " . An Ambien works almost

as well with no hangover. I hven't used anything for anxiety for

several years now. The amount of Klonopin I require to deal with the

Afib is less than half I needed for a panic attack.

Nobody wants to take any more drugs than necessary but they sure are

nice to have around for when they are necessary.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/3/2005 4:23:50 PM Pacific Standard Time,

ggheld@... writes:

Having had panic disorder on and off for many years and having taken

several different medication for it over that time, I find that

Klonopin not only relieves my anxiety when in Afib but tends to covert

me back to NSR faster than " toughing it out " . An Ambien works almost

as well with no hangover. I hven't used anything for anxiety for

several years now. The amount of Klonopin I require to deal with the

Afib is less than half I needed for a panic attack.

Nobody wants to take any more drugs than necessary but they sure are

nice to have around for when they are necessary.

I have valium and also atavan. I will take a half of a pill if I get too

edgy. I have heard Klonopin can be hard to come off of, but maybe I will talk to

my internist about it. There is nothing more debilitating than anxiety. It's

devastating. Thanks for your response.

Lil

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/3/2005 10:32:47 PM Pacific Standard Time,

ggheld@... writes:

Lil: The reason I like Klonopin is its long half life and

no " whoosh " in and out. Very gradual and predictable.

I am definitely going to talk to my internist this Tuesday about Klonopin. I

want to try it. Thanks

Lil

[Guest guest]

I have a sneaking suspicion that there is a huge psychcological

component to A Fib in a significant percentage of the AF population.

Either that or 90% of America has psychic problems.

> > How does everyone deal with anxiety? Anyone care to share? Some

> days I am on

> > top of it, other days it's on top of me. I know that afib itself

> creates

> > feelings of anxiety, adrenaline etc. Long deep breaths help a

> little, and I have

> > gone through panic disorder in the past but would love to hear

> thoughts on this.

> > Also, how is your appetite since you got into afib? I notice mine

> is spotty.

> > Comes and goes. I am not losing a lot of weight though!

> > Thank you

> > Lil in Ca

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

>

> I have valium and also atavan. I will take a half of a pill if I

get too

> edgy. I have heard Klonopin can be hard to come off of, but maybe

I will talk to

> my internist about it. There is nothing more debilitating than

anxiety. It's

> devastating. Thanks for your response.

> Lil

>

Lil: The reason I like Klonopin is its long half life and

no " whoosh " in and out. Very gradual and predictable.

I think most benzo's, of which Ativan, Klonopin and Valium are all

in that family, can be dependency creating, particularly if one is

at all an addictive type. I certainly think they're preferable to

the SSRI's, however, both from effectiveness and side effects

standpoints.

However, I found that my body speaks to me when it's time to taper

down - when the same dose seems to affect me more I reduce it and

continue that until I'm down to zero. That sometimes takes months.

The last .125 mg is always the hardest to give up. Certainly

there's no high involved with a benzo and once a therapeutic level

is established there never has been an escalating need for me so I

don't really see a problem.

[Guest guest]

I have had the same thoughts, ie, was it afib that caused my panic attacks many

years ago? The first attack certainly was brought on by shortness of breath, a

feeling of light headedness etc, which spiraled into a panic attack. With the

help of a good book titled " Hope and Help for your nerves " which went into the

whole fight or flight, excess adrenaline et al and an occassional valium I got

the panic attacks under control after a couple of years. Then, 30 years later I

start with diagnosed afib and the feelings are much the same. Understanding,

this time around, what was going on, prevented me from getting back into the

panic attack problem. Curiousier and curioser.

Dave

Re: Re: anxiety

In a message dated 6/3/05 10:25:39 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

hickok99@... writes:

> I have a sneaking suspicion that there is a huge psychcological

> component to A Fib in a significant percentage of the AF population.

I'm not so sure this is true. It's a " chicken or the egg " dilemma. What

they thought was panic disorder in me years ago may have been early a-fib as the

symptoms are identical. And having " heart stuff " is frightening, causing

panic. So who knows? I'd doubt seriously if the millions of a-fib sufferers

also

all have psychological problems any more than the general population who have

psychological problems but no a-fib. Chicken first? Egg first? Or fricking

roast beef and not evenin the chicken/egg realm? Who the hell knows.

Toni

CA

[Guest guest]

Certaainly stress is usually cited as one of the triggers for Afib,

and certainly panic attacks are stressors to the system, so it would

seem that there's a connection. I wonder how many of us afibbers

are also panic disease sufferers.

If the above is true, in response to another poster I doubt a benzo

would do any more in fixing the afib problem long term than it does

the panic disease. It frequently takes therapy for panic

resolution; and maybe that would also help for afib.

In my own case a benzo has stopped my afib in a few hours each time

so far.

I'm sure there are many other triggers for afib. Nothing seems to

be simple and straightforward about this disease. I hate the sound

of the term " heart disease " but that's really what it is, isn't it?

> I have had the same thoughts, ie, was it afib that caused my panic

attacks many years ago? The first attack certainly was brought on by

shortness of breath, a feeling of light headedness etc, which

spiraled into a panic attack. With the help of a good book

titled " Hope and Help for your nerves " which went into the whole

fight or flight, excess adrenaline et al and an occassional valium I

got the panic attacks under control after a couple of years. Then,

30 years later I start with diagnosed afib and the feelings are much

the same. Understanding, this time around, what was going on,

prevented me from getting back into the panic attack problem.

Curiousier and curioser.

> Dave

>