Mystery Illness Strikes Again!

I have been feeling well for the past few weeks, ever since they put me on Xanax. And then I had a small "heart attack" last week and now this morning until a few moments ago I felt like another one was going to hit hard. I had a protein bar, which they suggested I do to get my blood sugar up. It slowly began to work but I think that because I eat protein bars that are so low in sugar, it doesn't work as fast or as well as it should. I know that I should call the doctor but all they ever tell me is to go to the emergency room. Chest pain & weekness = ER. And I also know, because I have done this several times, that by the time I get to the ER I will be fine, sitting there smiling at them as they ask me questions and they will look at me like I am crazy and send me home telling me to eat more carbs. The theory is that my blood sugar is rapidly drooping due to the lack of carbs in my diet and that sends me into shock or something. Well unless they want me to be 350 lbs again I can't eat carbs all the time, I already eat about 40 grams a day. There has to be some other answer. Sorry, I am just venting b/c I don't feel well and my happy pill has worn off.

Hi Christine, Are you sure that it's attacks from lack of food and not really panic attacks? I suffere from very bad panic disorder and sometimes they do feel like I'm having a heart attack or physical attack. I've been on Xanax before but now take Ativan *same family*...I also am on a Lexapro (antidepressant) and it helps a lot. Do you eat oranges? I find that if I need a carb to boost my sugar a bit, to eat an orange and it helps a lot. I feel so bad that you're having these problems. Did you actually have a "heart attack" last week? They let you go and get back to normal life so soon? Have you seen a nutritionist for some advice on food and eating? How about seeing someone for stress? I'm pulling thoughts out of a hat here to try to help you. If you have any questions, feel free to email me, I'm here if you need a shoulder to lean on! paula

I'm sorry, I should have explained better. What I call a heart attack is actually a bunch of symptoms that all seem to be made better after I eat carbs. They almost always include lightheadedness and chest pain/pressure but it can also involve feeling loopy, feveri****s a mess. A few months ago I felt like this all the time, having an actual "attack" of pressure and lightheadedness once or twice a day. My nutrionist said that my sugar was dropping due to lack of carbs (at that point, I was barely eating any carbs at all) and to add more carbs to my diet via protein bars. Well...that worked, for a few weeks until the attacks seemed to happen whether I had just eaten carbs or not. But they always got better after eating more carbs. Then... I started using the Depo shot and all hell broke loose. I was having attacks left and right, I was jittery all the time, it was wierd. So my GYN put me on Xanax, thinking that it was the Depo driving me nutso. And that worked...for a few weeks and now I see the symptoms creeping back in again. So thats the long story. My PCP says its a surgery issue, the surgeon says call your PCP or go to the ER. I've been to the ER several times but by the time I get there, I feel fine so they send me home. For instance, I could barely stand up earlier this morning. I'm fine now. Who knows? But one thing I do know is that I need to bring some higher carb protein bars in from home for emergencies. Thanks for listening, that honestly helps alot.

I am going to revisit my response last time you did this- I think you really need to eliminate the Depo and see what that does for these symptoms- also I suggest you hit the drug store- and buy yourself a glucometer- you can get them in the pharmacy - and start checking your blood sugars- a couple times a week take one upon rising before eating anything, then do one say 1/2 hour after eating, and especially take it during these episodes. This way you can rule out - or rule in blood sugar changes as the cause. You are getting the run around from everybody. Is sucks- somebody needs to get to the bottom of this before you really have a problem. I would say you need really go over these symptoms with the surgeon- the problem is with us- that unless your PCP has a lot of knowledge regarding the post op WLS patient we end up like we were talking about at the monthly Post op support group- having to advocate for ourselves and remind the docs every minute that our internal plumbing is not average. Our surgeon becomes a secondary PCP at times having to sort symptoms related to WLS from other problems.

I've been on Xanax before but now take Ativan *same family*...I also am on a Lexapro (antidepressant) and it helps a lot. Paula, I was on Lexapro and gained 35 pounds in 6 months! I hated the stuff, and I sent the makers of it a nasty letter about its weight gain side effects. I still have a 2 month supply if you want it. I'm on Wellbutrin XL now and pleased with it. Christine, having just met you last night I would like to see you around for a long time. Don't mess with this.

I say don't mess around and listen to the Drs. (I had a heart attack at 35) If you are having chest pain, go to the ER. Don't blow it off. If they tell you it is due to lack of carbs, than try eating one more serving a day which is only 15g. I know several WLSers that eat around 75g due to diabetic reasons and still are having a lot of success with their surgery. It's not worth risking diabetic shock or a diabetic coma. Please, Please take care of yourself. Maggie

Hey Christine, I think the antidepressent is too strong for you sweetie, I know when I was on Prozac I had the same symptons of a racing heart and pains in my chest, so my doc took me off it and gave me the zoloft instead. You need to call your doctor and go see him/her. Don't play around with that sweetie, if it persists and gets worse go to the ER!!!! I hope you know how much we all love you on this board and don't want anything to happen to you, take care of yourself and get that checked. Hugs KimC

Hey Christine, I am not using any anitdepressent but Please go see your doctor and ask to give you different kind of anitdepressent pill. We do not want you to end being sick before the party on March 4th and want to see your face happy! Let us know what happened after you see doctor to change the pill Hugs Kathy K

I will admit that this morning I still feel a little weak and loopy but better than yesterday. And I am spotting so that leads me to think that all this hysteria is my period trying to come. Will someone remind me of this next month when I start freaking out about my health? Someone just tell me "your period is trying to start and your body won't let it because of the Depo, that is why your body is freaking out." The same thing happened last month. This all could be some advanced form of PMS or something. But...I did call my PCP and asked him to prescribe a glucometer and brought some higher carb protein bars in from home for emergencies. There is nothing I can do about the Depo, even if I don't get the next shot, it is in my system for a while afterwards, up to a year even. So if it is adding to this stress, there is nothing I can do but suck it up and wait it out. My Xanax is the only thing that is helping me. Its not helping with the "heart attacks" but it is helping me be more emotionally steady while all this nonsense is going on so while I would entertain the idea of switching anti-anxiety meds, I really don't think that its the drugs that are causing the trouble. I already had this issue months before I started the Xanax But thank you, thank you, to everyone. When I am not feeling well it is very easy to feel alone and getting all your responces helps so much!!