A moment of fear ....

I came to work last night at 7:30pm and was feeling ...well, sorta jazzed up, like I had taken some kind of stimulant. (which I had not; haven't even had any caffeine since surgery).  I was feeling really jumpy and I hit the floor running when I got here.  I had a patient not doing well and I had to run a bunch of tests and blood draws and so forth.  I eventually had to transfer him to the ICU.  After that I finally had a moment to focus on the rest of my patients.  I was still feeling jumpy/anxious, but not too terribly bad.  I finished my rounds and med pass around 10:30 and got to sit down and take a breather.  But then I started having some kind of chest pressure.  Nothing like I'd ever felt before.  Wasn't gas and didn't feel like reflux (which I have a history of).  I sat still for about 10 mins and then the pressure/pain got pretty intense.  I had already mentioned to the charge nurse that I was having some pain.  When he looked at me again, when the pain was so bad, I started to panic and cry.  They took my b/p and it was high @ 170/93 (which would have been high for me even pre-op) I didn't know what was going on.  So they talked me into walking down to the ER and they did an EKG (nothing), blood work (nothing) and urine (nothing).  My b/p came down to around 120's/60 after a couple hours.  I have no idea what that was.  I had a headache afterward, which I still have.  The only thing I can figure is maybe an anxiety attack.  Can't say for sure, since I've never had one before.  Really, really weird and scarry.  But I'm feeling ok now and hope it doesn't happen again.  Has anyone had such an experience post-op?  I'm 3.5 weeks out.

Elena, I am sorry you had a rough night last night.  It does sound like you had a panic attack.  When I get them I hold my breath and count to ten a couple of times until it passes.  Try and relax today. Beth

I suffer from panic attacks.  Sounds like that is what you had I had one because of post op pain and being off my normal meds and one was for anxity.  I am sorry you had to go through that.  I hope you dont have any more but they are treatable.  Hang in there. Annrenee RNY april 24th 07 starting weight 237 down to 205.

Elena, I'm going out on a limb here and disagreeing with everyone else...I DO NOT think you had a panic attack.  The reason why I don't?...because you have described the exact thing that has happened to me twice since surgery.  Both times I thought I was having a heart attack...both times I literally!!!!! thought I was dying!  Get a copy of the book "The Real Skinny on Weight Loss Surgery" by Julie Janeway and Karen Sparks...there is a chapter about things that happen after surgery and a subchapter regarding "scramps"...these are "screaming cramps" and described what we have experienced.  Happens with gastric bypass patients only and not often...and no one know exactly why.  Lots of theories from the increased calcium to the use of Splenda but no real answers.  After the last "attack" I had, I had my heart and all checked out and everything was fine...during the attacks my bp goes up and afterwards I usually have a killer headache.  The good news is that most patients do not have these very often and usually not at all after the first year or so after surgery.  Good luck!

Thanks Kym,  That's exactly what I went through.  The chest pain, elevated b/p and a really bad headache after.  I'll have to get that book and check out the info.  Thanks again for pointing me in a direction! 

It is so nice that we have this avenue to talk about these kind of problems that can arise.  I hope this doesn't happen to you again, but at least if and when it does, maybe it won't be quite so scary. Take care of you..... Soon to be "Jancy!"