Question:
Does anyone feel a strange heart beat now??

I recently went to the doctor because at about 5-6 weeks Post Op I'm having nausea and when I lay down I have this very strange heart beat. The doctor checked me out and it seems everything is fine including my heart. But I had serious Anxiety before surgery and I'm curious as to whether the feelings I have now are just different than before I had surgery. I'm wondering if anyone else has had this stange feeling for Anxiety?? Let me know what you think!! Thank you for anything you may add!!    — Maggie M. (posted on August 20, 2004)

August 19, 2004
I had suffered panic attacks prior to looking into gastric bypass surgery. It developed after my Dad died and I began seeing a psychologist right away because they were so frequent and tramatic to me. After I had the surgery and even now one year later, I still suffer from the attacks. The difference is, now I have palpatations and heart racing spells to go along with the other symtoms I have always had. I too was worried and the Doctor gave me the ekg, ultra sound and had me wear a heart monitor for 24 hours. All checked out fine. I have a feeling that my Hormones are playing a big part in my attacks. I am 46 and starting to skip periods, or have as I did this month, two periods inside of 17 days. Hormones are stored in our Fat cells. They are excreted when we have weight loss spurts. I don't know if any of this is helpful to you, but I just wanted you to know that I understand what you are going through.
   — Sunshine

August 20, 2004
I just spent 3 days in the hospital after a horrible anxiety attack. They checked everything and all cardiac tests came back fine. Just yesterday they started me on Lexapro and one Xanax at bedtime. Those extra beats can really weigh on your mind which perpetuates the fear and your thoughts run away with themselves. I had a few panic attacks before my WLS, nothing for 4 years and then out of the blue, they came back. I'm choosing medication instead of feeling stressed out with worry that it will happen again any minute. Tough choice, I know. Best of luck to you.
   — Vicki S.

August 20, 2004
I had the same feelings at about 5-6 wks PO too, went to the cardiologist and the EKG was fine. He feels it was anxiety too. It stopped by 8 wks PO, so I think it attributed to having this new stomach and doing the right thing, eating, drinking, vitamins, etc. Once I was comfortably eating soft foods, and didn't experience ill effects, the anxiety diminished and now 5 months PO, I don't have it anymore. 275/203/150
   — SJWendy

August 21, 2004
I can relate to what you are experiencing. The best way I can help you is to point you to my web site because I have a web page up that deals with the topic of my magnesium deficiency. It sounds like you might discover some of your symptoms there and it could be an important clue for you. Take a look at www.acdlady.com/WLS_Magnesium and see if that is of help. Magnesium is something that many of us have a deficiency with and some of us are much worse than others. I use magnesium citrate and am currently at 800 mg a day. I began at 400 mg and worked up. I also get injections every three weeks. Sandra AZ
   — Arizona_Sun

August 21, 2004
MY HEART STARTED RACING ABOUT TWO WEEKS POST-OP AND IT SCARED ME TO DEATH. i TOO WENT TO MY PCP AND HAD THE EKG, ETC AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. uPON MY NEXT VISIT TO MY GASTRIC SURGEON I DISCUSSED THIS ISSUE. HE ADVISED THAT A RACY HEART BEAT IS A SIGN OF DUMPING. HE TOLD ME TO SLOW DOWN WHEN EATING AND LIMIT SUGAR AND FAT. i DID JUST THAT AND THE RACING HEART STOPPED. pERIODICALLY i WILL FORGET TO SLOW DOWN WHEN EATING AND THE RACING HEART COMES BACK.
   — johnettaw1

August 21, 2004
Although rare, this is my experience. I was post op, feeling extreme fatigue, heart racing, and extreme nausea. I went to the ER, just to be sure, i had an ominous feeling something was wrong. They gave me maalox, and an EKG just to be safe. Assured me it was gas, and as i was about to be released, I suffered a major coronary, blocking two arteries on the ride side of my heart. I was rushed to surgery, and had to be balooned and two stents. The cardiologist said that the problem was not picked up on the EKG, AND IT IS COMMON FOR A FALSE READING!!! BE CAUTIOUS.
   — William D.