Question:
Anxiety attack early post-op
I have never suffered from anxiety attacks ever before, but I think I had my first one (and hopefully last one) last night. I am 8 days postop Lap RNY. It lasted about 2 hours, and was horrible - flushed hot, unmitigated fear, jitteryness. Is there a vitamin deficiency or hormonal deficiency that could cause this? Or something else that I can do to prevent this from happening again? Thanks for all your kind words and advice. Lynn — Kitcat (posted on October 25, 2005)
October 25, 2005
The symptoms you describe also sound like dumping syndrome. Caould you have
eaten too much or too fast? Were there ingredients in there that you
weren't used to yet since the surgery? All of this can cause the symptoms
that you described.
— Michelle E.
October 25, 2005
I agree, it could be something you ate or way to fast But also this surgery
takes a tole on the body and System and you may need a light antidepressant
to help you get through some days I take Valum but I dont take it everyday
and it is a low dossage... hope you figure it out... [email protected]
— Flo
October 25, 2005
Alot of women have screwy hormones after surgery, you may want to get htem
checked.
Paula
— shoutjoy
October 25, 2005
Omigod, if this is dumping syndrome, I want to turn the clock back and undo
this surgery. I understood that dumping syndrome caused very unpleasant
PHYSICAL symptoms, but never realized it included full-blown anxiety
attacks as part of the syndrome. I hope to god it's not dumping, and
something else because last night was one of the most horrible nights I
have ever experienced.
— Kitcat
October 25, 2005
Celexa has helped me some. But as others said, it could be dumping as well.
They do feel somewhat alike.
— Danmark
October 25, 2005
Although being "flushed hot" is a sign of the dumping syndrome,
the other symptoms you've described just aren't (as dumping is usually
accompanied by feeling flushed and experiencing cramping and other sorts of
intestinal discomfort which weren't described here). A couple of things .
. . First, you're early post-op, and you may be concerned about failing.
These concerns could, on some level, trigger an anxiety response.
Secondly, you may have started to feel poorly as a result of something you
ingested; those feeilngs then triggered a "fight or flight"
response from your adrenal glands (which explains the jitteryness and
fear).
Same thing befell me when a mild dumping episode early on triggered a much
more dramatic anxiety response. Didn't need meds, just needed a little
help understanding what had happened and why my body responded the way it
did. Welcome to the journey.
— SteveColarossi
October 25, 2005
Definitely sounds like dumping to me. The fear you felt could be both the
heart racing and you getting fearful over experience for the first time.
The thing is, you will dump a lot initially on things you might not
normally dump on later. I mildly dumped early on with Crystal Light. I
think it was the citric acid. Fat can also make you dump early on as
well...sometimes still does for me (I'm 19 months out). The thing is, your
most serious dumping episodes will likely be early on for a couple of
reasons. First, your intestine is still fresh to this. As time goes on it
will actually grow some of your stomach lining cells into the intestine a
little. This will reduce dumping a bit. Second, you naturally will learn
what you can and cannot eat and you will tend to avoid those things that
make you the sickest. Don't fool yourself, this is a great tool to keep
you on track. Things you want to watch out for are anything carby or
fatty. Certainly a little might be okay, but go for sugar free anything
and watch the carbs like with crackers and such. I dumped early on with
Wheat Thins. I can eat them now, but still if I happen to eat too many or
have something to drink with them, I will dump. Triscuits, however, I do
not dump on. Probably the texture since they hold up better. Cereal makes
me dump almost every time unless I use the Carb Countdown milk and have
just a small amount. Milk in general will make many post ops dump or sick.
Take heart - things will get better with time, but you will have to learn
what you can and can't eat. It's called aversion therapy and it's what
many of us wish would last for the duration because it helps keep us on
track. As for me, I can eat a lot more sugar than I'd like to be able to
now. That makes it hard to be good and not let yourself go wild.
— Dinka Doo
October 25, 2005
It also looks like dumping to me. I however did not see anyone mention low
blood sugar. I never had that problem till after my RNY , but I have it now
and when I have a hypoglycemic attack it sounds just like what you
described, make sure you tell your doctor , watch what you eat and have
your sugar level tested.
— LIGHTWEIGHT128
October 25, 2005
You are definitely not alone. Many of us felt this way right after
surgery. You have made a major change in your life and your body has gone
thru a LOT! It really doesn't sound like dumping to me. The flushed hot,
yes, maybe. The fear and jitteryness, no. You may need to see your doc
and get something short term for anxiety. There really isn't any vitamin
that can help with this. It MAY be hormonal, since your hormones are
stored in fat and are released as you lose the fat. However, again, there
isn't much that can be done about your hormones at this time. See your
doc, explain the symptoms to him/her and ask for something to help with it.
Most of the docs are use to this happening and you shouldn't have any
problems. Good luck, relax and enjoy the ride!! Carmen
Lap RNY 22Nov03
325/190/170
— kccjer
October 27, 2005
Hi there...like you I had never had an anxiety attack...but I had one in
the recovery room and then another about 7 days post op. Upon calling the
surgeon in a tizzy I was told this was a common effect of anesthisia.
Whew. I havent had one since! I also knew for sure it was an anxiety
attack because my husband has suffered with anxiety disorder for years so I
have been on the other end of them for years. Hope you feel better and it
doesnt happen again!
— Michelle U.
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