Medical procedure to help with panic disorder

Post by Snit
Been forever since I have posted and it seems this forum is pretty much dead
/ dying... but might as well post and see if any of the "old timers" are
still around reading... or anyone else. WARNING: I am going to be
discussing some medical procedures and if that causes you anxiety you might
want to not read the following.
I recently had a EPS done (Electrophysiological Study) based on some heart
anomalies - after wearing a heart monitor for a month they found my pulse,
which was generally in the 60s-70s would jump to the 120s to 150s for no
apparent reason. During the study they found errors in the electrical
system of my heart and did an ablation (removed the "extra" pace maker cells
not connected to the normal sinus pace maker).
Since then my pulse has been low (upper 50s to mid 60s) and I have not had
any episodes of tachycardia (that I am aware of). I have, however, not felt
well since the procedure (done less than a week ago, so still early on in
the recovery). I do not have problems of light headedness on standing or
other signs that my pulse rate / blood pressure is too low.
I am curious if others have had similar experiences and what their healing
was like and how it affected their panic / anxiety in the long run. I am
hopeful of this helping a great deal - for my whole life I have been quite
certain that there was a physical basis for my development of a panic /
anxiety disorder and this, finally, is direct support for my beliefs (though
I suspect there may still be other oddities in my autonomic nervous
system... maybe that will turn out to not be the case or not be significant
once I have healed from the procedure and my body has adjusted to the
changes).
Would love to hear other's stories with similar experiences.

I find it odd your doctors would advice surgery before trying medications.
FYI, many medications used for anxiety are also used to regulate heartbeat
problems. So, I'm wondering if any means of regulating your heartbeat would
also affect anxiety. Currently I'm on meds to lower my blood pressure and a
side effect is supposed to be less anxiety and tremors.

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Snit

2012-08-07 05:37:11 UTC

Post by Sheldon

Post by Snit
Been forever since I have posted and it seems this forum is pretty much dead
/ dying... but might as well post and see if any of the "old timers" are
still around reading... or anyone else. WARNING: I am going to be discussing
some medical procedures and if that causes you anxiety you might want to not
read the following.
I recently had a EPS done (Electrophysiological Study) based on some heart
anomalies - after wearing a heart monitor for a month they found my pulse,
which was generally in the 60s-70s would jump to the 120s to 150s for no
apparent reason. During the study they found errors in the electrical system
of my heart and did an ablation (removed the "extra" pace maker cells not
connected to the normal sinus pace maker).
Since then my pulse has been low (upper 50s to mid 60s) and I have not had
any episodes of tachycardia (that I am aware of). I have, however, not felt
well since the procedure (done less than a week ago, so still early on in the
recovery). I do not have problems of light headedness on standing or other
signs that my pulse rate / blood pressure is too low.
I am curious if others have had similar experiences and what their healing
was like and how it affected their panic / anxiety in the long run. I am
hopeful of this helping a great deal - for my whole life I have been quite
certain that there was a physical basis for my development of a panic /
anxiety disorder and this, finally, is direct support for my beliefs (though
I suspect there may still be other oddities in my autonomic nervous system...
maybe that will turn out to not be the case or not be significant once I have
healed from the procedure and my body has adjusted to the changes).
Would love to hear other's stories with similar experiences.

pulse - and my "normal" pulse was in the 60s when I was not experiencing
tachycardia. In the past I have been on beta-blockers and had pretty bad
side effects (that was many years ago though).
--
* cc was unable to post a set of data that went back to 2007.
* cc is unable to post an Excel Workbook or otherwise back his claims.
* cc failed to show any sigma depiction I called wrong that was not.
* cc could not list a single step missed in making a linear trend line.

Snit

2012-08-17 01:27:46 UTC

An update a couple weeks later... I am doing great. Panic attacks are far
less and there is almost no free floating anxiety. I did have a few days of
feeling rather lousy... but so did the rest of the family. Found out we had
strep! Now on antibiotics and doing much better. Good to know that feeling
lousy had nothing to do with the procedure. :) Also was on some
anti-anxiety meds and found that once I had the procedure done the dose was
too high (already was on a fairly low dose). Am weaning off now - working
with doctor. The affects of the procedure were very quick and a huge
benefit. Not saying I am completely cured of my anxiety disorder but the
difference is excellent to see.
--
* cc was unable to post a set of data that went back to 2007.
* cc is unable to post an Excel Workbook or otherwise back his claims.
* cc failed to show any sigma depiction I called wrong that was not.
* cc could not list a single step missed in making a linear trend line.

Mary

2012-08-17 02:49:07 UTC

Glad to hear you are doing better. Strep can be a bad thing so good you got
treatment for it and good to know that feeling lousy had nothing to do with
the procedure. Sometimes it happens that you can mistake one health problem
for another especially if symptoms are similar. I read your last email which
Sheldon answered. He usually gives good feedback. I had nothing to add. Not
many people come to this newsgroup any more and it used to be so active and
lots of things going on, and a great place for advice or help on
anxiety/panic attacks, as you probably know since you said you've been here
before. I've been coming here for years and still lurk and occasionally post
and so do some other people, so a few of us are still here. Feel free to
post and you may get a reply.

Mary

Snit

2012-08-17 05:59:13 UTC

Glad to hear you are doing better. Strep can be a bad thing so good you got
treatment for it and good to know that feeling lousy had nothing to do with
the procedure.

The rest of the family was really suffering from it... I tend to not get
many symptoms when I am sick, just more panic attacks. In this case I did
not get the panic attacks, but I felt "woozy" and shaky at times and had a
pretty nasty headache. Have a *wonderful* GP who saw the whole family and
said it was pretty much certain it is strep - it is going around and we have
all the symptoms, both in how we feel and how throats and noses and the like
looked. We tend to stay away from antibiotics and the like and treat things
naturally when we can, but we are not fanatics about this and know when
"modern" medicine is the best course. No doubt with strep it makes sense to
get antibiotics.

Post by Mary
Sometimes it happens that you can mistake one health problem for another
especially if symptoms are similar.

That and my body tends to react differently to most illnesses than most
people. Always makes it fun for doctors to diagnose me. :)

Post by Mary
I read your last email which Sheldon answered. He usually gives good feedback.
I had nothing to add. Not many people come to this newsgroup any more and it
used to be so active and lots of things going on, and a great place for advice
or help on anxiety/panic attacks, as you probably know since you said you've
been here before.

I used to post here quite a lot... about 10 years ago (well, that was in the
days before the moderated version...). The help I got here no doubt helped
improve my life. I am indebted to many of the "old timers".

Post by Mary
I've been coming here for years and still lurk and occasionally post and so do
some other people, so a few of us are still here. Feel free to post and you
may get a reply.

Thanks. One concern is from another forum I have someone who stalks me and
uses my health concerns as attacks against me... making things up and
threatening to send lies to my employer (he and his girlfriend tracked me
down - they somehow found a file I had posted with my personal bookmarks...
and it included info to let them find my name and where I work). Sad how a
few whackos online can make it where one cannot be as open with personal
challenges. Thankfully my employer, who was contacted by this person or
someone doing his bidding, knew full well of my health issues and knew the
emails were full of lies. I still work for the same employer and have a
very good working relationship. I teach at a college and the procedure
ended up being done the week of finals - my boss was *very* understanding
and assisted me in any way he could.

Post by Mary
Mary

--
* cc was unable to post a set of data that went back to 2007.
* cc is unable to post an Excel Workbook or otherwise back his claims.
* cc failed to show any sigma depiction I called wrong that was not.
* cc could not list a single step missed in making a linear trend line.

Mary

2012-08-22 03:57:54 UTC

On 8/6/12 11:45 AM, in article

Glad to hear you are doing better. Strep can be a bad thing so good you got
treatment for it and good to know that feeling lousy had nothing to do with
the procedure.

I tend to try to stay away from any medications including antibiotics, but
sometimes you need to take them to get better. With strep, I would think you
need antibiotics but having a good GP is very helpful.

Post by Mary
Sometimes it happens that you can mistake one health problem for another
especially if symptoms are similar.

That and my body tends to react differently to most illnesses than most
people. Always makes it fun for doctors to diagnose me. :)

My doctor has a challenge prescribing for me as I have several allergies and
have adverse reactions to a few drugs, which makes it difficult for the
doctor and me.

The un-moderated version was very popular around 10 years ago. I never
posted on it too often, but did a few times. Then the moderated version was
created, which I posted more on. Now none of them have many posts these days
which is too bad as you used to get a lot of help from various people.

Post by Mary
I've been coming here for years and still lurk and occasionally post and so do
some other people, so a few of us are still here. Feel free to post and you
may get a reply.

Thanks. One concern is from another forum I have someone who stalks me and
uses my health concerns as attacks against me... making things up and
threatening to send lies to my employer (he and his girlfriend tracked me
down - they somehow found a file I had posted with my personal
bookmarks...
and it included info to let them find my name and where I work). Sad how a
few whackos online can make it where one cannot be as open with personal
challenges. Thankfully my employer, who was contacted by this person or
someone doing his bidding, knew full well of my health issues and knew the
emails were full of lies. I still work for the same employer and have a
very good working relationship. I teach at a college and the procedure
ended up being done the week of finals - my boss was *very* understanding
and assisted me in any way he could.

Why don't you change your email address or change your name or block the
person's emails or posts?

Snit

2012-08-22 06:00:07 UTC

On 8/21/12 8:57 PM, in article k11h1f$9k6$***@speranza.aioe.org, "Mary"
<***@invalid.not> wrote:

...

The rest of the family was really suffering from it... I tend to not get many
symptoms when I am sick, just more panic attacks. In this case I did not get
the panic attacks, but I felt "woozy" and shaky at times and had a pretty
nasty headache. Have a *wonderful* GP who saw the whole family and said it
was pretty much certain it is strep - it is going around and we have all the
symptoms, both in how we feel and how throats and noses and the like looked.
We tend to stay away from antibiotics and the like and treat things naturally
when we can, but we are not fanatics about this and know when "modern"
medicine is the best course. No doubt with strep it makes sense to get
antibiotics.

My family does the same - tend to work with natural remedies when we can.
Our doctor is very supportive of that.

Post by Mary
Sometimes it happens that you can mistake one health problem for another
especially if symptoms are similar.

That and my body tends to react differently to most illnesses than most
people. Always makes it fun for doctors to diagnose me. :)

My doctor has a challenge prescribing for me as I have several allergies and
have adverse reactions to a few drugs, which makes it difficult for the doctor
and me.

I have no actual allergies to meds - just odd reactions.

Post by Mary
I read your last email which Sheldon answered. He usually gives good
feedback. I had nothing to add. Not many people come to this newsgroup any
more and it used to be so active and lots of things going on, and a great
place for advice or help on anxiety/panic attacks, as you probably know
since you said you've been here before.

The un-moderated version was very popular around 10 years ago. I never posted
on it too often, but did a few times. Then the moderated version was created,
which I posted more on. Now none of them have many posts these days which is
too bad as you used to get a lot of help from various people.

Yes, I am sorry to see it largely withered. Really helped me in some times
of need.

Post by Mary
I've been coming here for years and still lurk and occasionally post and so
do some other people, so a few of us are still here. Feel free to post and
you may get a reply.

Thanks. One concern is from another forum I have someone who stalks me and
uses my health concerns as attacks against me... making things up and
threatening to send lies to my employer (he and his girlfriend tracked me
down - they somehow found a file I had posted with my personal bookmarks...
and it included info to let them find my name and where I work). Sad how a
few whackos online can make it where one cannot be as open with personal
challenges. Thankfully my employer, who was contacted by this person or
someone doing his bidding, knew full well of my health issues and knew the
emails were full of lies. I still work for the same employer and have a very
good working relationship. I teach at a college and the procedure ended up
being done the week of finals - my boss was *very* understanding and assisted
me in any way he could.

Why don't you change your email address or change your name or block the
person's emails or posts?

I do not respond to him and ignore his emails, but he knows the emails of my
employer (they are easy to find). As far as blocking his posts, this is
Usenet and it is a non-moderated group. He follows me from group to group
but the one time he tried ASPA, a few years back, the people there were very
clear they did not believe a word of his lies. He never tried the moderated
version that I know of.

I could start posting with a different name, but I tend to post references
to support my views in discussions and even make videos and the like... so
it would mean having to stop doing that. And, frankly, I am not good at
backing down from bullies... I do not want to give them the pleasure of
knowing they have control or have "won". I admit, might not always be the
best thing to do... just for my own safety if nothing else.
--
* cc was unable to post a set of data that went back to 2007.
* cc is unable to post an Excel Workbook or otherwise back his claims.
* cc failed to show any sigma depiction I called wrong that was not.
* cc could not list a single step missed in making a linear trend line.

Philip Peters

2012-08-26 17:10:52 UTC

Op 17-8-2012 7:59, Snit schreef:

One concern is from another forum I have someone who stalks me and

Post by Snit
uses my health concerns as attacks against me... making things up and
threatening to send lies to my employer (he and his girlfriend tracked me
down - they somehow found a file I had posted with my personal bookmarks...
and it included info to let them find my name and where I work). Sad how a
few whackos online can make it where one cannot be as open with personal
challenges. Thankfully my employer, who was contacted by this person or
someone doing his bidding, knew full well of my health issues and knew the
emails were full of lies. I still work for the same employer and have a
very good working relationship. I teach at a college and the procedure
ended up being done the week of finals - my boss was *very* understanding
and assisted me in any way he could.

That's a bad troll you're describing, I'm surprised they still make them
;-)
This newsgroup is moderated and trolls can't get in which makes it more
of a pity that so many people have left. Maybe some loved the excitement
of the *troll wars*, others were against moderation in any form.

Philip

Philip Peters

2012-08-26 11:09:47 UTC

Hey *Snit*!

How nice to see your name (well...) on my screen, it's been a long time.
No one knows whether there is a connection between your heart condition
and your anxiety disorder but I do remember quite well how you always
felt there would be a physical cause. Maybe you have found it.
In any case it's great to hear that you're feeling so much better after
this procedure.
I lost the URL of your website, does it still exist? It might be of
interest to people here (few are posting these days but it's unknown how
many are lurking).

Philip

Snit

2012-08-27 05:20:30 UTC

On 8/26/12 4:09 AM, in article

Hey *Snit*!

Hello!

Post by Philip Peters
How nice to see your name (well...) on my screen, it's been a long time.
No one knows whether there is a connection between your heart condition
and your anxiety disorder but I do remember quite well how you always
felt there would be a physical cause. Maybe you have found it.

Now, almost a month later, I am doing fairly well. Still have some attacks
- including a real bad one a few days ago as I was getting some more medical
testing done, but overall I am doing much better. Did not help that I had
almost no sleep the night before and am still weaning from anti-anxiety
meds. Will have to see how low I can go... or if I can get completely off
of them.

Post by Philip Peters
In any case it's great to hear that you're feeling so much better after
this procedure.
I lost the URL of your website, does it still exist? It might be of
interest to people here (few are posting these days but it's unknown how
many are lurking).

It is *grossly* outdated, but here it is:
<http://anxiety.gallopinginsanity.com>

And from Arthur Anderson's old site, the "Amusing Stories" page:
<http://anxiety.gallopinginsanity.com/data/stories.html>

Any idea how he is doing? He (and you and a number of others) really did
make a huge difference in my life and helped me through some very rough
times.

Post by Philip Peters
Philip

--
When the iPhone debuted, it was widely criticized for having
no buttons/keys. Now people think the iPhone's design is
"obvious." -- Dan Frakes

Philip Peters

2012-08-31 21:29:46 UTC

Post by Snit
On 8/26/12 4:09 AM, in article

Hey *Snit*!

Hello!

What are you still taking in which dose?
Lack of sleep is always bad for anxiety suffers IME.

<http://anxiety.gallopinginsanity.com>

Thank you. I'll go and have a renewed look-see.
It always was a *different* website from most on the subject but very
interesting and thought provoking.

Post by Snit
<http://anxiety.gallopinginsanity.com/data/stories.html>
Any idea how he is doing? He (and you and a number of others) really did
make a huge difference in my life and helped me through some very rough
times.

Arthur is still a friend and a few years ago he actually travelled to
Europe and stayed with us for a week or so. It was a very nice visit and
Arthur is exactly the gentle, modest person you would expect him to be
from his postings here. It was fun.

Philip

Snit

2012-08-31 23:17:36 UTC

On 8/31/12 2:29 PM, in article
50411eb4$0$6876$***@news2.news.xs4all.nl, "Philip Peters"
<***@p-peters.demon.nl> wrote:

...

What are you still taking in which dose?

I am on Clonazepam at 1.25 mg / day. Heading to 1 mg soon as I wean off of
it.

Post by Philip Peters
Lack of sleep is always bad for anxiety suffers IME.

Absolutely correct. I also have recently found out I have sleep apnea
including some level of central sleep apnea - more evidence that my
autonomic nervous system is "off", something I have been saying for years.
It is good that doctors are *finally* finding evidence to show I am correct.

<http://anxiety.gallopinginsanity.com>

Thank you. I'll go and have a renewed look-see.

In my "history" section I talk about it being "current" that I am in my mid
30s... which is about a decade behind reality. Sigh... one of these days it
will be updated.

Post by Philip Peters
It always was a *different* website from most on the subject but very
interesting and thought provoking.

Thank you.