Coronary Heart Disease Support Group

YES I have an ICD because of PV-Tach and had two epsoides in May. I have not been the same since. My anxiety it through the roof same with the depression. It's very hard to turn my mind off- I have to take ambein to sleep- they say it will get better though. I also see a therapist which I think is starting to help.

Good luck to you and message me anytime.. :)

Hugs
Renee

I too have had similiar experiences. I had a bypass last year. The anxiety and depression lifted with medication (lexapro) and exercise/diet. This summer my sister had a heart attack and it threw me right back into anxiety and depression.
I think we all become hypervigiliant over every ache and pain. I've gone back to counseling dealing with that and have a new prescript for lexapro which I may or may not take.
The thing most MDs don't prepare their patients for is the almost certain depression and anxiety that we heart patients face after a mjor trauma such as surgery / stents etc.

Oh yeah I've noticed that most of us go back to work far too early.

i dont do many hours.. i want to enjoy life.. try to relax, this is a good place to vent..

hi, yes a lot of folks experience depression/ anxiety to some degree after a coronary event. I see you are on some meds which is common but perhaps you will consider lowering them and trying some other techniques such as yoga, conscious relaxation etc. You will soon realize that life is changed and you should embrace it instead of trying to numb it w/ meds. I realize this sounds funny or tough but think about it...read Buddhist thoughts and you will see ideas on relieving and eliminating suffering. Good luck

After each heart attack (3), my emotions took a toll on me. I am bipolar as it is, and I was all sorts of depressed for weeks. I have CAD and my depression is sometimes unbearable.

I had 3 stents put in august 25th. The first couple of weeks after I felt incredibly euphoric. But the last week has been really depressing.

I never thought of this, I am so glad I read your post. I had triple by-pass in 1/08 went back to work in 6 weeks but never felt better. No one believed me. Finally have ended up with 5 stents. Every 2 months they would go in. The stress level is killing me I am so depressed. I am 61 have to work for the insurance so have to pretend that I am ok so it's stents one day back to work the next. I am on anti dep and also see a therapist. I am waiting for the results of a stress test right now but I already know what they will say. But I didn't even think about why I was getting so stressed why wouldn't I LOL LL

Sorry I made a typo I had my by-pass in 07

After my first heart attack, the cardiologist prescribed an anti depressant. I queried, "Why did you prescribe this medication? I am not depressed." He replied, 'oh, you will be." The heart does not like being intruded and it reacts by slowing the whole "system" down so that it can heal.
After my second heart attack, I thought that I could weather the depression. I still think I can. However, my loved ones are suffering because I am not the normal "me". My light is out, so to speak.
Time will heal as our heart heals. unfortunately, the heart takes a long time to heal. It does not heal as fast as the cardiologists think. They are too narrow minded about what they think they know. They do not pay nearly enough attention to the emotional and psychological effects of cardiac trauma. And inserting a stent is a trauma to the heart.
Find a psychologist or counselor who has a good understanding of post cardiac depression.
In the mean time, find things that make you laugh.
Be at peace.
Mushroom