[Tangerine4]

Has anyone developed panic attacks post op, what are your symptoms and what have you done for treatment?
Thanks,
Jennifer

[ksummer19]

Hi! I have suffered with panic disorder for about 5 years. I am on meds for this and carry Lorezapham for the really bad moments. There is a lot of information on line about how to control them. Breathing excerzises help me. You have to really foucs on the breathing and not on the panic (heart racing, sweats, short of breath, chest pain...) when you are having one.

No clue how/why mine started and they are no fun but you can control them.

Good luck and please do some reseach.

[DocSanae]

Panic attacks and panic disorder.
From the Mayo Clinic web site.

[GinaGurl]

i had panic attacks before surgery i also had one in the hospital the night after surgery my daughter got me upset and i just lost it and got scared that i had made a mistake in having surgery but i am really glad i had it done

[clancythecamper]

I found that I was very anxious just before my surgery and was thankful to get an rx just to take the edge off. I just feel differently about safety issues now than I did before - Let's face it, at 270 no one was gonna pick me up and carry me off but at 143, DH can pick me up without even thinking about it. I tend to try to avoid situations which would cause me increased anxiety relating to this issue. As far as other issues that caused panic attack symptoms, I don't feel they are related to the surgery or that the surgery has had any effect on them.

[Doreen]

I had my second panic attack the morning of the surgery. I felt like I couldn't breath and I had to get up, it was awful. None since surgery. It would be a good idea to talk to your doctor and they can give you all the options. I think it would depend on how often you get them and how severe the episodes are. I wish you the best. Let us know if you find something that works for you.

[Natster]

Originally Posted by Tangerine4

Has anyone developed panic attacks post op, what are your symptoms and what have you done for treatment?
Thanks,
Jennifer

I developed a significant anxiety/panic disorder after the surgery. I am uncertain if it is directly connected, but I know it's a horrible thing to deal with, I'm sorry it's been a problem for you.

I remember before WLS only worrying about things that were actually valid.. school was easy for me, I could relax when I wanted to. Afterward, any little event or pending task can make me very stressed and it's hard to breath when I think about it and the attack will usually come on when I feel like I'm running out of time. I can't catch my breath or stop sobbing so I just rock myself back and forth until it's past. I will do the same with whatever situation seems threatening at the moment.. or even when I just feel like I'm stuck indoors for too long.

My doctors tried a lot of different things to help.. Effexor worked the best for me on a daily basis, and when I feel an attack coming on I take a Xanax, which prevents the panic or makes it much more manageabal and I can focus and talk myself back into being rational.

It's rough, I know, but definately talk to your doctor if you haven't already. And write down your symptoms soon after an attack so you can remember as accurately as possible, how the attack came on and progressed.

Good luck! I hope you find something that makes this easier for you!