Follow
Share

I had an anxiety attack...ended up in hospital and received a pacemaker. I have had copd for many years. The last month of so I have gone from not sleeping well to not being able to do anything due to absolute fatigue. My oxygen shows 95 and 96 and my b/p has been in the safe range. 94 oxy right now and 124/66 B/P with 83 pulse rate.
Any suggestions?

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Find Care & Housing
A fib is found on an ECG. the doctor will tell you if you have it because this is quite obvious and specific treatment would be offered. There is no way that it can be overlooked.

Stop with the oxygen saturation if you feel short of breath with anxiety, you are over guessing this. You do not qualify for oxygen unless the numbers read 87 or lower for more than 5 minutes. Beleive me, you do not want to be tethered to an oxygen complessor with little opportunity to go outside. It is the anxiety that is talking to you.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report

I have anxiety attacks--have as long as I can remember! They do in fact, sometimes get so bad they feel like heart attacks.

I ALSO had SVT's. Between the anxiety attacks and the SVT I didn't know which way was up.

I actually had an SVT attack in the Drs office--and he semi-freaked out--asked me how long I had been having these. I was so used to them, I couldn't really remember.

The meds I went on for the SVT's made me feel fatigued all the time and took some getting used to. I did have an ablation on my heart and that took care of the SVT's--then life happened and the stress of our current situation re-started the SVT's. went through all the testing AGAIN, and finally, all the docs put their collective heads together and decided to leave me be--upped my beta blockers and said when the 'situation' that is making me so anxious resolves itself, the SVT's also probably would.

Bottom line: you have questions like the ones you're asking and you really should be talking to a dr. We tend to get used to symptoms and ignore them. I know I did--but won't again.

Please call your doc--ASAP.
Helpful Answer (1)
Report

Since u do gave CHF you may want to have your potassium level checked. If low you can have the symptoms you mentioned. My Dad was taking water pills for heart under the supervision of a GP known for being good with heart patients. My Dad went into a depression and lost weight. He landed in the hospital where a Cardiologist saw him and labs were order. His problem was low potassium caused by the water pill. In the 3 years my Dad was like this, the GP never put 2 and 2 together. Seems it was well known in the Cardiac circle. Once he was put on potassium he was a new man.

Call your doctor, always call your doctor with any concerns you have.
Helpful Answer (0)
Report

Sorry. You don't receive a pacemaker for an anxiety attack.
You MAY, however, get one for atrial fibrillation.
My partner and I BOTH have long standing atrial fib. He has a pacemaker. I do not.

This is to show you that every patient is an individual.
Atrial fib may be well controlled for one person with medication, and another may require a pacemaker.

You will need to discuss your medical history with your doctor.
He is the one who has all your records, all your history, and all the tests and procedures.
Telling a group on a Forum anything will just have us all guessing away according to our own life experiences.

As someone with atrial fib over two decades, and no pacemaker, with a partner with atrial fib over 15 years who DOES have a pacer, I can tell you that staying in touch with your doctors, making decisions with them, and getting great followup, this is something you can do very well with.

Congestive heart failure is also well controlled with good followup and medication to help you eliminate fluids and replacement medications for electrolytes washed out with diuretics. The degree of heart failure, whether it is left sided or right sided or both, the ejection fractions of the heart are all telling in how closely you should be watched.

Of all your diagnoses, my least favorite is COPD. It can be so hard to control dependent on how bad it is. But the numbers you have given are GOOD.

All of this to say, keep in touch with your docs, get great followups, look up your conditions online and learn about them, report symptoms quickly, and you can yet do well managing your illnesses.
This old retired cardiac RN wishes you the very best. Keep in close touch with your doc and make him or her your good friend.
Helpful Answer (4)
Report

An Afib event can feel like an anxiety attack:

"Symptoms of AFib may include:

Feelings of a fast, fluttering or pounding heartbeat, called palpitations
Chest pain
Dizziness
Fatigue
Lightheadedness
Reduced ability to exercise
Shortness of breath
Weakness"

Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/atrial-fibrillation/symptoms-causes/syc-20350624

Please see your cardiologist or pulmonologist or get a second opinion.
Helpful Answer (1)
Report
AlvaDeer Jan 8, 2024
SO right. And I didn't even mention it. Shame on this old RN I am! Especially with some rapid rates, you just feel this irratic pounding, fluttering, etc. Same with SVT, a supraventricular tachycardia. The anxiety is pretty profound. And anxiety can even bring it on. Some people are much more "aware" of their heartbeat, and my N. with his atrial fib is one of them; for me I can't much feel WHAT the heck my heart's doing. We are all diffrent.
(0)
Report
We are not doctors. A few are nurses. You should really be asking your Cardiologist this question. Seems to me your readings fall into the normal rage. If your in AFib ur B/P would be elevated. Your COPD and CHF could be causing you fatigue. Since the pacemaker is new call your doctor.
Helpful Answer (1)
Report

This is really not a great place to ask this. If you feel like you're in danger, go the the ER. If it can wait, call your doc in the AM.
Helpful Answer (2)
Report

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.
Ask a Question
Subscribe to
Our Newsletter