Stress!

[Steph]

Two thoughts here;

One: How can stress affect some one?s heart condition? I know that stress is kind of that intangible thing. Can it really find a weak spot and gnaw away at it? Or can it be something that feeds the chain of events that leads to a major medical condition? Or is stress just something we all go through and is seldom related to or the cause of, our problems in life? I do not think the answer is an easy one. Nor do I ?believe? there is any scientific proof, or studies, that can directly point to ?cause and effect?. I may be wasting your time with this question, but I thought I would throw it out there and see if anyone had an opinion about this. I guess I am at the stage of asking why? Why now? Why me? Obviously the last couple of years I have been under an unbearable amount of stress. It makes me wonder.

Second: Facing surgery is a stressful thing in itself. I find myself less able to deal with issues as well as I could before. How have you dealt with the stress? Making this as easy as possible for everyone involved in my home is important to me. I do not want to use the stress that I feel as an excuse for snapping at others, or not handling situations as well as I should have.

Just things that are going through my mind, forgive me if you have had this conversation one too many times. I am new here.

Steph

 

[Karlynn]

Steph, I don't have the knowledge to answer the stress question physiologically (I know Bob or someone else does).

I had horrible arrhythmia 24/7 prior to my VR. Since my VR it's taken care of about 97% of it - when I'm not stressed. At times when I'm experiencing a prolonged time of stress (more than a few days) my arrhythmia comes back. It doesn't return as bad as it was pre-VR, but it's enough to make me uncomfortable.

Stress can also affect INR. I would think this is because when someone is stressed, the body goes into "overdrive". Everything is just working harder due to anxiety or some similar thing.

 

[RandyL]

Steph,

I hear you loud and clear and I feel for you. It is hard to grasp that you really have to have surgery and a HUGE one at that. There are a lot of people on this forum that will open up their heart and soul to provide you with whatever you need to get you through this journey that you must take. Just sit back relax and ask for all the info you need. My only piece of advice to you is this. There is no reason to worry or get stressed out if there is nothing you can do to change the order of events. So get everything in order and sit back and relax. You will make with flying colors.

BTW Merry Christmas.

 

[Ross]

Stress? Hell I'm a tour guide for Stress. Stress is my first, middle and last name now a days. Best way I can describe it is it's as if your entire body is on a high state of alert. Everything is ready to jump at an instant whether it's fight or flight, etc. Oh yeah, Stress.

 

[AlonnolA]

Before my AVR, my main symptom was arythmia during stress. On much more infrequent occasions, I had arythmia or chest tightness during/ after excercise. My cardio said the stress was not causing damage to my heart, but that my heart's reaction to it was the first indication that the heart was "irritated" (my word choice). But I'm not so sure. My measurements started getting worse much faster after I was promoted to a more stressful job.

I did look into some relaxation excercises. I'm still learning and not doing them as well as I'd like, but even so, they're helpful. Your doctor's office might also have some pamphlets on the subject - mine did. Or I'd bet you could find some good books on the subject in your library.

Hope that helps and you feel better soon!

 

[Guest]

How can stress affect some one?s heart condition?

By "tearing you down" ... well, at least in my case. Stress really put a strain on my heart (and all of my body, for that matter) to work "extra hard" with little tangible results.... Not very cool.

How have you dealt with the stress?

Listen to music.

Drive my MCs (er, in nice weather, not wintry mix...ugh).

Talk to people.

Visit people.

ROAD TRIPs!



Believe it or not, I was a very "sad/bitter" person a few years ago ... lots of stress, anxiety, "hatred", jealousy, etc. But, after my last open heart surgery (January 2003), something "snapped" and suddenly, things looked brighter. I've had some rough patches (of course ... including a call center job I HATED), but for the most part, I'm still better.....



Cort:33swm."Mr MC" / "Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker
MC:family.IL.guide.future = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/
chdQB = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort/quilt.html
"These hands are meant to hold" ... All-American Rejects ... 'Move Along'

 

[kodi]

This is interesting. We all deal with stress differently and at different levels. I know I was stressed mostly after I had my Echo that decided surgery was fairly imminent. But I deal with stress fairly easily, I just eat more and fortunately don't gain weight. I also exercise harder. Even the last days before surgery I was more stressed than ever but it isn't real obvious to others. I just get more quite and want to be left alone. I think I got these traits from my mother who was an expert at dealing with stress. They say that people that deal well with stress live longer lives and she lived to be 102.

That probably doesn't help but it's my 2cents worth.

 

[hensylee]

Before discharge after (bypasses) surgery they told me two things to definitely avoid - stress and anger. In Feb, my brother was suddenly gravely ill - I fell apart, ended up in hospital. The cardio told me that stress could have caused the problem and that it can affect every part of the body. To make matters worse, another cardio wouldn't let me out and every time they took my bp, it was sky high (top & bottom readings were in the 100s). The longer they kept me, the higher it went. I finally told them I was leaving without their permission so I could get to my gravely ill brother, so they let me go. I settled down once out of there.

 

[Magic8Ball]

No opinion on stress as a cause of heart condition...mine was a birth defect.

But i do think stress can affect how you go through the process. I had a 1/2 hour cry in the car park after i got the news but the main reason for the tears was thinking how my family would cope without me bringing in the $$, i'm insured but probably not enough to keep the kids in the style they are acustomed to....after that 1/2 hour i made an effort to just stop.

I was totally positive and after spending a month on this site researching stuff i never let myself slip, the family never had to comfort me as i was never down.

My wife dropped me off at hospital the night before and i told her not to come to the hospital on the day of surgery, i'd see her the day after.

I did not want the kiss/hug/cry/goodbye thing just before surgery, i do beleive that that isn't good for you, if not on the surface, deep down inside.

My mantra, if you can't affect change, why worry about it....

 

[WayneGM]

I've always been a fairly "stressed" person....anxious, impatient, hyperactive, etc. I don't know if that caused my heart problems but my guess is it probably contributed to it. I never had BP issues until after I was told I needed OHS. It sky rocketed after that so I had to take Altace (I think that's what it was). They figured it was all the "white coats" around me. It was a very stressful time as I had never been sicker than a cold before, let alone OHS.

Post-op my BP is lower but not back to normal so I'm on Atacand. That said, I actually think I'm a bit calmer today than I was before. At least I'm trying to be more relaxed and not let the little things bother me anymore. OHS was definitely a "wake up and smell the roses" type life event. However, I am also more conscious about avoiding known "stressful" situations now. For example, I made sure I got all my Christmas shopping done by early November....if you want to see somebody "stressed", it's me in a crowded mall just before Christmas! "Impatience", unfortunately is still my middle name.

 

[sue943]

I saw my GP this afternoon and I got tearful. As he explained to me, worrying and getting stressed is not good, stress will raise the blood pressure with the bad effects that can have. Then as I am on warfarin stress which can cause excess stomach acid is not good, that can lead to ulcers and bleeding...

Stress just isn't good for us.

 

[Rush20]

"Patience Is A Virtue"....unfortunately not one of mine.

I definitely believe how we react to stressful situations affects not only our heart but our overall health. I know so far in my life, I haven't dealt with stress the best possible way as I tend to over-react at least mentally.

I have been reading some good books and focusing more on the spiritual side not just in bad times but in daily reflection, etc. I am a work in progress.

 

[Turkey Hunter]

Two thoughts here;

One: How can stress affect some one?s heart condition? I know that stress is kind of that intangible thing. Can it really find a weak spot and gnaw away at it? Or can it be something that feeds the chain of events that leads to a major medical condition? Or is stress just something we all go through and is seldom related to or the cause of, our problems in life? I do not think the answer is an easy one. Nor do I ?believe? there is any scientific proof, or studies, that can directly point to ?cause and effect?. I may be wasting your time with this question, but I thought I would throw it out there and see if anyone had an opinion about this. I guess I am at the stage of asking why? Why now? Why me? Obviously the last couple of years I have been under an unbearable amount of stress. It makes me wonder.

Yes, Stress is something that everyone of us deal with every day.
I, personally believe that stress does affect our health. Imagine being the person with "WHITE COAT SYNDROME"; that stress certainly affects their visit to the doctor, doesn't it??
I know that the stress in my life affects everything about me.
My blood pressure to my sex life, it affects everything.
The "why now", "why me" is very normal. Everyone of us has been through this part of the proccess.
Yes, it does "SUCK" to have to go through all of this; but think where you would be 50 years ago when their was no help you could get.
We all need to be thankfull that the medical community has come to where it is to be able to help us continue to live our lives and enjoy our families.
I, for one, am very happy to be able to be here with my wife and two children.
I am facing, yet another OHS and am happy that my prognosis is one that will allow me to be her for many years to come.

Second: Facing surgery is a stressful thing in itself. I find myself less able to deal with issues as well as I could before. How have you dealt with the stress? Making this as easy as possible for everyone involved in my home is important to me. I do not want to use the stress that I feel as an excuse for snapping at others, or not handling situations as well as I should have.

Just things that are going through my mind, forgive me if you have had this conversation one too many times. I am new here.

Steph

Steph, relax a bit. Let those in your home help make it easy for you.
Snapping at others is something very normal when you are facing such an event. They DO UNDERSTAND. Trust me.
Take your time to let everyone around you know exactly what you are feeling and they WILL understand.

I hope this helps.

Gos Bless

Ben

 

[Turkey Hunter]

No opinion on stress as a cause of heart condition...mine was a birth defect.

Mine too.
Yet, we must all admit how stress has affected our lives, and hearts.
Stress, obviously puts more "physical stress" on our system, and that is not something any of us here need to tolerate.

Each of us need to find "our own" perfect way to deal with our individual stress.
i am still looking for my way, so don't ask how I do it!!!

Ben

 

[dj/utvolsfan]

Steph,
You're only human. Don't beat yourself up over it. I think when stress melted into acceptance for me was when I realized that I HAD to cross that mountain if I was ever going to feel good again. The closer I got to surgery the more excited I became. I mean good health was around the corner. I wanted to get there...the sooner the better. I was still stressed....but more at peace.
Stress makes you do weird things. I remember hitting that point of sheer exhaustion in my third period math class ( I teach special ed 7th graders) when I wanted to so badly be at Cleveland Clinic. It was the day before I was to leave and my kids knew I was a whipped puppy but I was still trying to give it my all. I had yelled at my kids and I even hate to admit that.......I never yell at them....ever. They were taking complete advantage of me and I had nothing left to give them. I think every emotion I had ever carried inside of me about this surgery came gushing out of me....totally unexpected to both me and my kids. I just laid my head up against the board ....my back to my class and totally gave in to all my stress. Never cried so hard in my life. You could have heard a pin drop in my class. I was mortified. Then I felt a bunch of arms around me and tissue being given to me and these same little kids saying they were sorry. One little boy named Kyle who can't read a lick but has so much to offer the world telling me "When you feel scared say ......You're going to make it....You're going to make it." Funny thing, I was wheeled into surgery at 2:00....right when my 3rd period Math class was starting. Mixed right in along my thoughts .......while looking the surgical suite over were my math kids and Kyle's sweet, encouraging words.......and my thought that I was so happy to not be in math class...lol but to finally be at the mountain and knowing that my vr friends wre pulling for me.
What I am trying to say in a really long, round about, boring way is this isn't the time to be a super hero. No one really understands what you are going through other than the people who have actually crossed that mountain ahead of you. That is what is so magnificent about vr.com. You will find knowledge, comfort and the strength you will need to get through...every step of the way. Hang around awhile. We are here for you.
Good thoughts,
Debbi

 

[OldManEmu]

Stress

Stress

I am of the same opinion as Randy. "There is no reason to worry or get stressed out if there is nothing you can do to change the order of events."
If you can't change it don?t stress about it.
From the day I was told I need surgery that was my outlook on it, I wasn't angry or upset either, my view was someone has to make up the statistics (I am big on stats), it just happens to be me.

 

[sue943]

Yes, it does "SUCK" to have to go through all of this; but think where you would be 50 years ago when their was no help you could get.

This is part of what stresses me, fifty years ago this wouldn't have happened to me, I would have been given different treatment for my kidney stones and wouldn't have ended up having OHS. If this had all happened to me 'naturally' then I could accept it, but as it was caused by a medical accident I cannot handle it.

My doctor, Alex, says he can tell that I am angry - too right I am angry. So angry that I have now put my problems in the hands of lawyers. Alex keeps me sane, he is wonderful.

 

[Steph]

Thank you all for your stories. It helps so much. I found all of the replys very interesting. I guess we all have lots in common. I am feeling more relaxed every day, and I have your support to thank.

Steph