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Doom and Gloom feelings

  • 1.  Doom and Gloom feelings

    Posted 07-27-2019 17:35
    I had my triple by pass surgery 3-26-2019.  I am 4 months post op.  Went back to work June 10, 2019.  Still feeling tired.

    Last week I had bouts of being dizzy.  Feeling flushed.  Ended up in the ER.  They admitted me overnight for observation.  They ran blood tests, chest xrays, ekg's.  Nothng found, thankfully but I am feeling like foolish.

    I had feelings of doom and gloom.  I felt like there was something going to happen.  When I looked into my eyes I saw nothing.  Seemed like I wasn't really in there.  Not sure if that sounds like I am crazy.  


    They stated it was the doom and gloom syndrome.  What the heck is that and is that normal?

    Any help in this area would be much appreciated.

    Prayers to all

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    LINDA GRAMZ
    MELBOURNE FL
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  • 2.  RE: Doom and Gloom feelings

    Posted 07-27-2019 23:43
    I freaked myself out alot but as time went on i realized it was side effects from meds. It seems like its an expirement until they get the right combo of drugs. Doom+Gloom doesnt last for ever,hang in there.






  • 3.  RE: Doom and Gloom feelings

    Posted 07-28-2019 01:56
    I have been a member and Visitor of MendedHearts for 12 years. My bypass was in August 2007. I also had cryogenic ablation in December 2017 for atrial fibrillation- a not so uncommon problem after many operations, not only cardiac. Depression after open heart surgery is not uncommon. About 30 % of us have some degree of this. I have not heard the terms doom and gloom used. If you have a Mended Hearts group available, join and attend the meetings, MH is a great support group as you will meet folks who have had a wide variety of experiences before, during and after surgery. Also, maintains contact here online as you will read of many heart stories. If you would like to chat, I would be happy to assist you the best I can. Continue to think positive thoughts!
    Joe Jansen Chapter 312, Fort Myers, Fl

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    Joe Jansen
    Fort Myers FL
    (239) 461-0980
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  • 4.  RE: Doom and Gloom feelings

    Posted 07-28-2019 09:34
    "Doom and Gloom" feeling can physical and emotional aspects. Of course each of us are different. Having said that, my research indicates that it can take 6 months for the effects of the anesthetic to completely leave your body. Once your physicians give you a clean bill of health, you should share your feelings with them so they may be able to change your meds.
    My research indicates emotional aspects, including PTSD, are not uncommon. My recommendation is find somebody you can share your inter-feeling with, and see if this person can help you identify the causes. In PTSD the triggering events are perceived to be threats related to an incident in your life, such as the events leading to your heart surgery.
    Hope my research as a non-physician, quintuple by pass survivor, are helpful.

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    Brent Zepke
    Santa Barbara CA
    (805) 698-4651
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  • 5.  RE: Doom and Gloom feelings

    Posted 07-28-2019 01:00
    Hello Linda,
    YES, IT IS NORMAL!! You are not crazy and you are not alone. Your body went through massive trauma. Your chest was cracked open, your heart stopped and the vessels cut on and then they zapped your heart to start it again and wired your chest closed again. That kind of trauma takes a large emotional and physical toll on the body. Then your lifestyle is completely disrupted. just walking to the bathroom leaves you feeling weak and tired. 
    You are feeling all the normal depression and fears that many of us have and are still feeling. You wonder if you are worth anything, what is your purpose in this world, do you mean anything to anybody else.
    Then you have to deal with the medications and that whole mess of getting your body chemistry back in balance. That can take several weeks to months to finally settle down.
    The biggest two things that helped me was Cardiac Rehab and mended hearts. The rehab is a physical program monitored by professionals and it really helped me mentally as well as physically. Going to Mended Hearts meeting and seeing and hearing from others that had much worse conditions than I. Their recovery helped me with my recovery. You need to know you are not alone and you are going to get better, but you may need some assistance getting started in that direction. Have faith in yourself, you can do it and you will get better. 
    Take care,

    Richard Short
    Chapter 395





  • 6.  RE: Doom and Gloom feelings

    Posted 07-28-2019 05:39
    Thank you everyone for your responses. 
    I did Cardiac Rehab and they graduated me in twelve sessions instead of the 36 that were "allowed" by my insurance.

    I am now doing cardiac rehab on the traditional gym floor with a program designed by the exercise physicalogist at the gym. 

    When I went to the ER the ER physicians didn't seem that he was one bit concerned about my blood pressure  For the two weeks prior to going to the ER my BP was in the high 150/100.

    I am normally extremely low  cardiac rehab BP was 89/47   91/57  92/61

    The doctor at the rehab was pleased with those numbers and even prior to this surgery if my BP was 100/61 that was not unusual.

    They I believe after speaking to my husband he said they called it "impending doom syndrome" not gloom and doom I guess that is just how I felt.

    I will continue my journey and I sincerely appreciate all of the messages.  It gives me hope that I am not crazy and that I did experience these things.

    Prayers to all I know that with your support and my physician's support I will survive.  Have a blessed day al

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    LINDA GRAMZ
    MELBOURNE FL
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  • 7.  RE: Doom and Gloom feelings

    Posted 07-29-2019 10:41
    I echo the comments be Richard Short.  I had my CABG (Cardiac Artery Bypass Graft) in May 2010 at the age of 68.  That surgery and subsequent rehab was the hardest physical and emotional challenge I had ever had in my life. What happens after was the greatest blessing I had ever experienced.  I started rehab in a program managed by a Doctor and an Emergency Room Nurse.  They wrapped their arms around me and made me feel safe. I was constantly monitored as I walked and then ran on the treadmill. My single focus was to get physically fit so I could still enjoy the sport of snow skiing.  It took 36 visits and about 6 months and I was on the slopes.  I also attended my 50th Class Reunion in early August just 3 months after surgery. 

    The Doctor and Nurse started a new Mended Hearts subchapter affiliate at the Wellness Center shortly thereafter and I joined.  This is where my real education started.  Hearing the stories from others was so inspiring!! Truly, the Mended Hearts program gave me the pathway toward a new relationship with nutrition and my body.  I also found a good lipid specialist doctor in my network who set goals for my blood chemistry and it took about a year and half to achieve them.

    I encourage everyone who has a heart related challenge to reach out thru this network and begin their personal journey back to wellness.  Find the support you need and dedicate yourself to finding the joy of living a life fully expressed.

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    Ron Haugland
    [Certified Metabolic Balance Coach]
    [Wellness Awakenings]
    [Carlsbad] [CA]
    [760-420-2077]
    Ron
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  • 8.  RE: Doom and Gloom feelings

    Posted 07-29-2019 21:47
    Hello Richard,
    I had my OHS CABGx2 May 15, 2019. I had my 10th cardiac rehab today. I just wanted to say thank you for this encouraging reply to Linda's message. At times I'm still struggling with the "cardiac blues." I will say it has improved a lot since I started the rehab but I still have my moments : ( 
    i'm really excited to be a part of this group. 
    Michelle

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    michelle leverett
    Ridgecrest CA
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  • 9.  RE: Doom and Gloom feelings

    Posted 07-30-2019 06:18

    Hi Michelle:

     

    Yes I wholeheartly agree with the messages about the cardiac rehab and what this group has done for me.  I never had the blues like I did this past week.

     

    I have gone through cardiac rehab and they graduated me in twelve sessions since I had exceeded the goals they had for me. 

     

    I am going to the gym and still working with the program (cardiac rehab exercise physocologist) in the traditional gym.

     

    I am working full time.  Most of the people at my cardiac rehab program were a lot older than myself.  I just turned 61 and they were already retired.  Not sure if my working full time which I need to do, has anything to do with the blue feeling, however I am so happy that I am alive and have much more time with my family.

     

    I work now with a nurse who was in the operating room with me and her sole job is to hold the heart while the surgeon makes the incisions and places the new values in place of the clogged ones.  Wow is all I can say.  Yes she does that for so many people, however, just to know that she was part of my surgery is amazing.

     

    She explained the entire process to me from being placed on the OR table to being taken to recovery.  That was so helpful in knowing that without these amazing people along with my surgeon, there would be a possibly that I would have died.

     

    I saw my cardiologist and he is changing my medication.  He feels that the ones he has me on is not working for me and the blood pressure for myself needs to come down more. 

     

    So thankfully I am alive and I am a very positive person, just the past week had been very trying.

     

    Keep the faith.  You are amazing, we all are.  After what we have endured, our lives have been spared for more than the reasons that we will ever know.

     

    Prayers to all

     

    Sent from Mail for Windows 10

     






  • 10.  RE: Doom and Gloom feelings

    Posted 07-28-2019 10:02

                  I had never heard of the Doom-and-Gloom Syndrome, but as someone who's seemingly had an opposite – and equally unexpected -- reaction to his multiple surgeries (a Lucky-and-Blessed Syndrome), it makes sense to me that it would exist. So I Googled the term and found several references that might be of interest.

                  The more you can hold onto positive feelings (and a sense of cosmic humor), the better. Hopefully, you have a compassionate, caring cardiologist with whom you can discuss how you are feeling. The sooner the better.

    Bob Levin

     

    Sent from Mail for Windows 10

     






  • 11.  RE: Doom and Gloom feelings

    Posted 07-28-2019 13:11
    Hello Linda,
    I had my surgery in Dec 2015 (aortic vale replaced and 1xCABG) and it took months of trying to convince my cardiologist that i was over medicated. I had low BP and felt tired even after sleeping all night. I felt like I was in a fog.
    My cardiologist finally agreed to cut my 3 meds as long as I monitored my BP 2-3/day and report back the readings. Within 1 week of the first reduction I felt much more awake and energetic. BP was still within range. Over the next several weeks i went from 3 meds to 2 meds and I'm currently at 1/2 the dose of the 2 med I started on.
    Remember MDs are treating you like the average person and unless you tell them how bad or good you feel, they won't change a thing.
    You are your own best advocate. Also you have to understand your MDs are treating 100s of others and can not possibly focus all their time on you so, it up to you to make sure they know YOU are looking out for you.

    Bill Cekala
    Mended Hearts visitor
    Orlando Chapter 296





  • 12.  RE: Doom and Gloom feelings

    Posted 07-28-2019 17:55
    Linda, I think you can see from reading that all of us have some degree of doom and gloom ,call it what you wish. My surgery took place in 2002, three months after the surgery I was on airplane going to play golf in Ireland. I gave credit to cardiac rehab they gave me the self-confidence necessary. The ER does not have what you really need, your cardiologist. The dizziness many of us feel usually is caused by the medications. The Doctor prescribes on the basis of what he expects to happen. The cardiologist will be the first person to admit that we are no two alike.  Give the Dr. the opportunity to adjust  your medication and next time you are urged to call the ER, don't, call your cardiologist first. By the way I am 87 and still playing golf, any form of exercise helps you to take your mind off the negative thoughts and helps being positive.      Dr Bill.

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    Dr Bill
    Ryan. PhD.
    Elkton MD. USA
    443 485 6266[
    Mended Hearts Chapter 179. Past Pres.
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