@vex: What an awful experience! You want to learn more about the cardiac effects caused by too much Serotonin that damaged the valves in your heart?
I have no medical training; however, I have learned a little about “Carcinoid Syndrome” - a heart condition that my NET disease patients need to be aware of due to Serotonin elevated level heart valve damage.
Mayo Clinic Connect has a group named “Neuroendocrine” I belong to that I have seen discussions on Serotonin hormone elevated levels causing life-threatening “Carcinoid Syndrome”. Perhaps this will help you get needed info?!? dbamos1945

I think all what you need to do to get rid of anxiety is to achieve your necessary regular check ups , let go and enjoy your life
You also need to know that you are now perfect and thank god because you survived.

I believe many hospitals host support groups for various diseases and medical conditions. Maybe a local support group for patients with a history of heart attack or other heart related conditions would be helpful.

Hello @vex, and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect.
I posted a link for you to read that you may find interesting and encouraging. Stress Cardiomyopathy is AKA as Takotsubo syndrome or Broken Heart Syndrome.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/broken-heart-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20354617
You went through a very traumatic and stressful event! No wonder you are concerned and trying to find someone to talk to that understands what you went through. Just being in ICU can trigger symptoms of PTSD. This is all pretty recent, so you are completely normal wondering if you are going to be okay. No wonder you have anxiety!
My advice to you is to learn as much as you can about this condition and find ways to accept what happened and learn to live your best life.
Do you have a favorite hobby or activity you can do that brings you joy?

@vex. Goodness grief. I’m so sorry to read what happened to you, and ending up in ICU. I’m not at all surprised you’re now anxious that it could happen again.

I had a look on Mayo Clinic and also found what seems to be the same article. It’s a good read especially what medications can contribute to the syndrome happening.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/serotonin-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20354758
I’m on 20 mg citalopram daily for my anxiety (coming up for 20 years now, since my mother died suddenly and unexpectedly from small cell lung cancer). Even though I’m doing so under close medical supervision this too could happen to me if I increased my dose or took other medications that raised my serotonin levels. Wow. It makes sense but I didn’t know.

Speaking for myself (someone who is 4 years in remission from incurable stage 4 appendix cancer myself) and who manages a lot of stress around that, it seems the best way forward is to work closely with your medical team to ensure you avoid combining medications that could land you back in ICU.

It seems you may be one of the people who are more sensitive to high levels of serotonin and have a seriously adverse reaction.

I can understand why you would like to connect with others to see how they now manage avoiding a recurrence.

I hope you can find others on Mayo Clinic Connect.

@vex I totally don’t suggest you get involved in discussions on Reddit (I left their cancer group because of the trolls, misinformation and unpleasant keyboard warriors)!

I’ve just searched Reddit for serotonin syndrome and there are many discussions about it including from people like you who also nearly died.

So much better to find a better forum than Reddit to connect with other sufferers of serotonin syndrome! If all else fails, it MIGHT be useful just reading lived experiences on there.

@vex
I am so glad you found Connect and created this post describing your recent experience with stress cardiomyopathy. You have received several helpful comments and are in a safe place as you process. It makes complete sense that you feel overwhelmed and I am hopeful your symptoms as well as your ability to process your experiences will get better. You’ve got it.

I love the question @karukgirl asked about what you enjoy. I am continually on that path as I sort of rewrite what my own life looks like. Another thing I remember do at a place I was overwhelmed was to schedule time every day to talk about it. When I began getting distracted with stressful thoughts I reminded myself I would be able to let it all go at my scheduled time.

I am tagging @duba who is also looking for ways to reduce stress following a recent experience with stress induced cardiomyopathy.

Hello @vex,

I combined your discussion with an existing discussion titled:

"Stressed Induced Cardiomyopathy"
- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/stressed-induced-cardiomyopathy/

As @jlharsh also mentioned, I'd like you to meet @duba who started this discussion on stress induced cardiomyopathy from a hospital visit as well.

As @karukgirl shared, stress induced cardiomyopathy is sometimes also known as broken heart syndrome, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/broken-heart-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20354617.

While stress induced cardiomyopathy may share some characteristics with carcinoid syndrome, they are different diagnoses as carcinoid syndrome is often caused by neuroendocrine tumors. Because stress induced cardiomyopathy and anxiety do not go well, it may be best to talk with your provider about any concerns regarding your diagnosis or potential links to other diagnoses in this case.

@vex, have you talked with your provider about your anxieties and stress regarding your diagnosis? Is it possible they could refer you to an additional provider who works with anxiety and stress management? When you are most stressed, is there a particular thing you like to do that calms you down?

@vex Sorry to hear what you're going through. I have been taking Tai Chi that my doctor recommended many years ago. I can't begin to tell you how much the relaxation of it has gotten me through all my medical needs. Multiple back procedures and awake for heart valve proceedure as well as many test, I zone in on the relaxation of Tai Chi. I don't know how I would have made it without. Give it a good long try, it may be helpful for you too. Be Blessed and hang in there.