1. < Heart & Blood Health
Profile picture for duba

Stressed Induced Cardiomyopathy

Posted by duba @duba, Jan 10 9:10am

I’m just out of the hospital with stress induced cardiomyopathy. I feel grateful for being alive because the chest pains were so severe I didn’t think I would make it. I finally remembered to pray 8 hours into the er and I began to feel less pain. I’m looking for ways to reduce stress. One good thing is, Im not afraid to die anymore. I made peace with that and let go.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart & Blood Health Support Group.

Profile picture for isadora2021
isadora2021 | @isadora2021 | Mar 8 5:01pm
In reply to @vex "Hi, my name is Vex, I’m 28 years old, 29 next month, and am struggling with..." + (show)
Profile picture for vex @vex

Hi, my name is Vex, I’m 28 years old, 29 next month, and am struggling with a recent health diagnosis. Last month I was hospitalized after developing serotonin syndrome, after a bad reaction from a medication, alongside antibiotics I took earlier in the month for strep throat. These medications worked in tandem to increase my serotonin levels an exponential amount, forcing me into this syndrome. After nearly dying, I was put into a medical induced coma, where I slept for 5 days, finally awaking on February 16th (I was admitted the 11th) at 11:00 pm, confused in the ICU. After a couple days I was discharged, but after a cardiology appointment I had this week, I’ve learned I developed stress cardiomyopathy. I’ve been looking everywhere for a support group I can join in person for people with similar medical trauma, but to not avail. I’m struggling a lot with my anxiety, especially with the symptoms of the stress cardiomyopathy mirroring that of a heart attack. I’ve been trying to practice breathing exercises, but I’m not having much luck curbing my anxieties. I just wanted to see what advice anyone has for dealing with stress and anxiety while also navigating a heart condition. Thank you so much for anyone who took the time to read this, I really appreciate anyone who took the time to listen to my story. If you have any advice, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you so much!
Vex

Jump to this post

@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.

REPLY
Profile picture for Janell, Volunteer Mentor
Mentor
Janell, Volunteer Mentor | @jlharsh | Mar 8 5:23pm
In reply to @vex "Hi, my name is Vex, I’m 28 years old, 29 next month, and am struggling with..." + (show)
Profile picture for vex @vex

Hi, my name is Vex, I’m 28 years old, 29 next month, and am struggling with a recent health diagnosis. Last month I was hospitalized after developing serotonin syndrome, after a bad reaction from a medication, alongside antibiotics I took earlier in the month for strep throat. These medications worked in tandem to increase my serotonin levels an exponential amount, forcing me into this syndrome. After nearly dying, I was put into a medical induced coma, where I slept for 5 days, finally awaking on February 16th (I was admitted the 11th) at 11:00 pm, confused in the ICU. After a couple days I was discharged, but after a cardiology appointment I had this week, I’ve learned I developed stress cardiomyopathy. I’ve been looking everywhere for a support group I can join in person for people with similar medical trauma, but to not avail. I’m struggling a lot with my anxiety, especially with the symptoms of the stress cardiomyopathy mirroring that of a heart attack. I’ve been trying to practice breathing exercises, but I’m not having much luck curbing my anxieties. I just wanted to see what advice anyone has for dealing with stress and anxiety while also navigating a heart condition. Thank you so much for anyone who took the time to read this, I really appreciate anyone who took the time to listen to my story. If you have any advice, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you so much!
Vex

Jump to this post

@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.

REPLY
Profile picture for Justin McClanahan, Moderator
Moderator
Justin McClanahan, Moderator | @JustinMcClanahan | Mar 9 8:02am
In reply to @vex "Hi, my name is Vex, I’m 28 years old, 29 next month, and am struggling with..." + (show)
Profile picture for vex @vex

Hi, my name is Vex, I’m 28 years old, 29 next month, and am struggling with a recent health diagnosis. Last month I was hospitalized after developing serotonin syndrome, after a bad reaction from a medication, alongside antibiotics I took earlier in the month for strep throat. These medications worked in tandem to increase my serotonin levels an exponential amount, forcing me into this syndrome. After nearly dying, I was put into a medical induced coma, where I slept for 5 days, finally awaking on February 16th (I was admitted the 11th) at 11:00 pm, confused in the ICU. After a couple days I was discharged, but after a cardiology appointment I had this week, I’ve learned I developed stress cardiomyopathy. I’ve been looking everywhere for a support group I can join in person for people with similar medical trauma, but to not avail. I’m struggling a lot with my anxiety, especially with the symptoms of the stress cardiomyopathy mirroring that of a heart attack. I’ve been trying to practice breathing exercises, but I’m not having much luck curbing my anxieties. I just wanted to see what advice anyone has for dealing with stress and anxiety while also navigating a heart condition. Thank you so much for anyone who took the time to read this, I really appreciate anyone who took the time to listen to my story. If you have any advice, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you so much!
Vex

Jump to this post

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?

REPLY
Profile picture for pamgall
pamgall | @pamgall | Mar 9 8:56am
In reply to @vex "Hi, my name is Vex, I’m 28 years old, 29 next month, and am struggling with..." + (show)
Profile picture for vex @vex

Hi, my name is Vex, I’m 28 years old, 29 next month, and am struggling with a recent health diagnosis. Last month I was hospitalized after developing serotonin syndrome, after a bad reaction from a medication, alongside antibiotics I took earlier in the month for strep throat. These medications worked in tandem to increase my serotonin levels an exponential amount, forcing me into this syndrome. After nearly dying, I was put into a medical induced coma, where I slept for 5 days, finally awaking on February 16th (I was admitted the 11th) at 11:00 pm, confused in the ICU. After a couple days I was discharged, but after a cardiology appointment I had this week, I’ve learned I developed stress cardiomyopathy. I’ve been looking everywhere for a support group I can join in person for people with similar medical trauma, but to not avail. I’m struggling a lot with my anxiety, especially with the symptoms of the stress cardiomyopathy mirroring that of a heart attack. I’ve been trying to practice breathing exercises, but I’m not having much luck curbing my anxieties. I just wanted to see what advice anyone has for dealing with stress and anxiety while also navigating a heart condition. Thank you so much for anyone who took the time to read this, I really appreciate anyone who took the time to listen to my story. If you have any advice, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you so much!
Vex

Jump to this post

@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.

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.