anxiety at night

• By Mary1
• Posted September 16, 2008 at 6:08 pm
• Report post

I'm so sorry, Donna. I was thinking of you and your dad all day last Friday.
Does his doctor know he's not sleeping?
:-(

• Reply

• By NWWriter
• Posted September 17, 2008 at 11:26 am
• Report post

Hi Donna,
This may not have anything to do with your Dad's situation, BUT, reduced oxygen levels in the brain cause anxiety. Maybe some oxygen therapy at night might help or, especially if he snores at night, an assessment for sleep apnea might give him more information and choices of therapy.
Mary L

• Reply

• By Johnie
• Posted September 17, 2008 at 5:33 pm
• Report post

Hi Donna,
Oh, your poor dad. I sure identify. When I first came home from the hospital after having my device implanted (due to a still unexplained arrest, many heart stoppages after that, and several weeks in the hospital) I was afraid to sleep at night. I thought, "What if my heart stops again and the device doesn't fire? Everybody in the house is asleep, nobody will notice that I've stopped breathing. I'll die in my bed and they'll just find me in the morning!" So, yes, it was much easier to sleep during the day when others were awake (to come to my "rescue!").

Ironically, it took my heart stopping again to reassure me. The device did fire, then I knew I could trust it (it actually happened while I was ASLEEP -- and it woke me up instantly). I had to return to the hospital for another ablation, but now all is well (this all happened last year). Not needing the device, but trusting it to fire if something ever happens again. Your dad will probably feel less worried when he has the device tested. Also, it will periodically be checked to make sure it is picking up heart signals well and "kicking in" when needed.
Now I am sleeping just fine most nights. I think a lot of us, however, have a little "post traumatic stress." Sometimes our SCA or other heart "events" come flooding back and we just lie there reliving it in our minds. During those times I try to count my blessings, not my days in ICU!
The more he can learn about how the device works and how dependable it is -- that will help.
Johnie

• Reply

• By formydad
• Posted September 18, 2008 at 10:45 am
• Report post

Hello Everyone:

Thank you all for your replies.
My father has actually been in and out of the hospital these past two weeks for a hernia. Since he has been worried about that, his mind is not on the icd and for the unfortunate reason of being in the hospital he is getting some rest. I guess of knowing someone is always there if something was going to help is just letting him relax a little and get some rest.
His dr does know of his situation and has told him to try a sleep study test that was it and also to go and talk with someone.
Johnie thank you so much for sharing your story, I'm sure it is very scary, to have that fear of going to sleep and not waking up. I'm so glad for you that you are a lot better. I will share your story with my father and try to let him know that he needs to trust in his ICD. As of today, since his hernia they have not yet tested the ICD, so maybe in a few weeks and that I hope will help him.

Thank you all again, and god bless!
Donna

• Reply

• By Johnie
• Posted September 19, 2008 at 9:31 am
• Report post

Donna, I know it must be hard to have perspective while you are going through all this with your dad. One thing I feel bad about is how much my two teenagers and husband had to suffer when I was in the hospital and during my recovery afterwards. They must have wondered "When will this all end and life get back to normal?" They had a lot of support from the community, church and family. I sure hope that is true for you also. Please remember to take care of yourself during this time.
Johnie

• Reply

• By KristinH
• Posted September 25, 2008 at 8:37 pm
• Report post

Donna,
It's very common to have anxiety at night as the others have posted. I had sudden cardiac arrest - in my sleep (and thankfully my husband was home and awake and heard my final gasps for breath). I survived and had an ICD implanted. Then 6 months later, my ICD shocked me - in my sleep. So I also had major anxiety about going to sleep because the two times my heart had major, major problems, I was sleeping. And, in my case, lack of sleep was also a major stressor that may have contributed to the shock from the ICD. Johnie was right - you have to put your faith in the ICD. It does its job and it does it very well. But despite knowing that, I still had major anxiety. My doctor gave me some anti-anxiety medication (lorazepam) which just helped to take the edge off. I took it every night before bed for 2 weeks after my shock and also went through almost 3 months of counseling (specifically focusing on 'mindfulness' techniques to live in the moment and not worry about the future). It's been a year since then and I'm sleeping better. But, there will always be nights when you worry - you just have to learn how to not let those thoughts overwhelm and consume you. I highly recommend that your Dad talk to a counselor - as it sounds like he has a lot going on.
Best,
Kristin

• Reply

Add to the discussion