Just Needed to Vent

[TheDisneyOutsider]

I guys. I'm know you can't really help me with this but I just really need to get it all out. Disney has been my favourite place for years now and I am always so excited to go back. We went last in June and had a great time. However in September my brother was rushed to the hospital because his heart was beating at something like 200 beats per minute. We later found out that his heart had short circuited. They got it back to normal and they said it may never happen again, it was sort of just a freak thing. He did have a bunch of tests to be safe, but they all came back fine. Like they said, it could have been a one time thing. However sine that I have been so anxious all the time. I was so worried about him and wouldn't take my eyes off him. This has gotten better but over the next few months I have developed severe anxiety (I've always had it but never really knew) and have become somewhat of a hypochondriac. I suffer from physical symptoms daily where I think I have terrible diseases. Anyway I am seeing someone for this but in the meantime my mom has started talking about planning a disney trip for later this year. I am so excited and we often talk about plans and where to stay and such, but every time I let myself get excited, I begin to worry about my brother at Disney. He loves Disney too and loves Space Mountain and all those types of rides, but I am so worried that he will go on one of those rides and his heart will short circuit again. I am so upset because Disney is my happy place and it always makes me feel better, but now all my happy thoughts are plagued with these types of terrifying thoughts. I did ask my mom if we did go if she could ask our doctor if my brother would be ok to do these rides. My brother is 21 and has been healthy and fine before and after this short circuit, but I still worry a lot. I don't really know what I'm asking here but I just really needed to get this off my chest. I just want my happy place to be happy again

 

[Betty Rohrer]

I would agree on having doctors advice for your brother before going. had something happen during the planning of one of grandsons MAW trips. daughter, age 35, had a heart attack. to the point we were thinking we would have to push trip back. hard part was kids knew about trip but were not understanding about what was happening to mom at the time. ended up we did not change it but in hind sight we probably should have. it is hard to not let what happens in life to rule your life but sometimes we just have to go on and try not to let it bother us. it is hard to do

 

[3Gsandme]

You're a great sister to love your brother so dearly. <3

But, listen. Don't let anxiety drive this, okay? Your brother got a clean bill of health by physicians you trust. Don't borrow trouble or give up today's happiness for slight possibilities. Just don't.

 

[smbowtie]

I went through the same thing. Was in Afib for 5 hrs before they could bring it down. Went through every test known to man only to find out there was nothing wrong. Freak thing, might never happen again. A year later had tests done just to make sure everything was still good. Found nothing. I do not let this dictate how I live my life. My wife agrees that we can't worry about what "might" happen. We live and love life for the time we are here.

 

[TheDisneyOutsider]

I went through the same thing. Was in Afib for 5 hrs before they could bring it down. Went through every test known to man only to find out there was nothing wrong. Freak thing, might never happen again. A year later had tests done just to make sure everything was still good. Found nothing. I do not let this dictate how I live my life. My wife agrees that we can't worry about what "might" happen. We live and love life for the time we are here.

This is going to sound silly but just for peace of mind, since your scare have you been back to disney or some place similar and rode the bigger rides that they say to not do with heart problems? Thanks for your comment by the way. Definitely reassuring

 

[TheDisneyOutsider]

Thanks everyone for your awesome words of reassurance. They actually did make me feel better! I know I can't worry about what might happen, but it's hard sometimes! It was such a scary night it's hard to let it go and not worry about it. I'm working on it

 

[smbowtie]

This is going to sound silly but just for peace of mind, since your scare have you been back to disney or some place similar and rode the bigger rides that they say to not do with heart problems? Thanks for your comment by the way. Definitely reassuring

I was just at WDW in Feb. Did everything with out even a thought. If Drs had told me that there was some damage or I had a high probability of an event then I wouldn't do the things I do. But since I got the OK I don't let it bother me.
I'm sure your brother just wants to enjoy himself and have fun. If it doesn't bother him then don't let him see it bothers you. Go and have fun together.

 

[TheDisneyOutsider]

I was just at WDW in Feb. Did everything with out even a thought. If Drs had told me that there was some damage or I had a high probability of an event then I wouldn't do the things I do. But since I got the OK I don't let it bother me. I'm sure your brother just wants to enjoy himself and have fun. If it doesn't bother him then don't let him see it bothers you. Go and have fun together.

Thank you so much for responding! I am glad that you were fine and able to do everything you normally would! That makes me feel a lot better about going with my brother! Don't worry, I would never let him see that it was bothering me! If I have concerns I talk to my mom and she listens to my concerns without involving him thank you again you have really made me feel better!

 

[North of Mouse]

Thanks everyone for your awesome words of reassurance. They actually did make me feel better! I know I can't worry about what might happen, but it's hard sometimes! It was such a scary night it's hard to let it go and not worry about it. I'm working on it

Sorry that you are having so much anxiety, but can understand your fear.

If it helps, having heartbeats that go up to 200 bpm does not mean your brother has a heart disease. For several years my heart rate would sky rocket to 180 -200 bpm during the night - not day - and I went to the emergency room more than once, but after tests, was assured my heart was fine - just a short circuit. Wore a holter monitor more than once, was then put on a beta blocker which helped some, but finally the episodes just mostly quit.

Try to put it out of your mind and realize our bodies are very complicated and things get out of whack sometimes for no particular reason. If he has been checked out thoroughly, he will probably be fine - by the way the rides don't cause it (when your heart is structurally ok) it just 'happens'!

 

[WheeledTraveler]

Have you actually worked with your therapist on this exact concern about your brother at WDW? If you haven't, it's worth bringing it up now. He or she may be able to help with techniques for you to cope with the planning and then carry that over to the trip itself.

It's completely understandable why you have the fear after what happened in September. That said, it is true that he's probably going to be completely fine at WDW. What he experienced is more common than most people realize. I'm sure the doctors have told your brother the chances it will happen again based on what happened and any additional risk factors he might have. If he feels he's safe knowing the risks, you have to trust him in that. Even if he seems cavalier about it now, he was probably frightened enough at the time to really take the doctors seriously with any warnings. I hope it does help, too, that other posters who've been through what your brother has have gone and been fine. I have a different condition that can and does cause periods of high heart rate and/or high blood pressure (not necessarily triggered by anything obvious) and the doctor I see for that has cleared me for pretty much anything at WDW (I'm not cleared for all rides by other doctors due to other conditions I have, but the heart concerns are not a limiting factor). It certainly hasn't ever caused me problems at WDW or other theme parks.

FYI, your mother may not be able to ask your brother's doctor if he's cleared to go/ride whatever he wants. At 21, your brother would need to do the asking, unless he'd signed something specifically saying the doctor could talk to your mother (the only other exception would be if he'd been declared legally incompetent to make his own medical decisions). If she was already in the room when he asked, then it would be fine, but if it's a phone call or something like that, he would need to make it himself.

 

[txtricia]

Hope this helps. I developed PVC's two years ago. Kind of out of the blue. I'm healthy in all other ways. They can only speculate that it might be caused because my organic adrenaline levels are higher than "normal". It causes a heart fluttering sensation and can raise my BPM. But since that diagnosis I have been to Disney twice (including TOT which scares the jeepers out of me ) and zip lining, etc. None of which have caused episodes. HOWEVER it is important to take care of yourself while you travel, which many people forget to do at Disney due to magic overload. Make sure you stay hydrated, stay cool, take breaks, at keep rested. All of these things can contribute to weird heart episodes in otherwise healthy people. Best of luck to you and your family.

 

[Jade's Mom]

My daughter and I were in WDW at the end of March. In January I had been hospitalized with a pulmonary embolism and A fib, and am currently on blood thinner. While i have to be careful with falling and such I still rode every ride and had no problems.

 

[TheDisneyOutsider]

Thanks for all the replies guys! I'm glad that you guys haven't let your problems get in the way of your Disney fun I definitely feel like I can see myself enjoying Disney again now. I still worry, but it doesn't feel so much like doom when I think about it anymore, if that makes sense...anyway thank you all for sharing!!

 

[cobright]

This might help or it might come off as dismissing your concern, I hope you take it as the former...

Having a 200+ heart rate is horribly unpleasant and quite frightening if you don't expect it. On it's own, however, it's not that big a deal. The Drs checked for all the bad stuff his tachycardia might have indicated and came up empty. Give yourself permission to let this worry go.

Like yourself, I have an anxiety disorder and I can not impress upon you enough how important it is to choose what you worry about and what you don't. This sounds ridiculous to people with anxiety and/or panic disorders, and it will not come easily.

Also, seriously talk to a doctor about medicating that. This issue is infringing on your quality of life, get some klonopin and start living again.

 

[TheDisneyOutsider]

This might help or it might come off as dismissing your concern, I hope you take it as the former... Having a 200+ heart rate is horribly unpleasant and quite frightening if you don't expect it. On it's own, however, it's not that big a deal. The Drs checked for all the bad stuff his tachycardia might have indicated and came up empty. Give yourself permission to let this worry go. Like yourself, I have an anxiety disorder and I can not impress upon you enough how important it is to choose what you worry about and what you don't. This sounds ridiculous to people with anxiety and/or panic disorders, and it will not come easily. Also, seriously talk to a doctor about medicating that. This issue is infringing on your quality of life, get some klonopin and start living again.

Thank you for your comment. I am working really hard on choosing what I worry about, but it is hard sometimes to get the worries out of my head!! My grandpa was a hypochondriac and unfortunately i seem to have inherited some of his traits...I have been getting better though. I am switching therapists this week (the old one is a children's one and it was just too childish of methods for me) and I hope once I get back to a therapist I can calm down again. I really am against taking meds for myself personally, one because I don't like the thought of becoming dependent on them and two no meds work well for me and I usually end up throwing any type of med up. I know they would help but I would really like to do this without. Anyway thanks for taking the time to respond! I really do appreciate all the support on these boards

 

[mickey&minniealways]

your reaction to meds may be linked to your anxiety. When next speaking to a therapist or doctor mention all the concerns you have mentioned here. Also talk to your parents and most especially your brother. Reasurances from him may go along way to healing your own heart.

 

[pbrim]

two no meds work well for me and I usually end up throwing any type of med up.

Please take this in the spirit of offering information you may not be aware of. I am in no way attempting to judge you or dictate to you how you should handle your problems.

However, you may not be aware that some drugs can be converted into a cream that allows you to absorb through the skin. I have a friend with severe migraines, which caused such nausea she was not able to keep down the meds to deal with the migraine. She was able to get anti-nausea meds in a wrist cream that she rubbed on, waited 15 min, then was able to take pills and keep them down. It does require a compounding pharmacy (one which is licensed to make it's own formulations) which are not common any more. (They would take a standard anti-nausea medication and incorporate it into an absorbable cream.) But I just wanted to make you aware of this option. If you have the same problem with other meds you are taking, like anti-biotics etc, you may want to consider it for that also.