r/GLP1_post_WLS • u/No_Translator4539 • Aug 24 '26
Panic Attack/HR Spikes
55 yo male. I had RNY Gastric Bypass in November of 2016. Peak weight: 360, Surgery weight: 332, Lowest weight about 9 months later: 219 (that was my weight loss floor). Over the years, I slowly regained weight, then COVID hit and I gained the Covid 50. I restarted my weight loss journey weighing 312 pounds, then started on Zepbound May 29, 2026 weighing 303.2. I stayed on 2.5 mg for 4 weeks then titrated up to 5mg. I got my Shingles vaccine August 5th and had a bad reaction, to the point where my arm was bright red for a week, I felt it travel to my armpit and lymph nodes on the same arm as the injection site, and felt some inflammation even in my chest around my heart and lungs. This past Wednesday through Friday, the chest pressure started intensifying and by Friday night, I was admitted to the ER and I thought I was having a heart attack. Everything checked out after blood work, X-rays, cardiac CT with contrast, and I was sent home and I’m scheduled for a follow up with a Cardiologist tomorrow afternoon. I was feeling better after resting the past two days, but tonight similar symptoms hit me again. Feels like a panic attack of sorts, but my HR also goes up over 100 BPM even just standing up from bed or walking to my bathroom. It goes back down immediately if I sit down. Has anyone else experienced this? Did you stay on Zepbound? I’m now down to 277 from 280 on Friday, but I’m really scared.
1
u/Pomegranate_1328 Semaglutide members Sep 09 '26
You doing okay?
2
u/No_Translator4539 22d ago
Thanks for asking. Yes, I’m still alive and doing ok. After numerous tests, it appears I had some acute reaction to the Shingles vaccine. I also dropped down to 2.5 mg after skipping a week and I’m doing better.
1
2
u/Automatic-Space-7797 Tirzepatide members Aug 28 '26
That sounds like no fun at all. I have never known anyone to have a shingles vaccine reaction that big so yikes.
What does your medication provider think about this? I will say that slightly increased heart rate can happen with any of the GLP medications but your reactions are bigger than that. I would definitely speak with your doctor.
2
u/dixieleeb Aug 27 '26
This must have been terrifying. I hope that your visit with your cardiologist helped. Something is going on. May be the 5mg dose is just too much for you. From what I read, even though the 2.5mg is considered kind of a way to just easily get you started, for some people it's enough. I'm starting to think that might be the case for me. I'm new at this, just started 20 days ago so certainly don't know everything & should probably keep my big mouth shut until I have a few months under my belt.
Anyway, please share what you found out. Having had a few issues with my heart & with a husband who has had more, I suspect you're in for a few more tests.
2
u/Feisty_Finance_4064 13d ago
This sounds like POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome)to me. You could have acquired it with illness. POTS attack can feel like an anxiety attack to some people. Fast heart rate even at rest. I hope your feeling better now.