I suffered palpitations , high pulse rate and fainting when I was 14yo,was in hospital, and various test and ECG carried out,I was on prpranolol for years and I never had any episodes again,fast forward to last year May ,now 39yro.I lost my mum in the most shocking experience of my life and I was really hit,my bp was high for the firs time at 150/90,pulse at 120bpm , palpitation and insomnia.went to hospital and ECG,TFt test, was normal,on bisoprolol 2.5mg daily and losartan 25mg every otherday cos my doctor thinks am prehypertensive.Its abt a year since this whole thing started and I don't seem to agree with my doctor that all my weird symptoms all boils down to just anxiety,some times am so tired and breathless,my heart racing,sleepless and restless.In Lagos,Nigeria where I live(don't be put off lol)the healthcare is not as thorough except you go private,which is expensive. Pls I need to know if am being treated right or being misdiagnosed? Worried sick
Is it anxiety,tachycardia or Afib?so ... - Atrial Fibrillati...
Is it anxiety,tachycardia or Afib?so confused
Palpitations just means that we are aware of our heart beating. Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heart beat with no pattern at all, It is usually fast, typically anything up to 200+ beats a minute (bpm) but can be much slower. If you can learn to take your own pulse you should be able to tell if it is irregular or just fast. There are other arrhythmias which can be fast and regular as well but the only real way to know is by having an ECG which cleary shows AF.
By the way, normal heart rate is considered to be betwen 60 and 100 bpm.
Hi Nataaron - what a lot you have to contend with. It’s really, really hard for us to comment because of the very different healthcare standards. What I can say is the scenario you describe is what a huge number of people everywhere, especially women, have been told over the years. And there is some truth in it because anxiety will raise BP, HR and cause palpitations.
One of the problems with just one ECG is that an arrythmia such as AF can come and go so getting a diagnosis was always difficult until - modern, mobile devices such as Kardia came along. This is a small device enables you to take your own ECG if you have a smart phone. This means if you take your own ECG when you feel palpitations you then have evidence to take to a doctor who can read an ECG. shop.gb.alivecor.com/produc...
I don’t know if it is available in Nigeria but I would imagine it would be possible? Many people on this forum and who I know personally only received a diagnosis because they took their own ECG and then took it to their doctor.
Having said all of that - anxiety will cause all of the symptoms you describe and if you have an arrythmia - anxiety is part of the condition because it is your body’s way of alerting you to a danger - called the fight or flight response.
It is impossible to say for sure until you present evidence.
Best wishes and hope that helps. Keep reading the posts and ask any questions as just by contributing and being amongst people who understand because they have been in your situation at one time, can help.
Best wishes CD
Thank CD,its so reassuring that am not in this alone,I strongly agree wit you and will speak to my doctor about sourcing a kardia locally or from abroad cos am bent on getting to the root of my problem.am a worrier and my doctor don't take me seriously but wit an evidence, it will help wit diagnosis
Welcome to the forum.
I feel sure that the sudden death of your mother could easily have triggered your AF. The devastation and heartbreak that it brought to your life last year was major. I understand that pain well as my brother at age 29 was killed in a car accident, you know just my writing that has made me aware of my heart rate.
The thing is no matter how tragic, life goes on after someone has died. A few months after losing my brother I was sat feeling really sad and I suddenly thought, who are you feeling sorry for, the answer gave me quite a shock because I was feeling sorry for myself and wallowing in self pity. I resolved there and then to stop that self pity, my brother had gone and he was not in pain or suffering, but if in spirit he was watching my misery it would have upset him greatly. I'm not suggesting that you don't think of your mother, but accept that she's gone and would want you to be happy. Think of the happy times with her and try to feel joy of those and the times she made you laugh.
Your sleep is so important and perhaps you need a sleeping aid just for a few months to get you back into a good sleep pattern. Stress takes our BP up, but we can bring that rate down a little by taking a breath in and then breathing out quickly through the mouth .
The bisoprolol you are taking is well known for making people feel lethargic, perhaps you could ask to try another beta blocker if you feel that may be the cause?
Also moving to a more plant based diet, avoiding all food containing artificial additives and sweeteners as well as losing weight, if needed, has helped so many people with their AF to the point that they no longer take medication.
Wishing you well.
Jean
Thank jean,that made me teary cos the grief I suffered in the last two years is enormous, losing my sister /confidant to cancer in 2016 and my mum 2years after put me where I am now,a lot of times I wallow in self pity but need to live for my sons and 2yo daughter,this group has been so supportive and educative too,I will key to ur advice and hope for the best
Thanks ectopic1,will discuss having an ECG done when I have an episode wit the Doctor
If your tests have proved negative maybe accept for a while at least that anxiety and stress can give you panic attacks (palpitations, fast heartbeats, etc).
When I was in my 30’s I had a rather difficult boss (who incidentally was great when I got to know him, it was just his way) and I kept having palpitations, acrobatics in my chest, feeling queasy, arms aching, and then fainting over my typewriter.
Eventually until last year after I had brain tumour surgery, it did go away, but I suspect that age (I’m now 75) has caught up with me and I did end up with atrial fibrillation. I’m guessing the stress of so much general anaesthetic as operation was 9half hours didn’t help.
Everyone on this forum understands how you feel and especially the heartache losing your mum so take care, try to relax (easier said than done), but remember when you do feel as if you have something wrong with your heart, your are aware of every beat and movement. I find, especially if I have a bit of a turn during the night, that getting up and washing my hands and face in cold water helps.
All the best and I sincerely hope that if you have any further tests they all prove that all is well xx
Have you ever heard of P.O.T.S. or Dysautonomia?
Writting from nigeria too & similar symptoms
From what you’ve written, I think you are worrying unnecessarily and, I’m not a doctor, but I believe you might question your doctor about the need for your medications. These could well be creating side effects in themselves that might lead to problems for you.
Your anxiety is a part of your nature most likely but it can in itself easily lead to more anxiety because it creates a whole range of mild but worrying physical symptoms. This is partly because it increases muscle tone, especially in the stomach and chest areas. This slightly tightened musculature changes various aspects of the body function and metabolism including breathing and blood pH as well as increasing stomach acidity all of which can easily lead to yet more anxiety.
The vicious circle can easily build up into a panic attack or close to that, which, in itself can seem like a very convincing cardiac problem, then... yet more anxiety.
Your insomnia is also likely a key determinant of the way you feel, too. It alone can cause anxiety and a weakened ability to cope.
The sad loss of your mother will have been a final straw. I’m sorry to read this. Very bad luck. Life can seem so very cruel.
Palpitations are often normal and harmless. You’ve have had an ECG that was normal and your BP is just on the edge of needing treatment. This means the palpitations are not ectopic beats but just your awareness of the heart beat. Even if you did get ectopic beats, these feel awful to some people, but are a harmless arrhythmia.
I would try to calm your mind with some form of meditation or yoga. And do talk to your GP about whether the tablets are truly needed. You need to recognise that many people have an anxious mind and suffer from it sometimes terribly - yet are, essentially, entirely well, physically. It just doesn’t feel that way. Continuing as you are will make you feel more and more ill, and that would help no one.
Steve
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