Another Sudden Anxious Feeling of Doom

[nthompson10]

Last night after dinner, I had another one of these episodes I have every few weeks. The feeling is SO hard to explain. It’s a sudden intense feeling of doom/feeling like my heart is about to go into a very bad rhythm. For some reason when I get these, I just want to walk away, although my wife just wants to help. For some reason I’ve found that going to the restroom and coughing and gagging(sometimes to the point of throwing up) helps a little. I just hate this feeling so much and find it hard to explain to the doctors and my loved ones. The feeling is so scary, does anyone else get these? Or have any recommendations?

[Dawsonmackay]

I think you are describing the condition, "No Way Out." AF leads to all sorts of rabbit holes and gets more complex by the day. That's my speculation anyhow. You have to surround yourself with caring, nurturing people. And despite the gloom, you have to make a (sometimes) tremendous effort to be part of the living.

[meadfoot]

Many of us have this feeling of doom. In my case it often precedes an episode of af or svt. I wonder if and I am only wondering if our autonomic nervous system is off kilter and this throws our system off balance. It always feels like an advance warning for me. Sometimes it fades on its own and settles without throwing me of into arrhythmia. Sorry you are having these distressing symptoms.

[nthompson10 in reply to meadfoot]

Thank you, yeah the advanced warning system is a good way to describe the feeling

[nthompson10]

I am 4months post ablation and have the Kardia thing, I try to take a reading when I’m having these but aren’t always able to. I don’t think I ever actually am going out of rhythm, but it is certainly a terribly scary feeling like I could any minute. I can handle an a fib episode, but it feels like I’m on the verge of something much worse. Maybe it’s just a bunch of pauses, PVC’s or ectopic beats in a row. I sometimes think it’s just a panic attack but it sure does feel physiological and not mental.

[Hidden in reply to nthompson10]

I think panic and a fib eat at the same table!!! Kind of which came first, chicken or egg??? 💜. You are not alone my friend.

[Hidden]

I havent had them lately, but they would come right before I would go into a fib. A feeling of impending doom I would call it. Ive also found if I over eat or eat really salty things it triggers it, doesnt always lead into a fib but Ive never had a fib without it happening first. I cough too. Then practice deep controlled breathing and get my mind focused on something else. The more attention( anxiety) I give it, the bigger it gets.

[Storyjo1 in reply to Hidden]

I understand and agree that the more you think about your panic attacks the more anxious you become. I also think that anxiety is not necessarily a mental response but can be a physiological one. It would be interesting to know how many Afib sufferers suffer from panic attacks.

I do! I do!

[Hidden in reply to Storyjo1]

Yes, the mind body connection is a fascinating subject. I would guess many if not most a fibbers suffer from anxiety issues, if not prior to a fib, definitely after. I always considered myself a calm, not easily rattled person prior to getting a fib bit now realize I had some anxiety back then, I just didnt recognize it.

[Kellyjelly]

I wrote a post about this a few months ago. It’s like an Aura before a migraine or possibly similar to the prodrome epileptics have before a seizure. Like you I get an intense momentary feeling, it can be impending doom, intense irritation or a strange feeling of happiness.also like you the first thing I want to do is walk away from it, it usually precedes an episode of SVT.

The strange thing is that it is only after the moment has fully passed and I am either feeling better or in the throes of SVT that I realise I felt so weird. I don’t connect it at the time.

[Finvola]

Yes, I know exactly the feeling you are describing - an elusive, dread feeling, just out of reach - I assume it is chemically based. I explain it to myself as heart letting brain know that all is not quite right so brain triggers ‘doom’ chemical.

Coughing can be beneficial in so many cases with heart difficulties - I read somewhere that it has to do with creating pressure inside the chest. Yawning like fury helps me but I assume that is to do with the amount of oxygen intake.

[Kellyjelly in reply to Finvola]

Just out of reach is a perfect description.

[secondtry in reply to Finvola]

One medic told me a while back that coughing triggers an electric reaction in the heart??

[Hidden in reply to secondtry]

Interesting. I just have a natural urge to cough a few times when I feel a fib pre- warning signals. It seems to help. Hasnt done me any good once Im in a fib yet.

[secondtry]

Yes I get the doom feeling sometimes. Try eating dinner much earlier and lighter and don't be totally sedentary in the evening or go to bed for at least 4 hours after eating.....that helped me.

[P0rtnahapp1e]

Yes, nthompson10 , I get it and no matter how often it happens, it still scares me, even though my head knows it will pass. It’s almost as though each time is my first experience of it.

Going to the bathroom helps me immensely and it has never lasted for more than an hour although I think I am having these bouts more frequently.

[Aus19]

Good on you for raising this, nthompson10. Yep, I get it. But normally when my arrhythmic heart is already tap-dancing away to the chaotic beat of its own drum. Not as a warning, but as part of the whole episode. Truly horrid.

[Mouchkin]

Yes I get this. I explained it to my doctor saying ....it's like I am wakened in the night hearing someone has broken in downstairs and something terrible is going to happen. I havn't had this much since my ablation. Before I used to get it as a warning of AF but if I get it now my heart is still steady.

[nthompson10 in reply to Mouchkin]

That’s a good way to describe it. My EP said that I would probably eventually have to get a second ablation. Ugh, I just want to feel good again!!! Thank you for your insight

[Hidden]

I get them too, more recently I have had more of them. Sometimes it leads to an Afib episode, sometimes it quietens down. It’s the feeling my heart is high up in my chest I hate xx

[djmnet]

Afib begets anxiety (feeling of doom) and anxiety begets afib. And the cycle continues.