Wondered if anyone has/had experienced the same as me? I'm 46 female and around 7 months ago I started to have really bad anxiety. Like a physical pain in the pit of my stomach. This also has made my heart rate increase. I get a lot of palpitations and ectopic beats. I've had 2 holter monitors, 2 Echocardiograms, loads of ECG/EKGs, a chest xray and I've seen a cardiologist multiple times. All tests have been normal.
My main concern is that my heart is beating too fast all the time. My resting rate is usually in the 80s/90s. It does come down in the evening to low 70s when I can finally relax. When I have a panic attack my heart can go up to 140, sometimes higher. I'm not worried that I'm having a heart attack in the present moment as I know I've been assured that my heart is healthy for now. What concerns me is the high resting heart rate. Could this cause stroke/heart damage/heart attack in the future? My husband tells me to relax and it's the anxiety causing it, but I just can't stop worrying about what this is doing to my heart in the long term. I've been on beta blockers before (bisoprolol) but they made me feel horrible and I don't want to start them again. My DR has prescribed Propanolol but I'm worried to take it. Tried escitalopram which made my anxiety a million times worse so dr said to stop. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
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Under 100 is still considered a normal heart rate. Propanol will slow your heart rate and also help with anxiety.Since nothing showed up in tests ask your doctor about exercise.I have had an ablation on my heart for SVT or fast heart rate.Walking or exercise bicycle have helped lower my heart rate some and I find it helps me relax a little.I am sure it will help you also.Check with your doctor and he should tell you 60 to 100 is normal so you can feel less worried.
We sound like twins. I’ve been struggling with cardiophobia for two years now and anxiety for longer. My resting heart rate is generally in the mid 70’s low 80’s so as soon as I move it can easily go well over 110. I’ve had covid twice and both times have experience unexplained racing heart rate (130/140) which has sent me into a total spin, I get anxious, HR increases further, panic attack, in bed for hours until I’ve calmed down. I’m now trying a higher dose of Propranalol but I find it lowers my blood pressure too much and I feel shitty. It does sort your HR out tho which I guess in turn addresses the anxiety. I am having CBT too and also take a low dose anti-depressant. Oh and have just started HRT in the hope that might also help!
I hope you have found something that works for you now x
How are you doing? Wondered how the higher dose of propranolol was going for you? I've been on 40mg 3 times per day for 12 days now. The first week was great. No anxiety, no racing heart. I thought I'd found something that would finally help. About a week in I started to feel crappy, headaches, nausea, no energy. I'm wondering if I'm on too high a dose? Or if i should stick with it and hope the side effects diminish. Do you have side effects?
I also have HRT which I'm going to start once i've settled on the dosage of propranolol. Hows it going for you? xxxx
Hi there! HRT seemed to work really well in the first few weeks and then it levelled off. I’m a bit unsure about upping my dose again until I’ve spoken to the doctors (mission impossible) but for now I can say it’s not helping my anxiety.
The anxiety seems to have gone off the charts the last couple of weeks and now I’m taking 20mg x 3 times per day. I wake a bit anxious and take 20mg and find that for the rest of the morning/early afternoon I am really quite zen. Once the evening creeps in I just can’t seem to keep the anxious feelings at bay, even with a further 40mg under my belt.
I need to find out if the 80mg slow release tablets might be worth trying.
I don’t know what’s causing it/what to take/what to stop taking/ what to do!!!
As for side effects, definitely occasional dizzyness throughout the day but it does seem to be getting better. Also some nausea / upset tummy but can I be 100% that’s the Propranalol? I don’t know!
Hopefully your side effects will start to ease soon and you can start to feel the benefits of the meds.
Hi - thanks for replying. So sorry you are going through this too. The more research I do, the more it seems like anxiety is a very very common symptom in perimenopause/menopause. The problem I have is that I am struggling to believe that I can go from a fit healthy person, exercising everyday, to a nervous wreck that gets shaky and out of breath walking up the stairs. I feel like I been possessed! I’m 47 this year and can’t imagine feeling like this for another 20/30 years. Have you always been an anxious person? I maybe was a little bit but nothing ever like this!! Like I’m not in control of my body.
Is the CBT helping you? I start on Monday as my dr said that’s it’s the best proven therapy to help with anxiety.
I’ve also read a couple of good books that helped. Dr Claire weekes hope and help for your nerves. And at last a life, by Paul David. Also there’s some good videos on YouTube if you search cardiophobia.
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