Fear of Dying in sleep due to diagnosis of PAC's

[Tarah2020]

I have this immense fear of dying in my sleep ever since being diagnosed with PAC's. I think about it non stop and it is affecting my mental health in a big way. Does any one else have this Diagnosis and fear associated with it ?

[Hidden]

I have 3% Premature atrial contractions and am told by my GP nothing to worry about. Indeed they are common I believe but not medically qualified. I have noticed that as I have stopped worrying about them I get less and am feeling much better. Speak to you Doctor if you are concerned. Hope you overcome the fear and be well. I suffer from anxiety issues and it dominated my life for 12 months but I have been reassured by my Doctor and feel so much better. I think once we are diagnosed we are more aware of them.

Indeed I picked this up from the Internet -

Are PACs serious?

In general, premature atrial complexes (PACs) and premature ventricular complexes(PVCs) are not harmful. This holds especially true if there is nothing else wrong with the heart.

So be positive and speak to your Doctor about your fears. You probably need to address your fears so your Doctor may be able to help and reassure. Be honest and tell him/her how you are feeling. Best Wishes to you.

[Tarah2020 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much ! That helps ! I do have an appointment with my doctor next week about this. I hope it helps!

[Hidden in reply to Tarah2020]

Brilliant Tarah, as someone who has suffered with anxiety over PACS I think this is the way to go, Be positive - I believe I have overcome this fear but it took me 12 months and swallowing my pride and admitting to the Doctor how I feel. I believe you can do it and will improve your life. Be positive and I am thinking of you. Don't live your life in fear - Ask the questions, get the explanations and I'm sure you will have a positive outcome. Post again if you need support - that's what we are here for. A

[Babe1213]

This condition (PAC's) is new to me in that I have never heard of it before, however I have had the condition Atrial Fibrillation for quite a few years now, my heart goes off on a tangent just about whenever it wants to. I have to take Warfarin daily to stop blood clots forming, most people think of Warfarin as a 'blood thinner' - it is not, the blood remains the same density, it still clots but at an acceptable rate - this is a lifelong prescription - at first, like you and many others, I felt I had a daunting future - what would happen if I died in my sleep..... It soon took over my life, and anxiety set in - just like yours. I had a stroke at 32, breast cancer at 40 and again at 45. With both of these conditions I had anxiety, felt like s - - t! The anxiety took over my life, until I did what to me was the sensible thing - being a Christian - I prayed. Prayer had seen me safely through the stroke and mastectomy. When I feel an episode of A F coming on I pray, and am soon back to normal. As for dying in my sleep, I have 3 children, 15 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren, with 2 more on the way, and a husband of 54 years I don't want to die yet - any more than I did when I was 20. But I acknowledge this is a possibility, I do not let it rule my life. I have some down days, and have asked in the past, 'Why me?' I now ask, 'Why not me?' I take back control and allow GOD to work. In the event of 'dying in your sleep.' Well - YOU won't know about it! You will be at perfect peace. Your family and friends will grieve, but you will be safe. Try not to worry about dying, worry will not add one minute to your life. Just learn to live for the day and be happy. Make sure you take enough nutrients in you diet, and drink plenty of water.

[Tarah2020 in reply to Babe1213]

Thank you. Your response is very inspiring. I am happy you are doing well after your health issues.

[Dixie9326]

I am a retired Emergency department RN and a few years back I had so many PAC’s I thought it was atrial fibrillation. Once I was told that it was PAC ‘s i felt much better. They will not harm you. Once I accepted what they were I started to just ignore them and they COMPLETELY disappeared.. You will not die from them, day or night!!Talk with your physician and then relax

Anything off with our hearts and it scares us, but PAC’s should not:)🥰

[Tarah2020 in reply to Dixie9326]

Thank you!!

[designguy]

I found out I had PAC's when I went in for some knee surgery, until then I wasn't even aware of it. I also had some anxiety about it and trouble sleeping and would even force myself to sleep on my chest to get use to the sensations and desensitize myself. One of the common aspects of anxiety is distress intolerance, wanting absolutes and control and difficulty trusting especially with health anxiety. I had to learn to trust that I was going to be ok, that it really was a minor issue and concern and get use to the sensations and not believe my negative thoughts about it and get on with my life. The books that helped me were "At last a life" by Paul David and the DARE Book and youtube videos. The interesting thing is that my PAC went away later on after I started using a cpap machine.

[Tarah2020 in reply to designguy]

Thank you, everything you say is true. I will check out that book!

[designguy in reply to Tarah2020]

You're welcome, hope it helps you.

[Jeff1943]

I was diagnosed with 10% missed heart beats 2 years ago triggered as an after effect of Covid. I too was told nothing t worry about but they could give me tablets to stop the missed beats "but do you really want to be taking 2 more tablets?" So I declined the meds.Then I heard about Magnesium Citrate 200mg and started taking it. Heartbeat went back to normal for 8 months and then missed beats returned. Kept taking the Magnesium Citrate 200mg and then 4 months later the heartbeat returned to normal and has been normal for past 5 months.

Many people with missed heart beats find MC 200mg very helpful but a few do not. But there's defo a close relationship between missed heart beats and anxiety.

Tara, with regard to dying in your sleep: my beats per minute is usually 75-80. But a 24 hour Holter found my bpm were going down to 40 whilst sleeping so they fitted a pacemaker which stops the heart going below 40bpm. Don't know I'm wearing it. Just something to bear in mind if the fear of dying in your sleep thing becomes a major issue.

[Tarah2020 in reply to Jeff1943]

Thank you so much. Glad to hear yours is better .