Palpitations

[rubyred777]

I have heart palpitations quite often. Lately even two panic attacks. Driving in the car, I feel my heart beating fast. Sitting in the waiting room of doctors also. Or even writing this post. Doesn't take much to set me off. The panic attacks are much worse. My heart feels like it's pounding out of my chest so bad I can't bear it. Last time, I went to E.R. They did an ekg right away. I could barely lay there. No one really did anything. Blood work was ok. Ekg was ok. They had heart monitor on me and kept listening to my heartbeat. After a couple hours, I was fine. Tests were good! How is this possible? Doctor said my heart sounded fine. It was pounding! Anyone else have this?

[Agora1]

rubyred777, this sounds like it can be anxiety provoked. When we are in a state

of "fight or flight" Adrenaline is raging throughout our body allowing the heart to

pick up speed as our mind interprets the adrenaline as a sign of danger.

Have you seen your doctor or a cardiologist regarding these frequent pounding

heart rates?? There are ways to control your anxiety. Please keep us updated xx

[Rbj6552]

Our minds are powerful and can cause these episodes quite frequently. If you have been checked out by the Dr and your tests are negative then it is anxiety. When this happens to me I immediately begin to Pray. Next I force myself to court backwards from 100. This tricks your mind and changes your focus! The palpitations will stop. Have faith!

[Twenty2]

I could have written this. Since having a major panic attack in the car this has happened almost every day since. As soon as I start thinking about having to drive somewhere my heart goes crazy and I feel like my head is going to explode and I think I’m going to faint. I’ve had all the heart checks like you have and a chest X-ray. My bloods are absolutely fine. I don’t know why this happens every day now, even while I’m eating dinner or watching tv

[rubyred777 in reply to Twenty2]

It's horrible! Driving sets me off too. Like you just thinking about it is a trigger. When I went to hospital my hear was pounding so bad, I couldn't stand it. I could barely lay there to get the ekg. Yet it was normal! How is that possible?

[SCC1 in reply to rubyred777]

Possibly, the results were normal because your heart is actually working fine as far as maybe how much oxygen is getting to it or how it "medically" functions, but it beats faster and harder under stress. I would take comfort knowing that the drs are right about your heart being fine. It might be that it is just reacting to stress and you might think there is something literally wrong. With the tests you had done, the drs would have found some anomaly if your heart weren't actually working properly.

[rubyred777 in reply to SCC1]

But why does it feel like it's beating fast and hard yet it's not? I don't understand.

[SCC1 in reply to rubyred777]

Maybe the Dr meant your heart was beating fast but your heart is still functioning fine.

[rubyred777 in reply to SCC1]

No he said it wasn't beating fast

[SCC1 in reply to rubyred777]

I'm not sure then. I'm sorry.

[rubyred777]

The book sounds good but it didn't help you?

[rubyred777]

I will check it out. Thanks!

[uasa]

do you have a fitbit or apple watch? If no, try to get one. I was able to diagnose my PACs. When I first had them, I setup a doc appt. It was for a week later and by then my symptoms had gone. When I took my ecg from my watch and sent it to my cardiologist he told me what it was. I have my echo in a couple of weeks. When you have palpitations, you can do your own ecg and try to see if you spot something strange.

Also, panic attacks can cause other strange symptoms. When I had my first few ones, I went to the ER on 5 occasions. I was finally told to go to a GP where my anxiety was diagnosed.

[rubyred777 in reply to uasa]

What were your other symptoms?

[uasa]

anxiety symptoms?

[rubyred777 in reply to uasa]

Yes

[uasa in reply to rubyred777]

felt like i was going to die any second... was super twitchy.. couldnt go to sleep... diarrhea... gerd... excessive peeing... always trying to make sure my heart was beating right... my wife had to run her hands through my hair for me to sleep since it calmed me down... had random muscle spasms... didnt want to eat or drink... i felt so much better once I found out it was anxiety and had been good for 3 years until recently... its back with a bang..

[rubyred777 in reply to uasa]

So what were you doing before that You're not doing now to help it?

[uasa in reply to rubyred777]

learning about anxiety and talking to people is the first step... you then have to accept that you have it and that you are overthinking about your health.. you need to take a deep breath and realize you are getting anxious and tell it to f-off... start eating healthy.. exercise.. it all helps...

[rubyred777 in reply to uasa]

Why is it back for you?

[uasa in reply to rubyred777]

i started having palpitations.. specifically PACs.. I felt them this time.. told my Dr. about a funny feeling in my chest that I had after over exerting a couple of times.. both times my appt was a week later and my palpitations had subsided so the Dr. really couldnt do anything.. i finally figured out what it was by taking ecgs using my fitbit when i next felt them.. I printed out the ecg and showed it to my cardiologist who confirm the PACs... after him telling me they can be harmless.. i feel better... i still have to get my echo done next week... until then i will try to not think about them

[uasa]

ruby... hope you are doing better..

[rubyred777 in reply to uasa]

Little bit as long as I don't get stressed. The slightest stress gets me going. How are you?

[uasa in reply to rubyred777]

You got this... remember to remind yourself you are okay.. have you talked to your dr or a cardiologist about your palpitations?I am doing much better... all test results came back clear...

[uasa in reply to rubyred777]

Hey Ruby, been a while. How are you now?