Hello all I’m new here. I’m 34 and have been suffering from palpitations for a while and given beta blockers. I’ve had an echocardiogram and x2 24 hour heart monitors.
I had an episode on Thursday and as I work at the hospital a doctor saw me and I had an ECG and it showed an inverted T wave on lead 2 of my ECG which the doctor said was abnormal.
I’ve been referred to a cardiologist and now I’m frightened.
In do suffer with anxiety which I told the doctor but he said he wasn’t pleased with this abnormality.
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SpiritualT
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If you have already had an echocardiogram you would have been told if there was anything structurally wrong with your heart. You have also had the monitors and you have beta blockers - you sound really distressed and the doctor's comment has made you worse. It sounds like he is trying to exclude anything that hasn;t shown up in the earlier tests to put your mind at rest. How often have you been to A and E? Don;t forget you can only get some support here. No one is medically qualified and cannot diagnose - do not Google - loads of the information you can find on the web is scary rubbish; it will worry you even more and is totally pointless.
Thanks for your response. I’ve been to A&E lots of times and have had lots of ECGS and nothing has ever shown up before. I understand no-one is medically qualified, I’ve had medical training I work at the hospital but I’ve never heard of a T wave inversion. Yes it had frightened me because he said it’s abnormal.
Does it? I have worried myself sick because the doctor gave me a print out of t wave inversions. I am a qualified emergency medical dispatcher for ambulance control. We had to train and do exams for the position.
That;s a pretty stressful job - but how great you can make a difference to people's lives. Perhaps working with people who need emergency help makes you more aware of things that may go wrong? Sometimes worry can cause "abnormal" results. My all time record for an ECG was 13 attempts by three different technicians and using 2 different machines - I was so worked up they couldn't get a printout that "made sense".
Really? Because i have anxiety it has frightened me because all my other ECGS have shown nothing and now this inverted T wave he said he isn’t happy with.
No. The only tests I’ve had is an echocardiogram last year and a holter monitor and a holter monitor this year. I’ve had multiple ECGS and this is the only one that has shown anything.
I used to be a dispatcher and I think that's what gave me anxiety! i used to be a lot more relaxed, but answering to emergencies all day put my mind in constant worst case scenario ! take it day by day, don't take anything you read online as fact..speaking from experience, dr Google has given me more invalid anxiety than it ever has accuracy!!
When I had my heart attack back in January the dispatcher at ambulance control was brilliant at keeping me calm at a very stressful moment in my life and I would like to thank you and all the dispatchers who have helped me and countless others at a very stressful time in our lives.
We all appreciate what you are going through and it's too easy for people to say not to worry, but we do anyway. This group is here to support you and will share our experiences.
When I was in cardio rehad I was offered counseling and I suggest if offered to yourself, take advantage of it. Even if it's not offered or that part of the process hasn't kicked in yet, speak to someone in the Cardio team and ask for them to refer you. I suspect you should be able to get counseling form Occupational health through work, another route for you to reach out if needed.
Remember, everyone here has been through the same or similar worries and anxieties and have come through it. To quote an old BT slogan "It's good to talk", so take advantage to talk here, GP and/or counseling.
* that this is a forum for people affected by heart and circulatory disease
* I have never seen anyone on this forum declare themselves as qualified cardiologists etc (there are other forums where members do)
* I really hope there are cardiologists etc reading this forum as it would give them insights into their patients concerns and problems
* I would be interested to see the information you received from other members that stated there are "loads of qualified medical people on the forum" - There are the BHF nurses who give wonderful support and advice and oversee the site which could be what they mean.
Sorry if you are irritated by my original post but it was written in good faith.
I wasn't irritated sorry if I gave that impression. It was on one of the AF forums where am I trying to get information about cognitive impairment and dementia.
I was told that there were lots of qualified and retired medical people on the forum and there was no such thing as as cognitive impairment and dementia. And so effectively to shut up about it!
Hence my surprise about your comment.
perhaps there are lots of medical people on the AF forums associated with this website but not this particular one...
' that there were lots of qualified and retired medical people on the forum and there was no such thing as as cognitive impairment and dementia. And so effectively to shut up about it!'
My recollection of the discussion differs.
Forum members I believe asked you to provide peer reviewed references to support the view that Atrial fibrillation is associated with
Hello and welcome to the forum! An inverted T-wave can have lots of causes. Sometimes it indicates stenosis but it can be something else or nothing at all. The good thing is you are on the radar now.
Worrying doesn't achieve anything and if it was very serious you would have been admitted on the spot. The best thing you can do is to relax and lead a healthy lifestyle which I know can be difficult in a call centre environment. Good luck!
Thanks Milkfairy, for my anxiety I have suffered a very long time. I’ve tried medications counselling etc. I’m currently having CBT again at the moment.
My resting heart rate is 90’s to 100’s a lot. The GP just prescribed beta blockers, the doctor gave me bisporol in hospital but I already have Propanalol at home.
I hope it is a misplacement of the leads or pads or something. Because of the abnormality comment the last 4 days have been spent in fear.
I acknowledge how anxious the doctor's comments have made you feel.
CBT is a very useful approach to helping with anxiety.
I live with a type of angina that is poorly understood and recognised. I have anxiety about going into hospital because my pain has not always been well managed.
I use CBT, Mindfulness meditation, Tai Chi and yoga to manage my anxiety and fear of hospital.
The Serenity prayer helps me to focus.
' Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
There are some truly amazing people on this forum with incredible humbling stories of resilience of how they have worked through their fear and anxiety.
They I am sure will come along too to help support you.
It sounds like you have health anxiety. I can tell, because I have it too. I had a heart attack and two procedures to install stents about ten weeks ago. I’m now feeling palpitations and missed beats, and my cardiac rehab doctor said something to me that triggered my anxiety. He said something similar to what yours said. My cardiac doctor who performed the stent procedures has since told me that I shouldn’t be worried and that we can correct it with medications. He said even the worst case isn’t that bad but we don’t even have to think about that because we will just fix it with meds. If the other guy had just said it like that, it would have saved me sleepless nights and probably wouldn’t have exacerbated my palpitations.
You should do yourself the biggest favor and download the app called “Calm”. Pay the $69 (USD) for a one year subscription. I started using it daily about three weeks ago and I wish I’d started years ago. It helps with guided meditation. You only need to do it for about 12 minutes per day. After the third day I noticed my anxiety was lower. Now, three weeks in, I’m becoming very able to manage my anxiety. I look forward to the 15 minute meditation more than anything every day and am always upset when it ends.
I forgot to mention that nail I started meditating a few weeks ago, every day I was convinced multiply times that my heart was failing, that it was going to either stop beating or just start beating spastically until it killed me, that my stents had failed, basically every horrible scenario. None of that happened. The more I thought of bad scenarios, the worse the physical sensations became, which fed the anxiety. It’s a sensory feedback loop that is difficult to get out of, and I totally understand what you’re going through. I’ve been there so many times even before my heart attack. I can honestly say that without the heart attack, I never would have started meditating, and I’d still be stuck in the health anxiety loop. The end result of discovering meditation has made the heart attack completely worth it, no matter what happens to me going forward. It’s the only thing that’s ever helped me and given me the feeling that I’m going to be okay again.
I just joined a Facebook support group cardiomyopathyuk They answer allot of questions you may have. Just Breathe. I am learning to try and distress ,very hard but necessary. Take care of yourself. xxxooo
So sorry to hear your are so anxious, I too am a worrier & know from experience it just does not help & makes things worse. I have A Fib & am experiencing some worry regarding one of my tablets. Try to put your trust in the Consultant & avoid Dr Google, I have found that it can cause you more anxiety. I wish you all the best & hope you get reassured soon.
Oh boy, you are so not alone! A year ago I had a HA and every day I think I’m going to have another one! Some of us just can’t get to grips with staying calm, acknowledging there is actually nothing to worry about etc. It’s a daily thing with me so please I would say you’re actually normal to be anxious but as everyone always says to me, it’s nothing you’ll be fine and thing is, you will x
Having had both it is different. I know we are all different but with me it came on suddenly as a big tight ball of indigestion. I must admit I thought nothing of it but it was different to anxiety tremors or flutters. The point that I thought I need am ambulance was after running down stairs to let my friend in and running back up again. I just had nothing in me to be able to do anything, not even flick the kettle on but, crazy as this will sound, it was the calmest I had been for ages. I can only speak from my experience and the difference was where as anxiety makes me feel strange all over my chest and even arms, this was something like a tight ball that never shifted plus of course the give away was also pain or tingling in the jaw and that was very different. To this day I suffer anxiety and even though I know what it’s like to have a heart attack I still question every flutter etc. It is imperative to get the anxiety under control but I’ve seen councillors, spoken to GP but no one seems to understand it rules your life! My advice, when you feel really anxious put on your winter warmers and go for a walk it’s the one thing that works for me .
Thanks Calm 2 it is lovely to talk to you. I am only 34 and it’s affecting my daughters and husbands life and this is ruining my life. I am hoping the palpitations are down to anxiety, I have been referred to cardiology for a 24 hour ECG, and an Echocardiogram. I’m obsessed that there is something wrong with my heart. I’ve had counselling plenty of it but no one seems to understand m.
I recently had a 72 hr ECG to see if it explained the gassy feelings in my chest. It didn’t but it did show an extra heart beat going on!? Now, never have I felt aware of that! Sooo..... yep another thing to be anxious about BUT, having gained advice from our friends here it would appear that it can be quite normal for this to happen and it’s not a major concern. I have to admit that I always feel worse when I’ve been to the drs surgery always come away feeling more anxious than when I went in! Now obviously I’m not medical but to me all your problems do sound to come from anxiety alone and so try to go out walking as much as you can, yoga I am told is good and I agree with you on the counselling it didn’t much good for me either. I am looking into cognitive behaviour therapy which seems to be the thing nowadays but to actually get to see GP to talk about this is a joke!
Hello , I suffer from palpitations as well , all ecgs,echocardiogram , holter monitor and stress test have come back normal . I was on beta blockers , bisoprolol (concor)..the lowest dose which was half a 2.5mg tablet..it made me feel really ill and as I normally are on the low bp side it sent my bp lower..I am on Procoralan now which have no side effects ..Are you ill or have side effects while on the betablockers? DID you get a second opinion on the Ecg ?
No I didn’t get a second opinion on the ECG but I had another one 3 days after and it was just showing sinus tachycardia and not the inverted T wave. I am on Propanalol 40mg at the moment and haven’t noticed any side effects.
Hi..Sinus Tachycardia is what I was diagnosed with as well..Just a question how long now u are on medication for palpitations and do you have to take the meds daily? I hv been on since March of this year ..Although you are on meds do you still get palpitations ? I do...
Hi , I hv anxiety which was brought onby the deaths of my father and younger sister..He also said sinus tachycardia sometimes just happen no explained reasons..
Are you on anxiety meds as well..i was on lexotan only 4 two weeks when my anxiety was high , thst is the only time i was on meds..I am so glad i came across this forum I do not know anyone who has palpitations so it is good to talk to people who knows how I'm feeling 😊..
Propanalol is more of a general beta blocker and may help with your anxiety, I have been on them for palpitations for years. I have recently changed to Bisoprolol which is more heart specific...but I havn't noticed any difference really.
My ECG showed a negative T-Wave........25 years ago. The docs and cardiologists could not explain why it is negative nor could Dr Google give any information on this.
This has however inverted to positive by itself a few years ago.
I've been having similar symptoms of what you described in your post, I'm 39 years old/Male, I've been experiencing palpitations and chest pain which prompt me to go to A&E, the pain is at the centre of my chest and between my ribs.
At first I was admitted at the hospital as the ECG showed "Inverted T-Wave and Tachycardia" as they were suspecting heart attack, then the doctor at the ward discharged me and said he looked at ECG and blood test and it was normal! and said the chest pain is not from the heart! I'm so confused and worried.
I am waiting to see a cardiologist but in the mean time I was wondering if you managed to find out the cause of the inverted T-Wave? I had a echocardiogram 6 months ago and this was normal.
It seems we are in very similar situations. I had an inverted T wave and tachycardia also. Since then ive had a 24 ECG which I haven’t had the results for yet.
Ive had an echocardiogram which the lady who performed it said it looked normal and i am awaiting to see a cardiologist whom i am seeing in March.
I have no clue what has caused the inverted T wave until i see the Cardiologist but they have put me on a beta blocker in the meantime for the tachycardia
Thank you very much SpiritualT for your prompt response.
I wonder if the echocardiogram was normal 6 months ago can a heart condition develop within 6 months? So weird!
The thing is I don't know who to believe now, the first doctor who looked all worried and thought I was having a cardiac episode or the ward doctor who told me to get dressed and go home! Lol
Your welcome. I know it is scary isnt it. I used to work in the emergency department so I asked one of the cardiac nurses who had 20 years experience. And i only had an inverted T wave on lead 2 of the ECG so only on one lead and this cardiac nurse said if it was only on 1 lead I wouldn’t have even told you about it. Please keep me informed when do you see the cardiologist?
Yes absolutely. Its the same here, everyone worried although I am on beta blockers so that is helping with the tachycardia. Yes I think because I work at the hospital and i was in uniform the doctor told me a bit more and i know i just had one inversion on lead 2. It is frightening though im only 35.
Thought i would give you a quick update. The hospital phoned today and I have an appointment tomorrow. They have the results of my abnormal ECG, echocardiogram and 24 hour ECG monitor. I see the cardiologist tomorrow instead of March.
Hi, Sorry for the late reply, emails been going to junk folder for some reason. So I managed to see a specialist nurse in cardiology before all of that covid-19, had ecg, blood test and lung xray. Also mri scan arranged and an appointment with cardiologist in London but that got cancelled because of the corona! Long story short all tests are normal just slight raised heart, they said they don't think it's the heart. To be honest I felt I was rushed through the appointment and don't have the confidence or believe what they say until I see the cardiologist which don't know when! At the moment it seems every time I try to fall asleep I get fast heart rate and gasp for breath which makes me impossible to sleep the rest of the night! during the day time I'm okay just when I go to sleep. It's a bad time to have health problem when everyone thinks you have corona! Lol
Oh dear. I know everything is on hold with this Covid 19
I had everything done and saw one of the top cardiologists at my hospital. He said the sinus tachycardia is due to anxiety and the inverted T wave was purely positional.
He said he particularly emphasises that I have a less than 1% chance of a serious cardiac event in the medium term. This should have reassured me but I still keep worrying. I think mine is all down to purely anxiety which is what he said also.
I know exactly what you mean, Hang in there. I am in the same boat, My family are saying all tests were o.k so I shouldn't worry but I just wish they feel what I go through on daily basis! My family SUCKS! lol 😁
Hi SpiritualT. Sorry you are going through this. I also have major anxiety. I currently (like right now) am having palpitations and skipped beats. I completely understand how your anxiety is making you feel. It isn’t fun. I currently need some support too. It’s good that you reached out. You never know which one comment will resonate and give a little bit of relief.
All of your comments are things that I could have easily written, word for word. Your thoughts are definitely coming from a place of health anxiety. I can tell just by the way everything is written, the words you choose, the way you phrase things to leave the door open that maybe there isn’t anything wrong, maybe there was a loose lead, etc. You are fighting your anxiety and I’m so sorry you feel like you do. I’ve been there and still go there a lot. It isn’t fun. You are really dwelling on the test results, and my anxiety would be causing me to do the same thing.
Once I realized how much control my anxiety had over me, and that I could accept my anxious thoughts but also release them, things started to become a little easier. This next part might sound like me preaching, but I have been through it and am still going through it, probably will always be going through it in some way, and this is what has started working for me...
You must first notice your thoughts and worries for what they are—they are simply thoughts and worries. That’s how people without anxiety handle their thoughts. The same thought that start you and I spiraling out of control. They have a worrisome or anxious thought, they realize that’s all it is, and they just let it go. They don’t dwell on them. They don’t allow their worrisome thoughts to rule them the way we do. They don’t do this consciously, it’s just how they naturally operate. We don’t consciously let our anxiety take charge. It’s just how WE naturally operate. Once you realize how anxiety has taken control of your thoughts, trust that the anxious thoughts can’t hurt you, and believe that you can change your way of dealing with anxious thoughts, then you can start to ease it.
I recommend guided meditation. Just search on YouTube for “health anxiety guided meditation”. It isn’t a quick fix, but if you do it daily, you will begin to see your anxiety for the bastard it is. I have been doing this regularly and it has been helping. Right now I am lying in bed with heart palpitations. The old me would be spiraling out of control in the midst of a panic attack. Instead, I’m able now to realize this is a sensation that sucks right now, and yes it worries me, but it will pass. It will also come again and I will be even more prepared for it next time, whether that’s two hours from now or a year from now. For now, I try to let the worrisome thought just go. It doesn’t do me any good so why hold onto it. It does keep coming back, and I keep releasing it. It gets easier to release the more times I do it. It’s a practice and a lot of times I will find myself dwelling on the thought for a long time before realizing I am doing so. Once I realize the thought has control of me, I release it again. The more times I’ve done this, the easier it’s become. It still isn’t easy. It just becomes easier. The main step is noticing your thoughts, labeling your thoughts for what they are, and then letting them go. That’s what the meditation will help you with. I know it will be hard to meditate when you are in the middle of anxiety. I’ve been there. It’s tough but it’s worth it. You will get through this. I’m doing it and you can too. There was a time when I didn’t have any idea what to do. I thought I was going crazy. I read a book that helped, called “Anxiety Free” written by Robert Leary. I highly recommend it.
My health history is heart attack two months ago and two procedures to fit stents. That’s not what we have in common at all. What we have in common is the health anxiety. I just mention it so you know I’ve been going through some stuff that terrified me but I’m still here, still chugging along, still living my life, and still trying to gain control of my anxiety. It isn’t fast, and it isn’t easy, and I have to do a little bit of work on it every day, but each day I get a little better at understanding it and managing it. It’s worth the effort because it controlled me for so long. I’m only 47 years old, not overweight, always been pretty active, so the heart attack was a shock to me. I’m not sure what brought my health anxiety in in the first place but I’ve had it for the last 10 years or so. It’s only the last couple years that I’ve actually started understanding it and working on it.
I wish you the best of luck. You have good people looking after your care. They are doing the right things for you, performing the right tests, doing the right analyses, etc. It’s what they’re trained to do, and they have probably treated people with your same or very similar situation thousands of times. They use all of that experience to know how to best treat you. Trust them.
Thank you. I have only just seen this response for some reason! Wow a heart attack at 47 is very young? Do they know why? The heart attack fear is my most common anxiety symptom and has had me running to the hospital many times and Im only 35.
After all my tests my cardiology consultant has said I have less than a 1% chance of having one in the near future.
I smoked for 30 years which was probably the leading cause, and heart issues also ran in my family. I’m not overweight and have always been pretty active. You should take great comfort in the fact that you had lots of tests and then heard good news. I’m hoping to hear good things tomorrow from the heart monitor I just got done wearing. If not good news, at least not bad news.
Im still worried its my anxiety. I saw one of the top Consultants in cardioy I had a heart scan, x2 holter monitors and ecgs and all I get is a slightly raised heart which he said is down to my anxiety.
I said to him I think im going to have a heart attack and its ruining my life. He started smiling at me and said I can reassure you, you have less than a 1% chance. I had chest pain last night and again thought its a heart attack. I dont know why
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