LBBB or anxiety?

[PorridgeHeart]

Hi all,

I am looking for a bit of advice/reassurance. I am 36 year old, healthy/fit mum. I was suffering from tiredness and occasional heart palpitations for a couple of months - I am incredibly anxious when it comes to my health and have had a really stressful year so I initially put my symptoms down to that. However, decided to go to docs, bloods and ECG done. I was found to have intermittent LBBB and tachycardia (I was basically having a panic attack whenever the machine came near me!) Bloods came back normal as did the ECHO. They are following me up with a 48 hour tape and another ECHO but I am just so worried. I continue to have palpitations, really only at night and I have no idea if they are related or down to my anxiety. I am also very worried about why I might have LBBB, the doctors didn’t seem overly concerned and I have never had an ECG so this could have been an incidental finding but I can’t stop thinking about it, especially as my palpitations continue. My husband is convinced it’s all in my head! Anyone else young, fairly healthy… and has anything like this? Thanks!

[Mentdent]

Your husband is probably correct but that doesn’t solve your problem. Sounds like you need to find a way to deal with your anxiety rather than your heart.

[Coffeelover2]

Some people with LBBB don’t know they have it and isn’t necessarily a problem unless you have underlying heart conditions. Your heart rate may be going fast because of stress and panic.

It is certainly worth checking out though. There is a link between coronary vasospasm with palpitations.

Echo and ECG are the best ways forward. Maybe an exercise stress test or holster test may help as well but they are unlikely to do further tests if they are satisfied with the Echo and ECG.

[Attacus]

Hi I'm 48. To start with, please try not to stress, if there is anything going on - which there probably isn't - it is all quite treatable these days but I understand your worries but don't be turning to Google for answers, it's outdated and full of negativity. Pumping marvellous or this site is your go to for sure. Trust the system & their checks.

For me personally -and everyone IS different so it's not one size fits all remember this - I have had similar symptoms but also found to be bicuspid 2 rather than 3 valves in aorta so maybe worth mentioning just to see. But I'm sure that the professionals will have kept you for further tests or put you on medication immediately if they felt there was other things going on rather than anxiety.

All the best

😊

[Bluehope81 in reply to Attacus]

I think you mean bicuspid 2 flaps rather than 3 flaps.

[Warm-heart]

Hi, firstly I want to reassure you. I was diagnosed with LBBB 12 years ago and we never found out why. Possibly I had it a long time and did not know, or maybe a viral infection was involved. I had a lot of heart irregularity at the time and palpitations (which are especially noticeable at night of course when you are laying quietly!), and an unusual ECG, but my anxiety about it would worsen the palpitations of course. I was told it was of no consequence to me, and the noticeable palpitations disappeared. I don't worry about it, and like the consultant says it is nothing to worry about. If your echo came back fine, that means you only have a partial 'block' to the electrical signal, and your ventricles are pumping together as they should which means you have a nice healthy heart beat and nothing to worry about. I am sure you will be fine.

[PorridgeHeart]

Thank you for your kind replies, they have really reassured me. Good to know people have been through the same thing and not been given a death sentence (as my anxiety over this would have me believe!)