Last year I was experiencing irregular heartbeats that were keeping me awake at night. I went to my doctor who referred me to a heart consultant who arranged all kinds of scans and tests.The result was I have ectopic heartbeats and not to worry. Put on betablockers and statins.
But I still worry about every and any odd twinge or pain and convince myself I'm having a heart attack, or the pain in my arm is a warning sign. The back pain is a warning sign....and on it goes.
Perhaps my anxiety is linked to my 2 younger brothers who both have heart failure. They are in their early 60s.
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PoppyDonkey
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I always had health anxiety from been very young but coped better as I would try and reason with myself I was younger the chances were less and so on
Then in my 50's I got double pneumonia took me into resuscitation and ICU and then a year later a heart attack followed by 2 more and a triple Bypass and there is no reasoning with myself at all now and like you I feel everything slightly different even a stomach ache becomes a trauma in my head as what I had feared years happened
I have tried Counselling you name it for me it does not work , there is nothing I have not tried but if this starts taking over as I do not think you had this from a young age get help now as it very well will work for you
it’s a natural response I think to worry about our health and especially when you have a health problem or issues and getting older you realise your not bulletproof with every year that passes.
Coping skills can be learnt to reduce worrying and if you feel they are impacting your life you can ask your drs for a referral to speak to a trained professional or you can self refer online to an organisation called ‘ steps to well being’ who might be able to offer some help.
I also have tried to rationalise my worries, it’s not easy and sometimes it works other times I feel overwhelmed with anxiety and the unknown as I’m waiting for a triple bypass that keeps being put off due to dr strikes and emergency patients needing quicker treatment than myself. Every time I need to use my gt spray I’m thinking is this it! Every pain across my chest and arms makes me feel I’m getting worse… worrying about my heart getting more damaged or eventually actually having a heart attack…. I worry will I realise I’m actually having a heart attack, But I’m still here!
My advice would be ask for some help to reassure yourself and maybe learn some coping skills. It’s not an instant fix but a starting point , your not alone in feeling this way 🤗
Although I 100% can see why you feel the way you do I kind of have a different perspective. I have had 3 cardiac arrests and been revived while exercising. It was totally unexpected and out of the blue, I was 41 and in decent shape doing what I have done all my life, swimming. This last 7 months I have had something called pericarditis which causes terrible heart attack like pain. Unsettling for most people no doubt but really anxiety inducing for someone with an ICD that had been DOA a few times already this last year. I do get those dark intrusive thoughts that start to creep in, just like you but I push them away. What was the point of me still being here if I'm not going to enjoy the time I have left? Worrying will change nothing it is just a killer of joy. Generally when I start to think bad things I get up. I listen to a podcast, read put a film or TV on. I definitely don't sit thinking. As you know not much good usually comes from that.
What great attitudes you have. And a great stage you have managed to reach, in spite of your heart. I have had one bout of pericarditis (I was lucky), and I do know how incredibly painful it is. Sitting bent over, up at night, the only way to manage the pain, while everyone else can sleep. Its lonely, and my thoughts would race. But my overriding memories of that hospital stay (amazingly) was pain and laughter! A great few companions to help. You demonstrate so well that we do have choices about how we react and adapt to our limitations. And you’re phrase ‘worry is just a kilker of joy’, really touched a nerve with me. Thank you. Must do better on the worrying front. I know it's up to me. I can either sink into a sad state or get the best out if it.
To remove the uncertainty of a possible heart attack - which is the core issue causing your anxiety- ask your cardiologist for a CT angiogram or Calcium score.
This will tell you how much narrowing of your arteries has taken place - if any - and if the problem is severe, a stent can be inserted .
If it is severe, you have solved your problem with the stent , and if it is not severe, you will know this, and the anxiety induced chest discomfort and irregular beats will disappear
Everyone gets ectopic beats (which are beats that are out of place, but which feel to us like missed beats) but most people never notice them. Given your family history, your concern is natural, but the tests you have already had should provide some reassurance.
As you don't appear to have any symptoms related to the ectopic beats, other than the fact that they can keep you awake at night, I have one suggestion that might help. When you hear your heart at night in bed, are you sleeping on your left side? If so, try sleeping on your right side since the heartbeat in your ear will be much quieter and you may find it easier to sleep.
Your symptoms sound the same as mine. I have been told I too have ectopic heartbeats and I am convinced this is an after effect of Covid. I had my first ECG in Aug 23 and was told my heart was fine but put on 1.25 Bisoprol. I was still having the odd pain in my chest and in May 24 was sent for another ECG. Results came back again showing no damage to my heart. However I insisted I wanted to see a cardiologist just to put my mind at rest. Was told this would take a while for an appointment but at least I am on the waiting list. I still get pains and this causes sleepless nights but I try not to worry about it. It is difficult.
Same here, a year after my heart attack I was diagnosed with kidney cancer, tumour was removed. A year after that was diagnosed with an ascending aortic aneurysm. Each diagnosis in a February. I hate February!
Research shows that CBT is the most effective therapy for anxiety. If you cannot readily access a therapist there are self-help manuals and online courses.
hi poppy I’m sorry you’re having a bad time. Iv suffered with health anxiety since losing an eye as a child.!! It’s awful when all you can think about is dreadful things regarding your health.!!
Iv been convinced that Iv had tumours, cancer, heart disease etc etc the list is endless.!! There’s no wonder Iv ended up with AFIB with the amount of time Iv spent on edge frightened and scared.? I hope you get through it. Make an appointment to see a doctor and see how things go. Take care and take it easy.👍
I've had health anxiety for years after I was told bluntly aged 19 that a breast lump could well be cancer. It wasn't but it left me thinking like you that every pain or bruise was a disaster. I started having panic attacks. Only one thing helped me control those and that was learning self hypnosis after seeing a wonderful hypnotherapist. Since then I've had a wonderful GP. I spoke honestly to him, said I know most things are harmless but I would still panic. I now get a face to face appointment quite quickly whenever anything starts; an honest evaluation and best of all an explanation of what's happening. Once I know exactly what's going on, I can cope.
I need to wear one of those shirts that says ‘Been there, done that, got the T Shirt’!
I have had a rapid pulse/ tachycardia and ectopic beats for years and have loads of tests which come back OK. Am now on Bisoprolol and Statins after three unrelated episodes for presyncope, panic attack and chest pain which turned out to be costocondritis, but all which caused tachycardia! Throw in upper back problems with pains that radiate to the shoulders, neck and head and then lower back problems that cause referred pain and sciatica!
No wonder I have health anxiety! I find Accupuncture has been really useful for both pain relief and reducing stress and anxiety.
Hi, I have suffered with anxiety, and worries and so on, I have found a combination of things to be very helpful; Flower essences Dr Bach Rescue Remedy for a start, and then others as you feel - Holland & Barret, Boots, Baldwins, also Crystal Herbs on line. To keep reasonably fit I do Pilates and regular morning moves to help keep the arthritis in spine at bay, I do that to music -what might be called 'New Age' you can get CDs and downloads, try on line NeilH, and New World Music, I use both (eg NeilH SoulWeavers Journey Songs, New World Medwyn Goodall Medicine Woman 1,2,and3 for a start) I find all that a great help
I have a catalogue of things happening to me all my life and more recently in the past 5 years! I can’t find the right counselling help, the chap I went to for past 3 years was well qualified but expected to find your own answers doesn’t work for me. Tried the suggested talking therapy only to find I was being assessed to be sent somewhere else. Saw a talking nurse at my drs who mentioned sending me an email of suggestions not to get anything!
So on my own, except hubs but still on my own with it all.
Then month ago went on holiday to Italy had a bad fall 🤯
I try using my tapping therapy for ME for a change, helps
I didn’t like talking therapy either. The woman kept getting my name wrong. Often brought someone else’s file out. I felt my last therapy lady had just done an online counselling course. She looked bored. I found free counselling through Bupa which you can access through Macmillan. But you have to have cancer to get that. It was excellent. But then when you find out you have something else all that therapy benefits disappear. Well mine has.
Hi PD -- Your family history certainly contributes to your worries. Unfortunately heart related conditions, such as your irregular heartbeat, can mimic anxiety and depressive disorders. Two things that have helped me -- vigorous and regular exercise and a bit of talk with a good therapist. Best wishes to you, living on edge is a tough way to live.
I'm a strong believer that we know our bodies, and it's strange because the symptoms from cardiac issues are similar to how anxiety can make us feel. So we can confuse the two. But if you are concerned of heart failure or that something is being missed, you can self refer for a bnp blood test this can help rule out heart failure risk and give you peace of mind. You can self refer for this, its cost me £109 - or ask your GP. Due to the pressures on our health system we do need advocate for ourselves a little more these days, so please don't be embarrassed to push with them. I hope you managed to find some clarity
I had ectopic heart beats diagnosed several years ago, which they said were just heartbeats 'out of time, or 'in the wrong place'. and not to worry. I had them for years with no problems at all and no medicationI now have other problems which are a bit more serious, but still mild, and am on medication, and occasionally worry, but to a certain extent you live with them. As long as you know from your doctor what symptoms you really should worry about.
All I can suggest is counselling and/or focusing on doing things that you know are good for your health, come what may, like exercise, good diet etc. Good luck
Just to put your mind at rest, ectopic heartbeats are quite common and nothing to worry about. I am 78 now and have been having them since I was quite young. I do tend to lay off caffeine, as that can make them worse. I am a born worrier, and very anxious by nature, so I worry a lot about my health issues too, but I find that meditation helps.
100% - health anxiety has had a massive impact on my life. I would second the comments that CBT can be of some assistance in reframing your thoughts about health. When I notice one symptom and automatically ascribe this to a worst case scenario cause, I now try to challenge my own thinking a bit. In particular to remember that if I was suffering from such a feared condition there are likely to be many more symptoms that I do not have.
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