Over the past 5 days I've had two occasions where I've woken up at around 3/4am with my chest feeling what I can only describe as anxious/nervous. Although it's a different type of nervous pain to what I might feel when awake.
It's hard to take deep breaths but I try to do them to relieve the feeling.
It takes about 30 minutes of me deep breathing for it to go and for me to be able to get back to sleep.
I've checked my blood pressure and done an ECG on my watch when I feel like this and it's normal.
Any ideas what this is?
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LucyBoo21
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it sounds like an anxiety. My most anxious time is during the night when I wake. My mind goes into overdrive & I have all the feelings of impending doom 😣. I practice mindfulness & breathing techniques, which do help a bit. However, it wouldn’t do any harm to get yourself checked out, if only for reassurance
Thank you for your reply.I'm not an anxious personal usually and when I wake I don't have anything whirring in my head but I do agree it sounds like an anxiety type attack.
It could very well be anxiety and I suffer from it and know only to well what anxiety feels like
But for quite a while before I had my first heart attack I kept waking in the night with what felt like panic attacks but I knew they were not quite the same and the only way I could make this sensation go was to get up and move around and then it would subside
Looking back for me I think this was the first sign things were not right but even when I had my heart attacks my ecgs were always fine it was always my blood tests that showed I had a heart attack
I really do not want to frighten you at all as this very well could be anxiety in your case but I would speak to your Doctor if it continues just to get things checked out
I nearly did not reply as I could only share my experience and you actually are the first person that I have come across that has described what I used to wake up feeling but as I said it could be anxiety with you
I was a fool as I would tell my Doctor and she would look at me gone out and if only I had said I want checking as been anxious I was quite happy when she did not appear to look concerned
Glad you are going to get checked out though and at least you can out your mind at rest then as I know the feelings from anxiety and your heart can feel so similar that sometimes it can be difficult to tell them apart but getting checked gives us that reassurance and hope it will give it you x
My theory was it only ever happened at night when I was laid down and would wake me up and I wonder as eventually I did need a triple heart bypass if when I was laid down the blood was not flowing as good and waking me up with this sensation which breathing exercises would do nothing I had to get up and start moving around then it eased
I am not saying this is what is happening to you but on here I have never spoken about it thinking people would think now she has really lost it so in a way it is a relief that I can speak about it and know I am not the only one even the Doctors looked at me as if they thought she is imagining things and when you suffer with anxiety it is so easy for everyone to say it is your anxiety but I have suffered that long with anxiety so used to panic attacks I knew this was very similar but not one even though I could not get through to anyone else
Let me know how you get on and I am sure you will be fine but it is good to talk about these things as it could help someone else x
Did you have to get up and move about to get your gadgets to take a BP reading? I ask because the fact that this feeling is occurring at the same time each morning could mean that you are having a rapid dip in blood pressure during you sleep just at the point that your circadian rhythm shifts gears to begin preparing the body to wake up later in the morning.
A quick blood pressure dip will often wake you up feeling breathless and it can take 20-30 minutes in some cases for you to get past the palpitations and shallow breathing that your body creates to increase the blood pressure again. Your ECG or blood pressure reading can be back to normal when tested because the dip has passed its just that the body is doing successful physical jobs that brought it back up and the feeling of that work can be identical to feelings of anxiety or nervousness.
It is actually quite common to get short periods of nocturnal hypotension especially for those with cardiac conditions and some people on higher doses of blood pressure medication. Although when you first have it it can be a bit scary.
If it continues it's worth doing a few things.
Sleep with your head and shoulders comfortably raises on graduating pillows , if you aren't totally flat down in bed your blood pressure often won't drop low enough to cause symptoms.
Check what time you take your evening medications, if they are too close to bedtime it can help to take them a bit earlier.
Check your daily vitamin supplements if you take them.
Many people on blood pressure medications or with low blood pressure in general may get hypotension from having Magnesium or various other natural supplements. Try not taking the supplements then swapping to individual things like B complex and Vitamin D instead of you need them.
If you are going through the menopause you can also get these hypotension dips at night which may have become more noticeable since starting heart medications.
Discussing post menopausal care with your GP can help.
If you find it is continuing or getting worse and you also get dizziness get a full blood check of full blood count , Vitamin B12 , Folate , Vitamin D , Ferritin/ Iron and Electrolytes just in case an imbalance or deficiency is causing these symptoms.
You may also need to discuss your medication dose with your GP as you could require a slight adjustment in dose as your general health improves.
No I haven't been getting up. The first time I sat up in bed and the second I didn't, just laid there. My BP was normal (115/71) (I take losartan 50mg for high blood pressure).
I did have some tests 11/24 due to abnormal thyroid tests, lethargy, palpitations and borderline low cortisol but passed the further cortisol tests and my thyroid function returned to normal!
I take my heart medication in the evening around 7pm with dinner, vitamin D in the morning.
I think I'm still perimenopause as I'm having regular periods still but do wonder if all these symptoms I get are perimenopause related!
Yes , those nocturnal dips are common with intermittent thyroid and cortisol/ adrenal dysfunction and those can occur alone over 40 or as part of the menopause as hormone function changes.The cortisol creates that feeling of being on a rollercoaster that makes you catch your breath, cortisol levels change because of activity needs but also in line with circadian rhythm if it isn't released enough or too much is released too quickly it can cause that sudden bout of breathless palpitations and feeling of anxiety even if you've got nothing to be anxious about.
I think I'd ask them to do your thyroid and cortisol tests for a third time along with the other nutrient tests if you have had one abnormal and one normal test, as you could have mild dysfunction which is better treated sooner rather than later and will also help you control your blood pressure and menopause.
Thyroid tests are very sensitive, they need doing at the right time of day (morning usually) with a break from certain meds or foods beforehand to get accurate results , if the test isn't done at the right time or in the right way the results can be very inaccurate as a true picture of your thyroid needs.....many GPs forget this or don't think it's important when fitting in your appointment!!!
So , find out what's best and have the thyroid panel done in the right conditions to be sure what's going on.
I think I'd also request that your GP book you in for the short Synacthen Screening Test ( SST) which does are more thorough check for adrenal dysfunction ( which can affect cortisol and thyroid function) and the ACTH stimulation blood test before that.
If you haven't had Vitamin B12 and Folate s tested have that , very low normal levels , borderline or deficient levels in these nutrients ( not just abnormal results) cause those symptoms and also affects thyroid and adrenal function. If it's low /normal try sublingual supplements, if the issue continues ask for an Active B12 test. It's good to start taking a record of all your test results now so you can compare the figures and don't just rely on the GP saying something is normal as they will even if you are only 0.1 away from abnormal, and borderline figures often show you are already suffering with symptoms and have an issue that can be prevented , particularly when discussing pain , stiffness, sleep disorders, headaches and fatigue.
I usually take my Vitamin D after the meal with the most fat content for better absorption for me that's lunch or dinner.
Maybe you could check with your GP if you could take your blood pressure or heart medications safely earlier in the day or by a few hours to see if that could help stop the night time dip.
I know I can't take certain medications after 6pm because of night hypotension.
Good luck with it all and please update us with how things are going , Bee
Thank you so much for this! My heart meds were changed to taking from morning to evening as I was really struggling to walk to work and they thought that might help.
I don't think it did though and I was then referred to an endocrinologist for all the other tests.
Hopefully the GP will take in all my history and help! I will certainly update you all, thank you 😊
Well if changing to evenings didn't help and the "dippy" feeling started after that time change try going back to mornings or mid morning and see if the feeling stops.But still persevere with the other tests as you really want to know what's going on and want to try to get a regime that keeps you as symptom free as you can before the menopause begins if you can.
If you can, try sleeping with a very low light on in the room, even if it's on the floor at the bottom of the bed. After my HA I found this helpful with nighttime anxiety
Thank you, I'm not convinced it is anxiety, normally I sleep straight through the night (unless my back pain wakes me). But I'll remember this if the GP thinks it is. 😊
Hi thereThis time of night is the time I usually wake for all sorts of reasons....pain often, head busy sometimes, too hot sometimes, and sometimes with feelings like you describe. Looking at your age (same as me) I'm thinking this might well be linked to menopause. Estrogen levels may be a part. Waking during the night has become part of life for the last few years, fir me. Cortisol levels are also at their lowest level at late night/ early morning, so this effects stress, sleep, pain levels. I remember, pre- menopause, when I could sleep right through usually, having terrible toothache that woke me at the same time every night for a week. When I told my dentist she said are you waking at 3 every morning? I was surprised by her accuracy but she knew because this is when cortisol is low and experiences of pain are highest. I now have rheumatoid arthritis on top of the heart stuff and that's what time I wake up with pain linked to inflammation.
The other thing to check is oxygen levels that might also be dropping at night which can make you feel breathless and aware of your breathing/ chest.
Oh and blood pressure levels worth checking. I generally have low blood pressure which can make for dizzy feelings. Do you get sleep apnea? I don't but I can still feel like I can't breathe fully at night sometimes, especially when my heart was not performing well. Some deep breaths helped. And sleeping on my right, rather than left. And then getting up slowly.
Hope this offers something. Obviously it might be none of these things, this is just my experience. If in doubt, check in with your GP.
I was checked 11/24 and had borderline low cortisol but passed the further cortisol tests.
I think I'm still perimenopause as I have regular periods but I do agree, I think it may be playing a part in my symptoms.
On the last occasion of this feeling, my blood oxygen did go down to 83% for 42 seconds and that was around the time I started. I don't have sleep apnoea and am not overweight.
I've been on losartan 50mg for 11 months for high blood pressure and since taking, blood pressure has been normal.
I do mainly sleep on my left but turn in the night due to back pain.
It could be stomach related. I get feelings like this and I suffer with GERDS !nd oesophageal cramps. Try drinking a glass of cold water. It's a simple remedy but does work.
Is it your medication? I had to switch off bisiporol because of the anxiety dreams it gave me. Always thought it odd that you want to protect your heart then they give you a drug that causes anxiety. On nebivolol now still get some dreams but generally not as bad as bisiporol
Sounds v much like anxiety or good old fashioned worry as it used to be called. I had it constantly after my heart valve replacement and I thought it was worse when taking Bisprolol. I can sympathise , it's exhausting. Get out and enjoy yourself if you can, fill your day , ig will go eventually.
Hi Lucy. My heart ectopics started at around the same age and it was due to perimenopause. I too would wake between 3 and 4 am with what felt like an anxiety attack but was the start of a hot flush. Covers on then covers off then covers on again. Might be an idea to get that side checked out. Lots of non intrusive tests available on the internet or see your gp. It is a good place to start ruling out the basics for a woman of your age. Good luck with everything.
From my own experience what is happening to you was exactly the same as what was happening to me. It's frightening and scary. My excellent cardiologist and Doctor said it was anxiety. I have no medial expertise but they do. I hope you feel better soon🤗
I think it's important to trust your own judgement here. You know yourself best.I also wouldn’t be convinced that it's anxiety. It doesn't sound like it to me and I do have professional knowledge in that area. You sound very grounded and more curious about what's going on than anxious about it. That said menopause can do funny things to those of us who've never been anxious before. As can heart troubles.
I'd trust your own instincts, by all means taking some of the ideas we've all shared on board, but not necessarily getting hung up on any. We don't know you the way you do!!
I see you were on clopidogrel. It wasn't by any chance changed to ticagrelor was it? I had that feeling of not being able to take a deep breath when on ticagrelor. I had to get it changed.
What is temperature like at night in your bedroom at night? It is worth checking that you body does not cool down too much when you sleep (and don't move). Lower temperatures could really affect your heart without your realising. I have found this to be the case when I recently stayed in colder house. So perhaps it is worth checking. Just and idea?
I am not completely certain, but 34.1 is quite low especially over longer periods which might affect your heart and cause you to wake up feeling something is not right, whilst 36.4 is normal body temperature . Perhps it might be good to keep and eye on your body temperature, for a while, and if it keeps at this level, and considering your other symptoms you could probably benefit from your GP or cardiologist advice on the issue.
It can can quite scary to deal with any heart condition, so at times we all get anxious for no specific reason. I wish you all the best in the New Year LucyBoo, and hope you will get to the bottom of this soon,. In meantime try not to worry, and find a way how to relax/distract yourself if any more such episode of anxiety start bothering you.
I've never really paid much attention to my body temperature as I didn't really know how if affects things.
I'm glad my watch records these things so I can write down and talk to my GP about it.
It's ironic I saw my cardiologist at beginning of December and he was pleased with me and put me on two year review! I did think at the time, hmmm I bet I see you before then! 🤣
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Feeling the Cold
Palpitations in the night
10 weeks in, not feeling great
