Please help me? Im worried.

[anetap4545]

Hi all im new here and thought i could ask for some help. This all started in 2015 whist i was at work and all of a sudden my heart just went crazy. The only way i can explain it is brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr exactly as you read it and it last for 20 seconds no break. i was banging my chest for it to stop was horrific. Within the last 4 years i have had what the electrophysiologist says are ectopics. I have them every 5 months or so. A little about my back ground. Im a full time carer and currently living with an abusive sister. she has been tormenting me for 20 years and physically hits me. I have had anxiety since i was a teen more so panic disorder im so fearful of death and fearful of physical symptoms. in 2012 i developed graves from which i think was from stress and they did rai and now have been on thyroxine 6 years.I also suffer from vertigo which specialist say is vestibular migraine and have had aneamia since i was 16, thallesemia a blood condition which is hereditary so my iron is always low to heavy periods. i see an endocronologist every 2 months as i stay on top of my health. i get blood test every few months ive become so bad with my health anxiety but only because of the symptoms i feel and fear my thyroid is giving me heart plops but drs re assure its not possible. Ok so hear it goes, i have had a stress test , 3 echocardiograms and 4 holter monitors.Nov 2016 1st time i saw a electrophysiologist. i previously saw a cardiologist in july 2015 and he recommended flecinide and i thought that was premeture as it was here take a drug. i was scared. here are my reports:

The report states in 1st visit previous holter monitors have shown sinus rhythm and occasional ventricular ectopics and occasional super ventricular ectopics. her initial holter in 2015 had shown 3-13 beat atrial salvo runswhich would correlate with her symptoms. I walked away with fish oil and magnesium.

9-2-2017 - visit her again no improvement from the fish oil and mag purchased. she says i have reassured her that her symptoms sound like atrial and ventricular ectopics and unless symptoms are sustained they do not cause harm. recent echo showed normal lv size and normal systolic function with normal cardiac chambers and normal valvular function.left again to worry less and continue with supplements.

6-4-2017- continues to feel palps and is causing her a lot of stress. Low b12 ( i have it checked and get shots when needed) i have arranged a holter repeat. we have discussed beta blockers but she always said they are not that frequent for me to go on them.

13-4-2017- the holter monitor revealed sinus rhythm with average heart rate of 87 bpm.there were no ventricular ectopics, rare premature atrial complexes and no pauses. i have reassured her that holter was normal .she feels ectopics once every 2 weeks they occur in a cluster of hrs but nothing sustained.i have reassured that all investigations are normal and no need to assign any meds. i have encouraged to avoid medications persist with magnesium fish oil exercise.

13-9-2017- they dissapeared b12 was low as was iron but it always is for me.

19-10-2017- they have returned less frequent however they do scare her even after our extensive discussions that they are safe. ihave given her a script of metropolol but have encouraged her to avoid as heart function is normal.

6-2-2018- tsh settles fewer palp and no need for beta blocker. fantastic and will see her in 6 mths.

23-8-2018- still ok with no ectopics ( i had been taking a fish oil with cq10 its helped but i still get them to this day) but was worried i had pots as my vertigo was crippling still have it chronic tinnitus do therapy and am always dizzy.

28-2-2019

was a stressful time with my sister.

she has 2 symptoms palps have been short and not sustained and i did another holter at that point and only showed 2 ectopics in 24 hrs! did another echo all normal. that summer i fainted from heat i think and she recommended electrolytes.

5-8-2019 my recent visit i was ok they returned i was in bed drinking tea and felt pause bang pause band felt different.i told her and she said she is quite anxious and even though it felt different i still think ectopic she felt 6 strong beats with a slow heart rate which is probably non sustained bigemy and she became worried. she told me not to worry. they are still here one a day then a week break but yesterday i went to drink water and it was an irregular beat for like 10 secs! i think omg is that afib ive asked her she said no but i dont really know when is it i worry or can i get afib what even is it?? can that be ectopic too the irregular episode i had? im scared they scare me. I dont know what to . Mostly happen when lying down but when they were bad they would happen every second beats for days. i lay down i think wil it happen, then when i dont think they happen like a quick rumble it my heart. think of passing gas i know but that in your heart. i feel them in my throat and well i fear having a problem in the future, is this my thyroid even if results are ok? i haven't given magnesium a proper go as un everyday but i tried again yesterday yet i get dizzier from it! do i try another brand? my health feels like its failing but drs say im healthy but i feel like death at 37. I became obsessed with being healthy i did medical medium diets ate raw didnt eat eggs dairy gluten nothing and developed food fear from his books. now i fear still do i eat bread i eat lamb i feel ectopics everytime i get an ectipic i dont eat that food again. i miss eating freely but something is not right in my body. Ive seen that many drs i feel im making it worse. Am i going crazy ? The fear is on another level. I fear death flying going anywhere as soon as i get a symptom flutter thump irregular long beat i think what if its worse ? what if the dr missed something? now i walk around with my fingers on my fulse trying to catch something the fear of feeling it. if i didnt feel it i wouldnt care Love from Aus!

[Goalnsr]

Hi there,

There is a lot of information in your post, but I would first like to reassure you that ectopics are quite harmless, although I do understand that they cause anxiety. I used to have frequent ventricular ectopics but I had more than 50,000 a day and I had svt, so I had an ablation with great success.

It sounds like your ectopics are very infrequent and nothing that requires intervention.

There is a connection between thyroid disease and palpitations as I developed my palpitations after being diagnosed with hyperthyroidism. My thyroid normalized but the palpitations continued. I couldn’t tolerate beta blockers due to low blood pressure and calcium channel blockers did not control my svt so I had the ablation.

I would strongly urge you to see a therapist and address both your anxiety and the troublesome relationship with your sister. Stress will absolutely make your symptoms worse and is very bad for your overall health and wellness. But it does sound like your heart is in good shape and the occasional ectopics are nothing to worry about 🙂

[anetap4545 in reply to Goalnsr]

I appreciate your reply so much. Its long but i wanted it all out. I guess how do i know of i get afib how would i know what are signs. The sensation scares me so much. Today im trialing another magnesium. Magnesium citrate. Had vertigo last night i feel like im falling apart. I just want them to stop.

[Goalnsr in reply to anetap4545]

Afib is completely different from ectopics. Afib is an irregular fast atrial rate that usually does not stop on its own once it progresses. Ectopics are occasional forceful beats that arise most often in the ventricles. They feel like a hard “thud” and stop on their own. Afib requires treatment (medication or ablation or both). Ectopics can usually be managed with a combination of rest, meditation, and anxiety management. Magnesium sometimes helps. If you really feel that they are bothering you to the point that you cannot tolerate them, I strongly recommend getting a second opinion. Anxiety is a terrible thing to cope with, and I completely understand your fears. Working with a therapist and using occasional anti-anxiety medication can greatly improve your sense of well-being and help you deal with these uncomfortable sensations. But I think first and foremost, you should have an appointment with a cardiologist who can tell you definitively what’s going on and help put your mind at ease. Try not to worry, you are on the right path and will get it all sorted out. You’re not alone!

[anetap4545 in reply to Goalnsr]

They happen when im.most relaxed calm.. tonight i got 4 in a row. Im so scared i hate the feeling. 4 yrs of this and indont want to get used to them. How did u cope

[Goalnsr in reply to anetap4545]

I finally made an appointment with a cardiologist even though my primary care doctor felt it was unnecessary. I was having ectopics constantly. I was right to go see someone as it turned out I had svt and a high ectopic burden (greater than 50%). So I did need treatment. I was very scared and I got right in with a therapist who helped me develop coping techniques for my anxiety. I used medication at night for panic attacks and I did yoga and took walks. I learned how to breathe to induce relaxation. When your mind is in a state of unease, the body reacts, even if you’re unaware of it, and it is not good for your heart. That is why I really think you should see someone about your high anxiety. It will absolutely help you cope with your symptoms and get through this!

[Contra21 in reply to Goalnsr]

Ive been seeing a therapist for 4 uears shes my second one about health anxiety and symptoms i dont feel any better nevause when the symptom happens i get so scared

[Goalnsr in reply to Contra21]

I get very scared when I’m about to have an episode too. It is very very difficult to cope with. One thing I have found really helpful is to use a meditation app called Headspace. It has a library of different meditations anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes long on different subjects. I use the anxiety meditations when I think I might have an episode coming on. I just find a quiet place to sit, put the app on, and force myself to focus on deep breathing. It helps tremendously. It may not stop the episode, but I get through it much easier when I’m calm. If I don’t do it, the “what if’s” start - “what if I have to go to the hospital “ “what if the medication doesn’t work” “what if I need a cardioversion?” That immediately makes the whole episode worse and it takes longer for my heart to return to normal.

[anetap4545 in reply to Goalnsr]

and as you can see from my post i have seen a cardiologist and see my electrophysiologist every 3 months. i dont feel anxious only when i get them. i dont know what to do. what if i get afib can ectopics happens for 10 secs

[Goalnsr in reply to anetap4545]

Have you been diagnosed with afib?

[Contra21 in reply to Goalnsr]

No. Ectopics bit i get irregular bearing for 5 srcs or so amd fear ill get it

[Goalnsr in reply to Contra21]

I completely understand your fear. I don’t think there is any reason to think that ectopics will “turn into” afib. But I do know the anxiety you feel and I have felt it too, so I won’t say don’t worry, but if your doctor has assured you that the ectopics are harmless and that you don’t require treatment, try to remind yourself of that when you’re feeling fearful. I find that when I’m having ectopics it helps to meditate for ten or fifteen minutes and focus on my breath. I know it sounds simple, but it is actually very helpful. If you still worry, perhaps get a second opinion. It never hurts to see another doctor and ask what they think.

[anetap4545 in reply to Goalnsr]

No.

[Goalnsr in reply to anetap4545]

Try not to worry too much then. I know your fear, I have felt it too, but it does no good to worry about something that may or may not happen. Instead, focus on what you DO have control over: eat well, sleep, get regular daily exercise, and manage your stress. These will prevent you from developing other Heath issues so that if you ever do develop afib, you will be far more likely to have successful treatment. Stress can ruin your health, and just makes life unpleasant. Enjoy your good health now. Someday, you may look back on these days and wish you had enjoyed them more!

[Contra21 in reply to Goalnsr]

I try. Meditation all of the fear overrides in the moment. How often do u get then do u have afib

[anetap4545 in reply to Goalnsr]

I'm so scared I hate the feeling I just want them gone I'm crying so hard