Heart palpitations, dizziness, what to do?

[JuleeCruseship]

For the past two days I've been having weird palpitations, accompanied by breathlessness and feeling lightheaded. My chest generally feels quite tight and it's hard to catch my breath.

I rang to make a GP appointment but there isn't one for 5 weeks.

Should I call out of hours this evening, or what? It does feel a bit worrying as I feel so not-right. It's not little unnoticeable palpitations to me.

I'm 35, overweight but not amazingly so.

This is what A&E is for, OP. I had something similar last year and I got transferred to Ambulatory Care from A&E. It was where I needed to be and I was sent by my GP, as the GP can't do ECG's, take bloods etc. Hoping you're ok.

Hope all ok OP xx

Good luck. Hope you get to the bottom of this soon and you can relax.
I have been to A&E with similar symptoms.
I have anxiety and it's more than often anxiety-related ( even though I don't feel particularly anxious when the symptoms begin).
Once I was found to have an arrythmia which they found on the ecg. You have definitely done the right thing.

Hope you are getting on ok OP and aren't stuck there too long.

Still here and waiting for an ecg. Quite tempted to go home now tbh!

Stick it out OP, you're doing the right thing.

Hope you are ok.

Don't go home before your ECG.
Waiting in A&E is crap. Tedious, boring and worrying.
But you're nearly through the tests, and better another 1/2hr wait, than home and worry for days/weeks.

It'll probably be fine, and you'll be on your way soon.
What a day.

Glad you went to hospital, just be patient you are in the right place now.

Stay put!

Well, they bought me in for an ECG and blood test, to a room I'd went into earlier. I already had a blood test and they'd given me like a 40 second heart thing earlier which I didn't realise what the actual ECG. They hadn't recorded they'd given it to me. So I've been waiting on the test since 7.30 when I'd already had the test! It's apparently fine. Doctor had a quick look at bloods which are apparently ok too. It's 6 hours wait for a doctor for more detailed stuff so I'm just going to go home now. Guess it's anxiety then. Thanks for keeping me company.

High heart rate and low blood pressure(dizziness)can be a sign of Addison's disease.It's quite rare so is easily missed.My daughter was recently diagnosed with it.
Might be a good idea to google the signs & symptoms.Hope you get answers soon and start to feel better.

Was coming in to say go to a&e but see you're there. Glad you've got checked out as it is beeter to be safe and feel silly than not go - I thought I had anxiety and ended up in resus due to a heart problem I didn't know I had.

i'd make a GP appointment to discuss further regardless of the A&E findings OP. You were right to go and shouldn't feel that you weren't or were wrong to because nothing was 'found'. The purpose of the tests at A&E are to ascertain if anything that is a medical emergency is wrong that needs immediate fixing or would be life threatening; not to pick up on the millions of minor or chronic health conditions something could be- that's a slower process via a GP and consultants. A discharge from A&E doesn't mean there is nothing wrong with your health at all, just that you did not need emergency treatment and no immediate serious illness was obvious ( which is good news!)

Is it any worse if you stand up quickly or are standing up? Any other symptoms specifically? I spent years like this and eventually found out after nagging for testing that i have a condition called POTS- I shouldn't think this is your issue though, it is rare and additionally is not likely to have come on suddenly as it is chronic, and also caused by a separate condition from which i suffer.

It could be anything at the end of the day, anxiety, an allergy, a virus, inner ear issue causing dizziness. I'd snap up a GP appointment for a few weeks time and fingers crossed whatever it is will clear itself in the meantime OP! Good for you for going to A&E despite your anxiety!

A couple of years ago I started getting the same (but with severe chest/jaw/arm pain with the slightest exertion). The drs never did find out what caused it.
I still get palpitations all the time-usually the day after drinking or if I’m under stress.
& my ‘usual’ resting heart rate has gone up from 90bpm to being 130bpm for the past couple of years since. When I get on the treadmill after around 5 minutes I’m already at 200bpm. 🤷‍♀️
So I have no advice to offer OP but I sympathise.

I was going to suggest Addison’s disease too. I have it and those were my initial symptoms. You’d need a morning cortisol blood test through your gp to rule it out - and then further tests if it flags it up.

I would definitely go to your gp and have some further tests done.

Glad to hear the heart tests were okay. Pain about the mix up and long wait. I second going to see your GP for further investigation before you put it down to anxiety. I found CBT very hepful for my anxiety. Self-referred to NHS well-being service.

I 'third' going to GP for follow up and preferably referral to cardiologist. My DS was told his was anxiety for his racing heartbeat, turns out it was a heart abnormality and he's since had an operation and will be monitored for life.
We were told palpitations on their own were probably nothing to worry about but when lightheadedness/dizziness is thrown into the mix, it's a whole different ball game.

Best get it checked out long term 💐

Thanks all. I had a call with the GP today and have a follow up appointment next week.

I had my follow up today and my heart is still being a bit weird. My resting heart rate is elevated (mildly) and was skipping beats. So it could be nothing, could be something! I'm getting more blood tests for thyroid function on Monday and another ECG and have been referred for a 24 hour monitor.

It also could still be anxiety, but I just find it weird because I wasn't feeling anxious at all during the appointment, nor really when I felt dodgy last week. I am generally an anxious person though.