Something weird happened to me in middle of the night :(

[AddictedToLuv]

I woke up at 3am and my heart started racing madly. It was like I had just ran a sprint. I then had a weird feeling and then it happened again about 10 mins later and then a short one after that. Then I had a burning sensation, like heartburn to the left.

I was really, really scared. At first I thought OMG I am having a panic attack, but I am not worried about anything or I wasn't panicking about anything at the time aside from the racing heart.

I couldn't get back to sleep and now I am really worried about what this was.

I'm so glad you went in, that is always the right thing to do.

Having said that, I've connected indigestion and palpitations before and in my mid thirties had some sleepless nights with racing heart and chest pains.

These days at 54 I get palpitations quite often and take a beta blocker. I've noticed that if I eat red meat I will wake in the night with horrible heartburn so I try to avoid it.

I hope they can sort out what's going on and that you will feel reassured. It can be very scary.

Like others, I used to get regular night time palpitations that sound just like what you describe, apart from the lingering shoulder pain. For me, it was perimenopause related (I had lots of other symptoms too). My GP told me to cut out caffeine. I did, and the palpitations stopped. Now on HRT, I haven't tried re-introducing caffeine - not least because i don't want the withdrawal symptoms again!

So glad your GP sent you for an ECG. I would put money on it that it's menopause related (but then I am not a doctor so what do I know? ) but it's good to see you haven't been fobbed off with that assumption. Hope all is well, though your blood pressure is likely to be sky high from the worry!

I'm glad you are getting it checked.
So frightening for you.
Apparently heart attacks in women display different symptoms to heart attacks in men.

Indigestion can cause all that

This is all probably related to a heavy weekend - we can't eat and drink at that age and expect to get away with it. It sounds like reflux, adrenal overide secondary to menopause and an enlarged liver which is irritating your phrenic nerve hence causing shoulder pain.
We really to re assess our lifestyles at this age.

Hope you get some answers OP.

If it helps I seemed to have a few attacks of racing heart at night, but since I started HRT have only had one. What I thought was racing was a 101 (Apple watch alerted me to it) and I'd had a VERY large glass of Baileys before bed.

Glad you are getting checked, hope all goes well for you.

I had that a few years ago completely randomly. I was 38 and on holiday by myself in France. I was really scared and had to sit up in bed with the light on trying to breathe. It's never happened since and to this day I don't know what it was, but it was very unpleasant.

How are you OP? Did the doctor come round to discuss the results with you yet?

So I’m done at A&E. Apparently my heart looks fine, bloods all ok, blood pressure ok, 2 x different ECG’s and X-ray of heart all ok. Doctors thought I was quite fit and healthy which is nice to hear.

They couldn’t really explain what happened but said they see loads of one offs like me who don’t have any further problems (hopefully). Doc didn’t seem to think it was a panic attack as I didn’t have any other presenting symptoms of this, but it is one possibility. I remember just thinking “this is weird” rather than feeling distressed. I’m not ruling that out though and plan to take measures to reduce my stress. Doc told me to lay off alcohol which can send your heart racing apparently.

If it happens again I have to have a 24 hour ECG thing.

There were a few characters kicking off about lack of tea in A&E and I made a few friends

One thing I got a bit about was I saw quite a few people come in after me with same symptoms and needing an ECG, including 2 men younger than me, and they got dealt with before me!!!

Just to add that I found all your comments and well wishes really comforting and I really appreciate your support today, I really do.

Glad to hear it OP

Very glad you're OK, OP!

Glad to hear you’re ok Op but just something to consider…I had this post Covid. I know you said you have had a bad cold but any chance this was Covid in disguise?

One thing I got a bit hmm about was I saw quite a few people come in after me with same symptoms and needing an ECG, including 2 men younger than me, and they got dealt with before me!!!

So glad to hear you are feeling a bit better and there’s nothing wrong with your heart! That’s great news x

The reason they see men first is because women typically suffer less with heart issues, I went in to urgent care once with a chest infection that was hurting my cavity wall so it felt like heart pain, and the nurse explained that it’s always been men who are looking after when it’s heart pain, and they are trying to readdress the balance. Shame that didn’t happen but at least you know the reason.

I seem to remember being told that acid reflux can give you palpitations.

Sandysman,
I had covid in Spring 2020 at the beginning of it all so could be hangover of that. The doc said everyone has a cold and mine may have contributed to last night with other factors.

I’m glad there is nothing physically wrong but I’m still very stressed out over the episode snd feeling shattered.!

Panic attack

Hi Op,

Glad you've been checked over & got the all clear.

I'm in my 40's, & this started happening to me after a virus. Waking at 3am most nights, heart hammering & just couldn't get it to slow down, despite slow breathing techniques. Wide awake until 5 or 6am then

Turns out it was histamine dumping. 3-5am is prime time.

Do some research on Histamine Intolerance (HI) & Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) & see if some of your foods/drinks are high histamine. Red wine definitely is!

HI/MCAS can become a particular problem as your oestrogen levels drop. It's seen quite commonly in Menopause clinics.

Maybe you even have some of the other symptoms without realising? MCAS can flare after a virus too & remain a problem until you cut back on histamine foods/drinks.

Give the diet a try & see if you have any improvements

I was diagnosed with MCAS + POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) & with diet changes & some meds (you might not need them) I no longer have these nocturnal workouts which were exhausting!

There is a Christmas thread about Nigel Slater’s book The Christmas Chronicles and I grabbed it on my way out the door. It’s a beautiful book and it kept me calm and entertained whilst at A&E.

So glad it's nothing serious OP

Panic attacks don't just happen when you're awake and panicked .

I found this out 20 years ago . I woke to the same symptoms . I'd recently tried to see an an abusive step parent - it manifested itself in massive panic but not consciously. I ended up on a heart monitor.
It's very common for panic to set in as you're about to sleep .

This is why I gave up wine. The racing heart took the fun out of it.