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.

Common in menopause. You should see the GP as it can become dangerous and need medication. My mother has severe heart eurythmia. It can cause blood clots and strokes.

Maybe it was aliens come to abduct you?

This could be atrial fibulation where the heart pumps fast- I was misdiagnosed as having anxiety as my heart was racing on and off for 3 years. It dis permanent damaged to my heart and I now have heart failure. That was four years go. I aM 48 year old. Make sure you insist you have a face to face appointment but also a referral ro cardiologist if it keeps happening. I had twelve face to face appointments same thing no its anxiety. I collapsed got took to hospital and a junior dr thankfully had just done some work experience in cardiology recognised the signs . Take care good luck x

I've had this before as well, I've always assumed it's reflux

Glad you're feeling better, OP.

I would get it checked out at the doctors. It could be low blood pressure, I had low blood pressure when pregnant with my son, I would get a feeling that my heart was racing and about to jump out of my chest, I also went dizzy and felt like I would pass out, whilst this was happening, I also felt hot.

@pegasus78 I have needed estrogen since I was 29, I had to beg and plead and eventually get it illegally, Ovestin helped but I actually had a embedded bladder infection that I had to treat with illegal antibiotics too. Doctors have been told off for giving antidepressants instead of estrogen, you have to fight for it. I don't have the mental or physical wherewithal to fight so I just purchase where and how I can.

@Niccibingo omg that's really awful! I didn't know it causes permanent damage, I've had bad palpitations for the past 10 years, getting much worse lately, and I'm 38. I thought it's just my cPTSD, hypervigilance, etc.

Hello, yes I take them when I feel the need, not in a regular basis.

@Niccibingo Oh and at a&e I was also told it's just panic but I don't see how, I don't get panic, I just get palpitations physically which then causes me to be anxious.

I sometimes have this - I get ‘inappropriate sinus tachycardia’ which means the rhythm is normal, but my heart sometimes just beats ridiculously fast for short bursts. It’s definitely hormonal for me.
I get it in the night like you’ve described if I’ve had alcohol, (sad face).
I have beta blockers at home now which I take when I’m more prone to the episodes.

@AutomaticMoon askbto be put on a holter monitor by hospital it will give you a reading over a 24 hr period and also ask for a heart scan. Please insist - I went on an anxiety group session and the person taking it told me i didn't have anxiety and to go back to gp . Untreated atrial fabulation can kill you and or damage your heart chambers which is what happened to me. Please get checked out for a second opinion. Good luck all the best x

I once had palpitations - 180 beats per minute. 111 said to call an ambulance, and I got the full siren and flashing lights trip. (this was before covid and all that). When I got to A&E, they did not seem to know what to do with me and consulted with each other. Finally someone came along with a huge syringe and told me to blow into it as hard as I could. I felt mildly indignant thinking, "Why are they asking me to do this? Don't they realise I'm ill?" However, I did it and the palpitations stopped. The worst thing in the event is that I was expected to sit on a chair in the hospital for hours while they did blood tests etc. I had a cardiology appointment after that, and they offered a treatment - which, if it went wrong would necessitate a pacemaker. Now, when I feel the palpitations creeping up,I take a deep breath and hold it hard as if I am blowing into a syringe - and so far, that has worked.

For peace of mind, you should consult your GP or 111 and check out Google.

TAKE MAGNESIUM max rda every day for the next month.

It sounds like you had arrthymia, maybe atrial fibrillation and maybe supra ventricular tachycardia. Why it suddenly kicked off - maybe low magnesium levels which fits with you eating poorly recently when you used to eat more healthily (and probably had adequate magnesium in your diet). You can also get arrythmia induced by a viral infection (your cold)

With a bit of luck, you take the magnesium, get back on the healthy eating path and it all goes away. If it doesnt you need to follow up. Sometimes viruses can trigger myocarditis in the heart, which is a bit like a tiny heart attack. If that has happened then you would need to be monitored for about a year to make sure it heals properly. There is also a chance you might have had some myocarditis with your covid and the cold stirred it back up again.

Did they take blood tests is A and E? Hopefully they looked at your troponin levels as that is a clear indication of any heart muscle damage

Symptoms to send you to the doctors are breathlessness, unusual tiredness on exertion, any chest pain including heart burn as that feels very similar to heart pain, any pain radiating down either arm and any feelings of doom (sounds weird but its strangely true). Along side abnormal heart rhythm either too fast, too slow or lumpy

You were handled brilliantly, OP. They did all the right things and it all sounds very reassuring. If it were anything worrying, the ECG would have flagged it. If it continues, do push for the portable ecg/holter monitor... they can do one for 24/72 hours or whatever. I have one done for a week once a year (not my sexiest look ), but I have a lousy heart, so I have an annual MOT to make sure things are sort of stable.

And yes, absolutely lay off the booze. I really am pretty much teetotal, but if I celebrate a friend's birthday for example, and enjoy the wine, my heart goes mental.

I thought menopause. Any reason you aren’t on hrt?

No Flobberty.

I got the Mirena coil when I was perimenopausal (3 years ago) and that shut down my cycle and sorted most problems out for me. I don't know if what is happening to me now is the estrogen dropping but i can't really tell what is going on as I get no cycles now.

At your age likely menopause symptoms. But talk to your doctor could also be something with your heart

You need to see your GP ASAP. Face to face.

Thx, I've been to A&E and talking to my own GP again next week to follow up.

We are not doctors or medics and even if we were, we have no knowledge of your medical history. We cannot truthfully or helpfully advise you other than to urge you to see your GP ASAP.

Could be a few things,

did you have alcohol with your dinner? particularly red wine? ( preservatives have done this to me)
Also have you had Covid?? This happened to my sister after contracting Covid ( she's ok ) but definately get it checked out.
Dehydration?
and what the others said - hormones/ Menopause.

Glad to know you're being 'looked after'. Best wishes 💐

Good luck op, I had a coupl of years of that type of stuff which culminated in a huge heart attack in 2019. I was 52. Keep pushing for answers. It could be menopause, but the burn sensation is what my preceding angina felt like (I didn’t know it was angina!)