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Original poster

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

219 replies

AddictedToLuv · 19/10/2021 06:32

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.

OP posts:
XingMing · 20/10/2021 21:31

Imminent menopause. It's normal. Horrid, uncomfortable, but totally ordinary.

Libraryghost · 20/10/2021 21:42

I have this weird thing at night where I wake up and feel like my heart is going to burst out of my chest, it’s hard to describe but I literally have to jump out of bed and move. Only starting happening to me in my late forties. I wondered if it was another perimonopause symptom. Very disconcerting.

me4real · 20/10/2021 21:45

It sounds a bit like what I've heard of as a 'night terror.' Maybe just one of those things.

Just take extra care of your self, reduce anxiety etc. Good that you're getting checked out. Hope all is ok. xxx

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General health
Angie1403 · 20/10/2021 22:02

@pegasus78

I agree with phoning 111

The same thing has been happening to me the last 3 weeks. The doctor booked me in for ECG and blood pressure check. But before this could be done, It got worse and I ended up in hospital.

ECG, bloods and chest x-ray all fine.
They have put it down to stress, I am not stressed over anything, other than the racing heart.

I spoke to the doctor last year saying I think I'm perimenopausal, and was just told no way I'm to young at 42.
After doing some research the last couple of weeks, I've again said I'm convinced it's hormonal, I want to try HRT, and been sent away with antidepressants!

Hope you're feeling a bit better now OP, it is scary!

That is so common. I’ve shears of so many women getting blood tests privately to prove it’s menopause. That’s so sad IMO. Doctor misdiagnosed my mums cancer as back pain from a car accident over a decade before. She’s old school so took them at their word for 3 years until she got a locus on one visit and next thing you know…scans and a diagnosis of non-hodgkins lymphoma. She was very lucky so don’t let a doctor tell you what you can have and what you can’t! Blood tests for menopause are not very accurate so you may just have to be a bit of a bully and else and what treatment you want eg HRT?
Row1n · 20/10/2021 22:12

Gallstone attacks can bring pain in the middle of your chest, under the breast area that can spread to the back and also bring on heart racing, sweating and vomiting so maybe get that checked out too if it happens again.
Glad you got checked out!

beautifullymad · 20/10/2021 22:42

@GoodnightGrandma

Peri menopause or low iron.
I agree.
justasking111 · 20/10/2021 23:08

Reading your menu I would say acid reflux which also gives me palpitations. I can't drink alcohol in the evenings any more which is sad

pinkpirlie · 20/10/2021 23:26

@AddictedToLuv I get racing heart accompanying reflux. So if you did have a heavy meal this may be what it was, as would explain the burning sensation also.
I didn't realise my racing heart was linked to reflux until I mentioned it to someone else who suffers and they have the same symptoms. I believe the reflux itself doesn't cause the racing heart, but rather the causes can go hand in hand.

Alison20 · 20/10/2021 23:31

See GP. I reckon peri hormones can do this sort of thing and if you add a virus it might just be that. I have felt as though having heart problems but ECG showed normal. It’s probably nothing to worry about but definitely worth getting checked out.

LaurenKelsey · 20/10/2021 23:51

See your GP immediately! These are symptoms of heart attack in women:

Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.
Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.

Cavementality · 20/10/2021 23:52

I had something very similar and told my GP who arranged for an immediate cardiogram!
Fortunately nothing showed up and everything was normal but I still don't know why it happened!

YouJustFoldItIn · 21/10/2021 05:54

Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.

That's also exactly how an esophogheal spasm feels. I am not saying it should be ignored or assumed to be an ES but I would say try to not panic and assume the worst (heart attack) in the moment, as that will just bring on a panic attack and which will mimic the symptoms of a HA even more. Although the first time you have an ES it's hard not to panic - it's weird and scary.

Try to stay calm and breath steadily through it, the way you would with a stitch, gently move around a little, maybe rotate your shoulders or turn from side to side or very gently stretch to see if it gives any relief. It's uncomfortable but it will go away after a minute or so. You tend to feel it from your throat right down to the area between your boobs.

In the absence of any of the other symptoms described in the above post, ask yourself have you recently eaten a heavy meal? Are you menopausal or perimenopausal? Do you suffer from reflux, heartburn or indigestion recently? Has alcohol started to cause you digestive or sleep issues? Do you suffering from anxiety?

If none of that applies, or the chest pressure and squeezing sensation is accompanied by other symptoms such as shoulder, neck or jaw pain, arm numbness or tingles etc., or the pain lasts too long as described in the post above then CALL AN AMBULANCE. If not, then try to remain calm and see your GP asap.

Mummyto2rugrats · 21/10/2021 09:03

I've had this and it is scary just ask your GP to do blood tests for hormones to make sure not peri menopause/ menopause it's what I did my hormone levels were off the chart but not low which is sign of peri menopause xx I now have reflexology which helps though last week she told me to get my iron checked as I'm tired and yellow skin on my feet which is an indication of low iron xx

leatherboundbooks · 21/10/2021 11:30

See the doc, it might be hormones or stress but equally it could be something more sinister that needs ruling out first.
I had similar with heart pounding, and also during the evening, I did have an investigation and it was stress and anxiety and apparently it can be common in the evening when you are sitting down and relaxing or at night. If it is all OK then you can look at other things it might be.

ellyeth · 21/10/2021 12:50

I think it's best to get it checked out with your GP, just to be on the safe side.

stilllovegeorge · 21/10/2021 18:54

Have you had Covid? I had this a few months after I had covid , but I am also perimenopausal so doctor said it was that.

Original poster
AddictedToLuv · 21/10/2021 19:27

I didn't have a great night last night. I woke up again at 3pm and didn't have the racing heart but did come over all anxious for a while then felt very anxious all morning before wearing off in the afternoon and feeling normal.

Hormones?

Why is it always at 3am Sad

OP posts:
Hails68 · 21/10/2021 19:37

I have experienced this several times in the last few months, racing heart, heart burn etc. My GP has said it's a symptom of menopause and I'm now trying HRT as with this, hot flushes and insomnia I feel like a walking zombie

TattyDevine · 21/10/2021 20:12

Did you have a Pfizer in the last 3 weeks? This happened to my friend, not being funny as I'm a big fan of the vax programme

Original poster
AddictedToLuv · 21/10/2021 20:24

No Tatty

OP posts:
WhatsthefrequencyKen · 21/10/2021 21:43

@AddictedToLuv Have you had covid? I had it for a while after I’d had it (I’m still quite ill from it now) mine is likely due to histamine. The highest point is around 1-3 am I think. I take daily anti histamines now

Justsaynonow · 22/10/2021 03:31

There is a heart condition that commonly rears its head in the middle of the night - called Prinzmetals angina/Coronary artery spasm. Outside of the actual spasm heart & bloods seem normal. Not saying you have this, by any means, but you might want to take a look at this website and see if anything fits for you. Many people with this are initially fobbed off.
International Heart Spasms Alliance

Original poster
AddictedToLuv · 22/10/2021 07:05

I had anxiety hor 3-4 am again last night. I tried to laugh through it and tell myself silly old menopause and then counted how many people I love and then fell asleep again.

Is there anything I can put next to my bed to calm me/ take the edge off it at 3am?

OP posts:
SeaToSki · 22/10/2021 12:44

Lavender room spray
Really boring pod cast (and headphones if there is someone asleep next to you)
Try a meditation focussing on your breath, dont try to do really deep breaths, just really steady normal ones
Glass of milk
Look at the stars in the cold night air for 5 mins
Put on bed socks

SeaToSki · 22/10/2021 12:44

Oh and take magnesium before you go to bed

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