Near constant palpitations?!

[TheWorminLabyrinth]

Has anyone had this? I've been having them for months and months now (probably more like a couple of years on and off) and honestly i've put it down to perimenopause (i'm 44). The last few days they have really ramped up and start almost as soon as I get in bed and last for 1-2 hours. Fluttering, weird feeling in throat, occasional absolute thumps in the chest, then I seem to fall asleep and all normal again in the morning.

For some reason this evening has been worse than they have ever been before. Started around 5pm and haven't stopped since! I am otherwise fine, (I do have severe anxiety and health anxiety so I am obviously working myself up into a state now) but am torn between trying to ignore, and then looking to get a GP appt. in the morning, or going to A&E!! I think I want talking down <wibble>

I have, thank you though. Came back normal.

Ah sorry you had thyroid check. When was that and did you get your T3 and T4 done?

It was last Wednesday. I don't know what exactly was checked - i've just looked on my NHS app and it says "Serum TSH Level" and mine was 2.96. Whatever that means.

For the AF bit how they decide it to be serious or not, they got a point based system. I was told I got instantly scored a point for being a female (higher risk, apparently). If you get 2 points or more your appointment would come sooner.
Other points could be granted for being over 65, having diabetes, being overweight and something else (can’t remember). Because of my one point I had to wait 4 months, but it could have been a lot sooner if the risk was higher.

4 months! Wow, that's a long time to wait. You must have been anxious waiting?

Honestly, most people waiting for routine appointments don't spend every moment in panic.

Yes, you're right. Stupid question, sorry.

If you have been prescribed beta blockers then take them. I had so many episodes, the 24 hr monitor recorded 300+ in 24 hours but there was nothing actually wrong. I had an echo etc to reassure me. Beta blockers stop them so I have carried on taking them and got on with my life. It’s natural to worry but being on here is probably making you more anxious.

So you've been prescribed medication but won't take it?

I don't know why you're being so unnecessarily snippy. Health anxiety isn't rational. I've admitted that myself a number of times on this thread. It's very common for that to extend to taking medication too.

Regardless, I did take one on Thursday evening when I had a particularly bad episode. However, if you have heart related anxiety it isn't easy to take a tablet that literally slows down your heart rate. For many people it just increases the anxiety.

Thought I might resurrect this thread, more so I have a record for myself to very hopefully look back on when I feel better. I'm currently on day 14 of paroxetine. It hasn't helped, yet. The ectopics have slowed down somewhat, enough that on Thursday of last week I thought they had stopped entirely, but then had a few on Friday and some big thumping ones in bed last night. I'd like to think that the fact they are slowing down means that maybe it was just anxiety, and that the paroxetine is kicking in, but who knows. I'm still as severely anxious as I was before. Added to that i've managed to develop a further worry about bradycardia as my resting heart rate is consistently low (55-58 bpm) and I am most certainly not an athlete. <cries in health anxiety>

I was wondering how you were getting on. How is your treatment going for the health anxiety and generalised anxiety disorder that you were diagnosed with? You mentioned that your GP was discussing this with you? Have they engaged talking therapies? Have they prescribed antidepressants? Your anxiety about your health may be reduced if you treat the general anxiety.

I started on antidepressants on the 13th - paroxetine. It hasn't helped any yet, but I know it is early days. There seem to be a lot of horror stories around about paroxetine, but also positive experiences of people saying it massively helped their anxiety.

I have my first appointment with talking therapies tomorrow afternoon. Not sure that will help but willing to give it a try!

I also have my over 40's NHS check on Friday this week. So I plan to mention the low heart rate then.

Thanks for asking

That's excellent news! Stick with the paroxetine as it can take a month or so to work, so try not to get fed up and stop taking it. You will feel much better. Talking therapies is the one that really drives the long term progress so good luck with that tomorrow.

You sound so positive and forward looking - which is absolutely ace and wonderful to see.

Good luck with the NHS check up and post updates as you go 😃