The doctor refused to help ..aibu here?

[sallybally335]

I've been having a irregular heartbeat since may.
I was getting around 50 extra heartbeats a day (PVCs) a day
Doctor sent me to cardiologist and they did a monitor (this only picked up 3 that day ) and heart scan which was normal.
Since then I'm now getting thousands a day and back and rib pain with them.
I went to doctors today and she said she wouldn't refer me back to cardio as I was only there July.
Aibu to complain to practice?

@sallybally335
How frightening for you, I'm so sorry because it's horrendous to feel like there's something seriously wrong with you.

When you describe other symptoms such as the throat tightening, they are classic anxiety symptoms. Along with shoulder and neck pain, stomach problems, feeling of not breathing properly. The mind is so good and trolling us and kicking off all manner of physical stuff.

Also, you mentioned that the pulse thing was initially happening when you were out, then just before you were leaving the house etc. That sounds like anxiety to me too.

I'm not a doctor but my advice is try the medication. Sertraline is great for anxiety and I find has fewer side effects than some of the others. If it doesn't help, there will be something else you can try.

What's really really hard about anxiety around health is that you end up not really knowing what's a problem or not. You don't trust your own body and symptoms, you feel like medics don't take you seriously because you're anxious and it ends up ruling your life.

I'd hope your surgery are understanding and caring towards you and take you seriously.
Always get checked out if you feel something is wrong but you also need to do some work at home too.

Have you ever had CBT? It can be great for helping give you coping techniques such as diaries, relaxation and mindfulness, reducing checking and monitoring.

The doctor has helped, they have prescribed medication (sertraline) which you have not yet taken. You also seem to have stopped taking other prescribed medication as well. I really think you should trust your doctor rather than Google here, and take the meds.

So when your dad walks with you, you don't get the symptoms.

Is this when you go to your relative, the lady you care for?

Is something unsettling you, perhaps the walk and being outdoors, or the state your relative may be in when you get there?

Being a carer can be immensely stressful. Don't underestimate the impact that will have on your mental health.

Hardly anyone has heard of the vagus nerve

That really isn't true, MrsFrankDrebrin. I've certainly heard of it more than once, and I'm no cardiologist. As it's a nerve that carries some pretty important functions, I'd be absolutely amazed if your friend's cardiologist hadn't heard of it. I suspect I heard it on something like "Casualty".

However, on googling I note that stress can act on the vagus nerve in turn affecting the heart rate, so that would tend to support the view that your anxiety is the root cause of your problems, OP.

I know other posters have already said this but please stop fuelling this because you are not helping the OP.

OP, don't go and buy monitoring equipment for home either, it will just be something to obsess over.

How old are you sallybally335 ?

I have similar symptoms as you and last year was in and out of casualty and the gp having all sorts of tests. Turns out I am perimenopausal and seem to have developed health anxiety! I was also obsessing for a while that my lungs weren’t working properly and I wasn’t getting enough air even though I can walk fairly long distances or do household chores without any problem.

It is still bad at times but now I know what it is I can deal with it. Mine is worse when I have an event coming up and then fades again to a manageable level afterwards.

Why did you stop taking the propanolol?

Did your GP tell you to?

Take the sertraline.

I've suffered from anxiety since I was 15 years old, I'm 38 now. It comes and goes but this Christmas has been awful. Like a pp said, lump in throat, struggling to swallow and palpitations ....tick. It's awful. I can usually cope unless I get really bad... then I go on beta blockers.

Use the medication would be my advice.

Op, I had all those symptoms. I had and have anxiety. The sertraline helps beyond measure. Please take it.

Every symptom you have described is a classic anxiety symptom - I know this because I've had them.

The swallowing and something feeling stuck is called globus. It basically feels like there is a lump there - there isn't. It goes away then your anxiety is dealt with.

I used to come up with one symptom after another, I've pretty much had them all now. And yes, I know all about the vagus nerve, I'm a doctor, it's intensely linked with... anxiety.

Your cardiologist hasn't missed anything, you have been properly checked out with your heart.

Each time you have a PVC there will be a gap and the next beat will be extra strong. However if you spend all day counting them it will drive you insane!

Go back to your GP, start your antidepressants and stay on them and get some CBT as fast as possible.

Not to belittle your situation at all, but are you really sure about so many extra heart beats?

I thought I had this problem, had the ECG etc and doctor said I was fine, just a bit anxious. So I got a heart rate monitor (Fit Bit), and monitored my heart rate. My heart does race when I'm stressed or anxious about something or if I stand up too quickly, but this is completely normal. I found that some controlled deep breathing helped make me feel less anxious.

This was 5 years ago and I'm still fine.

I know I wish people would stop coming along with stories - op has been checked by a cardiologist and worn a tape already

I can also vouch for swallowing feeling strange.

You haven’t failed allowing anxiety back in - I always liken anxiety to something that never really leaves you. It’s alwaya waiting for a perfect opportunity to jump back into your life. Anxiety can feel like a constant battle. But it is one you can fight! Please try.

You have had agoraphobia before, this could be a bit of a relapse. I always feel so much better with another person with me

I told myself thank god your PVCs stop when your home,then I started thinking imagine if they came all the time..then they started.
I'm sitting wanting a cup of tea but I think if I stand that will trigger then it does.
I'm scared to have a bath because if my heart goes out of rhythm and the water is hot I might faint in the bath.
It's constant obsessing about my heart.
It's taken over my life.
I'm going to have to start the sertraline ..at least I can say I've tried it.

I stopped the propranolol as it didn't help them and I convinced myself it made it worse and eventually I would rely on them and if I stopped them then I would have heart problems.

I'm an anxiety sufferer too. Your ribs and back could be hurting because you're so tense your muscles are twanging, relaxing and tensing so much. It sends those shock-like pings of pain across your torso.

Anxiety also causes digestive problems, constipation or diarrhoea, IBS, gas - trapped gas can be intensely painful.

Check out this website: no panic - there's a section on there for checking your symptoms without Dr Google making everything out to be a brain tumour. It's the single most useful thing I've found. Also there's a crisis recording for when the panic attacks hit.

You could try a spot of meditation - 10% Happier is meditation without the woo and I've found it really helpful.

I think essentially you're afraid of your agoraphobia returning and that's fuelling a bunch of anxiety - it doesn't have to be a conscious process, and in fact it isn't in the slightest. But the sooner you stop fighting it, the sooner you can regain control. Best of luck to you OP, cos anxiety sucks

As the cardiologist couldn't find anything wrong, I'd listen to what the doctors are saying instead of convincing yourself it's a serious illness. Anxiety is very common and can cause the symptoms you describe.

Fixating on how many abnormal heartbeats you have each day will make you more anxious.

@AnnaMagnani the symptoms change all the time except the PVCs.
I went through feeling sick and stomach pains every morning.
Some mornings my hands go freezing cold and I feel shaky and like I've just drank 10 coffees.
Not every day.
Sometimes my heart randomly races fast as can be.

Just remember with the sertraline, you may feel worse for a couple of days. This doesn’t mean it won’t work! Pm me if you are concerned about it, I’m happy to chat.

You are doing the right thing starting the meds.

1. Addison's disease is adrenal insufficiency. The adrenal glands aren't working properly so you end up with low blood sugar, low sodium levels, and increased potassium levels. Some people with Addison's may crave salt - hardly surprising, given that they can't retain it! The high potassium level can cause heart issues.

1. In terms of medications, sertraline is an SRI (serotonin reuptake inhibitor). These tend to cause fewer heart issues than tricyclic antidepressants. I'd recommend starting the sertraline and seeing how things go. If it is due to anxiety, you may find that things get better with the medication. You do have to give it 2-6 weeks to work.

1. If you haven't already, I'd suggest getting a complete checkup including blood work. You may want to ask your provider to check your blood count, electrolytes, lipids, blood sugar, and thyroid. This would help to rule out common physiologic causes of irregular heart rate.

I am afraid until people do OPs the courtesy of actually reading their fucking threads before leaping in with their tuppenny diagnoses, the posts with suggested 'illnesses' will keep on coming...

My muscles twitch too when I close my eyes.
God I've got everything haven't I.

OK did you post recently convinced you had cancer, when actually you had piles, which caused bleeding? If so, you really need help with your health anxiety. Seriously, this is no way to live.

No, you haven't got everything OP. What you've got is anxiety. Please take the medication prescribed for it.

Thankyou ..I've accepted two weeks of awful side effects tbh
Insomnia
Feeling sick
Etc

No that wasn't me.
My only health concern is heart related.