Heart rate is normal but I feel like it's super fast, what is happening.

[babayhaga]

I'm 21 weeks pregnant and I've been on the sofa for the past few hours. I however have had an this feeling whereby my heart is racing really fast and I know it's not - I have a finger monitor.

Is this anxiety?

I now have the feeling that I can't breathe and keep on gasping for air, is that related to the stomach acid or due to a suspected pulmonary embolism? The scans couldn't say there wasn't a clot but at the same time they couldn't do a CT scan so treating me like I do have a blood clot.

AIBU - it's anxiety
Not being unreasonable - see doctor

I think you should ring 111 and ask for advice. If you really feel like you can’t breath and your heart is racing, then ring 999.

Do you have an Apple watch? You can monitor your heart rate through that and it will put the data on your health app on your iPhone.

Hope all is ok for you 💐

I don't no. My blood pressure and finger monitor is fine. I've also been to the go in thirsday who said everything was fine.

Was supposed to see psychiatrist but that got cancelled :(

That sounds like what I experience when u start having a panic attack. How are u feeling now? It feels horrendous like you're having a heart attack or stroke or something but it always passes. Is there anyone with u? It can be really scary. If u start to feel dizzy or faint call an ambulance, especially as you're pregnant. Better to be safe

It sounds like anxiety / panic but I'm not a medic.

I don't have anything to be anxious about which is annoying :(

Oh I understand trust me. My panic attacks can hit when everything is going completely fine. Brains are weird. Are u OK now?

Yes but I don't know what to do as they are happening almost daily now

Definitely speak to your gp. They can direct you to help services or prescribe some safe anti anxiety meds if you're happy with that

I'm actually not able to be referred to any therapy as I'm under the care of perinatal.

Can't wait for the receptionists to argue that I can have an appointment in three months like they usually do

Ah ok. Would they not be able to prescribe you something? Or at least give you someone to talk to a out it?

I've had this pretty much the whole way through my pregnancy OP. I had an ECG done, blood tests, hooked up to monitors etc etc, everything was fine. My heart rate is about 140bpm even when I'm resting and i constantly feel out of breath. I'm now 35 wks pregnant and can't wait to get baby out it is has been miserable. I have 2 others and not experienced this before. I think it can be a common side effect of the extra blood we get in our systems with pregnancy and also I am a little anaemic, could you be too? Hope you feel better soon x

Hi. No my bloods are all fine and my heart rate is normal - 60-80 etc (depends what I'm doing) and blood pressure is fine.

Do you have a history of health anxiety? Why do you have a pulse ox and BP machine at home? Why were you seeing a psychiatrist?

It sounds like anxiety tbh if you heart rate, bloods, pulse ox and BP are fine.

Lol.

I'm at my dad who had to get it in covid
Due to his lung condition. I know that doctors will do those those tests and it's clear there is nothing of concern whereby I need to visit A&E.

I see a psychiatrist because of my
Mental health - you know the type whereby you want to kill yourself and act upon it, chronically depressed etc.

My DD (20) and I (mid 50s) both have this. It's quite weird to feel when heart rate is normal (and even lowish). I wonder whether it's connected to our low blood pressure or possibly low ferritin / iron / B12 but I couldn't get the GP very interested. Hormones could be the other thing.

Everything is fine on the blood test front etc :/

What the NHS considers "normal" in blood tests isn't necessarily what's optimal for you, it may be worth if you haven't done so considering anything that's at either end of the range. My GP told me that ferritin of 13 was normal but it's clear that ferritin that low does cause people symptoms.

Not sure why they told you 13 was normal

Anxiety will respond to vagus reset breathing exercises; a physical medical issue won't;
Breath in, hold your breath, breath out counting to 3 each time, then work your way up counting4, 5, 6. It resets the vagus nerve.

I am confused about what type of reaponse you want as you aren't really listening to anyone here.

Not sure why they told you 13 was normal

Different labs have different ranges, the one I was tested against sets it at 11. Though elsewhere NICE guidelines say that under 30 should be treated as iron deficiency. The general point though was that you can have symptoms but still be what they consider in range across a number of tests.

Thanks. Do I do that when I'm having an attack or randomly? Just started to do it now.

Thanks I didn't know that. It's dropped 10
Points in 6 weeks - is that normal?

I am listening.....

Its a really good idea to practice breathing at least twice a day when you are feeling calm, and to do it when you notice yourself starting to feel anxious. You might find it harder when you are very anxious, but if you catch it early enough it can actually stop anxiety escalating into panic attacks.
Its not woo - the vagus nerve triggers anxiety and thats the off switch. Its an interesting subject and well worth a google.