To go to A & E?

[AlwaysAnxiousAnnie]

For some.time.now I've had major anxiety about my heart due to an episode last year of very bad heart palpitations, lasted hours and was so scary. It was like my heart was so out of rhythm. I went to A and E and they said it's anxiety, I've had numerous ECG, I've had a 24 hr heart monitor. They said they found nothing of concern just ectopic beats and and atrial thud. Apparently this is no cause for concern. So I was discharged from cardiology. I regularly have heart palpitations, chest pain, dizziness, breathlessness. Again it's anxiety apparently. Alas, I have developed this cardiac anxiety.
Anyway, tonight after studying up after dinner, my heart out of no where just started beating so hard and so fast in my chest. It felt like it was going to explode. Straight away I panicked, and then tried to calm myself down. I've so ce managed to calm myself but I heart beat feels all over the place. No pain or anything else. Its new Year's Eve and A&E will be busy. My DH is not very happy with me telling me not to go because it's all in my head. I've convinced myself.i won't see morning or at the very least my heart is about to give up very soon. Now I'm in this spiral of death anxiety of I could drop dead and be dead by this next time year and no one is believing me about my heart problem...am I being unreasonable to want to go to A & E and get checked out or ring 111 at th very least.. or am I just being dramatic, an anxious mess. The more I'm panicking the worst it's getting but I wasn't panicking when it first started this evening.

I'm so proud of you for taking them!

Your body will adjust.

You are doing an amazing thing for future you, and your DH and dd.

Nicely done OP. 💖

Great that out of the thread you started the medication…

Yes I would give it some time…2 days is not going to be enough for full effects of treatment and just as importantly, for you to not be focussed on and worrying about the medication. Once it’s become part of your daily routine and you aren’t thinking about it, you’ll have more idea how it’s working.

At the moment, assume you will have raised anxiety because you are anxious about taking the medication…The new episodes will feel different as your heart won’t race as fast.

Have you also looked in to long term strategies such meditation, mindfulness etc as a daily practice? A course of CBT specifically focussed on how you manage these body sensations could also be helpful?

Regarding exercise, how do you feel about swimming? Walking in nature?

It sounds like something physical, needs further investigation. If you haven't already called 111 , I'd call them, they can get you a quicker A&E appt if need be. Obviously you are going to panick if your heart starts beating out of rhythm, which will cause anxiety so it could be making the whole experienceseem worse. Definitely give them a call.

I also had this for years and told anxiety. I did have CBT and it helped but I still noticed odd sensations. I believe that I have finally cracked what causes some of the sensations of flutters/palpitations and it is gas bubbles. This sounds random and strange but I think they make my vagus nerve irritated when gas is in my oesophagus. I literally tracked all of my symptoms and heart rate etc and was never ever able to catch one of these episodes on any monitors or but what I did catch eventually was that I would burp or feel like burping at some point after the event - it might be 20 mins afterwards, usually not immediately which is why it took so long to work it out. Sometimes bending over can set it off and it can be like this after I have eaten of if I am hungry. I have a very active and noisy bubbly digestive system but this did feel like my heart for a really long time - like 20 years!

Hey OP so proud to hear you took them!! Was it the diazepam that you took?

I used to have ectopic beats and it would almost feel like that pound every now and again.

What have you eaten today with the medication? Keep it up and hopefully you will get the awesome benefits :)

Well done, important first step

Well done OP. I am super impressed. You have taken the first step, just gotta keep going now!

Thank you all. It was the beta blocker chest I've taken. I suppose I worried because I haven't had my usual heart raising but have been getting really hard random thuds! Scary as hell.

Well done OP, you've made great strides.
You sat with the uncomfortable, scary feelings the other night and didn't "feed the beast" by going to A&E.
And now you've started the medication prescribed for your symptoms.

Super proud of you.
Onwards and upwards!

I'm really proud of you for taking them! It might be that you need a slightly higher dose so maybe give it a few more days then speak to your GP.

Really proud of you though!

I'm just telling myself when these thuds happen that my heart is fine and I don't need to be scared of dying any time soon. That's my issue. Its the fear and anxiety of dying and the heart thuds kind of reinforce belief that I will.
Thank you all for support. I'm so truly grateful.

@AlwaysAnxiousAnnie Well done OP. Keep going with the pills each day x

If you're still getting issues in a couple of weeks then see your GP again- as PP's say, they could up the dose, or try some other anxiety med.

OP I've just come across this thread and read the entire thing.

I'm flabbergasted that HQ have allowed that poster's comments and account to remain, it's beyomd me.

Anyway, I am so proud that you took them. That's so great. A big step forward.

Please keep posting if it helps.

I suffer from palpatations and an elevated heart rate too and have been through similar. If you ever want to talk feel free to PM me.

I hope your symptoms are beginning to decrease