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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To go to A & E?

338 replies

AlwaysAnxiousAnnie · 31/12/2023 19:36

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.

OP posts:
ForTheLoveOfSleep · 31/12/2023 21:26

OP when it happens just think back to every time it's happened before and the outcomes of those episodes. After each one you were and are fine. That's how I cope woth any chest related issues whilst I am waiting for a 24hr ECG. I've been on bisoprolol for over 2 years now and have had no negative side effects. It is, in fact, one of the medications that returned my heart function back to normal after a hypertension(BP 187/124) induced LBBB.

If you were diagnosed with heart failure/attack the bisoprolol would be the first choice to counteract and prevent it anyway so I am confused why you aren't taking it.

Pifful · 31/12/2023 21:27

Beta blockers help with anxiety as well as slowing the hr. Diazepam helps with anxiety. Take them both now and you will feel better.
Going to A&E is a hugely stressful experience, they will do nothing besides telling you to take the drugs.
There is no mistaking SVT for panic attacks, your heart rate would be over 150 and you would know about it. (I have SVT). Incidentally the first treatment for svt is...,.beta blockers.

TheShellBeach · 31/12/2023 21:28

AlwaysAnxiousAnnie · 31/12/2023 21:22

Really. I wanted to he advice and see if anyone had similar experiences. Not attention seeking at all.

Show quote history

And everyone has told you the same thing. Take your meds.

MeinKraft · 31/12/2023 21:29

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

I think in cases like this the OP possibly doesn't want to take the propanol because that will mean realising there's nothing physically wrong with them and then instead of worrying and googling health related stuff they have to face up to whatever the actual problems are in their life. Not so much attention seeking as distraction seeking.

MolkosTeenageAngst · 31/12/2023 21:29

You’ve been prescribed medication but you won’t take it so realistically what would be the point of going to A&E for more tests? If they prescribe something different why would you suddenly start taking medication? For a lot of heart conditions the treatment would just be medication of some kind. Presumably if it was serious and you needed something like surgery for which the risks are far greater than 2mg of diazepam you wouldn’t have it either? If you’re not willing to take the medications there is no point seeking out further treatment, if you’re genuinely unable to take medication due to anxiety you need to seek out therapy around that issue as a priority before you can even think about getting to the bottom of your potential heart condition. If it was a heart condition I can assure you the medications and treatments would have far worse side effects than 2mg diazepam, so your focus right now should be on your health anxiety around medication not on the palpitations as there are no magic treatments which don’t carry potential risk and side effects.

quietlysad · 31/12/2023 21:30

OP I really feel for you, I started having palpitations a year ago and it’s horrible and super scary. I went to A&E when I started feeling faint and had pins and needles in arms, chest pains etc but waited 12 hours(!!) to see a doctor. When I did see someone in the cardiac team they admitted me to hospital for a week and seemed pretty unhappy at how long I had waited to be seen especially as I have an underlying health condition.
As I understand it irregular heart beats are different to normal palpitations though and can be more serious so do get this checked out if you can.
Also for what it’s worth my doctor prescribed a beta blocker I take as and when I have palpitations that won’t go on their own. They have been great so perhaps ask about that assuming it’s nothing more serious.
Thinking of you OP and hope you feel better really soon!

MumblesParty · 31/12/2023 21:30

MeMyself00 · 31/12/2023 21:12

I’d at least call 111 for advice.

Why?

GeorgeA12 · 31/12/2023 21:31

i had something similar. There is a good book by claire weeks about panic attacks etc if you not got it.

AuntySueDoesntGiveAShit · 31/12/2023 21:32

Challengedbutenlightened · 31/12/2023 19:52

YABU, this isn’t the first time you’ve posted about this. From someone who does have heart issues (and has lots of history of SADS/SIDS in the family) please try and calm down and relax before rushing to A&E

I thought I'd seen this before.

mommatoone · 31/12/2023 21:32

OP , sorry to hear you are going through this. Anxiety in any form can be so debilitating. Have you tried hypnotherapy? A few of my friends have done this for other things(addictions etc) and it seems to have been successful.

MeMyself00 · 31/12/2023 21:32

So she can get proper advice from a medical professional?

Munchyseeds2 · 31/12/2023 21:33

Honestly? You should take the medication you have been prescribed and have an early night

Mummybearsthename · 31/12/2023 21:33

Take a look at pots (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome) and also MCAS (mast cell activation syndrome). Many people experiencing these after having covid or the covid vaccine. My son has pots and it isn't picked up on cardio tests. Just because they don't know what is wrong, doesn't mean it has to be anxiety. That is one possible solution but if you don't think this explains things, keep searching. Good luck op

Nttttt · 31/12/2023 21:33

Hun honestly - like I said in my previous post don’t feed the beast. Some of the comments on here are really unhelpful (giving you issues it could be/berating you for wasting nhs time.) OCD/anxiety needs you to feed it, the only way out naturally is sitting with uncertainty. I used to do this all the time when I was worried and I’d read up on young people having strokes etc and convince myself it could be me.

Please try the medication, honestly I was petrified but it changed my life. As another pp said try half then the other half. Diazepam is honestly one of the safest medications you can take (when used properly!) My hubby told me his uni pals would take it like they were sweets to relax at parties and had no issues. I literally was sobbing and shaking as I took it I think I actually did half then after 30 mins had the other half.

Didshejustsaythatoutloud · 31/12/2023 21:34

ThreePointOneFourOneFiveNine · 31/12/2023 21:19

I've skimmed OP posts and not read the rest, so apologies if I've missed something. I have had something that may or may not be the same, in my case it was a short circuit in my heart that required very minor surgery.

First, tell DH to give you your batteries back. It is hard to take your own pulse accurately. If it is genuinely going very fast then you will jump the queue at A&E. I've had a nurse manually check my pulse on reception and take me straight through. But, there is a trick you can try first to stop it:

You need something to blow into, a syringe is ideal, a balloon would do, but I just blow into my closed fist I've got nothing else to hand. So, in a sitting position, take a deep breath and blow into whatever you've got as hard as you possibly can for as long as you possibly can, keep it going until you absolutely cannot do any more. Then immediately lie back and elevate your legs. I sit facing a wall so I can lean my legs up against it, but you could get your DH to hold your legs. Try to breathe normally, stay calm, and wait. It doesn't happen immediately, but it does often stop it. If it hasn't worked after a minute try again.

If your heart is genuinely going fast, keeps going for an extended period (over an hour), and trick doesn't work, then yes you should go to A&E. As I said, you should jump the queue the second they take your pulse. I've been in with a heart rate of over 200 before. I was setting alarms off. I my case they were able to give me a drug to stop it. I had this several times before the surgery.

Unless you have an irregular heartbeat, you can indeed, accurately, take your own pulse with a stopwatch

MumblesParty · 31/12/2023 21:34

InAMess2023 · 31/12/2023 21:21

@MeMyself00 the GP has an insensitive manner for saying they can't help further unless the OP takes the medication they've been prescribed? Right...

@InAMess2023 reading between the lines, OP sees her GP a lot, GP has done loads of tests, including referring to cardiology. GP is probably losing patience and frustrated that OP attends frequently yet flatly refuses to take the medication given.

TheShellBeach · 31/12/2023 21:34

MeMyself00 · 31/12/2023 21:32

So she can get proper advice from a medical professional?

Please quote people you're replying to.

Namechange4448830938489 · 31/12/2023 21:35

I watch "GP Behind Closed Doors" on TV and the numbers of people who say to the doctors - "oh I stopped taking the medicines" and then wonder why they are ill !! I have no idea how doctors control themselves at times like this - people are there wasting their valuable time. This would be the same at A and E tonight - wasting space and time for somebody who really needs it.

MumblesParty · 31/12/2023 21:35

AlwaysAnxiousAnnie · 31/12/2023 21:22

Really. I wanted to he advice and see if anyone had similar experiences. Not attention seeking at all.

Show quote history

Quite a few people have said they’ve had similar, and that beta blockers have resolved it. But after seeking out these people, you’re dismissing their advice.

Original poster
AlwaysAnxiousAnnie · 31/12/2023 21:35

Nttttt · 31/12/2023 21:33

Hun honestly - like I said in my previous post don’t feed the beast. Some of the comments on here are really unhelpful (giving you issues it could be/berating you for wasting nhs time.) OCD/anxiety needs you to feed it, the only way out naturally is sitting with uncertainty. I used to do this all the time when I was worried and I’d read up on young people having strokes etc and convince myself it could be me.

Please try the medication, honestly I was petrified but it changed my life. As another pp said try half then the other half. Diazepam is honestly one of the safest medications you can take (when used properly!) My hubby told me his uni pals would take it like they were sweets to relax at parties and had no issues. I literally was sobbing and shaking as I took it I think I actually did half then after 30 mins had the other half.

Thank you much..I know what you are saying about feeding the beast and I've been told so many times.in therapy this but it's something I find so hard to control. Not seek reassurance and you know when you feel like you just KNOW something is wrong. Its how I feel.

OP posts:
MumblesParty · 31/12/2023 21:37

MeMyself00 · 31/12/2023 21:32

So she can get proper advice from a medical professional?

@MeMyself00 but she’s already seen a cardiologist. Do you think the call handlers at 111 know more than a consultant cardiologist?

SamPoodle123 · 31/12/2023 21:38

Have you looked at diet? Potential food allergy or sensitivity? What did you eat for dinner? Is there a pattern ? For example you said you were fine and out of no where after dinner you felt bad....could it be something you ate that you are sensitive to?

widowtwankywashroom · 31/12/2023 21:39

@MeMyself00 you do realise it's call handlers following an algorithm at 111
It is not staffed by medical professionals

steff13 · 31/12/2023 21:39

AlwaysAnxiousAnnie · 31/12/2023 21:35

Thank you much..I know what you are saying about feeding the beast and I've been told so many times.in therapy this but it's something I find so hard to control. Not seek reassurance and you know when you feel like you just KNOW something is wrong. Its how I feel.

Show quote history

Because you don't know something is wrong because anxiety lies.

Original poster
AlwaysAnxiousAnnie · 31/12/2023 21:40

I am not dismissing anyone's advice at all. I KNOW that I need to take the medication and that I would more than likely feel much better. I KNOW that. Deep down I really do. But the distress and panic or causes me with the uncertainty and the very very tiny chance that I could get a bad side effect and ultimately he life threatening absolutely kills me. Just sitting here thinking about taking it is making me anxious. I have other conditions (actually diagnosed but not related) chronic pain. And I do not even take pain medication. I spend my life In pain because my stupid useless brain will not allow me to take even some ibruprofen or paracetamol etc. the only tablets I taken is iron supplement and even with that it scares th hell out nof me.but it's something ive been very slowly working on.

OP posts:
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