Feeling down and heart racing

[AntAndDecFan]

Im feeling really down at the minute, its been creeping up for months but I keep brushing it off thinking ill snap out of it or I can cheer myself up. I have a constant panicky feeling in the bottom of my stomach even though I know there is nothing wrong, some days it doesnt bother me that much other days it is unbearable.

Ive also started to feel my heart racing, I notice it most when im sat quietly or in bed. It feels like my heart misses a beat and then does a massive thump to make up for it, it takes my breath away sometimes. Other times I can just feel my heart racing which makes me feel more panicky.

Ive been putting off going to doctors, I keep logging on the online system then making excuses why I cant go the next day, or telling myself that I dont really need to go and that I will start to feel better.

Ive made the decision to go tomorrow, im going to stay up until midnight so I book an appointment online. I felt a bit weight off my shoulders and felt better by just deciding I was going to do something about it but now I feel nervous which is making me feel rubbish again.

Writing this has helped I think to get it all down. Can anyone let me know what to expect, what sort of questions the doctor might ask? Thank you.

It's sounds like anxiety is causing the palpitations, common symptom but they are unpleasant and of course they make you concerned.
Most GP practices can do do an ECG, I would ask for one to be done.

Thank you NK, I thought they would be connected. I will ask about an ECG.

Don't know what age you are but those symptoms could fit peri menopause very well too. The scary palpitations had me at the docs on an ECG but it was all part of the joy!

Thanks Bunny they are awful arent they! Im in my thirties so probably too early for that, I have always had awful periods though.

Im at doctors at 12pm, getting really nervous now.

I'd ask for a ferritin/iron test as this is a common culprit for what you describe.

There is no missed beat: it's just an extra one and feels like a pause. The next beat will feel more forceful as the heart has more blood to pump out since it didn't fully empty before the extra beat struck. It's likely a PVC and is a variation of normal (I have a few hundred a day according to a monitor, but I only notice a small number - all normal).

Racing is classic anxiety, but I'd still rule out an underlying cause (low iron = less oxygen = heart has to work harder).

Thank you, the docotor was really nice. He took my pulse which was 140 bpm at first but slowed to 120. Spoke about the anxious feeling and racing heart, he said my pulse felt fast but regular.

Hes booked me in for blood tests and ecg and put me on beta blockers for now with a follow up to see him in two weeks. I feel better for going.

So glad you went, what betablocker did he put you on?

Thanks NK, hes put me on propanolol 40mg three times a day. Hopefully they will do the trick .

Im nearly two weeks in on the beta blockers, definitely feeling better on the palpitations front not felt hardly any since I have been on them. The ecg came back fine too which is reassuring.

Im still feeling low though, I have an follow up appointment with my GP on Friday so I will talk to him then. One of my blood tests has came back with something too, the receptionist could only tell me it was from the full blood count test so I will have to wait until Friday. Any ideas what it could be? Im thinking it may be my iron levels.

Firstly, sending my love to you❤️ I know is an awful feeling, I was on the same boat last year and turned out to be anxiety brought up by stress, I did never realised I was ao stressed!
My first go did not pick up the reason after egc, blood tests, etc my iron levels were low but that was not enough cause for my symptoms.
I ended up seeing a different gp that gave me beta blockers but told me, this will help with physical symptoms but you need to do CBT theraph to properly get better, I used the self referral NHS for mental health and got some sessions and after that I was also given some counselling, I can honestly say it changed my life.
So, you are doing the right thunk and taking the first step, just remember not to get down if gp does not immediately recognise what it could be.
❤️❤️

Thank you Carminia, im glad you are feeling better now . The doctor did mention cbt so its definitely something I will look into. I will see how my appointment goes on Friday and go from there I think.