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Original poster

Worrying about heart problem

59 replies

CleoKitten · 10/12/2023 21:15

I have terrible health anxiety. About a year ago I started getting really bad heart palpitations or pounding heart. Sometimes they would last for hours and my heart would constantly beat sooo fast. This is when my anxiety around my heart started. As a rule my health anxiety was always more of a fear of death, blood clots, cancers etc. iv been backwards and forwards for tests. I did get some chest pains as well which I still have from time to time especially when active. I had countless blood tests and ECGs from my many trips to A & E for chest pains. I also had a referral to cardiology and a 24hr heart montirt. They said they found ectopic beats and the occasional flutter and thud. They obviously aren't concerned and said ectopic beats are normal and actually most people have them. I had another episode two weeks ago when I was out where my heart just started pounding and beating so fast. I'm so so worried that I have a heart problem or an undiagnosed heart condition. Cardiology have discharged me and said I have nothing wrong with my heart but my argument is unless that have actually looked like really looked at my heart structure how do they know?? I'm so anxious about my heart I'm constantly checking my pulse, my bp. I have this massive fear that my heart will literally just stop. My docs are sick of seeing me and just give me beta blockers but I feel like this isn't the answer plus the side effects are pretty grim and present otwj challenges because then I worry they will actually affect my heart. I'm not sure what I want from this. Are these unreasonable fears? Am I being unreasonable and just crazy to not b satisfied with the answers they doctors am have given me? You read all thentim about people being robbed off and then actually having deadly conditions. This has been going on for well over a year and frankly it's debilitating the constant fear and worry.

OP posts:
Splcam · 10/12/2023 23:15

Try 300mg of co-Q10 daily for palpitations. I had a bad bout of them last year for a number of weeks and it knocked them on the head almost immediately. Also have health anxiety etc for years so I know what you mean about being worried. I hope you get some respite 🙂

purplehue · 10/12/2023 23:23

I could have written this post.

I'm always worrying about my heart and have had several tests.

Beta blockers do help with anxiety and don't worry about your heart stopping it doesn't. I have a slow heart beat to start with and mine only dropped a few beats a minute. Nothing noticeable. Take them they will help.

RougeFraise · 14/12/2023 14:33

Hi Op.

fellow health anxiety sufferer here. I have also been under cardiology and been to A&E several times due to chest pain.

my monitor also showed ectopic beats but a low burden so they were not concerned. A high burden is actually thousands a day.

strangely reassuring was a doctor said to me that young people don’t get warnings about their heart like older people (basically don’t worry about the chest pain and palpitations), younger people just drop dead out of nowhere. I have no idea why that was comforting, but it was.

RougeFraise · 14/12/2023 14:34

Also try magnesium glycinate supplements. Most people are deficient and it helps with palpitations

RougeFraise · 14/12/2023 14:35

Ferritin of 11 is extremely low. You need to be on supplements. It’ll be causing your symptoms.

Original poster
CleoKitten · 14/12/2023 15:16

RougeFraise · 14/12/2023 14:33

Hi Op.

fellow health anxiety sufferer here. I have also been under cardiology and been to A&E several times due to chest pain.

my monitor also showed ectopic beats but a low burden so they were not concerned. A high burden is actually thousands a day.

strangely reassuring was a doctor said to me that young people don’t get warnings about their heart like older people (basically don’t worry about the chest pain and palpitations), younger people just drop dead out of nowhere. I have no idea why that was comforting, but it was.

That is not comforting to me at all. Its my biggest fear. Just dropping dead.

OP posts:
DrNo007 · 14/12/2023 15:20

Apologies if you’ve already knocked this habit on the head but I get terrible palpitations when I ingest caffeine. It’s not just coffee, but too much tea and chocolate too. I have to police my intake very strictly. It is worth trying if you haven’t yet.

DrNo007 · 14/12/2023 15:21

And I agree about the magnesium, I take 1 gram mag citrate per day.

TomatoSandwiches · 14/12/2023 15:28

Pay for the private echo, no one here can alleviate your anxiety unfortunately.

coloursquare · 14/12/2023 16:33

I don't think a private echo will reassure you. There's a whole scale of "normal" and you'll pick up on any incidental finding. I would go back to your GP.

RougeFraise · 14/12/2023 16:38

It comforted me, because what they were saying was you don’t get warnings like heart palpitations and chest pain. Which means your palpitations and chest pain isn’t a worry for a sudden cardiac event.

Questionsquestionsquestions · 14/12/2023 16:42

I had pounding heart and breathlessness- they found gallstones and removed my gallbladder, which made a difference (I was skeptical as was convinced it was my heart) They also discovered I have a hiatus hernia, and my symptoms are actually acid reflux (but less common symptoms - I don't have any of the 'standard' ones)
I now take PPIs for that, and get no pounding heart ever anymore, unless I forgot the medication or drink caffeine in the eve/eat very late at night.
Not sure if that helps, but I didn't think it could be digestive related, until it all started helping!

Original poster
CleoKitten · 14/12/2023 16:46

Questionsquestionsquestions · 14/12/2023 16:42

I had pounding heart and breathlessness- they found gallstones and removed my gallbladder, which made a difference (I was skeptical as was convinced it was my heart) They also discovered I have a hiatus hernia, and my symptoms are actually acid reflux (but less common symptoms - I don't have any of the 'standard' ones)
I now take PPIs for that, and get no pounding heart ever anymore, unless I forgot the medication or drink caffeine in the eve/eat very late at night.
Not sure if that helps, but I didn't think it could be digestive related, until it all started helping!

I actually do hav gallstones and hav jad them since last August. My GP recommended a watch and wait approach for to having infrequent attacks and only mild pain. I also have diagnosed GERD.

OP posts:
Xx1000xX · 14/12/2023 16:57

RougeFraise · 14/12/2023 14:35

Ferritin of 11 is extremely low. You need to be on supplements. It’ll be causing your symptoms.

Absolutely this OP!!!!!
You should be on a high dose of Ferrous Fumerate
or similar. I had exactly the same. I guarantee this will be the cause of the palpitations (and will help with the anxiety once these stop).

Gettingcolder · 14/12/2023 18:49

I am sorry you are going through this. Have you cut out caffeine and alcohol? Drinking coffee or alcohol always makes my heart race but cutting them out totally has made a huge difference. I think your anxiety is making it worse for you so I would look at ways you can reduce it. As someone mentioned up thread, exercise is good for combatting anxiety but it is also excellent for heart health.

SaladSeeker · 19/12/2023 11:26

@CleoKitten any update OP? Im also very worried about my heart palpitations 😭

Original poster
CleoKitten · 19/12/2023 11:28

No update..my palpitations haven't been so bad but I'm still worried sick.y GPs all maintain there is nothing wrong with my heart, despite also have shortness of breath. They are still saying it's anxiety.

OP posts:
SaladSeeker · 19/12/2023 11:43

So frustrating. I just want them to stop!

notthesamename · 19/12/2023 12:04

Low ferritin causes mine. I have regular iron infusions.

Original poster
CleoKitten · 19/12/2023 12:15

notthesamename · 19/12/2023 12:04

Low ferritin causes mine. I have regular iron infusions.

My ferratin is 20 and iron normal. Apparently that's fine.

OP posts:
wineandsunshine · 19/12/2023 12:25

I could have written your post too. I've had exactly the same since I was 18.

I'm now 41 and haven't dropped dead. I've had V low iron, daily palpitations, SVT and anxiety.

It's controlled with bisoprolol BUT I do have breakthrough symptoms and now recognise my triggers. These include, stress (I'm a teacher!), caffeine, tiredness and hormones.

Go back and ask for further tests - cardiology can offer echo and VIO monitoring which will reassure you to some extent. Unfortunately, it's how you manage these conditions which is more of a mindset.

Mandarina4 · 19/12/2023 13:06

I got ectopic beats and supraventricular tachycardia when I was your age. They did all sorts of tests and everything was fine. Two years ago the problem came back but much worse. I went to the cardiologist, he barely checked me. He did an ultrasound and said it was nothing to worry about. I didn't even get a Holter. I tell myself they know better than me and I should trust them but like you, I suffer from health anxiety so it's a daily battle.

Anyway, it's been two years of constant (I mean 24 hours a day) ectopic beats and occasional tachycardia and I'm still here. Every other heart beat I have is an ectopic, sometimes they come in groups (up to 15!). I tried quitting coffee (no difference), I walk regularly, eat healthy, have a healthy weight, etc... but they don't go away. I just want to say that it can't get worse than the amount of ectopics I have, I don't know anybody with ectopics in a row or in groups and I'm still alive, so you will be OK :) But if you need reassurance, maybe ask for an ultrasound or try another doctor, just to feel more calmed.

Hang in there!

RougeFraise · 19/12/2023 13:08

Ferritin at 20 is borderline. 15 is deficient, 45 sufficient. You need to be on iron supplements.

Mandarina4 · 19/12/2023 13:09

Mandarina4 · 19/12/2023 13:06

I got ectopic beats and supraventricular tachycardia when I was your age. They did all sorts of tests and everything was fine. Two years ago the problem came back but much worse. I went to the cardiologist, he barely checked me. He did an ultrasound and said it was nothing to worry about. I didn't even get a Holter. I tell myself they know better than me and I should trust them but like you, I suffer from health anxiety so it's a daily battle.

Anyway, it's been two years of constant (I mean 24 hours a day) ectopic beats and occasional tachycardia and I'm still here. Every other heart beat I have is an ectopic, sometimes they come in groups (up to 15!). I tried quitting coffee (no difference), I walk regularly, eat healthy, have a healthy weight, etc... but they don't go away. I just want to say that it can't get worse than the amount of ectopics I have, I don't know anybody with ectopics in a row or in groups and I'm still alive, so you will be OK :) But if you need reassurance, maybe ask for an ultrasound or try another doctor, just to feel more calmed.

Hang in there!

I want to add that I tried betablockers but they didn't help me at all. I have very low blood pressure and I felt really sick because of them.

I noticed that when I'm extremely focused on a task at work, they disappear so I believe they're strongly connected to our brains and emotions. And hormones too!

VeganNugsNotDrugs · 19/12/2023 13:21

Yes. When the cardiologist wrote the discharge letter he said it's anxiety and depressive disorder, GERD and gallstones. GERD and gallstones for the chest pains I agree could be but not for the palpitations, racing heart etc

But anxiety causes palpitations and a rapid heart rate?