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Anxiety Community

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MedHelp Member's Question

Racing heart and burning and shaking

by ccpeterson72, Jan 04, 2007 12:00AM
I am a 32 year old female.  I've dealt with anxiety my ENTIRE life.  I've had it under control for the last 5 years by using paxil and exercise.  

I've also dealt with MANY heart symptoms over the years, such as palpitations, tachycardia, etc.  I've had echo's, ekg's, stress test, etc.  I'm told all is well, although one echo showed mild bowing of mitral valve (was told I do NOT have mitral valve prolapse) and my ekgs are always abnormal showing non specifict ST-T wave changes, but I'm told it's fine.  

Over the last 9 months I have had a new form of what I 'hope' is anxiety.  It really scares me.  

It only happens at night..usually within an hour after falling asleep.  I will wake up with that horrible detached feeling...will just feel weird.  Before long I'll feel this burning sensation through my neck/chest area.  Almost immediately after that my heart will go into overdrive.  I've never counted my pulse during these episodes, but it's FAST. Not long after my heart starts racing, I start shaking. The shaking always starts in my quadricep area (tops of thighs).  My heart will usually slow down within 5-30 mins but the shaking will last for about an hour after.  I also feel extremely weak with the shaking. I got up to get a drink of water one night and felt like my legs were going to collapse under me.  These episodes have gotten shorter, as I try to stay calm through them.

Does anyone else experience this?  I know it sounds like panic, I've just never had it in this form before, so it's scary.

Thanks!
Member Comments (13)

by chicagopsy, Jan 04, 2007 12:00AM
To: cc
The first thing that jumped out at me when reading your post was this question:

Do you have a drink in the evening.  A glass of wine?  (even half a glass)?  



Some (but not all) of the symptoms you described sound like mild hypoglycemia, which is exacerbated by alcohol consumption.   Not anything too serious to worry about but it can cause frightening effects such as overall weakness, feelings of faintness, transient tachycardia, anxiety, hot flashes or an overall feverish feeling.  



Do you ever find yourself slipping into sleep only to wake up in a sudden inexplicable rush and not be able to go back to sleep?



You're 32, that's young for perimenopausal symptoms though it is not so young that it should be ruled out completely.  Your mother's history as far as experience with menopause should be a good indicator of any connection in that area.



c-psy

by ccpeterson72, Jan 04, 2007 12:00AM
No, I do not drink.  I have come to learn that I am sensitive to caffenine (sp?) and sugar and will have more of these types of symptoms if I have not been eating well.  

I have wondered over the last year or so if I am in PRE menopause.  I have developed insomnia right before my period, which I never used to have, and I sometimes wake up sweating!  I've also noticed that most times when I have had the episodes that I discussed in my previous post...it is usually either right before my period or right after my period, so I have wondered if it is hormone related.

Thanks for the suggestions!

by milkmommy, Jan 15, 2007 12:00AM
Sounds like you have mvps-mitral valve prolase syndrome. Not everybody with the syndrome shows pos for the prolapse.



Go here and read the posts



http://www.mvpsupport.com/

by BALIANNE, Jan 22, 2007 12:00AM
HI THERE..... SOMETIMES JUST BEFORE FALLING SLEEP I GET A HORRIBLE FEELING OF DREAD OR LIKE A NIGHTMARE BUT THIS IS JUST AS I FALL TO SLEEP.... I HAVE LEARNED THIS IS SLEEP ANPNEA [EXCUSE MY SPELLING]. SO TAKE SOME DEEP BREATHS AND GET MORE OXYGEN AND CHECK OUT IF YOU HAVE THE SAME THING AS I. IT FEEL SO SCARRY BUT WHEN YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS IT MAKES IT A WHOLE LOT EASIER TO DEAL WITH. I GOT IT AFTER I GAINED WEIGHT.  I GET THE RACING HEART TOO, NOT FUN, BUT WITH ME IT SEEMS TO BE STRESS TOO.  I AM A STRESS BUNNY A WELL. WHEN I AM SCARRED, LIKE WHEN I GET THE RACING HEART OR ANYTHING THAT I FEAR I START TO SHAKE AND IT WILL TAKE A WHILE FOR THAT TO CALM DOWN EVEN IF THE RACING HAS STOPPED.

SOUNDS LIKE YOU MIGHT BE A PEA IN THE SAME POD AS ME?

TAKE CARE, RELAX AND TRY NOT TO FOCUSS ON THESE THINGS, JUST DEAL WITH THEM AS BEST YOU CAN WHEN THEY COME UP.

I TAKE BACK FLOWER REMEDIES FOR MY EMOTIONAL STATE TOO, THEY HELP.

ANNIE

by JAGERSMOM, Jan 23, 2007 12:00AM
HI,  SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE MANY OF THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS I DO! I CAME TO THIS SITE BASICALLY BECAUSE OF EXTREME TACHYCARDIA WHICH MY DOC SAYS IS ANXIETY. HOWEVER, THE LAST 3 MONTHS THE TACH HAS COME AT THE SAME TIME OF THE MONTH SO I AM BEGINNING TO WONDER IF IT IS HORMONAL AS WELL.  MY SUGGESTION TO YOU IS THAT YOU RUN YOUR HANDS UNDER COLD WATER OR TAKE A COLD SHOWER TO GET THE TACH UNDER CONTROL. IT REALLY HELPS.  I AM NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE BURNING AND SHAKING, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE A REACTION TO ADRENALINE.  SGJ

by stra2d, Feb 02, 2007 12:00AM
Ugh!

It's called a "non-specific" panic attack that comes on for no reason. Once it happens the brain and body look for it to happen again.It's like sleeping when you have to make a flight the next day... you really don't sleep that sound and wake up a few times checking the clock.

The same thing has been happening to me. I wake up at different times after falling asleep and feel strange. Sometimes with an upset stomach and then my heart starts racing and I usually jump out of bed and think I'm going to faint or something.

good news... Music and sound CD's have been helping. I play the ocean or summer sounds with music and it helps the subconcious mind stay calm. You should also eat a light snack before going to bed like cereal...

Good luck and don't worry.

by bentpcat, Feb 06, 2007 12:00AM
Over the last year I have started to have the same exact symptoms and it most certainly is hypoglycmia. I keep a V8 next to my bed and some peanut butter crackers and whn it starts I do my best to consume what I can and almost within minutes my heart feels better. I found out that I have a sodium/potassium retaining and absorbtion problem so my levels are always on the low sie which can cause the heart to tach out. THe v8 helps and as per my doctor oatmeal a little bit before bed with some almonds or walnuts helps my hypoglycmia during the night and morning. IM a 35 year old male if that helps anyone who may be experiencing the same issues.

I have t wave issue aswell. Its inverted. But the racing heart is such a burden especially at night.

Another bit of advice is to be checked for a sleep disorder because that will trigger the heart too. I went for the sleep study and they found that I was having times where I stopped breathing so they out me on singulair and I have ben breathing better during the night and not waking up with those feelings as often.

It still happens if I dont eat enough or sleep too long.

Good luck.

by Violetroar, Aug 30, 2007 01:22AM
To: ccpeterson72
It makes me feel so much better when I find out that others live with the same feelings I have. My doctor thinks its panic attacks..They first started at night, like right before or after I feel asleep...I would conciously know that I am not breathing and feel too lazy to breath, and then at the last second take a big gulp of air, then jump out of bed freaking out....It then started to be more than that. When I feel it coming on I usually feel my heart start racing...Then I will have numbness in my arms and neck, then I feel like Im having a hard time breathing and I just have to get up from whatever it is Im doing and walk and breath....It really scares the daylights out of me....Everytime it happens Im thinking "Is this one a heart attack"...Really, its very scary. I wish I could get it to stop. A friend taught me triangle breathing which has helped if I do it in time...You breath in for four seconds, hold for four, then breath out for four..I usually do this laying on my back with no other noice...Even If i have to go into the bathroom..Cause when it happens, it doesnt care where your at or what your doing...Good luck and if you find any suggestions, please let me know

by kimber54, Dec 24, 2007 04:32AM
To: all
It is 2:25 a.m. and I've been up with the feelings described on the board above, especially the post by Violetroar and I feel so much better.  I was in the hospital a year ago w/ the above symtpoms thinking I was having a heart attack.  Many EKGs, echos, CT scans, stress test (w/ CT) later--not to mention $$$ out (we are self employed and ins. sucks...) the diagnosis was anxiety.  I went through HeartMath which saved me (paced breathing/attitude shift) but starting a week and a half ago out of the blue I had a massive anxiety attack walking to the store from my car.  Since then, I've had 3 less intense ones, always at night like now.  I've wondered as well is it hormones?  I'm almost 48 and have had some perimenopause symptoms and some irregular periods.  But I also wonder a bit, why no attacks until one year later?  I feel like I'm going a bit crazy....Thanks for helping me not feel alone out in cyberspace :-)