Anxiety symptoms changed???

[dying everyday]

I have had anxiety for 7 years now.  At first I only had the pounding heart with cold hands and feet that would culminate in the full blown panic attack.  My heart would pound after heavy meals. Whenever I would stand up I would get lightheaded and my legs would burn and feel like they were going out from under me.  My legs also turn purple with white spots.  It's like my body is in a constant state of anxiety and I panic sporadically.  When I had my daughter about four years ago my anxiety and symptoms disappeared for a few months after her birth, but slowly my symptoms returned.  About two years ago I had my first ectopic beat, which scared the s**t out of me, by the way :-), and at first I only had about one a month.  A few months later I was up to one a week, and finally went to a cardio who captured the "extra beats" on an event recorder and told me they were "nothing to worry about".  Yeah, Right!!! Within the last year they have increased to anywhere from 10-50 a day!!!  I noticed that the "errant" beat would begin the pounding "session" and that an extra beat would end the pounding. Whenever I get up after sitting a while my heart rate increases and I'll have an extra beat, and if I stand for a long time I get the extra beat when I sit down.  I get them occasionally when I bend over.  All of this has been accompanied by the dizziness, cold hands and feet, and what I call "mini panic attacks".  With my last pregnancy I had what was either A-fid or tachy., not sure.  But two months ago I gave birth to my son, and it seems my symptoms have changed.  I have only been dizzy maybe 3 times, where I was dizzy constantly before.  I no longer have any of my heart pounding "sessions".  The extra beats remain, but the way they feel has changed.  It's not a powerful thump and roll anymore, more like a "pressure-filled" beat.  I notice a direct link between their occurence and stress, ie. a 3 year old's temper tantrum, an argument with my mom, and any thoughts about my heart (worry about one happening and you'll get what your looking for).  I had been on cloud nine for a few weeks, and relieved that my symptoms had lessened.  But one night while sitting watching TV (a dramatic series) I felt lightheaded suddenly, a pressure in my chest and a pain that traveled up my neck into my jaw and temple.  My first thought was "this is it, I was right all along..." when suddenly my hands and feet turned cold, my pits strated sweating, and that all too familiar cold feeling crept through my chest cavity, and I thought "is it a panic attack, why, I'm not worried about anything, just watching TV, why am I dizzy while I'm sitting down?"  It ended up sending me into full blown obcession about my heart again and a few nights later while cooking dinner I had the same thing happen all over again.  I was taken by ambulance to the ER where they did an ECG, which they said looked fine, 3 chest X-rays, and a chest CT-scan, no blockages.  What worries me is that I was dizzy first, then flushed, then the chest pressure followed by the pain in my neck and jaw.  So FINALLY, here's my questions...
- Has anyone experienced a change in symptoms after childbirth?
- Does anyone have similar symptoms/experiences, esp. w/the ectopic beats??(ie., how often you have them, triggers, dr.'s diagnosis...)

My father passed unexpectedly at 50 from an electrical disturbance in his heart, and I have read all about sick sinus and heart block.  I know TOO much for someone with anxiety!!!  I no longer have insurance and am dependant on the ER to save my life if indeed I am in danger.  The local free clinic can't see me until mid June, and my first "appointment" is to see if I even qualify to be seen there.  Any reassurance would be greatly appreciated.  Sorry this is so long.  And by the way, I love this forum and take comfort knowing I'm not the only one out there who's "dying everyday"  :-)  Thanks to all who read the whole thing...

[spade22]

"Has anyone experienced a change in symptoms after childbirth?"

I can not answer this question directly as I have not had children (yet) but I can tell you my anxiety symptoms have changed very dramatically over the past 20 years.  I think this is the nature of the beast.



- Does anyone have similar symptoms/experiences, esp. w/the ectopic beats??(ie., how often you have them, triggers, dr.'s diagnosis...)


Yes - I too get the extra beat which is then followed by a pause and then a sudden "woosh".  My doctor told me the kind of palpitation I experience (she diagnosed me by feeling my paulse and my description) is very common (especially among women) and nothing to worry about but to seek medical attention if the palps. suddenly become erratic and are accompanied by shortness of breath etc (the heart may need to be "shocked" back into the normal rhythm).  My triggers have included: stress, exercise, caffeine, too much sugar, bending over, standing up too quickly, picking up something off the floor to simply lying on the couch!  Apparently, it is very common to feel these types of palpatations when at rest.

I hope this helps.

[torque]

I am sorry I cant help more, but I think with all of the tests they did- if it was something major, they would have found it. Keep the appt with the free clinic for june. I think with my anxiety-as soon as I feel something different- any changes whatsoever- my body starts to go into shut down. I get dizzy, I start to sweat, ny neck and shoulders tighten up, my chest will sometimes get tight, I think I am dying. I try and calm myself down and ignore it, and it usually passes.

I have not had children, but I am sure your hormones are pretty messed up after that. I would be worried if I was in your shoes- even though I dont think it is too major. We (people with anxiety) always assume the worse and work ourselves up so much. we search the web for answers and find all of these horrible things we could have. I have accepted my diagnosis of anxiety and am now trying to beat it. I have had 4 good days in a row and am so happy. I just tell myself before bed and the next morning- I am going to have a good day, and will not let anxiety run my life. So far, this is kind of working.

Anyway, I hope everything goes well for you. Please keep the appt and talk with them. If anything, it will be for your piece of mind. Keep us posted!!!

[be still my beating heart 13]

Well I forgot my password and decided to change my nickname to something a little more positive :-)  !!!!  Thank you both for responding!  

To spade22, being that you've battled this for so long, I take comfort in the fact that what I'm experiencing is probably harmless.  I have adjusted my diet according to the recommendations I've found on the web about what triggers extra beats but it was a long process.  I have eliminated all MSG's, and sugars (both instant triggers), and I haven't consumed any caffine (no soda, tea, coffee, or chocolate) for over a year.  In fact I drink nothing but water because a 4 oz glass of pure fruit juice will cause me to have them.  I've eliminated everything that has a stimulating effect on the nervous system except for cigarettes. Shame, shame... :-)  Eliminating stress is though with a breastfeeding new born and a three year old stuck in her terrible two's, but I'm trying!  :-)

To Maggie, I have been "dying everyday" from this disease or that disorder, and thought I had it beat for a while.  But you're probably right about the hormones.  I've read that a womans estrogen is at it's lowest point in her reproductive life following child birth, and that women going through menopause experience heart rhythm irregularities BECAUSE of their low estrogen levels, so it makes sense.  I will keep that appointment, and pursue this issue until they tell me I am in no danger...again! :-)  Congrats on relief of symptoms!!!  I hope your days continue to be "bright & sunny" and not "overcast" like so many of us have grown accustomed to.  In fact I envy you for it and am looking forward to seeing the sun myself!!!

Thanks again to you both, and please remember that "dying everyday" is now "be still my beating heart 13"!!  I will keep you posted!

[be still my beating heart 13]

I am SOOOO SORRY that I got your nickname wrong!  Before I posted I had just read Maggie's post and I got her name stuck in my head because of her situation.  Sorry to both of you for the mistake.  my response to Maggie was for you, torque, and if you're reading this Maggie, I hope your situation turns out OK.

[MOTAH]

I can relate to some of your symptoms, when you said that heart beat follows the rest of the symptoms not the other way around.

SOMEHOW, after I know more about anxiety, I get less of these attacks & once I get them & since I know exactly how they come & how they will affect me....I don't get bothered by them anymore & they seem to go away in less than a minute & they become less frequent!

I too am comfused about triggers to my anxiety attacks, again, I would recommend you do a lot of research about anxiety to try to find out what triggers your attacks. For me, for example, I get to have my attacks when I see say a medical movie or series on TV with patients dying of cancers, etc... somehow I immediatly get upset & start remembering my sickness & slowly I get sweating, abdominal pains, heartbeat, etc.... or what's even funnier, I even get the same symptoms shown on the movie!! :)

Adrenaline is responsible for all these symptoms & our brain releases adrenaline when we feel scared, so obviously I have a fear of dying or getting a killer disease that's why my anxiety attacks will be triggered by ANYTHING that could make me meet my phobia, it could be an internet medical search, a conversation with a friend about a relative who got sick, anything that relates to my phobia triggers my anxiety attack...you need to know what triggers your attacks & even treat it through CBT or medications or both, your dr should refer you to a psych. & tell you the right way.

Try to get more info on how anxiety attacks are triggered & what happens when you get them, if you get that info, you won't be shocked next time you get them & gradually they should be lower in effect & time & hopefully disappear if you don't get scared of them when they come anymore.

If you done all heart checks, there's no point thinking about the same issue over & over again, you have to get your mind to understand that it's anxiety that does that to you & NOT your heart.

cheers,

[Pum]

Yes I did get a change in symptoms after childbirth. I didn't have any heart sypmtoms until I was pregnant but ever since have had skipped beats, all sorts of thumps and crazy beats, super fast racing heart etc. I read that the heart expands with all that extra blood then can be more susceptible to irregular impulses afterwards.

Also, your hormones will be settling down plus a lot of women have over or under (can't remember) thyroid after childbirth and that can affect the heart rate etc. Plus I found breast feeding affected my eating and blood sugar a lot so you need to eat regularly as low blood sugar can cause palpitations.

If they've checked you out, try to relax and enjoy life. Palpitations are rarely serious I understand.

Good luck.

[be still my beating heart 13]

Thank you both for your encourangement and comforting words!!  It's nice to be able to contact people who really understand what it's like to live like this.  My family and friends are all super supportive, and sympathetic, but reading the posts and communicating with the people on this forum has done more for me than any conversation I've had with them about my "condition".  You guys really do understand how difficult it is to travel the road I've been on, and I greatly appreciate your taking the time to share your advice with me.