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1318351 tn?1313381421

So confused please help me:(

I really am in desperate need of some advice or help. Please forgive me if this turns out long. My name is Tanya and I am 28 years old. I have had my share of anxiety and panic attacks since I was 22 years old and it all started with taking diet medication that was supposed to be safe. Well it triggered an SVT event that cause me MANY panic attacks as time went on. The only other time I ever felt anything funny with my heart was when I was prego with my 2nd chile I had one feeling that I later found out was a PVC. I had it hard for a few years having fast heart rates, anxiety panic attacks and a few PVCS every now and again. Eventually I just learned to deal and things got better for me until May of this year. I have been through so much in these past few months and its getting harder to keep control because I feel alone and very afraid, I mean my husband who knows me well is now saying what some of the doctors have said THAT ITS ALL IN MY HEAD and it hurts me so to hear that coming from him. Anyway in May I started having chest pains and while trying to deal with that I had one day of several PVCS a minute for 14 hours straight, hello I thought I was dying!!!! This is the very first time that I have ever had them like this so right away I am thinking something is wrong... I had all the test for the chest pains and PVCS, echo, stress test, event monitor I even had a cardiac cath at the age of 28 which was by the way negative. I had this because they could not find a reason for my pain and wanted to be 100 percent sure since I have a strong family history of sudden death on my fathers side, both he and his father died at the age 50 suddenly and because I never met him I have no answers other then he suffered fainting spells his whole life. OK so then I had mega chest pains in JUNE and thought I was dying come to find out my gallbladder needed out and had that done on 07/08 of this year. I had another bad event of PVCS in late July for about 16 hours non stop and then I thought I was ok. On AUGUST 20th I started to get lightheaded to where I am going to pass out, I never have but I feel like I will and this has become a daily thing and no one has been able to figure out why. I have no other symptoms at the time just that feeling and I have to tell you its SCARY. I have been to the brain doc and had an MRI which was OK,  I been to regular doc and had blood work and it was fine. I went to the ENT had my ears checked and then had a sleep study which is all fine. I think I have had almost all the basic testing and all is fine. Now I am having chest pains once again only in a diff place, under my left breast to left, its not real bad but it is concerning and on Thursday had yet another bad day of PVCS for 19 hours. What the heck is wrong with me? I am to the point now that I am afraid of everything, all I keep thinking is that I am going to die. Its on my mind constantly/ I can not even begin to express how it feels. I feel like deep down something is not right and I have this gut feeling that I am going to die. I cant concentrate at work, I dont like to be left alone and my marriage is suffering. I mean I have this one really scary heart problem that has never been caught and I felt it about 4 times in my whole life in the past 3 years, it just starts beating hard fast and irregular for about 10 to 15 seconds, gives some big bangs at the end and then its gone I think its NSVT and this has been on my mind a lot lately to. I just want to know what's wrong with me and have it fixed or at least know so that I am not making myself sick like this. Can anyone else relate? Am i going crazy? Is it all in my head? I mean the PVCS are real I went to the ER and they were caught many times on the monitor. The only thing is 2 doctors mentioned that I have a nsytmias in my eyes a fast beat to the right what does this even mean? Please any advice?? Please I am so lost. I just want my life back,  I want to be happy again. I am tired of problem after problem. What should I do? Thank you so much for taking the time to read this long long problem:)
5 Responses
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1291268 tn?1274810922
Normal serum potassium levels are between 3.5 to 5.0

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperkalemia
Helpful - 0
1348686 tn?1310654243
I am not sure about potassium levels.  It wouldn't surprise me if potassium being off would cause anxiety.

Please let us know what the dr has to say.  Try not to worry.  I know that is easier said that done but yo can do it.   Maybe you will get some answers.

Stay Positive!!!
Helpful - 0
1318351 tn?1313381421
Thank you so much for your great advice, it is so nice to be able to open up like that. By chance would anyone know about potassium levels? My doc called me today left several messages on my home phone that my levels were elevated I think 5.3 and I needed to be re tested. My last test said they were 4.8. So many times they called freaks me out, I wish they would have called the cell number I gave them. I do eat about 2 bananas a day and drink about 2 cups of OJ. I do this because in the past my levels were a little low and because of the PVCS they said it was good to add some extra through food. Is the levels supposed to be that high with just foods? The only medication I am on now is a pain medication for a chronic pain condition I have, its Oxycodone can that interact? I don't know but want of that med anyway.
Helpful - 0
1291268 tn?1274810922
I agree with Jul04 above.  
Your symptoms sound like typical anxiety disorder.  It is so common to have symptoms like yours for those of us who have this disorder. In some sense, this disorder is 'in your head'.
The brain is a major component of your nervous system, so when it or another part of this system goes awry, any part of our body can be effected   Like being continually tortured our thoughts become effected understandably as anyone would who's chronically ill.  
You've had many tests and I assume all your hormone levels, throid, and blood sugar levels are all ok too.  
Like Jul suggested, go see a psychiatrist.  They know anxiety disorder and all it's aspects.
They may recommend medication and/or counseling. There are successful treatments for this and you do not have to suffer the way you are.  Many people feel stigmatized having to see a shrink, like somehow they brought this on themselves by thinking a certain way.  Don't buy into any of that.  This is a biological disorder.  Can our thoughts make it worse?  Of course our thoughts can make ANY condition worse. BUT keep in mind our thoughts themselves are a biological process controlled by the biochemicals of our nervous system.
Thus when they are 'out of wack', controlling our thoughts may become impossible.
Once you get some relief, most, if not all, of your health concerns will subside and you will enjoy life again.  
Let us know if we can help you in any way.
Helpful - 0
1348686 tn?1310654243
Sorry you are going through a hard time right now.  I know how frustrating it can be to have all these horrible things going on with you and to not have any medical answers for them.   Please know you are not alone.

Having said that it is good that your tests are negative.  Have you had a 24 hour heart monitor?  If not you might want to talk to your dr about having one.  I don't know that you would really need it but if it might help put your mind at ease it might be worth it.

Are you seeing a psychatrist?  I think seeing one would be good for you.  They can help teach you coping skills and figure out a treatment plan for you.  Sometimes it is just nice to have someone to talk too.  

You can also try keeping a journal.  Posting here is great too because everyone on this forum has been there in one way or another.

Good luck.  I hope you feel better soon.
Helpful - 0
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