Anxiety or heart defect?

I have been experiencing weakness and tremors in my body, and thumping heart that I can feelbeating in my head a lot and have been to doctor several times, been to my primary care, neurologist and internist  all have diagnosed me with anxiety and panic attacks, they have run numerous tests and scans, so I wanted to go to a cardiologist andmake sure my heart was okay, cardio did EKG and rest echocardiogram, said both were perfect, then did 48 hour monitor with results of one very short spell of atrial fibrillation,  said they were not overly concerned at all but may do a 30 day heart monitor to see if it does it again or more frequently,  can anyone relate? I know I feel anxious at times due to the feeling in my body that I am weak and shaky all the time. Just wondered why they are doing more testing if my EKG and echo were perfect. Thanks, C.Lynne

[Rosemary349]

I can relate to your feelings.  I am currently very anxious and experience feelings of weakness and faintness (with weak and rapid pulse) but i lost my father 5 weeks ago to a massive heart attack.

I have just had a stress test that came back ok and had a 24 hour monitor on which i haven't really been told a lot about - i think because anything that's on it the doctor thinks will make me anxious.  He said 99.95% of the time your heart is ok and that is a really good sign.  He also said there were no signs of 'bundles' whatever they are.

Today i rang my surgery and the receptionists are behaving as if i am over anxious.  For God's sake i witnessed my father's death recently (and he wasn't ill before it happened and wasn't overweight, didn't eat fatty foods, etc).  I said i want to be referred to a cardiologist for tests.  My dad was only 64, his mother died suddenly of a heart attack and so did her sister (although both were in their 80's).  I just want further tests.

I don't wish to scare you, I'm really trying to let you know you are not alone in your fears.  I actually think that it's great news your results came back good and the small bit of atrial fibrillation they probably want to just rule out that there's anything to be concerned about.  

I know how hard it is with panic attacks.  I really think that they are underestimated.  They are usually treated by people who have never actually experienced them for themselves (although some will have) and think they know what they are talking about!  The real difficulty with panic attacks related to heart worries is that you can get all the symptoms that would suggest a heart attack.  The other night i felt as though i was being strangled, had pins and needles in my arm and my heart was racing....the more i wondered whether to call an ambulance the faster my heart got until it was racing so much and having ectopics all the time.  Now they say you shouldn't hesitate, but the problem with panic is that this happens a lot, you'd be calling the ambulance all the time - so these people that underestimate panic, they really don't know how awful it is.

Good luck in seeking some peace of mind.  I will do what i can also, and maybe i can share anything i've learned with you.