In the clear?

[Jon10]

Hi, Im a 21 year old male from London, and recently (past four months) i have been having worries with my heart I.E Palpitaions, heart flutters, occasional chest pain etc. I went to my GP and he refered my to a specialist. I underwent a examintation by the doctor and wore a Holter moniter for a week. The results were normal and i was told my heart was in sinus rhythm and there was no reason for me to see anyone else. Does this mean that my heart is healthy? Or could it be possible that the Holter moniter could miss certain diseases? My main worry is sudden cardiac death. P,S i suffer from Hypochindria and have G.A.D (Anxiety dissoreder)

Thanks for any replys in advance.

[Jon10]

Well thank  you Surfgirl, i`m not sure how to take that? I din`t come on here to be insulted.:-(

[fearfactor]

Hey, don't be offended...I get that ALL the time.  It seems lots, if not most, people don't understand what it's like to suffer anxiety and health worries.  They can't know the terror palpitations bring to us.  I have the same fears as you and the same symptoms as you, and the same diagnosis as you (you're normal, go and live life - yeah right!).  Don't let people who can't understand get you down.

[canihelp]

Read under some of the other headings and I think you may find alot of the answers to your questions.  What you feel is a true feeling, and I know exactly how you feel, but if they've caught your problem on Holter & said it's ok, it really is probably ok.  It just feels awful.  The more you fear, the worse it gets. There are lots of great comments under some of the topics below this one.  check them out.  Hang in there!  You'll be ok!

[SillyHeart]

Being told to see a psychiatrist isn't an insult.  It's something you should genuinely consider.  You said that your anxiety disorder is causing great suffering and that you're having trouble believing that nothing is wrong with you.  That's something that a psychiatrist can help you with.

I, for one, spent many years of my life completely paralyzed by my heart phobias.  So, while fearfactor believes that those of us who recommend psychiatrists just don't understand the fear that heart symptoms bring, I do.  I also understand how much destruction that anxiety can wreak in your life.  And a psychiatrist can help with that, as it did for me.  While I still hate my heart symptoms, treating the anxiety has helped me learn to move on with life despite them.

[bip]

I was just like you and I don't think surfgirl was insulting you I think she was telling you to get help so you would feel better. Everybody tells me the same thing even the cardiologist told me nothing was wrong with my heart get some help. I agree with surfgil you should do that. You'll be fine I go on the anxiety forum for and that helps me out to.

[fearfactor]

I really didn't mean to sound down on anyone...I was just trying to make him feel like he's not alone.  I have been called "crazy" by my own family for my hypochondriasis.   And I HAVE been to a psychiatrist, therapists, etc....many of them.  All they really have offered is some stupid pill that they admit can make you get fat and/or aggravate your anxiety and heart problems.  It just seems like there are no answers sometimes.  I would rather have just about any other kind of illness or problem besides heart palpitations and that includes cancer, and yes, I really do mean that.  I am sorry if I offended anyone, I'm just having a bad day today.

[Jon10]

I knw what you mean Fearfactor, atleast with something like cancer you know where you stand and you know what you have to do to get better. WIth health Anxiety you just don`t know how to get better. I have my bad days too. The worst thing about it is trying to work out how you got this is the first place, i mean it must have started from somewhere. For me personally, it started on November 16 2006 when i had a black out at my desk at work. I was very hungover, had hardly any sleep, and all of a sudden i pressed against the side of my head(temple) to rest my head on my hand then i passed out. It seemed to come from the side of my head, it was so strange, it was like i knocked myself out with my finger. Ever since that day i have been so anxious about my health. It started of with my brain, now its my heart. People close to me say "C`mon, think about it logically, first it was your brain now its your heart,

[Jon10]

I knw what you mean Fearfactor, atleast with something like cancer you know where you stand and you know what you have to do to get better. WIth health Anxiety you just don`t know how to get better. I have my bad days too. The worst thing about it is trying to work out how you got this is the first place, i mean it must have started from somewhere. For me personally, it started on November 16 2006 when i had a black out at my desk at work. I was very hungover, had hardly any sleep, and all of a sudden i pressed against the side of my head(temple) to rest my head on my hand then i passed out. It seemed to come from the side of my head, it was so strange, it was like i knocked myself out with my finger. Ever since that day i have been so anxious about my health. It started of with my brain, now its my heart. People close to me say "C`mon, think about it logically, first it was your brain now its your heart,

[Jon10]

I knw what you mean Fearfactor, atleast with something like cancer you know where you stand and you know what you have to do to get better. WIth health Anxiety you just don`t know how to get better. I have my bad days too. The worst thing about it is trying to work out how you got this is the first place, i mean it must have started from somewhere. For me personally, it started on November 16 2006 when i had a black out at my desk at work. I was very hungover, had hardly any sleep, and all of a sudden i pressed against the side of my head(temple) to rest my head on my hand then i passed out. It seemed to come from the side of my head, it was so strange, it was like i knocked myself out with my finger. Ever since that day i have been so anxious about my health. It started of with my brain, now its my heart. People close to me say "C`mon, think about it logically, first it was your brain now its your heart,

[Jon10]

I knw what you mean Fearfactor, atleast with something like cancer you know where you stand and you know what you have to do to get better. WIth health Anxiety you just don`t know how to get better. I have my bad days too. The worst thing about it is trying to work out how you got this is the first place, i mean it must have started from somewhere. For me personally, it started on November 16 2006 when i had a black out at my desk at work. I was very hungover, had hardly any sleep, and all of a sudden i pressed against the side of my head(temple) to rest my head on my hand then i passed out. It seemed to come from the side of my head, it was so strange, it was like i knocked myself out with my finger. Ever since that day i have been so anxious about my health. It started of with my brain, now its my heart. People close to me say "C`mon, think about it logically, first it was your brain now its your heart,

[Jon10]

I`m sorry i don`t know why that posted three times. Sorry about that

[fearfactor]

Nope, don't smoke, never have.  In fact, I live a healthy, clean life.  I drink decaf coffee, don't enjoy a glass of wine like I used to, don't do anything really.  I don't even take a pill for a headache anymore!  I eat well, exercise, have a normal weight, etc.  There is no reason why I have PVCs, none at all!

Maybe I shouldn't have said that about cancer and my apologies to anyone who has had cancer or a family member who has.  I have had family members die from it and it wasn't a pretty sight.  I have just gotten back from my doctor, and I am upset and frustrated.  We have relatives over from Germany, people who I never see and probably won't see again for years, and I can't even enjoy them because my heart has decided to do flip-flops, speed up and down, jump around in my chest, etc. this week.  My well-meaning doctor has no idea why.  I have had all the tests and what can she do but medicate me with Xanax, offer Zoloft (which she told me could increase the palps and likely would increase my weight), refill my beta blocker (which helps but not a whole lot and sometimes not at all) and send me on my merry way with a pat on the back.  It's not her fault.  

I guess I only said that about cancer because it seems like when you have a REAL disease, the doctors either 1. know what to do about it or 2. can tell you straight up you will die.  With people with "benign PVCs," they can't tell us why, if or when it could get worse, will we ever be debilitated, will we die for sure from this (it could always degenerate into some crazy rhythm) and most of all, what we can do about it.  It angers me a lot.  I just want to know.  I would rather die in a nice hospital, with pain meds, surrounded by loving family, than to die suddenly driving down the road, shopping at Target, or God forbid, at home alone with my 2 little kids who will be terrified and wonder why mommy can't get up and care for them.  That is just what is on my mind right now.  I am too scared to live and too afraid to die.  I have gone through all kinds of therapies, including an intensive health anxiety therapy at a large and well-known clinic.  It did help, but the effects have worn off the longer it has been since I left there (and I can't go back as we've moved and I no longer have insurance).  I have done it all but lie on the couch and get psycho-analyzed, which may not be a bad idea!  :)

Again, my deepest apologies to anyone I have offended...

[finetilthree]

What happened??? I thought you started taking Mag and that your heart had calmed down??? So sorry you are having a bad spell.  I fear the same things you do, however irrational it may be.  I worry about going to the grocery and to WalMart b/c I wonder stupid things like, where will my kids go if I die here in the store?  Last Friday, I pulled up out front of Wal Mart but started getting palps so I never went in.  Sped my car out of the parking lot and headed home (I live right across the street).  My kids were screaming and crying b/c I told them we were going in and I was gonna get them something.  Usually I don't freak out quite that bad, but I don't know what happened.  Just totally freaked.   Hope you're feeling better soon.

[bip]

I hope eveything goes well for you. You sound like your frustrated. Try to relax and take deep breaths. I know it's easy said than done.  Take one day at a time.

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

i feel yas pain, i just came off a 10 week pac every min6-7. it was no fun, my cardio did a 24 hr holtor showed over 3000 in 24 hours. said its ok you can walk out of this office and never take another pill for them and it wont kill you , but i have to take a bb, if not my heart races and i cant live with the palps am 47 have had them since i was 23 , iam not dead and i get them worse now. but mine are strange mine do not come with stress they just come, anyone elsa like that, i can be really stressed and never get them be really happy and boom ther they are , they also come for weeks at a time not days, than they go away for a year and come again next year for weeks . anyone have that. i might have 3-4 through the year than boom. this time i got stress and anxiety with them because i was under a lot with my moms healt . to much hospital for me. i still have a little stress but not bad, heart palps are pretty much gone felt one yesterday , which i can live with compared to 6-7 a min for weeks. they are very scarey , i never get used to them and everytime they comei run to my dr so , i guess it will be a life time thing for me.i try and keep head up and know they are not going kill me and i do not live with them all the time right now just hope they dont get worse and have everyday as many as a few ive read onhere have them bless them for having to put up with that many. take care and try not stress makes some worse, just not mine.

[Barbarella]

Did you ever suffer from PVC's or anything relating to your heart?  

It can be very frightening because the heart is your major life line.  There are people who believe what their Cardilogists tell them, but still hate these PVC's or whatever is coming from the heart, and there are people who do not trust their doctors/cardiologists at all and need re-assurance from other people who are going through or have been going through the same.  After all doctors do not always take the time to explain everything to their patients or the patients some of them are to intimidated to ask questions until they have all the answers after all lots of doctors stand there with one hand on the door knob and the other reaching out to softly pad you on the back with "see you in 6 months" or whatever.  I don't let that bother me I ask and ask till I have a satisfying answer, but not everybody is like me.  We all are different people. Some people are afraid to ask to many questions and therefore keep on making appointments for re-assurance which in return will go on the doctors nerves who see people every day who have deadly diseases and are dying, and classify the anxious patients as "neurotic nutcases".  I worked for many yrs in a large hospital and I heard at times the remarks doctors made behind patients backs.  

As for the shrinks:  let me tell you most of them have NO clue about fears, phobias, anxiety etc etc, BUT are quick to write a prescription for some kind of pill which is only a band aid and does not get to the root of the problem.

As for keep on looking (don't know if you the one who said that) till you find a good therapist who understands, not everybody has insurance which pays for a therapist, or the 50% the insurance companies don't cover, most of them give you 8 visits and thats it.  Lots of people cannot afford to pay the remaining 50% even if they get an extension past the 8 visits.  At least that is the way with our Insurance, we can afford.

As for "a romp in bed" and for your question "if that too makes your heart go whacko", I don't know about your romp, but my romp will, any peak of excitement will trigger PVC''s in most people.

Unless the shrinks and therapists out there REALLY understand what people are going through its a waste of time.  

If you do have conditions concerning your heart and you are not worried at all more power to you.  You are gifted with having absolutely no fear concerning your heart.  Some people are like that.  My husband for example, he says "if I die I die why should I worry about something that might happen in 20-30 yrs from now, and if I die from sudden death why worry I wont know what hit me".

Everybody is different.  Some people have neurosis, and sometimes the medical proffesionals don't make it any easier, but contributed to their neurosis with not taking the time to explain but leave people hanging.

They are getting paid by us the patients, and our Insurance companies, and suppose to give us a certain amount of time for each office visit, but the shorter they can cut it, and the more patients they can see in that time span the more money it will bring in.

I can only urge everybody put your foot down, ask questions till you have a satisfying answer.  Ask in detail what each test result means.  Ask what the test is for.  And I don't meant expect to sit there and chat for over an hour asking questions, but call your Insurance company and ask them for how much time with you your doctor is getting paid for.  If they say 45 minutes or one hour then feel free to ask all the questions you need to ask.  If he came in late because of an emergency that is not your problem, your time is precious and important also.  You were there on time waiting on HIM or HER while your clock is ticking if you get paid by the clock, or while others at work are covering for you, or while your babysitter is sitting with your kids longer and therefore you have to pay her more.

And for the folks who do not have Insurance, and go to the clinics they are stilling getting paid, they just write it off as a charity case, but they DO get paid, and they should answer all your questions just as well.

[Barbarella]

You said you have relatives coming over from Germany.  May I ask from where in Germany?  We just got back from there a couple of months ago (visit)

[viennaustria]

Very well said surfgirl !

[Barbarella]

I agree 100% with your last statement.  But again its "some" people.  Others don't trust doctors because of a bad experience, or a false test result due to a lab mix up or a machine malfunction.  Others like you said "love being sick" they want/need the attention, and cannot accept that there is nothing wrong with their heart, but lots of times its also the doctors fault for not spending more time with their patients and the patients fault for being to intimidated to ask questions or are afraid to ask to many questions.

What helped/helps me overcome this heart/bp issues is I always think there is always somebody out there who has it worst than me.  That goes for EVERYTHING, not just for health related issues.  I never in my life felt sorry for myself.  I think of people like my friend who is in heart failure, my mom who died at age 46 of stomach cancer, my other friend who died at age 50 of bone cancer all three of them super brave and strong women who took the bad news and live/lived with it.

I think of the people with REAL heart disease who had heart attacks who are facing bypass surgeries, whose hearts are so weak they can't walk to their mailbox to check their mail.  

I believed what the Cardiologist told me about my heart, and I think about the people who are dying from heart disease these things made me overcome my fear of PVC's, but I still HATE them.

Have you ever sat on the expressway where traffic was at a standstill for miles and your heart started skipping beats every other beat, anxiety kicking in big time, asking yourself "what now" shall I call 9/11, will the ambulance be able to get through this standstill of traffic, what about my car, just leave it there?"  Will my husband get through this stopped up traffic with his car to be with me? .  Then I remember what the Cardiologist tol me YOU'VE A HEALTHY HEART IGNORE THE PVC'S, and I eventually will calm down.  But let me tell you its no picnic being stuck in traffic or on an airplane where you can't get out and you're hit with a string of PVC's with anxiety kicking in.  

I'm not afraid of pain, but when severe pain hits me I am not in love with it and will enjoy every minute of it.

[jim62]

As an avid practicing amateur cardiologist, it seems to me that your problem may be more psychological than cardiac.  Something along the lines of an anxiety disorder.  Have not yet gotten into amateur psychology, so unfortunately, I'm not able to be of much help there.  I understand that there are some meds that do a pretty good job of fixing anxiety problems.......

[canihelp]

Surfgirl, I think you mean well, but honestly, you must not have experienced or be experiencing the PVCs like most of the people who are posting have & are.  I've had them since 28 & I'm almost 51 now, and they've gotten worse over the years.  I'm not neuotic, but I am pathetic in that I haven't found a real cure for them, and neither have any doctors over the 22 + years.  You honestly feel like you are dying when a long run of PVCs hit you.  I've called an ambulance or went to EMR more than once.  I have mine under control a great part of the time now, thanks to MY intense research and understanding over the years, but it still flairs up.

Let's talk about the romp in the bed!! You guessed it!! Many times the PVCs start coming so hard & fast, that the session is interrupted.  Anytime there is a burst of adrenalin there is a real FAT chance PVCs will have a run.  I wake up many times in the middle of night with a bad dream with PVCs, gasping for breath. I've come up with a way that I can enjoy sex without the PVCs (thank GOD!)  Too personal to tell on line, but if anyone out there has a major problem every time you have sex, please respond & give your e-mail address & I'll send you a private e-mail. (clean of course)

I work at a Psychiatric office as bookkeeper & I see the neurotic & pathetic that I just want to shake!!!  But people with PVCs have real "thumper" symptoms that feel life threatning.  And no matter what that doctor tells you, you still know what you fEEL.

Although I'd never wish for cancer, as I had one once that I had to have radiation for (on my face), it was still less traumatic in some ways than "thinking" I might fall dead any moment from a heart attack.  Now that I have more information & get checked out twice a year with a King of Hearts monitor and the doctor confirms they are still benign PVCs, I am not afraid as much, but there are still many things activities in my life that are limited because I never know when they will hit & when they hit, I must get perfectly still & calm and let it float past.  

Your name is Surfgirl, that must mean you surf.  I could not do that activity, as it would make my PVCs go wild.  But if you are able to surf, you are lucky.  I have to build up slowly in whatever I do.  I had to give up Karate because of it, and many other things.  I have found slower sports to enjoy, like walking, and bicycling on level ground, etc...

No one understands how someone with bad PVCs feels unless they have them or have had them - to the point of passing out.  I wish everyone could experience it really bad just once so they could really understand.  But I am cheerful & only came on this site to see if there was any one I could help from what I've found over the years & see if I could learn more.  This may not be a site to be posting on if you are not able to give constructive advise.

[Barbarella]

I have been on Valium, Xanax, Elavil, Paxil, Belergal, all to no evail.  I've been going through this for 30 yrs.

I've been in group therapy, single therapy, exposure therapy (I've severe white coat hypertension), biofeedback, dvdr, deep breathing therapy, yoga all to no evail until I saw an ad about Dr. Claire Weeks's books, she helped me overcome 99% of my anxiety/panic disorder just by reading her books.

The tranquelizers either were not strong enough, when the dosage was increased I could not function and all I wanted to is sleep.  I had a job to go to, and could not afford to feel and be that washd out all the time.

The beta blockers ( I was switched to three different kinds)  made my heart rate drop to 34 bpm and the Cardiologist took me off immediately.  The beta blockers no matter how strong did not keep my BP down once I got to the doctor's office and had my BP taken.

When I was on a beta blocker, my BP at home was 110/70, pulse 34.  When I got to the doctor, I had to see him for a test result I was called in for, I was very worried and worked myself up and my BP DESPITE the beta blocker I was on shut up to 255/130, but my pulse only went up to 54 bpm.  I landed in the ER for the second time.  The first time it was 210/160 and I was on beta blockers.

Before going on a plane I took a tranquelizer which did not help, it kicked in once the plane landed.  I took it in plenty of time before I went on the plane.  The Cardiologist explained to me that my anxiety is so severe and that I release so much adrenaline that my system is fighting against the tranquelizer and beta blockers I took in the past.  Same when I go to the dentist, I don't really get numb unil I leave his office, and he always gives me 2-3 shots because I wont get numb.  I'm not afraid of the dental procedure, but am afraid should the PVC's kick in while I am in that chair, you can only say so many times that you have to go to the bathroom :)

In case you wonder, I was checked for the pheo, had the 24 hour urine test, all the heart tests under the sun, my heart is healthy, and my BP spikes are due to severe anxiety, no physical reason.

Am on BP meds, BP is wonderful, but the Hypertension Specialist I saw told me that even on BP meds your BP still can have spikes.  I was advised by my Cardiologist to take my BP at home, bring in the readings, and I'm fine with that.  Other than that my anxiety is 99% controlled thanks to Dr. Weeks and her books. No pills could help me.  I tried.  Again, everybody is different.  But I still say pills are just a bandaid.  You need to get to the root of the problem.  I had a severe bad experience with doctors and hospitals when I was 3 yrs old when I was hospitalized for one year and almost died.  No shrink or therapist I saw in person and told in details about my experience at age 3 could yet unluck in me to find out exactly why this extreme anxiety/phobia.  I know why and I don't need to pay a shrink for that.

Thanks to Dr. Weeks and her books, I'm cured of my agorophobia, 99% of my panic attacks.  I can go on planes again, drive my car again and live a normal life again.  But hey, there are people out there who have it even worst, who are paralized in wheelchairs or in bed, on breathing machines 24/7, on feeding tubes I take my phobia (white coat hypertension), and my PVC's over this any time.

But thanks for your suggestion.  It helps some people.  My doctor joked with me and said "I was immune to tranquelizers" he said "no worry about me ever getting hooked" and I told him "Hell NO"!

[Barbarella]

Your post reminded me of my grandma.  She had PVC's, I was a young Teenager and did not have them yet and therefore no clue.  When she used to say "I wish my heart would stop skipping so bad" I used to say to her "let it skip, why are you so afraid of it skipping?" and she used to say " I wish you could experience it for 5 minutes you would know exactly what I am talking about".  Oh did I ever find out what she meant by that.

[canihelp]

I have been posting about Dr. Claire Weekes books & cassette for a couple days several times.  She is great!!! She's done this for years & it really does help with the anxiety of it.  I have gone to sleep with her tape in my ears before.  She tells you how to overcome much of it!  

I don't think ANYONE with PVCs WANTS to have them or be Sick.  That's ludicrous!!!  My Grandmother always had them & we all thought she did it for attention when things didn't go her way.  Well, I found out that I'd inherited that gene from her & it is not a bit fun!  Hers quit when she was in her 70's but lived until 93 & died from"old age", not heart problems.

It's also my opinion that no one should be poking fun or thinking that we all have psychological problems just because we have PVCs and are afraid of them and want them gone!!

I even got a diploma in Herbal Medicine, trying to find a cure for it.  I opened a shop and did the whole nine yards.  I know alot of herbs that are good for the heart, but didn't find my cure.  I'm a bookkeeper now in Psychiatric office, but still use my herbal cures in other ways for myself and family/friends.  

Relaxed attitude and fun in your life helps more than anything.  prayer does wonders for me too!

[Barbarella]

I agree with everything you say.  I think I too inherited my grandma's gene.  She had PVC's till the end, her BP sometimes spiked at the doctor's office as high as 280 syst.  back then there was no BP meds like now a days.  She died of old age (83 yrs old) in her sleep.  Not due to a heart attack or stroke.  She had her PVC's for 60 yrs she told me, and her severe BP spikes for 30 yrs.

Speaking of herbal medicine her doctor used to give her Valerian root.


And yes, prayer helps too.  I know for sure!

[ireneo]

Be careful when saying things like "you must not be experiencing PVC's" like some people. I think you'd be surprised what some folks are going through. It just gives them a different perspective. My Dad is dying from heart failure so I feel a bit impatient when people complain about traffic or their cell phone just broke. I don't even like to complain about my own heart issues because I know it could be soooo much worse. Yes, it's fine to listen but it's good to point to the more positive aspects when possible (the doc says this will not kill you). Feeding the negative isn't all that helpful. Listen, empathize but then encourage as much as possible.

[Jon10]

Sh*t, I wish i had never started this thread now. Can`t believe people can fall out in a forum. Am I the only bloke on here by the way?

[canihelp]

No, several blokes (on different thread), but more sheilas! :)  It's usually a man that starts ****!  just teasin.'

[maggiemag]

I won't give my thoughts on anxiety and psych doctors and meds and all because no one here will like it.  But, whenever I read  when someone who is extremely anxious about their PVC's or *palps* has the need to rush home because they are so severe, I wonder why?  Wouldn't you rather be around people who might notice you have arrested and might take action and then you might be saved?  I, who DO happen to have structural heart disease, (and in whom the EP's tried to put an ICD in and failed due to congenital vessel abnormalities,) am always happy to be at the gym when I start throwing triplets or runs of stuff, because they have an ICD at the gym!  I figure what better place could I be in, and then I just continue on with  whatever I was doing.  Why would you rather be at home with 2 small children who can't use the phone when you could be out in public and have a chance at being saved?  Of course you aren't really going into SCD with benign *palps*, but maybe you might feel safer?  Maybe one of you could explain that to me. :-)

[fearfactor]

Yes, that was pretty mean.  I have been thinking about what a horse's a** I was in that post, and I am sorry.  I apologize to you.  However, I thought what you had said many posts up about what I said being "pathetic" and how I just needed a good romp in the sack to be mean as well.  I know you do not care, and I don't ask you to, but some people including myself really ARE debilitated by palpitations.  It is a fact.  I am sorry it has to be this way, and it may indeed be "pathetic."  But there is one thing I can assure you - a romp in the sack will not cure it.  I guess that ticked me off so bad because it sounds just like my husband - discounting my deepest feelings and thinking something as simplistic and base as sexual activity can cure deep wounds and fears.  That is ignorant...  I realize you were being sarcastic, but still.  I do apologize.

To everyone else:  I am a person of my word.  I don't just say "I'm leaving" like so many folks on boards to get sympathy.  I'm really gone...I'm sick of thinking about PACs and PVCs 24/7.  Bye, guys and I really do wish you well.

[fearfactor]

Why don't go go get ****ED and do some of that awesome sex you keep talking about?  You don't know jack s**t about me, girlfriend, or what I have been through and am going through.  I guarantee you I am many, many times the woman you are.

I am leaving this shitty board and will just deal with my damn palps and anxiety my own way from now on.  I don't come here to be insulted.  I thought there were like-minded people on here, not bitchy sex addicts.

[canihelp]

Hey, I take my hat off to you with a positive attitude like you have, knowing how serious your condition is.  I guess you "Feel" it when it does it?  Everytime i have a PVC, I really feel it, like "takes you back!"  But with your positive attitude you may live longer than you think!!  Those good hormones/chemicals that are released when you think positive things do wonders for your body, including your heart.  So you hang in there.  

Everyone is not as confident as you are, so you have to give a little room for that. But you've come to terms with it, and I think that's wonderful.  

Hey, I'll e-mail you on that sex thing that keeps mine from throwing PVCs. :)
Hope your de-fibrillator works if you pass out during sex!!

Again, sorry I misjudged that you must not have PVCs like alot of us, I just couldn't understand the "get over it" attitude.  Now I understand that you've come to terms with it and all the rest seems silly compared to real life and death situation.  

Hey, I gotta get busy on sending you that e-mail!! :) Keep on living life !!

[fearfactor]

Bye, guys!  Thanks for all your help and support through these last three long and hard years.  It seems there are some negative people who want to insult people like me and just encourage us to go have sex instead of dealing with our problems.  So, I will go and deal with my problems elsewhere - probably the BEST thing for me!

Good luck and I hope we are all palp-free someday!  :)

[canihelp]

Hey sweetie, calm down.  Surfgirl was only responding to a comment I made in all sincerity about those with PVCs that interfere with their sex life.  I had said that I would send her a personal e-mail about what I found that keeps ME from having PVCs during sex. ( i didn't want to post it--although it's pretty simple)  That had become a major problem for me. Major!!  

I didn't mean to start anything.  I am a Christian, but us Christians still want to enjoy sex with our husbands/wifes, and the PVCs were keeping me from enjoying my part.  Hope you are able to gather some encouragement and help from some of our postings.  No one agrees all the time.  

[Barbarella]

I can understand people with real heart disease getting frustrated when people are so afraid of their "benign" heart conditions.  But this is a public forum, and it is FREE, and if we don't like it we can take a hike, come back again some other time, or don't come back at all.  After all there are tons of health message boards on the Internet run by Teaching Hospitals, I post on three other boards besides this one.

Picture yourself going to a Therapist for which you "pay" the 50% your Insurance company doesn't cover.  You spill your guts out, you hope he/she will understand your condition, you are already embarrassed and here I was told by this Therapist "you are married for 25 yrs (when I saw that jerk for a Therapist I was married 25 yrs at the time) maybe your marriage is getting stale how about getting yourself an affair I bet your anxiety and white coat hypertension would be all gone in no time".

Second Therapist, a woman, blurted out laughing when I told her about my severe white coat hypertension and she was saying "what is the matter are you afraid the BP cuff wont deflate? I never heard of anything like that" she said, yet the Internet is full with tons of people with the same problem like I have, I had to educate HER.

I saw a Psychiatrist, my last hope.  I was in and out of his office in 3 minutes max.  Want to know what he said???  "stay away from doctors and hospitals", while he said that he scribbled a prescription for Xanax and said "I gave you a 3 months supply, after the 3 months just call my office and I will give you a refill".  When I asked him if I don't need to see him again he answered "no you are not a case for a Psychiatrist".

How in the hell can even a healthy person stay away totally from doctors and hospitals???

Now you can see that I have NO use for these shrink types.  I'm sure that there are good Therapists and good shrinks out there, but I do not have the money nor can afford a very expensive Insurance who'd cover all that to go "shrink/therapist" shopping until I found the one who can help me.  I said "screw it I will help myself" and I did.  I already posted in one of my posts above how I did that.  The books of Dr. Weeks were a god sent.

Again, I do understand people with real heart disease getting frustrated with us.  I get frustrated and can't believe that there are adults out there who are scared stiff of a shot, a simple sting by a needle who lasts one second or two yet some of them are scared stiff.  My veins are even hard to find, I get stuck multiple times, sometimes they have to call another Tech in to find my veins at the lab, yet it doesn't bother me in the least, they could stick me like a pin cushion I could careless yet a grown big man has to be treated like a 3 yr old by the staff at the lab, but I do understand that for PEOPLE LIKE HIM IT IS A PROBLEM, and all people like me expect that people understand that what we are afraid of is also a problem for us.

But hey, if medical professionals don't understand why should every day people understand.

Why should they understand.  Just look at the commercials concerning illnesses, health insurance and prescription drugs, have you ever seen a picture in these commercials where a nurse/doctor is giving a patient a shot?? Have you ever seen a needle?? Instead 99% of the commercials show a person having his BP taken, show a BP cuff, but oh no never a needle/shot after all we do not want to scare the people who are afraid of needles/shots.  

Like Dr. Weeks said on American TV one time (she was from Australia) she was shocked how many people wrote to her telling her about their anxiety/panic attacks and phobias telling her that their doctors DO NOT UNDERSTAND, don't take them seriously and therefore the patients never talked about it again afraid they will be classified as mental nut cases.

Unless a politician or his wife or a President or his wife would have something like that THEN there would be all the understanding, and the medical professionals would educate themselves real fast to have all the understanding.

When I was brought to the ER with a BP of 255/130 total anxiety like impending death, I told them, I begged them to give me something to calm me down, but noooooo I had to take a Clonidine pill, (BP med) and another, and another, and my BP only dropped from 255 to 238 and stayed there.  I BEGGED them to give me something to calm me down, but nothing. The ER doctor talked to a Cardiologist by phone and I heard him say " I have to ground her, her BP wont come down", this was FOUR hours later.  All of a sudden the Cardiologist arrived and talked to me and immediately said "my wife has exactly what you got" and then he turned to the staff and said "give this woman an IV of (don't remember what it was) and the amount ASAP, why was this woman not giving this sooner?  They stuck the IV in my arm and I could immediately feel calmness coming over me, all the anxiety was gone, no fear, nothing, total normal again, and the Cardiologist said "look at the monitor" (it was behind me) and I turned around and could watch my BP going down steadily.

It took a Cardiologist whose "wife" had the same thing I have to UNDERSTAND and go on the staff's case "why" I have not been given an IV sooner to calm me down.

And people wonder why people like us rather "run home" when hit with benign PVC's .

[Barbarella]

a shrink told me to stay away from hospitals, a therapist told me to get an affair.

As for the two visits to the ER.  I was SENT there the first time from the doctor's office which was right next to the hospital, I was put in a wheelchair and rushed to the ER AGAINST  my wishes, I wanted to go home.  The second time an ambulance was called AGAINST my wishes I wanted to go home.

I'm glad that you understand about panic attacks.  Yes, I did have severe agorophobia and THANKS to Dr. Weeks SHE was the ONLY one who could set me free of this horrible condition.  I'm cured 100% of agorophobia and 99%of my panic attacks.

I see a doctor twice a year, and only because I've to have my liver enzymes checked because I'm on Zocor.  As you can see no doctor shopping, and no frequent trips to the ER.  

You have no idea what happened to me when I was 3 yrs old and hospitalized for one year because I almost died, and the doctors told my mom that I was dying.  Do I feel sorry for myself? No way, but it had an effect on me, and I am thankful that Dr. Weeks could help me so much with just reading her books, because SHE UNDERSTOOD.

So put a lid on your sarcastic comments as in "hmm Barbarella" you are not in my shoes and never have walked in my shoes.

If you read over my posts I even agreed with you at times, I have understanding for people with real heart disease being frustrated etc. etc.

But don't analyze me when you have no clue about my condition, and what is going on inside of me.  

I admire your strength and courage facing your real heart disease, and I understand your frustration with people who have "benign" heart disease.  You expressed yourself how you feel about people like that, but for some reason you get off on criticizing individuals on this board.  

We got your message how you feel about us.

For some reason you get off on criticizing people on this board suggesting sexual stuff how not to get PVC's during sex, and how often you have sex.  Looks to me like YOU have to "prove" something that is not there. I know your type, you are not fooling me. BTW,  I don't need sexual suggestions for PVC's I'm 10 steps ahead of you because at that  moment I do NOT care about PVC's, or thereafter.   I don't need to "learn" a sexual technique to not have PVC's during sex.  My husband is such a good lover he takes the fear out of the PVC's while having sex and thereafter.

Put a lid on it, I know your type.

[Barbarella]

Forgot to mention about the Xanax, you say "you can assure me that I will be addicted" that shows again how WRONG you are, and how you "think" how much you know about me.  I was on all of these bandaids that is what they are because they do not get to the root of the problem.  Getting hooked?  Don't make me laugh.  My doctor joked and said I was immune to tranquelizers.  And as for the Xanax I popped that **** for one solid month, no effect, and quit cold turkey, yes cold turkey, everything you read and hear says "do not stop taking Xanax all of a sudden because it can have severe side effects" or something like that.  It might does in "some" people, but not for me, didn't bother me one bit.

So much for your knowledge about me and how I would get "hooked" on Xanax, for me these bandaids are a joke, I get more out of eating M&M's.  But again, this is me, others get great help from these pills, but they don't do a thing for me.

But of course you probably have an answer for that too since you get off analyzing and judging people you have absolutely no clue about.

[betsumner]

anger is a good tension release.  do you feel better now?