PVC's and unnecessary tests?

[MegD]

I am a 48 year old healthy female and I

[Kwich]

Ok .. Im 16 years old.. I am insainly INSAINLY bad with anxiety .. like every week ill have a brain tumore or a skin eating dieases.. Well just like 6 moths ago i had 2 major panic attacks ... I was freaking out in school droped on the floor screaming I needed a drink... Well after words I started haveing this erid "REAL" symptom with my heart .. It would jump every few mins..

[Englishperson]

Barbarella, I also suffered with panic attacks and found that Citalopram Cipramil was a great help (Although I do live in England, don't know if this is available where you are)

Palpitations and panic attacks are totally different things and I can fully understand the need for medication in the case of panic attacks(or really servere palpitations), though It seems that doctors in America are far too willing to give out medication! I am really shocked, being given medication can often lead to the belief that you are ill, and in most cases with panic, anxiety and palpitations you are not physically ill. Having turned to medication for panic myself I realise that it is often necessary, and maybe I am wrong but I feel that in America it is too easy to turn to medication to bother trying long term solutions like yoga. I have tried this also and it really does work!

[zipwax]

Doctors these days are trained from day 1 by insurance companies to turn away patients unless they're bleeding or keeling over. it's out of control.

On another note, I've never had panic anythings, ever. This just started happening like a light switch was turned on. It's the weirdest thing. The arrhythmia doesn't bother me, it's the pounding heart that does.

Thanks for your nice words, though

[zipwax]

I was diagnosed with an arryhthmia 2 weeks ago... I'm asking this question because I want to try and find out 'what's normal'. Mainly, I'm asking about the heart pounding issue. First of all, my stats: 35, no smoke or drugs or alcohol or any supplements. Hi stress job last 7 years, baby on the way (1st) this year, 3 months due. No history of heart disease. Not terribly overweight, but "could stand to lose a few". Went to see cardio-doctor and he said normal BP (120/75), normal pulse (70), valves sound good. Normal resting EKG. Had me wear a holter monitor for 12 hours and I showed 18 PVCs (premature ventrical contractions) and 15 PACs, mostly at night, after 10pm. He did not do stress test or blood draw. The doctor diagnosed this as "stress-related", said "no further tests necessary" and "try to relax". He refused to give any other tests.

Now, my main question isn't "how do I get rid of it", because it's apparent from everybody that you don't just get rid of them. My question IS: is it normal for me to feel the blood POUNDING in my body since this started? I feel it all day long, as if I have an extra gallon or 2 in my body. My heart feels "overburdened", and when I'm resting, I can hardly think because of the feel of the blood going around in my veins. If I extert myself, my heart pounds hard, and quickly, but it returns to normal just as quickly. Doctor said, "oh, that's normal, it will go away". He said, "it's just because you're more aware of it." I don't believe him

[Barbarella]

Dear Zipwax, if your doctor checked you throughly as you stated, and told you not to worry about, it very well could be from stress, and worrying about your symptoms make them worse.  There are books written by Dr. Claire Weeks (they are tons of books, but she was the only one who could help me) the books are "Hope and Help for your Nerves"  "Peace from Nervous Suffering" and I can't think of the other one.  I bought all her books, she took a lot of my fear about pounding heart and skipping heart beats. She will explain to you why the pounding heart etc. and that it will NOT kill you.  She will explain to you how to face it and NOT running away from your symptoms.  She stretches very strongly to be checked out by a doctor first to rule out any organic illnesses, and if you check out o.k. she will help you with your anxiety.  I used to suffer from sudden out of the blue panic attacks which developed into agorophobia. Doctors put me on Valium, Elavil, Xanax and a few more I can't remember which ones, but none of these drugs helped me. After reading Dr. Week's books several times, I got my panic attacks and agorophobia under control without meds.  I can drive every where, can fly on planes, hold a job with no problem.  I always could hold a job (when a panic attack hit me I ran to the bath room and told my co-workers I had diarrhia I told nobody about the panic attacks out of fear people would label me a "nut case"), but I could not go on a plane or on the expressway or long distance driving out of fear that a panic attack would hit me.  All this is behind me now.  If I only could find somebody or a book which deals with phobia of doctors and having my blood pressure taken my life would be complete, but I'm not giving up, I keep on researching and serching, and always tell myself "things could be worse".  Good luck! Don't worry to much about it!  Remember your doctor said that you were o.k. Worrying about your symptoms make them worse, I know I worry all the time about symptoms and make them worse.

[Barbarella]

Zipwax,  I agree with you what you said in your first paragraph.  If the pounding heart is not from an organic illness it could be from stress and anxiety.  One of the symtoms of panic is a pounding heart.  But if you feel no anxiety with the pounding heart I don't know if it is an anxiety attack.  Did your doctor ever checked your thyroid? Thyroid problems can also have symptoms of a pounding heart.  The reason I know this is because I was checked out for this (thyroid problems) and was checked out for Hypoglycema (lood blood sugar) before they said it was panic attacks.  I know what you mean about insurance companies. I don't even want to get into this subject.  Try to get them pay for therapy sessions, forget it.  When I found out that the tranquelizers did not help me (panic attacks) I helped myself with these books I told you for I cannot afford to pay for therapy sessions, not even 50% as my insurance company wanted me to pay. I've gone in the past though and it still didn't help.