Sleep disturbances

[Kathy]

I have had sleep disturbances very few times over the past 10 years that I've suffered with irregular heartbeats; however, it has increasingly become more common, occuring almost every night in the last week.

Usually it is right when I go to bed.  I'm extremely tired and just as I'm ready to doze off, I awaken (don't jump awake) and my heartbeat feels odd.    I then roll over and start to fall asleep, only for the same thing to happen.  Sometimes my heart is beating fast.  This continues for over an hour until I give up on sleep and get out of bed and watch TV where my heartbeat seems fine.

I'm always on the brink of falling asleep, and then can't!!!  I'm extremely tired and I'm wondering if someone could give me any suggestions as to what could be waking me up.

Since it doesn't happen every night (although this week it has) I'm hesitant to ask for a holter monitor again.

Anyone's comments would be very much appreciated!
- Kathy

[CCF CARDIO MD - DLB]

I would have suggested a HOlter monitor while you sleep to make sure that you do not have an arrhythmia, but your post implies that this has already been done. If the Holter was normal (and you had these sensations while wearing it) then you do not have an arrhythmia. It is then much more likely a conditon due to psychological causes, such as anxiety. This is something to bring up with your primary doctor.

[Louise Fryer]

Kathy, I had the same symptoms that you described.I found that because I had had a couple of evenings where this had happened, I  became very aware of every little skip and thump, so much so that when I tried to sleep my heart would race out of sheer anxiousness this carried on for a few weeks until I made a conscious effort not to think about it . I also went to see my Homeopath who prescribed me some relaxing tablets that I took in the evenings.This has helped enormously. I know how annoying it can be to be told that its pychological but I think if you worry about your heart before you fall asleep your subconcious mind takes over while falling asleep and that can cause your heart to race.

[Lynn]

Hi Kathy,
  I too had been experiencing the same type of thing over the past couple of months.  I really feel in my case it was due to anxiety being that I am a VERY anxious person.  It started back in September with a panic attack one afternoon (at the time I did not realize it was a panic attack) at that point I started obsessing about my heartbeat.  Then a couple nights later when I went to bed, if I laid on my left side, my heart would skip beats.  That worried me, then I had several episodes where I would awaken from a sound sleep, with my heat racing so fast, at that point I totally panicked, which in turn made my heart beat even faster.  After a few times of waking up with this, and realizing that I wasn't going to drop dead, I was finally able to make my heart slow down to normal in a couple minutes by thinking relaxing thoughts. You mentioned how when you got up out of bed and watched T.V your heart was beating fine. The first time that happened to me I got out of bed and watched T.V. my heart slowed back down to normal too.  If you are like me, I get very nervous just laying in bed trying to fall asleep.  What I do now, I keep the T.V. on in my bedroom all night.  I know for me that if I do this I feel more relaxed, I think because my mind is on T.V. and not on myself.  I started doing this about 1 month ago and and since then I have not woken up even once with a racing heartbeat.  I don't know if this will work for you, but you may want to give it a try because it really seemed to have helped me.

Lynn
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[lucy]

I feel for you.  I have had the same problems of interupted sleep or not able to fall asleep because of the rapid heart beats.  I have been in the emergency ward at the local hospital three times .  Twice they have kept me overnight with the little ekg box attached and the third time I had the ink test through the groin to see if there was a blockage.  I underwent the stress test befor they looked at my arteries and they broke the news that I might have a blockage and should take this test which was no big deal to me even though they said it might be risky.  I was dissapointed to know that my arteries were wide open with no blockage.  Sounds crazy I know but I have been desperate to know what causes this.  The Cardiologist gave me a prescription for potassium.  The potassium pills are very large and some nights I have to take two or three to calm the heart.  I am wondering if I will always have to take potassium and if there will be any bad side affects.  I have not mentioned to my husband or doctor that I am starting to have bouts of blindness that are like lights flickering on and off.  At thanksgiving dinner it happened and the dark was very black so I know it was me and not an electrical black out.  I was waiting for someone to say something but everyone just kept talking as if the lights never went out.  I am afraid to go back to the new doctor and get the same answer which makes me feel like I might be nuts or something.

[Mary]

I can relate to the palpatations and interrupted sleep problems experienced by a lot of people taking part in this forum. I too have had EKG's and an EHCO only to find out that all is well with my heart. THANK GOD!!!
So now, whenever my 'stress level' begins to rise, I read scriptures from the Bible, such as Prov. 3:5-6. Whatever negative thoughts or problems come to mind, the Word of God gives me COMFORT & PEACE. HOPEFULLY YOU TOO WILL FIND PEACE!!!!
GOD BLESS!!!!!!