So okay, my turn to freak out

[anacyde]

I had this nightmare a few weeks ago that I had a Holter and my cardiologist called me and said I needed an ICD immediately...that I had an arrhythmia they didn't see before and it was ventricular.  Ever have those nasty ones?  Ugh.

So of course that's fresh in my mind, in addition to the fact that last March when I had a surge of palpitations, I found out I had PPCM.  Now, I was totally expecting a normal echo that time.  Go figure.  I'd finally made peace with the palps only to get something new.

The past week I've been getting weird palps.  Two or four beat runs of something.  Seems pretty slow.  Feels like one of my chambers are going two to four beats before the cycle clears up and normal rhythm resumes.  Could be just a PAC or two I guess, it just feels more...sinking and thumpy (lol).  It feels the same way I do before a run of SVT starts.  It's like my heart WANTS to go all PSVT on my butt.

So yeah, I'm on edge right now.  Trying to find peace with this.  I don't have panic attacks anymore, but stress stinks too.  And this is a worry.

The only thing I can say is also the same as last year is exhausting fatigue and joint pain - and I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia (the great wastebasket diagnosis) about a month before my cardiomegaly.  Seems like a pattern, fatigue then pain then palps.  Since my heart has normalized and this all persists, maybe my cardiologist was right and it's not related.  But it scares me, and I can't shake that nightmare.

Please tell me I'm crazy?  Oh, I'm sure a few of you here think so!  ;)

[lilCharlie]

I'd bet most your problems are stressed related.  Some people can get over the palps and move on, some seem to find more stress on what could happen.

Go to the doctor.  Do a full round of tests, and then move on.  Thats what i would do.  If you feel like your having problems, get it checked.  But if it comes back negative and your just fine, its time to move your thoughts to something else.  I know it sounds corny, but living life the entire time worrying about death....is not being fair to you, your family, or god!  

I wish you the best, and i totally understand your plight...as i was in the same boat a few months ago.  All I can tell you is that 30min of rigerous cardio a day helped wonders.  I workout at about 10-11.5 METS during my workout, and it has made my heart and whole body feel so much better.  Best wished to you! :)

[fearfactor]

Seems like we are all going through a rough patch here!  I know it is scary, but hang in there! I know from personal experience (as you know) that that rings hollow when your heart is doing crazy things.  It's probably just more stupid PACs.  Are you scheduled for a Holter anytime soon?  Maybe if you got one they could catch what it is and ease your mind a bit.  Try not to stress, it only makes it worse and take care!

[Momto3]

Would your doctor consent to an event monitor?  You know how peace of mind plays into this whole scenario :)I remember telling my doctor that I was having a different kind of arrythmia, and she wanted to check it out...I guess just to be sure nothing new was going on. It turned out to be fine, but I'm still glad I checked it out. I think mine was nsvt at that time, but still ok.

Hope you're feeling better soon.  

[swfl_guy]

Sorry this is not related to your above post but I'm in need of some answers and I really think you can help. I was reading a post from you that was back in Nov. I was glad to see you were still on here. I too have had anxiety that popped up out of no where 3 months ago and it is consuming my life. I was fine before this, not depressed or anything. I am a healthy 29y/o male. You said you had beat your anxiety with some therapy and meds. I was wondering what meds? cause the doc wanted to put me on a SSRI yesterday but I have read so much neg. about them and I am reluctant. I am not depressed and don't really want to be on meds for a long time. Also what kind of therapy did you receive and for how long?? I just want to feel "normal" again. Thanks so much and I hope you feel better!

[sb786]

Do you just get PVCs. Its just the way you described it: sinky and thumpy thats how i describe some of my pvcs, especially the ones that trigger my stupid SVT. My EP and cardio both told me that pvcs can trigger svt just the same as PACs can there's no difference apart from the fact that they come from different chambers of your heart.

[erijon]

You have always been the voice of reason when it comes to coping with palps, you have responded to some of my posts and I have always appreciated your input, you have a great way of communicating rational thought. I understand that we all have ups and downs and it's hard to know what sets us off. I am fortunate in that when the palps start in on me I can jump on the treadmill for 45 minutes and everthing clears up, but like you I don't know why they start. My trigger seems to be stress and the occassional diet Coke!

Hang in there, just talk to yourself like you have spoken to many of us. It's no fun from time to time and sometimes just downright discouraging, but you know how these things work. Just take your own advice and give it time.

Thanks for all the help you've given me, I hope this helps you.

erijon

[anacyde]

Thank you all for being a voice of reason. I was pretty stressed out last night with all the frequent ectopy.  I did some reading and discovered that stress and lack of sleep are two very common SVT triggers.  I've been so stressed (oral surgery, finals, chasing a 1 and 3 year old and trying to keep my small business afloat with no time for myself) that I actually have those ticks (eye, face and thumb) from stress.  I guess it's no wonder I'm having some frequent extra beats.  Still unsettling though.  The sleepier I got last night, the more they eased up, and by the time I poured myself into bed I had none at all.  I see my cardiologist for my normal follow-up in April.  I'll mention it then, unless it gets worse, in which case he told me last year I could call anytime if I decided I wanted that event monitor.

Now, swfl_guy: As you can see I still have anxious days.  Feeling this rotten is rare for me now though - this used to be my daily life.  Mine started with panic attacks back in 1999.  Unconvinced, my doctor told me to try taking a 0.5 mg Ativan when it happened, and if it went away it was panic.  Well, it did.  I took the Ativan as-needed for a couple of years, then only at bedtime for a couple more years (found out it cured my restless leg problem).  Last March when I was diagnosed with the enlarged heart, my cardiologist said I would need medications (ACE, beta blocker, etc) if my heart didn't heal on it's own, so I felt it was a good time to quit the Ativan just in case.  So I did.  Wow yeah, I've been off of that for a year now.  Heh.  Fortunately I did heal so I'm on nothing but vitamins now.  I had already stopped needing the Ativan for anxiety, and I had learned some exercises to help the restless legs, so I've been fine without it.

As for therapy, I never went.  I went to college for psychology and I know that I basically have all of my own answers - a therapist helps me get there quicker.  I did some self-help workbooks, and a lot of reading.  I don't necessarily think that is the right path for everyone, though I do believe we're our own anti-anxiety.  Takes willpower though and it isn't guaranteed 100% relief either.  Anxiety doesn't really vanish, it just comes under control with (hopefully rare and mild) occasional reappearances.

Hope that helps :)

[swfl_guy]

yes that does help out a LOT!! It is nice to see someone who has for the most part beat this without SSRI's. The doc gave me klonopin on a as needed basis but also wanted me to start Lexapro. I feel like I can beat this without the Lexapro. I thing its strange how so many of us that have anxiety also have restless leg syndrome. I don't know if the anxiety causes it or it is a indicator that one has a predisposition to anxiety because I had the restless legs way before the anxiety/panic. Thanks again!!

[anacyde]

That's interesting.  My father and sister both have RLS and anxiety.  I was diagnosed with RLS when I was only 8 years old.  My sister was diagnosed around age 12.  My dad, while not formally diagnosed until his 30s, can't remember not having the symptoms.

RLS, anxiety, palpitations and some irritable stomach conditions have all been linked to things like fibromyalgia, so I think there's something to it...though I doubt fibromyalgia is a true diagnosis.

But yes, I've never touched an SSRI.  My husband who also suffers from anxiety did try SSRI medications only to find they made him worse.  He's now on Buspar, lowest dose available, and doing very well.  Buspar is not an SSRI, it's purely for anxiety, and is not addictive like Klonopin or Ativan.  It does not appear to affect his mood at all - which is incredible given what the SSRIs did to him (he went throug Zoloft, Lexapro and Prozac over a 4 year span).

[dede-head]

This is my first time at this site...or any like it. ( I found it while searching about PVC's cuz mine are SOOO bad lately!)
Your story rang so familiar, i just had to respond.
First... i HATE nightmares!  I get terrible ones! And they can really affect my waking life sometimes. SO, I have great empathy for you!

And i'm also interested that you too were diagnosed with Fibro.
I've had CFS for 15 years. But just in the last year got increasing PVC's.
Had all the tests, and YOU KNOW ...the cardio guy said i could just live with them.
I can get them constantly for a week or two then be okay for a couple weeks.
Go figure!  But recently i had a sort of anxiety attack...then i had more random pains...then the Rheumi doc said i had Fibro.... then my PVC's REALLY acted up for the last 2 weeks. And with them i have more pains...in my chest, arm, and shoulder etc....and weakness.  I can't help wondering about the connection.  Could the pain be vascular?...or neural?  I dunno. But i feel there has to be some connection!
All i know is...how could you have so many PVC's for SO long, and not have your body react in some way? Do you ever feel these things?

oh..i have too many questions...
I also studied a lot of psychology, and feel like i wanna train my brain by myself, instead of taking the Effexor (SSRI) the rheumi doc tried to give me.
I'm thinking of cognitive therapy, cuz someone leading you along can be helpful.  
Plus i'm trying to deal with the PVC's without taking the beta-blocker sample i was given. Ever try them?
Yep...i'm trying to avoid yet MORE weird side effects from meds!

Well....i'm very glad i found this forum. Just reading all these postings makes me feel better...cuz MAN! it's hard NOT to get stressed when you're feeling your heart do all this.!! And nobody could really understand unless they've felt it!   So, it's a comfort to hear others going through it! And your postings have been helpful.

i hope you're feeling better since this old post...
and  i'm also wishing you some  SWEET  DREAMS !!!!