Ectopics hearbeats when sleeping PLEASE HELP ME

[sherma]

PLEASE HELP.  I am a 42 yr old women with Multiple Sclerosis. About 5 weeks ago I had an episode of trigeminy which put me int hospital twice on the same day!!!  I didn't want to stay the first time so ehy said ok I cam back home and they startd again!  Anyway I have seen 2 cardios and they said they everything is fine with the echo and ekg, blood work and that it is just anxiety. I have also had 2 24 hr holters - normal. Now my question is how can I be having etopic heartbeats when sleeping if I'm stressed out??  Because surely that is when you are at your most relaxed??  I am so scared about this.  With MS I need a rest in afternoons but now for example today I can't stand lying there with these ectopics firing off now and again.  It is frightening the living daylights out of me, my husband does not understand so I have to cope on my own with this.  I can be doing nothing in particular and have them too.  I have tried deep breathing to calm myself down when they happen but they just come out of the blue even when I am not stressed - even though I don't think that I am. PLEASE ANYONE i am desparate for some advice.  I am too scared to sleep anymore.  This is happening everyday and everynight.  I can't go and see my local Dr he thinks that they are just anxierty related, but I know I am repeating myself here, how can you be anxious or stressed out when asleep???  Sherma XX

[sherma]

Thank you to everyone who has tried to help me.  Last night was horrendous, in the end I had to try and sleep sitting up because lying down was soo bad.  They kept on waking me up whenever I slipped off the 4 pillows I had to keep me propped up.  My husband is now sleeping in another room as it is impossible for me to cope with this problem and have someone next to me sleeping peacefully.  I am so tired and so nervous about going to sleep tonight.  I have had several during the daytime but (normal)but I just get on with life ( being dx with MS gives you a different outlook on life), I have learnt to cope with that, but this is so frightening - this is my heart and it's really really scarey as I am sure you can ALL appreciate. Thanks again my friends.  Sherma XXX

[LadyNRA]

My cardiologist said the same thing, that being at rest just makes most people more away of them.  Because you are sitting, and being still, you are more aware of what your body is telling you.  I find distraction during the day is a great tool for at least forgetting them for a little while.  I go visiting friends or get up and do a hobby or read or anything that takes my mind away from what I'm feeling in my chest.  It usually works pretty well.  Coming here and talking about it helps and also lessens the fear, which for me, isn't so great but still there especially when I feel them more than usual.

[LukeL]

It could be you get them all the time but at rest you have nothing to concentrate on so you notice bodily sensastions more.

[mmfd]

Sherma, I am sorry that you are putting yourself through this.  Try to believe what your doctors tell you.  One suggestion I would have is to stop the alcohol.  You will read on here that alcohol can very defintely aggravate the Pvc's/Pac/s you are having.  Also, many people have more when their heart rate is lower, thus may have more at night.  But that doesn't make them dangerous.......they just have more!  They may have less  as they exercise. I know it is easy to say all this, but believe everybody on here.  90% of all the questions on this forum are about * palps*!   The CC doctors keep saying the same things to cope with them.  Most people DO have them, just not all of us feel them.  The just *are*, and do not need a reason to happen.  They will not kill you.  Truly!

[LadyNRA]

I have had folks and the doctors tell me they "just happen" and that anxiety isn't necessarily the reason.  Mine do happen when I sleep because my hubby watched me in the ER while I dosed but they lessen in frequency and intensity so I am not aware of them as much.  As long as your doc is telling you everything is normal with your heart, you don't need to worry about PVCs even though they may be a bit irksome due to the sensations.

[kitcurious]

The Mental Health Forum here has entries about sleeping panic attacks.

[sherma]

Thanks for your response.  When I was dx with MS 6 years ago now that WAS a stressful time, but nothing ever happened then, just the odd ectopic now and again during the daytime.  I have a 4 year old son, and lead an active life - I refuse to take any medication for my MS because of all the side effects it can cause ie palpitaions etc., I saw a Neuro last week who wants to put me on a drug called Copaxone  but I checked out the side effects and thought no way!  I do smoke approx 5 a day and i have 3 or 4 glasses or wine a night and then I knock myself out with Valium so I can get to sleep at night without the ectopics or whatever they are called starting up.  Strange thing is that if the ectopics wake me (which they normally do) if I get up and move around they stop.  Some nights I even have to sleep sitting up - this is all within the last 5 weeks.  I have read this forum so much and it all seems to be anxiety related, but when your asleep??  I want a cardio to tell me WHY that happens and I will not quit until they do.  Sleep well tonight FF,  Sherma XX

[fearfactor]

Hi!  I just wanted to let you know I, too, get most of my palpitations at night.  Sometimes they wake me up out of sleep, sometimes they happen right when I've just lay down to go to sleep.  I don't know why this is, but I've worn a Holter and most, if not all, of my ectopics happen at these times.  I am an incredibly anxious person and have panic attacks but they're not going on when the palps at night happen - who knows why anxiety seems to manifest at night.  Maybe we let our "guards down" so to speak then and the anxiety can come and play havoc with us.  Just want to let you know you're not alone.  Take care!