I can't shake the feeling that something's wrong

[AaronBa]

I am a 31 year-old male with a lot to live for.  I have enjoyed exceptionally good health my whole life until recently when I started experiencing ectopic beats.  My GP and Cardiologist have done several EKGs, Echocardiograms and even a Stress Echo and I wore an event monitor for 30 days and after all that they acknowledged the ectopic beats and both agreed there was a murmur, but they found nothing structurally or functionally wrong with my heart.  I am not on any medications and in the recent past I have been under a lot of stress which I understand can be a contributing factor, but there have been many long nights where I lay in bed literally freaking out because I feel like my heart is going to stop.  I will be sitting doing nothing and these beats occur and lately I have just had a more ominous, heavy feeling in my chest that comes and goes independent of the ectopic beats.  The cardiologist said to keep exercising and eliminate as much stress as possible, but I can't shake the feeling that something is wrong.  Maybe it's in my head or maybe I've just been spoiled by having good health, but high blood pressure, high cholesterol and strokes are prominent on both sides of my family although my BP and cholesterol seem to be fine.  Anybody have any bright ideas?

[irene1955]

Do you have transient high blood pressure? You say it runs in your family? Maybe you should check out the possiblity of pheochromscytoma. This is  a tumor of the adrenal system which produces (norepinnephine and epinephrine) adrenaline. The tumer is usally benign. Symptoms include high blood pressure, pounding headaches, sweating, palpations, apprehension, flushing of the face, nausea, vomiting and tingling of the extremities. Treatment is surgical removal...

If you feel something is wrong but don't know what it is I would continue to search until you find the answer.

[RNRita]

Lucky you.  You've joined our club!  Well, the good news is, you'll meet wonderful people.  More good news?  You'll learn more than you ever wanted to about the heart.  But, yet, dollfnlvr is correct.  We all experience the feeling of doom and that something MUST be wrong.  I've had these for 31 years.  I am not in near as good of health as you, but I'm still around.  My mom also had them all her life and lived to be 77.  She didn't die of them either.  Good luck and try to keep the adrenaline at a minimum....I take Xanax (small dose).  

[bobad]

Aaron,

I know the foreboding feeling you describe, and it is not pleasant. I think we are hard wired to get those feelings, and I don't believe our thoughts or state of mind have much to do with them.

I strongly believe that heart arrhythmias often cause stress, but stress seldom causes arrhythmias. I think our heart electro physiology is wired to other systems, and when things aren't right, our body's alarms go off. The well known adrenalin response is one, but I think there are others that are not so well known.

As an example, sometimes I can be watching TV or reading, and notice my foot shaking as though I'm stressed or nervous. When I concentrate hard, I notice I am having PVC's. In other words, I'm completely out of the loop.

I wish I could tell you it gets easier. I get some relief from beta blockers, which reduces adrenelin production and relaxes the vascular system. This can make the ectopics feel less forceful, making them less alarming. Beta blockers aren't a panacea, but that's a whole other subject.

Best of luck and health,,,

[dolfnlvr]

These posts are so spot on that I don't have much to add.  The one thing I will say is that part of the problem for most of us is a feedback loop that we can't really avoid, but have to wait out.

The main trigger for these beats is adrenaline.  WHen you are frightened or stressed, or worried, then you release more adrenaline.  So, when we become frightened over these beats, and we lay awake worrying about them we are actually feeding the problem (inadvertently).  The next thing about this scenario is that you lay AWAKE worrying.  Not enough sleep is a prime trigger for PVC's, so among other things that you will read, be sure to get plenty of rest, and try (I know, easier said than done) to relax as much as possible.

Take care,
A

[AaronBa]

Today was my first time ever posting and I am really touched by your genuine concern and your kind words of encouragement.  It gives me a boost to hear your suggestions and to see that I'm not alone.  Thank you very much.
Aaron

[greendave]

My problems started at 31 also and before that i was and in fact still am 27 years later in very good health apart from a heart that never lets me forget its there.
Like upbeat633 says  the good news is that you are structurally fine and reading all these posts from people who have lived for years with no real life threatening issues the good news for you is that you will have a long and fruitful life.
fear is the big issue and this is where this community helps so much as if we can and have lived with it for years so can you.
You will no doubt have read about triggers the things that make it worse and so a good start is to treat yourself as an experiment and look for things (food, drink or situations ) which make you worse - then avoid them.
you are with friends
dave

[upbeat633]

Well, I don't know how bright this is, it's actually quite dull, but the truth is, most of us have that very same feeling, it's a common theme when you have a change in your heart beat, or once you begin to notice different beats.

If you have a family history of high BP and cholesterol, then the best thing you can do is life style changes to prevent that, your doctor is right, exercise and reduce stress where and when possible. And get checked routinely so you can be aware of any increases before they catch you off guard.

The good new is, you've had lots of tests to show your heart is structually fine, now you just have to let your head catch up to that idea. Sometimes it takes a little while, I have lapses occassionally and have to remind myself, I AM actually ok.