I think i might have afib

[lavenderinscence]

The scariest thing has been happening to me at night. Last night while i was sleeping, I was awoken by my heart "skipping" a beat. It was followed by a feeling of cold tingling that swept my body. After the "thud", my heart began to beat fast like it was trying to catch up. I tried to ignore it because my heart has been acting funny lately. The second time i woke up I could feel my heart just start to race for no apparent reason. i had the same sweeping tingling feeling and i started to shiver. I felt my pulse and my heart beat was fast and erratic. It was beating at around 118/min. This is what i felt

beat beat ... quiver.beat..beat beat beat
...beat ... beat ... beat ... quiver ... beat beat beat
... beat ... beat ... beat


My chest also started to hurt and I could hear the rushing sound of my pulse in my ears. It happened at least 3 more times and i woke every time. I AM TERRIFIED. I think i might be having afib spells. I don't understand. (I've posted blog before about my heart recently and thankyou for all the people who responded to me)
My doctor says there is NOTHING wrong with my heart but these things keep happening to me. I seriously still think there is something wrong with my heart even though nothing was found in bloodwork, echo, holter, or EKGs. I take atenolol and it seemed to be helping somewhat along with lorazepam for anxiety but I don't know if my chest pain is coming from my heart or anxiety. The thing that stumps me is that 2 months ago (and my entire life as a matter of fact) I never had panic attacks, or was ever worried about my heart because it never acted up. When i took that damn zoloft almost 6 weeks ago is when everything started and after I quit almost 3 weeks ago it seems like I'm just going to die before this is figured out. I just want it to go away! I have more anxiety over my damn heart than anything in my life that the doctor said I should be taking Zoloft for. I feel so weak, out of breath, and it's affecting my life so much because i am so scared about what might happen i actually quit driving to places that were far from the hospital, i don't go up the stairs in my own home, and I am embarrassed to admit it, but I quit being intimate with my husband because i am so scared to get my heart beating faster than it already is. I am bawling my eyes out trying to write this because I just can't make it stop! even the comfort of everything i read here and even though i try so hard to tell myself that there is nothing wrong i just can't not be scared out of my freaking mind. please I know this is practically a narrative but if anyone has any suggestions i really do like to read that somebody out there actually cares a little bit. thank you all so much.

[Sweetwaterguy]

It does sound like you might have had an episode of a fib.  If so, there are two very important things to know about a fib.  If treated, it is not life threatening.  The second thing to know is there are a variety of treatment options, and a fib is one heart issue that is very easily managed.  

[SassyLassie]

I am so sorry for all the misery you are going through. I have bouts of PVC's and they scare me more than anyone relizes, yet, my doc is not worried as I had a good echo, great lipid panel, low blood pressure and normally, a slow heart rate. However, I wish they would be more considerate of our fears, to us, it is very real, and of course we are afraid.

I have panic/anxiety attacks, have ever since I feel down a flight of stairs when I was in my 20's. Those tingling feelings and shivering, I am sure, are from the anxiety, I get that at times. I also get real clammy at times, fear takes many forms.

Do you have a hiatal hernia, sometimes, believe it or not, they can cause heart irregularities as it protrudes thought the diaphragm and can excite the vagus nerve, in fact, I would say lots of arrhythmias are in part caused by some type of gastric problem. Next time this happens, try to remember what you ate or drank, I know mine acts up big time after a heavy meal or drinking water and I lie down or slump in a chair, even walking can cause them if I have gas on my tummy.

Good luck, and if the doc you are seeing is not satisfactory to you, then, by all means, seek another one, it is your health, and you deserve the best care you can get.

[shauna36]

Wow if  i didnt know i was reading someone elses post i would think it were me!! I have the same problem i too was on zoloft which only created more problems and weight gain, stay off of it it doesnt help! I also take atenolol and xanax i just stoped the atenolol because im getting muscle cramps and numbness in my hands its really freaking me out. The  xanax was prescribed in the hospital because my heart rate was so high they couldnt figure it out so they assumed it was anxiety which i knew it wasnt, i had ekg's, heart monitor, stress test,pft and scans of lungs legs to rule out clots everything normal. this was  end of july still tachycardic and its october... I had other symptoms as well like a feeling something was stuck in my throat or as if someone were choaking me they blew it off as anxiety well it was and is my thyroid blood tests were normal it wasnt until my gp ordered a nuclear scan which showed graves desease hperthyroid. my suggestion is to have the doctor check that as it could be what is causing your symptoms. Good luck!!

[Brooke_38]

Sorry your having such a rough time. It certainly is frustrating when you are having these symptoms yet all your recent testing has shown normal results. Of course, if your heart was in normal sinus rhythm during these tests the results would be normal. EKG's and Holter testing are good if you are having constant arrhythmia. If you are having sporadic episodes a 30 day event monitor would be a better tool to capture whatever it is that you are experiencing. While you are wearing the monitor if you have another episode, like the one you described above, you can record the event and then you and your Dr will know exactly what is going on.

Panic and anxiety can certainly exacerbate any underlying problems. As hard as it may be, try and take a deep breath and relax. We're all her to help you any way we can.