Need help understanding what cardiologist said!

[adviceseeker777]

Ok, as I posted before I have been having intense episodes of anxiety and heart racing.  Had been to ER a number of times, had a bunch of EKGs done (normal) and saw a cardiologist for another EKG, sonogram, and stress test. (i'm 39 years old and in ok shape- quit smoking months ago, not really overweight).  Cardiologist had said my heart was normal and all looked good.
After having another episode of racing heart a week ago, I had him put me on 24 hour heart monitor to double check everything.  In meantime, I am under psychiatrist's care to try to deal with panic attacks.  I didn't believe these attacks were the same as these 'heart episodes', but the cardiologist came back today and said that my heart is completely normal and that yes, it does race and that 2x during the day it went up to 150some bpm.  So I go anywhere from 50bpm to 150bpm.  I freaked out and told him that was scary and didn't seem normal and he assured me it was fine.  I asked if I could possibly have SVTs or any other kind of dangerous arrhythmia and he said no, this was all coming from my anxiety.  I asked him about taking the beta blockers my shrink recommended to keep my heart slowing down and he said he didn't think it would work because the problem isn't my heart! WHAT????  So what am i supposed to do?  This really has not given me much relief and I felt as if he didn't give me enough information.  He wanted to speak to my shrink instead.  Great.  My shrink just called me and said as soon as he got the reports he would go over everything with me.  But I'm scared.  And don't know how to handle this racing heart which has sent me to the ER a number of times thinking I"m about to die.
HOw could it be normal for a heart to go from 50bpm to 150bpm when I wasn't doing exercise????  Do you think he's giving a fair assessment or is there a more serious problem here and he's just dismissing me as neurotic (which, by the way, i'm fully aware I am or I wouldn't already be seeing a shrink).  I just need to hear from others out there who may understand this better than I do.  My shrink said I'm having severe anxiety and that I'm experiencing sinus tachycardia.  
any ideas?  Does this all seem normal?
thanks much for listening and letting me vent my neurosis (as usual)!
k

[Momto3]

Sometimes, our heart rhythm goes out of whack because of anxiety.  From what I understand, there are ways for the doctor to determine if anxiety is the most likely cause of the racing heart.  Apparently, it has something to do with interpreting the EKG and how/when our heart rhythm increases and returns back to normal.

With a healthy heart (which your doctor says you have), the episodes are not considered life-threatening.  However, the associated anxiety can be life-altering.  I'm sure you already know that.  Your cardio's assessment seems quite plausible, but I'd wait to see what the psych has to say.  You can discuss medications and other therapies with the psych to see if he/she thinks they will help.  The good news is, you have a healthy heart.  I know it's hard to believe, but hang in there...

connie

[twinbee]

I have a 28yr old nephew that has anxiety and panic attacks. His symptoms are the same as yours. He has been having these attacks for years. He has been to all types of doctors (cardiologist and EP) and everyone of them tell him the same thing "your heart is fine it is just anxiety". He is on anxiety meds and has learned to meditate to try to control his panic attacks.It has taken him some years to accept that his heart is fine and now he is managing his attacks fairly well.

[madjlp]

Specifically in regard to the heart racing - if you had episodes of heart racing while wearing the 24 hour holter and the holter shows 150 bpm of sinus tach during those episodes then the episodes are probably anxiety related.  Sinus tachycardia basically means a normal heart rhythm reading but at a fast pace (ie greater than 100 bpm -- when you jog you are technically in sinus tachycardia for example).  SVT and other arrythmias look different on the ekg or on a holter - the pattern of the tracing has distinct features and is identifiably different from a "sinus" rhythm.   I know its hard to believe and these kind of episodes don't feel "normal" (and in fact they aren't "normal" in the way that most people define it) but they are not inherently dangerous, mostly just inherently frightening.  Keep working with your shrink and make sure you are comfortable with whatever conclusions your drs come to before accepting them but based on what you've said it sounds as though your heart looks good and you have some hard work to do on your head.  Meditation practice is a great non mmedicine based way to deal with anxiety if you're lookign for options and you can start right now!  Look up the name "Jon Kabat Zinn" if you're interested.  Best of luck.

[lagoya]

the above comment are all very infromative and well written --i know for myself  even though i have svt i have had panic attacks because of it or the lack of understanding of it --it is great news that your heart is good and be reassured there.as for the sinus tach -low dose inderal is good for that and it is also used in anxiety situitions --like public speaking etc and may be worth a try.anxiety is a terrible thing i know when my pvcs are bad i get a lot of anxiety and it is frustrating but in time u will discover new techiques to deal with it and feel good again.

[PikaPika88]

I know once the doctor said is "Normal", everyone (inc. other specialists) will follow to say "Normal".  Only the person who went through like that will understand - that's me.  My cardiologist keeps saying that I was anxiety, depress.... but my psychiatrist said it is not.  

He explained my ECG, beat, beat, beat, beat, stop.  Pacemaker kicks in beat, beat ..... stop.  Pacemaker kicks in again........ "It is normal, nothing wrong!"  My heart is stopped and he told me it is normal, nothing wrong?  I think what they means, if you're not experienced drop dead, it is still called "Normal".

I personnally think, if you feel the symptom occurs in your body, it is not normal.  It is either serious or minor.

[upbeat633]

I have suffered panic attacks, it seems, almost my whole life. They have been "free floating" attacks, which means that I don't even have to have an event to trigger them, they come out of the blue. Once the panic sets in, the body has a normal response to speed up your heart rate. My resting heart rate, at the onset of a panic attack was 120BPM. I thought that was crazy, but it happened all the time. Yours at 150bpm is higher, but with all the testing you've had, it appears it is from the same result. It took me a little while to accept what the doctors were telling me, because I wasn't convinced. I was sure I was going to die---that's classic panic attack. The feeling is so strong, it's impossible to think otherwise. I used to go to group sessions in the community, called "Freedom From Fear", and, I hate to say it, but the thing that helped me the most is that I saw other people who were much worse off, couldn't go outside their homes, couldn't drive, some shook so hard just getting to the meeting I thought it was sad. It made me feel a little stronger, I could do all of these things. It was the panic process, not them, not me.

Your mind is racing, hundreds of thoughts go through your head, whether you are aware of them or not. Being aware helps to rein in that racing mind. If you can accept that it is not your heart causing these terrible feelings, you can begin to work on directing your thoughts, it is like teaching an unruly child to calm down. It takes practice. Some people think I'm the most calm and serene person they've met, ha, ha, some people wonder how I can stand thousands of pvcs per day, ha,  ha, if they only knew. Practice, practice practice.

[adviceseeker777]

thank you so much...I need reassurance. So hard to believe there is nothing 'physically' wrong.  After suffering from panic disorder for 18 years you would think I'd be able to be logical about it and just let it pass at this point.  But somehow, the anxiety/panic is capable of manifesting in different ways and the racing heart episodes are so damn scary!  

Madjlp, funny you mentioned Jon Kabat Zinn! At my therapist's suggestion/request, I am beginning an 8 week course based on his teachings: Mindfullness- Stress Reduction. It can't begin soon enough!!!  I am crawling out of my skin I am so anxious and terrified of another attack coming on.  I so hope this helps!!!!  Have been doing yoga and trying to meditate but finding it is very hard to slow my heart down that way.  My mind constantly returns to 'catastrophic' thinking and my heart rate actually rises while I'm trying to meditate.  Nice, huh?  It just doesn't end :-(

i wish you all the best!!!!
k

[bobad]

Doctors are so quick to blame "anxiety" for too many things they don't understand..

Many people become conditioned to their heartbeat. When resting, it beats 65 bpm. When running, it beats 120 bpm. When frightened, it beats 150 bpm. When your heart suddenly starts beating at 150 bpm, you feel frightened because you are conditioned to feel that way when the heart races. It really is anxiety, but I think it's very possible that the heart rate triggers the anxiety, not the other way around. Of course I really don't know, but I don't think your doc does either at this point. One thing I do know is that anxiety attacks are not always caused by the conscious mind. So don't feel guilty about the anxiety attacks, they are most likely completely beyond your control.

Good luck,,,