Scared

[Carrie41]

Okay I have to ask who has had this.

On Friday night I got home from work and I laid down on the couch because I was exhausted.  I started stressing about my heart and it started skipping like every other beat.  I got my stethascope and it would go ka-thump, ka-thump, whamo, ka-thump, ka-thump, whamo.  It did this for about 20 minutes.  It scared the daylights out of me.

Needless the say I have been stressing all weekend about this and last night when I was watching thinking about my heart again, it kinda did a little gurgle and then went hard fast beats for about 8 beats and then did a skip and a thump.  I am so stressed about this is is crazy.

I started effexor xr one week ago to try to deal with my anxiety but it hasn't done a bit of good yet.  I am still in panic mode.

Any comments??

[fearfactor]

I tried Effexor, and to be honest it made my anxiety worse.  There are lots of antidepressants you can try and Effexor is one of the "activating" ones that can worsen anxiety.  Sometimes my palps start happening when I lie down after being really tired.  When it happens, I usually just stand up and it "resets" something and then I'm able to lie down again and be OK.  Maybe a sedative would be helpful too for extra bad times.

[pvcqueen]

I'll bet you'd be fine if you changed jobs.....think about it.  Nobody should have to be on anti ds to cope with work.

[canihelp]

Just remember, worry produces adrenalin, adrenalin produces more PVCs, PACs.  So it's a no win cycle. Honestly, get the Cassette tape by Claire Weeks.  It may do you wonders.  Try half.com to see if they still have them.  They did carry that & her books.  

You'll be ok.  You may have to change meds also, but you'll be fine.!!!!

[Carrie41]

I can't.  I know my doctor told me to do it as well but I somehow feel comfort when I know it isn't in my head and it is actually skipping.  I wish I could do that.

[Carrie41]

Yeah I think I will try this effexor for a month and see if it makes any difference.  I just can't stand the panic I feel about this.  It is so crazy though.  I have had palpitations for 20 years but they flared up last year after getting into a horrible job I hated and I have become obsessed about them again.  I just want to get over my obsession and live a normal life.  I have been for every test imaginable and all they say is couplet PVC's, triplet PAC's and short bouts of svt.  They did however catch an 8 beat run of NSVT 15 years ago and I have been worried every since about my heart.  I want to get over this and start living again.  My quality of life is NIL.

[canihelp]

the antidepressant "could" be making your symptoms worse instead of better.  The doctor tried me on, and it made them worse.  But you have to decide.  Hopefully you're on a beta blocker.  May need a mild sedative like Klonopin also for those scary times?

I agree that you can't just sit & listen to your heart.  Watch an old movie that makes you feel good, or a book, or something that really makes you fees "fuzzy."  I know sometimes that doesn't seem to help at the time.  Hey, a good massage does wonders too!!

If you've been checked out well by a cardiologist, you're probably just like most of us.  Those scary irritating things---wish they'd go away & never come back.

Order Claire Weeks CD's & listen to them when you feel panicy.  They are great.
You'll be fine!  Relax, take deep breaths & know that it will pass, just like the others did.

[kitcurious]

Throw away the stethescope