Skipping heartbeats

I know this may be typical but I need to know. I'm 15 and I have had skipping heartbeats for a really really long time. Like since 1st grade maybe. I have been told by a doctor they were nothing to worry about; they're typical for my age. But I worry still. They seem to be getting worse as I get older. Maybe because I worry too much since I know what it is. It scares the **** out of me. I'll be up all night with them because I'll have panic attack after panic attack. I also notice they're worse after excercise. After--not during though very recently (within the last six months) an occasional one will come up. But excercise actually helps....for a few hours. Once I calm down they're back. And it doesn't always happen after excercise. I can't find a pattern at all. I may have a perfectly relaxing day and have them or excercise and not have them at all(though this rarely happens). I have been told that it could be caused by dehydration, anemia, and caffeine. I have cut out caffeine COMPLETELY. Doesn't help. I take a vitamin everyday. Doesn't help. And even when I drink all day they may still happen. Maybe I'm not drinking as much as I think I am...But again, I can't find a pattern. They may go away for a month or two and come back randomly. When summer break started I had no problems. But they started up again. The skipping heartbeats sometimes happen several times in a row. But when I take a deep breath norman rhythm resumes. I once found out how many times they would skip if I didn't and it skipped like fifteen times in a row. The skipping heartbeats are usually worse if I'm woken up suddenly in the morning. Usually early morning. But if I wake up by myself they're not there. I have no other symptoms at all except the ones I convince myself I have during the panic attacks (shortness of breath, surely I'm going to die, yada yada, yada). But something happened about two months ago. I had one BIG thump, of course with the empty feeling before. It almost hurt, but not really. And it made me catch my breath. But it may have just surprised me. It's only happened like three times since....out of nowhere. No skipping beats before or after. Is that something to worry about? So...that's it I think. They usually happen at night when I'm trying to go to sleep or early in the morning when I wake up. Every once in a while they'll happen during the day.

So sorry this is so long and all over the place but I'm tired of worrying. It's so exhausting. Thanks!

[grendslori]

Okay, so stop worrying about it. The more you worry about this problem, the worse it will get. It has to do with adrenalin surging through your body. It is the fight or flight concept, which I'm sure you know about that. You are 15 years old! Go out and have fun with your friends; there are A LOT of kids out there whose lives have been destroyed by true heart disease, they would give their eye teeth to trade places with you. Life goes by too quickly for you to be worrying about extra beats that God has provided you with. They are a 'back-up system' for the normal electrical system. Everyone on the planet has extra heart beats, even daily and they are all still fine. Extra beats are really only a problem when there are structural problems. Go out and have fun, this time in your life is very short lived!! Once you become an adult, that's for life!  

[rock4god]

Thanks! I figured maybe it had to do with just worrying about it. I do have fun! :) They don't bother me during the day even if they're there because I don't think about it. But I just needed some reassurance that it's nothing to worry about. I've never talked to someone who deals with this too. But thank you!