Strange "drop" feeling in chest

[appstudent]

Hi. I have a fairly involved question, so please bear with me. I was recently diagnosed as having panic attacks by my primary care physician. I am 24, recently returned to college. Before I went to school, I had none of the problems I am about to describe.

My feelings of being weirded out first started when my left arm and hand started going numb. Doctor said it was due to neck spasms. Next, different things started to pop up. I definitely have panic attacks (periods of racing heartbeat, shortness of breath, tightness in my chest, nausea, etc) but I also have a strange feeling in my chest 95% of the day. It feels sort of hollow all the time, and every two minutes or so I will have a feeling like a "drop" or almost like a shock in my chest. I have had PVCs (all the time) for at least 5 years, and it almost feels like a more severe one of these. When I'm having this problem, I also have difficulty swallowing and can sort of feel the swallow going all the way down. The drop feeling is worse when I bend over or crouch down.

I went to the cardiologist last week and he did an echo and said I have a perfectly normal heart. He prescribed alprazolam for the panic attacks. What I can't make anyone understand is that even when I'm not having an "attack" I still feel icky inside. I take my pulse a thousand times a day and it varies from 58-85 when at rest, depending on the time of day. Also, I wake up in the middle of the night feeling like my heart is barely beating (super slow) and I can't breathe.

I have been experiencing terrible insomnia, mostly due to the fact that I am terrified I'm dying. There are sometimes periods of days with no sleep whatsoever (it's 4am as I type this!). My main concern is that I could have a heart condition that would not be easily identified just with the echo. I haven't passed out or had trouble exerting myself or anything, but when I feel this way I don't want to do anything but be perfectly still and I can't stop thinking about it.

It also seems to perhaps be connected to food. I used to love eating and look forward to it and my family really based a lot of our good times around meals, but now food sickens me. When I'm hungry I get the "drop" feeling, then I think if I eat it will go away, but it doens't and sometimes actually worsens. Then I think perhaps I need to use the bathroom, and I either will go and be sick to my stomach or not be able to go. I have never had problems with my bathroom habits before, but haven't been "regular" in over a month now.

I want so much for this just to be anxiety and for it to go away naturally. People tell me to think of something else and it's just my "panic attacks" but when you have physical symptoms that are very bothersome and constant, it's hard to just turn it on and off. Please let me know if there is anything else this sounds like, or if I should just trust my cardiologist and take my xanax and try to find some counseling.

PS - Additional info about the alprazolam. It's only .25 mg, and I've taken it twice. The first time it didn't seem to do much. It definitely calmed me, but didn't help with the hollow chest/drop feeling. Tonight I took it and actually experienced some relief. I was able to go out with friends and be very productive. However, once I went to sleep I kept waking up and my heart rate was very low. I don't know if this is because of the xanax, but it was very scary and has kept me awake.

I'm sorry to post all this, but I have been to the doctor multiple times and they are very helpful but I never leave fully satisfied. I'm really scared and this is interfering with my school work and social life severely.

[Jansell84]

I think the feeling we're all having is related to the central nervous system. I was on Ativan for the past few months. I passed out and had a seizure which has lead me to severe anxiety and depression. I've been in bed for the past few months due to the depression... it's been horrible. But back to the drop feeling, I didn't have it when I was on the Ativan. Had it before, and I just recently weened off Ativan and now I have it again.

I say it must be caused by the nervous system because Ativan suppresses the central nervous system which is what helps you relax when severely anxious. Since mine disappeared while on Ativan and came back after I quit I figure that's gotta be it. Doesn't mean everyone's is the same thing but most of the descriptions I've read are the same. So anything like Ativan, Xanax, Klonopin... benzos should provide relief. Problem is benzos can be real dangerous if taken long term... so be careful. I had pretty bad withdrawal from low dose Ativan I only took for a few months. Great drugs but they can cause serious problems if your body becomes dependent.

Take care and God bless

[Kisi_Kills]

i know what youre feeling. i know exactly how you are feeling. the heart feels like its barely beating and you cry because you dont know what to do. i get these when i am severely depressed, or feel like i want to die. i feel hopeless. i feel numb. tell me. are you depressed? do you feel depressed but think you are fine? i get what you mean. you try to breath, but you cant seem to get enough air in your lungs. your heart feels like its slowing down immensely. i have been researching and i think this might be heart palpitations. and if you feel this again, to call 911 immediately. i will get back to you soon about if it can actually kill you but if its so serious to call 911 then i think there is a possibility of death. email me
***@****

[Biochemmedstudent]

This is a terrible answer. This person is very likely not dying... also heart palpitations do not require you to immediately call 911, stop scaring people.

[keisha323]

I'm going threw the i been to many off doctor heart doctor i had 24 days montor what can it be can somebody explain

[Biochemmedstudent]

Hormones caused from stres/chronic stress/ptsd can cause this. If you cannot cure yourself through living stress free, exercising daily, and eating properly then find an anti-depressant/anti anxiety that works for you until you can get your life into a better state.

[keisha323]

I'm going threw the same drop feeling so did you figure out what it was and if so what did they do

[LvilleSystemsJockey]

I think I should try one and I'm sure the cardiologist would go for that.  Also, maybe a stress test in the office would catch one or 2 during a cool down like I have been feeling lately.

From what I'm reading, AVNRT and PVCs are typically not life threatening, but if my Myocarditis is back, that can be if not treated.  I gotta get back in there and figure this out!

[Elli126]

Have you ever worn a Holter monitor? I get that dropped feeling from some of my PVCs. (They don't all feel the same) they are quite benign but extremely bothersome, maybe you could ask your doc if you should wear one. The Holter is a 24 to 48 hour monitor but there are ones you can wear upwards of a month and they will usually catch whatever's up if you wear one that long.