heart palpitations

[fdandbri]

I've had heart palps for two years now, ever since I became a highly-stressed manager. I know it's due to stress, and my smoking doesn't help, but it's very scary when I feel like my heart is not beating correctly. Most patterns have three or four beats followed by a skipped beat, but I've had patterns where the skipped beat occurs every other beat, or less frequestnly, like two or three times a minute. My palpitations occur throughout the day, but mostly at night after I lie down. I find it very difficult to fall asleep as I have to train my mind to try and ignore the palps. I've been to my PCP and he referred me to a cardiologist, who prescribed me a holter and echocardigram, both of which came back normal. Nothing was caught on the holter in the 24 hours I had it on. They put me on a waiting list for an event recorder. It's been two months now and they still don't have one available. They all have said that I have nothing to worry about and that its normal, but I can't stop worrying and this only excacerbates the problem, causing more palpitations.

I don't take vitamin supplements, so perhaps taking Mg and K will help. I think I will try this. How long before I should a notice a difference in frequency after starting a vitamin regimen?

I'm very frustrated and want to rid my life of these awful events, but don't know how- reducing my level of stress is pretty much impossible, so other than to quit smoking (in progress) and cut caffeine, which I have done, I don't know what to do. I don't want to take beta-blockers or other meds. I appreciate you reading my comments. It feels nice to be in a forum where others are experiencing the same.

[chuparosa]

I'm very glad to hear you are quitting smoking. I think everyone here has gone through the same thing with regard to being obsessed with observing every heartbeat. You really do have to try to not worry about the skipped beats. I'm surprised by how long you are having to wait for your event monitor. Once you have gone through the monitoring, your doctor will be able to give you a very good idea of what is happening. You are doing all the right things. Maybe you should consider looking for a new, less stressful job though.  : )