Pounding Heart, Nervous, Fluttery, Palpatations

[TheHeartSpot]

For 2-3 years now I've been experiencing dealing with the following symptoms:

- Pounding heart (I feel my heart beating HARD, not fast, in chest, throat, neck and other upper body areas)
- Have a bit of a "nervous" feeling in my heart
- Heart very "fluttery" at times, especially when I first wake up
- Heart palpatations, sometimes often
- When the above symptoms occur I don't want to do anything, laying down seems to make it worse and often times I cant get to sleep because of the pounding feeling in my chest/upper body

I'm 35 and this has been going on for roughly 2-3 years. I've had a multitude of tests with no help in regard to results. I've had:
EKGs, ECGs,Pulmonary Function Test, Halter monitor 3-4 times and everythign always checks out normal (Which is great!) But I dont FEEL normal.

The symptoms kick in several times a day. Other times I feel completely normal.

The symptoms are mild to non-existent through the majority of the day.Late afternoon onward is when they seem to be the most difficult.

My doctors keep insisting "You're fine, you're healthy, you're normal" but I feel like absolute crap most days and it affects my everyday life. Please tell me someone else out there has some advice!

I've tried to determine patterns in relation to activity, diet and a plethora of other factors (Caffeine, alcohol consumption) and I just can't seem to determine what could possibly cause something like this? Could it be something entirely not of-the-heart? Perhaps adrenaline issues? Adrenal glands? Help!

Thanks,
Uteerly frustrated

[TheHeartSpot]

I will definitely bring this to my Doctor's attention, are those just blood tests?

Also, what is it like being on Zanex?

[TheHeartSpot]

Thanks for your response as well, I HAVE noticed that drinking can make it seem worse either the night of, or the following morning.

However I often go weeks if not months without drinking at all and it is still a daily issue.  Just appears like drinking may aggravate it.

Thanks for the feedback!

[TheHeartSpot]

Thanks, it sounds like that may be my best option to look into judging by answers I've received here and Yahoo Answers. I will definitely be looking into it.  Although I don't "consider" myself to be anxious, or to have reason to be anxious. I did some looking online for "dealing with anziety" and keep coming across articles about handling fears etc and I just don't feel like thats me, but hey I'm willing to try anything at this point.

[oldie]

I had these symtoms years ago. Still do. The doc put me on Zanax which has worked quite well but not always. ie. I have some kind of anxiety problem.  He also prescribed a thyroid test and I had very high TSH later controlled with levothyroxine. if you take this route ask tests for TSH, T4 and Free T3. The doc will tell you what dose you need. Keep going, there's an answer somewhere out there.

[seaweib]

The feelings that you describe are generally the way my heart feels the day after a night of drinking.  I don't know the exact science behind alcohol and the heart but for some people, the heart beats a bit erratic the day after excessive drinking.  Of course, you mention that you've monitored your heart issues relative to drinking and didn't find a correlation so perhaps that is not related to your problems.

As the other poster mentioned, considering that the docs think you're healthy, you may want ot focus on stress or anxiety issues.  See if there is a way to truly relax and then gauge the effect that this has on you heart rhythm.

[keirasmom41510]

I haven't experienced this but I'm wondering if you've ever been diagnosed with depression or anxiety?