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Anxiety - Ectopic Beats
I got health anxiety close to 3 months ago, due to the death of a friend, and started having hypochondriac-like obsessions because of my slight risk factor of dying of a heart attack like she did.
After having anxiety for three months, I'm now learning, that my risk for a heart attack or cardiac event is EXTREMELY low. But it seems like it's too late.
The worst symptom of this anxiety are these ectopic beats/palpitations/pvcs which drive my off the deep end. They make me toss and turn and prevent me from relaxing, because that's when I get them the most.
Generic Alphrazolam seemed to help them somewhat, but I don't want to be dependent on a benzo to stay calm, because they're highly addictive. The doctor put me on a 0.5mg dose, and it's extended release. I'm apprehensive about taking it, although I was given a 0.5mg dose of regular Xanax by the ER, and didn't find myself craving it.
I just want the palps to go away. The anxiety would be so much more manageable if I didn't have them. It's not a fast or slow heart rate. It just feels like my heart is being squeezed for like 3 seconds, then a strong beat afterwards.
Been tested, no heart problems, and everything is normal. I didn't have any of these symptoms before I got anxiety, so how do I make them go away?
I'm seeing a therapist, but it seems like it's not quite helping yet with the symptoms.
I'm petrified that I'll be stuck like this forever, and will have to rely in medication to "cope" with it. I just want my normal life back.
Everyone is so pessimistic.
Help me, please!!
Tell me how I can conquer these symptoms. The SYMPTOMS.
After having anxiety for three months, I'm now learning, that my risk for a heart attack or cardiac event is EXTREMELY low. But it seems like it's too late.
The worst symptom of this anxiety are these ectopic beats/palpitations/pvcs which drive my off the deep end. They make me toss and turn and prevent me from relaxing, because that's when I get them the most.
Generic Alphrazolam seemed to help them somewhat, but I don't want to be dependent on a benzo to stay calm, because they're highly addictive. The doctor put me on a 0.5mg dose, and it's extended release. I'm apprehensive about taking it, although I was given a 0.5mg dose of regular Xanax by the ER, and didn't find myself craving it.
I just want the palps to go away. The anxiety would be so much more manageable if I didn't have them. It's not a fast or slow heart rate. It just feels like my heart is being squeezed for like 3 seconds, then a strong beat afterwards.
Been tested, no heart problems, and everything is normal. I didn't have any of these symptoms before I got anxiety, so how do I make them go away?
I'm seeing a therapist, but it seems like it's not quite helping yet with the symptoms.
I'm petrified that I'll be stuck like this forever, and will have to rely in medication to "cope" with it. I just want my normal life back.
Everyone is so pessimistic.
Help me, please!!
Tell me how I can conquer these symptoms. The SYMPTOMS.
Exercise is very good for anxiety, and the less anxiety you have the less apt you are to have this problem. You don't need a personal trainer or gym to get in shape, just start by walking. Increase how far your walk on a regular basis, and it doesn't have to be fast.
Eat several small meals a day instead of 3 big ones, watch your carbs and sugar intake. You may have been using food to comfort yourself all these years and losing your friend really blew your anxiety up! It's probably been there all along. Because you are so young you can turn everything around, and not end up with heart disease or diabetes when older. Do this in honor of your friend, she would not only be very happy for you, she would be proud! Journal your feelings and thoughts, this is very therapeutic and acts as a form of release for you. Take it one day at a time, don't think about how much weight you need to lose, concentrate on the day you're in. Otherwise it becomes very overwhelming for you. When you want something to eat, ask yourself if you are hungry or just want to eat something, we often use boredom as a reason to eat. Hopefully, by getting busy with doing this, your anxiety will ease and so will your symptoms. Also, do things you are passionate about, so you aren't able to think about this so much, keep yourself busy emotionally and physically. I am so sorry about your friend, but she was much older and it all caught up with her. Turn this around now, and live a happier healthier life. We're all rooting for you, and wish you all the best. Make getting healthy a tribute to your friend, she would want this for YOU! Take care.
Eat several small meals a day instead of 3 big ones, watch your carbs and sugar intake. You may have been using food to comfort yourself all these years and losing your friend really blew your anxiety up! It's probably been there all along. Because you are so young you can turn everything around, and not end up with heart disease or diabetes when older. Do this in honor of your friend, she would not only be very happy for you, she would be proud! Journal your feelings and thoughts, this is very therapeutic and acts as a form of release for you. Take it one day at a time, don't think about how much weight you need to lose, concentrate on the day you're in. Otherwise it becomes very overwhelming for you. When you want something to eat, ask yourself if you are hungry or just want to eat something, we often use boredom as a reason to eat. Hopefully, by getting busy with doing this, your anxiety will ease and so will your symptoms. Also, do things you are passionate about, so you aren't able to think about this so much, keep yourself busy emotionally and physically. I am so sorry about your friend, but she was much older and it all caught up with her. Turn this around now, and live a happier healthier life. We're all rooting for you, and wish you all the best. Make getting healthy a tribute to your friend, she would want this for YOU! Take care.
I'm down to 369, so I'm workin on it.
But will losing weight and exercising, help me to get rid of my heart palpitations?
But will losing weight and exercising, help me to get rid of my heart palpitations?
If you weigh 400 pounds at the age of 19, you absolutely MUST lose that weight. If you are older than 19, then it becomes imperative that the weight goes. The stress you are putting on your heart, if you do weigh that much, will indeed predispose you to having an MI.
I think you would benefit greatly by working with a cardiologist, a personal trainer at a gym to lose that weight, and a therapist to deal with your anxiety. It may seem like a lot, but it's not only for your peace of mind, it's for your life.
I wish you the very best
Peace
Greenlydia
I think you would benefit greatly by working with a cardiologist, a personal trainer at a gym to lose that weight, and a therapist to deal with your anxiety. It may seem like a lot, but it's not only for your peace of mind, it's for your life.
I wish you the very best
Peace
Greenlydia
You hit the nail right on the head about my friend. That's EXACTLY what I was thinking. She was 46, but not as big as me, and was ACTIVE. I've been slightly sedentary with my lifestyle, and at the time weighed 408 pounds. I've been told all my life that if I didn't lose weight, I'd die young of a heart attack, but I always ignored them, or didn't care, until she died. Now simply the words "heart attack" give me anxiety.
It makes sense that the palps are because of the anxiety, because when all this started happening, I was making myself believe that I had a heart problem, and I could feel it. The more I thought about it, the more my chest got numb, my heart got numb, it was speed up, sometimes I wouldn't feel my heartbeat and panic. But I knew NOTHING about anxiety, so that made me believe something was wrong. That's what caused it. I wasn't knowledgeable about anxiety, so instead of pointing to that as the cause, in my mind, I was in danger of dying, which is my worst fear.
I continue to believe the palps will go away some day.
They seem to be triggered by panic attacks, or panicing in general, and although "panic away" has helped me deal with panic attacks, they happen so rarely. But the palpitations drag on after each one.
The first time I had a run in with palps, it was because of constant panic attacks and panic attack symptoms like a hot chest, back, and unease. But, I managed to work through that, and those symptoms are gone.
The palps were starting to diminish, and get dull in strength, to the point that I started barely feeling them, and then BAM! I read something about a heart attack and had a heart quiver which sent me into instant panic attack. After that, the palps came right back, stronger than they were before. My heart was squeezing so tight with every palp that it literally felt like someone had taken their fist and squeezed with all their might. Then it felt like someone kicked me hard in my chest. I had those for about a week, then they started diminishing in strength, and became more copable. Got real dull, then sorta came back a tiny bit strong again, but now they seem to be dulling down as long as I don't panic.
But, it's hard. It seems like I live from palpitation to palpitation, and I can't enjoy the 10 or 20 minutes I go without one before the next one hits. I'm sitting there waiting for it to hit, bracing myself for the impact. That's how I've lived for the past 3 months.
I sit there and think, "had I have rationalized my fear to begin with, NONE of this would be happening now, and I'd be leading a happy and productive life."
Thinking that makes me cry, alot. I'd give anything to go back to the way I was. I haven't been able to relax because of these things, because that's when they happen. If I'm walkin around or moving around, they don't happen. But the second I try to relax or meditate, BAM!
The good news is, since I took my doctor prescribed 0.5mg of Generic Xanax XR, I've not felt on edge, and can handle the palps better.
I have heard that benzos are addictive, but they assure me that number one, it's for people who are on the high dosages, number 2, it's for people who already have addictive behavior and drink or whatnot, and number 3, it's for people who have taken it for a looooong period of time.
They said I'm on a baby dose, so it should be just fine, as long as I take it as prescribed, which I have no problem doing.
There was a lady I talked to who works at the hospital who said she had anxiety and palps, and was able to cure herself with therapy and the baby dose of xanax, and she rarely gets palps now, so I'm hoping that can be me.
I need to hear more stories like that to give me hope.
It makes sense that the palps are because of the anxiety, because when all this started happening, I was making myself believe that I had a heart problem, and I could feel it. The more I thought about it, the more my chest got numb, my heart got numb, it was speed up, sometimes I wouldn't feel my heartbeat and panic. But I knew NOTHING about anxiety, so that made me believe something was wrong. That's what caused it. I wasn't knowledgeable about anxiety, so instead of pointing to that as the cause, in my mind, I was in danger of dying, which is my worst fear.
I continue to believe the palps will go away some day.
They seem to be triggered by panic attacks, or panicing in general, and although "panic away" has helped me deal with panic attacks, they happen so rarely. But the palpitations drag on after each one.
The first time I had a run in with palps, it was because of constant panic attacks and panic attack symptoms like a hot chest, back, and unease. But, I managed to work through that, and those symptoms are gone.
The palps were starting to diminish, and get dull in strength, to the point that I started barely feeling them, and then BAM! I read something about a heart attack and had a heart quiver which sent me into instant panic attack. After that, the palps came right back, stronger than they were before. My heart was squeezing so tight with every palp that it literally felt like someone had taken their fist and squeezed with all their might. Then it felt like someone kicked me hard in my chest. I had those for about a week, then they started diminishing in strength, and became more copable. Got real dull, then sorta came back a tiny bit strong again, but now they seem to be dulling down as long as I don't panic.
But, it's hard. It seems like I live from palpitation to palpitation, and I can't enjoy the 10 or 20 minutes I go without one before the next one hits. I'm sitting there waiting for it to hit, bracing myself for the impact. That's how I've lived for the past 3 months.
I sit there and think, "had I have rationalized my fear to begin with, NONE of this would be happening now, and I'd be leading a happy and productive life."
Thinking that makes me cry, alot. I'd give anything to go back to the way I was. I haven't been able to relax because of these things, because that's when they happen. If I'm walkin around or moving around, they don't happen. But the second I try to relax or meditate, BAM!
The good news is, since I took my doctor prescribed 0.5mg of Generic Xanax XR, I've not felt on edge, and can handle the palps better.
I have heard that benzos are addictive, but they assure me that number one, it's for people who are on the high dosages, number 2, it's for people who already have addictive behavior and drink or whatnot, and number 3, it's for people who have taken it for a looooong period of time.
They said I'm on a baby dose, so it should be just fine, as long as I take it as prescribed, which I have no problem doing.
There was a lady I talked to who works at the hospital who said she had anxiety and palps, and was able to cure herself with therapy and the baby dose of xanax, and she rarely gets palps now, so I'm hoping that can be me.
I need to hear more stories like that to give me hope.
OOPS! Forgot the link to the MayoClinic
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-palpitations/DS01139/DSECTION=causes
GL
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-palpitations/DS01139/DSECTION=causes
GL
I knew they would send you back to us as soon as anxiety was brought into the equation. But before they suggested that, I was hoping they would give you more information on the causes and what can possibly be done for palps.
If heart rhythm problems have been ruled out by your doctor, (is he a cardiologist?) then the causes of heart palps can usually be traced to anxiety/panic, some thyroid issues, too many stimulants, (coffee/nicotine) and a few other triggers.
I have included a link to the MayoClinic on heart palps and hopefully that will give you a starting place to begin researching them.
I have had heart palps for over 40 years and I'm fine. One does eventually get used to them, believe it or not. They are perfectly harmless, as your doctor no doubt told you. I have to agree with the folks over on the HRF and say that to the best of my knowledge, there is no cure for garden variety palps. If you have tachycardia, which is a rapid heartbeat or bradycardia, which is a too slow heartbeat, there is medication for that, but the infrequent heart palp may be annoying, even scary, but does not require medication.
Perhaps if you dealt with your anxiety through talk therapy and possibly a mild antianxiety medication, your heart palps MAY stop. You would need a cardiologist to tell you if that is even possible.
I'm sorry you interpreted the responses on the Heart Rhythm Forum as "pessimistic." I see it as a shot of reality and sometimes we don't want to hear that.
One you might ask your doctor, and since you're freaked out by this, I suggest you get a cardiologist, talk to him/her about having you wear a Holter Monitor, which is like a miniature EKG, for at least 24-48 hours. It will record every single beat of your heart and when you feel a palp, you push a button which records the time it happened. Keep a record of what you were doing and thinking and feeling at that time. It is an incredible tool for the docs to learn about the triggers of your palps.
It seems your heart anxiety began when your friend died of a heart attack. Was she as young as you? Anxiety is a very common reaction to that situation. Your thinking becomes focused on "if it can happen to her, it can happen to me!" But the incident of heart attack in people your age IS incredibly rare and it would be my guess that your friend had some sort of heart problems, possibly from birth.
Talk therapy will help you get things back into perspective and while I can't promise your heart palps will go away, they might, once your anxiety has been dealth with.
But I can promise you that the longer you sit around and focus on yourself, the worse it will get.
I wish you the very best
Peace
Greenlydia
If heart rhythm problems have been ruled out by your doctor, (is he a cardiologist?) then the causes of heart palps can usually be traced to anxiety/panic, some thyroid issues, too many stimulants, (coffee/nicotine) and a few other triggers.
I have included a link to the MayoClinic on heart palps and hopefully that will give you a starting place to begin researching them.
I have had heart palps for over 40 years and I'm fine. One does eventually get used to them, believe it or not. They are perfectly harmless, as your doctor no doubt told you. I have to agree with the folks over on the HRF and say that to the best of my knowledge, there is no cure for garden variety palps. If you have tachycardia, which is a rapid heartbeat or bradycardia, which is a too slow heartbeat, there is medication for that, but the infrequent heart palp may be annoying, even scary, but does not require medication.
Perhaps if you dealt with your anxiety through talk therapy and possibly a mild antianxiety medication, your heart palps MAY stop. You would need a cardiologist to tell you if that is even possible.
I'm sorry you interpreted the responses on the Heart Rhythm Forum as "pessimistic." I see it as a shot of reality and sometimes we don't want to hear that.
One you might ask your doctor, and since you're freaked out by this, I suggest you get a cardiologist, talk to him/her about having you wear a Holter Monitor, which is like a miniature EKG, for at least 24-48 hours. It will record every single beat of your heart and when you feel a palp, you push a button which records the time it happened. Keep a record of what you were doing and thinking and feeling at that time. It is an incredible tool for the docs to learn about the triggers of your palps.
It seems your heart anxiety began when your friend died of a heart attack. Was she as young as you? Anxiety is a very common reaction to that situation. Your thinking becomes focused on "if it can happen to her, it can happen to me!" But the incident of heart attack in people your age IS incredibly rare and it would be my guess that your friend had some sort of heart problems, possibly from birth.
Talk therapy will help you get things back into perspective and while I can't promise your heart palps will go away, they might, once your anxiety has been dealth with.
But I can promise you that the longer you sit around and focus on yourself, the worse it will get.
I wish you the very best
Peace
Greenlydia
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