Tension, Anxiety, Heart Palpitations, Headaches

[mls417]

Hello all. I am a 36 year old female.

Since about November I have been suffering from a variety of problems. Actually let me go back even further than that. Probably sometime in September, I started having occasional heart palpitations. I've had them, rarely, in the past but they would always go away after a day or two. This time they seemed to linger. I ended up going to the ER on Thanksgiving due to a rapid heartbeat and generally feeling unwell. The hospital did multiple EKGs and blood tests, and even an Echocardiogram, but couldn't find anything wrong. They asked if I had anxiety but I said no. I am willing to admit now that I may have worked myself up to a panic attack that day (I was traveling to see my family, it was snowing, etc etc).

Beginning of December I finally got a primary doctor -- up until this point I hardly ever went to the doctor. She did a general check and referred me to a cardiologist. At that time I started to feel like I was getting an earache or sinus infection. I came back in about a week to follow up on bloodwork and saw the cardiologist the same day. Bloodwork was fine, no ear infection or sinus congestion, and the cardiologist concluded I was having benign PVCs since the hospital couldn't find anything wrong. (He didn't do any kind of test, he just talked to me and sent me on my way).

By Christmas I was miserable with a headache and earache. I'd been having a headache for almost 2 weeks straight and would end up crying on my husbands shoulder every night because I was sure something was seriously wrong with me. I went to a different doctor on 12/29. She pressed around on my face and head and decided it was TMJ symptoms from clenching my teeth -- apparently the nerves in your ear can become irritated from clenching your teeth. I did not have the classic popping/locking jaw. She gave me naproxen, flexeril, and xanax to hep with the symptoms. The headaches dulled a little but never fully went away. I stopped taking the flexeril after about a week because it was making me feel hungover in the morning. I would take the xanax only occasionally, and the naproxen twice a day.

I was finally referred to a neurologist about three weeks ago and have had an MRI and an MRA, which both came back clear. She decided I might  have trigeminal neuralgia (could be caused by a viral infection), due to the pain around my right eye and head (I'm still getting dull headaches elsewhere though, sometimes top of my head, sometimes sides).  I've been taking the xanax every evening for about two weeks now to help me relax.

(SORRY THIS IS SO LONG!)

SO: I am still
having heart palpitations every day (I'm getting a 24-hr holter monitor tomorrow),
a mild headache every few days,
I am constantly tense to the point where my stomach muscles ache,
it's getting to be nearly impossible for me to get out of bed in the morning,
I just do not feel like my old self.

I used to think these problems were all physical, but is it possible that anxiety is causing all of these problems? I've never taken any sort of anti-anxiety or anti-depressants before I was prescribed the xanax, so I don't know if I should try other medications or what? I feel like I'm going crazy. I've been to the doctor more since November than I have my whole life!

[mls417]

Thanks :)
I am on the road to that attitude already. When I feel the PVCs flare up, I've been just trying to tell myself "Nope. This has been happening for months now. I'm not going to worry about it." I'm actually wearing a holter monitor until tomorrow afternoon, so I'm actually hoping the doctor tells me I'm crazy at my next follow-up ;)

I think I might have a touch of SAD too. The winter here in the NE US has been pretty brutal this year, and when it gets dark at night I feel... blah. My work has a hallway with big windows and at certain times of the day, it's fully lit with sun. When I go out there in the sunny hallway, I feel relieved in some way.

Thanks for your help.  

[LRon]

Anxiety can cause all kinds of physical symptoms, including palpitations. And of course, palpitations can cause anxiety. So it can all create a vicious feedback loop which can lead to a panic attack.

One thing to consider is that at age 36, you're very unlikely to be having heart trouble. And the tests so far back that up.

If you see a psychologist or social worker, they'll probably start you on cognitive behavioral therapy which might be very helpful. if you see a psychiatrist, they'll probably suggest going on meds such as an SSRI. In my opinion, start with the first option (therapy) and see if you can go after the root problem.

If all the tests come back negative, which they probably will, resolve to ignore the palpitations, sensations, and physical symptoms. Take the attitude that "if something's going to happen, then let it happen already." I can pretty much guarantee nothing will. The less you focus on the palpitations, symptoms, etc, the less of a problem they will be. Keep your mind focused OUTWARD and not inward. Stay busy, have fun, etc. And just let your heart do it's thing. PVCs are incredibly common and also very benign. They are to be ignored.

I hope that helps!