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Anxiety and Palps
Hi,
Im a 30 yo male, 5 10, 230 lbs. I'm approximately 30-40 lbs overweight. 2 Yrs ago I was diagnosed with having panic attacks and anxiety disorder. I took Zoloft for a few months, but didnt like the side effects. I've been off of it for almost a year, and anxiety/panic attack free. Once in awhile, I would feel a flutter in my chest when doing low-grade exercise (Loading laundry, brushing teeth, etc). I usually dismissed it as no worry, and within a day or two it would go away. When doing high-grade exercise, I'd always feel my heartbeat, but with no abnormal rhythm.
About 5 days ago, I felt my heart skip while on the computer (didnt feel very anxious or worried at the time). I took my pulse to try to feel it, and felt it skip again. Needless to say, it threw me into a panic attack. After I calmed down, i was back to normal. Since then, I've experienced it everyday when i do normal low grade stuff, but when i take a brisk walk, it feels normal (although elevated).
Can you explain what might be happening? Why it happens during low-grade exercise but not more vigirous? Why it skips? Why does anxiety promote or make it worse? Is it at all related to Adrenaline, because the feeling I get is almost identical to the feeling i get when Im scared or suprised...almost like my stomach sinks...I have no other symptoms, not dizzy, not lightheaded...I just feel "off" when it flutters because I get so anxious. I have yearly EKG's, and chest xrays on my job, with nothing remarkable. I have a doc appt this friday should it continue...I've resumed eating right in the interim.
Im a 30 yo male, 5 10, 230 lbs. I'm approximately 30-40 lbs overweight. 2 Yrs ago I was diagnosed with having panic attacks and anxiety disorder. I took Zoloft for a few months, but didnt like the side effects. I've been off of it for almost a year, and anxiety/panic attack free. Once in awhile, I would feel a flutter in my chest when doing low-grade exercise (Loading laundry, brushing teeth, etc). I usually dismissed it as no worry, and within a day or two it would go away. When doing high-grade exercise, I'd always feel my heartbeat, but with no abnormal rhythm.
About 5 days ago, I felt my heart skip while on the computer (didnt feel very anxious or worried at the time). I took my pulse to try to feel it, and felt it skip again. Needless to say, it threw me into a panic attack. After I calmed down, i was back to normal. Since then, I've experienced it everyday when i do normal low grade stuff, but when i take a brisk walk, it feels normal (although elevated).
Can you explain what might be happening? Why it happens during low-grade exercise but not more vigirous? Why it skips? Why does anxiety promote or make it worse? Is it at all related to Adrenaline, because the feeling I get is almost identical to the feeling i get when Im scared or suprised...almost like my stomach sinks...I have no other symptoms, not dizzy, not lightheaded...I just feel "off" when it flutters because I get so anxious. I have yearly EKG's, and chest xrays on my job, with nothing remarkable. I have a doc appt this friday should it continue...I've resumed eating right in the interim.
Scott--
I get the thumps, too!
I hate the thumps most of all! Somtimes it's like someone hit me with a fist in the chest. Everytime I tell a new cardiologist (changes in insurance, moves, etc.) they just look at me. I always expect them to be alarmed. I know it's good that they aren't but it annoys me that they think I should be comfortable when I get a fist in my heart from time to time!!
I get the thumps, too!
I hate the thumps most of all! Somtimes it's like someone hit me with a fist in the chest. Everytime I tell a new cardiologist (changes in insurance, moves, etc.) they just look at me. I always expect them to be alarmed. I know it's good that they aren't but it annoys me that they think I should be comfortable when I get a fist in my heart from time to time!!
I too don't enjoy pvc's,pac's, svt's and chest pain, Which brings on anxiety.
Do you have MVP ?
Have you seeked any treatments for this ?
Any Intergrative treatments ?
Do you have MVP ?
Have you seeked any treatments for this ?
Any Intergrative treatments ?
We should start our own site, pvc's never use to bother me either but now they can cause an anxiety attack.. they make you miserable.. alcohol and tobacca do make them come on or worse.
Sometimes I get them from bending over or laying my arms across my chest while sitting...
Sometimes I get them from bending over or laying my arms across my chest while sitting...
I know it is crazy that something as simple as crossing your arms on your chest would cause those. I thought I was the only one. It is so nice that everyone is so supportive
HI ALL!!
I love coming to this site and listening to all you and your woes of these awful flutters in your chest. I know how this is all so damn scarey. I to panic often when these come on. I have to say I am 37 and feel just plain old. I panic when I come out of the gym fearing that there going to come on and I am 30 minutes from getting home. I have panic now not just anxiety. I have a appt with the cardiologist next week and fear that even! Go figure, the one who may help I fear!! I have lots of episodes since I was very young, now they have increased and I hate it. I have read some of the archive's and that has helped some. But let me tell you.. If you dont have a perscription for zanex, Get it!! Just knowing that i have something that will help to calm me down helps so so much. I have that control over my panic. I am an areobics instructor and teach a very early morning class. This is my true love! I love to work out and watch people want to live healthy live's. Now that I have these pvc's my workout has slowed down. Thanks for taking the time to write your comments you are all saving me : )
I love coming to this site and listening to all you and your woes of these awful flutters in your chest. I know how this is all so damn scarey. I to panic often when these come on. I have to say I am 37 and feel just plain old. I panic when I come out of the gym fearing that there going to come on and I am 30 minutes from getting home. I have panic now not just anxiety. I have a appt with the cardiologist next week and fear that even! Go figure, the one who may help I fear!! I have lots of episodes since I was very young, now they have increased and I hate it. I have read some of the archive's and that has helped some. But let me tell you.. If you dont have a perscription for zanex, Get it!! Just knowing that i have something that will help to calm me down helps so so much. I have that control over my panic. I am an areobics instructor and teach a very early morning class. This is my true love! I love to work out and watch people want to live healthy live's. Now that I have these pvc's my workout has slowed down. Thanks for taking the time to write your comments you are all saving me : )
My one word of warning is to be persistent when you visit your doctor about heart palpitations that concern you. I wasn't suitably persistent and accepted my GP's suggestion of anxiety/panic despite the fact my life was generally stress free and I had reduced my caffeine intake. The one key sign to me was that my ONLY worry was my heart palpitations and no other life events were troubling me at all.
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