Anxiety with PAC's or PAC's with anxiety-which?

[jazzmowsky]

Hi to everyone.

I found this site last February when I was having a particularly bad time with heart beat irregularity and other symptoms.  The relief of being able to talk to other people who understand has been overwhelming and then I was waiting to go back to cardio clinic and to have the holter and treadmill test, so I had no assurances that all was well, just a set of continuous bigeminy/trigeminy episodes and the horrors that went with that. I have experienced PAC's for over 15 years and although worried about them I could just about tolerate them coming occasionally in ones and two's. Suddenly this year all that changed, I got up one afternoon from using the pc and was overwhelmed by runs and runs of them coming every other beat, every two and if I was really lucky, every three. This has gone on permanently since then, as I type tonight I am in bigeminy and so desperate I am reduced to completely numb and calm. I have had the treadmill test which I could only tolerate for five minutes I was so terrified, and a 48hr holter; a heart rate of 140+ removed all the PAC's, and the holter produced nothing to worry about even though I was in bigeminy the whole time, with some ventricular ectopics thrown in for good measure. I have to wait until late May to go back to the clinic to discuss everything more fully with the consultant. I have been told by the registrar at clinic that I should not be symptomatic at all even though every other beat is a PAC, and my breathlessness, lightheadedness, nausea and chest discomfort are all anxiety. No echo as I had one three years ago which was normal. I was firmly and politely sent away to cope on my own with a script for cardicor which I was to try after the treadmill test and not before. Well, for the past couple of days I have wandered into the posts about anxiety because alot of folk here have arrhythmia and anxiety like chicken and egg, and I am beginning to wonder if I have health anxiety which is currently focussing on my heart and this dreadful and unbearable irregularity that makes me wonder if I will ever be normal again ( to be truthful I am amazed I am still alive ) . I have unusual circumstances here at home , which makes me think that is why I don't seem to be able to get past the anxiety stage with the cardio doctor - I have a daughter who is terminally ill and severely disabled and I look after her full-time on my own, I have a lovely husband who works long hours to support us, but it means I am on my own for the majority of the time. Nikki had pneumonia all over last christmas and a month into 2009 and I looked after her 24hrs and I was relatively okay, had ectopics from time to time as normal, but I avoid caffeine and sugar and alcohol and food triggers like everyone else here, and I coped of sorts. When she started to rally at the end of January / February then the continuous palpitations started for me and I expected them to settle after a while and they haven't. I am so frightened, I have cold sweats, rapid heart-rate, slow heart-rate, low BP, a whole range of symptoms plus the hot flushes of menopause, shaking legs, tremors inside, too many to mention here. I can't decide if I am anxious and this is affecting my heart or vice-versa. Is it hormonal due to menopause, is it fear because ofmy daughter's condition ? Goodness only knows. People who know me say how calm I am, I am screaming inside. I am unable to eat peacefully, walk around , sleep or do anything normal that I used to do. I am terrified of being in the house on my own with Nikki and sleep fully clothed and made-up just in case I have to go to hospital in the middle of the night. I feel embarrassed and ridiculous. On the self-help side, I have been using relaxation tapes which do help, and have been trying to exercise a little although starting in arrythmia really really scares me. I am also reading Claire Weekes but how to be positive with myself I am yet to achieve. Does anyone else have stories about how they cope with this ? I seem to tick all the boxes for a chronically anxious person, have never taken medication for it preferring to soldier through each day, but being in bigeminy most of the time has worn me down so much I am not sure I can carry on like this. Any help will be so much appreciated.

Kind wishes.   Julie.

[jusnyn]

I am a complete stranger and new to this site but I have the exact same issues as you... Long history of anxiety and panic disorder and recently developed frequent PAC's... I also have irritable bowel syndrome and a nervous stomach so when when thing goes, it all stacks up and I feel like death basically... Anyways its just good to know I'm not alone.

[jazzmowsky]

I have just come home after 24hr stay in hospital with afib which they converted via digoxin.. My symptoms were not anxiety after all and this has been a learning curve. First experience with angina too - not nice.

[kittyh16]

Hey, my name is Chrissy, I am 29 and i deeply feel for you. I have suffered from anxiety and heart problems for years now. Heart problems for about 14 years now and anxiety for 8 years. I found out about 3 years ago that i have mitral valve prolapse and i also have pac's. My cardiologist tells me that i dont need to worry about it though. I have some of the same symptoms you do and i know how frustrating it is. I have two children 8 and 10. My son has autism and adhd and my husband that i have been with for 13 years was in a very bad car accident on Dec. 13 2008 and got out of the hosp on Jan 20. He has sufferd a head injury and my children and i almost lost him. He stayed on the vent for 3 weeks because he was not breathing when he was found and had aspirated. I know all about stress. I work at a surgeons office as a "play nurse" and am going to school at night for nursing. My anxiety is terrible and when i have an attack my fingers and arms will tingle, rapid heart beat, shaking, cold/hot, palpatations. I get it all and it can last hours. I have recently had to learn to get a hold of myself. Stress can do so much to your body. I will never forget when i was on my way to the hospital the night of his accident my heart starting beating all over the place and i felt like i was gonna pass out. I had to lay back in the car and take some deep breathes to calm it down. I bet that a lot of your heart problem is stress related. You should really let your cardiologist put you on something for arrythmias. Yes, you are dealing with your heart doing this **** and you are making it through the day but you have to remember that you dont want to keep putting stress on your heart either. You need to stay healthy for your family. When i get myself worked up my heart beats funny, everytime it never fails. Last year i had an episode where we were watching tv one night and all of a sudden i started shivering and couldnt stop. I went and took a shower to see if that would calm me down and it didnt. I went to bed feeling like that and woke up feeling like that. I put my kids on the bus my husband went to work and i went to my moms house. I couldnt work for a whole week. I didnt want to go home. All i wanted to do was sleep. It was like a panic attack that wouldnt end. I went to the hosp and they looked at me like i was crazy and told me i needed to see a psychiatrist. The next morning i called my sons psych. and she told me to come right in. I was an emotional mess. I couldnt stop crying, and i was still feeling panic and shivering. i layed on her couch for six hrs crying. she gave me a klonipin and an abilify and i finially started to calm down. I wasnt right for about a month or so. I was like a zombie all the time because i was so wore down. Finally it was time for my period and i didnt take my birth control pills for that week and started feeling better. When it was time for me to start them back, all of those feelings started all over again. I figured the birth control had my hormones messed up so i stopped them. Ever since then i havent felt 100%. You see there are lots of things that can be going on with our bodies to cause these things, but stress can do anything. hope this helped you

[SassyLassie]

I forgot something, YES, menopause can sure contribute to bad anxiety and the PAC's, it is a demon in disguise in my opinion. If you can, I would purchase some bio-identical progesterone cream from a health food store. This is identical to your own hormones and has very little side effects. I have read where some ladies have almost instant relief after applying it. It is in a cream base and in the states, not too expensive, it is sure worth a try.
Hugs again.

[SassyLassie]

Hi Julie~Well, I can honestly say I think your problems are coming from the anxiety. Anxiety can bring all kinds of problems to us, and what you are describing sure seems like a good case of anxiety to me.

I usually appear calm on the outside too, but inside, oh my, I am a mess. The more scared I get, the quieter I get, and I have all the symptoms you posted. It seems when things are going well, or at least better, I do not notice the PAC's or have the symptoms of panic.

I am sure having some difficult circumstances at home are some of the causes, but hey, you are a good mother and very concerned over your sweet daughter, that is only normal.

As Barb said, keep coming here, we are all ready to help and we care. I will continue to keep you in my prayers.

A big hug from me to you.
Susie

[Barbmag]

You certainly do have a lot going on and I wish you the v best. I too have those frightful PVC';s and PAC's and have had them for years and years...clusters which last for hours and hours. I am 63 and other than the electrical problems with my heart I am in good health. Please come here often and let us help you feel a lttle better if we can. There are so many knowledgeable people too with lots of info. The main thing is that you are not alone. I will pray for you and your family. Please stay in touch with us and here is a huge hug from someone in North Carolina. I have been to your country, loved it, the people and the food!!!!
Take good care....my best to you. Barb