Can somebody please talk to me?

[jsuter69]

I'm feeling really scared right now, just about 3hrs ago I was watching television,relaxing and I sat up and a second later my heart started beating real funny,I really couldn't tell what it was doing,all I know is that it had NO rhythm,it felt like it was trying to stop, it felt really slow and irregular,and I felt like I was going to faint, or like I was going to die, it was extremely scary and than after what "felt" like an eternity it started beating faster and more "regular"...the fainting like feeling subsided but the threat of this happening to me again, is REALLY scaring me...I have been diagnosed with PVC's, PAC's and SVT, but not sure if this was any of that....I did call my cardiologist and I spoke to his P.A, the P.A just said if this happens again, go to the hospital, and if not call the doctors office on Monday morning.....Monday feels so far away....especially to being this scared.....has ANYBODY ever felt anything like what I described??
BTW, during this "episode" I had this feeling like I wasn't getting any oxygen, I started to get scared and my heart started racing and my palms turned all clammy, probably a panic attack, but the feeling of "lack of oxygen"...that was soooo scary......

[Smitty55555]

Hi,

I developed SVT a few days after giving birth to my first son.  It was the scariest thing that ever happened.  My heart would go up to 280 BPM and I thought for sure I was going to die.  I put off taking anything and had 2 more children.  It got so bad that I finally had to start taking atenonol.  I was prescribed 25 mg, but I found that too much so I broke the half tablet down to about 15 mg and took that for about 10 years.  It really helped a lot but of course I still had palpitations on occasion, esp. when lying down.  However it stopped the rapid heartbeat that would go on for anywhere for 15 minutes to an hour.  I stopped taking the atenonol about 1 year ago as suddenly I just felt different, can't explain that.  I no longer had the SVT that kept going for half an hour but now I have developed more of the "flipping" around of my heart, a few SVT's and ectopic beats.  They have told me to start back on the atenonol.  I may but I just want to be done with it.  I used to be afriad to go anywhere without my atenonol.  It does get discouraging but I think having your period or perimenopuase is aggravating it.  I too have PVC's, trigeminy and sinus arrythmia.  When I had the SVT that would go on for hours, I found that lying down immediately after it started on my right side would sometimes be enough to "kick" my heart back into a regular rhythm.  It is no fun, but the atenonol helped me from going crazy!  Also, the palpitations started when I got pregnant so I think they are related to hormones and I wonder if for men the same applies.

[jsuter69]

Yeah...I'm hoping something significant will happen, only so that maybe they can catch it....I'm so sick of being scared....I start work in a Hospital on Monday, I'm hoping I can do it, hoping I don't get scared and have a anxiety attack....I need the money, nursing school isn't going to pay for itself, right now I'm just do my pre-reqs....so I still have another 2yrs.....
I'm so use to having Tachy that I'm not real sure what Bradycardia feels like, my resting heart rate stays around 80 or 90....
But if I were you, I'd get a 30 day monitor, you'll feel much better knowing that if you feel something, you can call it in, and within minutes of the monitoring tech reading your recording, you'll know if what your feeling is harmful or not....if mine are bad, they'll call my cardiologist and he'll contact me.....so in a way...you don't have to wait on results, not like when I wear the 24hr holter, than I have to wait at least 2 weeks!
God Bless....

[Red931]

It is good that you have the monitor on. Hopefully there will be something that shows up that the doctor can better diagnose and treat you for you condition.

I think I am going to need one also. The doctor changed my medication and my heart rate is still dropping off. It isn't going as low as it was but it is still Bradycardia just the same.

I hope you feel better and that monitor works out.

Keep me posted.

[wmac]

Hi I have nsvt.. with that said thats what mine feels like what you described. It feels slow but its really going fast. I know this because it all got recorded. It feels slow and hard like a horse galloping.. and it feels terrible and it also ruins my day. I sometimes just sit and wait for the next one or think im gonna die. With all that said I have had this for 7 years now and im still here. I have had all the test and have seen many many cardio/eps
I have also had to ep studies with no help. They were not able to induce my nsvt. My heart is structurally normal too I have a great ef..Ejection Fraction and they are saying now that is one of the key factors in how well your heart will tolerate certian arrthymias.

Sassy, what online schooling are you doing for the medical assistant. I was suppose to start ma schooling on the 30 of march I had all my loans and grants in order and was signed up and then changed my mind with all the economy being bad. this school was for  9 months and cost 12,000.00 thats alot for ma school. Any info you have would be much appreciated.
good luck to all
wmac

[jsuter69]

Thank you for your note, I'm feeling better but not sure if it's because my cardiologist gave me another 30 day monitor on board, maybe a sense of security,who knows, I don't wish to feel that scared that again as I did last Saturday, thank God.....but now I want it to happen because now it can be caught,and now Sautrdays coming up again, yikes.....

[Red931]

You have insomnia due to anxiety and fear. You are afraid to go to sleep. I have the same problem sometimes. The other night when my heart rate went down to 39 I couldn't sleep no matter how tired I was.

I always have the fear and anxiety of not waking up because my father and grandfather both died in their sleep very young. My father definitely had obstructive sleep apnea but they didn't diagnose it back then. He was never overweight and had stopped smoking 15 years prior to his death. My grandfather was a bit of a drinker and smoker but he was a big man. Not fat, just big if you know what I mean. I don't know how that gene skipped me. lol

If your boyfriend has the surgery, just remember he has to keep the weight off or he will be going through all that pain for nothing. I still ended up on the CPAP anyway but it works well.

The doctor changed my medication yesterday from Cardizem CD to Norvasc and it seems to be doing the trick. I have a normal resting heart rate now between 60-70 bpm and got a decent night's sleep considering all of my injuries and fighting off a cold.

I hope you are feeling better since you started this thread.

All my best to you and your boyfriend.

Dino

[Zachs]

NSVT (Non-Sustained Ventricular Tachycardia) is hard to know if it has occured. It really needs to be caught on a EKG to really know that was the case. SVT can be confused with NSVT, where SVT originates in the atria, where NSVT does not. I can say the NSVT may feel different for you than for me as well.  Zach

[jsuter69]

THANK YOU THANK YOU, for your bit of advice,I'll ceratinly be trying those exercises, I hope I can remember to do that instead of my normal reaction, freaking out! It's what I do best, I wish I could remain calm but that stupid "fight or flight" response never lets me down....first thing I always want to do is grab my phone and call 911, I swear I feel like I'm close to death, like one more second and my heart is finished, kaphooey, finito(sp) see you later alligator, adios amigo, I'm sure you know the routine, but right now I'm feeling fine but this stupid heart of mine is SOOOO unpredictable, 5 minutes from now I could be sitting here shaking in bed, hearts racing and skipping,palms are sweaty, and I'm wondering if I'm needing to call an EMT, is my health really at stake here...or is this really benign,non threatening stuff I'm dealing with? Wish it was "just a skip"....but it's never that simple, with one skip comes another or a pause or erratic beats, fast, slow, skipping and pausing, you name it, I feel it....
Sorry about all of that, but I'm really going to try "what the doctor ordered"....hugging and coughing.... I'm willing to try anything...I need more prayer in my life, I definitely believe!

[jsuter69]

Red-I understand your sleep apnea, my boyfriend stops breathing 45x an hr, really hard to believe, I'm glad your surgery worked for you, my b/f is wanting to do the same, so is it your heart med that is giving you bradycardia? I totally understand the sleep "insomnia" part,I'm actually tired but scared to sleep, I fight it, I hate feeling them in my dreams, I hate waking up with them and I even feeling them shortly after waking up....makes me NOT want to fall alseep and when I finally do, I'm scared about even starting my day....I wish you well....glad we are ALL here for eachother, we are a strange little family....lol...hope your doctors visit goes well!
Carey01-Omgosh! It's absolutely unreal just how many people there that are just like ME! I can start off with a shower, stand in front of my mirror, start blow drying my hair,humming or watching the latest "Ruby" segment that I taped,feeling really good about life in general and....WHAM! My legs and my heart start to feel funny, I feel weak, and I know that I'm going to start having my lovely erratic heart rhythms,I feel disgusted, because I always LET them win, my day is ruined and I focus the rest of the day on my heart, my b/f notices,he always says what's wrong with you, you were acting all happy and talkitive and now you're acting depressed, and I just start acting all quiet, makes me so mad because I'm not a quiet person, wish there was a magic pill we could ALL take that would solve ALL our issues....God Bless and Take Care!
Zachs-Thanks for the feedback, this heart issue makes you feel so alone, I can talk to some of my friends about this but they just look at me, some with a sad puppy dog face,others with a wide eyed look that says" I'm listening,but I have this dear caught in the head lights look for a reason, I have absolutely no idea what you are saying,but I'm listening"...lol...I like feedback, it gives me a sense of security, because when my hearts skipping and pausing, beating stupidly, and my palms are sweaty from fright, I just need some reassurance that I'm going to make it through this, it's really scary especially when I'm home alone....btw,what's NSVT? And what's it feel like? The exercise part is what gets to me, I really really want to tone up and to lift weights,but when I lift it feels like I'm strainning my heart, it feels like my heart wants to give out on me, it's crazy because I WANT to work out, I'm just to scared it'll be the death of me....

[JaynesInPain]

For what it's worth...when I experienced erratic heart beats & went to ER, cardiologist said when that happens to wrap my arms around myself (as if hugging yourself) and then cough a medium strength cough- 3 times in a row.  Then release & relax & focus on slow breathing.  He said this can reset the heart beat.  Also he explained that when our heart does that & it scares us, it triggers the adrenal gland to produce hormones that can make symptoms worse.  So focusing on doing the hugging & coughing will distract us long enough to interfere with signaling the adrenal gland.  Pretty simple I know, but I tried it and it really did help.  Can't hurt.  So maybe give it a try.  Feel better.

[Zachs]

I hope you're feeling better. :)  I have many of the same symptoms you experience. Who knows which specific abormal beating is occuring at the time we feel it but they are scary has heck!

I can tell you I've delt with these annoying things since I first started feeling them shortly after I got married at 19. I had consistent bigeminy (every other beat pvc) every time I went to go lay down to rest, go to bed, etc. Then a few years later ran into runs of heavy beats with no specific rhythm (NSVT), and then panic attacks steming from obsessing why do I feel these things, which made it so much worse.  My heart issues have basically turned me into a prude, and I'm afraid to over exert myself because I'm afraid of falling over from a heart attack and dying.

I have to admit that medhelp has helped me out quite a bit. Really, just understanding the benign condition(s) I may experience and learning others' coping mechanisms to put these sensations at bay. I know that I will not be totally 'cured' of these sensations, of course, we are human beings. Sometimes I feel knowledge is a double edged sword when it comes to health realated anxiety because if we don't know certain things we wouldn't obsess, but then needing the knowledge to cope. Hope this helps ya out. Zach

[Carey01]

I know how you feel too.  Yesterday was my 41st birthday.  My husband and I were going to get a pizza and salad and have a nice relaxing evening at home.  When he left to get dinner I went in the bathtub to relax and WHAM -- out of the blue, perfectly relaxed I got a run of skipped beats.  The rhythm felt way out of sync and  I actually got shooting pains with it.  IT lasted about maybe 15 -20 seconds but it ruined the rest of my night.  AND Im not going to work this morning.  Thankfully Im self employed  but I tell you what -- when I get the runs of theses   things I cant function well for days.  I just sit in wait of another bout coming.SO believe me, I know how you feel! :(

[Red931]

I understand how you feel, believe me. I am going to the doctor today myself just to get checked out. My Bradycardia got outof hand the night before last and I didn't get any sleep. I think for me it is going to be an adjustment in my medication.

I also have sleep apnea and stop breathing 40X after having the surgery. I sleep with a CPAP and I love it. It is a lifesaver.

I hope you feel better.

Dino

[jsuter69]

Thanks for your letter, my gosh, you sound just like me!! Wow, my twin...lol...I'm joking now but when I have one of "those" episodes , laughing is the LAST thing on my mind, I can go from being extremely happy and energetic to laying in bed in 0-60 flat, once those darn things start happening, I just want to scream!
And thank you for the compliment on my boyfriend, he truly is the greatest man EVER!!
Yeah, the working sure isn't easy,I'm so afraid to even go, I work in a skilled nursing home, and as soon as I start lifting the residents and giving baths, dressing and changing their depends,my heart is racing like crazy, that's another thing, I'm extremely out of shape,I want to exercise but sometimes the pounding heart and palps are just way to much for me, how am I suppose to get into shape when my heart rate is suppose to be elevated but mine goes overboard....and let me tell you, I can't even catch my breath for at least an hr afterwards.....and I'm suppose to be healthy....lol

[SassyLassie]

No, the PAC's do not feel the same every time, that is why they scare me so badly. I fear always that the holter monitor did not pick up what it should have.

Your boy-friend sounds really amazing, it is wonderful that he keeps a good attitude with all his health issues.

I always worry too that when I get these "flutters" that my heart will not straighten itself back to regular rhythm, and the more anxious I get the worse I worry and the feelings are worse as well.

I am supposed to start school in June to be a Medical Assistant, I am glad most of it is done at home on-line,however, there will be times when I have to be in class for the practicals, and it is those times I am worried about. I am so afraid of having an attack while out in public, I have to make myself take walks, etc, and the entire time, I feel like a time bomb, I pray like crazy the entire time, it helps some, but, I still get really uptight, which usually will lead to those dang PAC's.

Going to work would be sooo hard for me, if I could even do it, I just know that when I got home, I, too, would sit all day on the couch and watch TV and worry. So, you are NOT alone in this. I will sure keep you in my prayers, it WILL get better, and I keep telling myself that, sometimes it even works. :)

Hugs
Susie

[jsuter69]

Sassie-When you get your PVC's, do they ALWAYS feel the same? I get PAC's and PVC's, and mine hardly ever feel the same...it's very disturbing, because sometimes I get the very frightening ones,like I did yesterday,where it feels like the arrhythmia ISN'T going to correct itself, my boyfriend is wonderful, and he has heart disease,atheroscelerosis(sp), and has had 3 heart attacks, and was just really diagnosed with sleep apnea, he stops breathing 45x an hr!! And he is so happy go lucky, very mild tempered, great sense of humor, you would never know how sick he's been....here I am trying to go to nursing school and I'm afraid to go and now I've started working 3rd shift, and I'm afraid to go....wish I could go and NOT worry about my heart and it's craziness,I swear yesterday,I just knew my heart wasn't going to recover and I was going to die, so what did I do after that "episode", sat around worrying all weekend, and now I'm worrying going to work and when I return, my heart seems to act when I'm tired, so I'm just scared all the way around....need prayers and strength...please....God Bless You! Thanks for listening....
Red-The heart NOT correcting itself is what scares the begeeezus outta me...I can feel my heart acting up when I'm sleeping and sometimes even when I first wake up...sick of it! When my heart acted up yesterday,I swear it felt like my heart wasn't going to recover, I hate being scared, but if my heart just skipped a beat and it was over,I think I could handle it but mine doesn't, it skips,pauses and beats erratically,like it's a waterbed,no specific rhythm....I do get panic attacks,but they usually happen AFTER my heart episode, I get really scared during and afterwards, afterwards because I wonder if it's going to happen again....and if this time is the one time it's NOT going to recover,I swear I feel like I need a pacemaker, but apparently my heart is "structurally normal" , I guess that means I'm safe.....I'm just very skeptical of that observation....

[SassyLassie]

I have had days like that, where I just sit inside and watch TV because I am afraid to do anything else. I get so angry at myself. I am sure your boyfriend understands, mine has to if he wants to be with me, LOL, I must drive him nuts at times.

When I get an especially weird feeling PVC, I will sit up straighter, cough, or something, like Red said, it is almost a reflex, you have to do something, you cannot sit there and let it have its way. I hate the ones where my tummy drops or it feels like it is stopping for a second then hits hard and starts up, ugh, they stink!!

Keep writing, I know when I post here, it does help, it is a release, and we all need that. I am sure thankful for this forum, it is a gift from the Lord in my opinion.

[Red931]

It is your body's natural reflex to make you sit up to get the heart rythem normal again. That is why I am puzzled as to why people die in their sleep.

My cardiologist says that most people that die in their sleep is due to heart attack but that there are people that die in their sleep due to different types of arrythmias that are bad enough that they don't corerect themselves and the person doesn't wake up.

That said he didn't make me feel any better.

I have found that when the symptoms present themselves as they did today that a few good hard coughs makes it go away.

As Sassy said the problem becomes worse because of the anxiety that comes along with it. You could be coming down with a cold and the symptoms from that get your mind thinking that it is something more serious.

Apparently we all feel better talking about it today and that is what this forum is for.

Talk to ya all later.

[jsuter69]

Sassie-Hey! Nice to hear from you! My gosh, I haven't been this scared in a long time....I almost feel bad for my boyfriend, it was such a nice, beautiful day, he loves getting out and doing things, but me, I ruined it for him, I just stayed inside and watched my stupid Hallmark movies all day....lol...poor guy, but I think he understands,sorta....I do know the P.A said my heart was structurally normal, but does the mean that ANYTHING and EVERYTHING I feel is harmless? Either way, I was sure today was my last day...very frightening, especially when I get that rumbly heart feeling along with the faint like feeling...I'm toast!
Red-I don't really feel like I'm jumping out of bed, like the paralysis you sorta mentioned, when my heart starts beating all crazy,skipping and pausing and slowing down,it feels like it's all over the place, it does make me sit up, I sit up because I'm frightened and feel like it'll start beating in rhythm again if I "jolt" myself, I don't know, just wish I knew if it was deadly or not, and your right,we are still here but I'd much rather be happy and be here than like "sitting like a frightened mouse" on the edge of my couch...very disturbing......

[SassyLassie]

I get these "flutters" too. Sometimes for no apparent reason and believe me, they ARE scary. I have had all the tests, and they all are fine, so, I know they are benign, but, just the same, I get so scared, I am afraid to even go out of the house. I really hate it when I am relaxing, doing something I like, and they start up, talk about anxious and depressed. I, too, feel like I will never be normal when I get like this.

I will tell you one thing, lots of these feelings we get are related to anxiety, and the more anxious we get over the feelings, the worse they will get. It seems the two are directly connected. Oh yes, also, when I eat or drink water, they will act up more, so, I am now not a big fan of eating or having my water, which I need. Some of my problems are digestion related, I also have a hiatal hernia and this will cause some "flutters" too.

[Red931]

Well it has been hours and we are both still here to talk about it so I guess we are okay for now.

I know what you mean about wanting to feel nomal again and not scared. I have been going though it for a long time also.

Give me a shout anytime if you want to talk.

Dino

[jsuter69]

I am on Lopressor....extremely low dose(12.5mg)...but I only take it once a day and I didn't take it today, these weird scary slow beats aren't that unusual for me, I've got them like 5x before in the last 5yrs, so I'm thinking this is more than the Lopressor since I've only been on the heart med for a week now, I just wish I was wearing a heart monitor, I did for 30 days and what came up was PVC's,PAC's and found I have SVT, but none of which I felt showed up on the monitor, it happened AFTER I took the monitor off, my luck.....thanks for your concern, I hope you get to feeling better also....just want to be "normal"......and NOT scared anymore!

[Red931]

I had a similar experience right about the same time. I have Bradycardia from one of my blood pressure medications.

I was sitting in bed and watching Gordon Ramsay and all of a sudden I had this involuntary jumping up of my body and the sensation of shortness of breath. It was similar to sleep paralysis the way I jumped up.

I checked my pulse and blood oxygen level with my Oximeter and the numbers were the usual. 98 and 62. Although for my pulse to get up to 62 these days that is high.

My pulse is back down to 51 as I am typing this but I have had it in the high 40's for about a year. I feel normal now except for some fatigue. I can't expalin it either.

The doctor said I don't have to go to the hospital unless it drops into the 30's so I guess I'm okay. If I get up and move around my pulse gets up into the 60's and I am not dizzy or breathless. My BP is 117/61.

Are you taking any medications that will affect your heart rate for any of your conditions?

This could be your problem if you are. I know that it is mine and the fact that I have been sedentary for a long period due to surgery.

I hope you feel better.

[jsuter69]

Thank you...I'm trying to watch the Hallmark channel, sitting in bed, "trying" to think of more pleasant things....I'm upset with myself because I feel like my whole day is ruined, and it's so nice and warm outside right now, but I'm scared it'll happen again, it's like I'm just sitting around waiting for "death".....sorry but it's like, why carry on with my day "if" it's just going to happen again, sorry don't mean to sound so pathetic.....just worried and frightened....