Aa
Constantly terrified.. afraid to live my life...
Ok.. this might sound strange.. but.. about a few month ago...i wore a 24 hour holter... i was prviously dx with 2nd degree heart block.. and this was just a test to re do as it was over 7 years ago... since then had a stress test about 8 months ago.. and multiple EKG's.. all normal. Due to panicing on the treadmill... ( the bar was too high and i slipped.. freaked out.. and surpassed my 160 target heart rate..lol. I got up to 184... and then kept going.. but then due to fear... stopped.. the tech then gave me an ultrasound as he did before the test.. and checked my bp.. all those things.. the results.. even though i had stopped.. were all normal.
ok.. i have had a MAJOR amount of stress this past year. but.. i NEVER expected this. i had the holter.. ( for my sanity i think to ensure all was well.. and because i had 2 high CRP hs results.. which showed inflammation.. anyway... i also had a heart saver CT, which that result. was a zero. so.. ok there..
well.. i went to get my results from the most recent holter... and my cardiologist said.. well.. your test shows about 1100 PAC's in a 24 hour period.. and RARE pvc's. your fine.. i then asked her about the heart block.. and she said.. NOPE. you dont have that... at all.. no indication of heart block at all .. so thats great she said.. shen then went back to the older holter results and was like... hmm.. well. nomre heart block! but you do have PAC's. and rare PVC's.
a few months before the holter... i would wke up.. annd have runs of fips and flops.. only when i got up an moved around... it scared me .. because i was confounded as to why. I ket thinking.. ohhh..i might have an infection in my heart.. ( docs said no due to EKG result) i thought.. something is going on !! which then took me to get the holter.
now to the present. i am a walking nightmare. i have stopped swimming... i have stopped walking.. and am terrified. when I lie back.. i rarely EVER hav PAC's.. EVER. but when i get up... BAM.. there they are.
DOes anyone have t his as well?? i have become terrified .. b ecause its not going away.. and i feel so exausted all the time.. i do have hypothyroid.. and my blood test came out all screwed up. I do not eat bad at all.. i drink plenty of water.. i take magnesium, calcium.. and juice with potassium. Can someone please help me. i am not usually this freaked out.. i cant lean forward without my heart plunging.. ( thats what it feels like) ( like i am on a roller coaster, dipping way low, and you get that woosh feeling in your heart stomach area.)
i cant do this.. i cant live my life this way. i went from swimming regularly, walking... to what I am now.. terrified, wondering where to turn ... wondering should i ask for a ultrasound to check my heart????????
my blood pressure runs about 110/75 to say about 96/58. I have checked orthostatics.. that seems to be ok...except for the rise in my heart rate when i stand.
im just a mess. and here i thought i was doing ok.
ok.. i have had a MAJOR amount of stress this past year. but.. i NEVER expected this. i had the holter.. ( for my sanity i think to ensure all was well.. and because i had 2 high CRP hs results.. which showed inflammation.. anyway... i also had a heart saver CT, which that result. was a zero. so.. ok there..
well.. i went to get my results from the most recent holter... and my cardiologist said.. well.. your test shows about 1100 PAC's in a 24 hour period.. and RARE pvc's. your fine.. i then asked her about the heart block.. and she said.. NOPE. you dont have that... at all.. no indication of heart block at all .. so thats great she said.. shen then went back to the older holter results and was like... hmm.. well. nomre heart block! but you do have PAC's. and rare PVC's.
a few months before the holter... i would wke up.. annd have runs of fips and flops.. only when i got up an moved around... it scared me .. because i was confounded as to why. I ket thinking.. ohhh..i might have an infection in my heart.. ( docs said no due to EKG result) i thought.. something is going on !! which then took me to get the holter.
now to the present. i am a walking nightmare. i have stopped swimming... i have stopped walking.. and am terrified. when I lie back.. i rarely EVER hav PAC's.. EVER. but when i get up... BAM.. there they are.
DOes anyone have t his as well?? i have become terrified .. b ecause its not going away.. and i feel so exausted all the time.. i do have hypothyroid.. and my blood test came out all screwed up. I do not eat bad at all.. i drink plenty of water.. i take magnesium, calcium.. and juice with potassium. Can someone please help me. i am not usually this freaked out.. i cant lean forward without my heart plunging.. ( thats what it feels like) ( like i am on a roller coaster, dipping way low, and you get that woosh feeling in your heart stomach area.)
i cant do this.. i cant live my life this way. i went from swimming regularly, walking... to what I am now.. terrified, wondering where to turn ... wondering should i ask for a ultrasound to check my heart????????
my blood pressure runs about 110/75 to say about 96/58. I have checked orthostatics.. that seems to be ok...except for the rise in my heart rate when i stand.
im just a mess. and here i thought i was doing ok.
Hi.... Yes .... I was diagnosed with 2 nd degree av block about 7 years ago. Pvcs as well. I have had a stress test which was normal, even though I quit early.a second holter done a few months ago showed NO AV block.... but did show 1100 pac's in a 24 hour period... Mostly during the day time. It also showed rare pvcs. I asked my cardiologist if I needed to see an EP, but she told me it was not necessary. I asked how I could of had the av block years ago.... and not have it now.... she looked at my old results.....then looked at the latest and said .... This just happens sometimes. I will add that at that time when I had the first holter.... I was undiagnoses hashis and hypothyroid. Ultrasound before and directly after stress test showed. No abnormalities.
Have you ever been diagonosed with a heart issue?Do you have a good ep doctor that can put you on a events recorder to see if it truely is a heart issue. I was put on one for 30 days,but it only took 2.5 weeks for an episode of svt to happen. I have atrial tach (svt) ,and afib.Thats how I found out what I have.You have all these different ideas going through your head of what it could be,and that alone can cause palps and anxiety.I know Ive dealt with this problem for over 15 years, but dont let it control my life. Dont let it take control of yours .
Hi everyone first off let me say thankyou. Only place I can come to see that I am not so alone . My thyroid levels are out of whack .... Which also affect my digestion . My ft4 is normal.... My t3 is normal .... But that has only been recently... My tsh has been very off it's at 14 ....(last blood draw weeks ago ) ref range was 0.1 to 4.5..... I've always been able tofind my center in the past... But this is crazy.... I read alot about hiatal hernias .... Stress... Anxiety.... And eosoughigitis (sp)
Last night... I chewed on two tums and stated drinking alot of water.... this helped ...but did not elevate the pac's . I'm going to make an app to see my gastro.... And start using maalox and or gaviscon. This is definitely stomach esoughogeal vagal related.....I also have found that once it starts.... I get very scared..... my stress level has been through the roof.... And I def believe in just because you feel fine at the moment.... My heart... Stomach and brain have different ideas. I'm seeing my dodo on Friday... Going to ask her to check my adrenals... And all that... It just simply amazes me how the heart is sooooooooo connected to so many things that you would never expect . I thank you all fooooo much for your encouraging words....although I feel alone.... I know I'm not the only one.... I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy....and I feel for you all that you all go through similar symptoms.... I'll keep you updated.... And do my best to keep my chin up.....can't keep any promises though,.... I still feel like I'm on egg shells ... It's 1000... And I'm still in bed...fearing moving about. Lol arrrrrrrrrrggggg
Last night... I chewed on two tums and stated drinking alot of water.... this helped ...but did not elevate the pac's . I'm going to make an app to see my gastro.... And start using maalox and or gaviscon. This is definitely stomach esoughogeal vagal related.....I also have found that once it starts.... I get very scared..... my stress level has been through the roof.... And I def believe in just because you feel fine at the moment.... My heart... Stomach and brain have different ideas. I'm seeing my dodo on Friday... Going to ask her to check my adrenals... And all that... It just simply amazes me how the heart is sooooooooo connected to so many things that you would never expect . I thank you all fooooo much for your encouraging words....although I feel alone.... I know I'm not the only one.... I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy....and I feel for you all that you all go through similar symptoms.... I'll keep you updated.... And do my best to keep my chin up.....can't keep any promises though,.... I still feel like I'm on egg shells ... It's 1000... And I'm still in bed...fearing moving about. Lol arrrrrrrrrrggggg
Hello.
PACs are often underestimated on this forum - it seems people only think PVCs are bothersome or a problem. In fact they are wrong. PACs may feel disturbing as well, often more disturbing, because you can actually feel the misplaced beat, and depending on when in the cardiac cycle the PAC fires off, it can be experienced from nothing to completely violent.
Where PVCs often are constant (some people have them and some don't, but they don't necessarily vary so much from day to day in all of us), PACs are extremely sensitive to almost anything in the body, from mental stress (even if you're not aware of it, interesting example follows later in post), to caffeine, inflammations, hormones, etc.
I suffer from PACs too. In my case, I get them suppressed with beta blockers, but there was a terrorist attack 200 meters away from me (1 ton bomb) and as a manager at work I had to evacuate people. Somewhere in the process I measured my heart rate, it was fairly rapid (120-130) but completely regular. Later that evening, when I came home, watched TV, saw reports on 100 people killed, the PACs started to flare up in high numbers. So the underlying stress, rather than the acute stress, may cause them, where the sinus node is depressed (body tries to slow down) but adrenaline levels are still high. That's the trigger for PACs in lots of cases. Health anxiety may have the same effect.
My best way to treat them is, in addition to the small dosage of beta blockers my doctor gave me: Small meals, avoid variances in blood sugar, long relaxing walks (rather than intense exercise like running) and try to keep a happy and healthy lifestyle. After having some hundred thousands of PACs through the last years, I'm fairly certain they cause no harm (except short runs of rapid heart rate occationally).
You mention myocarditis. This will usually cause a flare-up in PVCs (especially during exercise) and it would usually be seen on EKG by a cardiologist. If you are anxious, ask your doctor for the following blood tests:
CRP
White blood count
LD
Troponine
And possibly an ultrasound of the heart.
By the way, are you sure your FT4 levels are fine? High thyroids are probably the worst trigger of PACs so you should make sure your thyroid levels are well regulated/controlled.
Best wishes!
PACs are often underestimated on this forum - it seems people only think PVCs are bothersome or a problem. In fact they are wrong. PACs may feel disturbing as well, often more disturbing, because you can actually feel the misplaced beat, and depending on when in the cardiac cycle the PAC fires off, it can be experienced from nothing to completely violent.
Where PVCs often are constant (some people have them and some don't, but they don't necessarily vary so much from day to day in all of us), PACs are extremely sensitive to almost anything in the body, from mental stress (even if you're not aware of it, interesting example follows later in post), to caffeine, inflammations, hormones, etc.
I suffer from PACs too. In my case, I get them suppressed with beta blockers, but there was a terrorist attack 200 meters away from me (1 ton bomb) and as a manager at work I had to evacuate people. Somewhere in the process I measured my heart rate, it was fairly rapid (120-130) but completely regular. Later that evening, when I came home, watched TV, saw reports on 100 people killed, the PACs started to flare up in high numbers. So the underlying stress, rather than the acute stress, may cause them, where the sinus node is depressed (body tries to slow down) but adrenaline levels are still high. That's the trigger for PACs in lots of cases. Health anxiety may have the same effect.
My best way to treat them is, in addition to the small dosage of beta blockers my doctor gave me: Small meals, avoid variances in blood sugar, long relaxing walks (rather than intense exercise like running) and try to keep a happy and healthy lifestyle. After having some hundred thousands of PACs through the last years, I'm fairly certain they cause no harm (except short runs of rapid heart rate occationally).
You mention myocarditis. This will usually cause a flare-up in PVCs (especially during exercise) and it would usually be seen on EKG by a cardiologist. If you are anxious, ask your doctor for the following blood tests:
CRP
White blood count
LD
Troponine
And possibly an ultrasound of the heart.
By the way, are you sure your FT4 levels are fine? High thyroids are probably the worst trigger of PACs so you should make sure your thyroid levels are well regulated/controlled.
Best wishes!
I understand exactly what you are going through.......interesting that you said you burp loud, my problems are centred in my digestive system I am certain - doctors are of mixed opinions but stomach problems affect heart rhythm. Was just watching TV and BUMP - FLOP. bam bam. Stood up, 2 big burps and it was over. I asways panic when it happens and have an adrenaline rush; hot, shaky and so on. I am a complete stress head with years of SVT's history but have been able to settle things down a lot by taking a low dose of Atenalol daily, (sometimes twice) and low dose valium on and off when I really feel bad. It took me a while to get used to the tenormin but I stuck with it and it has made 90% improvement to the SVT episodes. I went through a stage where even if I carved a meat with a carving knife say it triggered a run of SVT's. Anything physical at all. The tenormin and valium have worked wonders. Thats whi I panic when I have the odd BUMP like tonight because I (almost) forget about it and then it suddenly appears again.
Talk to the doc and see if Atenalol is OK for you and try it - take a small dose before bed time and it seems to calm your whole system down and help sleep. My worst time is when I bend over or twist, and also for the last couple of years laying in bed. Try not to panic (I should talk) because it's not going to kill us, and your heart isn't going to stop. Get some Valium and take a low dose now and then and I'm sure you will feel better and be able to start living a bit again.
Lets know how you get on. Good Luck, Kev
Talk to the doc and see if Atenalol is OK for you and try it - take a small dose before bed time and it seems to calm your whole system down and help sleep. My worst time is when I bend over or twist, and also for the last couple of years laying in bed. Try not to panic (I should talk) because it's not going to kill us, and your heart isn't going to stop. Get some Valium and take a low dose now and then and I'm sure you will feel better and be able to start living a bit again.
Lets know how you get on. Good Luck, Kev
when my husband listens to my heart.. he can "hear" the accelerated heart beat. its like my heart will be in a normal rythmn, then say... like in music.. if its in 4/4 time... like.. one... two ... three.... four..... thats normal.. my heart.. if i stoop over.. or walk.. will go bum bum one two three four bum bum one two three four bum bum one two BUM BUM.!!!
this is the ONLY way i know to describe it. its like a sudden acceleration of the heart beat. When i have PVC's, its like BUM BUM, BUM BUM>> WHACK A BACKA LACKS BUM BACKA.. but i dont have those very often. the scary thing is the woopty way the pacs makes me feel. i just feel like my doctors wont LISTEN. im TIRED. i cry at the drop of a hat. its NOT anxiety.. ity causes theanxietylike you said.. and then in turn.. makes it that much worse. you should hear me burp.. my gosh in gilliad.. its liike a fog horn. i THANK YOU BOTH for responding to me.. im just tired of thinking i have this under control then wham. something new.
this is the ONLY way i know to describe it. its like a sudden acceleration of the heart beat. When i have PVC's, its like BUM BUM, BUM BUM>> WHACK A BACKA LACKS BUM BACKA.. but i dont have those very often. the scary thing is the woopty way the pacs makes me feel. i just feel like my doctors wont LISTEN. im TIRED. i cry at the drop of a hat. its NOT anxiety.. ity causes theanxietylike you said.. and then in turn.. makes it that much worse. you should hear me burp.. my gosh in gilliad.. its liike a fog horn. i THANK YOU BOTH for responding to me.. im just tired of thinking i have this under control then wham. something new.
First of all, no big deal in the way you posted. I love this forum for the fact that we are all here to try and help each other out especially when we see that someone is at their wits end. We care and want to help!!!!
It sounds like you have issues that make other issues...the thyroid effecting the heart...the meds effecting rapid weight loss that for me would really effect the PACs....the anxiety of it all affecting the PACs. Are you feeling comfortable with the answers you're getting from your different doctors? It just seems like the chemistry in the body is out of whack and throws the heart into the flip flops. That's just my guess. Adrenalin from anxiety just stimulates the heart that much more adding insult to injury. Stress is the number one stimulator for my PACs. I think DeltaDawn had some great advice about the anxiety of it all.
One thing I've learned from reading other people's posts that has really impressed me is how resilient the heart is. It can take a beating! (no pun intended) Those PACs are really disturbing, because when they're at their worst you wonder if the heart is just going to stop during one of those long pauses. But it doesn't and won't! There are too many places in the heart that keep the electricity going. Trust you doctors that you're going to be okay.
It sounds like you have issues that make other issues...the thyroid effecting the heart...the meds effecting rapid weight loss that for me would really effect the PACs....the anxiety of it all affecting the PACs. Are you feeling comfortable with the answers you're getting from your different doctors? It just seems like the chemistry in the body is out of whack and throws the heart into the flip flops. That's just my guess. Adrenalin from anxiety just stimulates the heart that much more adding insult to injury. Stress is the number one stimulator for my PACs. I think DeltaDawn had some great advice about the anxiety of it all.
One thing I've learned from reading other people's posts that has really impressed me is how resilient the heart is. It can take a beating! (no pun intended) Those PACs are really disturbing, because when they're at their worst you wonder if the heart is just going to stop during one of those long pauses. But it doesn't and won't! There are too many places in the heart that keep the electricity going. Trust you doctors that you're going to be okay.
Im not getting rapid heart rate.. the highest its gone is about 85.... and.. even when i am in the throes of a massive pac attack.. along with the anxiety.. my blood pressure is like 106/72> i just dont understand this.. at all.
I can't comment on the validity of your cardiologist's diagnosis, but a lot of this sounds like anxiety, pure and simple. Well, maybe not so simple, but when you have a PAC, and become afraid, you start pumping out adrenaline. It fuels the rapid beats, fuels the anxiety and the fear. Can you get something for anxiety? I have had a lot of these symptoms and believe the heart issues precede the panic, but the panic/anxiety/adrenaline keeps it going. If you can do some deep breathing, meditation, visualize yourself in a peaceful place -- something to slow things down -- it might help a lot. I take Xanax, .25 mg. 1/2 tablet at a time. If you can distract yourself with something else it helps. I used to panic walking into work, and counting my steps helped, looking at the plants and landscaping helped. Anything to turn your mind away from what might happen. I also saw a shrink for a time and it was somewhat helpful. A good book is "The Sky is Falling." You should be able to find it at the library or online. You are way to young to feel your life is over. I hope some of this is helpful. Try to find some ways to control your symptoms instead of letting them control you -- when you focus on the symptoms it makes them worse. Act instead of reacting.
wow.. i am so sorry.. that i have put this in three posts.. this does show me how scattered i am .. and how scared i feel.. and how i really have to get this into some sort of perspective..
i also want to share that when my cardiologist was going over my holter results.. she was like.. wow.. your heart LOVES you when its beating frolm about 120-140.. your heart is perfect when its going at that rate.. but when it gets down to 80-100.. thats when you have the PAC's...
does this mean something? she didnt seem concerned AT ALL. But i have to tell you.. it scared me ... alot. i have since had EKG's.. my endo sent me to the ER when she saw me at her office for a blood draw.. EKG at ER was normal. CBC.. normal.. low end potassium normal.. sodium..low end normal. sorry for the multiple posts.
i also want to share that when my cardiologist was going over my holter results.. she was like.. wow.. your heart LOVES you when its beating frolm about 120-140.. your heart is perfect when its going at that rate.. but when it gets down to 80-100.. thats when you have the PAC's...
does this mean something? she didnt seem concerned AT ALL. But i have to tell you.. it scared me ... alot. i have since had EKG's.. my endo sent me to the ER when she saw me at her office for a blood draw.. EKG at ER was normal. CBC.. normal.. low end potassium normal.. sodium..low end normal. sorry for the multiple posts.
I forgot to add that i was placed on a different type of thyroid medication.. but this was WHILE i was experiencing the whole new pac thing... it was determined that it was not the medication for me.. and now i am on a compounded thyroid medication. I have lost 21 pounds in a a 3 week period.. which is NOT normal.. i had stopped eating .. due to the medication.. but.. the heart thing never changed.. one day i wouldnt feel anything at all. next day.. surprise surprise... welcome to terror. i believe thats why my blood pressure had dropped a bit.. ( due to the weight loss)
i am 5'2, and now i wieigh 128.. where .. before.. i was about 149. anyway..if you can. please help!!
i am 5'2, and now i wieigh 128.. where .. before.. i was about 149. anyway..if you can. please help!!
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