Extrasystoles are back! :S

[sleepsleep]

Hey, so have written in this section before, so hope youll allow me to do so again.

I have what I try to simply call "extrasystoles"- (try not to call em PVC PAC or anything like that cause it just confuses me :/ ).

But yeah. No secret that I suffer from anxiety, so this issue bugs me allot and takes the place as the biggest effect on my anxiety.

(Firmly believe that did I not have any symptoms involving the heart, I would be in a much better state of mind)-

Anyways. . . I have been waiting for a letter to drop telling me when to show up for a stress test.
(which im still unsure ive gotten due to me buggin the doctor with some info I gathered about extra systoles or it was because it might be a good idea. )
Finally got the letter and just waiting 12 days now to get some info on how my heart works. . . Well when its working.  
(had ECG done and Holter in the past which seamed fine).

But for about a week I really didnt have ANY extrasystoles. Maybe one, but was even unsure if it was a extrasolar or just AIR pressing its way up around the same area.
(I feel the need to burb allot at times- Guessing that the effect of some reflux thing. )

But yeah. . .About a week with no extrasystoles and was pretty happy about that.-
(I kinda figured it was anxiety related at that time since I had started thinking in a other pattern-)

When talking with Anxiety "specialists", they tend to try and learn you to try and "convince" yourself that everything is okay. That you should try and think about something else. And just try and say " ahh its nothing, I have been checked. " .

Which is fine, but for someone like me with anxiety, its kinda hard to just "convince" yourself with data you dont really trust.

So instead I tried to think in a different patter. "Ive had this for about 6-7 years. And I havent dropped yet and nothing has happened"-

That being a fact to me since I KNOW this, I think makes it easier to "convince" myself that Im right.

(not sure if that makes sense to anyone :S )

But anyway. Was pretty happy about it for the last 7 days or so. . . Then. . . .  Today I was kinda debating with a guy over the phone about a big*** bill i got and suddenly BANG. The feeling of getting punched in the chest.

Think that it returning kinda out of the blue (which it always does i guess) after a good period like that.- kinda got the best of me. . .now yet again I cant get it out of my head.  

But yeah. Just really need some mental aid/ reassurance about this.
Even if your someone who has replied before. . . Please do again. I love to get more knowledge and any words could help my mind.

Thing is that i kinda made the wrong move of researching extrasystoles online.
While my doc always (for those 6-7 years) has told me. . . Its nothing- A normal condition thats harmless.
I kinda found info suggesting that, thats not always the case.
That in some percentage it could be a sign of something else. And a nurse who told me once that it depends on where they are coming from. (think it was the front chamber, if they came from there i was okay)-

Also reading that its most common to get the at recovery when doing workout and not during (as i do mostly). . . Is the best sign. . . .

Yeah it bugs me, can you tell? :)

But ill stop here.
Hope to see some replies from you guys.
I know this all might seam a bit silly to people who have "actual" medical conditions. And i actually agree.
But nonetheless this is a big issue for me.

Hope you all have a good day and weekend.
SS.

[sleepsleep]

yeah well im more or less just waiting for the 12th this month to go do a stress test- which i really think i will benefit from- (knowing it has been monitored while its working and not just resting. ) So feel like If i can jump on that bike and paddle away and they say "oh there was a extra-systole, but it looks good)  then i think i can start relaxing a bit more about it. So 10 days and counting.

[ireneo]

You're welcome. I've said this before but I'll say it again - I think I'm one of the lucky ones because I've had it all my life. It seems normal to me and it doesn't stress me out. I can't imagine how hard it must be for people who have a quiet heart for years and then suddenly have it thumping and jumping about. Such a drastic change.

Always feel free to drop in and let everyone know how things are going. And if your heart starts acting differently, be sure to call your doctor. That's what I did when mine went into hyper-drive. I got the same old story but it gave me peace of mind that nothing terrible was going on.

[sleepsleep]

thanks allot for the info. Yeah getting the "get a grip, you're fine" doesn't do much for someone experiencing these things. But helps allot to hear it the way you explain it.

I mean. . . since 2nd grade and you have had this for many years gives me more hope to both learn to trust that it aint a big issue and that I can learn to live with it. So very glad you could share this with me. Thank you.

[ireneo]

In case you're wondering, my heart hiccups on an average of 1 - 5 times a minute. I had a 5 month period of time a few years ago where it was producing 15-25 a minute and I was grumpy. They were hitting unusually hard instead of the usual flip and they kept me awake at night. I wore the monitor, they said it was just PAC's/PVC's and that was that. They eventually settled down again. My PSVT is variable. If I have it, I'll have a few in one day. Typically that happens just a day or two a week.

[ireneo]

And sometimes a person just saying "get a grip, you're fine" is very irritating. People don't want to hear about these things unless they live with them.  I do trust my doctor's input because he specializes in this arrhythmia mess. The other cardiologist I have seen is just so-so. I'm not real confident in him.

My first memory of arrhythmia was about 2nd grade, so about 7 years old. I would be sitting at my little desk practicing my  penmanship and suddenly my heart would start racing and beating real hard. It would make my body bounce back and forth. I would lean back away from the desk, embarrassed that someone saw that. I've learned that nobody really cares. LOL

My arrhythmias include extrasystoles (PVC and PAC), PSVT (a type of atrial tachy that just turns itself on and off at will, rates 150 -198 bpm for me). I've had 3 ablations to correct the PSVT but it's still there, just not as bad. They also found some atrial flutter. As far as I know, that one is gone. I've had some mysterious brady where my heart rate drops to about 1/2 speed and I come close to passing out. But I haven't passed out yet so I'm good. And the occasional chest pain which may just be vasospasms. I don't know, don't care.

And now I'm 58, pushing 59. Been married forever it seems, have 3 grown kids and have worked with wildlife for 20 years. In spite of my strange heart I've been living a pretty good life. Have I climbed mountains or run marathons? No but I can live without those.

[sleepsleep]

Thanks for the reply. But sure every single word helps. I just think a person such as me with anxiety, sometimes just needs someone from the outside to say "your okay, relax"- Cause its hard to battle with your own thoughts without input from outside if you get what I mean.


But you say 50 years? And thats Extrasystoles or something similar?

[ireneo]

You are always welcome to post here: questions, comments, having a bad day. There are some people who have been on the forum for years. Feel free to talk when you need to.

I understand the idea that if you've had them this long and are still alive, that's a good thing. That's how I feel about my erratic heart. I've had mine for over 50 years and I'm still kicking. My heart has good days and bratty days but I keep moving.

As for when the heart hiccups, during or after exercise, I don't know what the doctors think is normal. I only know my "normal" is goofy heartbeats any time it feels like doing it. My heart has a mind of its own. I know some things will trigger it like fatigue, heat, stress, alcohol, exertion. I avoid what I can and live with the rest. And some times the heart goes flippity flop while I'm reading a book. For me I look at them like hiccups. They pop up whenever and go away whenever.

Not sure any of this helps you but I hope today is better for you and your heart.