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Strange "drop" feeling in chest

Hi. I have a fairly involved question, so please bear with me. I was recently diagnosed as having panic attacks by my primary care physician. I am 24, recently returned to college. Before I went to school, I had none of the problems I am about to describe.

My feelings of being weirded out first started when my left arm and hand started going numb. Doctor said it was due to neck spasms. Next, different things started to pop up. I definitely have panic attacks (periods of racing heartbeat, shortness of breath, tightness in my chest, nausea, etc) but I also have a strange feeling in my chest 95% of the day. It feels sort of hollow all the time, and every two minutes or so I will have a feeling like a "drop" or almost like a shock in my chest. I have had PVCs (all the time) for at least 5 years, and it almost feels like a more severe one of these. When I'm having this problem, I also have difficulty swallowing and can sort of feel the swallow going all the way down. The drop feeling is worse when I bend over or crouch down.

I went to the cardiologist last week and he did an echo and said I have a perfectly normal heart. He prescribed alprazolam for the panic attacks. What I can't make anyone understand is that even when I'm not having an "attack" I still feel icky inside. I take my pulse a thousand times a day and it varies from 58-85 when at rest, depending on the time of day. Also, I wake up in the middle of the night feeling like my heart is barely beating (super slow) and I can't breathe.

I have been experiencing terrible insomnia, mostly due to the fact that I am terrified I'm dying. There are sometimes periods of days with no sleep whatsoever (it's 4am as I type this!). My main concern is that I could have a heart condition that would not be easily identified just with the echo. I haven't passed out or had trouble exerting myself or anything, but when I feel this way I don't want to do anything but be perfectly still and I can't stop thinking about it.

It also seems to perhaps be connected to food. I used to love eating and look forward to it and my family really based a lot of our good times around meals, but now food sickens me. When I'm hungry I get the "drop" feeling, then I think if I eat it will go away, but it doens't and sometimes actually worsens. Then I think perhaps I need to use the bathroom, and I either will go and be sick to my stomach or not be able to go. I have never had problems with my bathroom habits before, but haven't been "regular" in over a month now.

I want so much for this just to be anxiety and for it to go away naturally. People tell me to think of something else and it's just my "panic attacks" but when you have physical symptoms that are very bothersome and constant, it's hard to just turn it on and off. Please let me know if there is anything else this sounds like, or if I should just trust my cardiologist and take my xanax and try to find some counseling.

PS - Additional info about the alprazolam. It's only .25 mg, and I've taken it twice. The first time it didn't seem to do much. It definitely calmed me, but didn't help with the hollow chest/drop feeling. Tonight I took it and actually experienced some relief. I was able to go out with friends and be very productive. However, once I went to sleep I kept waking up and my heart rate was very low. I don't know if this is because of the xanax, but it was very scary and has kept me awake.

I'm sorry to post all this, but I have been to the doctor multiple times and they are very helpful but I never leave fully satisfied. I'm really scared and this is interfering with my school work and social life severely.
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Avatar universal
I have the same feeling, with me it started like i was having a heart attack, i was so scared and could not breath. Every day i was feeling like i was about to die out of nowhere. I went to the doctor he said it was anxiety i was feeling that drop in the chest i was never relaxed then continued convincing me that i have throat cancer ... just as i moved out of it i was thinking about the lung cancer i am so not relaxed i dont know what to do ... any one felt like this before, please help me
Helpful - 1
1 Comments
Same thing with me. It's a terrifying feeling and every time I think back to having those feelings I feel stupid and weak. I ended up in the mental ward at least 3 times when I was having a panic attack and thought it was a heart attack. Now I know that in order to relieve it (naturally), I have to first realize that I'm having a panic attack. Next, I identify 3 things with each of my 5 senses--3 things I can touch, hear, taste, see, and smell. It helps to relieve my panic and anxiety, and I try to distract myself when I start to overanalyze everything my body is feeling. If you die, you just die--It wouldn't be painful because most people say it's like falling asleep. Whatever comes next is unknown and I apologize if I've offended your religious or spiritual beliefs.
Avatar universal
Could be vagus nerve stimulation through digestive issues or postural problems.. when your anxious you get tight and it aggravates it further... also anxiety messes up your digestive system cortisol reponse its just a huge chain reaction. I had some **** like that for a bit but now I get that drop feeling maybe once every 2 weeks and its from indigestion.. I also fixed myself using marijuana though.. be careful if your going to self medicate though for anxious people it can be scary until you get used to being high.. (it helps bc marijuana helps with digestive issues, stress and posture) And theres other options like fix your diet, exercise work on muscle imbalances and get busy with life and stop focusing on your body/ stressing out over it.. You have to remember its just an annoyance and nothing is wrong with you.
Stay strong one day you'll forget you ever had this ****** period if you learn to move on..  
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
Did anybody figure what the strange drop feeling is in the chest
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
I’ll get random lo blood pressure 90/41 with bpm between 45-111
This all started after my 4 year hard alcohol binge. One night snsudden sharp, fast, 1 second long electric shock type feeling in my heart. Made me jump. Toss remote. Run to grab cayenne to help blood flow, hands shaking etc...since then this drop feeling. Random times. Especially rolling in bed fast.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
My doctor said when that happens just to music but its not that easy .
Talkin to myself help
Or having someone on the phone
Talking to me but it's hard
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Avatar universal
Thanks for posting this koz people think that I am crazy koz the say I look good there is nothing wrong with me
And it's not true this symptom takes my life
I am scared to to do things
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
It is absolutely insane how you have described my symptoms to a T!!!! I was diagnosed with Panic Disorder about a year ago and have been on Sertraline (Zoloft) ever since. It helps me a lot and I have less panic but I do still dive so deep into my mind with every heart beat I feel and every flutter. My HR can be as low as 48 sometimes and I just don't wanna move either... I am 29 and this all started for me because I would wake up in the middle of the night and feel like my heart was racing but in reality, I had a normal HR and then the panic attack would hit. I never think I'm dying in the moment and during the attacks I'm relatively calm physically but I am afraid I will die soon and my heart will fail me soon. Eating helps but eating too much or greasy foods etc, can cause palpable beats naturally. When I'm active, I feel best because I think I'm preoccupied. It's funny because my fingers are on my throat a million times a day and I check my fit but an unhealthy amount as though I can do something in the moment. I always just self talk myself into disparity and feel pains that bounce around my chest and neck and heart burn and GERD and constopation that turns to diarrhea. I also have sleep apnea which doesn't help. Every time I got to the doctor they say I have a textbook heart and everything's fine. So perhaps we should trust our doctors and not google the life out of ourselves.. maybe we're spending so much time being afraid that dying wouldn't matter much anyways... sometimes I just hope I have a heart attack and then it would just be done and then I panic and freak out and back to square one... I don't know if this helped but it helps me to know that other people have the same thing.. so yeah.. I hope everything works out! Good luck!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have  lots of these symptoms does that mean I have anxiety  
Helpful - 0
19745875 tn?1483638911
ooooof. how awful! I feel your pain. I have health anxiety in combo with PVC's and I've been able to convince myself of some real doozies over the last decade. When I'm going through an anxious time in my life (going back to school would qualify) I can manifest all types of strange symptoms. Did your cardiologist run a holter on you? if not, that could help to ease your mind. I think it's important to seek that peace of mind, but also be reasonable in your quest. At some point we have to learn to trust our doctors and to try and relinquish control on issues that are out of our hands. easier said than done, I'm still working on that myself. I'm sure it helps to know that you are not alone.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hey, I've been having this exact feeling too and I'm only 15 years old. It really scares me when I get that "drop" feeling in my chest and it keeps me from sleeping. I believe I have anxiety, because I'm always worrying about everything, but I haven't been diagnosed with anything. My mom told me the feeling I get in my chest is just heart palpitations which is something I get with my Anemia because I am anemic. But it still scares me and I get it randomly. Sometimes I will get pain in my heart too and I just get so scared. I don't know what to do. If anyone has any ideas on what this could be, I would love to read it. Any advice or information will be helpful. Thanks. Glad I'm not the only one feeling this! Just hoping its nothing serious.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
could be MVP Mitral valve prolapse. This is when the valve that feeds your heart is further down into the heart rather than back up in the artery. sometimes with heavy work or even crouching down will cause what they call regurgitation. this is when the blood from the chamber flows backwards out the in valve. this created a pulling sensation on the sides of the heart wall giving you a :bump:feeling.  This issue is not uncommon and usually is be-nine. however in severe cases it can result in the need for a valve transplant.
this issue is hard for the doctor to diagnose being usually when your at the doctor this issue isn't showing its self. I myself got them to attach the heart monitor then crouched down a few times so they could record it.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
You have just described ME! I am 65 years old and have been putting up with this for years. But I do not have panic attacks nor ever taken Xanax or anything else. I was diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse when I was very young, so I have attributed it to that. The only other thing I do is to cough several times when it is bad. It does seem to help as though it is jetting my heart back to normal.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I think the feeling we're all having is related to the central nervous system. I was on Ativan for the past few months. I passed out and had a seizure which has lead me to severe anxiety and depression. I've been in bed for the past few months due to the depression... it's been horrible. But back to the drop feeling, I didn't have it when I was on the Ativan. Had it before, and I just recently weened off Ativan and now I have it again.

I say it must be caused by the nervous system because Ativan suppresses the central nervous system which is what helps you relax when severely anxious. Since mine disappeared while on Ativan and came back after I quit I figure that's gotta be it. Doesn't mean everyone's is the same thing but most of the descriptions I've read are the same. So anything like Ativan, Xanax, Klonopin... benzos should provide relief. Problem is benzos can be real dangerous if taken long term... so be careful. I had pretty bad withdrawal from low dose Ativan I only took for a few months. Great drugs but they can cause serious problems if your body becomes dependent.

Take care and God bless
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
i know what youre feeling. i know exactly how you are feeling. the heart feels like its barely beating and you cry because you dont know what to do. i get these when i am severely depressed, or feel like i want to die. i feel hopeless. i feel numb. tell me. are you depressed? do you feel depressed but think you are fine? i get what you mean. you try to breath, but you cant seem to get enough air in your lungs. your heart feels like its slowing down immensely. i have been researching and i think this might be heart palpitations. and if you feel this again, to call 911 immediately. i will get back to you soon about if it can actually kill you but if its so serious to call 911 then i think there is a possibility of death. email me
***@****
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
This is a terrible answer. This person is very likely not dying... also heart palpitations do not require you to immediately call 911, stop scaring people.
Avatar universal
I'm going threw the i been to many off doctor heart doctor i had 24 days montor what can it be can somebody explain
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Hormones caused from stres/chronic stress/ptsd can cause this. If you cannot cure yourself through living stress free, exercising daily, and eating properly then find an anti-depressant/anti anxiety that works for you until you can get your life into a better state.
Avatar universal
I'm going threw the same drop feeling so did you figure out what it was and if so what did they do
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I think I should try one and I'm sure the cardiologist would go for that.  Also, maybe a stress test in the office would catch one or 2 during a cool down like I have been feeling lately.

From what I'm reading, AVNRT and PVCs are typically not life threatening, but if my Myocarditis is back, that can be if not treated.  I gotta get back in there and figure this out!
Helpful - 0
1464004 tn?1384135733
Have you ever worn a Holter monitor? I get that dropped feeling from some of my PVCs. (They don't all feel the same) they are quite benign but extremely bothersome, maybe you could ask your doc if you should wear one. The Holter is a 24 to 48 hour monitor but there are ones you can wear upwards of a month and they will usually catch whatever's up if you wear one that long.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I, too, searched for "heart drop" and it led me hear as well.  I'm 32, and in decent shape.  less than 2 years ago, I had Myocarditis (an infection in the heart muscle that leads to the immune system inflaming the heart causing arrhythmia).  Went to the ER a couple days after the symptoms were already gone due to my Doctors Troponin level testing.  I felt find.  They thought I was having a Heart Attack, so a heart Cath was performed, was in the ER for 3 days and let out with "yes, you must have had a heart attack.  we don't see it, but it must be there".  A cardiac MRI was performed by a much better Cardiologist a month or 2 later to reveal Myocarditis.  During that 2 months, I talked to server docs that said, "it's anxiety".  I wanted to slap them.  And the medications from the first cardiologist  (Anti-Inflammatory and low dose blood pressure meds working) had my heart rate up from low 50s to anywhere between 80 and 90 resting.  Blood pressure through the roof, felt like my head was going to pop off.  Thank God for Dr. D!  He took me off that and put me on a high Aspirin regimen to control the inflammation.

I had chest sensations for over 2 years.  I believe I developed indigestion and even confused this with heart sensations as well.  For the most part, these have subsided.  I feel good.  With the exception of the "Drop" feeling.  I thought it may be associated with heart rate and blood pressure changes from THC, so I quit.  But I still get them.  AS stated by some, when bending over and sitting.  Just got back from a run, hadn't felt them all day, then happened about 4 times.  I'm convinced it is AVNRT at this point.  Maybe just 1 chamber, who knows.  I'm scheduling another follow-up with the Cardiologist and will request a Halter monitor if it doesn't happen when in the office.

But the Anxiety?  Yeah, I'm sure I have developed some anxiety throughout this whole ordeal.  But I'm so far away from anxious after running 2 or 3 miles.  Definitely wasn't anxious after catching a buzz from marijuana (I quit if  you missed that above).  And that's when it has happened the last couple times as well as just doing some common chores with my mind on nothing else.  So it isn't anxiety doing this.  No way.
Helpful - 0
1423357 tn?1511085442
With the exception of Jerry_NJ whi is a regular, I haven't seen any of these people post in a very long time.  But that's ok, because you're still not alone.  There's are bunch of us on here that have or have had problems similar to the ones being discussed here.  It is amazing when you see people discussing the same symptoms you're feeling and have thought you were the only one feeling them.  In my 54 year that I had my cardiac problem, I never met anyone else who had it. When I joined this forum, I ran into scores of people from all over the world with the same exact thing.  It's great to compare notes.  Hang around!
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Avatar universal
It really is great to learn that I am not alone...is anyone still on here?
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Avatar universal
Wow, count me in for that strange heart drop feeling. I'm a 25 year old female. I first experienced it two years ago after a traumatizing breakup. For that whole summer, I must've experienced this heart drop feeling over 100 times a day. It was continuous and extremely uncomfortable. Currently, I don't experience it as much but I do get it a few times a week. I had a job interview the other day and for the past few days, the drop feeling has returned. I'm assuming it is triggered by anxiety or some sort of stress? It's not painful and doesn't last for more than a second but I absolutely hate it every time it happens. I'm so glad to know I'm not the only one who experiences this.

Sometimes, I wake up in the middle of the night because I feel like I'm not breathing enough; like I've been holding my breath unconsciously while sleeping. I wonder if that's connected to the previously mentioned drop feeling? I also have a fear of going out to public places by myself. I have this strange feeling that people are judging me or I'm going to run into someone I know.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Amazing , I was trying to describe the feeling I get, and yes it felt like my heart dropped and I have to grab my chest and catch a breath. My left hand has been quite uncomfortable and tingle... so I think silly things, Parkinsons, heart attack, stroke..... so off to Google "heart drop" and here it is!
I have suffered from terrible anxiety for many years and it looks as though this is it, I have suffered most of the above symptoms and yes, I panic.
I am medicated for depression and high blood pressure... and I am due for a check up... but my anxiety has peaked. I will try the breathing exercises and I also use a calm spray which seems to see stop the drop happening every couple of minutes... good to know I'm not going mad!!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I feel exactly like this. i cannot believe it, everything you said was the same as it is for me, down to the 025 alprazolam. I see this was posted in 08 i would really like to know if you ever found anything wrong with you, or if it was the panic attacks.

I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you.
Helpful - 0
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