Hello,
I have been reading posts on this forum for a few days, and I decided to register because I think this is a very helpful site. Here is my situation. I am 29 yrs old, F, healthy weight, non-smoker/drinker, no caffeine, relatively active, and no family history of heart disease. I do have a STRONG family history of anxiety and panic attacks though. I also suffer from GAD, and although I have been in therapy, I have never tried medications. Well, last week, I woke up on a Sunday morning, and all the sudden I felt my heart just start beating really fast. It scared me so bad, that I sat up in bed, and literally just waited to fall over dead (I know that sounds extreme, but that's how I felt). My husband didn't know what to think! After a few minutes, it slowed back down, but not to my normal resting rate---or at least I don't think because I was just too scared to check my actual numbers. I was pretty shekn up by this, but got over it after a day or so. Then, the following Thursday, I woke up with the same thing. Except, this time, my HR just stayed elevated. Not as much as the initial episode, but enough for me to notice it. I layed around all morning, and finally around 1pm, I called my friend who took me to the ER. When I got there, my HR was about 140, and my BP was 157/94 (all of my vitals were up because I hate going to the hospital anyway). The docs checked me over, did an EKG and blood work to check my thyroid, and everything just came out normal. So...they gave me Ativan thru an IV and just told me that it was anxiety and I needed to just relax (yeah---easier said than done!). Eventually, I was knocked out and they sent me home with my hubby. Since then, the tachy/anxious feeling has never went away :(
Yesterday, I went to see a new doctor. She was very understanding, and felt that after talking to me, that indeed I was suffering from anxiety /panic and that perhaps I should try meds. She gave me .25 Klonopin and Celexa. I tried the Klonopin before bed last night, and I felt that my heart was beating out of my chest! I don't know if this was actually caused by the med, though, or the fact that I read it might be a side effect. I got some sleep, but I woke up this morning feeling extremely tachy and wound up, and I havent been able to shake the feeling all day. It sucks because I am fairly active, but right now I feel like every time I move, my heart just pounds really fast. And I CANNOT stop thinking about it!!!
This has really taken a toll on me this week :( I have distanced myself from all things that I love, and I just feel like I'm going to just die at any time. I tremble after some episodes, and I sweat a lot too. Also, I have lost about 5 lbs. because I don't have an appetite. To make matters worse, I am supposed to be starting a new job tomorrow, and I don't even know right now how I am going to make it. In fact, I think the new job may have triggered all this :(
Oh--and I am also graduating with my Masters in Counseling this week.
So---I just need some help. Whatver you guys can tell me, I'm totally open to hearing. I guess, I just want to know that I am going to be OK---that I'm not going to die soon---and I can get back to being "me" again.
This discussion is related to
Sinus Tachycardia.