Heart palp question

medgrl · Post by **medgrl** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 11:54 am

Has anyone had success in stopping a panic attack after an episode of skipped heartbeats or butterflies in your chest? I keep telling myself that I will be okay and try to remain calm but when I have the double skipped beats I immediatly have a very bad panic attack and want to go to the ER. I have been told soooo many times that I am fine but I guess I just need some more encouragment. Thank you for any advice you can give.

mlrb · Post by **mlrb** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 1:07 pm

Hello medgrl,
I have had the skipped beat or stutter for almost 15 years or so. I have worn a heart monitor twice & both times the Dr said it was normal to have this happen. It’s just that some of us can feel it in our chest & I’m also lucky enough that I can hear my heart beat in my head lol. I found out that when I over eat, take in caffeine, or take lots of decongestions it will make my heart stutter like it wants to stop. Also when I worry about things I notice my heart stutters also. It always worried me that it would stop beating but the Dr. has assured me that it won’t & I guess he is right because it’s still beating. Try not to worry your heart is fine.
Take Care,
Triple “L”

Manley · Post by **Manley** » Tue Feb 03, 2009 4:16 pm

I recently started having more unusual heartbeats and also have been on a monitor twice. Hearing the doctor say it was nothing to worry about didn't really help me (although wearing a monitor and hearing your doctor say this could be the answer for you). But I know he's right. Out of the thousands of times your heart beats throughout the day, a handful of weird beats isn't going to hurt you. Today I made the decision to no longer let them bother me. Every time I felt them start, I would just tell myself "It's only the anxiety that's causing these. They won't hurt me. My heart is fine. It's just anxiety." This has helped me so much.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 12:26 pm

I understand completely how you feel about the heart palpatations. That is the scariest part of my anxiety. I have pretty much been able to not pay attention to the other symptoms but I still freak out when my heart skips beats. I almost always go into a panic attack and several times end up on the ER, only to be told that I am fine. I am trying really hard to just keep busy and try not to think about my heart when it starts skipping beats and fluttering. Just know that this is part of our anxiety and that our hearts are fine. I wish you all the luck and hope this makes you feel better. You are not alone! God Bless

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 12:55 pm

I too have the skipped beat and fluttering. I have felt little ones here and there but since the beginning of the year, when my husband announced he may be layed off, I went into a non-stop panic attack. It felt like my heart was going to burst through my chest. And then the skipping and flutters became very pronounced. I was sure I was going to die. Took me a week to get the courage to call the doctor. He said he was 95% sure it was nerves, but as a precaution (and family history) he had me do a nuclear (sp?) treadmill test and wear a monitor for 2 days. The anticipatory anxiety around the tests was horrifying. I didn't sleep for 2 1/2 weeks during this process. I was so certain I was going to die in my sleep. <I had an older brother that did, when I was 4 years old, of pnemonia> Thankfully the tests were fine, I just found that out 2 days ago. I'm finally sleeping better...but exhausted. How does my brain go so far out there?? I'm still dizzy from lack of sleep. And the anxiety is better, but still very there. This program has got to work. Here's to Moving into Peace...for us all.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Feb 04, 2009 12:57 pm

I have had these heart flutters and they are by far the hardest thing to shake with my anxiety. I have had phantom pains in left arm and chest and I know its not a heart attack because well, a heart attack doesnt last for months. Everytime my heart flutters I can feel a panic attack coming on but it never reaches its peak because I have a strange way of dealing with the panic attacks. I am kind of an adrenaline freak and frankly the panic attacks are like an adrenaline rush on steroids so I no longer fear the attacks and sometimes welcome them, and ever since I have been doing this I haven't had a full blown panic attack its like it knows it doesnt bother me so it won't waste it's time on me.... I hope it stays that way because it's not the greatest feeling!

wholegrain · Post by **wholegrain** » Thu Feb 05, 2009 1:29 am

I cannot thank you all enough!! You have made me feel so much better. I have been going through hell the last few days with the skipped beats, it seems they are happpening so much more frequently. I have had every test around and just had my last one in Oct. 2008. The doctor said that I am fine and not to pay attention to them. Very Very hard to do. Like Crowpainter I have been afraid to sleep because I am afraid I won't wake up. I have been meditating and trying to relax more, I hope this will help. I am still not able to leave the house much because I am afraid I will die in my car or in the store!! What fun. Thank you all again, I am so glad that we are here to help one another, bless you all.

KR · Post by KR » Thu Feb 05, 2009 3:31 am

I understand exactly how you feel medgrl. I experienced what you're going through almost two years ago. I still get the skipped heartbeats but now, my body doesn't automatically go into a panic attack because of it.

Reason being is that after all the times the panic ended after feeling the skipped heartbeats, I was fine. I believe now that I have the skipped heartbeats because of stress. So I understand that my body is stressed out. Like you, I have been to the ER and had monitors, EKGs, with everything coming back normal...which is great news but people with anxiety who fear the worst, always seem to never be satisfied with a "normal" outcome.

When the skipped beats happen, I understand my body is telling me to slow down or relax, etc. It's going to happen as I cannot stop by body from the skipped beats but I can stop myself from reacting.

When the skipped beats happen, just take a breath and go about your day and tell yourself you're alright. Yes, it's hard, but I believe in you and know that you are equipped with the skills to overcome.