Heart issues, help!!

[brooke19]

Hi everyone:) I have had anxiety since about the age of 15. I can remember waking up in the middle of the night afraid to go to school for no reason, and my first panic attack at 16. I am 24 now and have encountered a new issues...my heart. When I was 21 my heart had its first "episode". I have mitral valve prolapse and experience very PAINFUL PVC's and skipped beats. Some are more painful than others. It sends me into a extreme rush of anxiety. I have had to quit my job because I couldn't be in front of people when I have these heart episodes. I feel like its hard to even leave the house. Does anyone else have PVC's/heart pains that are causing them extreme anxiety? Thanks for any input or personal stories...its greatly appreciated as i feel so alone and scared.

[mramirez10]

I am so sorry to hear about your heart issues. I'm sorry I can't relate except for the anxiety. I have anxiety every morning wondering if today I'm going to get sick. I get really bad cramps with diaria or vometing. I just want you to know that you are not alone. Did you just start the program? I started last Mon. I know that you can at least over come the anxiety. We have to be patient with our selves. You can do it!

[cody0126]

Wow. I am really surprised as to how similar my situation is to yours. I am 24 and i started having panic attacks at 15. And i have chest pains all the time. I am scared to go get it checked. I have stomach issues very badly. I have sever stomach pains on a daily basis. I feel like I'm dying all the time. Its really not fun. I am so debilitated by my stomach pains that i have trouble holding down a job. Your are not alone. I wish you all the best.

[brooke19]

Thanks so much for the replies, it makes me feel so much better to know that i'm not alone. I'm so sorry to hear about yoru stomach pains, I feel the same way with my heart, I feel like I can't hold a job becuase there are days its so bad that I can't get out of bed I just started the program so hopefully it will help me cope and we can both use our new skills to get on with our lives and enjoy ourselves...keep me posted I'd love to hear how you are doing, and I'll do the same.

[luvu4u2003]

Wow where to start, My brother died last year, it was my first funeral and he was my best friend. I had my first panic attack a month after. The stress of his death developed PVC's. I was holding to much in and doing so much for everyone else that I wasnt taking care of myself mentally or physicaly. I have been to 2 diffrent cardiologist. Both say the same thing, "PVC's cant kill you". They recommended regular exercise and relaxation 2 a day. Have you started the program yet? omg it works! Get the relaxation CD out of the first set of tapes and use it 3 times a day. You will be amazed how quickly your PVC's will calm. I too, have lost jobs adn even friends due to my enablity to deal with my PVC's. My life is semi back on track after forcing myself to exercise. I would avoid arobics for now (you'll have to work up to that) but make yourself do some yoga/stretching/relaxation CD. Stress is whats giving you the PVC. It took me a long time to admit that to myself. Fight back! They cant kill you but they will defently make your life hell. You just gotta get up get out and get some ya know? best of luck to ya!

[inspired2change1]

Gosh I know exactly how you feel, PVC's all the time, I feel like Im having a heart attack 24/7 sometimes, and I can relate to the nausea, and stomach problems for the last week my digestion has been off, cramps bloating and headaches, so I sure can relate..I will start using the relaxation cd 3 times a day..thanks for the support and also hang in there

[racheldayb]

Hi Brooke. I've been told I have MVP also but I never experienced any PVC's, noticeably anyway. I'm a RN so I'm just wondering if no one has thought to put you on a beta-blocker to control the rhythm of your heart. I only read your post so I'm not sure if anyone said the same thing in a reply.

[tj59975]

I can completely relate! I did not lose a loved as you did (I'm so sorry for your loss too) my symptoms just came out of nowhere. I had a horrible vertigo attack out of the blue that led to caused me to freak out and caused PVCs and some SVTs. I have had every single cardiac test there is and all come back normal every time. My cardiologist rxed me calcium channel blockers which didn't help, then beta blockers which didn't help either and side effects were awful. He has even said he does not know what is causing my completely healthy heart to have arrhythmia. I have been to ER numerous times with chest pain and shortness of breath and every test (blood, echos, xrays, CTs, EKGs) always come back normal---which is great but frustrating. Both my cardiologist and my EP doc have told me repeatedly that these heart arrhythmias are benign and won't kill me, but it is so hard to hold on to that when it is happening. My primary care doctor said it may be anxiety and rxed me an antidepressant which made me furious because I thought "there is no way I have anxiety, my heart races when I am perfectly calm". So I didn't take the antidepressant. Well the more I research anxiety, stress, and depression disorders and I wouldn't admit to myself that this is what I may be dealing with because my family always makes fun of people who need this kind of help and I didn't want to look weak or be made fun of. I decided to get this program and give it a try and so far it has opened my eyes to the fact that I have had this disorder since I was 6 years old! I just didn't know what it was and would hide it. I am looking forward to finishing this program and hold on to the hope that I will be free of this soon. I encourage you to hang in there and just do the best you can. Let's keep each other encouraged.

[badey]

Hi,

I can relate to your heart-related anxiety. I have been dealing with heart-realated anxiety for about 1 1/2 years. I had chest pain, then a panic attack in Jan. 2010. I went to the ER, and was told that they thought I was ok. I continued to have chest pain, so I had a stress test, echo, ekgs, ct scan, and blood work. All came back ok. I have had chest pain almost every day from then until the present. For a while I thought I was dying when I would get the pain, especially when I became anxious and experienced dizziness and shortness of breath. I self-diagnosed myself with everything that could cause chest pain, and could not understand why the doctors kept missing the problem. They kept saying it was JUST anxiety. It was hard for me to believe that anxiety was causing the physical symptoms (and still is at times). Well, a 1 1/2 years into the issue, and I am starting this program.

I still have anxiety about my heart on a daily basis (largely because I still have the chest pain). I get PVCs (sometimes painful), shortness of breath, arm tingling, upper back pain, dizziness, etc., which makes me think I am having a heart attack. It is difficult for me to go anywhere other than work or home, because I am afraid that I will have a heart attack and die in front of people, or be too far away from a hospital.

I have do intensive counseling (which helped some), but I am starting this program with a hopeful attitude, because it would be nice to be able to lead a stable life again.

[ohio77]

Hi!
I too have those episodes of "skipping heart beats". Several years ago, before I started on meds, I was at work and was having trouble breathing and arm pain. My mom had to take me to the ER because I felt like I was having a heart attack, but everything was okay and it was a really bad panic attack. A week before I was told I had a murmur which the ER doc couldn't find. I have palpatations so bad sometimes that I can feel them in my throat and it makes me cough to get my breath. The possibility of having something wrong with my heart is my biggest worry and since I no longer have health care since being laid off, I think it makes these episodes scarier for me. This has made my anxiety and panic worse. I just started the program and the Relaxation CD has helped out already.