woodbridge,
I've had those too. They are wickedly painful.
Heart fear... who struggles with it, too?
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Guest
What happened to you, Melissa, was a travesty of the highest degree!!Originally posted by Hot Rod:
Sandina,
If anything I said helped, then awesome! One other thing to remember is: anxiety always makes them worse. Kind of kick in the pants to think that we are exacerbating our own hell, isn't it? I've come to learn that sometimes I'm just not going to find a reason for them. I used to drive myself crazy trying to figure it out... was it exercise? hormones? low oxygen? Oh, one other thing that I read said that if you are having them, cough. It kind of shocks your heart back into a normal rhythm and, its a great distraction from them! lol
Charlie,
Did you read Melissa's story? Egad that poor girl REALLY went through the ringer. I am ready to put this particular fear behind me and I think we yesterdays reassurance that I will be able to. Already I feel so much better about it. I, too, use Icy Hot. Been using BenGay (pew!) twice daily for it but doc recommended something called Myoflex. So, I'll try that, too. Unfortunately he also said this could last months. sigh... Guess I'd better get used to them, huh? lol Thanks for your posts.
I recently heard of a woman who went to her doctor's and was having a genuine heart attack. As they were bringing her to the ambulance, an administrator at the doctor's told the woman she needed to pay her copay!
The woman is in the throes of a heart attack, is being wheeled out to the waiting ambulance, and you ask for the copay?!-
Guest
I just learned something about chest pain. It can be caused by a hiatal hernia. This is when the stomach bulges up into the chest through the hiatus, which is an opening in the diaphragm.
I was just discussing with my wife I learned in a recent doctor visit with my GP, that in June 2007, a test revealed I had a small hiatal hernia. I went onto webMD and bugged out when I read this.
People with a hiatal hernia may experience chest pain that can easily be confused with the pain of a heart attack. That's why it's so important to undergo testing and get properly diagnosed.
I was just discussing with my wife I learned in a recent doctor visit with my GP, that in June 2007, a test revealed I had a small hiatal hernia. I went onto webMD and bugged out when I read this.
People with a hiatal hernia may experience chest pain that can easily be confused with the pain of a heart attack. That's why it's so important to undergo testing and get properly diagnosed.
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Guest
Charlie Brown,
Don't bug out. I have had a hiatal hernia for over 20 years--have had two endoscopies. You're right, it can feel like heart pain, but I don't freak out about my heart because I know if I have pain there the old hernia is acting up. My neighbor had both and he said the best way to differentiate is this: if you lay down and it feels better, it is your heart most likely. If you lay down and it feels worse, it is most likely the hiatal hernia. That poor guy had suffered several heart attacks and also had stomach problems, so he knew pretty much what he was talking about. However, if you ever have any doubts, it is always safer to get to the ER. My nurse friend said they always put people with chest pain to the front of the line, just in case.
Hope this helps allay your concerns.
Don't bug out. I have had a hiatal hernia for over 20 years--have had two endoscopies. You're right, it can feel like heart pain, but I don't freak out about my heart because I know if I have pain there the old hernia is acting up. My neighbor had both and he said the best way to differentiate is this: if you lay down and it feels better, it is your heart most likely. If you lay down and it feels worse, it is most likely the hiatal hernia. That poor guy had suffered several heart attacks and also had stomach problems, so he knew pretty much what he was talking about. However, if you ever have any doubts, it is always safer to get to the ER. My nurse friend said they always put people with chest pain to the front of the line, just in case.
Hope this helps allay your concerns.
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Guest
Hey everyone,
This post has been a God-send to me! Here is a little background about me: I'm almost 32 and a mother of 3 ages 10, 8 and a firecracker 4 year-old boy. I have suffered from GAD since 24, when I lost my dad suddenly to cancer. I bought the program...did it...loved it... recuperated... moved on and then WHAM!!! Here come the heart palpitations! I woke up on the 22nd of December and started to feel the little flutters and that's when it all began. Now I first want to say, that I have been under a lot of stress: I was preparing for company to stay in my home for 10 days over the holidays and was also finishing up a quarter of 12 credits at the local community college. So I was and still am under stress. The company is still in town (they leave tomorrow) and I am constantly having to entertain, but I have always been able to handle stress like this just fine.
So here are my symptoms and I would love it if anyone had some words of encouragement.
I get the flutters around 10 am and they usually last throughout the day. Some days I will have 10 to 15 in an hour and then go for several hours with nothing and then a series of them again. I don't get a rapid heart beat, and I don't have any pain, I also don't feel dizzy although when I focus so hard on my symptoms, I find myself holding my breath and then a dizzy wave goes through me and I get real freaked out. I guess the part that is scary for me is the amount of palpitations. They are consuming me and completely ruin my day! Now I am so scared that I am going to drop dead from a massive heart attack like Brittney Murphey just did! Deep down I really do feel that they are stress related, but I just want to know how to get them to stop. Is it normal for them to last two weeks? Also, at night I will take .25 of xanax to help me sleep if I need it...should I stop taking it? Could the xanax be causing them?
I really hope and pray that I can begin to ignore them like I have all the other symptoms...man do I hate this anxiety! It always manifests itself differently...but this time, I am having a real hard time letting go. I am truly scared.
Blessings,
Sleepless
This post has been a God-send to me! Here is a little background about me: I'm almost 32 and a mother of 3 ages 10, 8 and a firecracker 4 year-old boy. I have suffered from GAD since 24, when I lost my dad suddenly to cancer. I bought the program...did it...loved it... recuperated... moved on and then WHAM!!! Here come the heart palpitations! I woke up on the 22nd of December and started to feel the little flutters and that's when it all began. Now I first want to say, that I have been under a lot of stress: I was preparing for company to stay in my home for 10 days over the holidays and was also finishing up a quarter of 12 credits at the local community college. So I was and still am under stress. The company is still in town (they leave tomorrow) and I am constantly having to entertain, but I have always been able to handle stress like this just fine.
So here are my symptoms and I would love it if anyone had some words of encouragement.
I get the flutters around 10 am and they usually last throughout the day. Some days I will have 10 to 15 in an hour and then go for several hours with nothing and then a series of them again. I don't get a rapid heart beat, and I don't have any pain, I also don't feel dizzy although when I focus so hard on my symptoms, I find myself holding my breath and then a dizzy wave goes through me and I get real freaked out. I guess the part that is scary for me is the amount of palpitations. They are consuming me and completely ruin my day! Now I am so scared that I am going to drop dead from a massive heart attack like Brittney Murphey just did! Deep down I really do feel that they are stress related, but I just want to know how to get them to stop. Is it normal for them to last two weeks? Also, at night I will take .25 of xanax to help me sleep if I need it...should I stop taking it? Could the xanax be causing them?
I really hope and pray that I can begin to ignore them like I have all the other symptoms...man do I hate this anxiety! It always manifests itself differently...but this time, I am having a real hard time letting go. I am truly scared.
Blessings,
Sleepless
Last edited by sleeplessinseattle on Wed Jan 06, 2010 4:41 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Guest
Sleeplessinseattle,
I think once your company leaves, you will calm down over a period of a week or two. You sound like you are having what Lucinda calls a "growth spurt", i.e., relapse. 10 days is a LONG time to have houseguests and you obviously either don't like your sister-in-law, or something is going on there considering your comment about her.
When they leave, start you program again. Do your deep breathing and make sure you exercise, stay off caffeine and sugar.
Relisten to your tape on growth spurts.
I doubt it is your Xanax. All drugs can have paradoxical effects (meaning they do the opposite of what they are supposed to do), but your problem sounds like it is plain old STRESS. I had a house guest over the holidays and I know it is a lot of extra work, even if you like them. It stressed me out and I wanted her to visit.
If you don't see any improvement after a couple of weeks, make an appointment with a good cardiologist to check you out.
You are right--this anxiety is a real pain in the behind. Most people have occassional heart flutters, but when someone with an anxiety disorder gets them, we focus right in on the body symptoms and start scaring ourselves with our thoughts.
Let us know how things turn out for you.
I think once your company leaves, you will calm down over a period of a week or two. You sound like you are having what Lucinda calls a "growth spurt", i.e., relapse. 10 days is a LONG time to have houseguests and you obviously either don't like your sister-in-law, or something is going on there considering your comment about her.
When they leave, start you program again. Do your deep breathing and make sure you exercise, stay off caffeine and sugar.
Relisten to your tape on growth spurts.
I doubt it is your Xanax. All drugs can have paradoxical effects (meaning they do the opposite of what they are supposed to do), but your problem sounds like it is plain old STRESS. I had a house guest over the holidays and I know it is a lot of extra work, even if you like them. It stressed me out and I wanted her to visit.
If you don't see any improvement after a couple of weeks, make an appointment with a good cardiologist to check you out.
You are right--this anxiety is a real pain in the behind. Most people have occassional heart flutters, but when someone with an anxiety disorder gets them, we focus right in on the body symptoms and start scaring ourselves with our thoughts.
Let us know how things turn out for you.
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Guest
Thanks Samcat-
I think you are right about it being stress. Our company left last night and I noticed that yesterday was a great day for me...I only had 3 or 4 flutters all day. I spoke with my doctor yesterday and she also suggested waiting a week until after the family has left and things go back to normal. If then, I still have the palps, then she recommends putting me on a holter monitor for 48 hours. After reading all of these posts about heart issues I am beginning to believe that it is indeed stress.
Thank you for reminding me about the "growth spurts." I completely forgot about them and once I read your advice, I really started to understand myself better.
Its funny because anxiety has manifested itself so many different ways but I have never had the heart pounding or the heart palps. It has always either been in the form of dizziness; stomach aches; tingles and cold sweats; feeling of dread and sleeplessness, but never the heart. I guess my anxiety may have just needed to run it's course.
Again, thank you for your encouragement. I will let you all know what happens in a few days.
I think you are right about it being stress. Our company left last night and I noticed that yesterday was a great day for me...I only had 3 or 4 flutters all day. I spoke with my doctor yesterday and she also suggested waiting a week until after the family has left and things go back to normal. If then, I still have the palps, then she recommends putting me on a holter monitor for 48 hours. After reading all of these posts about heart issues I am beginning to believe that it is indeed stress.
Thank you for reminding me about the "growth spurts." I completely forgot about them and once I read your advice, I really started to understand myself better.
Its funny because anxiety has manifested itself so many different ways but I have never had the heart pounding or the heart palps. It has always either been in the form of dizziness; stomach aches; tingles and cold sweats; feeling of dread and sleeplessness, but never the heart. I guess my anxiety may have just needed to run it's course.
Again, thank you for your encouragement. I will let you all know what happens in a few days.
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Guest
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Guest
Thx soo much for your advice, and reassurance Hotrod! I too have had health anxiety, and an extreme fear of something being wrong with my heart! I mean sometimes I get soo scared that I get in this mode that I am constantly checking my heart rate to make sure it's where it's supposed to be! Even after a number of tests, I still get scared and discouraged! After reading your threads, I will continue to know that I am not alone on this issues, and will not freak out at every little ache I may get in my body! Thx a bunch! God bless you!