Scared. Abnormal EKG report.

aliengal24 · Post by **aliengal24** » Tue Oct 26, 2010 5:22 am

I wrote a post a few days ago saying how I ended up in the ER room due to not being able to breathe and heart palpitations. It sounds like anxiety. I've had anxiety attacks before and since going thru the program I've been able to control them and breathe and make them go away. These periods of shotness of breathe and heart palpitations came while I was reading or doing other relaxing things. I ended up in the ER last Wednesday late at night an they did a variety of tests, my blood work and chest xray came back normal. However, my EKG showed that I have a 'left atrial abnormality'. I've researched it a bit and it says it's from high blood pressure (which i've never had) or heart disease which scares me out of my mind. I smoked for 7 years and I'm a little bit overweight. However, I'm only 25. I feel alone and scared. It's hard to get to sleep at night because my mind is racing over this. I was given Ativan to try to relax when I need one. But even those aren't working. I feel really alone and scared. I'm petrified of surgery and have always worried about my heart. I have to wait until Monday to see the Cardiologist. Ugh. Has anyone been thru this before? Has anyone gotten an abnormal EKG or have had something wrong with their heart? I know most of us are afraid that something bad will happen to their heart. Any and all feedback is appreciated, thanks.

threnners · Post by **threnners** » Tue Oct 26, 2010 6:15 am

I had an abnormal EKG at an urgent care center so they rushed me to the main hospital and ran tests on me for 24 hours that all came back normal.

The machine at the center was faulty and gave a bad reading, so all I really had was a REALLY expensive panic attack.

I hope you just got a faulty machine too.

amber1726 · Post by **amber1726** » Tue Oct 26, 2010 2:08 pm

Hi there. I had my first severe panic attack in January of 2009. It landed me in the ER. My EKG came back showing premature ventricular contractions. Tons of them. I have had Mitral Valve prolapse for years and have had heart palpitations at times with it, but the way my heart was beating abnormally with that panic attack scared me like crazy. The ER doc said that it was just a panic attack and that's why the EKG was abnormal, but my PCP sent me to a cardiologist who did confirm through another abnormal EKG that I was having PVC's. But he was not concerned and said that it was from the anxiety and panic attacks. And it's true, when I feeling anxious or panicky, I start feeling the missed beats. I know it's not the same exact thing as you, but I can sympathesize with your concern.

aliengal24 · Post by **aliengal24** » Wed Oct 27, 2010 2:57 am

Thanks threnners for responding!I'm hoping it was just a panic attack that made the ekg machine say it was abnormal.

Amber, thanks for responding! I'm glad you're ok and that it was mainly just a panic attack. I can't wait until Monday so I can go and find out some more. I'll keep it posted. I'm glad you can sympathize with me.

Michele G · Post by **Michele G** » Wed Oct 27, 2010 3:28 pm

Hi Aliengal24,

I've gotten an abnormal EKG reading before, but then everything turned out okay. I went to my regular doctor because I was having these episodes where I'd get a sharp stabbing pain around my esophagus. He did an EKG and said it showed 'irregular changes', which scared me. He referred me to a heart specialist for a stress test, which went okay. They never did find an explanation for the sharp pains, but they did stop after I told the doctors about them, which makes me think it was probably anxiety. All they found was I had a heart murmur, but it wasn't anything serious. That was five years ago, and I'm still okay.

Hope this helps...I'll be praying for you.

aliengal24 · Post by **aliengal24** » Fri Oct 29, 2010 3:04 am

Thanks Michelle for responding! I'm glad you're Ok! I ended up going to the Cardiologist a couple days ago and he thinks I'm fine. He told me that the computers mess up sometimes and I'm only 25 and lead a fairly healthy lifestyle that I should be fine. But to be safe I'm wearing a heart monitor around for a week and then I go back in a couple weeks and get the results and he'll decide if he needs to do furter testing. Hopefully it is just anxiety. I'm still nervous that it's something more serious because I keep getting them. I'll be alright though. Thanks again for responding

RodH · Post by **RodH** » Tue Nov 09, 2010 6:25 pm

Concerns of Heart problems brings many-many people to the forum. Dont feel alone, and more than likely the tests will show that your just fine (just as all mine did, geesh I wish I had all that money back I spent on heart concerns!!) They only found a 'mitral valve prolapse' in me which is NOT harmful at all! I was born with it.

So please do not spend your time focussed on this. get on with the program, do each session several times to keep busy and to get it firmly in your mind. Read the first few paragraphs in the workbook, there is a lot in there. Actually the real healing come for me through what I read in the workbook.
Your really young so quit the smoking, it's much easier than others say it is! The urge is only 4-5 days. Smoking can cause a lot of problems, if not now, later in life! Do yourself a favor, dont smoke, dont over-do drink, and exercise. Eat the right foods. Remember, 'we are what we eat'!

Take care,
Rod

aliengal24 · Post by **aliengal24** » Wed Nov 10, 2010 6:18 am

Thanks RodH for responding. I'm waiting to get the results back. I go to the doctor the 22nd to get them. I don't smoke. I quit 2 and half years ago. I don't drink too often either. I'm starting a new exercise program at the beginning of December, I'm going to join the YMCA. Hopefully everything wil turn out ok. Glad to hear your heart is fine!

Paisleegreen · Post by **Paisleegreen** » Wed Nov 10, 2010 6:35 am

Aliengal, I hope all goes well on the 22nd.

Brandi Menifee · Post by **Brandi Menifee** » Tue Nov 16, 2010 12:59 pm

Hi Aliengal 24! I to have been having heart palpitations more abnormally and often than normal for the past couple wks! I did go to my doctor yesterday, and he had me do an EKG, I guess it was normal cuz they didn't say anything about it. I also had to take a blood tests to c if my thyroid is ok. On Thursday I go get a heart holster to wear it for 24hours. I hope all is well. I too have a big fear of something being wrong with my heart. I had calmed down on it though until these heart palps came on more frequently! I hope all ur tests come back fine too. Good luck to US!!!