Heart Flutter Feeling

[sTeaLth]

Hello all! I have been gone for a long time. Finally learned to deal with anxiety in a healthy way and move through it. About two weeks ago I had the most stressful 3-4 days of my life with a pretty big breakdown and stress overload. I feel that I dealt with it pretty well and moved past it. Some more things coming up to make sure it stays at bay and won't happen again are happening next week.

All that being said, about one week ago I started feeling a jolt when trying to rest that made me start wondering if it was heart related. I believe it was just nerves and stress as nothing ever came with it. After I stopped focusing on the jolting, which did leave afterward, I started having a chest flutter that almost feels like a little rumble right in the center of my chest at random times. Usually, it only happens a few times per day. Of course my mind also goes to my heart, which is a bit concerning. I know I have had this before but usually it resolves totally after one day or so. I also have a horrible cold for about a week now too and I am not entirely convinced that it isn't just my lungs doing something weird each time I feel it. I wear an apple watch and often keep an eye on my heart rate just to see where I'm at in overall health. It never seems to spike or drop when this happens. I don't ever feel light headed, sweaty, dizzy, short of breath, or anything else that usually accompanies heart related events.

So my reason for posting, while also just to say all this out loud and help me think, is to see what you guys think from an outside perspective. The fact that the details of what is happening already changed in a week makes me think this is likely just me focusing way too much on my body and not actually having an issues. I know stress can cause all kinds of stuff and that is something I have definitely had a lot of the last few weeks. I don't like going to doctors for nothing and this feels kind of like nothing. Since it is potentially my heart though, it makes me wonder if I shouldn't go check just in case? I'm not sure what to do but I know that going to a doctor will cause more anxiety as well. Thoughts?

 

[Jonathan123]

I suggest going for a checkup. Now when we have HA going to the doctor can be daunting, but it's the only way to get reassurance. Speculation and self diagnosis is not a good idea.
Palpitations, missed heart beats and flutters are so common in anxiety they are to be expected. Anything to do with the heart can be frightening becuse it's the only organ we can actually feel working. You moved past it once and can do it again, but you may need help.
Pluck up the courage and see your doctor.Telling you that you are ok, as I am sure they will, can give relief and maybe some mild medication. Don't be afraid of medication in the short term. It is the equivalant to a crutch with a broken leg, a temporary arrangement to allow you time to think.

 

[sTeaLth]

The main reason I am hesitant to go is I know this kind of stuff is caused by severe stress. I'm also not really having anxiety over this. It is on my mind, yes, but no true panic or fear is happening. I am merely thinking about it and wondering if going to a doctor is necessary. Though, just for the extra peace of mind, I may swing by a quick care on my way home in a few hours. Then I can meet with a PA who can give me all kinds of knowledge and probably tell me that it is normal, especially with severe stress.

 

[sTeaLth]

Well, I went to a quick care. BP was perfect. EKG is clear. They are pretty sure it’s just stress but referred me to cardiology to possibly wear a heart monitor for a few weeks just in case they missed anything. I feel fine outside of random flutters a few times a day. Blood was drawn to look for Kidney or liver issues. So far, so good. Probably nothing but I’ll know more down the road.

 

[Missy]

Does the fact they referred you to a cardiologist create any anxiety?

 

[sTeaLth]

You know. It would have normally but I’ve stopped going straight to anxiety lately. I’m not really concerned about it or the blood work coming back. A clear EKG and perfect blood pressure was enough for me to determine it’s probably just the stress I’ve had. I’ll focus on relaxing and letting it disappear before I even go.

 

[Sweet T]

I get flutters that are not heart palpitations. Not skipped beats. Not really sure what it is but I don’t like the feeling. I’ve gotten used to it now tho. It almost seems like if I put pressure on my chest then I don’t feel the flutters or trembling.

 

[sTeaLth]

Ya. Stress and anxiety cause a ton of crap. There are also a lot of benign conditions that do stuff too.

 

[sTeaLth]

My blood work came back this morning all normal. Now it is up to me if I want to go to a cardiologist to make sure. The PA I talked to even said, "if you want to". I will see how far out the apt is and if this disappears before then, I think I can let it rest.

 

[sTeaLth]

Since the EKG came back clear, I have not felt a single flutter. That was about 24 hours ago. My heart has felt like it is beating harder or maybe slightly faster than it should be for the situation... but I think I am truly overthinking it. Every moment my mind is free it checks my heart passively. So I believe naturally I will be feeling it and thinking it is beating too hard. Even in this, my anxiety slightly moves to other things. The flutter has been all but confirmed to be nothing... so the rate has increased. Anxiety is a silly beast.

 

[Seryn]

I wish I could be as rational as you! Glad your results were all clear!

 

[sTeaLth]

I wish I could be as rational as you! Glad your results were all clear!

It takes a lot of practice and believing that your mind is usually messing with you.

 

[Seryn]

I can tell my mind to behave but it's the physical symptoms I can't cope with because it's real. Trying to practice not jumping to the worst case scenario when I feel anything but it's SO hard! Any tips?!

 

[sTeaLth]

I can tell my mind to behave but it's the physical symptoms I can't cope with because it's real. Trying to practice not jumping to the worst case scenario when I feel anything but it's SO hard! Any tips?!

Honestly, it’s just practice. I’ve still got some weird palpitations going on a few times per day. I could freak out or I can realize I can’t do anything about it and trust the good reports I just got from the doctor. I still may visit a cardiologist for additional reassurance but the fact is that everything is pointing to anxiety and stress only. So I’m resting in that fact and ignoring them when they happen. Dismissing them as just stress and believing they will go away as hundreds of other symptoms have before them. I still have anxiety from time to time. It’s just a lot less often these days.

 

[Jonathan123]

Honestly, it’s just practice. I’ve still got some weird palpitations going on a few times per day. I could freak out or I can realize I can’t do anything about it and trust the good reports I just got from the doctor. I still may visit a cardiologist for additional reassurance but the fact is that everything is pointing to anxiety and stress only. So I’m resting in that fact and ignoring them when they happen. Dismissing them as just stress and believing they will go away as hundreds of other symptoms have before them. I still have anxiety from time to time. It’s just a lot less often these days.

Don't try and ignore the symptoms. They are there and have to be recognized. Ignoring them is just another way of trying to distract yourself. Accept them without a fight or a struggle. No comments when you get them No adding fear to fear by Googling or indulging in all the 'what ifs'.
See them, look at them impartially, see them for what they are, mirages, illusions conjured up by a tired mind. If you know they are just stress then why be afarid of them?
You are right about practise in acceptance. The three 'P's'. Practice, Perseverance and Persistence.

 

[sTeaLth]

Don't try and ignore the symptoms. They are there and have to be recognized. Ignoring them is just another way of trying to distract yourself. Accept them without a fight or a struggle. No comments when you get them No adding fear to fear by Googling or indulging in all the 'what ifs'.
See them, look at them impartially, see them for what they are, mirages, illusions conjured up by a tired mind. If you know they are just stress then why be afarid of them?
You are right about practise in acceptance. The three 'P's'. Practice, Perseverance and Persistence.

I can ignore them because they don’t cause anxiety or fear. I know they are just stress and therefore I ignore them as annoying. Like a twitch. If I give them thought, they increase as does anything I focus on. This is not the same as ignoring out of fear.

 

[Jonathan123]

I can ignore them because they don’t cause anxiety or fear. I know they are just stress and therefore I ignore them as annoying. Like a twitch. If I give them thought, they increase as does anything I focus on. This is not the same as ignoring out of fear.

What I was trying to say is that by ignoring them you give them credence. I have said before, it is like a mirage in the desert, you rush toward it becuse you are thirsty, only to find it recedes further. You can ignore the mirage but it's still there. If that is your way of coping then that's fine, releif of any sort is welcome, but the ultimate aim must be to eliminate the anxiety as much as possible. By ignoring it you push it into the background but give it the chance to return if some stress occurs. Acceptance sees it al for what it is, an illusion. No action is required, jut accepting it all without comment.

 

[sTeaLth]

Here I am still feeling them a few times per day. Usually when stressed or super tired. Not really anxiety but wondering when they will stop. I've never had something like this before. It is truly hard to believe it isn't a bad thing. But so far, nothing points to danger. I'd like to ask a Cardiologist and see what they have to say about what I am feeling.

 

[shay1988]

I get this feeling at times, it's like flutters in the center of my chest. I think it's like gas in my chest. But it freaks me out! Feels like my heart flutters really fast. But it's in the center of my chest. Sometimes I will burp a little bit later. So I'm not sure what it is. I'm sorry you feel these. It's scary

 

[sTeaLth]

They persist a handful of times every day still. This morning they were totally absent until about 3pm. I was starting to be excited to move on. Then I felt a few dozen through the evening. Today was the first time I actually felt one while feeling my pulse. It definitely skipped a beat and then thumped harder. SO WEIRD. I’m ready for them to skedaddle.