Heart Palpitation Anxiety, I hope someone can relate!!!

[Sylbarefoot]

Hi everyone. I’m 32 and have struggled with anxiety for most of my life. I stick to a decent enough diet, exercise for 45 minutes every morning, and avoid sodas and such and just stick to water. I told my new dr during a physical sometimes I get heart palpitations and he sent me to a cardiologist which is terrifying. The cardiologist assured me it’s nothing serious, did an ekg, an ultrasound of my heart, and a week later a stress test, and I passed everything and was told I’m fine and he gave me some medication for my stomache because sometimes I get real gassy sometimes and it seems like the palps typically happen at the same time. I also went to the ER 3 weeks before that because I was getting weird tight pains on occasion in my lower rib cage, and they did a blood test, ekg, x-ray of my chest, and everything came back negative again and I was told it was my stomache too. I have no history that I know of of heart issues in my family.

I guess the main reason im coming here, is has anyone else dealt with this? I definitely obsess over the palpitations or whatever it is I feel in my stomache. It's just weird because I never hear people talk about getting the quick loss of breath feeling or twitch in their stomach. Man it is frustrating because I see a therapist and psychiatrist and I am trying to work on it, but sometimes even when I like bend over quickly I will feel almost the "skip" but its no pain or anything like that, just a quick feeling. But I stay sooo hyper-concentrated on that part of my body it drives me nuts.

I have a follow up with him my cardiologist again in 2 weeks to see if the medication helps. The weird part is some days I will go through the whole day and not notice it. The next day can be different. They never seem to happen in quick succession or anything like that though.

Hope someone replies soon!!!

 

[mariahedominguez]

At the start of my heart worries I also went to a cardiologist, did all the tests, told I was fine but that I have an irregularity in my heart. I freaked, but he told me it’s relatively normal in certain ages to have minor irregularities, so I tried remaining calm. Years later and I still get worried about my heart because of little pains here and there, but palpitations are no longer a worry.

Please remember, a number of things can cause palpitations. Caffeine, stress, dehydration, adrenaline, anxiety. Even nothing can cause them. They are normal and harmless. Everyone gets them. The human body is not perfect and sometimes little blips happen that we don’t need to worry about. The ONLY time you should ever worry about palpitations is if they’re painful, you get dizzy or lightheaded, or you pass out. If it’s a quick palpitation, it’s harmless. Even if it lasts a few seconds. And even if you get one or every day. You will be okay, just try to breathe through it


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[bin_tenn]

Gas can stimulate the vagus nerve, which can cause palpitations. Reflux can do the same. Palpitations are generally harmless, everyone experiences them at some time or another. I've had all types of palpitations, and they've caused so much anxiety in the past. Like you, I've had a stress test + echo as well as numerous EKGs, and all is normal. Yet it's still hard to accept that I'm fine.

I recommend practicing acceptance and mindfulness. That's what has helped me overcome that fear. Palpitations still occasionally trigger a bit of anxiety, but nothing like they used to.

 

[thewayiam]

I have feared for my heart aswell but I am pretty sure that if you can exercise without feeling overly dizzy/lightheaded or out of breath (a little bit for a little while is okay) then your cardiovascular system is just fine. I think I know exactly what you mean. You can also feel like it's a little flutter in your chest. So quick that you can't quite catch what is was but long enough to register it in your brain.

I am starting to feel like the best we can all do to deal with our anxieties is to share more sincere hugs with people close to us.

Wish you all the best!

 

[Sylbarefoot]

At the start of my heart worries I also went to a cardiologist, did all the tests, told I was fine but that I have an irregularity in my heart. I freaked, but he told me it’s relatively normal in certain ages to have minor irregularities, so I tried remaining calm. Years later and I still get worried about my heart because of little pains here and there, but palpitations are no longer a worry.

Please remember, a number of things can cause palpitations. Caffeine, stress, dehydration, adrenaline, anxiety. Even nothing can cause them. They are normal and harmless. Everyone gets them. The human body is not perfect and sometimes little blips happen that we don’t need to worry about. The ONLY time you should ever worry about palpitations is if they’re painful, you get dizzy or lightheaded, or you pass out. If it’s a quick palpitation, it’s harmless. Even if it lasts a few seconds. And even if you get one or every day. You will be okay, just try to breathe through it


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thank you for taking the time to respond. It does make me feel a little better. I feel like I’ve had them more today than usual, and I don’t know if that’s just because I keep thinking about it it’s no fun!

I have feared for my heart aswell but I am pretty sure that if you can exercise without feeling overly dizzy/lightheaded or out of breath (a little bit for a little while is okay) then your cardiovascular system is just fine. I think I know exactly what you mean. You can also feel like it's a little flutter in your chest. So quick that you can't quite catch what is was but long enough to register it in your brain.

I am starting to feel like the best we can all do to deal with our anxieties is to share more sincere hugs with people close to us.

Wish you all the best!

yeah working out is actually one of my coping mechanisms for my anxiety! I try to go every morning Monday-Friday before work and do about 30 minutes cardio and 10 minutes of weight lifting. I never get lightheaded or anything working out, it’s one of my friendly reminders that I’m ok.

thank you for taking time out of your day to respond!

Gas can stimulate the vagus nerve, which can cause palpitations. Reflux can do the same. Palpitations are generally harmless, everyone experiences them at some time or another. I've had all types of palpitations, and they've caused so much anxiety in the past. Like you, I've had a stress test + echo as well as numerous EKGs, and all is normal. Yet it's still hard to accept that I'm fine.

I recommend practicing acceptance and mindfulness. That's what has helped me overcome that fear. Palpitations still occasionally trigger a bit of anxiety, but nothing like they used to.

My cardiologist did mention that gas can make you get palpitations. I agree, it’s hard to accept I’m fine. I’ve had 3 EKGS, an X-ray, ultrasound, three blood tests, and a stress test all in the last month, and all have led people to telling me nothings wrong. For some damn reason I’ll feel good initially then start doubting myself. The cardiologist nurse laughed when I asked if I passed the stress test (because I did, I wasn’t even on the treadmill long, maybe 10 minutes).

 

[bin_tenn]

Thank you for taking the time to respond. It does make me feel a little better. I feel like I’ve had them more today than usual, and I don’t know if that’s just because I keep thinking about it it’s no fun!

yeah working out is actually one of my coping mechanisms for my anxiety! I try to go every morning Monday-Friday before work and do about 30 minutes cardio and 10 minutes of weight lifting. I never get lightheaded or anything working out, it’s one of my friendly reminders that I’m ok.

thank you for taking time out of your day to respond!

My cardiologist did mention that gas can make you get palpitations. I agree, it’s hard to accept I’m fine. I’ve had 3 EKGS, an X-ray, ultrasound, three blood tests, and a stress test all in the last month, and all have led people to telling me nothings wrong. For some damn reason I’ll feel good initially then start doubting myself. The cardiologist nurse laughed when I asked if I passed the stress test (because I did, I wasn’t even on the treadmill long, maybe 10 minutes).

I didn't even have to ask if I passed the stress test. I ended up going three minutes longer than they needed me to, because I actually felt really good while doing it. I was a bit lightheaded after I stopped and sat down, but that was the usual body coming down from exercise feeling, and not something to worry about, apparently. I'm very surprised I did so well.

 

[Stressed out]

Hi everyone. I’m 32 and have struggled with anxiety for most of my life. I stick to a decent enough diet, exercise for 45 minutes every morning, and avoid sodas and such and just stick to water. I told my new dr during a physical sometimes I get heart palpitations and he sent me to a cardiologist which is terrifying. The cardiologist assured me it’s nothing serious, did an ekg, an ultrasound of my heart, and a week later a stress test, and I passed everything and was told I’m fine and he gave me some medication for my stomache because sometimes I get real gassy sometimes and it seems like the palps typically happen at the same time. I also went to the ER 3 weeks before that because I was getting weird tight pains on occasion in my lower rib cage, and they did a blood test, ekg, x-ray of my chest, and everything came back negative again and I was told it was my stomache too. I have no history that I know of of heart issues in my family.

I guess the main reason im coming here, is has anyone else dealt with this? I definitely obsess over the palpitations or whatever it is I feel in my stomache. It's just weird because I never hear people talk about getting the quick loss of breath feeling or twitch in their stomach. Man it is frustrating because I see a therapist and psychiatrist and I am trying to work on it, but sometimes even when I like bend over quickly I will feel almost the "skip" but its no pain or anything like that, just a quick feeling. But I stay sooo hyper-concentrated on that part of my body it drives me nuts.

I have a follow up with him my cardiologist again in 2 weeks to see if the medication helps. The weird part is some days I will go through the whole day and not notice it. The next day can be different. They never seem to happen in quick succession or anything like that though.

Hope someone replies soon!!!

I have had this exact thing. Used to get it all the time. I would walk around feeling my pulse and checking for skipped beats and palpitations. It is alarming when you can feel your heartbeat and you feel a flip flop in your chest. I also went to a cardiologist and had some of the same test. My doctor put me on Lexapro and it helped with my anxiety. She thought the palpitations were being caused by stress and anxiety since all other test were fine. Trust the cardiologist.

 

[Tracy T.]

Just finished my second cardiac workup because of heart palpitations. My first episode was 9 years ago. My heart palpitations are directly related to my anxiety and hormones. I started about 8 weeks ago with heart palpitations (PVC's, PAC's and SVT's ) I went to my doc who sent me on to the cardiologist. I am 50 so they wanted to be sure they were not missing anything. I did the echo cardiogram, nuclear stress test and ekg. ALL was normal. Heart palps are generally extra beats and can be caused by lots of things....it is very scary...especially if you already suffer from anxiety. I found that guided meditations really help, as well as exercise daily, no caffeine, limit your sugar intake and practice deep breathing. Sometimes my heart will race...especially when I am having a panic attack. I usually take a half of a .5 lorazapam and it stops it right away. Also, my doc put me on something called Busperone and it actually made my heart palps, panic and anxiety worse. So once they took me off everything went back to normal. I hope you feel better soon.

 

[klemmeri]

Just a quick backup to Tracy T.s comments. Heart palpitations are generally the result of PVCs and/or PACs (premature ventricular, atrial contractions). They’re extremely common and normal. They will show up on an ekg as an early beat in otherwise normal sinus rhythm. You can feel them as a flutter in your chest. They can be extremely bothersome and therefore worrisome, especially if you have anxiety. I know all this because they were one of my whac-a-mole issues a few times . I’m 63 and have had all the tests you have had. You are young and healthy with an anxiety disorder from what you’ve written. I’m old with an anxiety disorder. Just to give you some comfort my wife is my age and gets them. How do I know that? I asked her and she confirm it. She hardly ever worries about health issues. Anxiety itself can cause them. If it doesn’t cause yours it certainly makes you extremely aware of them. I’d say that given all your tests that your heart is fine. What the docs are usually looking for in an ekg is atrial fibrillation, afib. They’re signature on an ekg is totally different from a pvc. I have a couple of friends with afib (remember we’re old ). They have had an ‘ablation’ to fix that problem (outpatient surgery). It strikes me that you need to work on your anxiety problem. I know that’s not an easy task. I’ve been to many psychs and meds and I still have it all my life. One half of my brain thinks logically is ‘fairly’ normal and the other half spends its time looking for something to worry about. I’ve yet to try CBT and would like to, but living on the Big Island of Hawaii makes that very difficult (it’s remote).
I hope my experience With palpitations helps and good luck to you.

 

[daughteroftheKing]

Hey there..I have them and had them terribly when I first started taking zoloft so was switched to a different med..which still caused them. Thankfully they've eased up some. But if you're taking any form of antidepressant that could be the issue.

 

[Sylbarefoot]

Thank you everyone. I’m not perfect but this helps. Follow up, my cardiologist told me to come back in four months and kept reassuring me all was fine with me. Some days are better than others. Thank you again.

 

[Janette]

Hi everyone. I’m 32 and have struggled with anxiety for most of my life. I stick to a decent enough diet, exercise for 45 minutes every morning, and avoid sodas and such and just stick to water. I told my new dr during a physical sometimes I get heart palpitations and he sent me to a cardiologist which is terrifying. The cardiologist assured me it’s nothing serious, did an ekg, an ultrasound of my heart, and a week later a stress test, and I passed everything and was told I’m fine and he gave me some medication for my stomache because sometimes I get real gassy sometimes and it seems like the palps typically happen at the same time. I also went to the ER 3 weeks before that because I was getting weird tight pains on occasion in my lower rib cage, and they did a blood test, ekg, x-ray of my chest, and everything came back negative again and I was told it was my stomache too. I have no history that I know of of heart issues in my family.

I guess the main reason im coming here, is has anyone else dealt with this? I definitely obsess over the palpitations or whatever it is I feel in my stomache. It's just weird because I never hear people talk about getting the quick loss of breath feeling or twitch in their stomach. Man it is frustrating because I see a therapist and psychiatrist and I am trying to work on it, but sometimes even when I like bend over quickly I will feel almost the "skip" but its no pain or anything like that, just a quick feeling. But I stay sooo hyper-concentrated on that part of my body it drives me nuts.

I have a follow up with him my cardiologist again in 2 weeks to see if the medication helps. The weird part is some days I will go through the whole day and not notice it. The next day can be different. They never seem to happen in quick succession or anything like that though.

Hope someone replies soon!!!

Wow! I could have written this. I'm going to my cardiologist on Tuesday. I get the heart flutter and then I can burp up tons of empty gas. I say empty because it is not acidic or stomach remnants.....just air. It's happening a lot throughout the day for the past few weeks. I have been terrified

 

[Mannybilly]

I too have dealt with these for 3 and a hald days now. Just last night i had a overdose scare and triggered my heart to do this like flutter flip flopping sensation until i fell asleep at 6:30 am. I too get gassy and gas pains, muscle tension in my head and neck. And brief dull aches in my back that become warm. Not to mention my chest gets tight and feels weird and bothersome to where i become to think. Is my heart failing? Am i having a developing heart attack? Am i going to die? Ive cried because all these feelings are truly bothersome especially when my heart palps cause my chest to thump. When my heart does this like flopping feeling where it feels likemay stop or has but it hasnt. Both things have brought tears. My advice youve visited the doctor and had proof all was a okay. Go with it. Ive had 4 ekgs done and never was i called via phone or told in person we have a problem. I go back tomorrow and going to ask for another possible ekg, xray, and echo cardiogram just to clear my head my hearts not gonna stop. We are all in this together dealing with something that is very scary but non harmless

I too have dealt with these for 3 and a hald days now. Just last night i had a overdose scare and triggered my heart to do this like flutter flip flopping sensation until i fell asleep at 6:30 am. I too get gassy and gas pains, muscle tension in my head and neck. And brief dull aches in my back that become warm. Not to mention my chest gets tight and feels weird and bothersome to where i become to think. Is my heart failing? Am i having a developing heart attack? Am i going to die? Ive cried because all these feelings are truly bothersome especially when my heart palps cause my chest to thump. When my heart does this like flopping feeling where it feels likemay stop or has but it hasnt. Both things have brought tears. My advice youve visited the doctor and had proof all was a okay. Go with it. Ive had 4 ekgs done and never was i called via phone or told in person we have a problem. I go back tomorrow and going to ask for another possible ekg, xray, and echo cardiogram just to clear my head my hearts not gonna stop. We are all in this together dealing with something that is very scary but non harmless

I am also 22 years of age

I have had this exact thing. Used to get it all the time. I would walk around feeling my pulse and checking for skipped beats and palpitations. It is alarming when you can feel your heartbeat and you feel a flip flop in your chest. I also went to a cardiologist and had some of the same test. My doctor put me on Lexapro and it helped with my anxiety. She thought the palpitations were being caused by stress and anxiety since all other test were fine. Trust the cardiologist.

The flip flopping sensation is the worst i had it for 30-40 minutes before it stopped and i think i brought it upon myself by googling and panicking about an overdose on zyrtec... yea lol

 

[Sylbarefoot]

The worst part is some days it will be fine then I’ll think about it and BOOM, a quick feeling again in my stomache like I’m missing my breathe. The last few days have been rough so with psychiatrist advice I bumped my Zoloft up to 150 MG. I didn’t want to but I’m just at a loss for what to do. My mind will just circle around it all day.

doc said I could call him and go back and do the monitor if I want, I just don’t see what it would help. He prescribed me a low dose of beta blockers to take as needed, but I really don’t want to take more medication. Just feeling kinda stuck.

Wow! I could have written this. I'm going to my cardiologist on Tuesday. I get the heart flutter and then I can burp up tons of empty gas. I say empty because it is not acidic or stomach remnants.....just air. It's happening a lot throughout the day for the past few weeks. I have been terrified

Hope your appt went well!

Just a quick backup to Tracy T.s comments. Heart palpitations are generally the result of PVCs and/or PACs (premature ventricular, atrial contractions). They’re extremely common and normal. They will show up on an ekg as an early beat in otherwise normal sinus rhythm. You can feel them as a flutter in your chest. They can be extremely bothersome and therefore worrisome, especially if you have anxiety. I know all this because they were one of my whac-a-mole issues a few times . I’m 63 and have had all the tests you have had. You are young and healthy with an anxiety disorder from what you’ve written. I’m old with an anxiety disorder. Just to give you some comfort my wife is my age and gets them. How do I know that? I asked her and she confirm it. She hardly ever worries about health issues. Anxiety itself can cause them. If it doesn’t cause yours it certainly makes you extremely aware of them. I’d say that given all your tests that your heart is fine. What the docs are usually looking for in an ekg is atrial fibrillation, afib. They’re signature on an ekg is totally different from a pvc. I have a couple of friends with afib (remember we’re old ). They have had an ‘ablation’ to fix that problem (outpatient surgery). It strikes me that you need to work on your anxiety problem. I know that’s not an easy task. I’ve been to many psychs and meds and I still have it all my life. One half of my brain thinks logically is ‘fairly’ normal and the other half spends its time looking for something to worry about. I’ve yet to try CBT and would like to, but living on the Big Island of Hawaii makes that very difficult (it’s remote).
I hope my experience With palpitations helps and good luck to you.

thank you for responding this helps me relax some!