anxiety/panic sufferer here

my question is about heart palpitations.  Is it normal to get them evern if you are not in the middle of a panic attack?  2 years ago I had all of the tests which just showed sinus tachycardia and PVC's and PAC's.  And an ultrasound of my heart.  I was told everything was nomral.  I am 25 years old with a stressful like and this is not helping me at all.  I'm freaking out about these, and I have had them many times in the past but not this frequent.  Now it "skips a beat" at least every hour and then there are few times throught the day where it'll happen more than a few times in a matter of ten minutes or so.  Klonopin is not helping.  Does your heart just freak out and change into a abnoraml rythm or should I relate all of this to stress/emotions/anxiety/depression and panic?  I saw my doctor two days ago, shes a new one but she knows about all of the test etc... and she said all she has to offer me is reassurance and she upped my Zoloft and refilled my Klonopin for me.  This is way more often and of course I am focusing on it but its hard to believe that just by my occasional thoughts about my heart, that is what causes it to palpitate.  Please help, and thank you
Leah

Leah,

Yeah, I get the premature heart beats just any old time. There is no real rhyme or reason to them. Yes, there does seem to be triggers but mostly when my heart is 'jumpy'. For example, they may start up if I've had too much chocolate, if i'm tired, stressed, angry, if I'm too hungry or too stuffed after a big meal.They could show up if I twist, bend down, stoop,etc. Or they can be quiet and still for weeks; then BAM!!! I'll have an onslaught that will leave me reeling in their wake. No, it is not fun! If I think about them, they are sure to 'come out to play'. If I'm able to pretty much ignore them and go on with my life, they seem to be fewer in number. Sometimes I'm pretty good at ignoring them and not being bothered. Then there are the other times.......My best advice is to remember that your heart has been checked out and is good. Cling to that comforting thought! Tell yourself over and over as many times as you need that these ANNOYING thumps and bumps will not kill you and your heart is actually in good shape. It really does help eventually! Also come here for support and reassurance. It sounds like you've got a supportive doctor also who can give you reassurance when you need it. Believe me I've needed my doctor to reassure me several times over the last few years! My cardiologist is GREAT considering that he suffers daily with these things himself. At my worse I was throwing PACs every other beat for hours. YUK!:( He still didn't think I needed meds for them. Now THAT"S reassurance even if it does feel terrrible!

Hey, I am 25 also and have the PVCs and PACs, "normal" heart muscle, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder--- I can TOTALLY relate to what you are talking about! I have had the palpitations since 7th Grade and I am getting really fed up with it! All the doctors say "it's fine" but I am convinced that all the irregular rhythms must be wearing down the heart muscle... so, I went to a Cardiac Electrophysiologist who finally took my complaints seriously. You should go see one, pronto! We are going to do all the tests again and possibly do Catheter Ablation which is supposed to totally cure you of your palpitations. From reading a bunch of posts, some people still get the palpitations, but I think the success rate is pretty good overall. I have also read that taking a Potassium supplement should help (if your body is low in electrolytes it can cause and increase in palpitations). Good luck!