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my cardiologist told me my panic attacks can cause deadly arrythmia

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Posted 7/31/2009 12:36 AM (GMT 0)
confused  im so confused now my therapist and pychiatrist told me panic will not kill you no matter how bad it is. well i had to wear a 24 hour holter monitor yesterday and was told that during my attacks my heart beat gets to 180 and he said this is dangerous and could trigger a arrythmia that could be deadly. now im so scared i dont know what to do as if i didnt have panic before can you imagine now. he wants me to start inderal to keep the adreneline down but it wont do nothing for anxiety feeling just keep the heartbeat blocked so it dont go so high. the worst thing is he said i cannot take any thing else with it no xanax or ativan .he said it will interact and could cause death also. i can take my paxil .now i m stuck with die from heart or suffer from anxiety i just cant believe this is happening and my pychiatrist is out of town for a week so i cant ask her what to do .has anyone heard anything like this ??? im having palp/ irreg. high heartbeat but was told by everyone that was just the anxiety and panic normal and would not hurt you. im so confused and scared now that i was told my worst fears really are true im going to have a heart attack with panic.
Posted 7/31/2009 3:08 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Nana...So sorry to hear all this...But let me tell you my story.....I have had anxiety attacks for 18 years and i started having major heart palpatations and racing  that would last all day long and not let up......would last for about 3 weeks and then go away only to come back again.....I saw my cardiologist and i wore the monitor too and mine was caught on the monitor too......What he told me was that what i was having would NOT kill me unless  i started passing  out , then we would worry about it ..He told me the medication for this was worse on you than the palps and racing heart......He also said that most people who have arryithmas dont feel them, and dont even know they are having it....I could feel mine.... my Dr put me on a betablocker about 20 years ago  tenormin ( which slows my heart rate.because i noticed my heart would race as soon as i feet hit the floor in the mornings ..actually i was already on this when i was having all these test ran.........and i can still take all my anxiety meds with it....I do trust this cardiologist as he is rated in the top 10 in the us.......I would ask him/her  if there is another med u can take so u want have to go off your anxiety meds........Just wanted to letcha know what my experience has been.....feel better and keep us posted

 

Hugs

Lucy

Posted 7/31/2009 7:12 AM (GMT 0)

I think your cardiologist should choose his words more wisely. Ive had this horrible dx since i was 10 and i experience major palpitations and arythmias, however I have also been told that a straight forward simple panic attack will NOT kill me. It might feel awful while my heart is pounding and racing and skipping beats but i personally dont feel at risk of death. I understand your concern and wonder if your doctor knows your full medical history, re panic and anxiety?

All the best, you will make it through this,

Maz XX

Posted 7/31/2009 12:56 PM (GMT 0)

I am appalled at how you doctor worded your dx.  I have had skipped heart beats and a rapid  pulse for YEARS...have been hooked up to equipment and had several EKG's while this was happening and never once did any doctor tell me the anxiety that was causing this would kill me.  Just the opposite, as a matter of fact.  I was told the body releases a limited amount of adrenalin at once and once it dissipates, the beat slows down.  Most people over the age of 40 have arrhymias and just don't feel them.  From my experience and from what I have been told repeatedly, if you have a an otherwise healthy heart, these annoying symptoms will not hurt you.

So sorry this has happened to you.  Shame on that doctor for his choice of words!

Donna

Posted 7/31/2009 1:07 PM (GMT 0)

Nana,

I think perhaps what your Doctor was trying to say is a heartrate of 180 is not healthy and to try to keep your heart rate from climbing so high you should be on medication.

I use Inderal as it is a good med for anxiety because it is a beta blocker and will keep your heart rate  from climbing so high when you are in panic mode.  Beta-blockers that are used to treat cardiac conditions, also may be used in anxiety disorders to stop the physical symptoms of anxiety.

The drugs reduce nervous tension, sweating, panic, high blood pressure, and shakiness. Therefore if the panic is undercontrol the heartrate will remain in the safe zone.

Do seek a second opinion if you are not happy with this cardiologist.

IMHO I think beta blockers have a role in treating anxiety.


With kindest personal regards,
Kitt

Posted 7/31/2009 7:02 PM (GMT 0)
oh thank you thank you thank you .ive been crying and making myself a wreck since i saw this cardiologist. i called him today and told him i just cant stop taking my ativan i at least should wean off and why did he think it was dangerous to take together. he said well i just dont want you on so many pills. go ahead take the ativan if you are in panic only but not scheduled as my pych md has it now. im so confused .i know that even when im at my best here i which is not often i just dont feel normal .so it scares back into anxiety and panic. and so far the only thing i have changed since this new onset of panic for the past 6 wks was to increas my paxil to 40mg.  i was taking 30mg for years without a problem does anyone think the 40mg can be making me worse like reverse effect? my md said take it all at once 40mg my pharmatist said take 20mg in am and 20 pm might feel better since i wake in such panic mode everyday now for 6 WEEKS!!!. OH HOW I WISH AND PRAY SOMEONE COULD HELP ME.
Posted 7/31/2009 8:35 PM (GMT 0)

Im sorry that happened to u , I had something similar... Im praying for u!!!

I had just got done vacuuming & i was talking to a friend about my bday. She wants to throw a party (which is VERY sweet of her) but i dont want one, anyway i was kneeling down bending over a little & i stood up & BAM it hit me... Scared the hell outta me.. I felt like I couldnt breathe, so i figured it was a panic attack.. Well I went to the heart dr yest & he said it was NOT anxiety related..

Now I forgot to tell him i had eaten Tuna that day & 2weeks prior to that everyday as well & the episode happpend on sun 19th that fri night i went to my 20yr HS reunion.. So i dont know whether the Tuna did it or stress from the reuinon cuz i was nervous while i was there.. Barely drank anything that whole night..I had also eaten Choc Chip granola bars, (which I picked a lot of the choc out) but he thinks it may have been the choc... I dont know but im going to get a 2nd opinion, from hopefully a dr thats understanding about agorphobia...

Posted 7/31/2009 9:48 PM (GMT 0)
what did your doctor think it was if not related to your anxiety did he say? also curious you said you ate tuna does that have increase effect on anxiety or something?is it a food to avoid??? i just had tuna for dinner lol great.
Posted 8/1/2009 3:13 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Nana....you were talking about your increase in your paxil? I take celexa and he increased mine to 40 mgs after being on 30 for years and it made me worse , anxiety wise, so i went back to 30 after talking to my dr......He told me an increase can make u worse....

 

Hugs

Lucy

Posted 8/1/2009 3:43 AM (GMT 0)
Nana... i think he's a quack, im going to get a 2nd opinion... The time of the attack(whatever it was) i took xanax & shortly it calmed me down, he said that was a considence... Yes i had Tuna BUT i had also eaten everyday several times a day for 12 weeks str8...
Posted 8/1/2009 4:41 AM (GMT 0)
responding to i luvlucy  you said increase made you worse. why had they decided to increase it? i had no problems on 30 mg of paxil for many years but then it hit out of nowhere terror panic and did not stop it had been 4 weeks when md said increase paxil to 40mg .how do i know if it is making me worse when i was already so bad?i know im no better but it wasnt stopping on its own with the current 30mg. of paxil .how are we to know when the side effects are the same as the symptoms .
Posted 8/1/2009 4:43 AM (GMT 0)
responding to dd55 comment on tuna .still dont understand .did the md blame your episode on tuna? what is wrong with tuna? did he think you were allergic to it or what? im lost here maybe my mind is just so screwed up im not getting it.
Posted 8/2/2009 3:42 AM (GMT 0)
hi yes i have panick attacks for no reason i can find either. some wake me out of a dead sleep and then there are times im laughing and having a great time with friends or family and bam a major panic attack. i dont have migraines. my cardiaologist just started me on inderal he said it is use ful to decrease adrendeline and also helps with migraines and heart palpatations .i just started it last night. can you describe your panic attacks ?everyones are diff. it seems. mine starts with a feeling like someone injected me with a drug that makes me feel so weird and terrified and instant vapor heat starts in my head and spreads throughout my body .i get gi upsets and loose stool imed. i tremble with fear short of breathe heart palp. and feel such doom and like i may pass out. i can only really say it is the worst thing i have ever felt and would not wish it on the devil himself. and to make matters worse ive been stuck in panic mode for 6 wks now they keep coming like contractions when in labor .im almost losing all hope of recovery.
Posted 8/6/2009 5:34 PM (GMT 0)

nanas..... about the tuna, i had been eating tuna for 2 weeks str8. I read we should only be eating tuna 2 to 3 times a week.  

so im thinking i was eating waaaay too much... Dr said my episode was NOT caused by anxiety he doesnt know what caused it..I

talked to the nurse & a paramedic friend who both said anxiety can cause tachycardia.  So long story short im going to get a second

opinion...  I really believe it was stress related..

Posted 8/6/2009 7:34 PM (GMT 0)
Please "don't loose all hope of recovery"! I know when we are in the throes of severe anx/pan it sure feels that way. But don't loose hope!

I see now reading here how common heart palpitations, etc are with anx sufferers. I too have seen 4 cardiologists over the years, but never has one told me my heart rhythm irregularity was deadly. I was told there are a lot of kinds of heart beat irregularities and most are benign. Granted this is no way is a dx for your situation, but just what I've heard.

Peace to you!

Spinnaker

Post Edited (spinnaker) : 8/7/2009 6:14:02 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/6/2009 9:35 PM (GMT 0)

Hey Nana,

Hi there sweetie,

Anxiety can cause tachycardia and tachycardia can cause anxiety..................so which came first for you?  Forget the Tuna................it does not cause anxiety unless you are allergic to it.  Just my humble opinion. :-)

What you need is to learn how to deal with the anxiety and panic.  smhair

If you find yourself at a point where you need help in reducing anxiety then you have two options: seek professional help if you feel you cannot do it on your own or use some practical methods to help reduce your everyday stress. It feels to me like you would benefit from some intense therapy as well as perhaps a new med instead of the Paxil.  Also there are other meds such as Buspar for anxiety instead of continuing on with Ativan every day.  Trazadone or Seroquel are good at low doses for sleep.  These are just my rambling thoughts today  :)

I am a sufferer of chronic anxiety. In the past I sought out professional help, but now use many practical methods on my own to reduce anxiety. The main objective is remembering what you are capable of doing.

Exercise. take a walk, play a game of basketball, or ride a bike. The point is to exercise because when you do, your body will release endorphins, which contribute to feeling good.

Call a friend when feelings of anxiousness or fear arise. A friend is not a replacement for professional help when needed, but a friend can be there to listen when you are having a bad day. Sometimes letting off a little steam can help relive tension and anxiety.

Reduce your caffeine intake. As you probably already know, caffeine is a stimulant. The last thing a person suffering from an anxiety disorder needs is a stimulant.

Share a laugh. Nothing breaks the tension like laughing. If you walk around feeling miserable, you will be miserable, but if you laugh life seems better. So if you are down, watch a funny movie or TV show to laugh.

Take ten minutes and relax. Do something that you find relaxing: a hot bath, a video game, a book, anything to make you forget for a few moments about your anxious feelings.

Believe in yourself and the power you have over your own anxiety.  Remember you have anxiety, it does not have you.

Take care and keep on talking with us here in HW.

Gentle Hugs

Kitt

Posted 8/7/2009 12:02 AM (GMT 0)
no no Nanas you don't die from this...
Posted 8/7/2009 3:03 AM (GMT 0)
thanks again kit and everyone who has helped me so much. i had a cardiac stress test today and i passed it .a few pvc s but not bad enough to kill me i guess. so at least for today i feel some relief. love to all.
Posted 8/7/2009 1:19 PM (GMT 0)

Nana,

Great news and I hope the Doctor explained to you that everyone has PVCs that are benign and most people do not even know they are having the premature beats. 

Do work at staying in the moment and in believing that you are going to be OK.  You have my support.

Gentle Hugs

Kitt

Posted 8/7/2009 6:15 PM (GMT 0)
I'm late getting into this conversation. I just wanted to say that I hope you feel better soon! I've gone through this, too, and it's not fun. But once you accept the strange beats they will not occur as often. Take care!
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