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All in a flutter

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Posted 6/30/2012 11:02 PM (GMT 0)
Hi folks,

First post on here. My name is Shaun and I'm a scribbler type.

Since the age of 15 (10 years ago) I've had heart fluttering palpitations that usually come and go in a few seconds. It's a strange wobbling jolt in the chest that punches the wind out of my lungs. I've done all the usual tests and they come back negative. The thing that troubles me most is that the doctors don't seem to fully understand what I'm describing.

Anyway, I can live with them if they happen once or twice a day. However, since yesterday morning, for the first time since I started getting palpitations, I've been getting them at a rate of about one every minute, which is seriously distressing. It really gets me worried, which in turn has triggered anxiety attacks and sleepless nights.

The other curious symptom I've noticed this time round is that I also have a really bad case of gas - have been burping up roughly the same rate as I've had palpitations since yesterday morning smhair Could an unsettled tummy be causing it, or could the gas be the cause of increased stress?

I know, deep down, that I'm fine. But I can't help thinking I should be going to A&E, even though it never produces anything other than a wasted night. Yep, palps have taken me to A&E three times in the past, all of which required nothing more than a light sedative.

Anyway, I look forward to sharing with everyone. Reading these posts has been very therapeutic during times of palpitation induced panic.

Shaun eyes
Posted 7/1/2012 12:15 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Shaun,

I understand first hand how scary palpitations are. They are my number one complaint due to anxiety and my OCD allows me to fixate on them almost constantly. I'm hoping my CBT therapy will be able to help me with that soon.

I also know what you mean when you say that your Dr's don't fully understand what you're saying and how you're describing your palps. That's pretty common among us anxiety suffers from what I've been told. We don't ever think anyone really "gets it" and we're always thinking that something is being overlooked or missed because we have anxiety and medical professionals don't take us seriously. However, if you've had all the testing done, my Dr's and therapist have all reassured me that something seriously wrong with your heart wouldn't be overlooked that many times after all the testing. My issue is always that when I get these crazy rhythms with my palpitations that they're never caught on a monitor and or at the Dr and how will they ever know if it's actually something dangerous or not.

I'm always worried about my heart skips/flutters when I get them and then when I don't get them I'm usually worrying about when I will! It's such a vicious and scary cycle and I feel your pain. I swear that if I didn't suffer from palpitations that my anxiety would be SO much more manageable!!

Hope you feel better soon :-)
Posted 7/1/2012 3:38 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Shaun and welcome!

I am so glad that you have joined us, but sorry to hear that your palps have recently increased.

I also have days when I have more than the ususal few...and I definitely have seen a gastro connection!

Do you practice breathing and relaxation techniques? These can really be helpful when the anxiety is getting the best of you. We have instructions for them and other self-help ideas in our Anxiety/Panic Resources (main page, 2nd post)

I hope that you will stick around, and am glad that you are getting some good input and comfort here at at HW! This is a great place for information, sharing and support.:)

Post anytime, and talk to you soon!

Scaredy Cat
Posted 7/1/2012 12:32 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the welcome guys :) It's great to know that there are people out there who understand me and who I can really talk to. Others, including close family, partners etc, really struggle to comprehend palpitations and how they make me feel.

Anyway, sadly they keep coming :( This is probably my worst ever sustained episode - still getting the flutter at a rate of about one a minute, which makes me feel as though something's amiss - although I know it probably isn't. I won't do anything rash like run off to A&E, though I might take a trip to the docs tomorrow.

Curiously, and as my wife reminds me, we are going through a period of stress at the moment. I'm starting a new and potentially life changing job in about a week, and we have various other worries going on. I'm guessing this hasn't helped. Perhaps one concern is that, this last week, I've started a gym fitness drive and the personal trainers are sadistic and really pushed me through the week. I'm worried I might have overdone it.

Anyway, I'm still breathing. That's a good sign :) Out of interest, where are most people from? I'm a Scottish exile in London.

Cheers,

Shaun
Posted 7/2/2012 2:25 AM (GMT 0)
I am from the States...California...but hopefully you will be hearing from one of our other moderators here who, like you, hails from Scotland, but currently resides in England! Small world, Eh?

I hope that the stress levels drop soon in your life! I am sure that you will excel at your new job, and after a few days, the uncertainty will fade quickly. Maybe for now, just keep the exercising to a moderate walking schedule until things calm down...30 minutes on a treadmill or stairmaster will be beneficial for your body and mind!

Keep posting with us, and know that we are here to encourage and support:)

S.C.
Posted 7/2/2012 6:24 PM (GMT 0)
It's funny how things work because this morning I was putting dishes away in my kitchen and I felt the slightest feeling that my heart was all in a flutter and I typically don't have that, I'm more of the heart skip or drop kind of feeling girl and this was odd for me so immediately I felt a little lightheaded. Probably anxiety and worry over the sensations since I'm not used to getting them. I of course thought V-Fib and then had to reassure myself that my cardiologist said I didn't have to worry about that happening in a structurally normal heart.
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