Heart flutterings, flip-flop feelings???

I'm glad that I found this website, especially this morning. It seems that most evenings I have the heart "flip-flop" and it gets worse as bedtime approaches. I have chronic insomnia and I think I'm having panic attacks because I'm afraid I'll lie awake all night (again). I've been to psychiatrists, sleep doctors and my primary care physician, but they don't seem to understand how HARD it is for me to sleep and as I try to go to sleep my heart is "flipping and flopping" which makes it doubly hard to falling asleep. Now the "flip-flop" is happening during the day but only when I am sitting. I'm sure they are anxiety attacks. I have had my heart checked out in every way - even a sonogram of my heart! I am perfectly healthy but the "flip-flops" feel awful. The psychiatrist gave me some Lorazepam but it has stopped helping. I'm glad I found these postings….. Now I know I'm not going to die! Thanks for being here!  

Rdcb,

I had these darn things for months without stopping, had all the heart tests and even a holster monitor for 3 days hooked up, I found with my PAC's/PVC's they were related to eating msg and soy, once I got away from all MSG and Soy, they virtually stopped, took about 2 weeks but man, what a relief, I remember the doc had me on xanax, valium and ALMOST had me taking some med for heart attack victims, but, I refused to take it, they had told me what I had was common, related to stress and anxiety and was not a problem, but, wrote me a rx for heart meds to make your heart "have to work less to pump" I was *boggled* why would I take something like that, if I didn't need to worry about it according to them, so I didn't take the meds, went on about my life and met someone who had me get off all msg, soy, artificial sweeteners and they WENT AWAY within 2 weeks, and these heart flutters I had, were constant all day every day for about 3 months, they started off slow, and built their way up to all day long, talk about panic!

Anyway, I hope this info helps ya out, good luck.

-Jessie

I know what you mean about having that awful feeling in your chest and the doctor’s tell you it's only anxiety and stress. After reading some of the posts I was waiting to leave for an appointment that I was dreading. My chest was really “flip-flopping” and I felt BAD, so I decided to take a Lorazepan (2mg) (for anxiety) that a doctor had given me but I wasn’t taking. Within 20 minutes the awful feeling in my chest completely went away! I guess I do have anxiety….. When I told my husband about this he said that I worry about things ALL the time. I still find it hard to believe that such an awful feeling in my chest is caused by anxiety.

Hello there, im soo glad I'm not the only one who feels the fluttering sensations/skipped beat. I've struggled with anxiety and panic for 4 years already, and thru that whole time I've felt these flutters. I've seen a cardiologist 3 times, and I've had an EKG,halter monitor, and ultrasound, and all the lab work, and he's cLeared me from heart disease. He cant explain why I have them, just says I have an anxiety problem, but at the time I feel them, im so scared to have a heart attack or die, they are so scary:(

Two days ago I felt the butterfly feeling on the left side of my chest.  It took me a while to realize this was likely a heart valve issue.  I do have mitral valve prolapse but never physically felt it.  A doctor can always hear it but this was felt from within me.  Pretty interesting but it also gave me a real feeling of how I might check out some day.  Now that's an exaggertation but I'm in good health and rarely am reminded of my physical immortality.

I appreciate the many people who have posted (I've almost never 'posted' anywhere).  Since I didn't want to run to a doctor I found the responses greatly comforting at the present time.  To underscore what people have said, this has been quite a stressful week, swimming in the AM, working an 8 hour social work job and then being a "crew leader" with a few irritating middle school students at a church related forum for three hours each night this week, so the stress was fairly high.  Thanks again.

Hi guys, these posts really really made me feel alot better about the symptoms im experiencing.  For the past 4 or 5 years i've experienced changes in my heart rhythm and the skipped beats. Feels like a huge thump and other times a fluttery feeling. Sometimes when I get the strong thumps it feels like my heart has to start back up and I constantly worry my heart is going to stop for good. (Is that even possible????   I do suffer from anxiety but truly have trouble believing these symptoms are JUST anxiety. My doctor diagnosed me with PVCS but I worry its something more than that. I also get extreme throat tightness and sometimes a little chest pain. Ive had multiple EKGs, tilt table test, blood work etc. Tomorrow i'm getting an echo. Hopefully all goes well. Sick of living in constant fear. Thank you to all for sharing your stories makes me feel like I am not alone!!!

I have had these for many years. The docs ran EKG's and an ECG, but saw that nothing was wrong. I chalk it up to anxiety/panic disorder.

Rachie,

Beta Blockers are drugs that stop or block adrenaline from binding to bodily receptors and thus nullifying the effect of this adrenaline in the body. Many of these receptor lie in the heart, and the over-reception of adrenaline leads to a host of heart problems including PVC. There are several beta blockers that are most effective in reducing or eliminating the occurrence of PVC. I am assuming your Dr. chose one that he felt would work best for your issues.

Using Beta blockers for anxiety can help reduce the physical symptoms we experience from our adrenal going into overdrive.  I have been taking a beta blocker for years as I have a hand tremor and when my anxiety kicks in the hand tremor is much more pronounced.  I have had good luck with control some of the physical sx of anxiety.

Beta Blockers alone will not cure anxiety.

I hope this helps you  understand how this med works.  Please remember - I am not a physician so this information is just FYI.

Keep on talking with us.

Kindly,

Kitt

 

Hi Float and welcome!

Good question by the way...it can be hard to know whether you have anxiety or not!

My first experience was with a panic attack. I didn't even realize that I was having trouble with anxiety, because it can sneak up on you...stress piling up and building gradually...almost going unnoticed by our conscious minds...but not without eventual consequence. It will manifest itself eventually either mentally or physically (or both)

The best thing to do in my opinion is to make an appointment with your doctor and lay it all out for him/her. Write down what you want to say ahead of time, so you don't leave anything out and let you doctor know all that you have been feeling, thinking and experiencing...from the physical, like the palpatations...to the mental, like the worrying.

Your doctor will be able to determine if you are dealing with anxiety and help you to come up with a treatment plan. You may want to go with the therapy and/or medication route...or if you prefer less intervention, he she may be able to suggest some good self-help ideas such as yoga, meditation, books, exercise, ect.

We have some good ideas in our Resource Guide here as well. You can find it on our main page,1st post. We have links to breathing and relaxation exercises that help with lowering anxiety levels...especially when practiced daily.

Keep posting with us as well if you find it helpful. We are here to listen and support!

Good luck in getting your questions answered!

Scaredy Cat

has anyone experienced where it seems your heart SINKS into your chest and makes a couple FAST beats then returns to normal??  i've also had where it skips a HARD beat and i can feel it like in my throat down to my sternum.. it SCARES the hell outta me .. i have had an EKG and done the heart monitor and they SAY that nothing was detected ..i have an irritated stomach ( GERD ) and i AM on an anxiety med ( Gabapentin ) but a very low dose ( 300 mgs a day...)  EVERY time it happens i FREAK OUT!  it's VERY scary!!

I've had those too! Sometimes it just randomly comes and it feels like my heart wants to pop out of my chest. Definitely get it checked but worrying too much winto do any good. Hope for the best!

I am having a really hard time dealing with these flutters today. I get them occasionally, but today it has been an ongoing all day thing. I am scared out of my mind. I will not go to the ER, or another cardiologist because I have had so many tests done by them, and it is all on my medical record and everything is supposedly "fine". I still do not feel fine. I am so scared of these when they happen and when they are not happening I am so afraid OF them happening. I feel like I am going to drop over dead from these things. Such a HORRIBLE feeling!!

Hi SGHB and welcometo the forum!

We all experience our symptoms somewhat uniquely...so I can't say as I have had exactly what you are describing...but I have had palps, and I have had involuntary muscle twitckes/jerks due to anxiety...so that is pretty close to the same thing maybe.

I encourage you to keep posting with us for understanding and support.

Consider starting a new thread of introduction for yourself at any time.:)

Scaredy Cat