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Please reassure me

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Anxiety & Panic Disorders
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Posted 10/24/2006 1:03 AM (GMT 0)
Hello all. I have horrible health anxiety, depression, panic disorder, OCD and probably hypocondria. about 8 years ago my heart was "skipping" and I saw a cardiologist, who diagnosed me with PVCs. He put me on Ativan and I was fine for a while.

I think about this all the time. Constantly, I am feeling my pulse. I get skips and flutters. Four months ago I had bloodwork done with my regular doctor and everything was fine (I was super anxious for the 2 weeks until I got the results) except for cholesterol.

Please don't post anything scary. I would love to get some reassurance that I am ok. Once, about 10 years ago, I was so nervous about everything, the doctor wrote on a prescription pad "You are OK."

Can anyone else relate? Thank you in advance.

Posted 10/24/2006 1:14 AM (GMT 0)
Hey greyhound,
You're fine. I'm sure you know that health anxiety is very common. Trust in what your doctor said four months ago. A friend of mine went to the doctor with the same issue: the "skipping" heartbeat. She was Rxed meds and has been fine since. The doctor told her that it's not a problem. No surgery, no worries, nothing! If I had a Rx pad, I'd write: You are OK. I hope this helped.
Posted 10/24/2006 3:09 AM (GMT 0)
Greyhound. You are OKAY. Anxiety does this - it wreaks havoc on our bodies, minds and souls. When you are *not* anxious take your pulse and you will see that it is normal. Don't forget to breathe. If you need to, put little red stars everywhere and whenever you see one -- BREATHE.
Posted 10/24/2006 3:45 AM (GMT 0)
Grey,
You ARE okay! I went to my GP about a month ago and he ran all kind of blood tests on me. Everything was fine, except for the cholesterol...just like YOU! I actually wanted there to be something physically wrong with me so that he could give me a pill and make it go away!!! BTW, have you ever been on Inderal or Atenolol? They are meds for blood pressure (I'm on Atenolol), but can also be used to slow the heart rate down so that you don't go into a panic attack. Performers use them before they go on stage sometimes, to help deal with stage-fright. It wouldn't hurt to check with your doctor and see if this could be an option for you. I know that I'm grateful!!! I still deal with bad anxiety, but knowing that I won't have an outright PA helps me rst a tad easier.
Keep your chin up! You ARE okay! :)
HUGS!
janet
Posted 10/24/2006 10:14 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks all! Janet, yes I am on Atenolol and have been for about 20 years. It does help to keep my heart from racing but it's the skips and flutters that push me into major panic mode. Then I imagine the worst. Thank you for your good advice.

This morning I have been up praying.

JKRs Girl and Hopeful, thank you for your wisdom too. A girl at work said she gets skips when anxious and my boss said she gets flutters. Why do I think mine are any worse?

God bless you all.
Posted 10/24/2006 12:47 PM (GMT 0)
Hi greyhound,

Here's my theory on why you think yours are worse: Everyone else is dealing nicely with this seemigly serious thing. If they are dealing well and you are still worried, then theirs must not be so bad otherwise, woudn't they worry too? It's an awful trick that our minds play on us.

You're okay and I hope you've settled into realizing that it's not as awful, serious, etc. that you are making it out to be in your head. Our reasons for our anxiousness are all different yet we sll seem to be able to relate on so many levels. I hope you continue to find the support you need here. In the meantime try to put this concern to rest. It's one less thing you need to worry about. Just keep reminding yourself that you're healthy. You have nothing to worry about here.

Be well and take care!
Posted 10/24/2006 1:44 PM (GMT 0)
HUN you are fine trust me if you could see what this A/p plus crohns does to my body ( wont go into details ) but it is gruesome and affects skin
Anyways to tell you the honest truth and I will ALWAYS be honest you are great yes this does wreak havoc on your body thats what it does to us but you wont and will not die okay
You have plenty of good friends here and peeps that care about you so keep posting and know you are OKAY please.........
Posted 10/24/2006 11:03 PM (GMT 0)
You all are great! I appreciate you!
Posted 10/24/2006 11:11 PM (GMT 0)
Hi again greyhound. You are OKAY. You are have a big heart - no wonder it skips and flutters more than ususal! You are OKAY. God has your heart in the palm of His hand. Take a minute to picture that and don't forget to breathe.
Posted 10/25/2006 1:36 AM (GMT 0)
(hugs)

Try to remind yourself that your heart is only doing that bc of the anxiety, and it comes with the territory. It put my mind at ease when I read that p/a can cause heart palipitations and skipped beats. Wouldn't you rather it be caused by that, than something more serious...somethin that you'd have to take meds for?
Posted 10/25/2006 1:53 AM (GMT 0)
Greyhound,  What your going thru pretty normal with anxiety.  I get dizzy and it use to throw me into huge panic attacks.  I still get dizzy every once in awhile but now I know its my bodies response to anxiety and this helps stay off major panic attacks.  Now when I get dizzy (even though I hate it) I just take deep breaths thru the nose and out the mouth, I also move slow and slide my feet so I don't feel like I'm going to fall down.  Believe me I had tons of tests first to make sure there wasn't anything else wrong.  Once you can accept that this is your trigger, then you can start dealing with it.  I wish I could tell you it will go away but it might not.  Just remind yourself that your doctors said your ok, and remember no doctor wants to risk getting sued so you really are ok! tongue    I hope this can help a little bit and look forward to seeing some updates from you.
Posted 10/25/2006 9:26 AM (GMT 0)
The doctor said my blood work was ok. I didn't mention the skips and flutters, I guess because at the time I wasn't feeling them. The flutters were like this about 4 years ago, then stopped. The skips were like this about 8 years ago then stopped when the previous doc said it's PVCs and ok.

Can you all tell I have OCD too? lol It's all part of my reassurance thing. Thank you.
Posted 10/25/2006 12:32 PM (GMT 0)
Yes Hun I can tell I ma a severe OCd'er for many many yrs
I have to have routine with everything
balance '
You name it I am ocd about everything
I do understand what you are going thru as do others and
I am so glad you have your HW 'Family" to come to
as you know most that dont go thru or have what we have "Do not get it "
here you are understood cared about and totally supported
Wishing you all the best '
Lyn
Posted 10/25/2006 5:39 PM (GMT 0)
I wouldnt post anything to scare you, i too have palps, and i just want you to know there are other meds that help you, i take a beta blocker, it keeps my brain from sending the message to my heart to beat so fast, it really helps, i feel so much better since having to take them. Best of luck, and we all need reassurance. You will be fine ;) hugs
shell
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