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Question about 'Heart Flutters'.

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Posted 10/16/2014 5:49 AM (GMT 0)
For those of you who suffer severe anxiety issues and have heart flutters/missed beats/palpitations..... if you have gone to the cardiologist, what did they say about them? I need to get as much information as possible. I feel like this shouldn't be happening. I do have an appointment scheduled, but I've already been checked out three times from the Dr. who said I was okay. But these flutters have never left.

Post Edited By Moderator (Scaredy Cat) : 10/16/2014 9:18:36 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/16/2014 7:56 AM (GMT 0)
Grace

I had the same thing as you! I kept getting palps or "flutters". The doctors said it was nothing but I was not satisfied. I had numerous blood tests, EKGs, and chest xrays. I also had a couple cat scans, a stress test and a echocardiogram.

The final test I took was wearing a heart monitor for 24 hours. And can you guess the results??? Yep, it came back normal. When I finally accepted that I was dealing with solely anxiety, the fear vanished (almost overnight)..

Go to your doctors appointment and be prepared when he clears you to jump fully on the anxiety train. Then you can focus 100% to treating your symtpoms.

We will always be here for you! Hope you feel better soon!

Cornell
Posted 10/16/2014 1:37 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Grace1995,

I've had almost every test to check my heart. I've had EKGs, Chest X-Rays. Chest CT scans, echo-cardiogram, stress test, calcium heart score, 30 day event monitor. I've seen a cardiologist and his thought was it was GERD and Anxiety. He said at 26 years old and cardiac event would be very rare, and with normal heart structure, function, and no signs of coronary artery disease its a very very small chance its related to my heart. However to be thorough I'm wearing the 30 day event monitor a second time.

It has been difficult for me to accept as well, despite the overwhelming evidence that my heart is fine. My average resting heart rate is between 50-65, but there are times its 75-85 and I can't explain it other than anxiety.

I just had a panic attack yesterday driving from home. I just told myself you can't be having a heart attack, you are 26 and don't have any blockage, its not possible, and breathed deeply. After 10-15 minutes it passed. Yea its scary as hell because your heart and chest feel weird.
Posted 10/16/2014 1:51 PM (GMT 0)
Hopefully we can all reassure you, Grace!

I too have had all the standard tests and even some more indepth with my cardiologist and he has confirmed that I have a benign little skip, but that it's harmless and can be worsened by anxiety.

Try not to worry and trust your doctor! Hugs to you!!
Posted 10/16/2014 3:27 PM (GMT 0)
G.,

Great advice and support above...

I will just add that sometimes it comes down to making a choice to believe your doctor.

I went in for an EKG after feeling a particularly bad run of palps. My test indicated that everything was fine. My doctor asked me if I wanted to continue with more tests...as in an echocardiogram...ect.

I asked him if he thought it necessary. He said "Not at all, but I want you to feel comfortable, and believe that all is as it should be with your health."

I thought about it, but ultimately decided that if my doctor was satisfied that My heart was healthy. ..then I would choose to trust him.

I hope that you can come to a place of being at peace with your health. Therapy (CBT in particular) can be a great treatment option to consider.  Many of us with health anxiety have found this helpful!  Also we have self help for health anxiety in our Resources.  It is effective...let me know if  you would like the direct links for this free material!

Best wishes, and keep posting!

S.C.
Posted 10/16/2014 10:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Grace,

I thought it shouldn't be happening to me as well. It was a very frustrating time for me when I first developed PVC's.. My mind kept thinking, if my heart is doing this something MUST be wrong.

My heart doctor was very reassuring that as long as my tests all turned out normal that they are benign palpitations and nothing to worry about. I went through all of the testing that folks listed above, and everything checked out normal.

It wasn't simple to accept that they are benign, but with time it became easier. It's kind of like wearing a new pair of shoes. They really don't feel comfortable at first. But once you start getting used to them they're much more cozy to wear. With the palpitations, they really don't feel comfortable at first but with time you'll hardly notice that they're there.

You can also take some pro-active steps in reducing them. And I'm sure you have checked around on that, but if you need some advice on reducing them I'd be glad to pass it along!

Hope this helps in some small way! Best wishes!
Posted 10/16/2014 11:10 PM (GMT 0)
I've had them my all my life a different times. I've not paid them any attention since my 20's & I've had tests since when I presented at the ER w/chest pains once (I had bronchitis so of course my chest hurt!). Anyway, I've had them right now off & on for about 2 weeks. I've always chalked them up to hormones.

I hope you to get the tests and medical opinions that will help ease your anxiety over them. As you can see from these posts, they're very common. Even in people without anxiety.

Sending love-
Lisa
Posted 10/16/2014 11:15 PM (GMT 0)
I'm simply going to tag along with the rest of the Scooby Gang here....

I've experienced those flutters since I was a kid (as in single-digit age!) And yep, over the course of many years have repeatedly ran the gamut re: tests (including stress test, Holter monitor, EKG's out the wazoo,....lather, rinse, repeat).

As S.C. mentioned,...eventually there does come a point (it came for me, so hopefully it can also come for you likewise) where you make a conscious decision: I'm going to choose to believe my doctor. I've had these symptoms for over 40-blah-blah years, and I'm still pulling up negative test results, so I'm repeatedly given the A-Okay.

When we choose to let go of this struggle, it frees up a big part of our worry center! :)





M.
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