Beta blocker for anxiety? I'm ready to give up

Hey everyone. So I'm still waiting on my results from my 2 week halter monitor, but I have a feeling the cardiologist is going to give me the same options again..either do nothing, or go on a beta blocker. I'm just so sick of the pounding heart. It's like I can't do anything without getting it...eating chocolate, any caffeine at all, beer, a meal, even just waking up in the middle of the night my heart feels like it's pounding and I have to sit and do deep breathing for a few minutes to go back to normal. Summer is coming and heat is definitely another thing that brings on the pounding heart, and i'd like to enjoy my summer for once instead of avoiding the heat because it makes my heart pound and feel uncomfortable. Does anyone have any advice? I actually feel like the more I 'baby' myself, the worse it seems to be getting! Before I use to only get the pounding heart after drinking sometimes...now if I drink I drink way less...and drink water in between as well as a ton of water before bed...and now I get them EVERYTIME I drink. I also take vitamins now and eat better...but I seem to get this daily now instead of weekly or randomly before. I'm just so sick of this, i'm ready to just throw in the towel, I can't enjoy my life, my sleep is $hit because I keep waking up with my heart pounding..I just want to cry. I'm trying to exercise a little more but i'm scared to do too much. Does anyone find beta blockers to do the trick with minimal side effects?

Hello Lindamine and thank you for your response :) I'm only on Xanax as needed..and I really try to only take it in extreme cases. I hate replying on pills and am trying to do this on my own as much as possible.
I feel like every single day it's SOMETHING. If it's not a pounding heart then it's skipping beats..if it's not that then it's chest pains..or it's the feeling like I can't breathe...yesterday I felt like my blood sugar was low all day (shaky, weakish, feeling like i might pass out)..I literally just can not have a good day anymore. But my heart is CONSTANTLY on my mind...no matter what I eat, drink or do I think "oh no how's this gonna effect my heart" and then I can't stop thinking about it. It's like i'd almost rather have it start pounding then sit and anticipate it..if that makes any sense

GM

Great advice above...

...so I will just add my well wishes on your results!

Let us know when you hear back, and what you ultimately decide to do for management...we support you in any decision you make.:)

S.C.

I have GERD too. In my case, not the case for everyone, it is due to LACK of stomach acid keeping the lower esophageal sphincter closed. It is the valve that keeps stomach acid from going back into your esophagus. Sometimes, when stomach acid is too low, it doesn't get the message to stay closed after a meal. The HCl is an acid supplement that you take after a meal. You aren't supposed to use it if you take a lot of NSAIDs though (advil especially).

I DO get a pounding/racing heart after drinking. I've had to really cut back because I hate the feeling. I quit (like maybe sipped ONE drink a week, if that) for a couple of months. It really helped to regulate my body again. The thing is, alcohol is not benign to our bodies. It depletes minerals and vitamins and for those of us that are sensitive to those fluctuations, it can be really hard to use. The big one it depletes is magnesium. Which, I think you know, is vital for regular heart function! I went through a really rough time when I was drinking a little too much and that's when my palps really went crazy. I cut WAY back on the drinking and take 700mg of magnesium/day. I have finally gotten the palps under control. So, is there a good answer to how you can do what you used to do without any problems? It's not that easy. I'd say you have two choices. Listen to your body and cut back for a while or continue to do what you're doing and deal with the sleepless nights after drinking. My limit now is two. Anymore than that and I pay for it.

I take the beta blocker, Metoprolol ER for Left Bundle Branch Block, when I first started taking it, I felt all funky on it, but now after almost a year and a half I have no sides with it. I also take Prozac and Clonazepam, so I always seem to be calm, not sure if it's from one or all. I just take it and have a normal life. I haven't had any heart thoughts in about a year, nor have I had a anxiety problem or a panic attack over my heart problems in a year or so. Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and do what is best to help you...