So much heart anxiety
Posted , 8 users are following.
I'm 22 yrs old and have had really and heart anxiety for 2 months now, it started with skipped beats and my anxiety took over and it only got worse from there. I went and saw a cardiologist in July, did an echo, 24 monitor and a stress test. He said everything was good and that I just had minor mitral valve prolapse which is harmless but my anxiety got a lot worse after that and I spent hours looking up info on it and it only got worse, getting up would make me super light headed and make my chest pound, everything would false palpitations and eventually I convinced myself I couldn't walk and was afraid to get up. I've been seeing a psychologist and have been doing CBT it helps a little. I got put on propranolol 10mg once a day. It has helped tremendously but I do get chest pain and I don't sleep well at all (I think it all has to do with my anxiety though and creating these side effects). Just recently I went to another cardiologist for a 2nd opinion and he put me on a 3 week event monitor, I had an episode where my heart rate went up to 180 and he caught it on the monitor and told me o had SVT and to keep taking the propranolol and that I could grow out of it and that it's not fatal and that I'll be fine.
Now I got my results from the event monitor and it shows signs when I signaled I felt symptoms and it says things like sinus tachycardia, sinus rhythm and sinus bradycardia. All of which after reading sent my anxiety sky high. I got myself so worked up and scared now. On the report during certain episodes I could see my heart rate was at 47 Bpm, which makes me super anxious thinking something bad is going to happen. I'm so scared there's something wrong with my heart and it leaves me up most nights. I only sleep 3-4 hrs a night and when I try to nap during the day I can't, I'm so fidgety. I haven't been to a single college class yet because I'm scared to be alone in case something happens. I went to the ER during an SVT episode and they did a picture of my heart took my blood and did an X-ray and said everything was perfect, no damage to the heart or anything but it's like my mind is creating all these problems because it's convinced there's something wrong and they're not catching it. My mind creates all these symptoms constantly, chest pain, pressure, discomfort, twitching but when I do something to be busy I don't feel any symptoms.
I'm starting to lose hope, I'm so scared and don't know what to do. On top of that I'm sometimes anxious over taking the propranolol, and that makes things worse too. I'm scared my heart rate gets to low sometimes and then I'm scared its to fast, I'm constantly checking it and just writing this makes my chest feel uncomfortable. If anyone can help or has anything similar please let me know, I feel so alone
0 likes, 20 replies
aria07018 kris29811
Posted
Hi! I'm going thru the same for a long time ! As you I did multiple Ekg,ultrasound of heart,stress test,event monitor and all the result were normal! I still get chest pain ,sometimes like shooting pain,spreading in arm or jaw,dizziness,feeling like I'm fainting and always panics me! Recently I'm diagnosed with hypoglycemia which makes my anxiety worst and explains the fainting feeling too! I just can reassure that anxiety can make our life so hard! Just fight with that feeling because if the doctors said you are ok ,you will be fine! All the best,,,😀
thomas96833 aria07018
Posted
Hello Aria,
Sorry to hear about what you're suffering with.
Just a question about the jaw pain and dizziness. Have you seen a dentist?
I was getting crazy tension headaches, jaw pain and dizziness my dentist said it coud be due to TMJ or bruxism, I had damaged a few teeth through grinding. He said that people with high anxiety levels grind or clench your teeth at night and that's what causes the persistent pain all day because of the pressure in which you clench.
Anyway he made a night guard and so far it's worked well. Just thought i'd mention it.
thomas96833 kris29811
Posted
Hello,
Sorry to hear about what you are going through! I have been in the same boat and it's terrible. I know the feelings well that go with "Anxiety". You'll be glad to know the symptoms do ease, I think you just need time to process what is happening to your body and work something out that works for you to tackle it.
I didn't get along with propranolol very well, I know what you mean about the worry, I even bought a fitbit because I was paranoid it would drop so low in my sleep that i'd need to run around to raise it again!. I found it made me to physically exhausted though (I was on 80mg slow release - my heart rate was insanely high with anxiety and I am only 26!) - They also don't calm a busy mind which is what fuels anxiety so I still got the odd panic attack though it was so much worse for some reason (might have just been my experience). Also exercise was a massive no on them tablets which I didn't like.
Like you I have had countless tests done, one thing I learnt to aid recovery is to stop worrying something sinister is wrong and just accept if the tests come back okay, you are okay. Your brain is a powerful tool and yes, thoughts can manifest into very strong physical sensations.
I started to look for ways to calm myself which worked a treat in managing anxiety - At one point I could barely walk the shop without having a breakdown!. Panic was extreme and completely out of control.
I have tried most anxiety meds - Busprione, Fluoxetine, Sertraline, Propranolol, diazepam (to help sleep) and each kind of just replace one problem with a lot more!. Fluoxetine was bloody lethal - use that as a very very very last resort.
The best ways I have found to enable me to get through a day are hebal rememdies. For me, they have just worked so much better than perscription meds and come with no side effects - best thing for anxiety as I worry about getting every side effect possible!
I swear by Passion Flower from Holland and Barrett or Rhodiola. Passion Flower calms your mind and allows you to relax - like kalms but a lot stronger. I find it gives me 5/6 hours of not worrying but I can still function perfectly well. It makes me a bit tired though.
Rhodiola I take in work when needed, it's a stress relief tablet for anxiety that calms your nerves without the sedating effect of Passion Flower. I found it took away my shaking, tenseness / on edge feelings, chest pains - made a hell of a difference in my working day, it just allowed me to ease up and laugh a bit more. Once the physical symptoms eased, I found my anxiety was less controlling.
Trying St Johns Wort now but can't really comment on how it is yet. Only been a week but so far no major difference or any side effects. I feel more relaxed on whole, it's eased the fidgeting which is a godsend.
Camomile tea also works miracles to calm yourself down when anxiety levels are high.
Things I learnt to do - Avoid all ale and caffiene / sugar sadly - massive panic triggers. Just at least till you calm down a bit. Coffee actually triggered panic attacks for me when I was at my worst. 4 months ago, I could drink 3/4 cups without a care in the world!
Therapy helps a lot, it's not what you'd think. CBT is brilliant for technques to control panic attacks / challenge your mindset and help you understand what's happening in your body.
Tell people you trust. It sounds childish I know, but I bottled my anxiety up for ages without knowing what was happening / worrying about what people would think and would I lose my job etc etc etc. Once I told my colleagues, I was amazed at how supportive they were. It took the pressure off from holding a front on all day and a lot of them knew of, or had experience themselves in dealing with it!.
Exercise also works wonders. Simple advice, but it really does. Anything cardio related.
Stay on these groups, you're not alone and you'd be very suprised about how many people struggle as well. Help is always out there!.
Sorry for the gibberish. Hope any some of it might help!
kris29811 thomas96833
Posted
Thanks so much for your response! I was wondering have you ever had a sensation when falling asleep that you can't move your arms or legs(a strong pressure on them) and then your muscles will start twitching? I also get a similar thing when waking up, except I can move my arms and legs but they're pulsing really hard and my chest will be twitching as well it feels like my heart is racing but my pulse is actually in the 50s-60s. It makes it really hard to sleep, I was thinking about going on sleeping pills but idk if my GP will let me since I'm taking the beta blocker already
Lolasmom kris29811
Posted
Hi there Kris
Though I am much older than you, I completely understand what you are going through.
I had such stomach problems for many months. I think that was when my anxiety kicked in. Then in February I started having svt. It was caught on an ekg in emergency. That really kicked off my anxiety.i started beta blockers but was so anxious taking them. I had awful side affects, so I chose to have an ablation done. Unfortunately it was unsuccessful because I was taking a benzo for my anxiety and this medication masked the irregular circuit. I have only had a few svt episodes. I think all the symptoms from the anxiety are worse. Legs jerking, off balance, pressure.......and many more.
SVT is not life threatening. Uncomfortable and scary yes, but controllable.
Our minds take over and create all this crap.
I have being getting CBT, but just don't get it .
I also check my pulse and blood pressure way to often
You will. Be fine. But it takes time.
Also wonder if when your bP was low on the monitor, could that be when you were sleeping?
I bet the medication you are on is helping your heart rate. That's why it is low. Mine too
kris29811 Lolasmom
Posted
Wow It really helps to talk to someone that has SVT before last week and being told I have it I've never heard of it. But when I would go outside and walk my heart would race so fast and I'd almost faint. I'm on a beta blocker now and it helps the racing and palpitations but I literally don't sleep at all. I don't know if it's a side effect but I'll be laying down and right as I'm about to fall asleep my body will start pulsing, in my arms and legs and it'll feel like I can't move my arms or legs and my chest will be twitching really bad but when I open my eyes and suddenly move it'll go away and when I check my pulse it's in the 50s- low 60s and my pulse when it got low is always either before waking up, or right before sleeping, it just got me nervous seeing the 47 Bpm on the event monitor report and then the diagnosis thing said sinus bradycardia.
How have you death with SVT, what other symptoms do you have? I get scared to be alone because I had an episode while I was alone in the car driving and now I'm deadly afraid to be alone.
Lolasmom kris29811
Posted
When I was taking the beta blocker, ii was extremely tired all the time. I also had cold feet, and also the slow heart rate. Resting was usually about 58 BPM.
Svt was new to me back in February. Just sitting doing nothing, then I got the sweats and BPM was 180. Went on for hours until I went to emergency. The did ekg and it showed up. They then took me for a chest exray and when I got back up and they hooked me back up, my bP was 84 BPM. So I did not need that nasty med they give you to stop it.
Also when on beta blockers i had to decrease my blood pressure pills down. On both blood pressure and beta blocker my blood pressure was about 99/60
Fun eh?
kris29811 Lolasmom
Posted
Me to I have really bad anxiety and svt ( I wonder if the anxiety plays a part in svt) he mentioned it but he said he want's to do the beta blockers first, and if those don't work then an ahrythmia type medicine and if that fails then we will do an ablation. But yeah I was just sitting in my car waiting for a friend to get out of class and my heart took off to 185 and it scared me so much. I've had really bad anxiety over my heart ever since. I'm not on any other medicine but the propranolol which helps with the palpitations and fast heart rate but I don't get any sleep lol.
May I ask what beta blockers you've taken? I'm not sure if I should try other ones or what to do. Ive been on propranolol for about a week and a half now. I get chest pain and discomfort (not sure if thats just my anxiety causing it though) Also when I get excited, like in a stressful situation ill feel a tingle in my chest that kind of like moves through it. It's really weird and hard to explain. I don't know if thats the medicine or anxiety.
I've only had a few episodes of SVT as well, about 3-4 now over a month. I didn't know what they were because they would go away but the monitor finally caught one when I had it on.
What symptoms do you experience with SVT when your not having an episode?
Lolasmom kris29811
Posted
I daughter also has svt that started when she about 25. She takes bisoprolol. She will have svt the day following a night if she drinks. That is because she is dehydrated. She hardly drinks anymore.
I think the benzo keeps my heart rate low too, so svt seems to be okay, but I am still freaked out about it. I use a heart rate app on my phone. Want to see if it shows consistent. Bleaps and also check my numbers
Lolasmom kris29811
Posted
Are you in the States?
kris29811 Lolasmom
Posted
Katie111888 kris29811
Posted
Hi,
I can totally relate to you. I've suffered with anxiety from a very early age and it comes and goes. Some days I'm fine and others I send myself crazy with it. I have major health anxiety, a lot associated with the heart! I too suffer witb palpitations, skipped beats etc and I've had tests done to which they all came back fine ( 2 ECGs to be precise) these were not 24 hr ones only one that lasted a minute or so. I constantly worry my heart is going to stop a ang moment it really does take over my life at times. I wouldn't say j suffer with depression I lead a happy life, but anxiety does take over an awful lot and make me feel low.
kris29811 Katie111888
Posted
I feel like health anxiety is the worst because our minds can create physical symptoms which in turn just makes us more anxious and sends us in this never ending loop. Do you see a psychologist or anything? how long have you been having the anxiety?
Katie111888 kris29811
Posted
Hi,
No I have never seen a physiologist, I should have when I was younger tho as I became quite ill with anxiety and it made my weight go to a dangerous low as I never ate due to worry. I managed to make myself better the older I became and teenage years were never too bad, however I still had the odd episode. I've become worse since having my son 2 years ago. I constantly check my pulse as this is a comfort to me if I feel it's beating normal. My husband has suggested me visiting the doctor and speaking with him but i don't want to be put on tablets etc. I've had anxiety from the age of 7-8...panic attacks have always been a major thing with me too but worst thing I've done is never opened up about how bad it's got I've always just dealt with it but I hate he feeling of 'am I going to die soon' always worrying about it really gets me down
GYDA kris29811
Posted
Hi, I wouldn't worry too much about the slow heart rate, I recently wore a fitbit, its a fitness watch kind of thing that measures your heart rate constantly and mine was always in the 50's, low 50s.
I thought whoa that's low, asked my mate whos also 24 years old what his says and his heart rate was in the low 50's.
Then at work we all had a medical at work where they did blood pressure/pulse and there was loads of people in the 50's/60's heart rate.
The doctors technically have to put 'sinus barcardyia' before it is lower than 60, even if theres no significance in it. I saw a page online that said alot of people 18-27 year olds have a lower resting pulse than 60, its just because our hearts our in there prime.
GYDA
Posted
kris29811 GYDA
Posted
oh really? that helps to know because I got myself really worked up about it being so low. I haven't exercised in a long time because of all the anxiety, I mostly sit around my house because i'm scared to exercise, but I was getting alot of panic attacks where my heart would always be racing so maybe that was similar to exercise. I got scared because I thought it was my beta blocker that was putting it so low. I only take 10mg propranolol once in the morning and i've been doing that for about a week and 5 days now. I get nervous when I take it, and it gives me chest discomfort and weird feelings around the chest. I talked to my doctor and he said thats not a side effect and that its my anxiety.
Katie111888 GYDA
Posted
I've also got a Fitbit and my resting heart rate when laid in bed especially was often 58bpm sometimes 56. I also worried about this as I have pretty bad heart anxiety and suffer with palpitations quite often. I'm 28 so the prime thing makes sense I guess. A lot of the time tho my resting is 61bpm which I've heard is spot on (my mind still won't believe it tho)
kris29811 Katie111888
Posted
Kayleigh,
I was wondering if you ever get palpitations when you go from standing to sitting? For me it feels like it's pounding hard and I lose my breath, it's uncomfortable to lie down for a little bit because it feels uncomfortable to take deep breaths.
Also do you ever get lightheaded? I get it a lot when I go from sitting to standing, it's accompanied with palpitations