when does it end?

[amandaelmo]

i have been suffering from heart palpitations "anxiety" for several years now, i went to a doctor a couple years ago and they did every test in the book ekgs(iv ehad dozens) echocardiogram, holter heart monitor, blood tests, etc, i was told by my doctors office that nothing was physically wrong and that it must be anxiety. i honestly dont get it because i have a bad day and get em and i coud have a good day and get em', there is no rhyme or reason to any of it. i dont understand why this is happening to me, i feel like i am being punished and am so done with it. i have had it and i refuse to live like this, i am a prisioner in my own body. i just wonder does anyone have any insight, to as why certain people  get his and why even if you know it is anxiety, why wont it stop? ive flippin had it!!!!

[amandaelmo]

thanks for all the advice, and i too agree this is ike the top ten worst thing to deal with, i actually recently had three weeks of a pretty consistent headache, i seriously thought i had a brain tumor and was gonna die, then when that was over i just had an increased amount of palpitations, give me a week and there will be something else wrong with me. its absolutely ridiculous, right now i dont have health insurance, whenever i get it back, il try to go again, but honestly i woud be kidding myself if i knew 100 percent i would do it, last time i tried i was terrified and left the appt before it begun, i guess eventually ill get so sick of this crap i will actualy followthru

[lynn57]

My anxiety started a couple of months after deaths of loved ones.  Funny thing is I ended up in ICU because my potassium bottomed out and made my heart beat erratically.  I had panic attacks in the hospital and after going home.  I was in ICU three days to get stabilized.  Potassium has a lot to do with your central nervous system and when you lose it things kind of short circuit.  Here I am years later with GAD (controlled).  Don't know why it doesn't go away for good and not return.  I totally believe it is one of the top ten worst illnesses.  When I was being diagnosed I prayed for a physical illness that we could at least get a handle on.  I accepted the anxiety theory a lot quicker than my doctor did.  He ran every test known to man.  Luckily he agreed to treat me for the anxiety while he was doing this.  You are right, Julie.  We know ourselves the best.  Look for answers and don't give up until you have some.

[Julie359]

Anixety is tricky because it can purely lay within the mind, increased by our thoughts and controled by our thoughts but it can also stem from the body.  I refused to totally believe that it was all in my mind, I knew that something was not right.  In the end I had a couple of tests done via a Nutritionist and iot turned out I hav e a condition called Pyroluria, which is a bnlood disorder that stops vitamin B6 and Zinc from being absorbed properly, and low levels of theses can cause mental health problems, anxiety, depression and more severe illnesses.  So what I would say is trust ur instincts and if u truely feel that something is wrong then investigate.  

I knew something wasn't right after having months of CBT, meditation and hynotherapy.... Trust ur self.

[for_today]

Hola,

I personally have been dealing with my anxiety for about six months now and I went through the same exact thing. I went to a cardiologist and need and ekg, stress test, blood work the whole nine yards and everything came back normal. As time passed it still wasnt enough to re ensure me that I was ok. That within its self is an indicator that anxiety is the culprit here, whenever you feed your anxiety it will keep going so the more you think about it the more likely it is to happen. My suggestion in times of high anxiety would be too calm your self down, have some camomile tea and keep telling yourself its in your mind.... because it is.
Hope I helped, Brendan

[Julie359]

In my opinion anxiety should be up there on the top 10 list of worst illnesses to have.  Anxiety causes inmeasurable suffering and torment.  Some people are able to manage living day to day with it looming in the background but there are those who, like yourself, have got to the point where they cant take it no more.  Anxiety disables people and causes different and varying symptoms.  palputations are common, however just cause they are common that dont mean to say that they dont effect you greatly.

The above poster is right in her advice of the next steps to take.  I would ring your doc and tell them that since having those tests nothing has improved and you would like further investigations and discuss other options.  

As you suffer from mostly palputations the doc may suggest a beta-blocker first such as Propranalol, as this drug will stop palps and the heart racing, plus other alments such as shakiness, sweating etc... it is a very good drug and it may just be enough for you to start enjoying your life again.  However, only your doc can say if this drug would be suitable for you so i would recommend discussing it with him/her.

Let us know how it all goes and good-luck.

[JGF25]

Wow, I commend you for having made it this long without the benefit of outside help.  

This is the thing though.  Anxiety can be both conscious and subconscious.   You obviously know when you have a conscious trigger that causes you to have anxiety symptoms.  The subconscious is a bit tricky.  It is what is causing you to have anxiety when you feel like you are having a good day.  That anxiety is lurking in the back of your mind and rears its ugly head when you least expect it.  

I'm sure you noticed all the posts on this forum so that should tell you that you are not being punished in any way but that you, like so many of us, have anxiety pure and simple.  

Now after a couple of years you are sick and tired of dealing with it.  Good for you because you are obviously ready to take action.  Action comes in many forms.  First you should make an appointment to get therapy.  Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is usually done by a psychologist.  If you want to pursue a medication avenue, and a lot of us have gone this route, then a psychiatrist or general doctor can prescribe these medications to you.  There is a plethora of different kinds that work differently and so a major discussion would be needed to figure out what might work best for you.  There are a lot of people on this forum that choose to get CBT as well as take medication.  

So pick up that phone and call your general practitioner.  That is a good place to start.  Explain what you have been feeling and that the fight in you is gone.  Just be aware, that any medication you take may take 4 good weeks to really see its full effects.  So do not get discouraged.  It just takes some time.  And you absolutely DO NOT have to live this kind of life.  There are many people on the forum that are proof of that.  

Keep us posted.  

[Matthew1986]

Heya there. spotted your post and i couldn't but feel I'm in the same predicament.

I've been in the anxiety realm a good portion of 6 years now, and despite going to my GP time after time and having numerous tests i still don't believe its all in the head!!, anxiety seems to stem from lifestyle, stress, things that people have said to you...it can be anything!

can you think of anything that might have caused you to feel this way?, no matter how small, an argument, work,general problems. a loss or death?. if so, it might be what's triggered it off.

it really gets to me, and it feels like someone high above is pointing and laughing at my and other people like yourself's expense and its a god-damn pain!

If you can, you need to get in contact with a specialist in mental health for a peace of mind, and whatever you do...avoid Google searches for symptoms of things, they always give you doom and gloom!

stay safe and i hope you get to feeling better!

- Matt -