What Happened

[Dahrol]

After hours of crying, those pvcs that have plagued me for 3 months mysteriously disappeared yesterday evening. o_O

Now I'm in constant state of unease that they will return and rock me when I least expect it.

This seems too good to be true. What's goin on?

[Dahrol]

Insurance won't cover everything, but I'm doing everything I can, trust me.

This has ruined my life.

[RubyWitch]

As you say, you don't know the entire story with this thread, and while it was very supportive of you to "stop in," that can be a bit like opening a book in the middle..............If you want to really understand this thread, go back and read chapter one.

[vabeachforme]

I don't know your entire story, but I've read this entire thread and have to tell you that I can relate to you in a few ways. I have HORRIBLE anxiety about a lot of things others would smugly laugh at, but one of these issues just happens to be the fact that I am deathly afraid of death - mainly a heart attack. I get this weird feeling sometimes like I'm having a heart attack because it feels like my heart is being pinched or something of that sort. It's easier felt than explained, but it happened to me again last night and I went into full panic mode because I swore up and down I was about to die of cardiac arrest or something.

I'm going to stay watching this thread, but I just wanted to stop in and let you know that you're not alone [AT ALL] in what you're going through right now. You're just lucky enough that you're able to get the help you need with insurance, whereas some of us aren't so lucky.

[Dahrol]

would biofeedback work?

I don't know too much about that.

[RubyWitch]

Perhaps you should speak with your doctor (again) about some sort of antianxiety medication. Your anxiety is making the condition worse, so getting your anxiety under control might be the first step. Therapy to learn to cope, the second.

For those of us who live with PACs, PVCs and palps, you're right, there is no way to completely control them, but there are medications that will control those anxious feelings you have.

[Dahrol]

I need to know how to get rid of this general anxious feeling in my chest. I think that might have alot to do with it.

It's kinda like, I can't control it. There's nothing wrong with me, but that feeling is always there. =/

[RubyWitch]

Go back to the Heart Rhythm Forum and ask the people there how they learned to cope with this problem.
We've suggested therapy, but apparently you've tried that and found no help there. I wish you would give it another try.
I attend a Cardiac Rehab class twice a week, and it has helped me tremendously to understand and accept my condition. The class is run by a cardiac RN, so we all feel very safe there. The class is small, we're more like family and we help each other with our fears.
Perhaps there is some sort of group your cardiologist could recommend for you. Being around people with the same issues is very supportive and comforting.
Merry Christmas Dahrol
Greenlydia

[Dahrol]

I've done all that already.

I guess the way I come off, it still sounds like I still hold that fear that I am gonna die of a heart attack or that my heart is going to stop.

I'm over that now. Everything you suggested, I've already done. I've already had a full cardio workup, and I know now that I have no heart problems.

It's just that the ectopic beats are an annoyance, and it's depressing. I used to be able to just relax until I went to sleep at night. Now, I have to toss and turn to find that position to lie in where I won't feel them the most, and that changes from night to night.

Thankfully, they don't wake me up at night, and I don't get them until a while after I wake up.

It's just hell. The only thing that's scaring me now is that I will have to live like this for the rest of my life, and the rest of my existence will be plagued by ectopic heart beats. When I think back on my life before all this started, it makes me cry, because I no longer have that ability to relax. My heart is always thudding now, or squeezing.

It doesn't matter how long it goes on, I can NEVER get used to this. The next episode is just as horrible as the last. The only way I can reclaim my life back, is to either weaken them, or get rid of them altogether, and I'm terrified that will never happen. :(

[RubyWitch]

I can understand and sympathize, to a certain extent, with your total obsession regarding your heart and your fear of having a heart attack. You have been given a huge amount of support, compassion and some very sound advice.
This has been suggested before and it's my humble and non-medical opinion that this is the course you should follow at this point.
Have your doctor refer you to a cardiologist for a total cardiac work up. This should include a  treadmill stress test and concurrent echocardiogram. These two tests will give your cardio an almost totally conclusive picture of your heart health. He may have you wear a Holter monitor for a period of time, (24-48 hours) so they can track how many PVCs/PACs or palps you are having. And you need to understand that your heart is not actually "stopping," it's just marching to it's own drummer.
If you visit the Heart Rhthym Forum, you will see that there are people who have hundreds of these episodes every single day and they simply learn to accept them and get on with their lives.
You can continue to write to us and I hope you do, we can offer you support and help you with your anxiety. But..............until YOU take steps to deal with this problem, both the physical and psychological aspects, nothing will change. YOU are the only one who can turn this whole thing around.  
Secondly, you need to find some therapy that will help you deal with your anxiety.
I do wish you relief from this anxiety. We all know how dibilitating it can be. We also know that getting help is the only way to reclaim your life.
Peace
Greenlydia  

[Dahrol]

But think about it.

I got anxiety because of an obsessive fear of having a heart attack.

If I'm having a feeling that my heart stops every few minutes, naturally, that feeds the anxiety. If I wasn't having any symptoms, why would I obsess?

My mind works a little differently than some people who have anxiety, so I've been told.

[DJ873]

I agree that thinking to rid of this symptom will rid the anxiety is a symptom we have all worked thru, it doesn't work that way sadly. the tendency to obsess will still be there if left untreated. I think if you work on your obsessive tendencies maybe the symptom will improve or go away but to acceptence is key to a happier life , even if the symptom returns on and off forever. This moment is what it is  and no amount of thinking, wishing, or dispair will change it. Accept what is.

[Dahrol]

They seem to be happening less and less, but they do happen when I lay down and try to go to bed.

It's not that strong anymore, but it feels like my heart is being pinched now.


Uuuuuugggggggh. =/

[sgately11]

Hi Dahrol,

I have heart phobia to from PAC's and an episode of tachycardia when I was coming off of Klonopin and at the gym for 15 minutes. I know how much concentration and worry you feel when you worry about your heart, it must be the worst thing we can concentrate on. The key is to forget about it as much as you can. For awhile there I researched night and day, my PAC's were terrible and I was suffering near constant anxiety. I still get anxiety and that "feeling" in my chest that is not quite a burn, not quite a real feeling, yet feels weak somehow, so the best is to let it go. My mom, a lifelong panic sufferer as well (nice cushy family history) had the chest feeling her whole life, whole life.

Basically what we have to realize is this, I talk to my mom, and my grandparents and they being sufferers had these feelings all through there life, on and off, so we should take that as a sign that this is most likely benign and to move on. These feelings stink but dont concentrate on them and it seems to lessen.

[9DodgeFan]

Hi, your anxiety is interfering with your life, which is a good indication you need help with this.  The chances that your anxiety is going to go away on its own are extremely low (in fact, if left untreated, they may get worse).  If you get help, though, it's almost guaranteed things will get better for you.  I don't know whether medicine or therapy, or a combination, would be the best for you, but anything would be an improvement from where you're at now.  We want to see you beat this as much as you want it, but it's ultimately up to you to take the initiative to make a change.  But rest assured, there is hope!!

[Dahrol]

I also have this constant uncontrollable anxious feeling in my chest that is always there.

[Dahrol]

I just can't cope with the feeling.

I have to lay in certain positions so I can tolerate them better.

[mammo]

Understand  the more you worry about these and fear they will come back, the more likely you will get them back.  They're gone, enjoy this time and try to live in the moment and relax.  They will never go away forever until you stop obcessing about them forever.

[Dahrol]

ugh, they're still there faintly.

I need some hope that they will forever go away. ;_;

[Dahrol]

It looks like my most hated symptom is on its way out *knocks on wood*

If I can be rid of the heart palpitations, I can be rid of all of it.

[j17c27]

Its perfectly fine to post questions...you need support and thats the purpose of this site.  Are you on anxiety medication? Cause if not, that is something to look into.  There are side effects in the beginning...but once you get through the 1st week or 2 on it then you could get amazing results.  My anxiety went away about 95% after i started taking Pristiq.  Taking that medication is the best thing ive done for myself. If you lessen the anxiety symptoms, then you can start to gain your life back.  Are you in therapy? cause that also helps a lot to build you back up into the happy person you deserve to be.

[Dahrol]

Will these symptoms pass on their own, because I have to get my strength back.

I'm sick of feeling like I have a weak heart, although it's been proven to be strong.

I may post a ton of questions, but understand that this has literally destroyed my life.

[j17c27]

I'm not completely sure, but maybe the crying worked as a sort of therapy for you.  I know that when im really anxious or depressed whenever i cry really hard and just let it all out i end up feeling sooo much better.  Try and get your mind off of it right now...because if your not constantly thinking about it they will be less likely to return