help if you will please

[thomasdp21]

Hello.  im a 24 yr old male.  between ages of 15-22 i went to probally 5 different cardiologist. had several ekgs, stress test and echos.  never found anything.  i also had one holter monitor.  showed nothing.  2 years ago i got scared for some reason and had another echo and stress test done.  from those test til now i have been really active lifting weights and running 12-15 miles a day. until about 4 to 5 months ago  ( my son was born around this time and i thought id die before watching him grow up). i told my dr then i was feeling some skipped beats every now and then.  like once or twice a day momentarily.  go for weeks without or several days in row with them.  i even get them when excersising sometimes.  not everytime.  here recently for some reason i have been really focused on them.  i had a bad bout with panic attacks over the past two months.  i have been afraid to workout because of palpitations.    i went back to cardiologist last week told him my fears.  he said dont worry their benign you have no structual heart problem nor coronary artery disease.  the only risk factor for coronary artery disease i have is i dip about a can of tobacco a day and i drink caffeine,  usually only 15 min at a time.  my question is this.  my episodes have never been caught on the countless tests ive had.  they are to infrequent i guess.  why would my cardiologist say they are benign if he has not caught them on any type of test.  is he assuming??  i trust him but dont trust the feelings.  i have a severe anxiety disorder which may be the cause of all my palpitations or worry.  im srry if i keep bugging peeople with my posts about pvcs.  i know there are people that have thousands a day and dont kill over.  i feel like if i start excersising again i will have pvcs and they will induce sudden death.  ( is this irrational.  please dont ignore me this is a serious post with real concern behind it.  i have always had a severe fear of heart related issues since the open heart surgery of my older brother at age 15 ( was a birth defect) i dont have..  any feedback would be appreciated and thank you.

[MeganPixel]

I have the same kind of heart-related anxiety and I find the thing that increases it the most is worrying over the kids... and my own kids aren't little babies anymore to boot - goodness I can't imagine being anxious and in that stage!  Even NOT being anxious, most people have their hands full :)  It was interesting to me how you noticed that the symptoms returned around the time of his birth - a huge, stressful event, as much as it is a joyous one.

I like what mammo said, about trying to be present for him as much as you can.  I spent a lot of the last couple months flitting around worrying about is he/she breathing right, are they eating enough or drinking enough, did she finish her homework, bla bla bla until I was at the point where I really wasn't "there" I was just worrying.  And then I'd break down because of it and feel sad.  Don't let it drag you down.  Let him lift you up.  Let him be your happiness and relief, and just "be" with you as much as you are with him.

Exercising again may help instead of hurt.  I was afraid of inducing the same kind of heart issues so I decided not to do cardio workouts when I started exercising and opted for yoga instead (and there are lots of guys in the class, too, not just gals ;).  It gave me an outlet without having to be worried that my heart would give out.

[mammo]

Caffeine increases our anxiety so eliminating this will help, and panic attacks are absolutely harmless...they are just very scary.

[thomasdp21]

If I cut caffeine I might not feel them as much correct?  If I don't I will continue to feel then and they re harmless?

[nursegirl6572]

You may want to read the replies given to you on your others threads, and for future reference, it is usually better to not stat multiple threads, you can always simply repost to your original one if you are having the same concerns.  

You've had thorough work-ups for your heart (several of them) and nothing was found, you're a young healthy man.  You need to start addressing the anxiety head on so you can regain your life back and accept that the problem you have is anxiety, not your heart.

As anxiety suffers, we're always hyper aware of any sensation we have...things that people without anxiety wouldn't even notice throw us into a panic.  Sounds like that's what is happening to you with the heart-like sensations.  There are certain things are hearts do that, while may feel uncomfortable and stressing, are benign and harmless.  One symptom, which it sounds like what you're dealing with when you describing "skipped beats" are called PVC's, or premature ventricular contractions.  Many people have them regularly and most people will experience them sometime in their life.  A lot of people never "feel" them at all...but of course someone with anxiety will not only feel/notice them, but will essentially make them feel worse, as anxiety can increase those kinds of symptoms.

You need to take control of the anxiety by seeking help and learn how to accept that indeed you are healthy with nothing wrong with your heart.  If there WAS something wrong, it would have been discovered by now.

Good luck and let us know how you're doing!

[mammo]

We wouldn't ignore anyone, we're here to try and help and take you very seriously.  The first thing I would do is cut out caffeine which makes our anxiety worse.  It's imperative that you "accept" what your doctor is telling you, so you can stop the worrying which is fueling your anxiety.  You've had an extensive work-up regarding your heart and all was normal, combine this with your age and ability to exercise like you do.... equals a very healthy heart. You have pushed your heart to the max which is what we need to do to stay healthy. Exercising now and continuing throughout life will do so much for your overall health.  You have a son and I know you don't want to miss a moment of him due to anxiety.  I don't want you to wake up one day an old man wondering where the years went, when you will have worried them away.  Your son is changing and growing everyday, and you only get one shot at raising him.... make it count.  I can see where your fear arose from watching your brother, but he had a defect.....you don't.  This is an irrational fear, but it's real to you and that's what matters.  There is no foundation to base your fear
on, and you need to accept that you are healthy.  The tobacco will cause problems eventually if you continue to use it, so you may want to think about stopping that.  Jump in and live your life, let your son be the wind beneath your wings.  Accept that you are healthy or this anxiety will hold you hostage and you will miss so much of your son.  I hope this helps, and I wish you peace within.  Take care.