Can't get over fear of heart flutters..?

[Wendyblue7]

Hello, my name is Grace. I'm 18 and I've posted heart flutter questions on here a few times before, but I'm so out of peace of mind with this and wanted more information.

My heart flutters/skipped beats come and go. It's been a year now since they first popped up. They come and go, and some last ALL day long in episodes of beat one, skip one... can't go 1 minute without one. They make me panic. I sometimes get a single one when I bend down, finish exercise, or for no reason at all. Just the other night, it started and it took me about 3 hours to get to sleep because it wouldn't let up.

I've already been to the doctor twice about it, and on one of the EKG's it did in fact show one of them... but the Dr. said they are most likely adrenaline?

Now, it's gotten to the point where I'm so scared for the next one I am going to get. I did have a huge history with OCD and anxiety. I can't seem to get these panic feelings out of my mind about when I'll have the next one, even when they aren't going on.

My Grandma and my Aunt (both on my dad's side) have these too... is it possible that I just inherited them from them? Any ways to instantly get rid of them? (I don't drink caffeine, am healthy and fit, on zoloft...)

[Wendyblue7]

Oh, thank you all so much for your information and advice. I am just SOOO grateful that other people know what I'm talking about and not just look at my weird. Just hearing from you guys really makes a difference. (:

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

ive had mine since i was 12 first time i felt them, went away till i was 23 , came back off and on for years not bad now 55 and when they come its bad every other heart beat and lasts a whole 24 house no fun, i want the ones here and there again lol.

mine are flutters/skip beats .
/ flip flops etc.  mine do not come with anxiety because i to have days of anxiety and never feel them, not sure why i get them, they just come. had a bunch 3 months running now they have been gone for 6 months lol strange . but happy they are gone,

[pvctom]

Hello,

I also join the ranks here with what you are experiencing. I agree with everyone's replies to you and can only repeat that reading everyone's posts here have been invaluable to me. try not to worry or focus on them, easier said than done, but you will be all right. I find that Time eventually takes them away for sometimes a long time. hope this helps. You are on a good forum.

[Artaud]

I can understand the OCD and anxiety aspects. If you've been examined and determined to have benign rhythm issues, it's really more dangerous to treat them than it is just to live with them.

Beta Blockers are considered safe in treating them, though, and do so by slowing your heart rate (which can eliminate them for some people) and reducing the contractile force of the heart beating (which makes the ones you still get less noticeable). Ask your doctor to see if Beta Blockers would be appropriate for you. Oh, Beta Blockers block the effect of adrenaline on the heart (and depending on the Beta Blocker, may block adrenaline effects in other parts of your body).

Calcium Channel Blockers are also considered safe for treating certain benign rhythm issues.

I get premature ventricular contractions, I had 6000/24 hr on my first Holter this year, and 3900/24 hr on my second. How many do you get per day. In terms of the strength of the heart, for benign rhythm issues, the use 20,000/24 hr as the point, where if these went on day after day, that medication or ablation would be necessary, and at 20,000 that's 14/minute/24 hours a day.

Irregularities in heart rhythm, in otherwise healthy hearts, is quite common, and incredibly, most people that have them don't feel them.

[Elli126]

Sorry for the typos and lack of punctuation, I am posting from my phone which is a pain. I just wanted to add I am going through quite a bad bout of these skipped beats as we speak they have been bothering me for a few days and I'm just going on with my day as I usually would. There's not much else you can do. There are medications you can use such as beta blockers but sometimes the side effects are just not worth it. Unless you're having more than 20,000 a day, doctors don't consider it a problem.

[Elli126]

Unfortunately there are no ways to just get rid of them. They may be inherited no one really knows where they come from, they just appear out of nowhere in a lot of people. The good news is, most people have them and they are quite harmless. You yourself said your mom and grandma both have them and obviously they are both still here. As I said many people have them but not everyone feels them unfortunately you are part of the group that feels just like the rest of us on this site. I do know that my anxiety makes them worse and I'm sure it's probably the same for most people. I know it's easier said than done but you have to try to get your anxiety level down that can only help. I've had mine for over 30 years and it took me quite a while to be able to deal with them. Coming to this site and reading other people's posts helped me a great deal it may help you too. Good luck, I hope you feel better, and let us know how you're doing.