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Heart Palpitations
Hi, I'm 42. I began noticing palpitations (one or two very strong or misplaced heartbeats) back in I think 2008, 5 years ago. But I shrugged it off. I chalked it up to being tired, my hormones possibly changing, stress, etc. Back then this only happened MAYBE once in a blue moon, so I didn't allow it to bother me and I just carried on as though it didn't happen at all.
I have had anxiety since 2004 when I was attacked in the subway in NYC. It took me 3 years but I was able to manage my anxiety to the point where it didn't bother me any more, using Yoga and very small amounts of Valerian root when I was at my worst - apparently it bonds to the same receptor cells in the brain as Valium. I dropped all caffiene intake such as sodas, coffee, etc. However, I continued to eat milk chocolate and white flour products because I was addicted to them, and eventually I could "get away" with eating some without having an anxiety attack although I wasn't altogether comfortable after eating it.
4 years ago I got into a stressful work situation AND a stressful relationship, which were connected (I work with my bf). I began living with him and working with him. I began feeling anxiety symptoms return within 6 months, but continued managing them and I didn't feel that I had anxiety because of how I managed my symptoms.
Around 1 year ago I began to feel a "flashing" sensation of heat on the left side of my head, and sometimes up my back. I assumed these were "hot flashes" and were due to my hormones changing as I had turned 40. In addition my periods speeded up so that sometimes I had only 3 weeks in between instead of 4. This lead me to believe that I could be having "hot flashes" due to perimenopause. I was also diagnosed with a small fibroid in my uterus, which the Dr. assured me is another symptom of changng hormones and not to worry about it unless it got much larger.
Flash forward- around January of last year I felt a loooong heart palpitation. I had just been arguing with my bf and I walked out into the cold to get the mail. I was agitated, annoyed and overworked, tired with not enough sleep. I had never felt such a long palpitation before, it was a series of strong, too fast beats that didn't belong with my normal heart rhythm. I was terrified. I came home and spent the rest of the afternoon having an anxiety attack which I fended off with meditation. I chalked it up to our arguement. At this point I dropped ALL alcohol, ALL chocolate, ALL white flour and unnecessary sugar, corn syrup, etc from my diet. So far (it's been since Jauary) I have lost 15 lbs without increasing my exercise, just from diet alone. Wish I could have done this WITHOUT the palps:)
*to be continued in the comments section- it exceeded the "8000 character limit".*
I have had anxiety since 2004 when I was attacked in the subway in NYC. It took me 3 years but I was able to manage my anxiety to the point where it didn't bother me any more, using Yoga and very small amounts of Valerian root when I was at my worst - apparently it bonds to the same receptor cells in the brain as Valium. I dropped all caffiene intake such as sodas, coffee, etc. However, I continued to eat milk chocolate and white flour products because I was addicted to them, and eventually I could "get away" with eating some without having an anxiety attack although I wasn't altogether comfortable after eating it.
4 years ago I got into a stressful work situation AND a stressful relationship, which were connected (I work with my bf). I began living with him and working with him. I began feeling anxiety symptoms return within 6 months, but continued managing them and I didn't feel that I had anxiety because of how I managed my symptoms.
Around 1 year ago I began to feel a "flashing" sensation of heat on the left side of my head, and sometimes up my back. I assumed these were "hot flashes" and were due to my hormones changing as I had turned 40. In addition my periods speeded up so that sometimes I had only 3 weeks in between instead of 4. This lead me to believe that I could be having "hot flashes" due to perimenopause. I was also diagnosed with a small fibroid in my uterus, which the Dr. assured me is another symptom of changng hormones and not to worry about it unless it got much larger.
Flash forward- around January of last year I felt a loooong heart palpitation. I had just been arguing with my bf and I walked out into the cold to get the mail. I was agitated, annoyed and overworked, tired with not enough sleep. I had never felt such a long palpitation before, it was a series of strong, too fast beats that didn't belong with my normal heart rhythm. I was terrified. I came home and spent the rest of the afternoon having an anxiety attack which I fended off with meditation. I chalked it up to our arguement. At this point I dropped ALL alcohol, ALL chocolate, ALL white flour and unnecessary sugar, corn syrup, etc from my diet. So far (it's been since Jauary) I have lost 15 lbs without increasing my exercise, just from diet alone. Wish I could have done this WITHOUT the palps:)
*to be continued in the comments section- it exceeded the "8000 character limit".*
I am glad you are feeling better again. It occurred to me while reading your very long posts (probably more appropriate for a journal entry) that you are doing a lot of self-diagnosing. I believe it would be to your benefit to find a primary care practitioner that you trust and see if he can sort some of this out for you. Also, teaching hospitals are sometimes able to figure out knotty problems like this. Letting people on the internet diagnose and treat your symptoms, and trying herbs seems to be non-effective at best and risky at worst. Self diagnosis is also a risky road to go down. Your problems also seem very much tied to your stress levels, so maybe some pyscological help might be considered. I tend to run around in circles until the doctor can calmly look at the BIG picture and start unraveling an issue for me. I believe you may be doing this also. I wish you luck with this.
BTW I am totally normal now. I eat most foods with very minimal reactions, I go wherever I want, etc. now I have to begin strengthening exercises for my back. My Chiro will give me the exercises tomorrow.
I got myself over the food insensitivity by eating small amounts of what I was insensitive to like bread and other grains. Brussels sprouts and other stuff.
One thing that was very helpful was EFT. It's a way to release being emotionally scared of something. Many times your body is giving you symptoms because it REMEMBERS something bad. You can download a free EFT manual thr will help you get over your fears by tapping on your acupressure sites while concentrating on the freedom you need and letting go of your fear.
I got myself over the food insensitivity by eating small amounts of what I was insensitive to like bread and other grains. Brussels sprouts and other stuff.
One thing that was very helpful was EFT. It's a way to release being emotionally scared of something. Many times your body is giving you symptoms because it REMEMBERS something bad. You can download a free EFT manual thr will help you get over your fears by tapping on your acupressure sites while concentrating on the freedom you need and letting go of your fear.
Hi guys. I got to the bottom of the problem.
My landlords had not used a licensed exterminator in the apt right before I moved in, they used their son. He over zealously used pyrethroid pesticides in the apt. I had been working very hard and was run down. My liver could not detox them from my system fast enough. They were irritating my nervous system, GI Tract and heart.
I had an attack where I was shaking, having spasms in my arms and legs, chest spasms, was unable to calm down or sleep, and was terrified. I went to the ER and nobody knew what was wrong with me. I left my apt and went to my parents for 7 days but ended up going back in my apt. Convinced myself it wasnt the apt. That was wrong of me to do, I had another attack after 9 days. I left the apt for good and my friend is allowing me to live with him. I also had a Spondelolysthesis slip during this time. Some of the spasms in my esophagus were coming from my back. My chiropractor clued me into the fact that the spasms can go up your spine sometimes. The combo of my irritated system and the Spondelo is what causes my symptoms. I got Chiro care and left the apt, now I only get a couple spasms when I sit for longer than my back likes.
Pyrethroids make you have allergy symptoms. What was ALSO happening to me is that I became violently allergic to previously tolerated and loved foods. I had to be very careful for 2 weeks after my final poisoning episode- for that time I only ate fruits, vegetables raw and cooked , and easy to digest proteins like chicken, turkey, lamb and eggs. I was scared to eat anything else because I had some intolerance issues like stomach twitching, headache, dizziness and so forth.
I lost a total of 10 or 11 lbs since I moved into my apt. I have regained 4 since living with my friend. I hope to regain it all. This was a crazy episode in my life and I just want to move on.
My landlords had not used a licensed exterminator in the apt right before I moved in, they used their son. He over zealously used pyrethroid pesticides in the apt. I had been working very hard and was run down. My liver could not detox them from my system fast enough. They were irritating my nervous system, GI Tract and heart.
I had an attack where I was shaking, having spasms in my arms and legs, chest spasms, was unable to calm down or sleep, and was terrified. I went to the ER and nobody knew what was wrong with me. I left my apt and went to my parents for 7 days but ended up going back in my apt. Convinced myself it wasnt the apt. That was wrong of me to do, I had another attack after 9 days. I left the apt for good and my friend is allowing me to live with him. I also had a Spondelolysthesis slip during this time. Some of the spasms in my esophagus were coming from my back. My chiropractor clued me into the fact that the spasms can go up your spine sometimes. The combo of my irritated system and the Spondelo is what causes my symptoms. I got Chiro care and left the apt, now I only get a couple spasms when I sit for longer than my back likes.
Pyrethroids make you have allergy symptoms. What was ALSO happening to me is that I became violently allergic to previously tolerated and loved foods. I had to be very careful for 2 weeks after my final poisoning episode- for that time I only ate fruits, vegetables raw and cooked , and easy to digest proteins like chicken, turkey, lamb and eggs. I was scared to eat anything else because I had some intolerance issues like stomach twitching, headache, dizziness and so forth.
I lost a total of 10 or 11 lbs since I moved into my apt. I have regained 4 since living with my friend. I hope to regain it all. This was a crazy episode in my life and I just want to move on.
Hi, more has happened. I know what was going on now. It was a combination of being poisoned by chemicals in my apt and my back going bad. After recieving chiropractic treatments for my lower back Spondelolysthesis and getting out of my apartment, my symptoms stopped. No more esophogeal spasms, etc. BUT- being in the apt so long with chemicals has made me sensitive to chemicals. I tried to get some of my personal belongings that were coated with the chemical from my apartment, and I had a 45 minute reaction that was strong enough to make me pull over to the side of the road. I cant touch or be around anything from my old apt, or my boyfriend if his clothes have been in the apartment. Or any cleaner containing chlorine bleach. This is terrible.
My GI tract isn't the same- what was happening is that I was breathing in the chemical and it was going to the back of my throat, then I would eat and it would get pushed down into my GI tract. That was what was causing some of the spasms, this is a nerve toxin that causes spasms. The rest was caused by my lower back being out of alignment.
I'm happy I got to the bottom of it, but now I'm stranded without my personal belongings and very little money since I haven't been working. I can't place stress on my back for another 2 weeks.
I am talking to some people who were able to get "back to normal" after this happened to them. They did things like chelation, etc. I am afraid to have a chemical put in my veins. I think I can beat it in some other way.
This is very crazy and I never thought I would be on the recieving end of something like this. I am very sad and lonely without my boyfriend or anyone else around me. This is nuts.
My GI tract isn't the same- what was happening is that I was breathing in the chemical and it was going to the back of my throat, then I would eat and it would get pushed down into my GI tract. That was what was causing some of the spasms, this is a nerve toxin that causes spasms. The rest was caused by my lower back being out of alignment.
I'm happy I got to the bottom of it, but now I'm stranded without my personal belongings and very little money since I haven't been working. I can't place stress on my back for another 2 weeks.
I am talking to some people who were able to get "back to normal" after this happened to them. They did things like chelation, etc. I am afraid to have a chemical put in my veins. I think I can beat it in some other way.
This is very crazy and I never thought I would be on the recieving end of something like this. I am very sad and lonely without my boyfriend or anyone else around me. This is nuts.
I've been back in NYC for a few days now. I pinched a nerve during this ordeal and went to see a Chiropractor. He says that you can get esophogeal spasms from having a misaligned spine. There are many nerves that control the esophagus and a lot of other things in the spine, and when the vertebrae are misaligned they can squeeze the nerves in abnormal ways and cause many things to go wrong in the body- INCLUDING ESOPHOGEAL SPASMS. So I'm going to get a series of adjustments, not just for my pinched nerve but to see if it will stop the few spasm I still feel sometimes.
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