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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".*
Hey everyone! I found an EXTREMELY useful thread in which person after person shares deep knowledge of Vagus nerve causing heart arrhythmia, story after story and tons of solutions to try. This thread calmed my nerves A LOT. :
http://forum.asktheneurologist.com/post-neurology-questions-f6/arrhythmia-caused-vagus-nerve-t396.html
http://forum.asktheneurologist.com/post-neurology-questions-f6/arrhythmia-caused-vagus-nerve-t396.html
Thank for your post! I've had almost every one of the things on that list that cause low GABA. I used to eat tons of chocolate and candy all the time and drink alcoholic drinks, and this problem seemed to come on stronger when I cut them out, rather than being healed like I thought it would. Then that fact stressed me out even more. Now it's starting to make SOME sense. Thanks!
The brain makes it's own natural xanax-like substance called GABA. Valerian extracts contain GABA. The question is why are you not creating enough GABA? A few articles on this but the anxiety might be causing a sensitive vague nerve. Just a thought.
Body Ecology - Your Gut Can Influence How You Feel: It All Starts with GABA and Serotonin...
"Gut bacteria significantly influences the communication between the brain and the gut. When the gut is full of healthy bacteria, it has the potential to regulate mood and positive feelings. Beneficial bacteria in the gut will increase GABA receptors in the brain to alleviate mood disorders like chronic depression."
- Nutritional Healing - GABA deficiency:
"GABA deficiency signs/symptoms:
Feel stressed/pressured/overwhelmed
Sweaty, clammy hands
Butterflies in stomach
Lump in throat
Have trouble relaxing/loosening up
Low stress tolerance
Body tends to be tense/stiff/uptight
Trembling/twitching/shaking
Anxious/nervous/jumpy/‘on edge’
Feel panicky/panic attacks
Heart palpitations or fast resting heart rate (over 85)
Sleep problems or chronic pain
Use alcohol/food/cigarettes to relax
Valium/xanax/avitan/GABA reduce above symptoms
Family history of anxiety or panic attacks
Factors which reduce GABA levels:
Glutamaine (precursor) deficiency
B1, B6, zinc, manganese & iron deficiency
Chronic stress
Chronic pain
Inadequate sleep
Progesterone deficiency
Mercury and lead exposure
Alcohol withdrawal
Caffeine excess
Excessive electromagnetic radiation
Excessive loud noise exposure"
Body Ecology - Your Gut Can Influence How You Feel: It All Starts with GABA and Serotonin...
"Gut bacteria significantly influences the communication between the brain and the gut. When the gut is full of healthy bacteria, it has the potential to regulate mood and positive feelings. Beneficial bacteria in the gut will increase GABA receptors in the brain to alleviate mood disorders like chronic depression."
- Nutritional Healing - GABA deficiency:
"GABA deficiency signs/symptoms:
Feel stressed/pressured/overwhelmed
Sweaty, clammy hands
Butterflies in stomach
Lump in throat
Have trouble relaxing/loosening up
Low stress tolerance
Body tends to be tense/stiff/uptight
Trembling/twitching/shaking
Anxious/nervous/jumpy/‘on edge’
Feel panicky/panic attacks
Heart palpitations or fast resting heart rate (over 85)
Sleep problems or chronic pain
Use alcohol/food/cigarettes to relax
Valium/xanax/avitan/GABA reduce above symptoms
Family history of anxiety or panic attacks
Factors which reduce GABA levels:
Glutamaine (precursor) deficiency
B1, B6, zinc, manganese & iron deficiency
Chronic stress
Chronic pain
Inadequate sleep
Progesterone deficiency
Mercury and lead exposure
Alcohol withdrawal
Caffeine excess
Excessive electromagnetic radiation
Excessive loud noise exposure"
In February of this year, I moved. This is one of the most stressful moves I have ever made. My bf was unable to help that much financially and most of the burden was on me. My job was more stressful than ever. I injured my lower back in the move and it hurt for 2 months. I noticed I had the disturbing heart "flip flop" more now, once or twice a week. I was questioning my commitment to both relationship and job, and truly did not want to sign another 1 year lease but instead wanted to dump everything and move to a different area, but went against those thoughts and stuck with everything I was doing. I noticed these "hot flashes" coming every day now.
A week after I moved, I had a full blown panic attack for unknown reasons. I thought I was having a hypoglycemic attack(I had changed my diet and cut out sugar in an attempt to control my palps) and had my bf call 911 and was taken to the emergency room. An EKG was given and my heart was pronounced to be fine, as was my blood sugar. I was told that the panic attack was caused by my anxiety.
I began itching like crazy and having a stuffed up nose and sore throat. This I determined was due to some plants and trees I had in my house which had flowered, which I had been trying to hold onto until I got a place with a backyard to put them. Heart palps were also happening. I read that allergies could cause irregular heartbeats so I sadly got rid of all the plants, even though some had beautiful flowers.
Last week, I was doing some work far from home walking in the cold when I had another very loooong heart palpitation, lasting 15 seconds or more, with disturbing "aftershocks" and multiple single "flip flops" at random times afterward. I drove straight home and lay down. I started reading all the material I could find about heart palpitations, arrhythmia and so forth. There is a lot of conflicting material. I read it all. The following Monday, I got up from lying down on my left side propped up on my elbow and had another looooong heart palpitation. I also noticed that my heart was now feeling "jumpy" and sometimes would "flip flop" if I was speaking forcefully, or bending forward, or sitting in my car's bucket driver's seat. At this point I had had absolutely enough and resolved to fight and cure this issue. I realized it had gone too far and I needed a doctor's help. At this point I was blaming it on my changing hormones.
I re-read Dr. Christiane Northrup's book Women's Bodies Women's Wisdom. I began supplementing that day with the supplements she recomended to support women's health during perimenopause and menopause - Vitamins C, D, E and so forth.
I also decided to go to a sliding scale health clinic and start spending money on my health. I don't have health insurance but I can afford the visits there. I drove myself to the clinic. I was given an EKG. I was put on a bed that was directly under a flourescent light. Flourescent lights aggravate my anxiety, so this time on the EKG my heart performed it's "full glory" - very fast, multiple heartbeats with "flip flops" and "irregularities" for 30 seconds or so. It was terrifying but I was glad that somebody finally "saw" what I was going through . The Doctor looked at it and decided I should go to the Emergency Room. At the emergency room I was given 2 more EKGs, one lying down and one sitting up. They turned out fine. My blood pressure was perfect, probably due to my great diet for the past 3 months. I was still having mini "flip flops" which subsided. They ended up concluding after 5 hours that I was very low risk for a heart attack, I should follow up with my doctor, they gave me a Valium pill and sent me home with a prescription for Xanex.
I began taking Magnesium and Calcium that night with the vitamin supplements, which I had been taking before my bf moved in but had stopped because I had gotten too busy to remember. The Valium knocked me out cold as soon as I got home and I got 10 hours of restful sleep, something I hadn't been getting for a while because my bedroom in my new apartment is so loud. I began using my Valerian again. I went 2 days with no heart irregularities whatsoever. Then I had one yesterday after standing up from lying on my right side propping myself up with my right elbow, and another one after arguing all afternoon with my boyfriend and the clinic screwing up my follow up appointment. These were just "flip flops", NOT the "full monty".
My next follow up appointment is not till Tuesday of next week. I have faithfully kept taking my Magnesium and Calcium in addition to my support vitamins. Today I had VERY tiny "flip flops" that I probably wouldn't have noticed if I was not watching my heart like a hawk. I had feelings that it MIGHT have palps but no actual palps, despite an 8 hour drive. I made sure not to argue or have any bad feelings with my bf and I avoided lying on my side and "propping up with the elbow" , and as I was driving I kept my back straight as possible. I also noticed when my anxiety was getting strong ( a situation where someone was talking very rapidly right in my face) and gently backed away and excused myself. I notice that I have the "mini flips" sometimes when I have to use the bathroom or when I speak forcefully.
So that's where I stand- on minerals and vitamin supplements, "mini-flipping" when I have to use the bathroom or if I speak forcefully, avoiding my usual favorite computer position of lying on the side propped up by the elbow, accepting my relationship with all it's faults and not arguing, making peace with my job, taking steps to not allow my bedroom to be so loud to deprive me of sleep (looked for shutters today but couldn't find any, will look all this week). I never filled the Xanex prescription as Valerian is doing a good job when I need something extra to control anxiety.
I *DO NOT* want any more palps, especially the long and terrifying ones. I'm not sure how I let my anxiety get this bad, and I also feel that there is a physical component (irritating my nerves possibly due to back injury and compression due to "computer sitting" positions like lying on side propped up on elbow and bucket seats) and an emotional one (got to accept where I am right now or let it go, either one, but not argue and argue and argue). I have a small table I put my computer on now.
My Question: Does anybody have any insight into what could have been causing this, over and above what I have found out already????? I have read that it could be acidity of the body, both too acid and too alkali. A thyroid test was performed at the emergency room and was found to be excatly in the the middle of normal- not too low, not too high, so it's not an over active thyroid.
A week after I moved, I had a full blown panic attack for unknown reasons. I thought I was having a hypoglycemic attack(I had changed my diet and cut out sugar in an attempt to control my palps) and had my bf call 911 and was taken to the emergency room. An EKG was given and my heart was pronounced to be fine, as was my blood sugar. I was told that the panic attack was caused by my anxiety.
I began itching like crazy and having a stuffed up nose and sore throat. This I determined was due to some plants and trees I had in my house which had flowered, which I had been trying to hold onto until I got a place with a backyard to put them. Heart palps were also happening. I read that allergies could cause irregular heartbeats so I sadly got rid of all the plants, even though some had beautiful flowers.
Last week, I was doing some work far from home walking in the cold when I had another very loooong heart palpitation, lasting 15 seconds or more, with disturbing "aftershocks" and multiple single "flip flops" at random times afterward. I drove straight home and lay down. I started reading all the material I could find about heart palpitations, arrhythmia and so forth. There is a lot of conflicting material. I read it all. The following Monday, I got up from lying down on my left side propped up on my elbow and had another looooong heart palpitation. I also noticed that my heart was now feeling "jumpy" and sometimes would "flip flop" if I was speaking forcefully, or bending forward, or sitting in my car's bucket driver's seat. At this point I had had absolutely enough and resolved to fight and cure this issue. I realized it had gone too far and I needed a doctor's help. At this point I was blaming it on my changing hormones.
I re-read Dr. Christiane Northrup's book Women's Bodies Women's Wisdom. I began supplementing that day with the supplements she recomended to support women's health during perimenopause and menopause - Vitamins C, D, E and so forth.
I also decided to go to a sliding scale health clinic and start spending money on my health. I don't have health insurance but I can afford the visits there. I drove myself to the clinic. I was given an EKG. I was put on a bed that was directly under a flourescent light. Flourescent lights aggravate my anxiety, so this time on the EKG my heart performed it's "full glory" - very fast, multiple heartbeats with "flip flops" and "irregularities" for 30 seconds or so. It was terrifying but I was glad that somebody finally "saw" what I was going through . The Doctor looked at it and decided I should go to the Emergency Room. At the emergency room I was given 2 more EKGs, one lying down and one sitting up. They turned out fine. My blood pressure was perfect, probably due to my great diet for the past 3 months. I was still having mini "flip flops" which subsided. They ended up concluding after 5 hours that I was very low risk for a heart attack, I should follow up with my doctor, they gave me a Valium pill and sent me home with a prescription for Xanex.
I began taking Magnesium and Calcium that night with the vitamin supplements, which I had been taking before my bf moved in but had stopped because I had gotten too busy to remember. The Valium knocked me out cold as soon as I got home and I got 10 hours of restful sleep, something I hadn't been getting for a while because my bedroom in my new apartment is so loud. I began using my Valerian again. I went 2 days with no heart irregularities whatsoever. Then I had one yesterday after standing up from lying on my right side propping myself up with my right elbow, and another one after arguing all afternoon with my boyfriend and the clinic screwing up my follow up appointment. These were just "flip flops", NOT the "full monty".
My next follow up appointment is not till Tuesday of next week. I have faithfully kept taking my Magnesium and Calcium in addition to my support vitamins. Today I had VERY tiny "flip flops" that I probably wouldn't have noticed if I was not watching my heart like a hawk. I had feelings that it MIGHT have palps but no actual palps, despite an 8 hour drive. I made sure not to argue or have any bad feelings with my bf and I avoided lying on my side and "propping up with the elbow" , and as I was driving I kept my back straight as possible. I also noticed when my anxiety was getting strong ( a situation where someone was talking very rapidly right in my face) and gently backed away and excused myself. I notice that I have the "mini flips" sometimes when I have to use the bathroom or when I speak forcefully.
So that's where I stand- on minerals and vitamin supplements, "mini-flipping" when I have to use the bathroom or if I speak forcefully, avoiding my usual favorite computer position of lying on the side propped up by the elbow, accepting my relationship with all it's faults and not arguing, making peace with my job, taking steps to not allow my bedroom to be so loud to deprive me of sleep (looked for shutters today but couldn't find any, will look all this week). I never filled the Xanex prescription as Valerian is doing a good job when I need something extra to control anxiety.
I *DO NOT* want any more palps, especially the long and terrifying ones. I'm not sure how I let my anxiety get this bad, and I also feel that there is a physical component (irritating my nerves possibly due to back injury and compression due to "computer sitting" positions like lying on side propped up on elbow and bucket seats) and an emotional one (got to accept where I am right now or let it go, either one, but not argue and argue and argue). I have a small table I put my computer on now.
My Question: Does anybody have any insight into what could have been causing this, over and above what I have found out already????? I have read that it could be acidity of the body, both too acid and too alkali. A thyroid test was performed at the emergency room and was found to be excatly in the the middle of normal- not too low, not too high, so it's not an over active thyroid.
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