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Strange "drop" feeling in chest
Hi. I have a fairly involved question, so please bear with me. I was recently diagnosed as having panic attacks by my primary care physician. I am 24, recently returned to college. Before I went to school, I had none of the problems I am about to describe.
My feelings of being weirded out first started when my left arm and hand started going numb. Doctor said it was due to neck spasms. Next, different things started to pop up. I definitely have panic attacks (periods of racing heartbeat, shortness of breath, tightness in my chest, nausea, etc) but I also have a strange feeling in my chest 95% of the day. It feels sort of hollow all the time, and every two minutes or so I will have a feeling like a "drop" or almost like a shock in my chest. I have had PVCs (all the time) for at least 5 years, and it almost feels like a more severe one of these. When I'm having this problem, I also have difficulty swallowing and can sort of feel the swallow going all the way down. The drop feeling is worse when I bend over or crouch down.
I went to the cardiologist last week and he did an echo and said I have a perfectly normal heart. He prescribed alprazolam for the panic attacks. What I can't make anyone understand is that even when I'm not having an "attack" I still feel icky inside. I take my pulse a thousand times a day and it varies from 58-85 when at rest, depending on the time of day. Also, I wake up in the middle of the night feeling like my heart is barely beating (super slow) and I can't breathe.
I have been experiencing terrible insomnia, mostly due to the fact that I am terrified I'm dying. There are sometimes periods of days with no sleep whatsoever (it's 4am as I type this!). My main concern is that I could have a heart condition that would not be easily identified just with the echo. I haven't passed out or had trouble exerting myself or anything, but when I feel this way I don't want to do anything but be perfectly still and I can't stop thinking about it.
It also seems to perhaps be connected to food. I used to love eating and look forward to it and my family really based a lot of our good times around meals, but now food sickens me. When I'm hungry I get the "drop" feeling, then I think if I eat it will go away, but it doens't and sometimes actually worsens. Then I think perhaps I need to use the bathroom, and I either will go and be sick to my stomach or not be able to go. I have never had problems with my bathroom habits before, but haven't been "regular" in over a month now.
I want so much for this just to be anxiety and for it to go away naturally. People tell me to think of something else and it's just my "panic attacks" but when you have physical symptoms that are very bothersome and constant, it's hard to just turn it on and off. Please let me know if there is anything else this sounds like, or if I should just trust my cardiologist and take my xanax and try to find some counseling.
PS - Additional info about the alprazolam. It's only .25 mg, and I've taken it twice. The first time it didn't seem to do much. It definitely calmed me, but didn't help with the hollow chest/drop feeling. Tonight I took it and actually experienced some relief. I was able to go out with friends and be very productive. However, once I went to sleep I kept waking up and my heart rate was very low. I don't know if this is because of the xanax, but it was very scary and has kept me awake.
I'm sorry to post all this, but I have been to the doctor multiple times and they are very helpful but I never leave fully satisfied. I'm really scared and this is interfering with my school work and social life severely.
My feelings of being weirded out first started when my left arm and hand started going numb. Doctor said it was due to neck spasms. Next, different things started to pop up. I definitely have panic attacks (periods of racing heartbeat, shortness of breath, tightness in my chest, nausea, etc) but I also have a strange feeling in my chest 95% of the day. It feels sort of hollow all the time, and every two minutes or so I will have a feeling like a "drop" or almost like a shock in my chest. I have had PVCs (all the time) for at least 5 years, and it almost feels like a more severe one of these. When I'm having this problem, I also have difficulty swallowing and can sort of feel the swallow going all the way down. The drop feeling is worse when I bend over or crouch down.
I went to the cardiologist last week and he did an echo and said I have a perfectly normal heart. He prescribed alprazolam for the panic attacks. What I can't make anyone understand is that even when I'm not having an "attack" I still feel icky inside. I take my pulse a thousand times a day and it varies from 58-85 when at rest, depending on the time of day. Also, I wake up in the middle of the night feeling like my heart is barely beating (super slow) and I can't breathe.
I have been experiencing terrible insomnia, mostly due to the fact that I am terrified I'm dying. There are sometimes periods of days with no sleep whatsoever (it's 4am as I type this!). My main concern is that I could have a heart condition that would not be easily identified just with the echo. I haven't passed out or had trouble exerting myself or anything, but when I feel this way I don't want to do anything but be perfectly still and I can't stop thinking about it.
It also seems to perhaps be connected to food. I used to love eating and look forward to it and my family really based a lot of our good times around meals, but now food sickens me. When I'm hungry I get the "drop" feeling, then I think if I eat it will go away, but it doens't and sometimes actually worsens. Then I think perhaps I need to use the bathroom, and I either will go and be sick to my stomach or not be able to go. I have never had problems with my bathroom habits before, but haven't been "regular" in over a month now.
I want so much for this just to be anxiety and for it to go away naturally. People tell me to think of something else and it's just my "panic attacks" but when you have physical symptoms that are very bothersome and constant, it's hard to just turn it on and off. Please let me know if there is anything else this sounds like, or if I should just trust my cardiologist and take my xanax and try to find some counseling.
PS - Additional info about the alprazolam. It's only .25 mg, and I've taken it twice. The first time it didn't seem to do much. It definitely calmed me, but didn't help with the hollow chest/drop feeling. Tonight I took it and actually experienced some relief. I was able to go out with friends and be very productive. However, once I went to sleep I kept waking up and my heart rate was very low. I don't know if this is because of the xanax, but it was very scary and has kept me awake.
I'm sorry to post all this, but I have been to the doctor multiple times and they are very helpful but I never leave fully satisfied. I'm really scared and this is interfering with my school work and social life severely.
suffered with anxiety almost 10 years ago. was scared of my own shadow! took anti depressents and it just went away. but about 7 months ago it came
back. out of no where. tried the anti depressents again but made me really
ill this time. so ill my boyfriend had to carry me into my gp. iam currently
taking valium when i need it. night times are the worst. when its quiet and
dark my brain just switches on and starts to imagine alsorts. iv been off work with it for 4 months now. iam currently suffering with this strange sweeping feeling in my chest. like someones just shot me with a dose of adrenaline.and a weird choking feeling in my throat. like i cant breath. i cant make plans with my boyfriend. he wants to go to his parents for xmas but i really cant manage it because i dont know how iam going to be from one day to the next(had a total meltdown the last time they came to stay with us) feel like i cant do anything.i got it into my head last week i was possessed and very nearly lost it! and keep thinking iam hearing voices.iv been refered for a psychiatric and medication review. iam really hoping to get some relief from all this. some days i want to die.if it wasnt for the love and support of my partner. who is amazing. i think i would be. it helps to know theres others like myself and iam not alone.
trying to keep positive that this will pass.
back. out of no where. tried the anti depressents again but made me really
ill this time. so ill my boyfriend had to carry me into my gp. iam currently
taking valium when i need it. night times are the worst. when its quiet and
dark my brain just switches on and starts to imagine alsorts. iv been off work with it for 4 months now. iam currently suffering with this strange sweeping feeling in my chest. like someones just shot me with a dose of adrenaline.and a weird choking feeling in my throat. like i cant breath. i cant make plans with my boyfriend. he wants to go to his parents for xmas but i really cant manage it because i dont know how iam going to be from one day to the next(had a total meltdown the last time they came to stay with us) feel like i cant do anything.i got it into my head last week i was possessed and very nearly lost it! and keep thinking iam hearing voices.iv been refered for a psychiatric and medication review. iam really hoping to get some relief from all this. some days i want to die.if it wasnt for the love and support of my partner. who is amazing. i think i would be. it helps to know theres others like myself and iam not alone.
trying to keep positive that this will pass.
nurse yvonne: read about the vasculature in the large intestine and how pressure there can cause fainting.
Xanax is a short term anxiolytic. it does NOT take days or weeks to work, it works right away.
I recommend having a complete exam by your PCP. you can't live like this! not eating, and having bowel problems and obsessing about your pulse. also should consider having a sleep study to make sure you don't have obstructive sleep apnea, which can cause you to awaken gasping.
if all turns out ok, I would suggest walking to increase endorphin release and avoid medication. massage and meditation can be very helpful! best wishes,
Xanax is a short term anxiolytic. it does NOT take days or weeks to work, it works right away.
I recommend having a complete exam by your PCP. you can't live like this! not eating, and having bowel problems and obsessing about your pulse. also should consider having a sleep study to make sure you don't have obstructive sleep apnea, which can cause you to awaken gasping.
if all turns out ok, I would suggest walking to increase endorphin release and avoid medication. massage and meditation can be very helpful! best wishes,
I had the same exact symptoms. My heart would sometimes skip a beat and I would have a falling feeling in my chest. I also had many other symptoms, like nervousness,shortness of breath,restless legs when sleeping, fatigue,ect. I started a supplement program for my thyroid. I'm not sure if it was one of the supplements or all of the supplements together that fixed my problems, but everything was cured in 3 days. search for a PDF called the guide to suppIementing iodine from comcast.net.I did everything that described. I use 5 drops of Lugols 2% iodine every day, selenium, magnesium w/zinc, vitaman C, celtic sea salt, and ATP Cofactors. the first few days I felt terrible detox symptoms but after I feel great.
MY Pulmonologist told me today that the results of my echocardiogram showed that my Heart when it contracts, It doesn't then relax all the way .. He said this is nothing to worry about!! He said as we age (I'm 56) this can happen.
Has anyone heard of this before? .. What does it mean in relation to others whose hearts do contract & relax normally? I didn't think to ask the Dr. in the short time I had in my visit with him.
Now I am worried & like others .. I cant seem to stop thinking about it ... pls help with an answer tysm!
Has anyone heard of this before? .. What does it mean in relation to others whose hearts do contract & relax normally? I didn't think to ask the Dr. in the short time I had in my visit with him.
Now I am worried & like others .. I cant seem to stop thinking about it ... pls help with an answer tysm!
MY Pulmonologist told me today that the results of my echocardiogram showed that my Heart when it contracts, It doesn't then relax all the way .. He said this is nothing to worry about!! He said as we age (I'm 56) this can happen.
Has anyone heard of this before? .. What does it mean in relation to others whos hearts do contract & relax normally? I didn't think to ask the Dr. in the short time I had in my visit with him.
Now I am worried & like others .. I cant seem to stop thinking about it ... pls help with an answer tysm!
Has anyone heard of this before? .. What does it mean in relation to others whos hearts do contract & relax normally? I didn't think to ask the Dr. in the short time I had in my visit with him.
Now I am worried & like others .. I cant seem to stop thinking about it ... pls help with an answer tysm!
wow!!! you just described what i have been feelings since about this time last year. I went to my local hospital and they ran there tests and sent me on my way with a little bronchitus , but i wasnt convinced i know a feeling in my lung from a feelings towards the heart ....i guess you could picture a river or a stream running ...turn dow the pressure or mess with the flow of things and the terrain will tell the tale...that is more of a closer comparison to what is in my chest ...the flow gets altered all by its self for no reason at random times throughout the day..well what is now everyday but didnt start so strong these feelings use to be more spread out and i also wake up in the night thinking im saving my own life i jump right out of bed and start doing jumping jacks and other quick to get my heart pumping exsercices , honestly i just want to know can i fix this or have i already started my quick route to heart failure.???
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