Very Scary

[AWDRG0096]

I was just lounging on the couch this morning and suddenly I felt nauseous, dizzy, and my heart was racing. It was going about 122bpm sitting down and 132bpm standing. My blood pressure was 98/76. All the doctors I've went to keep claiming this is just anxiety. The thing is, the only thing i'm worried about is my heart exploding in my chest! Not anything else! I'm not thinking about anything, and then it suddenly happens. Also, I would think if it were anxiety, then wouldn't my blood pressure increase, instead of lower? When I drink tons of water, my blood pressure increases and then it returns to a regular rythm. Like today, it was going about 122bpm sitting around. I drank about 16oz of water and my BP went to 128/76 with a pulse of 82. I also am getting this dizzy feeling while standing up, where I feel as if I'm getting pulled into the ground (like when in an elevator). Docs have never been able to get an accurate normal BP reading for me because I get TRULY anxious when in their offices. I'm wondering if somehow I have low blood pressure and that is what is giving me these symptoms?

[AWDRG0096]

Crap, I meant pulse oximeter instead of pulsac hehe

[AWDRG0096]

Also I have a pulsac which measures without me anxiously counting and it is pretty accurate +- a few beats.

[AWDRG0096]

Thanks for the response. It seems like the weird feelings of nausea and whatnot come first. My BP is usually pretty good 112/78 or something (not too high, not too low)-- when it's like that my heart rate is around 68. But when I get these feelings it drops dramatically. Like you said water does help and even salt increase helps. Right now It had greatly calmed down to about 75bpm-82bpm and the dizziness is very minimal (still getting that elevator/boatrocking sensation). Doctors gave me 2 ECGs (came back fine, just a bit fast with some PACS otherwise normal sinus rhythm). I also had blood work done which they said came back fine (i think that was for thyroid, AntiNucAntibodies, other stuff I can't remember at the moment).

[MichelleP_3811]

Which comes first, the weird feeling and pounds or the rapid pace and dizziness?  Tachycardia is going to cause low bp.  If you feel it's onset is sudden starting and stopping in what feels basically like one beat then it could be some sort of accessory pathway issue.  If your heart starts to race after you feel weirdness and slows down gradually then it could be anxiety over the weird feelings causing a bit of panic in you.  If you all of a sudden feel nauseous and sweaty for no reason then it could be a low bp issue.  Drinking water helps in these kinds of situations as well in situations of dehydration.  If you drink heavily the night before or drink a lot of caffeine you could have a simple issue with hydration.  If you have a very healthy diet it is possible you have low sodium levels.  I tend to have low bp and have issues upon standing feeling as though I will pass out.  You might want to get a blood panel done to see where all your levels are at.  Once you know it's ok you can maybe try to add more sodium to your diet and see if that helps as well make sure you are getting ample water every day and see if that helps.  So do your best to start to rule things out and keep a journal of when the issue happens.  What you were doing and what your heart rate was.  I would say get a sports watch to be able to read your pulse for you as opposed to trying to rely on counting if you are nervous during this.  Sometimes these issue can be hard to pin down but the more you eliminate possible simple issues the better picture you will give your doctor.  But try to not panic when it is going on. It really will muddy the waters on what is really going on.  Best of luck getting to the bottom of this and keep us posted on how you are doing.  Take care.

[AWDRG0096]

Also when this happens I experience a weird chest pain (it's not that bad but it scares the crap out of me). Feels like a few pounds are added onto my chest.