Here's my story- any advice would help! :) - Anxiety Message Board

KLB004 · 01-14-2008, 06:11 PM

Hi all! I am new here, so please take the time to hear my story (long, I know)...

I am 25 years old, and I have been diagnosed with Anxiety/Panic/Tachycardia/Palpitations for the past 2 years. It all started after college and after completing the first semester of teaching. It started out with a constant feeling of out of breath and fast heart rate. I went to my GP- had blood work, x-ray, echo... all normal.

A few weeks later, I had my first full blown panic attack. I went to the ER and stayed in the hospital for 3 days. I was told I had an SVT attack, given Atenolol (50 mg a day), and Ativan (.5 mg as needed). I tried Zoloft and Effexor, but had funny side affects (to be honest, I don't think I gave them much of a chance, but as soon as I felt anything weird, I stopped taking it).

I saw a different cardiologist who did a MRI, holter, and stress test. All normal. I was told I could take Atenolol if I wanted to, but he didn't seem to concerned. I wasn't experiencing any palpiations "skips" yet...

A month or two later, I developed palpitations. Just one "skip" everyday. EVERYDAY. I saw a new cardiologist. She did a holter for one month. Found "benign" PVC's (maybe some PAC's- not sure). Either way, again I was told to take Atenolol if I wanted to.

So, here I am now... 4 months later and I still have palpitations EVERYDAY. I mean, EVERYDAY. Maybe just one flutter, maybe a few, but always EVERYDAY. They are very bad right now, but I am hoping they have something to do with my hormones, as I am a week away from my cycle (which are very abnormal for someone my age and size). I'm at my wits end. I feel like I am going to collapse any day now. What is the deal? Should I try SSRI's again? Is it all anxiety?! Would hormone testing benefit me?

I'm 25, in good health, 110 pounds, don't drink (alcohol OR caffiene), don't smoke, avoid chocolate, and workout. I have a great job (Special ed pre-K teacher) that I love, a great family, a great boyfriend. Why am I still feeling these? How long do I wait before I demand more heart tests? I have an appointment with a psychiatrist on the 24th (for an ADD evaluation and possible depression), so I am anxious to hear what she thinks. Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thank you!

singer78 · 01-14-2008, 07:29 PM

Have you gone to a regular practitioner as a 'regular' patient?
I see where you went to the ER, Cardiologist, and now a psychiatrist...
Perhaps maybe a "Doctor of Internal Medicine" could put the "whole picture" together.

Hormones could be a factor, too... You never know.
Something is causing your palpitations, and they can be very unsettling.

Do you feel stressed out?
Maybe you're burning the candle at both ends---not enough "down" time.
I did that for awhile, only to become very sick.
Your rest is really important, as well as getting your anxiety under control.

Sorry to hear you're experiencing problems.

If, you ever do decide to try an anti-depressant, you need to try it longer than a few days, also. They really don't take effect for at least 2 or 3 weeks. That's something your psychiatrist can help you with. It takes awhile, also, to find the right one---so you may need to experiment a bit, until you settle on the right medication. There's also bio-feedback, therapy, etc....

Good luck. In the meantime, don't forget to relax & breathe....

S.

KLB004 · 01-14-2008, 08:10 PM

Thank you for your response. Yes, I do have a GP who has been working with me throughout all of this. She is very patient and thorough with me. She had suggested seeing a psychiatrist from day one, and I am now taking that step.

The recent blood work I had done showed a high blood sugar level. Not sure if that could have anything to do with it either.

I guess my concern is, like you said, is that the palpitations have to be caused by something. Could anxiety/depression really give you these symptoms on a daily basis? I'm not expecting to find a miracle drug. I'm just willing to try something- whether therapy, SSRI's, a different beta blocker...

I don't want to worry the best years of my life away. I've got way too much to be thankful for.

Good Luck To all the fellow worriers

bratforlife · 01-14-2008, 08:41 PM

Honestly I will tell you not to worry about the skips. My doctor told me that millions of people feel these, just some feel them more then others. He said they did a study of healthy army recruits and half of them had the PVC's. I suffer from them. I don't drink, dont' smoke have not had caffeine in over 10 years and don't eat chocolate. I have a few here and there through out the day but closer to my period I have more.. Sometimes I will have an hour where they are constant and it is very annoying and I hate it but there is nothing I can do and I refuse to take pills. I suffer from Anxiety and OCD mostly just the "O" but when I am anxious they really kick in.. I basically just deal with them and try to ignore them. I hope this will help you...
Thanks,
Dawn

hyper79 · 01-16-2008, 09:55 PM

Hi,I have delt with palps for 9 years and went through the wash of doctors and tons of er visits all to say your in perfect health,actually spent a small fortune and still paying today!! At times they would continue for 2 weeks straight and several times per minute,it got so bad I got a habit of checking my pulse "ocd" The cardiologist said all the test were perfect and to cut out caffeine,chocolate,quit smoking ect......I tried all the above and did not hurt nor help but on my last ER visit for that problem over a year ago they just so happened to check my potassium level and it was low normal so they gave me a potassium pill and several days later I noticed the extra beats vanished,I started eating bannanas daily and drinking orange juice, upped my water intake according to my weight "even slight dehydration can cause heart disturbances" started walking several times a week and began going to bed earlier,since I started my little program the palpitations have left.