I'd first like to start off by saying that im only 19. My symptoms started off the week right after i went home from college for the summer vacation last year. I remember i was on my couch watchin tv in the middle of the day and i apparently dozed off a little, then all of a sudden i felt a huge THUMP in my chest and it felt as though my heart was fluttering. I immediately got up and i felt like i couldnt breath properly. Man looking back that was THE most scariest moment in my life. But anyway, luckily my dad was home and I ran to him and told him i couldnt breath and my it felt as though my heart was fluttering. I could remember the look of concern on his face and i think he was more scared than i was, even though he didnt show it. Anyhow, he told me to relax because i was breathing rather quickly. Even though it may have lasted a couple minutes, it felt like forever to me. After awhile the symptoms just went away as though nothing had happened. My dad then took me to the hospital, and after a little while the doctors took a look at me. I explained to them what had happened and what i felt and the doctor did a little checkup and told me i was fine. I was relieved to hear that and they sent me home and told my parents and i not to worry. This all happened on a Monday. The next day i did not feel any symptoms and figured it was just a random thing that happened. However the next, it happened again. I was drinking a glass of juice when all of a sudden i felt the same THUMP in my chest area again. I couldnt believe that it was happening again, but this time i didnt panic and i quickly calmed myself down. I told my parents about it and they took me to the hospital again and the doctors there referred me to an internist. From the beginning i could tell that no one was taking me seriously because of how young i am. I mean heck, i'm 19 with no family history of heart disease, and here i am complaining about chest pain and heart flutters. I mean if i were in their shoes i'd be skeptical too. After a series of tests: Blood Tests, Urinary Tests, Chest X-Ray, about 3 or 4 EKGs, 24-hour holter, stress test (running on a treadmill), and a echocardiogram (needless to say i had a really bad summer), my doctor said that all my tests were COMPLETELY normal. During these couple of weeks he had me taking atenonol and a couple other pain medications. I was completely relieved to hear that all my test were normal, but my question is: "Why to this day am i still in pain?" Some days i would get the thump or a quick sharp pain that disappears in a sceond. The next day i would have this odd pressure like feeling in my chest area that seems to last the entire day. And sometimes i get this weird gurgling sensation in my chest area. It feels almost the same way it feels when your stomach growls but it coming from my heart area not my stomach. These symptoms occur everyday mind you and its come to the point where i really dont care anymore. They dont occur during a particular activity, it just happens at random times. I could be relaxed, eating or walking, it doesnt matter. Nobody really knows the pain that im in constantly and i act as though everything is completely normal. I do things normally even while in pain. I go to class, church, parties normally. I don't drink, nor smoke and i'm not overweight. So i wonder why this is happening to me. But anyhow since the doctors dont seem too concerned with my symptoms then it cant be serious right????

I am trying to remember the details of what my EP Doc told me about my hard thumps, but can’t recall much. I'll use layman’s terms, (mainly because I can't remember the technical terms).
It could happen when the bottom chamber of the heart occasionally gets out of sink with the top half of the heart. Then when they try to go back in sink it can occasionally jump and flutter. Yes it can sometimes leave your chest sore for quite awhile. It does mine. I have then relatively often. They can really pack a wallop (another non-technical term). They leave me exhausted. Even my Doc didn’t know too much about them.
enie

Is it possible that I have pulmonary embolism? Alot of the symptoms associated with it are the same things that I feel. The sharp chest pains, the palps, and sometimes it feels as though I'm not breathing properly. Could anxiety cause all these symptoms everyday?

Most definitely anxiety could cause it and the more you obsess and worry about it the worse it will get. You will learn the more you research the more your symptoms start matching everything you come across. You went to the hospital not once but twice, you had all the tests done, you then went to another doctor and got the all clear. How much reassurance do you need? If they say everything is normal then you have to believe it or you will drive yourself crazy and worsen your symptoms in the process. How do I know? Because I went through the exact same thing.

I went to the ER one Christmas morning with a heart rate of 240. There was no explanation for it. I don't know where it came from or why it happened, but it did. I had all the tests done, everything came back normal. I was convinced the doctors had to all be wrong. I knew there had to be a reason for this. I refused to take the beta blockers they wanted to put me on, because in my mind, if it ain't broke then why fix it? But what was it if it wasn't my heart? I had the pains, the palps, I had the unexplainable weird feelings in my chest, I felt like I had a knot in my stomach all the time, I couldn't eat. I ended up seeing a psychologist briefly. Long story short, it always came back to anxiety and panic attacks. 13 years and too many to count heart palps later and here I am. I've learned to deal with my anxiety the best I can and to realize that heart palps are more normal than you think. One doctor told me everyone gets them, just some feel them more than others.

You probably aren't breathing properly. People with anxiety tend to take shallow rapid breaths, which could lead to hyperventilation which can cause the heart palps. You said the first time you noticed it was a week after coming home from college. You were probably under a lot of stress those last couple of weeks at college, weren't you? I have found that my palps are actually worse a week or two after a stressful situation then during the actual stressful time itself. Sometimes it takes a while for our bodies to feel the aftereffects. I know it's a scary situation and even though you've been told you are fine, in the back of your mind there is still lingering doubt, but really you need to learn how to let it go and get on with your life. You're too young to be worrying unnecessarily.

Visit the anxiety board here, you will find people just like you there and it helps to know that you are not alone and it actually does make you feel better. There are also books and relaxation tapes you can get that might help you to learn to deal with your anxiety and there are exercises you can learn to help control your breathing. Take care.......

Thanks alot for the reply "anonnie", I honestly do feel like I've been obsessing alot about this. You see I've never EVER really been sick before, aside from the flu or a cold. Being in a hospital for the first time where I'm not visiting someone and having all these tests done was a pretty weird experience for me. And yes, it does seem like the more I do research on these symptoms, the more symptoms I develop. My doctor told me the same thing, that the worst thing I could do is try to self diagnose, cause that would just make me worry more. The internet has alot of info, a little too much I think. I'll take your advice and check out the anxiety forum.

hey man im 19 years old too! I have felt the exact same thing. I will get the flutters and skipped beats everyonce in a while. I used to have chset pain alot too and thought i was having a heart atack. I had about 6000 EKG's done, chest xray, bloodwork, nucluear stress test, tilt table test, and even an EP Study where they put wires in ur heart to see whats causing it to flutter or beat fast. And guess what they found NOTHING! They said its jus related to anxiety and i have nothing to worry about. Also they say eveeryone gets skipped beats everyday. Just some of us like u and me notice them alot more. You proabbly just have some anxiety and now ur so focused on your heart you notice everything. If you ever wanan talk man hit me up on AIM or email me

REMOVED.

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I definately think it's anxiety. I have heart flutters, my heart skips beats every once in a while, it races, The more I focus on it the more it would happen. I too have had all the heart tests down countless times. And everything is normal. And I even have a heart defect that I"ve had my whole life. It's called a Co-Arctation of the Aorta Valve. I've even had surgery to correct. The valve to this day is still slightly narrow, but the doctors and Heart specialists all conclude that my "heart" symptoms have nothing to do with my valve problem. They my heart is as healthy as a heart could be. Wierd ey? Anxiety can be a beast to your body.

No, I don’t think it sounds like pulmonary embolism.
Then what could be causing your problem? I’m no Doctor, but, having my share of what you call ‘thumps’ myself, I am more sympathetic to those with similar pain and I don’t want to just say to someone, ‘it is all in the head’. Mine wasn’t.
I can tell you this though, for what it’s worth. I have worked with young adults since 1980 plus I have raised three sons of my own, and I have seen that a lot of times they don't take care of themselves. They PUSH themselves TOO HARD emotionally and/or physically and end up STRESSED OUT and/or dehydrated. This in its self can cause the symptoms you described. Then when they start thinking it’s their heart, (and they associate heart problems with death), they start panicking. Thus starts the obsessing and anxiety attacks. Your Doctors are telling you; there is no need to panic. Just keep yourself in shape and get rid of the stress. Your life is not over; for you, it has only just begun. Fear is what steals your joy of life. Don’t go down that road………
enie

I myself am going through a "wait, wonder, worry" period... brought on by a variety of heart-related symptoms. Just about the worst thing you can do is start looking on the internet. I myself had an "episode" while reading a disturbing artical about a particular heart disease. There are so many manifestations of heart disease, and many of them have some identical symptoms. Trust me, as soon as you read "risk of sudden death", you're not helping yourself. Don't use the internet to try and diagnose yourself. If you think you're having a heart attack, don't go to the internet!!! Call 911. Some symptoms of heart attack I found on the internet I experience on a daily basis... but I'm obviously not having a heart attack!!! Go through the usual channels... be patient... be strong.

Dave

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