Hello! This is my first post on this board. I've posted on the anxiety board, but will probaby get more answers here. Okay, I'm 19 and for the last 2 years, I have been having what seems to be pvc's. I feel them in my throat, and they make me cough. I feel lightheaded, and like I'm going to pass out. Last year, I went to see a Cardiologist, and I had an echocardiogram and stress test. Reasults came back normal. About six months ago, I started having a racing heart along with the pvc's. This scares me! I woke up in the middle of the night with pvc's, and I tried to calm myself down by walking. Well that didn't work! My heart started racing so fast I thought I was going to die!! Two weeks later I was sitting on the sofa, and my heart started skipping like crazy! I called 911 and was rushed to the hospital. By the time I got to the ER, my skipping subsided, but my heart was racing. The Doctor ran an EKG, and said he didn't see an arrythmia or developing one. This worries me because I think I'am getting misdiagnosed. Everytime I get a test I'm fine, I'm not having any episodes, therefore they are not catching anything. Never once that I have been to Doctors have they been able to catch anything. They are getting way worse!! I'm scared! I could have something seriously wrong with me, and they can't confirm it! Another thing I have noticed, is about a week or so before my period, the palpitations are at their worst! I wish I knew what I could do to calm them down. Does anyone know what I might be experiancing other then the pvc's? I'm taking Cymbalta 60mg, and Ativan, for what they say is anxiety. The palpitations cause my anxiety!! The meds are not working! I have become very very depressed, and almost housebound, because of these things. I just wish I knew what was wrong with me. My own family dosen't even understand me. they think I'am making up my symptoms, even though at 3 in the morning, I'am walking in our field in the middle of nowhere in the country, trying to get cold air and calm my self down, thinking I'am going to die. I wouldn't do this under normal circumstances! It's scary as hell out there at night! Any helpful replies would be greatly appreciated!!!! Sorry it's so long!

Thanks!
~NicoletteAshley

Hi,

First off try to calm down. No matter what is happening to you being this worried cant help. (I know thats easier said than done)! Have you asked your doctor for an event monitor? If they arent catching your "episodes" then maybe the monitor will......I think there are ones that you can wear for up to 30 days. In the meantime, try taking a magnesium supplement. Its cheap and it works for some people. With my palps the magnesium helped 85 to 90%. I still have them, but its amazing at the difference! Good Luck!
Mileena

It's very common for palps to get worse before your period. Happens to me, too.

And I understand that often the palpitations CAUSE the anxiety, because that was my experience also. However, since the palpitations are harmless and nothing will make them go away, at this point you must treat the anxiety and depression. You need to treat them aggressively with therapy and medication so you can get your life back. And believe it or not, that usually helps the palpitations reduce significantly also.

Thanks Mileena! Yes, I've worn an event monitor for 2 months, and I couldn't catch anything. The episode happened too fast, and by the time I pushed the button, it had subsided. I'm definitely going to try magnesium supplements.

Thanks!
~NicoletteAshley

Thanks Timber! I'm going to start individual therapy soon. But until I get piece of mind this is going to keep bothering me.

Glad to hear you are going to start therapy. I also became extremely phobic about my palpitations but believe it or not when I got my anxiety under control the number of palps I got also reduced drastically. So I really recommend it.

Hello! This is my first post on this board. I've posted on the anxiety board, but will probaby get more answers here. Okay, I'm 19 and for the last 2 years, I have been having what seems to be pvc's. I feel them in my throat, and they make me cough. I feel lightheaded, and like I'm going to pass out. Last year, I went to see a Cardiologist, and I had an echocardiogram and stress test. Reasults came back normal. About six months ago, I started having a racing heart along with the pvc's. This scares me! I woke up in the middle of the night with pvc's, and I tried to calm myself down by walking. Well that didn't work! My heart started racing so fast I thought I was going to die!! Two weeks later I was sitting on the sofa, and my heart started skipping like crazy! I called 911 and was rushed to the hospital. By the time I got to the ER, my skipping subsided, but my heart was racing. The Doctor ran an EKG, and said he didn't see an arrythmia or developing one. This worries me because I think I'am getting misdiagnosed. Everytime I get a test I'm fine, I'm not having any episodes, therefore they are not catching anything. Never once that I have been to Doctors have they been able to catch anything. They are getting way worse!! I'm scared! I could have something seriously wrong with me, and they can't confirm it! Another thing I have noticed, is about a week or so before my period, the palpitations are at their worst! I wish I knew what I could do to calm them down. Does anyone know what I might be experiancing other then the pvc's? I'm taking Cymbalta 60mg, and Ativan, for what they say is anxiety. The palpitations cause my anxiety!! The meds are not working! I have become very very depressed, and almost housebound, because of these things. I just wish I knew what was wrong with me. My own family dosen't even understand me. they think I'am making up my symptoms, even though at 3 in the morning, I'am walking in our field in the middle of nowhere in the country, trying to get cold air and calm my self down, thinking I'am going to die. I wouldn't do this under normal circumstances! It's scary as hell out there at night! Any helpful replies would be greatly appreciated!!!! Sorry it's so long!

Thanks!
~NicoletteAshley
Have you had an echo done to rule out other things? I too wake up with rapid heartbeats and pvc's, then comes the panic attack, then I walk around the house splashing cold water in my face wondering if I should call 911. Ahhh what a life. I have lived with these little monsters since I was 20. I'm 40 now. They have caught mine on holter monitors and said they are benign and not to worry. Pvc's in the setting of a structurally normal heart are not dangerous and are nothing more than bothersome. Easy for them to say. I'm on Toprol and clonipin for anxiety which both help a lot! I know how you feel. Let's see, the past 20 years I have called 911 3 times, driven myself to the ER 5 times, all mixed in with panic and anxiety, Oh, but it's nothing to worry about except for the part about being a nervous wreck---for me the first ten years. Now I just live with them, talk myself down, and pop a pill if need be. I hate taking drugs but they help. Hang in there!
Jerry

Thanks Jerry! Yes I have had an echo done, and it came back normal. But yeah, your experiance is exactly like mine! Boy do I feel for you! I just hate having to live with these scary things, and it's hard for me to accept that they are benign, especially when I'm having them. I'll try to hang in there! And you as well! God Bless!!

~NicoletteAshley

Yes indeed they are very scarey. I've lived with them for the past few years and I too passed every cardiac test out there. And was told it was just anxiety. Well after much searching and questioning different drs and many trips to the ER I ran into a dr who didnt think I was "too young" for a cardiac cath. (I was 39 at the time) He found a 90% blockage as well as mvp (which they see that on the echo) In my opinion (and others may not share it) I think my palps have alot to do with those two problems. I dont get them as much now since I have upped the dosage of atenolol to 50 mg. I tried the magnesium but it didnt work for me..it just made em worse. The event monitor records 30 seconds prior and 30 seconds after you push the button, so even if they stopped before you can push the button, you still have that 30 sec time frame that it recorded. You might ask if you can wear the monitor again. There are a variety of reasons that cause the palps and most of those reasons will not kill you. Oh! and I had other symptoms that accompanied my blockage..so dont think just cause you have palps that you have a blockage. :p But I do highly suggest that if you know in your heart that there is something being missed..follow up on it even if you have to change cardiologists. YOU know your body better than anyone and if I had listened to those other quacks I wouldnt be here to tell you might delightful story now lol. God Bless you and go with your gut and many prayers. And try to calm down...a lil xanax never hurts lol.