I think I have been having panic attacks but I'm not sure. This usually happens at night when I'm about to go to sleep or if I have just fallen asleep. I will wake up suddenly and my heart starts beating fast and I get really shaky all over. It is a very weird feeling, like my heart is moving all around in my chest. It lasts about 20 to 30 seconds. I am going to make an appointment with my doctor but will he be able to tell the difference between panic attacks and a heart problem? If I get put on a monitor how can they tell the difference?

Given your symptoms the doctor will be able to tell you if it's heart related. EKG and Echo Cardiagram would tell you if something is wrong with your heart. Sounds to me though that your symptoms scream out stress and anxiety. A friend of mine had alopecia and she had severe stress. Get checked out - then if it is stress you can get some help. I get awakened out of my sleep with episodes also and doctor feels it's anxiety related. Went through heart tests - heart is healthy. So I have to work on the anxiety issues in my life.

Thanks for your reply. I am under extreme stress right now. I will get it checked out just to be safe.

WOW I could have written your thread. The same thing happens to me. It is usually within the first 20 to 30 minutes of me sleeping. I explain it like it is almost a low blood sugar shakey feeling and my heart beats fast. It takes about a minute to calm myself down then I am back to sleep. I think what happens is I have the shaky feeling first then the fast heart beat starts because the shaky feeling scares me. Honestly I would think if it was our heart it would happen during the day too, plus I have wore 24 hour heart monitors 5 times and had an echocardiogram done and all they ever come back with is PVC's which I knew I had and many people have them. I think what we suffer from is Nocturnal Panic Attacks. I too suffer from alot of anxiety. I hope this helps you.
Dawn

Thanks for your reply Dawn. It does help to hear other peoples experience.