Help, I am panicked! - Heart Disorders Message Board

SofiaH · 10-05-2006, 07:05 AM

Hi everyone, I am new here, sorry for this desperate first post.
The reason I registered is because I had a concerning experience 2 days ago, and I am very afraid that there is something wrong with my heart. I can't stop thinking about it ever since.
I am a 21 years old, healthy and fit. 2 days ago I woke up around 5AM, first I didn't know what woke me up, then I realized I am shaking and sweating. I also felt how my heart was beating really fast and really hard, and I would like to accentuate HARD, I never felt my heart beating so hard, I felt how it's pounding against my breast bone. I went to the kitchen to get a glass of water and on my way back to the room I started to feel pain in the center of my chest and when I got to the room the pain was really bad and sharp and it hurt more with every movement that I made. I layed down, I thought I was having a heart attack, but it hurt to move so I didn't call any help, I just layed in the bed still. The intensity of the pain lasted for about 2-3 more minutes then it started to smoothen and after 5 minutes all I felt was a discomfort in my chest. But the fast and hard heart beat and the shaking and the sweating lasted about 20 minutes, maybe more. I don't know what that was, the thing is that I had to take some tests like 2 moths ago, and they also made an EKG, and there was no problem with my heart. I am very concerned ever since yesterday, all I can think of is that i have some kind of a heart problem.
Any ideas about what could have caused that?

started04 · 10-05-2006, 10:20 AM

Hi SofiaH,

Apparently, you are having palpitation episodes and may be exacerbated by anxiety.

EKG may not realize any rhythm problem at the time of the test. Sometimes a holter is recommended to capture arrythmias at the time it happens.

For some insight, the electric impulse that times heart rate originates for the right atrium (right upper chamber) and that may have been stimulated by a transient and random source (ideopathic...cause unknown) and may be self correcting. There may be a blockage or short circuit in the right or left bundle branch (channels pathways for the electric current) caused by electrolyte, calcium, potassium deficiency. Sometimes the channels can be damaged due hypertrophy (enlarged heart), etc.

Medication such as a beta blocker can slow the heart rate and often prevent irregular heart beats.

SofiaH · 10-06-2006, 04:46 PM

Hi Kenkeith, thanks so much for the reply.
So you think I should wait for another episode and then rush to the ER while it's happening so that they can monitor it with a halter?
And can I get beta blocker without prescription?
I'm sorry if I sound dumb but I am very new to this. I actually had to do some research to understand what you wrote.
And I don't know, maybe I am being paranoic about what happened, but I started to notice that there are times when my heart starts to beat faster and stronger. I don't know what to do. What if when it happens again I will have a heart attack?
Or maybe I had a silent heart attack? Is that possible?

enie · 10-06-2006, 05:46 PM

SofiaH
Go to a doc as soon as you can. Call 911 if you start to have another spell like that. Meanwhile, write down all the details while it is fresh in your mind. Include all the times and to what degree you became disabled during that experience. Oh yeah, doctors like the 1 to 10 pain scale. Also relay how you felt after it was (all over as far as your energy level). Include if you were able to completely recover soon after the spell eased off. Lastly, include what you were up to the night befor all this happened.
Your heart flipping you out and woke you up in the middle of the night. It needs to be seriously looked into to me.
enie

SofiaH · 10-07-2006, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by enie

Your heart flipping you out and woke you up in the middle of the night. It needs to be seriously looked into to me.
enie

So you think it is serious, right?
I think that too. And I did some research and it's a possibility that I had a heart attack.
The signs of a heart attack are:

* Uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing or pain in the center of the chest lasting more than a few minutes.
* Pain spreading to the shoulders, neck or arms. The pain may be mild to intense. It may feel like pressure, tightness, burning, or heavy weight. It may be located in the chest, upper abdomen, neck, jaw, or inside the arms or shoulders.
* Chest discomfort with lightheadedness, fainting, sweating, nausea or shortness of breath.
* Anxiety, nervousness and/or cold, sweaty skin.
* Paleness or pallor.
* Increased or irregular heart rate.
* Feeling of impending doom.

Not all of these signs occur in every attack.

Okay, I had the pain in the center of my chest, and it was intense and it lasted around 3 minutes. Sweating yes. Shortness of breath yes because my heart was beating so fast and so hard that it made it hard to breath.(I forgot to mention that btw). Increased heart rate yes, irregular - I don't know. Anxiety and nervousness yes, feeling of impending doom - yes. Chest discomfort yes, even after the pain diminished.
I think I had a heart attack, I am pretty sure.
And I am pretty sure that I am having palpitations since then, I don't think it's paranoia.

And what if I go to the doctor and being so panicked - which I am when I remember what happened - he will missdiagnose me because my heart will beat fast because of the panick.

I don't know what to do, I really think I have a heart problem.