Cardiac anxiety

[Anxiousmind82]

Hi everyone, 

Thought I’d reach out and see if anyone has gone through similar situation. I’ve had small heart flutters on and off for years. It’s usually due to anxiety or low iron. Which I’ve been treated for 4 weeks ago with an iron infusion. I thought the flutters would clear but they still remained. I chalked it down to being extra anxious but when I seen my Dr she said it’s best to get a 7 day holter monitor test done. Needless to say it made me stress out so bad. So when I had the monitor on I could feel my flutters worse and also my heart beat was racing. Towards the end of the 7 days I stopped having flutters in my chest and seemed to feel a bit more relaxed. I anxiously waited for my results which I got today. The dr said they weren’t bad but I had an episode of high heart rate. Highest being 165bpm and lowest was 53bpm. And my heat rate ranged from 70-125. I’m being sent to a cardiologist for a check up to make sure everything is ok and nothing is wrong. So that just made me freak out more. I had no idea my heart rate went that high by sitting in the car. I Know the time is during school drop off and I’m generally quite stressed but yeh. So now all day I can feel my heart racing and I’m constantly checking. It’s been around 90 and highest when checked was 100. I had no afib episodes during the 7 days so the dr said there was no electrical issues so that’s great but I’m so stressed something bad will happen to me due to high heart rate. I can’t make an appt until next week due to long weekend and I’m going away. I did ask if it was urgent as I was going away and she said go away and enjoy your holiday and deal with it when you’re back. I should feel reassured but I’m not. I have young kids so I’m spiralling thinking bad thoughts. I was such a mess and my dr ended up prescribe me something for my anxiety to calm my mind while I’m waiting to see the psychologist and cardiologist. Has anyone dealt with high heart rates? I had a massive flutter before and I just know that is due to anxiety. I’ve had a pain my my leg behind my knee for over a month it comes and goes now I’m freaking of a blood clot. Does this health anxiety ever calm down. I feel so lost. If anyone had any remedies ti help me relaxed that would be great. I’ve been doing deep breathing but yeh not doing much. My husband told me I’ll be fine but anyone that is in this frame of mind that does nothing. I told

him I wish I was normal and didn’t think anything of it and just waited.  Thanks for listening. I’ve posted a few years ago about cardiac anxiety and everyone was so kind it also does help knowing other people are having same issues even if it’s from different causes. 

[white knight]

Hi, welcome

I'm 68yo and at 31yo was told I had a heart attack, in fact 3 months later after giving up smoking (good) I went on a walking machine to be monitored and turns out no heart attack, it was anxiety and a faulty machine. A large panic attack. So I embarked on 22 year period of ridding myself from anxiety and I'll attach a link at the bottom.

So, reading your post tells me that your stresses aren't helping your anxiety. I didnt realise I was feeding my anxiety with worry when worry is not productive. EG you can worry and get stressed with school pick up times while on the way to the school then you arrive and you realise the traffic is less than normal... an example of worrying before the event. You can worry about school times but if you arrived 15 minutes earlier then allowed the traffic to disburse, left 15 minutes after, then you wouldnt be stressed. Planning become a big part of lowering anxiety.

As far as the cardiologist goes think of it as a preventative measure. Like getting your car serviced so it doesnt break down. Sitting in a waiting room being stressed out will only harm you, picking up a magazine will distract you. Also-

• Other people without anxiety will have a tough time understanding you as the illness is invisible
• You could pass onto your children your symptoms
• Curing anxiety is possible as I've discovered but needs a multi pronged approach, everything in your lifestyle needs re-evaluating.

So in 1987 when my anxity peaked I changed the following over time-

• Change of environment (city to country)
• Profession Quasi law enforcement to supervisor of the mentally ill
• Introduced meditation that I found enjoyable (Maharaji more later)
• Got a pet (puppy)
• ditched toxic friends and family
• planned my holidays
• Diet, deep breathing  and exercise
• Wrote poetry  , took medication and had therapy                                           

So with the following you only need to read the 1st page of each so they dont take very long

Anxiety, how l eliminated it - Beyond Blue Forums - 183873

Worry, worry worry - Beyond Blue Forums - 87808

Meditation - words of wisdom - it helped me for 25... - Beyond Blue Forums - 89818

Running around trying to save the world - Beyond Blue Forums - 143535

I hope you find them beneficial.  Reply anytime

TonyWK

[Anxiousmind82]

Thank you so much for your kind reply and also knowledge in dealing with dreaded anxiety. I will be reading those links you provided as any help goes a long way. Since starting the anxiety tablets I seem a bit calmer although dealing with the flu now but I’m not stressing so much about my heart beat racing because I know my body is fighting the flu and I have a horrible cough. Im seeing the cardiologist on Monday so will be good to get the all clear and I’m sure I’ll be sent for more tests to be sure but like you mentioned it’s all part of the process. I look forward to seeing the psychologist soon to help deal with some issues and talk through things and hopefully in time get off the tablets. 
thanks again for taking the time to reply to me. Im happy to hear you now live a full filled life and can deal with a clear mind. Sometimes little changes over time work wonders and I’m excited to try and help myself. Have a lovely night. 

[Guest_86220244]

Hi,

I also suffer from cardiac anxiety, which I've developed after suffering from arrhythmia in my early 30s. I had electrical fault with the heart and it was successfully ablated 18 years ago. However, about 7 years I have woken up in the middle of the night with a rapidly racing heart and thought I was having a heart attack so called an ambulance. It wasn't a heart attack but these episodes were becoming more and more frequent to the point when they were happening every night, sometimes twice. The cardiologist could not find a reason for this but put me on a beta blocker to reduce the strength of the heart beat. But as a result I have developed an anxiety related to increased heart rate and started avoided cardio exercise or anything that would make my heart go fast, as that would induce a panic attack. So I have developed a panic disorder and started avoiding certain situations, because I am scared I will get a panic attack and with that my heart would beat so fast that I would not be able to cope. I have started seeing a Psychologist and doing gradual exposure therapy, trying to learn that the symptoms of the panic and increased heart rate are not harmful, and learning to challenge my thoughts. Some years ago I have also come across DARE method for anxiety and recently have rediscovered it so trying to apply that to my anxiety. I recommend Googling this and also talking to a Psychologist. I am sure your heart will be fine, I was always told that ectopic beats (I call them skipped beats) which I used to get A LOT and now sometimes, are not dangerous, but they are certainly unpleasant.

All the best with your appointments. 

[white knight]

Excellent reply there.

TonyWK

[Number 86]

Hi Anxiousmind82,

All I can say is you're not alone with health anxiety and I have been through a similar thing. Anxiety definitely increases your heart rate and fluctuations are very common. I tend to notice them more with lack of sleep. 10 years ago I noticed a fluctuation and thought that was weird and that was the end of it I thought until I saw ads of heart attacks and signs then googled and seemed to start having a lot of palpations and hard racing heart. I was terrified and went through the process and got more scared when the doctor appeared concerned about how high my heart rate was. I did all the tests you did and everything physically came back fine. When they said it was anxiety of was sceptical as I hadn't had any history of anxiety. I was put on escitalopram and after the transition phase, it all went away. 

It turns out I have health anxiety and it comes and goes from time to time and can be managed with CBT and meditation when off of medication. 

I hope you are on your way to starting to feel better which is sounds like? 

One thing with anxiety no matter how tough it can get and for extended periods, just remember it will eventually pass and you will feel less anxious. 

[Anxiousmind82]

Thank you for sharing your story. It’s helpful to hear other people have been through similar and what that did to help them. I’m sorry you had such an awful time though. It’s definitely no joke anxiety. Can definitely change someone’s life. I seen the Dr today and while he said everything looked normal and may consider putting me on a beta blocker he found after my stress test that the lower chambers aren’t clapping shut like that should be. Could be weaken heart muscle from when I’ve been sick with Covid etc. so that was a bit depressing to hear so now I have more tests to do and it doesn’t help when you have health anxiety and now think the worse. But I’m trying to be positive and I’m sure it will be a good outcome. Thanks again for replying to me. I definitely will look into thr DARE information I need anything  to help me at this stage.  Hope you continue to feel positive and get better. 

[white knight]

Hi,

I was on Betta blockers for some years and was told they are the best. Cant comment further due to rules here.

During this stressful period we need to train our mind. When I have issues with my blood clots in the past or periodical gout, I say to myself "at least you're walking Tony". Or when I get depressed "at least you're in a cycle that will end soon, not like some poor souls".  Eg look at what you have not what you have lost.

I hope you feel better soon

TonyWK