Heart Palpitations

[sandycee]

Hey all!

I have been struggling with health anxiety for a very long time (years now, off and on but fairly consistent over the last 9 months or so), it has recently gotten worse. It has evolved continuously for just under a year now and has debilitated me on many occasions. Over the last few months, I have on and off on 3 occasions experienced heart palpitations whereby my heart feels like it flutters/ skips for a beat and it frightens me a lot.

The thing is these palpitations have happened during times of high stress but also for example the most recent time which Im still going through right now, the first one was just out of the blue when I wasn't stressed or anxious or drinking caffeine which makes me panic even more thinking somethings wrong with my heart.

I am 19 years old, have a vegan diet and last got my heart properly checked when I was 14 to which I was told I had a perfectly healthy heart. Since then Ive been to two doctors and mentioned it. One saw my results from my test when I was 14 and said he wasn't worried about my heart because my risk factors are little to none and because I dont experience pains when exercising (which could indicate a blockage) and said if I started feeling pains when exercising to come in for an ECG but other than that its my anxiety playing tricks on me. My other doctor said I should get my heart checked due to my poor sleep (which is anxiety related) which I think was the initial trigger for thinking I have heart problems. I later brought this up with her in another appt. to which she replied she is not worried about my heart and merely said it incase of a condition such as sleep apnea (which i have been tested for years ago and dont have) which could be linked to heart disease.

I just want to know if anyone else experiences random flutters and a randomly skipping heart even when they're not actively stressed or anxious. It has happened a lot more this time round than the last two occasions and has been on and off for a few days now, I think because I have been predicting it and waiting for the palpitations I also kind of put it on myself. The last two times it happened they lasted for a few days or maybe a week and then just stopped again. Just got one right now whilst talking about it but trying not to let it get to me! Feels like someones gone BOO! and startled me for a quick second.

Any advice would be helpful, thank you!!!

[demonblaster]

Hi sandycee welcome ☺

Yes I get these flutters at times although not so much these days not sure if exercise is helping burning of stress and getting breathing into patterns

It would be a concern for you, I hope and think if both GP's are saying it should be ok that it is but if you continue to have concern maybe could ask for more info.

You know I can relate to that feeling of someone saying boo when I'm unwell no joy is it. Don't know if you're aware of breathing techniques in slowly and deeply out several times only focus on breathing

Smiling minds and Insight timer are two meditation type ph apps Im hearing here are both good that might help calm you and with luck with sleeping

Sorry you have it rough, their is help out there and management with anxiety is achievable if you're interested first step is asking GP to be put on a mhcp (mental health care plan) which can give you up to 10 visits a year to see a psychiatrist counsellor psychologist etc

All the best ☺

[sandycee]

Hey Demonblaster 🙂

I think I do need to exercise more to burn off that extra energy to limit the amount of energy I can put into my anxiety and stressing out.

I've just decided to book an appt for this afternoon to be safe, it's in just over an hour so hopefully I can get more closure and reassurance then. It's more about peace of mind at this point because I am losing sleep over it, worried something will happen overnight.

Yes Im aware of techniques, still trying to find one that really works for me. Im liking the one where you block a nostril at a time and breathe through one individually and then alternate.

I believe I have the app already and am just yet to use it so I will definitely give it a go tonight. I was on a mental health plan, what I had thought was that there are 10 free sessions and any session following that is charged but it really was just the normal rate with rebate from health care.. It's kind of discouraging given the steep costs.

I was recently referred to a psychiatrist who charges over $400 for just the initial consultation with half back in rebate but still so ridiculously steep and discouraging. I feel bad for people who arent as fortunate as me...

Anyways, sorry for ranting, thank you so much for taking the time to write back and offer your support.
I will definitely make use of the smiling minds app and try to exercise more! Also been worried if i exercise I'll have a heartattack or something... so sick of feeling so anxious about it, but after today's appt if everything goes well it's definitely something I'm going to pick up!

[demonblaster]

Good on you Sandy it sounds like you're positive and prepared to try anything. Admirable and definately a great mindset that should get you back up.

Hope your appointment went well ☺

Thanks for getting back in touch and you're very welcome

Happy to be here for you 😊

[sandycee]

Hey!

Just thought I would post an update, I got prescribed something for my anxiety, antidepressant with anti-anxiety properties. Contemplating whether I should even use it because I've done research and the side effects of it seem to be common and given I have health anxiety that is an even bigger point of anxiety for me to stress about... not sure what to do.
Trying to research others with lesser reported side effects but Im no doctor so I guess it's not for me to research hey haha.

Anyways just thought I'd update, as I said.
Thank you again for the support!

[demonblaster]

Hey ☺

Thanks for update

Yeah meds some work for some sude effecrs for some not all I hear, get you being reluctant

Do you think you'll follow through with a counsellor/psych? so for you they're not free the 10 visits? Thats hard on the pocket.

How'd you go if you had a chance with the ph app? I havent tried it yet but have heard theyre both good. And another Yoda Nidra I think heard thats good too here

Hope you're doing ok ☺

[Croix]

Dear Sandycee~

I guess there are a couple of things here.

The first is about that previous psychologist. It is realy important to have confidence in the abilities and understanding of all the medical professionals we need. I think, for me, that this relationship may be as significant as the method of therapy chosen. Often one does not hit that happy state with the first, and as a result it is quite sensible when the occasion arises to seek out another. So yes if I was you I would try another, however I'd not do it as a substitute for medication.

It would seem sensible to use as many avenues as possible in dealing with your health anxiety. So often it is a combined effort of lifestyle, therapies and meds.

Many people have a natural reluctance to take meds and feel that either it is an artificial prop or some sort of failure to have to do so. This is completely unrealistic. There are a huge number of people that have benefited from meds, some of whom, like myself, have to remain on them to lead a basically normal life, and some who have been able to cease taking them as time's gone on.

Side effects do of course exist, and are sometimes discussed in advance, sometimes they just appear. In every case going on a new drug is something that should be done with close scrutiny by the prescribing doctor.

For someone who already has difficulty seeing their health in proportion it might be daunting to think there will be a fresh set of symptoms cause by the meds to worry about. While this is possible refraining from being treated because of it is putting the cart before the horse. It is precisely to lessen those worries treatment is given. Plus of course the severity of symptoms can very from person to person.

In any even I do hope you can find a psych you can relate to.

Croix

[sandycee]

Hey, I think I will be following through with a psychologist, health care rebate should be about $100 back from $150 apparently, Im going to call up tomorrow and see what the facts are 🙂

[sandycee]

Hey Croix, thank you for your post.

Yes I would have to agree with you. The way my previous psychologist was going about things just seemed so off. I know that I will not always understand the reasoning behind methods and such but I just felt she really focused on the most insignificant of things and tried to dwell on them to make the following appointments about the important stuff which then didn't end up being the case. I also felt she was quite bias so, yes, I think I will be moving on.

I dont at all believe it means you have failed or are weak or anything like that to be taking meds, it is merely the side effects that have me incredibly reluctant and worked up. I completely understand what you mean in regards to taking the meds to control the exact reason I am so anxious to take them. How ironic.

I will do some more research on medications that have been reported to have less side effects, although I am aware that such symptoms caused by meds vary from person to person in types and degrees of symptoms.

I hope I find someone too, thank you for the advice Croix, it is greatly appreciated

Sandycee

[Croix]

Dear Sandycee~

Maybe you were not as in charge as you might be with that first psychologist. There is a great temptation to see health professionals as very capable - and that they might operate in obscure ways at times. Your psych may have been good with some and average with others. In all cases you should be able to ask what the overall plan is, and how the particular thing being concentrated on fits into it.

As far as I know a Heath Plan consists of 6 visits to a set of mental health professionals, often psychologists but not psyciatrists, on a doctor's referral. The visits are subsisted against a scheduled fee with the balance to be paid. The balance is between what is actually charged, which can very a fair bit, and the fixed rebate. A further 4 visits in a year are available on review by your doctor. If you find the original psychologist does not click I think you can change and continue on with the plan. The basic info is here:

https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/mental-health-care-plan

Some people prefer the broader capabilities of a psychiatrist and rely upon the annual Safety Net to help subsidize the visits.

No doubt you will find out exactly tomorrow - good luck.

I'm not sure how far to go looking up medications in Google. There really is no substitute for a discussion of alternatives with your doctor. I would imagine close contact during the initial period of taking new meds would be the least worrying as untoward effects can be explained as usual or action taken if necessary.

If it was me and I held back on getting medication I'd be worrying I'd done the wrong thing and my condition had worsened as a result:)

Please feel free to talk here no matter what you decide, we do understand.

Croix