Palpitation symptoms

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-22-2004
Palpitation symptoms
13
Tue, 06-07-2005 - 2:55pm

Hey all, I am an early 20's male who started my stress/anxiety/panic phase in life back in early September, 2004. Fortunately I have learned to manage my symptoms and not let them get soooo out of control. Occassionally I had heart palpitations but am noticing that their frequency has increased although my oother symptoms have been diminished a good deal since this started. I have experienced the pounding heart, etc. but have any of you ever felt as though someone was sending a quick electric shock to your chest???? Its sooo scary when it happens and I need to know that hyper stimulation type feeling has been felt by others because again i find myself fearing for the worse, that something absolutely terrible is wrong with my health. I have been through many tests (especially early on when i didnt know what was wrong). Doctors find nothing wrong, i am in excellent health (the panic/fear makes me doubt that though with these wierd sensations that pop up). WHAT DO YOUR PALPITATION SYMPTOMS FEEL LIKE? ANY WIERD FEELINGS (frantic, excited) HIGH UP THE CENTRAL RIB CAGE? Do the palps hit sometimes out of the blue and trigger more panic attacks? Or do the palps occur only during the attack? To me it feels like although my panic attacks may not always be prevalent, certain symptoms like tight muscles, etc. remain. Can the same thing be said for heart, chest events?

Edited 7/10/2005 6:26 pm ET ET by flyguy2004




Edited 7/10/2005 6:29 pm ET ET by flyguy2004

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-12-2003
Tue, 06-07-2005 - 4:00pm

Hi, I occasionally experience palpitations as well. it's hard to describe the feeling, and im afraid to say the wrong thing because I dont want you to get any more anxious than you already are. usually i feel them in my neck or the side of the chest, and they come and go for a few minutes. Since you went to the doctor and all the tests came back fine you should have nothing to worry about. Im sure they ran an EKG on you, and if that came back normal, then occasional palpitations are nothing to worry about. As im sure already know, they are also symptoms of anxiety or panic attacks. There is a tendency for individuals with anxiety to be overly attuned to physiological changes or occurances in their bodies, and my guess is that this is what's going on for you. Next time you have palpitations try to distract yourselves from them by counting backwards, or occupying yourself with some physical activity. It sounds like health wise yu're doing fine, and that's great that you've learned to manage your anxiety.

Mia

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Tue, 06-07-2005 - 4:48pm

Hi & welcome to our community. I may be wrong, but your handle sounds familiar & when I read your profile, I am certain I remember some of your replies. @ any rate, we're always glad for new folks or return visitors:)


I can't really add much to what Mia has said. How we feel our palps & how we describe them can be very different. I always err on the side of caution. Having anxiety is nothing to be ashamed of. Your health care professional should be understanding. I would make an appointment & see the dr. with this increase in symptoms. I am not suggesting there's anything wrong & am certainly not an alarmist. I just know what you're feeling & know that my dr. & I have an understanding & this would give me the most peace. I have gone through spells of intense anxiety when my palps increased & I was constantly taking my pulse. Now, I am able to focus on my breathing & relaxation & that helps me remain calm. If you get a chance, drop into chat tonight. Many folks will share their thoughts & these may prove helpful.


Good luck & keep in touch. Sending P&PT's your way. (((hugs))) jan



 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 09-22-2004
Sun, 06-19-2005 - 5:57pm
Thank you for your responses. Yes, this stress, panic, fear and nervousness has been extremely unsettling for me, and painful too. I can't get over how bad the symptoms can get at times (i feel like my insides are tremoring nervously). Heck, at times i feel like i'm even losing my balance, its crazy!!! I have never been one to have such intense anxiety although i have always been high strung and worry about things alot; simply let stuff get to me. Its funny though that as time has progressed through this panic phase in life since september, my symptoms have changed and or become more intense in some areas and less so in others. These days its feeling like i'm unbalanced; like my head is on overdrive; exhausted, and the chest pains/ palpitations. Can chest pains associated with stress be bothersome on and off all day long??? I saw a cardiologist back in December and I checked out fine so whats the deal???
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-18-2003
Sun, 06-19-2005 - 7:16pm

I have all the same symptoms you do, the off balance feeling bothers me the most. I've been to the cardiologist many times, and except for a diagnosis of mitral valve prolapse, nothing is wrong. It sounds like an exacerbation of your anxiety. Has anything changed in your life -- your job, living situation, etc...?

Sheri Ann

Sheri Ann

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Sun, 06-19-2005 - 8:16pm

Boy could I relate to this. (i feel like my insides are tremoring nervously). I have had this feeling so many times since a health scare early this year. It is a relatively new sensation. I call it my *inner motor.* It scares me when it begins, as it's happening & when it stops. Totally discombobulating. I know it's time to dump the stress when it hits. Sometimes I don't seem to realize how much stress I'm under, but I try to think of my *inner motor* in positive terms. It is an early sign of my anxiety.


If your cardiologist pronounced your heart ok, then it is. It's very difficult to accept that fact when we continue to have disturbing symptoms. You can learn to relax through meditation, yoga, relaxation exercises, breathing, etc. Have you been exercising? That is a sure way to keep anxiety @ bay & assure yourself that you're physically fit.


I'm in agreement with Sheri Ann. Is there something bothering you? Take a good, hard look & try to identify areas that need work. Good luck, flyguy! (((hugs))) jan



 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 09-22-2004
Mon, 07-04-2005 - 12:31pm
I think the problems related to these panic attacks stem mostly from this time in my life i like to call purgatory; the time in between high school and moving out of the house and making a life for myself. I have wanted to move on with life for years now and get my own place, etc. but pursuing my bachelors and masters degree has prevented me from doing so and it drives me nuts. I know school is very important but mentally i want out. I am sick of being a poor college student who sees his friends graduating and moving on with their lives. I feel left behind. I am a perfectionist and try to do the work of three people and that also has contributed to all this madness i'm sure. Last summer i worked 7 days a week non-stop with no breaks. Then jumped into my third semester at school still working 30 hours ( i imploded mentally ). I've been attempting to stream line my life and do things beside work that i enjoy and that has helped. However, it seems my attacks have gained a life of their own and things i love to do like drive are also now impeded. The constant worry that these attacks will hit me when i dont expect them is most unsettling to me and i envision all sorts of doom and gloom scenarios like losing control while driving (due to an attack) and getting smashed by a nearby semi. I've become a nervous wreck. I am not letting these attacks ruin my daily routines as i did for the first few months of these attacks. However, while doing my daily routine i'm usually fighting symptoms silently; trying to not let them be noticeable although my insides are making me feel soooooo tremendously miserable.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-22-2004
Mon, 07-04-2005 - 12:37pm
I am a very active, muscular individual which is good for me physically. However, i do not do many aerobic type of exercise except for an occasional run, or bicycle ride (20-30 miles). I have been advised to do such things but am finding it difficult to do so because I still have an irrational fear that i have heart problems and will die because i get my heart rate up running. Usually i send myself into a friggin attack befor i can even put on my running shoes. When i do start running or playing two hand touch football, etc. i usually have a hard time because my increased heart rate now scares me and i panic whereby wearing my self out much faster. I have a sick fear of health problems which stems from my mother dying at a young age when i was 12 years old. I fear that i will be cursed like that as well and these symptoms are what causes this fear.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Mon, 07-04-2005 - 4:48pm

I can relate. I have a fear of not being able to get my breath. Maybe I should just call a spade a spade here. I'm afraid of suffocating. I can't have anything covering my nose. I refuse *gas* @ the dentists. When I had pneumonia & required oxygen, I couldn't tolerate a mask.

 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 09-22-2004
Mon, 07-04-2005 - 11:38pm
I have pursued psychological help, massage therapy, simply trying to unwind and include relaxation into my life again. I am really trying to get better and am much better than i was from September through February when this all started. Back then i had frequent full blown attacks, gastritis (no other cause found but possibly stress...........well duh ). hyperventilation, even passing out. Now i'm doing my daily routine, however i am always on guard which in my mind is still way unacceptable. Yes i still get attacks, some of which are pretty nasty. Yes i am still having the wierd heart palps that arise sometimes out of the blue (then i realize i'm anxious). Who the heck knows anymore, i'm sick of this!!
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-22-2004
Sun, 07-10-2005 - 6:27pm
I need to know what your chest feels like when you have symptoms, espacially these palpitations, or at least i think thats what they are.

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