Evening all...
Firstly, thank you you all. Reading your stories has made me able to cope and feel less alone with what I'm dealing with.
It all started a few weeks ago when I had a heart flutter and it felt as if it was irregular. I then felt dizzy, sweaty and as if I was going to pass out. It felt genuinely like I was going to die...
So I went to the gp the next day and ordered tests immediately. ECG and bloods turned out absolutely fine. But today it happened again... I called emergency services because I had pins and needles and was convinced my heart was going to stop it was so out of rythmm. The paramedics then informed me that I was having an anxiety attack, something I'd never considered.
They said during my panic or anxiety attack they noted my heart rate was 200bpm and spotted a small arythmia. It then disappeared as my panic attack went and they ran a concurrent 5 ecgs which all returned normal. They told me I'd had an anxiety attack, but I struggled to accept a mental condition could alter a heart rhythm and it's regularity!
They didn't take my to hospital as apparently I have a healthy normal heart 50bpm once I was calm...
Is it possible for the anxiety to cause this!?
They've recommend I seek out CBT as I've got an anxiety disorder... Does this help anyone?
This is all so scary, and I'm struggling to accept this, but just need to believe the professionals I suppose.
Thank you all
J
Hi Gerrard you definitely have all the symptoms of anxiety and ànxiety attacks.I know everyone struggles to accept anxiety can cause so many physical symptoms which are absolutely terrifying.Do not waste your time getting all the tests done.Get to the heart of the matter go to your doctor and get referred for therapy.Try to practice relaxation techniques which you can find on YouTube.Don't Google your symptoms.lf you need to Google use it to find techniques to deal with panic attacks.Also don't fixate on the symptoms try to keep your mind occupied and exercise is also good.Never isolate yourself as a lot of people with anxiety do and it's the worst thing you can do.I hope you get sorted out
Hola Gerrard
Sí, la ansiedad puede causar esto. También siento que voy a morir, mi corazón empieza a latir con fuerza, siento que necesito huir todo el tiempo que estoy fuera. 
Mi madre me dijo que mi cara se pone pálida cuando tengo un ataque de pánico. La terapia cognitivo-conductual puede ayudarte. Dale una oportunidad. No te arrepentirás. Me alegra que las historias de todos aquí hayan ayudado. No estás solo, también estamos luchando contra la ansiedad. ¡Buena suerte!✊Espero que te mejores❤️
Ahhh thanks guys for listening and prompt responses. I feel like no one really gets it, and I don't know how to speak about it.
Freaked out me out when they said I had an arythmia on my first ECG when the paramedics arrived, but then disappeared when my anxiety attack stops. Just hard to get my head around... But I suppose the gp/hospital/paramedics if they saw anything remotely wrong would've told me and had to be referred to hospital.
It's just I keep thinking how can something so stressful and agonising not be something more serious?!
Do you guys get it out of nowhere? I think I yawned this morning, then that was it, BAM! heart irregular, sweaty, dizzy, pins and needles... Literally felt like it was the end. When I calmed down when the paramedics saw to me I just started crying. I just can't mentally cope with it... Just keep thinking they've missed something? I don't know, the mind is a crazy device!
También ocurre de la nada. Pensé que era del corazón, pero en mi electrocardiograma no sale nada Supongo que es mi ansiedad. A mí también me pasa esto cuando tengo un ataque de pánico, después lloro. No sé por qué, pero después de llorar me siento aliviada. Me siento mejor. Si crees que es del corazón, consulta con tu médico de cabecera para asegurarte de que no sea otra cosa. No podemos descartar síntomas por nuestra ansiedad. ¿Y si realmente es algo? Entiendo que es difícil creer que la ansiedad puede causar esto, pero cada vez que busco un síntoma que tengo, dice que la ansiedad puede causarlo... Los síntomas de ansiedad imitan otras condiciones de salud. De todos modos, deberías consultar tus síntomas con tu médico de cabecera. 🦋¡Buena suerte!
Yeah that's true...
I have been to my GP but all ECG and blood are fine... There's no evidence to suggest it's anything other than anxiety. Even today when my heart and emotions were at there very worse, the paramedics have said it's nothing heart related. Just I feel I have to deal with it and accept it, maybe the sooner I do, the sooner the recovery?
Sí, supongo que es verdad.. 🤞¡Buena suerte con tu recuperación 
I have to say l don't know why everyone says it's just ànxiety.In my opinion ànxiety disorders are one of the most debilitating illnesses you can suffer.As well as battling your mind you have to deal with physical symptoms as well.When you think about it logically your brain controls every system in your body and your mind is extremely powerful.
You also you have hit the nail on the head and you have the right idea acceptance is half the battle.l think the quicker you get treatment the better.
Thanks Marlene for your comments.
Problem is I've been googling everything, I've got anything from afib to a stroke lol... I even know it sounds daft, but it's almost impulsive to check, if that makes sense.
I suppose the reason why it's kind of hard to accept from the paramedics and doctors it's okay is because it literaly happened out of nowhere. Just heart palpitations and then ensues the panic anxiety attacks. I feel really happy with my life!
Then I just keep thinking they've missed something, but I suppose if it was something serious the ECG would of detected it and have been admitted to hospital... Just need to try and have some faith in the hospital services!
I know Gerard l think you will see that theme running through all the posts l don't think anyone can believe ànxiety can hit out of the blue with such force when you're happy.Sadly it does.l know it becomes compulsive to Google when you are confused and scared but you will have every illness under the sun.Try to be pro active and use Google to help your anxiety and take back control and on Monday get an appointment with your doctor.
Will the doctor get a referral to something? Or is it best to go private?
If you are in the UK there is a long waiting list if in the US l don't know.Go to your doctor and get a referral to see a therapist.If you can afford to go private you would definitely be saw a lot quicker.Make sure you do a bit of research on the therapist before you go to them if you are going private.Make sure they treat panic disorder and ànxiety.
Gerrard,
I'm happy with my life...i enjoy life quite a bit. With this said I've suffered from generalized anxiety disorder for well over 20 years. my first panic attack happened at the age of 24. not to come off as sadistic, but i laughed in reading through your post. it totally reminded me of my first panic attack and how over the years in reading about others who have suffered, the story is always more or less the same. the panic, obviously, then the subsequent actions such as calling for emergency services. not believe ER or your doctor's results...the numerous ECGs etc... changing doctors because you're not convinced. as mentioned by another here, your brain is the central control unit to your body. of course, it'll manifest physical symptoms; send the body into fight or flight response in an instant.
what you're experiencing unfortunately is all too common. many people experience panic attacks as you're aware. those who've never had one though certainly can't relate. i had no idea what they were until experiencing my first. what really makes it difficult is not seeing the possible triggers in your day to day life.
even with the reassurance here you'll likely remain skeptical...the what ifs...the doubts. you're caught in this health anxiety loop which will only fuel the panic attacks. i'm not going to sugar coat things here for you...my panic attacks became debilitating. i lost 10 lbs in what felt like two days. i had no clue what was going on and was convinced i had something wrong with my heart. i would have pins and needles sensations...felt like ants crawling under my skin. i was so dizzy and off balance because of it i couldn't drive. my doctor offered paxil or CBT and did tell me the paxil would be fast acting. having the deal with the nightmare of panic attacks i definitely wanted a quick and fast solution so opted to take paxil. the paxil stopped the panic attacks immediately it seemed. i took paxil for two years until deciding to quit. over the years i'd feel a panic attack coming on and i'd mentally will it away before getting starting. at that point i realized the doctor was right along with accepting the condition. even prior to starting up the paxil i did take my doctor's diagnosis into consideration and when a panic attack would come on...i'd deal with it. i wouldn't fight it. yes they felt terrible and would exhaust you in a matter of minutes as if you went for a 5 mile job...sweating and all. but i was starting to face them head on. then as mentioned...began taking the paxil.
in retrospect the paxil only masked the underying condition of my lifestyle. limited sleep...OCD tendencies...and generalized anxiety disorder that stemmed from childhood.
my advice Gerrard. don't let denial take over. consider your doctor's advice and try a little introspection...maybe there are stress triggers in your life you're taking for granted. good luck!
Espero que te estés mejorando
Hola Gerrard66
Es importante recordar que todos tienen palpitaciones o latidos ectópicos y que son muy comunes y generalmente no peligrosos. Además, cualquier emoción puede desencadenarlas... sentirse emocionado, molesto, asustado, puede hacer que tu corazón lata más rápido y altere el ritmo de tu corazón durante unos segundos o unos minutos. Cuando estamos ansiosos o nos enfocamos en nuestro latido cardíaco o nos obsesionamos con nuestros corazones y sentimos que tenemos una condición cardíaca subyacente, cualquier palpitación desencadenará la respuesta de lucha o huida y nuestros cuerpos producirán un aumento de adrenalina que hará que nuestro corazón lata más rápido y cause más palpitaciones. Es un círculo vicioso con el que he vivido durante más de 20 años. Tengo TEA y trastorno de pánico y a menudo me preocupa que mi corazón se detenga de repente. Intenta relajar tu mente y tener algún tipo de consejería. También la meditación que puedes encontrar en Youtube puede ser muy relajante. Una vez que tu mente esté tranquila, encontrarás que tu ansiedad disminuirá y tendrás menos o ninguna palpitación. Sé que es difícil no preocuparse por tu corazón, pero cuanto más ansiosos estamos, más intensos son nuestros síntomas. ¡Buena suerte! x
Ahh thanks Jen, that's some really great advice there.
Had the palpitations again this morning.... Lasted for about 20 mins this time... But I managed to stay calm as I could and by doing so seemed to stop them as yesterday it was 1hr 30mins in total!
The paramedics spotted sinus arythmia whilst I was having the anxiety attack but disappeared after I'd calmed down.. they said the heart is beating regularly, just speeds up (feels like irs up and down lol!) They confirmed it's all in normal ranges and nothing for concern... Starting to think I cause them! Bloody brain is on overdrive....
Hola, por supuesto que es normal. Cuando tenemos un ataque de pánico, sentimos como si fuéramos a morir, la gente a menudo lo confunde con un ataque al corazón ya que los síntomas son muy similares. Palpitaciones, mareos, sudoración, pecho apretado, hormigueo, debilidad muscular, problemas para respirar y tragar. Pero tienes que recordar que un ataque de pánico no puede matarte, es una respuesta a la exposición prolongada al estrés. No estás solo en esto y todos estamos pasando por lo mismo. Sé que es horrible, pero lo que me ayudó mucho fue aceptar que tengo ansiedad y que es solo una sensación y no puede lastimarme. Solía luchar contra los ataques de pánico, lo que empeoraba las cosas y duraban más. Ahora simplemente lo dejo ir. Estuve con medicamentos, pero solo empeoraron las cosas, pero todos somos diferentes. Lo que puede ayudarte a manejarlo y está comprobado es la TCC, escuchar meditaciones en YouTube, mindfulness. Visita a tu médico y ve qué opciones tienes. También el libro llamado Al fin una vida de Paul David.
Hola
De cierta manera, nosotros mismos causamos las palpitaciones al estar ansiosos. Sé por experiencia que puedo tener palpitaciones después de una comida abundante (muy común). Tendré una palpitación y, debido a mi ansiedad, luego tengo un subidón de adrenalina y, por lo tanto, más palpitaciones y preocupación, luego más palpitaciones. ¡Puede durar desde segundos hasta días! Así que, de cierta manera, aunque no causemos la primera palpitación, las posteriores se deben a nuestro propio pánico y proceso de pensamiento.
He eliminado la cafeína de mi dieta e intento comer más saludable. También intento beber más agua. ¡Oh, y tratar de no usar al Dr. Google... eso te pone diez veces peor! x
Hi,
Arrhythmia recently caused me to have a panic attack, I know that it's really scary, one second it's beating really fast, and another you can't feel it at all and it's really terrifying. I think it's important to remember that anxiety causes symptoms that make you feel like your dying, (as awful as it sounds) and that your heart beats much faster as a result of the adrenaline released from your brain. Also slight arrhythmia is harmless, obviously if one second you heart is really fast then slow 24/7 go see a gp, but don't forgot to make sure your not just having anxious thoughts which cause your heart to get faster. Overall you definitely have just got symptoms of anxiety, and whenever you might get arrhythmia again, just wait it out and breath deeply, and when it's gone reassure yourself by feeling the pulse on your neck (something I didn't do which led to my panic attack) thanks,
Alice