First off, I plan on going to the doctor, however, I'm a student and with my schedule and lack of money, it's going to be a week or two before I can go. So, I'm just using this as a reference point.
I am an incredibly stressed, and anxious person. I have a ton going on in my life that places a huge burden on me. For the past five months, I've been getting what I assume are PVC's (My mom has them, my dad has them, my sister gets them, I know it's not an appropriate diagnosis though). Basically, I feel a "flop" in my chest, followed by a moment of breathlessness that usually goes away very quickly. I've only had one episode where it's lasted for I'd say 30 seconds. I've noticed they are much worse when I am stressed or when I focus on them. I'm prone to anxiety attacks, which incidentally, the PVC's prompt me to go into a panic attack, which in turn makes me feel like I'm dying, and makes me scared that I am. Vicious cycle, huh? I'm also a hypochondriac. Since I was little I've thought I've had every disease or illness from AIDS to cancer, to heart failure...and I just realized how insane this post is making me sound. Haha...
Anyway, the past few days I've been exceptionally stressed. Sometimes I get the fluttering in my chest, but it will go down my arm, and I feel weak. Then my heart starts thumping, and I get really hot and sometime I feel nauseated. I believe these are also panic attacks, only they feel different than they used to, but I am under a lot more stress which could be the reason why. If my boyfriend starts talking to me, trying to calm me down, or I focus on my breathing, it tends to go away. But I'm also thinking it could be my thyroid, or something along those lines. I don't know exactly what my question is, but I suppose it would be nice to hear from people who have had similar symptoms, or have been treated for them, and what it ended up being. I'm placing my money on anxiety, but the hypochondriac in me thinks it's heart disease, or heart failure, or cancer...you get the idea.
Any input would be helpful. Thank you so much. It's difficult to say exactly what's going on without being there...
There's no substitute for a physician. However, based on years of clinical experience, it sounds like you may be having a panic attack.
Panic Attacks are sudden bursts of anxiety. It's a good example of mind over matter. Psychological stress induces a strong "fight or flight" reflex from the body (the sympathetic nervous system) complete with adrenaline release and everything. And the experience of having a panic attack increases your already high anxiety, leading to a chain reaction of worsening anxiety. You often can get hot, sweaty, jittery, hyperventilate (nausea, tingly hands, etc), tachycardia, feeling like your heart is going to beat out of it's chest.
While there are medications to reduce your overall anxiety level, this is generally something that you must let pass on it's own. Once you realize that this is something natural, and that you're not going to die from it, you've got to coach yourself down to normal. Breathing slowly and deeply are key.
As far as the rest, PVC stands for "Premature Ventricular Contraction" and essentially means that your heart "skips a beat". Well, it doesn't actually skip it... it's more like walking and stumbling on a crack in the side walk (without falling). Sometimes, you can feel a PVC, sometimes you can't. Generally speaking, they're benign. However, there could be instances where your heart chains a few of these together in a row into what's known as a "run of Ventricular Tachycardia". This is more serious.
Generally, for a person your age (judging by being a student), having panic attacks is FAR more common than a serious cardiac arrythmia. Of course, a professional opinion is always best, as only then can other conditions be fully ruled out. Remember, you can't believe everything you read on the internet! From my observation you have been training yourself to live in fear of something that might happen, could happen, but hasn't happened.
Your body will accept what ever you tell it to be or do. If you feed it fear it will accept what you tell it and respond with hallmark fight or flight hormone rushes. Adrenaline, heart pounding, rushing blood, rapid or shallow breathing, irregular heartbeat - what you might expect if you were running away from or hunting a T-Rex for example.
The solution to this is un-train yourself from this pattern. It can be done by learning meditation through yoga classes or Tai Chi. Quite remarkable. Key: Train yourself not to worry about things that have not happened. (Cognitive behavioural therapy is excellent). I don't know of you are a college or university student but you might be able to find someone in the faculty that can arrange this for you. Unfortunately, I'm not blessed with calm nerves either. I've experienced anxiety attacks and panic attacks since age 23. I'm now 54. It's amazing what stress can do to the body. Once I couldn't stand up. I felt like I was going to break in half at the lower back. When I was lying down I was just fine. But when I would try to stand up, it was impossible and I started screaming. My husband called an ambulance. The doctor examined me, told me I was having a panic attack, (that's all I remember,) gave me a shot, and I walked right out of there. He gave me a prescription for Klonopin. (BLESS HIM!)
I've been on Klonopin ever since, and I haven't had to go up on it. A life without anxiety!!
That's my story. I hope it helps you in some way. Bless you and good luck! :) |
