What is going on with my heart?

[lawkcrabb]

I am 36 year, female...no history of heart disease anywhere in my family.  I have had 2 EKGs, cardiac blood work, chest x-ray and a CT scan with contrasting liquid from my chin to my knees... The doctor said my heart is fine that my symptoms are just anxiety... I still freak out on a daily basis.  I have been extra anxious the last few days, thinking my chest hurts, having a heart attack, yada, yada, yada...checking my heartrate and blood pressure numerous times a day.  Well, today I was sitting watching TV, not in an anxiety mode and I felt a thump in my chest, like my heart stopped, skipped a beat and then started going again...this isn't new, in has happened a few times, not daily, but it always sends me into panic mode.  I have had my fingers on my wrist checking my pulse for an hour non stop trying to catch it skipping a beat.  Doc says my heart is great, I am healthy but it is hard to believe!  What is this?

[gcalex]

So it skipped a beat.  Meaningless.  Don't worry about it.  Medically it's a big so what.  STOP CHECKING!!!!!!

[lawkcrabb]

Is it really just normal to skip beats?  It feels so abnormal...

[gcalex]

Totally benign.  And very common by the way with anxiety.  Or without it.  Once you stop worrying about it you may not even notice them. 

[sixpack]

anxiety doesn't have an on/off switch...... read my signature at the bottom of this post.

your heart has been tested nine ways to sunday.  It isn't your heart.  You are going to have to deal with the anxious overthinking.   we all get skipped beats etc that mean nothing (anxious or not).  Our hearts aren't swiss watches you know  Dealing with the anxiety will help you to not get wiggy when benign things happen.  getting wiggy only increases the sensations.

[lawkcrabb]

Thank you, I needed to hear that.  I have had more testing then most 36 year olds...it is never enough.  This anxiety thing is for the birds!  I have been working on it, it just isn't happening fast enough!  Any suggestions are greatly appreciated :)

[sixpack]

here is my overly posted link to my suggestions and other junk 

the bottom has my usual suggestions.

good luck. 


http://www.anxietyzone.com/index.php/topic,60476.0.html

[e77]

Like you, I get fixated on my heart and I know how disturbing it can get, been going on now for over 25 years now off and on.  It is only a temporary interference in the timing of the heartbeat and normal hearts get this all the time.  Our hearts are tremendously muscular and variability in the heartbeat is necessary to keep up with our activities.  Our anxiety brings on this obsessive checking that makes us more anxious.  I try to practice not checking my heartbeat and challenge my thoughts when I get this way, I write out three thoughts that challenge my fear, or if I'm walking I'll talk it out with myself ( probably look a little strange when I'm doing this but it calms me down).  You've done all the right things with your doc.  Practice countering the "what if" thinking.  Take care

[gcalex]

When in doubt, do breathing exercises.  Search on this forum, I posted about them and I am sure others have too.

[LindaRK]

I'm 55 - I've had the "irregular" heartbeat and "thumping" for decades and I'm still here kicking.  Very common with stress and anxiety.  Best thing to do is STOP CHECKING and get moving!