Panic attacks.... AN UPDATE.

john-e89 said:
Wednesday I see a cardiologist so we'll know more then.
:

That's where I was almost six months ago . It's good to know what's wrong and how it can be fixed tho!
 
I didn't see your earlier post but glad you know what's up and there's a plan to help get you over it.

If you do feel jittery at any time, drop me a PM and I'll send you some notes on how to do some yoga breathing exercises that are really good for calming the nerves and mind. (Same goes for anyone else who might want to do this)
 
How apt is this thread for me at the moment.
OP, wishing you my best and hope you get sorted soon. It's truly horrible.

This Thursday just gone my family had to dial 999 for me.
I have been having palpitations, tachycardia and ectopic beats for some months now and had all the tests and they came back ok. It was decided it was vagus nerve (google it) problems and it was a get-on-with-it attitude from the doctor.
I was out having lunch with my husband and son and daughter in law on Thursday and had been feeling under the weather for a few days so thought that was why I couldn't finish my food. I started feeling really unwell and then, as if someone had pressed a button, my heart started racing and thumping really, really hard and fast and I just sort of felt myself shutting down. They called for the ambulance and they arrived as it started passing. Long story short, I have been put back on beta blockers and referred to another specialist to get to the bottom of why my heart keeps doing its weirdness.
It really is very scary and stressful.
I can't remember the last day I haven't had loads of palpitations, tachycardia etc and I just want them to get to the bottom of it.
Luckily I know my heart is strong and ok from the tests I had but there is something else affecting it and causing it to play up.

It's not nice to read everyone's stories on this thread and I wish you all the very best and that you all stay in good health.
 
The beta blockers haven't really agreed with me - they are "sort of" doing their job but I have to take diuretics to counteract their other effects.
I still get my palpatation, erratic and very high pulse rate quite reularly.
My energy levels are low which makes me less active .
Like you though, I've had the tests which indicated that the heart seems ok and its the rogue signals that are causing my problems.
I hope my problems will be sorted out on the 22nd of October and I also hope you can get yours sorted soon. :thumbsup:
 
I'll be thinking of you on the 22nd Ronkers. I'm sure they'll sort you out.
I'm convinced my heart problem is somehow stomach related.
Stupid thing.
 
Well, I'm pleased for you John that youve finally been diagnosed.

Whilst not nice, its also reassuring for me to read that others such as Ronk, Carol and a few others are all experiencing middle age issues too. Ive not been great this last 12 months but feel that everyone else is wonderfully healthy and busy, whilst you know yourself that you're not right and fear that you could keel over at anytime.

Its a viscious circle as you feel unwell and not yourself, then the worry sets in causing anxiety and before long you think your time is up. The TV is full of cancer adverts and whenever anyone makes reference to Christmas, you silently think you may not be here.

I've been feeling better these last 2 months thankfully. I had a very stresful 2014 with work and my 12 year old son suffering from sudden total leg paralysis. I sorted everything I had to at work, I juggled everything else and 9 months later I got my son back on his feet. ( I watched him play rugby yesterday and football today) I thought I'd coped well. The truth is it all hit me after and it seems my body could not cope without the stress, after gearing up to work under intense pressure for so long

My metabolism was too high, my acid production was rotting my guts, leading to heartburn, anxiety, etc. I feared the worse when I had constant stomach pains and racing heartbeats. I finally had the endocsopy and was told no cancer, no tumours but just Acid erosion, which was treatable with tablets temporarily until things heal. Immediately you feel better knowing that and you part break the cycle.

It seems during this period, I became intollerable to certain food types and now, if I avoid bread, pastry, and the like ( basically but not strictly Gluten free) I feel so much better. Ive been put on a FODMAP diet and it seems to work. I was originally eating Bran, brown bread, rice, etc. to be healthy and apparently its too much fibre, or the wrong sort !. I now eat Porridge daily, avoid bread and citrus fruits and its worked wonders.

Reading all your stories, I can recognise so many similarities. In my case it wasnt genetic, or diseases or viruses it was stress, yet I thought I was a big rufty tufty bloke who could cope with any crisis. In truth I can, but I now know my body cant. I remember I dsmissed it when years ago, when a nurse told my Wife that its the stress in your mid-life that will kill you when you're older. Now I know what she meant.

Good luck with all your treatments. You are not alone.
 
Carol M said:
I'll be thinking of you on the 22nd Ronkers. I'm sure they'll sort you out.
I'm convinced my heart problem is somehow stomach related.
Stupid thing.

No it's not stupid - I was told that as food needs to be digested, more blood has to go to the stomach for this process.
Probably an over simplification to a non medic but I got the gist !
I do know that when I get my problems it's after eating :D

We're falling apart!
 
ronk said:
I do know that when I get my problems it's after eating :D

I was the same. It took about 10 hours after eating fir the pain to start, but only certain things. Fish was one of them !

Keep a food diary and give the FODMAPS diet a try. There's an App for the Ipad and it gives you a red,amber, green system for all foods. PM me if you wish.

Seems to be working for me !
 
I will look at that !
There is definitely a problem with the triggers in my heart to be sorted but I do see a reaction after pastry.

I should say that I kept a quite detailed diary of food/drink along with activities but there seemed no links.
 
Carol M said:
How apt is this thread for me at the moment.
OP, wishing you my best and hope you get sorted soon. It's truly horrible.

This Thursday just gone my family had to dial 999 for me.
I have been having palpitations, tachycardia and ectopic beats for some months now and had all the tests and they came back ok. It was decided it was vagus nerve (google it) problems and it was a get-on-with-it attitude from the doctor.
I was out having lunch with my husband and son and daughter in law on Thursday and had been feeling under the weather for a few days so thought that was why I couldn't finish my food. I started feeling really unwell and then, as if someone had pressed a button, my heart started racing and thumping really, really hard and fast and I just sort of felt myself shutting down. They called for the ambulance and they arrived as it started passing. Long story short, I have been put back on beta blockers and referred to another specialist to get to the bottom of why my heart keeps doing its weirdness.
It really is very scary and stressful.
I can't remember the last day I haven't had loads of palpitations, tachycardia etc and I just want them to get to the bottom of it.
Luckily I know my heart is strong and ok from the tests I had but there is something else affecting it and causing it to play up.

It's not nice to read everyone's stories on this thread and I wish you all the very best and that you all stay in good health.

What you just described above is typical anxiety attack.

Reduce the stress in your life -remove any external problems and try to calm down.

Not easy.
 
No, it's not anxiety. I am a really chilled person most of the time.
It's definitely a physical problem and I'm sure it's linked to my stomach and possibly this vagus nerve thing.
 
Have you had an ear infection Carol over the last year? My daughter had life changing symptoms (initially thought to be anxiety) and it turned out to be the symptoms from an ear infection that had killed off nerves to do with balance. Took a year to get to the diagnosis but it has surprising physical effects. Just a thought. . . .
 
paulgs1000 said:
Have you had an ear infection Carol over the last year? My daughter had life changing symptoms (initially thought to be anxiety) and it turned out to be the symptoms from an ear infection that had killed off nerves to do with balance. Took a year to get to the diagnosis but it has surprising physical effects. Just a thought. . . .

No, I haven't. I was found to have a stomach infection (helicobacter pylori) which got treated a few months ago.
Who would think an ear infection would do that? :o
 
Carol M said:
paulgs1000 said:
Have you had an ear infection Carol over the last year? My daughter had life changing symptoms (initially thought to be anxiety) and it turned out to be the symptoms from an ear infection that had killed off nerves to do with balance. Took a year to get to the diagnosis but it has surprising physical effects. Just a thought. . . .

No, I haven't. I was found to have a stomach infection (helicobacter pylori) which got treated a few months ago.
Who would think an ear infection would do that? :o

Absolutely right Carol - many GPs don't yet recognise this issue and I was amazed as I read through the symptoms created which matched what had happened to my daughter exactly! We (including the GP) had been checking and treating lots of other possible causes without success and it took nearly a year for a nurse practitioner to suggest the cause and find the way forward. Remarkable and she is well on the way to becoming the confident, capable, sporty and strong young woman she was before this happened - as I said the symptoms were life changing and she had to come home and stop her Sports degree; she was wracked with doubt often distressed and frustrated, tired and listless yet couldn't rest (closing her eyes made her feel sick) and most of all her confidence left her. Thank goodness we found the way forward - she is due to complete the final year of her degree soon.

As this had such an impact and took a long time to get to the bottom of I thought it might be helpful to share.
 
Oh definitely. You never know who could have the same and just not know.
The poor girl, must've been so frustrating and disheartening. Right in the middle of her degree too.
Bet you could all have kissed that nurse when she sussed what it was. Thankfully she's on the mend and good luck to her!
 
Carol M said:
No, it's not anxiety. I am a really chilled person most of the time.
It's definitely a physical problem and I'm sure it's linked to my stomach and possibly this vagus nerve thing.

Thats ok but did you have any external stressors some time before.

I am saying so because i had a close relative who had the same issue when eating and ultimately it transpired it was a combination of stress (death of aclose relative) and intensive exercise that caused it.
 
shawna said:
Carol M said:
No, it's not anxiety. I am a really chilled person most of the time.
It's definitely a physical problem and I'm sure it's linked to my stomach and possibly this vagus nerve thing.

Thats ok but did you have any external stressors some time before.

I am saying so because i had a close relative who had the same issue when eating and ultimately it transpired it was a combination of stress (death of aclose relative) and intensive exercise that caused it.

Well I can honestly say it's not 'intensive' excercise :lol:

I've had the usual stresses that life throws at you but nothing unusual that has affected me in that way. Don't think so anyway. Of course, as you say you never know but I really don't think its that.

Good points tho and I think I should have a holiday just in case :wink:
Just need to convince Mr M.
 
And keep checking that helicobacter as that is associated with the cause for stomach cancers.
 
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