Antonia
10-11-10, 19:14
Hi Everyone,
I am very glad to have found this forum. I thought I would share my story as I know many can relate. I have had irregular heartbeats for 10 years. It started when I was 23. I was at work on my way to break and I noticed that my heart was beating abnormally. It totally freaked me out. I somehow got to the ER where they ran tests and I was told that I was experiencing something normal and harmless, and that I should not let it worry me. However, these sensations progressed in the following weeks. I was paralyzed with fear. I couldn't go to work. I couldn't even leave the house. I was so terrified that I was going to have this awful sensation and that it meant my heart was diseased. It was hell. My Dr. perscribed Paxil and Clonazepam for my anxiety. Somehow I was able to claw my way back to life. During that time I had an Echocardiogram, ECGs, a Holter Monitor, an Event Monitor and lots of blood work. The verdict was that I had ectopic beats which are harmless and very common in the human population. In those 10 years I have had ups and downs with these ectopics. There have been times were I rarely get them or even think about them, but there were other times where they effected every part of my life. Somedays I couldn't go to work. I became afraid of social situations. And, of course, it effected my husband's life as well because at times I was a basketcase. He has been very patient. Now, as I write this, I have my ectopics worse than I have ever had them. They have been plaguing me since September. Again, I have been unable to go to work. These ectopics rule my whole life although I know they will not kill me. It still scares me deeply because they have never been this bad. Sometimes a get a few in an hour. Sometimes they wake me up. Other days I have had 1 sensation. I can find no pattern to them at all. My Dr. is doing tests to be sure everything is ok. I feel completely hopeless, frustrated and frightened. Why, when I've been told countless times that they are harmless, do they still terrify and control me. I have been told that anxiety is making them worse. I am anxious because I have irregular heartbeats so it's hard to calm about that! I am now taking Celexa and Clonazepam for my anxiety, and Atenolol, a beta blocker. I am going to start seeing a psychologist next week to help get a grasp on things, and I am going to see a hypnotherapist the week after to see if she can train my subconscious not to be fearful of these sensations. I am trying to be proactive so I am going to try what I can. Sorry this has been so long and rambling but I want to share with others that I know what the fear feels like. I'm in the trenches with you. Sometimes sharing can be a great weapon. Thanks for reading. Take care, Antonia.
I am very glad to have found this forum. I thought I would share my story as I know many can relate. I have had irregular heartbeats for 10 years. It started when I was 23. I was at work on my way to break and I noticed that my heart was beating abnormally. It totally freaked me out. I somehow got to the ER where they ran tests and I was told that I was experiencing something normal and harmless, and that I should not let it worry me. However, these sensations progressed in the following weeks. I was paralyzed with fear. I couldn't go to work. I couldn't even leave the house. I was so terrified that I was going to have this awful sensation and that it meant my heart was diseased. It was hell. My Dr. perscribed Paxil and Clonazepam for my anxiety. Somehow I was able to claw my way back to life. During that time I had an Echocardiogram, ECGs, a Holter Monitor, an Event Monitor and lots of blood work. The verdict was that I had ectopic beats which are harmless and very common in the human population. In those 10 years I have had ups and downs with these ectopics. There have been times were I rarely get them or even think about them, but there were other times where they effected every part of my life. Somedays I couldn't go to work. I became afraid of social situations. And, of course, it effected my husband's life as well because at times I was a basketcase. He has been very patient. Now, as I write this, I have my ectopics worse than I have ever had them. They have been plaguing me since September. Again, I have been unable to go to work. These ectopics rule my whole life although I know they will not kill me. It still scares me deeply because they have never been this bad. Sometimes a get a few in an hour. Sometimes they wake me up. Other days I have had 1 sensation. I can find no pattern to them at all. My Dr. is doing tests to be sure everything is ok. I feel completely hopeless, frustrated and frightened. Why, when I've been told countless times that they are harmless, do they still terrify and control me. I have been told that anxiety is making them worse. I am anxious because I have irregular heartbeats so it's hard to calm about that! I am now taking Celexa and Clonazepam for my anxiety, and Atenolol, a beta blocker. I am going to start seeing a psychologist next week to help get a grasp on things, and I am going to see a hypnotherapist the week after to see if she can train my subconscious not to be fearful of these sensations. I am trying to be proactive so I am going to try what I can. Sorry this has been so long and rambling but I want to share with others that I know what the fear feels like. I'm in the trenches with you. Sometimes sharing can be a great weapon. Thanks for reading. Take care, Antonia.