Hi everyone
I have been having a real struggle with my health anxiety about my heart which started after numerous episodes of fast heart rate at night along with palpitations. This lead to panic disorder and I have been struggling with his for 18 months now. I now have a new worry, missed beats which I absolutely hate. I had a terrible one a couple of weeks ago, I was leaning forward to get something out of my wardrobe when I felt this terrible empty feeling in my chest and then there was this horrible pause before my heart started up again. I felt a bit dizzy and was absolutely terrified that my heart was going to stop and it ended up in me having a full-blown panic attack and to make it worse my husband wasn't here and I didn't know what to do with myself. I managed to calm myself down in the end and nothing else happened but it lead to an increase in panic attacks and I am now living my life in fear of it happening again.
I had an ECG 18 months ago which was normal but I have heard that an ECG can't pick up missed beats unless they happen at the time of the ECG. I am still having terrible trouble sleeping and have been waking up boiling hot on a few occassions and with my heart pounding which is usually after I have had a stressful dreams. I have spoken to my mum about my symptoms and she said that she thinks I might be starting perimenopause (I'm 41) and that she and her two sisters both had missed beats in their 40's during the perimenopause. I have had a blood test to check my hormone levels which was normal but my doctor said that it doesn't mean I am in perimenopause because it is difficult to catch the changing hormone levels at first.
I was just wondering whether any of you guys have missed beats and whether it is possible to learn to live with it instead of freaking out and having a panic attack. I really hope they are not dangerous. It is not helping my agoraphobia because I'm scared I'm going to have one when I go out to walk my dog. I am thinking of going back to my doctor to put my mind at rest but it is difficult for me to get to the doctors because my son is poorly with M.E. and I am a carer for him.
Any help or advice on missed beats would be very much appreciated, I spend all day waiting for the next one, I just can't get it out of my mind!
hamster lady