So, recently, I've been having some trouble sleeping. It's like I'm afraid to fall asleep for fear of waking in panic or not waking at all :( even when I'm so exhausted I could sleep on the floor, I go lay down ready for bed and I just can't fall asleep. I've been having more intense and frequent PAC's and I've had about two anxiety attacks in the past week. (I had been doing good, like maybe one every 2 weeks). I awoke just recently in a panic. I felt lightheaded, weak, dizzy, out of breath, and like my heart was struggling to beat and thumping hard. I feel just helpless. I tried breathing exercises and drinking cold water and that seemed to help but now I am worried, because all of a sudden my PAC's are more intense and happening more frequently and I' m also having trouble sleeping. Wondering if I should make a trio to my general physician. I was feeling fine before, until I started having trouble sleeping. It's so exhausting being an excessive worrier. And I can't help it either. All I think about is being a mom to my son. I don't want anything to happen to me for sake of Cameron. I don't want him to be without a mommy and i don't know why I have to experience all of this at such a young age. I am trying SO hard to overcome and adapt to this without medications and ibolan to keep it that way. If anybody has any suggestions or input or any positive thoughts at all, please help! I just need to talk :(

So about two weeks ago I got the diagnosis of my heart monitor. I had a 'few' ectopic or abnormal premature atrial beats. She said they were benign and everything looked normal. What a relief right?

Nope!! Just a few days ago I started getting intense PACs. I hadn't felt any at all in weeks! And now they are constant, like 2 or 3 an hour. And its really feeding my anxiety. It's like I can feel them coming and I've actually been having tightness in my chest and nausea that follow! I've also had a pounding heartbeat for the past few days which makes me feel sick as well.

Just when I thought I was getting better and consciously learning to deal with the problem, it gets worse! I'm having trouble sleeping again, I'm going to try a lorazepam tonight and see if that relaxes me enough to get at least a few hours of shut eye.

I know I shouldn't be as worried as I am since PACs aren't normally dangerous, but I'm terribly frightened that all these years of my heart beating extras or skipping and what not, that if later on down the road it will lead to an actual heart problem or worse :( what if my heart just wears out? I'm a healthy 21 year old and living in fear of having a heart attack or just dropping dead from heart failure or something. I want to enjoy the time I have with my son and I just live in constant fear and worry. What in the world can I do??

If God made these things liveable, why do I feel like I just can't? I need some help :( please!

After seeing a new cardiologist, one who actually helped, I have been informed that I have a slight arrhythmia. The arrhythmia is definitely what's been causing my anxiety. When I can feel the irregular beats (a few times a day) I go into a panic.

Before I knew what it was, the panics would last for several minutes and would cause me to freak out and have a full blown panic attack. It was happening at least once a day. It caused loss of appetite and weight loss, dehydration, nausea, light headed-ness, dizziness, and in turn made my heart race faster and palpitations stronger. I felt like I was going to just pass out and never awake every single day.

After about 5 months of not knowing ANYTHING I finally get some answers. I'm also attending medical school right now so I do know that what I've been experiencing isn't normal, but it's not life threatening. Now that I know what is going on, when it happens I'm not frightened as much. I still get nervous and have a small panic, but nothing that disrupts my being. I worry still about what this could turn out to be in the future, but until then I am living my life to the fullest. I feel so much better now and I've regained my appetite, gained 3 pounds back, don't feel so weak or sick or sad anymore, and I'm able to enjoy the little things with my son that I should be enjoying.

On the other hand, this could be temporary. After seeing the doctor for about an hour she was able to diagnose the arrhythmia. I wore a heart monitor called a 'zio' for two weeks and sent it in on last Thursday. After it's evaluated and my doctor looks over it, I will get the final results. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for absolutely normal and nothing bad. But I did experience quite a few abnormal heart beats/rates while I was wearing it. So hopefully there will be an explanation. My blood pressure is usually borderline low, so I think that also has a lot to do with the way my heart beats.

Either way, I'm on the right track to getting my life back in order and being able to enjoy my family, friends, school, and work. I'm feeling a whole heck of a lot better and I'm so glad I had the energy, courage, and strength to get through this. I thank God every day that I'm blessed with such an amazing, loving family and people who care about me and remind me that it's going to be ok. I WILL overcome this until it is ALL GONE!

Ugh!!! So I've had about four attacks today. Two in a row earlier and one just a second ago. I'm breathing through it as I write. I think I'm dehydrated and don't know if I should go to the hospital or not. I'm a petite person and don't have much to lose. I haven't eaten all day since yesterday afternoon and only able to take small sips of water. Even though I've only had a few sips I've been to the restroom at least ten times. I can't muster up the energy to get up. I feel weak and when I do get up to get my son out of another thing he got into, I feel lightheaded and hot. Even though I'm sipping water every now and then my mouth is dry too. My heart is beating rapidly and fast even though I'm just sitting on the couch trying to stay calm. What can I do instead of going to the hospital for them to tell me nothing is wrong!!!

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