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Heart Palpitations Forum >> Symptoms and other concerns >> So sorry to bother you again
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Message started by scaredycat on Sep 5^th, 2008, 3:35am

Title: So sorry to bother you again
Post by scaredycat on Sep 5^th, 2008, 3:35am

I wrote a post a few weeks back about my palps and you really reasured me, for a while until this week. Ive been taking Apple Cider Vinegar for palps which has really helped. I still had them but very very faint. They now seem to have come back with a vengance. This morning whilst still in bed, i only opened my eyes and within two seconds the palps were there. I had three different types within 30 seconds, fluttering, four rapid beats and the one thump. I managed to fall back to sleep though. When i woke up again and decided to get out of bed, my feet only touched the floor and this massive thump came which felt my heart had dropped to my stomach. This then set my anxiety off making my heart race, sweaty hands and feet, jelly legs and hot flush in my body. I know these are symptoms of anxiety but i just cant cope with the palps. I have a nervous breakdown at least once a year because of them. I even spent my 21st birthday in bed with a breakdown. I stopped taking Propranolol some weeks back as i felt better off them, but ive just had to take two to calm down. I cant go on like this and feel i have no life what so ever :'( :'(

Also, can an ECG really pick up the slightest thing that may be wrong when you only wear it for a few minutes? I was told once by someone that it wouldnt. My last 24hour ECG was seven years ago and i only got the odd faint thump when wearing it, NOT all the other alarming palps. It said i had Supra Ventricular Ectopic Beats. Could my heart have changed and got worse in the seven years? I have had a few couple of minutes ECG since then which came back normal except one which a showed a tiny irregularity (doctor said maybe two odd beats in the whole time i had it on)

Title: Re: So sorry to bother you again
Post by RLR on Sep 5^th, 2008, 6:33pm

My goodness! Where in the world did you discern that apple cider vinegar is therapeutic for benign palpitations? Listen, if you're of the opinion that any benefit is being experienced, I must tell you that it exists in the form of a placebo effect. Vinegar salts and similar weak acids have absolutely no correlation to the onset of benign palpitations.

A change in characterization of the palpitations does not constitute a new symptom or evidence that your health status has changed. It is irrational fear that something dreadful may happen that serves to drive symptoms to an ever-higher level of intensity and/or variability.

There's no reason for you to allow the presence of the symptoms to diminish your lifestyle in any manner. No physical harm can come to you as a consequence of the palpitations. You must realize that medical facts cannot be distorted to the extent that they somehow become probable in your case. I realize that the events frighten you, but this is the juncture at which you must exert influence. There is no true reason to be scared of the consequences because the palpitations are incapable of causing any type of cardiac event. This is true regardless of whether you feel your instance may somehow represent unique or otherwise special circumstances.

Never rely upon what someone told you as in the case of the ECG. Obtain medical facts from your doctors and do not permit speculation to take you on a runaway train with fear and uncertainty. Lastly, realize that the human body functions normally, not perfectly. If you develop unrealistic expecations about physiological functions that there must be an absolute intolerance for variation, then you're quickly establishing the framework to experience an emotional break at some point.

My suggestion is to be certain that all that vinegar hasn't presented you with some GI difficulty. Other than that, I would take a reasonable approach to obtaining professional counseling in order to gain insight into the underlying issues which induce the anxiety and associated physical symptoms.

You'll be just fine.

Best regards and Good Health

Title: Re: So sorry to bother you again
Post by scaredycat on Sep 6^th, 2008, 8:28am

Ive heard a lot of people on different forum saying about the Vinegar being good, also honey in warm water. The list was endless of alternative medicines.

My doctors surgery has six GP's and you can basically pick and choose who you would like to see, i remeber now that it was one of the doctors there who told me about the ECG not picking up everything.

I have had councelling and have seen two Psychiatrists. Ive begged them to refer me for CBT but they think im fine. My anxiety is only present due to the palps. I would be fine if i didnt have them or at least come to terms with them.

Thank you anyway RLR, your help is so much appreciated and always calms me down...... for a week or two anyway! ;D

Title: Re: So sorry to bother you again
Post by RLR on Sep 7^th, 2008, 10:12am

Okay, well realize that all these various remedies are based upon cause-and-effect thinking. In other words, if a person rationalizes that vinegar will soothe their palpitations and after taking it, the palpitations happen to coincidentally subside, then it's firmly believed that the vinegar demonstrated a positive benefit. The same holds true for honey in warm water and a host of other potions.

Understand that in order for an actual determination to be made regarding the effectiveness of any compound, tests must be conducted under the most rigorous controls and take into account any confounds that may skew the results. People who "claim" or "swear" by home remedies are merely using subjective reasoning and the only benefits likely to be experienced are those associated with the placebo effect.

The actual cause of the palpitations cannot be influenced by things like vinegar or honey. The body simply does not function in such a manner as to respond to the characteristics associated in these products. The cause is induced by anxiety disorder that elevates the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system, resulting in unintentional neurotransmission through the vagus nerve to the heart. Realize that this signal also extends to other areas innervated by the vagus nerve, but because the heart is such an active muscle and organ, the signals are felt as some type of variation in the regularity of rhythm.

Again, you're going to be fine and there is nothing wrong with your heart. You are also not suffering from any type of heart disease or condition for which the palpitations would represent a symptom of such an underlying cause.

This is the juncture where you must focus your attention and begin separating yourself from subjective thinking and relying upon what you suspect may be wrong, rather than the actual circumstances. It is the anxiety which is producing the symptoms and your relevant concerns. It is known as anxiety disorder with somatic features and it's extremely common as you can see by the number of persons visiting and joining the forum. It's also very treatable.

Best regards and Good Health