Okay, you're going to have to use more sound logic and self-assurance when accepting information from lay persons about your condition. What this woman is describing is worlds apart from benign palpitations such as those you are experiencing. This person has an actual heart defect that I'll have to tell more accurately was not likely to have been misdiagnosed and carries with it a host of predisposing symptoms and diagnostic criteria that all must be present for the circumstances to be what they are in her particular case. She was only capable of describing her situation in layman terms and it doesn't take much for the person with anxiety to immediately make the leap to a direct comparison. You also must remember that very often, people who find themselves afflicted with such a difficult situation regrettably misrepresent their history and send others scurrying for help because they are quite angry inside that they have a condition that is sometimes lifelong and irreversible. Bitterness is not uncommon and blame is often misdirected. It's just human nature.

Your heart is not going to stop because of benign palpitations. You are going to have to read for comprehension when I discuss the issue here as I have previously. I'm not stating this in a tone to infer that I'm upset with you in any way, but you must pause and take careful note of what I'm saying here. Otherwise, you're doomed to continue repeating the error in perception again and again.

The type of rhythym disturbance you are encountering originates from outside the heart, via the Vagus nerve. Unlike persons with actual heart problems where the palpitations are a consequence of pathology, yours is merely an unintentional electrical impulse that is causing the heart to respond. Outside the realm of anxiety disorder and stress-related circumstances, it is an entirely normal event. I have described it many times using the examples quoted by normal and healthy people who have been suddenly frightened or startled.

Why do you think it is that people exclaim "My God, that made my heart skip a beat!" or "I nearly passed out!" or "It made me weak in the knees!" or "I was trying to scream, but I couldn't!" and so on and so on. These are all examples of the Vagus nerve working in concert with the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. In the case of persons with anxiety, the nervous system is under stress and irregular events occur which are felt as physical symptoms. This is happening in the absence of an event which the affected person can associate with the consequence and therefore, their fear suddenly takes control with no regulation about the possible causes.

So it's critical for you to understand that there is nothing actually wrong with your heart. Just because the symptom is associated with the heart, does not mean that your heart is damaged in any way whatsoever. This is your situation and it will never change. It will never cause you any harm. Your case is not something special or unique or hidden or even misdiagnosed. It's simple benign palpitations that are occurring due to anxiety disorder. Nothing more.

As I've told others, your circumstances cannot change based upon what someone describes to you. It's not possible. The only difficulty you're having is the inability to control your fears and a substantial lack of self-assurance.

Take a deep breath and relax. You've got a long life to live. Don't waste it thinking something may go wrong.

Best regards and Good Health

thanks rlr and saab
Not at all offended by straight-talking, rlr! I am happy to hear what you have to say.
Actually I have today spoken to two really good friends who suggest the same as you that first she might not quite have her head round the complexities of what is wrong with her and got some facts wrong, and second that she is probably angry and on a crusade about it, without thinking that she might actually worry others.
Feeling a bit better today about it but still need to calm down more about it.
thanks to you both