I'm new to this site but it seems very helpful and it's good to know there are other people who may understand my anxieties.
Five years ago, after a heavy weekend (very late night Friday and a wedding on Sunday) I had a panic attack on a train. Whilst I haven't had a repetition of that (I had a few minor panics after that but realised I was in charge of that!) I have become acutely aware of my heartbeat. For 33 years I don't think I'd noticed it once!
Since then I have become aware of a skipping/thudding sensation in my chest at various times, almost always asssociated with drinking. After the panic attack I had various tests including the 24 hour monitor and nothing unusual showed up. When I went to the GP later over the skipped beats he said it was pretty normal to have that problem when drinking.
It seems that even the slightest drink can bring the skipped beats on. On occasions I have had just a few sips of lager or wine and I've felt them come on. This leads me to believe that I may just be bringing them on myself as I don't tend to notice them unless I think about them. However, I am quite certain that it isn't that simple.
The worst episodes have also been associated with heavy eating - four course meals with overly generous relatives and at/after weddings. The other time I might notice the odd skipped beat is early morning after my regular morning poo (apologies for the foul language!) but that could be my stomach rather than my heart.
All of these episodes settle/disappear during the night or by early morning - presumably once I've cleared all the alcohol out.
The connection with food as well as booze suggests to me that my digestive system is involved somewhere in all of this. I have read about the vagus nerve and sensitive stomachs and I have to say I do have a sensitive stomach and a very fast metabolism. IMy pulse sometimes increases (from 65 to 80bpm?) after eating and it might be that booze and excess food kick it into overdrive...?
Funnily enough, in the hours immediately after my panic attack (racing and pounding heart), I had to visit the toilet about 6 times. It wasn't simply an upset stomach - I really needed to go, if you get my drift. When I mentioned this to the doctor he said it had nothing to do with my panic attack but I am now convinced it was related.
I am 38, 168lb, average height and quite fit. Ironically, my anxieties have led to me doing less exercise over the past few years but I have resolved to do more exercise. I may feel a few skipped beats after an exerting cycle but that doesn't worry me that much - even though I hate every single skipped beat.
I have no other symptoms and (touch wood) I haven't ever had chest pain, shortness of breath, etc. If I wasn't so tuned in to my heartbeat I wouldn't know I suffered this odd problem but from time to time it does get to me!!!
I know the easy answer is to give up booze but I do enjoy a drink from time to time (I honestly don't think I'm an alcoholic) and I'm fed up with this thing praying on my mind.
I would be interested in and grateful for anyone's thoughts.