Wow. I cannot even explain how it feels to see that I am not alone in this. I feel completely abandoned by family. If any of them knew what this feels like, they would not be able to handle it either. I am a healthy 31 year old female. I had been relatively active until about 2 months ago when my heart started beating erratically. Several years ago I had two bouts of atrial fibrilation (both brought on by vomiting and extreme dehydration) These episodes definitely left me very scared and constantly worried about my health. But I had been pretty successful in trying to just live a normal life. Until now. I am SO scared. No one else is, only me. I cannot even explain what my heart feels like almost ALL day. It just beats all over, like there is no rhythm. It often goes over 140 bpm. I had a lot of tests done and apparently my heart is healthy! How can it be? I am currently wearing an event monitor and the dr.s office just called to let me know "they see what my heart is doing...several missed beats, but not a concern" HOW CAN THIS NOT BE A CONCERN??? I am dizzy, short of breath, weak... I feel like I cannot go on with this anymore. I was fine just a few weeks ago. I know anxiety is somehow related, but I am not any more anxious than I ever was. I was at work one day, and things were quiet, so I did some relaxation with music. I felt great... the heart was beating normal. Then the phone rang, and BOOM heart was going out of control. I am sorry this is so long. But I am so scared and I feel so alone. No one takes me seriously. I have almost called 911 at least 3 times, just today. I cannot handle this. If there is someone out there who has been dealing with this, who can shed some light or support I would so greatly appreciate it. I am at my wits end.  :'(  Also, just a side note... Sometimes it feels like this is related to my stomach, and sometimes it feels related to my inner ear. I just cannot even properly explain how horrible I have been feeling. I went from feeling healthy to feeling like a weak 90 year old in only about 2 months.

Martin, Thank you SO much for the thoughtful reply. I am very health conscious, I don't smoke, or drink... ( though maybe I should start!!) I don't touch caffeine. I eat pretty healthy. BUT I am extremely anxious by nature, and I am going through a pretty difficult time right now personally.    I am very overwhelmed with my life. So, you are saying that these insane heart beats can totally be caused by stress in my life? I am definitely not a newbie to anxiety, just this symptoms is different from anything I have ever had. I know there is a relationship between these and anxiety because when I am relaxing I can often get them to stop. I KNOW I cannot possibly be having a heart attack, I have low cholesterol and am for the most part, fit. BUT, I do feel like the electrical system in my heart is off, and I do worry that one day it will just stop. Does that make sense? But you are saying that is not how it works right? Looking through these posts, it is interesting how most of us seem to have been prone to anxiety our entire lives. So, I really do get it is anxiety related. But where does the expression "scared to death" come from? Thank you again for taking the time to respond to my post.

Okay, welcome to the forum and I've read your posting and concerns.

Firstly, it's important to be reassured that regardless of the variation from normal sensations that you are experiencing, the presence of such symptoms often occur in the presence of an entirely normal heart. Always remember that contrary to beliefs, physical symptoms are not a direct association with physical disease.

The manifestation of palpitation events most often arises subsequent to, or during, some type of life-altering event ranging from loss of a loved one, divorce, financial difficulties, and similar circumstances. It is also true that serious acute illness can subsequently produce health anxiety if symptoms arise from the anxiety which are mistakenly associated with the prior physical malady. The remainder of the symptoms you describe are highly consistent with the somatic features of significant anxiety. Realize that anxiety can extend well beyond mere situational anxiety to the level that it produces a type of fear that something serious may be occurring and yet remains undetected despite all attempts to elicit a diagnosis through clinical testing.

When anxiety reaches this level, it characteristically produces physiological changes that are universally misinterpreted as physical symptoms of an underlying disease. The constant apprehension and fear of serious illness only serves to increase the level of anxiety and symptoms become even more florid. The cyclic nature of such an exchange is what produces the chronicity in most patients and causes them to become highly vigilant in trying to find an underlying physical cause that actually does not exist.

You're going to be just fine. Always know that clinical diagnostic tests seek out markers that we, as physicians, are specifically looking for to either confirm or rule out the presence of any type of underlying problem. The fact that all of your tests were negative is unswerving evidence that the presence of such problematic features are absent.

It's also important to consider that GI difficulties in the way of acute or chronic indigestion, bloating and bowel habit changes can all produce the type of characteristic inflammation necessary to induce palpitation events. This is possible because the vagus nerve innervates the GI tract as the pneumogastric nerve. If present, a reduction in GI symptoms will result in a commensurate reduction in the palpitation events.

Again, you're going to be just fine and you are in no danger whatsoever. Spend time with the members here. Most have been on the forum for some time now and constitute an excellent resource for support and reassurance.

Best regards,

Rutheford Rane, MD (ret.)

Hi Heidi, first of all I'm really sorry to read about how you've been feeling. I would love to talk to you some more in depth about your situation, If you're interested feel free to contact me llie0981@hotmail.com. =) Hope things get better for ya!

oh. interesting, did not know that rule. Was just curious how you knew my name

oh. haha. my bad... I try to be all inconspicuous. Oh well, at least you are not a stalker.

Are you getting my msgs? Just checking to see if I'm doing it right?

Are you sure? I've sent like 5! lol. Look up in the left top corner or in your profile for something that says you have new messages... or you'll have to email me if that don't work?