panic attacks and heart thumping Posted: 01-04-08 20:34pm
So recently I had a panic episode. Often
times when I lay down at night on the
couch to watch a little TV or right before
I fall asleep at night, just minding my
own business and then I get a heart Thump!
(up to 3 times ina row) it feels like a
half-filled water balloon is being shaken
up. It usually happens just once, but
it's usually sufficient to freak me out!
In correlation to that I recently had a
panic episode, where my heart started
beating rapidly after drinking some
alcohol and it freaked me out... I ended
up in the ER all night because I was so
terrified of having heart problems or a
heart attack. Of course I realize now
that I have acute panic attacks from
anxiety and major stress.
I just want to know if the single heart
thump once every 2 weeks or so is normal
and ok. They've done several EKG's and
found nothing, I wore a halter and normal,
I had an Echo Cardiogram and they said
things look ok and I'm scheduled for a
treadmill in a couple of days.
I used to drink coffee like it was water
and I'm under a lot of stress starting a
new business as well as I smoke about 3/4
a pack of cigarettes a day. I have since
cut back on the coffee to one cup in the
morning, taken a week off after my panic
attack, but I'm still chuggin' on the cigs
because the doctor told me not to try and
quit just yet because I'm only going to
make things harder on myself (She said
wait until your anxiety comes down). I'm
a 25 yr old male.
Any response would be a big help for
calming my nerves!