General Palpitations?

[Toria]

Has anyone else experienced palpitations? I started yesterday with a sort of fluttering between my ribs - where they seem to meet in the middle. Sorry - anatomy is not my strong point, but it's just under where my bra goes!!!

It started yesterday afternoon, and carried on in to the early evening but seemed to stop when I sat down. There was nothing this morning until about an hour ago when they started again.

If I put my hand on the bit between my ribs I can feel my heart beating, which seems a little freaky! I don't feel ill with it - I feel a bit sick if I press it - but then I would guess I'm pressing somewhere in the region of my digestive system so that's probably to be expected!

I just wondered if anyone had experienced the same thing. I'm cutting down on caffeine as of today. Not sure I can realistically reduce my stress levels... :wideeyed:

 

[Nicolette]

Ah yeah - now facing surgery! :nailbiting:

It can just be stress and anxiety but I would monitor and if you feel faint, dizzy, tired it doesn't hurt to get it checked.

I would read this as a starting point http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palpitations

 

[Toria]

Thank you Nicolette - I didn't want to jump on your Chit Chat thread, but thought it sounded similar. I will see what a lack of coffee does for me today and then play it by ear. It's the oddest sensation! Not sure I like it...

 

[amethist]

I cut my coffee down by half Toria, and the difference it made was amazing.

I now have fruit tea in between, and no coffee after 6 pm.

 

[Toria]

I think I need to give that a try - I always bring 2L of water to work with me but haven't been getting around to drinking it lately. So I'm just about to sit down with a banana and my bottle of water like a good person!!!

 

[Nicolette]

Just remember that green tea, while good as an antioxidant, has reasonably high caffeine levels and the bed time hot chocolate can be unhelpful too.

From what I have experienced there is a difference between anxiety palpitations and what I'm experiencing. It is fundamental to remember that stress can do a lot of damage to your body so I support doing anything ou can do now to relax & calm yourself.

 

[Nicolette]

I just read this.....

"The potassium in bananas can help decrease your heart rate, so your physical state is calmer, but the mental effects will not change. There is really nothing you can do to change your mental anxiety unless you do things like meditation or something."

 

[SeekingSerenity]

Hey Toria,

Go get it checked out as soon as possible. It is probably just something silly like too much caffeine, but if its something more sinister, the sooner you get it sorted the better.

 

[Nicolette]

Toria what happened to me was no big deal at the time it occurred and I didn't feel unwell so I agree with SS. The first couple of times I dismissed it but knowing it wasn't too much caffeine etc it became a mild concern when it happened more frequently - but it was only erratic palpitations with an odd cough or struggle to catch a breath as it developed.

 

[Toria]

Thank you SS & Nicolette - it's been a lot better since I posted. Nothing the following day and only a mild flutter from then until now... I will go and get it looked at though - honest x

 

[amethist]

Could be a combination, of not sleeping too well, over stressed and too much coffee Toria. But getting it checked rules out all your worries.

I have a problem with my hands when the stress gets too much. They ache like mad and they thought it might have been Rheumatoid Arthritis as it runs in my family, blood test ruled it out and stress was the culprit.

 

[JustBe]

Yup. Once I got off Xanax I had to give up all caffeine. It made my heart go crazy.

I think once you get it checked out you'll feel better just to know.