Chest pressure......

[babygrant]

I've posted here about having heart palpitations. I increased my magnesium intake in the form of natural calm (because we have a huge bottle).

I had the exact same thing happening to me after I had surgery back in late May. I was taking a percoset every four hours around the clock for four days. All of the sudden I would get pressure in my chest, I would be dripping with sweat, and have a hard time breathing (it felt like there was a brick sitting on my chest). DH would have to sit with me for the next hour until I felt better. I hadn't ate for days at this point, so I doubt it was a food reaction. I'm thinking it was an anxiety attack?

Since my surgery I've packed on almost 30 pounds. No matter what I ate, how much exercise I did, I gained and gained. I started having heart palpitations again and it really scared me. Doctor couldn't figure out anything at my check up, and checked my thyroid and it's still ok. CBC was ok.

I started low carbing trying to lose weight a couple of days ago. Within a day or two I started having heart palpitations again, I feel like I have a brick sitting on my chest, it feels like I have a little bit of trouble getting air in, get super super sweaty and then freezing all of the sudden. This all makes me panic a bit and I have to really work at calming myself down. I've pretty much went back to my regular way of eating because I wasn't sure if it was the low carb diet was doing it to me. Been back eating a higher amount of cabrs for a couple days now and it's still happening.

I booked another appointment with my doc but I won't get in for 5 weeks. I'm taking a multivitamin, B complex, fish oils, vitamin C, and magnesium to bowel tolerance.

Does this sound like an anxiety attack? Food reaction? Anything else?

[artemis80]

It sounds like anxiety to me. I know you have a lot going on! When I was having bad heart palpitations (PVCs every other beat for hours) my doctor had me do deep breathing for 30 minutes twice a day. It sounds very simple, but after about a week, it really helped. After a couple of weeks, I cut down to one time a day, and now I only do it for a few minutes at a time when I'm starting to feel anxious.

I also did start taking a beta blocker, which helps with the physical symptoms of anxiety (especially heart palpitations). Not a super natural treatment, but if you are really miserable and other things aren't working, it might give you some relief. And you don't have to take it forever.

[leafwood]

i have struggled with anxiety and it is very difficult. i would advise a cardio work-up just so you are sure to rule anything out. for me, it was an echo and a 24-hour halter monitor. it was enough for me to have someone else see the palpitations, assure me they were benign, and hear that my heart was structurally and funcationally fine. that gave me the confidence to assure myself that any physical symptom was the byproduct of anxiety.

one question though, do your symptoms get better or worse with activity? for me, the drs were always reassured b/c my symptoms would improve when i got up and walked around. but, after ds when i had hyperthyroid my symptoms got worse with activity and there was a medical reason for that after all.

also, related to diet....MSG was a huge factor for me. check out www.truthinlabeling.com for a list of all the hidden names for MSG and i be you will be suprised at how much one can consume unknowingly. once i eliminated MSG, caffeine and alcohol (never really drank much anyway) it was a big change. i was able to exercise regularly, practice deep breathing, etc.

the book "From Panic to Power" by Lucinda Bassett was also great. it may be a little hokey, but it was something that got me through a really dark time in my life.

finally, for me sleep and hydration play a huge role. i only drink water now. i know to trust my body when it says to slow down.

hope this is helpful. i am certian you are just fine, but for me the cardio tests were very reassuring.