Question: Hi there
Just wondering if I should be concerned about my heart.
I've been wearing a heart rate tracking device for awhile now, which I think is causing me anxiety because I keep checking it. My resting heart rate is on average around 60 bpm when I'm sitting. Around 50-65 when I'm sleeping, and when I'm doing chores around the house between 70-100. When I exercise it will go up to 150-180. But I'm not an athlete, I just try to get 15 minutes in of some HIIT style exercises each day, maybe 3-4 times a week.
I was sick with pneumonia in late December, and the medicine I was put on (clarothromycin 500mg), didn't agree with me, gave me heart palpitations etc, so they gave me doxycycline 50mg. I pretty much had panic attacks causing my heart rate to go down to 37 and up to 170 just sitting, whilst on clarothromycin, and i was spacing out. The GP sent me to a cardiologist just to give me some validation that it was anxiety and not a heart problem. The 48hour ecg turned out ok, and the Cardiologist gave me an all clear saying my heart was normal and healthy.
I saw a GP in the last month or two because I just had this general feeling of not feeling right. I questioned why my resting heart rate was low because I know I am not fit. Maybe I had a thyroid problem, or was anemic, so blood tests were run, and they all turned out quite normal. The doctor said possible anxiety causing me to feel unwell.
Current symptoms I'm feeling - in the past few days, I've been feeling slight chest twitches in the left and right side - nothing major, and I wouldn't call it pain because it's not that painful.
But today I was walking in the supermarket and I look down at my Fitbit, and it was at 62bpm - I was walking very slowly, but still.. that's pretty low for walking? It did go up to 75 once I noticed, and hovered around 88 when I walked home wiht my groceries.
For some reason I cannot shake the feeling that there is something wrong with me, and it's causing me anxiety... or the anxiety is causing me to feel not quite right.
I have two kids - 4.5 yo and a 2.5 yo. I stopped breastfeeding the 2.5 yo in December when he turned 2. Could my body still be adjusting to not breastfeeding? I was either pregnant or breastfeeding for almost five years, and I'm wondering if my body is just trying to figure out what is normal again.
The hearth twitching I am worried I am going to have a heart attack and not know it. It happens maybe once every few hours. Usually during a stressful moment caused by kids.
Sorry for the lengthy message.

Thank you for your response Dr. Iliri, really appreciate this as it eases my worries.
I think I will have a chat with the GP here and ask to do the blood test for Lyme disease just to make sure it's not that. We have a dog here in Costa Rica who does love mingling with other street dogs. :)
I'll also increase my exercising - I feel like every moment I have to myself without the kids, I like to just relax, but really I should be exercising instead... because I find myself googling symptoms instead :|
I did have a post pneumonia xray start of March to make sure the lungs were all clear and they were all ok - so I have all this data in front of me telling me I'm ok, but I'm not feeling it. One thing the technician pointed out was that I have a slight scoliosis of the spine, which doesn't seem to trouble me at all.
Is the low heart rate and the chest twitch/pains something I should be concerned with? Is it possibly heartburn? Can I take something like an antacid for it safely?

Thank you again :)

oh the only reason why I ask about the low heart rate is because occassionally my hands and feet feel cold.. and Costa Rica is a warm country... so I'm wondering if the low heart rate is not getting my blood to circulate throughout my body correctly.

Thanks Dr. Iliri :)

exercised and feel 500% better.

Thanks Dr. Iliri.

I'm going to just start a diary of my symptoms to see how I go - I will possibly message you later to see what you think.

I'm probably overcome with weird feelings because my menstrual cycle is coming in the next day or so. But this anxiety I feel .. I don't want it to get the better of me.

I've just bought some B Complex vitamins and Vitamin C to help with my blood circulation.

Thank you again.

Hi Dr.Iliri :)

Hope you've had a great weekend. Below is my diary of the last few days of my symptoms.

My questions in relations to my symptoms:

1. Do my symptoms sound like anxiety or something more serious? I'm going to see my GP this week to ask about the lyme disease blood test.

2. My heart rate went down to 45bpm whilst I was sleeping, and 50-60 when I was awake lying in bed. Do I need to see a doctor about bradycardia? Is it possible that low heart rate is just hereditary? I went back through my fitbit data and realised that my resting heart rate has always been around 55-65.

3. My last checkup with the GP said my blood pressure was normal. Would the normal blood pressure mean that my blood circulation is normal and I shouldn't so anxious about my blood circulation? (I am worried my feet will turn blue and fall off or my arteries are clogged!!!)

I am really just hoping that all these weird symptoms kind of relate to me having my periods or hormonal imbalance... so I can stop worrying that I am going to have a heart attack or stroke.

********
24/5 hungry again.. always after dinner. little chest pains throughout day. but exercised today.

25/5 cold feet after getting up in the morning, and cold tingly feet an hour after exercising.So had a hot shower to warm them. Felt lightheaded just before dinner time and just unwell feeling.. borderline nausea.. maybe periods are coming. I woke myself up in my sleep like I forgot to breathe or something. Sleep apnea?

26/5 chest pain in the morning, cold feet. Felt like someone was sitting on my chest but I was sitting in an awkward position. No pain when breathing in. Feeling constipated but manage to go ok.
possibly shallow breathing because I’m thinking too much about symptoms and stressing myself out. No exercise today as kids were sick.

27/5 periods finally arrive and my resting heart rate goes up to 70-80-90 whilst sitting. is this a good thing? Trying to relax to bring it back down. Feel light headed and tingly hands and feet but may just be extra sensitive. Slight chest pain. Cramps. I think i sit too much - i only seem to experience symptoms when i’m sitting. Left arm feels like numb but not painful or pins and needles - ulnar nerve problem from sleeping on my arm? took off my fitbit just it case it was the cause of cutting off circulation. Don’t have cold hands.
The little chest pains every so often but not painful.
Exercised with the kids.
Feels like i have to take deep breaths every so often lately because I’m not getting enough oxygen... only when I think about it.
Noticed my heart rate dropped whilst having dinner to 65. Hot chamomile tea warms my body and my feet feel warm again. With my periods, does this affect the blood circulating to the rest of my body? I’m wondering if I’m getting enough oxygen?

********

Thank you Dr. Iliri :)

I will try to relax more and try not to worry.

I have a feeling that after my periods are finished, my symptoms and anxiety will disappear again.. for a month and then start all over again :)

I think that's why I needed to start a diary of my symptoms because I forget that my symptoms tend to repeat each month.

Thank you for answering my at times, silly questions.. it reassures me when I get a response from you.