@kirbymaree Perfectly understandable to be in dread. I can only answer for me...I know me best. This guy, me, I hate operating from a position of no knowledge or poor understanding. I gotta know! So, despite having to read or watch videos explaining what all the bad stuff might be ahead, I have to begin chewing on possible alternative treatments or strategies. I can't do that honestly without knowing more than I understand at the moment, so I begin the laborious process, sometimes going down rabbit holes until the wee hours. Eventually, I can call it a day and fall asleep letting my mind mull over what I now understand.

I commend this orientation to your own health because it tends to be productive and it tends to keep you in the realm of power or potency. You get to question knowledgeably, not argue, but to ask why this and not that? If it must be this, you will at least have learned ahead of time that it might be the alternative your health provider wants to try first.

I developed atrial fibrillation (AF) near the tail end of a 10 km maintenance run. I lost steam suddenly, legs went heavy, and I began breathing much harder than I should have been. I sat on a curb, tried to let my heart calm, but I ended up in the local ER and soon learned I had a new diagnosis of paroxysmal AF. Paroxysmal means it comes and goes on its own, you don't need medical intervention, at least not in an ER. In your case, it might be AF, or it might just be PACs (premature atrial complexes, often a precursor to AF...you'll develop AF in time often, not certainly, but often you do go on to AF.

Whatever it is, shouldn't you know for your own sake? And wouldn't you like to know you have a specialist looking after you, who knows of you and your condition, and who offers you a way ahead....something to build optimism instead of dread?

@kirbymaree
Everyone who has this heart fluttering condition (I don’t make ‘ light’ of it, as I had it in my early 20’s, periodically, everyone must know at least a bit about general EXTRASYSTOLES.
Not a doctor, I think of them as rogue heartbeats. The “skip” is the beat AFTER the prior actual premature beat that expels less blood, necessitating the subsequent “beat” to pump out extra blood which is what one feels. But ask your physician; that was only how it basically was explained to me. So how does that help you? Yes. Your heart skips a beat and it’s scary!! Why? Because something going awry with it, we may associate with instant death! So we worry and likely make it worse. I’ve experienced a bad stomach cramp now and then, but never felt it might be a presage (harbinger) of impending death. And I too have been in the ER, monitored, oxygen, tachycardia.
Anyway, after I read about extrasystoles and had time to calmly consider what I’d read, it started my progress toward not fearing these errant beats. Still took time, Xanax and medical reassurance, but anything that helps, right? They gradually went away as my understanding of mind can really $&#% with those nerve transmitters. In hindsight, there were triggers: just married, brand new job, mother’s passing; eventual GAD diagnosis.

Consider Googling (w/o the quotes; and note WELL the spelling):

“cardiosecur.com extrasystoles”

If interested.
T
🛜

@kirbymaree
Don't want to discard your symptoms as not a medical doctors. But I have had heart failure and LBBB since 20001. I have a lot of PVCs, PACs, flutters. My HF and EP doctors say all from time to time will have them. It is how often and what bearing it has on hour heart function.

It is normal to feel afraid when this happens. All my doctors have told me when you experience stress and anxiety it can also trigger more PVCs. PACs, flutters, etc.

Are you seeing a cardiologist? You do mentioned your age or other medical conditions along with your stress and anxiety levels in your life. All these play a role in your heart functin and why medical professionals should be guiding you on if your symptoms are serious and need treatment.

When I am under stress or anxiety I will fell my PVCs increase and more and more several at a time. For me I know to calm down, do things to help me relax. I found many ways to reduce my stress and anxiety from my own life style changes and what my doctors advise me.

But I am also on medications that have really helped reduce my PVCs, and PACs drastically. That helps my stress and anxiety which in turns also helps reduce the PVCs and PACs.