
What Do These Lab Reports Indicate?

I also went to see my family doctor who has known me 14 years. He said that he feels this is all due to anxiety. I have suffered from anxiety for a few years now. The last few months my anxiety has been pretty bad and when the PVCs started, my anxiety became rather extreme. My doctor put me on Wellbutrin which I have been taking for 3 weeks now. This Friday my doctor is sending me for an Ankle Brachial Indices ultrasound as my legs feel like I have climbed 4 flights of stairs when only climbing one flight or doing other activities that would not normally cause a problem. He still feels it is all due to anxiety, but he said he would send me for the test to make me feel better.
I saw a cardiologist on Aug.15. He did an ultrasound of my heart and said it was normal. He also feels my symptoms are due to anxiety. He will be doing a stress test for me in September and said I have no need to regulate my activities.
I have been trying to relax, but as a naturally anxious person it can be hard. I have noticed that I am not getting as short of breath and the feeling in my legs (like I have climbed 4 flights of stairs when only climbing one flight) has been a little better. The one thing I have noticed is that the more active I am, the better my legs feel. I have also noticed my legs feel worse after a night of poor sleep. I have not had many good sleeps over the last month (probably from anxiety).
The one thing that I have noticed over the last 2 weeks is that I sometimes have an internal shaky feeling in my body, especially in my arms. I do not really shake much externally, but I feel shaky inside. It doesn't happen every day and it does not last all day when it does happen. I have not had any caffeine for the last few weeks, but when I am shaky it feels like I have had too much caffeine. I have been eating normally so I don't think it is my blood sugar. There have been a few times where I have woke up with this shaky feeling. One day when that happened, I laid back down and tried to relax and the shaky feeling went away.
I was wondering if this shaky feeling could be due to anxiety? As I said, I am trying to work on the anxiety, but I find myself still worrying about what is wrong with me and feel tense. This shaky feeling is concerning me.
I have attached some of the reports that were provided to me for the Holter monitor, blood work and chest xray.
Thank you.
Could be due to anxiety
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome.
This is Dr Sander, cardiologist.
I went through your question & will try to help you in all possible ways.
First I would tell you that your Holter report is not normal. It has episodes of bigeminy(which can be there in a normal heart) & a run of non sustained VT(which needs treatment & other evaluation).
Your cardiologist has rightly advised you for a stress echo which you should try to do as early as possible. A normal echo does not rule out a normal heart.
Anxiety & panic attacks can cause frequent VPC's(ectopic beats) but it will not cause VT.
Frequent symptomatic PVC's definitely needs treatment.
For such cases we advise to start on a beta blocker - PROPANOLOL starting from 40mg twice daily which can be increased gradually.
It will take care of both PVC's & Anxiety.
Wellbutrin is brand name for bupropione, which I don't expect will help you much. We also advise a antianxiety medication like Alpraxolam 0.25mg once daily at bed time to decrease anxiety & help in sleeping.
I will also advise you to get Vitamin D3 checked because its deficiency can result in leg cramps & easy fatigability. If it is low than taking supplement will help you greatlly.
I hope these will solve your problems & you will be fine soon.
Thanks & take care

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