Y, that's really scary. Get thee to a doctor, right NOW. Make sure they do a blood panel, and ask about having an echocardiogram done, too. And drink big bottles of water the whole way there. Let us know how it goes - I'll be thinking of you.

Chug the freaking agua, dude. Like drink more than you think you should have and also take note of every time this happens so that if you do have to visit a doctor in the future, you can give him or her as thorough of a history of this crap as possible.

deep. breaths. you're not gonna die, okay? You've still got too much to take care of in this life before moving on.

We love you, Y! Don't worry about insurance - just GO. You owe it to your babies to be okay.

Is there an advice nurse number on your insurance info? Definitely load up on the water asap, call the advice nurse or the emergency room and let them know what your symptoms are. I understand not wanting to rush in there, but it's no good just sitting still *hoping* it will go away. I don't advise googling your symptoms, though - that almost always turns out bad. Just call the nurse or doctor and let them know what you're feeling. If you don't get a good enough answer or an appointment set up right away, then get to the ER or clinic asap.

if you're not going to go to the doctor, i would at least cut back on the caffiene and drink more water. caffiene can make your heart race like that, and if that's all you've been drinking...

take care of yourself Y! your kids need you!

are they panic attacks Y? Or close to it?

A friend of mine has those exact same symptoms when she has panic attacks. And really, to be safe, if it is at all possible (we don't have insurance so I feel the crunch there with you) I would see a cardiologist to be sure.

My heart is with you, I hope you are okay.

Doctor. Now.

Get your thyroid checked!!!!

You've mentioned that you have panic attacks, so you're probably okay. I've had them, myself. Lately I've been waking up with my heart racing, and I have to get out of bed and stumble around and move to calm myself down. Breathe. Just remember- breathe. Don't try too hard to control them, the harder you try, the harder they get and the more dangerous. They're terrifying. Just concentrate on breathing, and if it gets worse, screw the money. Go to the hospital. You can figure out some way to pay it. Better than Tony having to figure out how to survive with the kids if you end up seriously sick.

And get to the doctor. While it's most likely nothing--you're a strong healthy woman who's only getting healthier with each pound you lose.. It's still a concern, and you still need to get checked out. Do it for your kids.

Your insurance should have some hotline that you can call to find out where you would be covered. And I believe that if it's an emergency, your insurance is required to pay even if the hospital where you recieve treatment isn't within their realm of what they wish to pay. (this may be a hippy dippy New York law, I don't know. check into it first since I don't want you to get screwed with the bill--but it's good info to know just in case)

I hate how insurance companies make it impossible to find out where you can go to get things done. I remember when I actually had insurance, it took me three months to find out where I could go to get dental work done. heh.

I agree with everyone else, you should see a doctor for a check up. Could this maybe have something to do with your recent decision to stop working? Just a thought. Dreams can really freak a person out!

Please get yourself checked Y! Please!

It is possible to have a fast heart beat that isn't related to anxiety. When that happens, try to feel your pulse and count it for a minute and see what it is. If it is 130 beats per minute or higher I would go in and check it out. Some people can have a supraventricular tachycardia that comes and goes. Good Luck.

Yup, sounds like panic attacks! I've lived with them since I was 19 (and I'm 37). And yes....please drink the water!!!! When I got myself dehydrated....I ended up having my heart skip (almost painfully) for six months until it corrected itself. Take care of yourself....you're the most important person to your kids!!!

GO GET it CHECKED! even if it is over!! please hun!! hugs!

Yvonne, go to the health net site: www.healthnet.com and sign in. You may need to have your ins. card with you at the computer. Then you can find a hospital or physician in your area. It's good to know where to go especially if one of your boys need stitches or something. Please go to a doctor to have this checked out.

Two suggestions:

1. Drink water
2. Call doctor

Timeline: NOW!

what a great country you live in to not be able to get adequate health care
it is so much more important to spend money on wars

Ah, I love comments like these.

I HAVE adequate health insurance. I'm just new to the plan and don't know which hospital I'm supposed to go to and was afraid of going to the wrong one.

Did you go? Did you?!

Oh! Look on your card and see if there's an 800 number you can call for advice. They could send you to the right place, I'm sure. *smooch*

I would say its a good old fashioned anxiety attack. They suck. They feel like you're smothering and can't get enough air, also that your heart is going to beat or flutter out of your chest.

Still see a doctor, they know best and can help out in a lot of ways. It also may be a lot more comforting.

see a doctor, i'm worried for you!

I was talking about a national health system, not individual insurance, the US is the only developed country in the world without free healthcare

If you're dehydrated, the best thing to drink is Gatorade or some type of sports drink like that. It's absorbed into your body faster and has electrolytes that you need (drinking just plain water can flush out your electrolytes). I know this because I had to go the hospital a few weeks ago because I was severely dehydrated, and they told me that's what I should have been drinking.

Also, you want to make sure you're getting enough potassium because if you're dehydrated, you're probably low....and that can make your heart beat weird. So eat some bananas or drink some V8 juice.

Good luck. I'll be sending all good thoughts your way.

Feel better, babe. :) I'll miss you today. *smoosh*

It's ok Y. Think about this darling- you've been under a TON of stress lately, and you've just had a baby. Having a child takes alot out of us women, emotionally, physically, mentally. You're so head over heels in love with that sweetheart of a baby (a real cutie if ever I saw one) that inside you're terrified to lose her. But you're not going to. You are going to be fine, and she's going to be fine. These panic attacks will go away, but until then perhaps you should find out if there's anything you can do to help you get through this.

I'm not a huge advocate of tossing pills for every ache and pain. But two years ago I was on depression medication after leaving a REALLY bad abusive relationship. My friend was on the same thing for her panic attacks. Not even a year later I was off, and I've been med-free ever since, but it really helped during that rough transitional period. There's so much more than just "Prozac" now, and you can live like normal, just with more control.

I know that feeling when you love something SO much that it seemingly highlights and underlines your own mortality. When I recently got married, I would lie awake, looking at my husband, TERRIFIED that if I feel asleep I wouldn't wake up. That this magic I had found would be gone. But you're healthy. Your boys are healthy. Your husband and little Gabby are wonderful. You've got a crowd of folk who read your blog and love you so much! So breathe... :)

Send an e-mail if you need someone to talk to. :) I won't slap my # up here, but if you need me, let me know.

Let us keep the US bashing, shall we? I think there are enough sites about that already.

Have you gone to the doc?

Drink not only water, but white grape juice which is rich in potassium, which if you haven't been eating or drinking properly will help your system regulate itself.

I am sure your insurance has a web site so you can check out which hospital to go to, but I would just wait until Monday, that way you can avoid the LONG LONG wait in the ER. Call your OB/GYN (since that’s the doctor that you have been seeing the most lately) and tell them you must come in. They’ll take blood, your pee, etc…and if she’s worried, but I don’t think she will be, she can refer you to a specialist.

I think this is probably just dehydration and stress which is exacerbated by sleep-deprivation. Take good care of yourself,.

y

I've emailed you the website of the insurance, plus what I believe is your hospital. My youngest was there earlier this year and my oldest, the paramedic, swears by the reputation of the ER.

Hang in there, sweety.

Hugs

Sorry you're going through this! I think what you're going to find out is that it's anxiety produced by too much caffeine. Not enough water leaves you dehydrated, and caffeine also dehydrates you (or coffee does, I forget which). I used to joke that when I had too much caffeine I wished I could go somewhere and get the extra drained off, because until it wears off, it really is too much. Sounds like that's what you're going through. Caffeine abuse causes anxiety attacks. I love my double espresso Cuban coffee in the morning but I seriously have to limit myself to just one. Between that and thyroid medication, whee, a little goes a long way. Balance :-) is key...

Go to a doctor!

It's possible that you're suffering from something called sleep paralysis (sometimes known colloquially as 'night terrors'). No one knows all that much about it. It's as if your body were still asleep but your brain were wide awake. You come out of it with a racing heart because you've just panicked. It's nothing much to worry about, if that is what it is (go see a doctor). Everyone gets it occasionall. It may be brought on by stress and will usually go away. Next time it happens, think of something that makes you happy, like Jay Mohr for example.

And then go to a doctor to get your heart checked out!

Any updates? Anyone know how Yvonne is?

She just posted a chirpy-sounding comment on my blog, so I guess she's ok.

aw, stacey!

I'm much, MUCH better. I've been drinking lots of water and I feel better. I'm still going to make an appointment tomorrow to make sure that everything is ok and that I am NOT going to die in my sleep.

y

Good to hear!

:-)

hugs

more water, less caffeine. anxiety and caffeine are not a good mix. Melly posted about that and she's very right.

Even if you HAD had a heart attack, it's too late now. They won't be able to tell. But you might want to talk to your doctor about something you can take safely for anxiety attacks while you are nursing.

I don't think there is anything wrong with your heart. You are not in a risk group at all. And like I said, I work with doctors designing research subjects for MI's (Myocardial Infarctions: Heart attacks) and so I know that there is no way they can tell now unless there is permanent damage to your heart, and that simply is not likely.

YO: your kids are out of town! What do you mean what do you have to stress about? This is probably what is causing the anxiety.

I know you probably don't need MORE unsolicited advice, but I was just wondering: are you still nursing? I know you know it's extra important to chug the water while you're nursing, both to keep up your supply and to keep you from getting dehydrated - it's so much easier to get dehydrated when you have a little being literally suckin' the life right out of ya. Just another thing I thought I'd throw out there. Hope you're feeling much better now.