Crazy Heartbeat is Freaking me out!

Does anyone know what could be going on with my heart? It seems like almost every night when I go to bed, right between being sleepy and being unconscious my heart just pounds! Then I can't sleep until it calms down. It's so weird, I can feel it beating against the bed, real fast. I thought it was anxiety but it happens even when I'm totally relaxed and happy.

The other weird thing it's doing is lately when I'm working out, like two-three times a week it will hurt really bad. Especially if I take a deep breath it feels like there is a knife in my chest. It only lasts a few seconds and then goes away.

I had an eating disorder (anorexia) when I was 14, recovered, and then again when I was 16/17. Each lasted about a year. But I am doing really well now, maintaining a stable weight and eating whatever I feel like. So I was wondering if this heart stuff is a result of that? But why would it take this long to show up? Or are they totally unrelated? Does anyone know anything? Thanks!

Go see a doctor.  No one online is going to be able to diagnose anything.  You don't want to screw around with your heart.  Could be nothing, could be something.  Best to get it checked out.

i would say that this is the result of your eating disorder. unfortunately i can't help you with medical terms or anything, but i went through the same during my ed and recovery. i even have that heavy heart pounding NOW, about 8 montths later. i know that when i first recovered, i could not sleep at night because my body was literally freaking out over the normal or higher calorie intake. so i was shaking, sweating and my heart would race like crazy. i think that was my metabolism's reaction.

when youre not underweight anymore and you eat well like you said (potassium?) it could maybee also be your thyroid. an overactive thyroid causes heart pounding and restlessness. i think you should see a doctor though, to make sure you're ok!

claudia

I would go to a dr. if I were you. I can tell you that I'm only 31 and had some crazy heart palpitations for no reason. I went to my doc and she wasnt too concerned yet. She said that taller women usually go through it but it's not harmful in itself.

Advice she gave me: When a palpitation occurs, make myself cough and that usually gets it back on track. She was right! It does.

But just to be certain, especially since you described it like a knife...go to your dr. Just don't worry yourself while waiting for your appointment.

I agree with everyone else, particularly as you have mentioned pain. Go talk to your doctor. You don't want to guess anything to do with your heart especially with a past history of anorexia.

First off, Go to a doctor!  Being dieters doesn't make us experts!

But don't be afraid to go to the doctor.  I've had anxiety disorder, to the point of passing out.  The heart palpitations happen anytime, happy, sad, active, just totally out of the blue, so it could still just be anxiety.  They (for me) were also a side effect of hyperthyroidism.

I don't take any pills, just knowing what it was helped take away the anxiety.  Just the fact that it's happening at the same time at night for you is suspicious because you might be sitting in bed waiting and worrying for it to happen.

Or laying down could be tripping up you heart, only a doctor knows for sure. 

Yes, I would def. see a doctor. It sounds alot like what I went through , for me it was like I had been scared and my heart felt like it was going to beat through my chest, or out my throat. It usually happened to me while i was lying down, but  also right after i worked out. I went to the doc and it ended up being from High Blood pressure! So GO GET CHECKED OUT!! My doctor said I could have been on the verg of a stroke! Any thing to do with your heart is something worth checking out!! Good luck

Yes, I would def. see a doctor. It sounds alot like what I went through , for me it was like I had been scared and my heart felt like it was going to beat through my chest, or out my throat. It usually happened to me while i was lying down, but  also right after i worked out. I went to the doc and it ended up being from High Blood pressure! So GO GET CHECKED OUT!! My doctor said I could have been on the verg of a stroke! Any thing to do with your heart is something worth checking out!! Good luck

Thanks guys! That's kind of what I figured; that I should go to a doctor but I guess I just needed the kick in the butt to get myself there. I will make an appointment!

Iam By no means underweight anymore-----118-120 Pounds age 18, 5"4.  But I have that a lot.  I will be on my way to sleeping but then I feel my heart beating really really fast and I wake up its weird its as if im half awake half asleep.  Then Im just freaked out to go to sleep.  Ive been told I also lose my breath during my sleep do you also have this by any chance?

You also may want to check your thyroid function. Nightmares and crazy heart pounding may be caused by hyperactive thyroid...

Regs....and good luck

The sleeping sounds exactly like me! LIke being half asleep when it happens. And it does make me a little annoyed and worried if it's going to happen again when i try to fall back asleep. Sometimes it seems like it only kicks in when I turn over on my side. But i'm i'm on my back then it seems to beat normal. I guess that's a little weird too... I don't think I lose my breath or anything though.