Not to worry you all, but it is possible that I've developed heart problems and that my anxiety is not what it seems to be.

I stumbled on an article (http://www.everydayhealth.com/columns/jared-bunch-rhythm-of-life/is-it-anxiety-or-heart-disease-sometimes-its-hard-to-tell-the-difference/) and I was struck by several things in it.

"...if anxiety is making the heart go fast, then usually there is something that causes the stressful feelings followed by an elevated heart rate. If the heart is causing the anxiety, then you will often experience palpitations or a racing heart followed by anxiety."

I have noticed this pattern quite often in my incidents. A lot of the time my palpitations/tachycardia aren't precipitated by an anxiety-causing event.

"...if you also feel lightheaded or faint they can also represent a falling of your blood pressure and an abnormal heart rhythm."

I experience this along with my episodes.

"People with abnormal heart rhythms often feel these extra beats and then suddenly the heart rhythm goes very fast, like a light switch turning on a light. "

Again, par for my experience.

"Abnormal rapid heart rates that persist and go untreated can result in the heart muscle weakening. This can cause swelling or edema in the stomach, legs, and feet. You can experience unique symptoms of trouble breathing while lying down and the need to use extra pillows to get comfortable at night. Anxiety-related elevated heart rates do not cause the heart to weaken over time and these unique symptoms should not develop."

I have had swelling in my ankles that worsens when I sit or stand upright. Also, I have to sleep with my head elevated because I have trouble breathing when laying flat, and this issue has gotten markedly worse, to the extent that I've had to take a cushion from my sofa to get sufficient elevation.

I am going to speak to my doctor about getting serious about a heart monitor. The level of fatigue I've been feeling lately is not normal; in the last 24 hours I've slept for 16 and I'm still drowsy, having trouble concentrating, and generally out of sync with life in a more alarming way than usual despite not being particularly depressed. Also, I'm on a diuretic (androgen blocker for my HRT) so the full extent of the problem may be masked as spironolactone is often prescribed to patients with congestive heart failure.

If my doctor continues to insist it's all in my head, then I am going to demand a second opinion because my life is now basically centered around how much rest I can get in a given day and I don't want to keep going on like this. I want my life back.