Gee I hope someone else chimes in here! That can be scary feeling. I would think you should have it checked out.

i get flutters alot but I went in the first time to rule out heart issues. Dr. thought I was crazy but better safe than sorry.

JenS3 - Don't worry about "clogging" up the board. If you have a concern, news to share or a need to vent this is the place.

As far as what happened to you last night, I am not sure. I'd recommend that you speak to your doctor and/or go to a cardiologist and have a work up done. Better safe than sorry especially since you have some history with high BP.

If it happens again, you might want to consider a trip to ER. Take care of yourself and enjoy your weekend.

Thanks, you two. :) Oh, more doctors. haha.

Thanks also for your encouragement regarding this forum. I receive a great deal of encouragement from popping in here, whether i have a question or I'm reading someone else's questions or comments. It's nice to know others are on the same journey. :)

Sounds like an anxiety attack to me but if you are concerned definitely go get checked.

Thanks, Fibrosucks,

So one can have an anxiety attack in their sleep?

I have several problems and I do get the spasms and flutters. At first they came from being hyperthyroid. Then they were diagnosed as premature beats...nothing to worry about. Then I was dx with gastritis and was having esophageal spasms.

I still never know which illness is producing these at any given time. But I'm pretty sure it's a gastric thing going on with me. AND..... a lot of anxiety. Of course, the flutters lead to more anxiety. Kind of a no-win situation.

Hope you get some relief. You might have to start with your primary doctor and see where he sends you for more detailed tests to diagnose.

Yes, it is possible to have a panic attack in your sleep. Here are the symptoms which based upon your description is not what happened to you:

Common somatic sensations of nocturnal panic attacks include shortness of breath, tingling or numbness, chest pain, trembling, shaking, hot flushes, heart palpitations, nausea, and chills. Upon waking from these sensations, you may feel a little foggy and lightheaded. It is not uncommon to experience symptoms of depersonalization and derealization, feeling as though you are losing touch with yourself and your surroundings. You may feel that you are still dreaming or that you are watching yourself from a distance.

Being suddenly awakened by these symptoms, you may become fearful that you are having heart attack or other medical emergency. These symptoms can also contribute to worries about losing control of oneself or going insane. Even though fears and other symptoms of panic attacks tend to reach a peak within 10 minute and then subside, you may feel anxious long after symptoms diminish. Its possible for you to remain keyed up, finding it difficult to settle down and fall back to sleep.

I really think that you should talk to your doctor and perhaps see a specialist about it. Take care.

I'll chime in here, with better safe than sorry. Check with your doc; at least you'll know for sure and be able to relax. Especially when pain is involved.

And yes, you can have panic attacks in your sleep. Two nights ago I was having one, and the feeling of smothering was so bad it woke me up.

Take care, and let us know how you are doing.

Lynn

I read here almost every day but do not chime in much any more but must on this one.

I have panic attacks which I feel were caused by living in intense pain from fibro for many years. The last 20 months have been rough on me as I was dealing with a rare breast cancer called her2+...........so when I went in for a new patient appointment in Sept. and they asked if my heart beat was that fast I just said not that I know of but I am stressed with today and new DR. and difficult life and I have panic attacks so that is all it is.

Long funny story but the short version is I now have afib.......I will not die from it just another irritation to add to my life. The thing is now learning about it I may have had it longer and just never knew it. That is common, so please see your Dr. about as you may not feel that way again for a long time and you need a record of it Ruling it out will also help you know what is causing flutters. Not sure how old you are but my cardiologist said with each decade we do get a little older LOL actually sad but true.

laurab

I saw doctors about something similar. I get heart palpitations that require me to cough to feel as if it goes back into rhythm. Very disconcerting. Everything checked and I was told I was as " healthy as an ox" and they don't know why it happens. I also get a racing pulse for no reason, checked that too and told I was ok. So, have it checked if just to get rid of the worry. And, yes, another doctor. Fun, huh?

Thanks, everyone! Great input and so many different examples of somewhat similar sensations.

LynJ55, I'm so sorry you had a panic attack in the middle of the night. As if sleep isn't hard enough to gain uninterrupted.

Hey, it sounds like it could be PVCs:
Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are extra, abnormal heartbeats that begin in one of your heart's two lower pumping chambers (ventricles). These extra beats disrupt your regular heart rhythm, sometimes causing you to feel a flip-flop or skipped beat in your chest. Premature ventricular contractions are very common they occur in most people at some point.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/premature-ventricular-contractions/basics/definition/con-20030205
Most of the time I don't notice it at all but every once in a while there will be a longer than usual pause between beats that will be followed by either an extra hard beat or a few small beats really close together. It feels exactly like you described. In a few seconds it goes back to what is "normal" for my heart.

What anggie said is exactly what goes on with me as well and a few years ago my doctor told me that I have PVC's. Totally normal, startling, anxiety causing and odd at best.

~Stephanie~

Many medications can cause this, as well as many of us have mitral valve prolapse. I get this often too at night. Fibrohyg

Thanks, everyone. Someone else mentioned they had something similar and it turned out to be their intestines. I have colitis, and had acute pancreatitis last year, so I think it's possible what I felt could've been an intestinal spasm. My gut has been acting up lately.

If it happens again, I'll maybe talk to my pcp. For now, I need a bit of a break from doctors so I can catch up on work stuff. haha. :) And save some money.